DON'T WORRY ABOUT PHEEBS AND I FOLKS....WE'LL BE ALRIGHT:))

 I FIGURED IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO GET ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW

With two prescriptions to fill and only three days before Christmas, I figured Pheebs and I had better hustle ourselves off to Goderich's Walmart Pharmacy this morning.  Knowing it would be a Zoo in there I steeled myself for the encounter.  Being in densely populated areas or spaces is not one of my favorite things.  Needing a few grocery items I chose a big cart instead of a usual small cart.  The bigger cart gives me better battering ram capabilities and defensive protection against other shoppers with their hastily moving out-of-control brute force steel battering rams.  Of course, the parking lot in front of Walmart was nothing more than a demolition derby but luckily Pheebs and I escaped the chaos unscathed.  But, just barely.  How nice to be back out into the quiet countryside heading home under cold cloudy skies in the frigid 8F. temperatures.  Those clouds later cleared and we ended the day with sunshine.

With my Social Insurance Number finally in my hands, I was able to get the last three envelopes filled out and sealed.  A nice feeling of relief that was and I will mail them in the morning.  I had also fallen behind in my Picasa Photo Editing program so I took the time to move a few thousand photos off our desktop's computer onto an external hard drive.  I moved a few things around in the sunroom too.  We/I just have way too much furniture for the space I live in.

A kindly Park resident lady came to the door late yesterday afternoon with a container of turkey soup for me.  She said it was her husband's recipe.  A big thank you to Arleen and Gary.  I had a bowl of that soup today for lunch and it was delicious.  I chased it down with a scoop of Kelly's chocolate ice cream that I found hidden away in the back of our freezer a couple days ago.  Former RVing friends and now Park residents on Tamarack Drive, Carin and Chris popped in early last evening.  They came bearing blueberry muffins and a few other little delights:)) 

With Christmas only a few days away, readers may be thinking how sad it must be for me sitting here by myself now that Kelly is gone.  Yes, I would much prefer she was still here but the reality is, she isn't.  At the moment I can't think of anywhere I would rather be than right here in our cozy little place with Pheebs, and the spirits of Kelly, Max, Checkers, and the little Motormouse Cora right here with me.  Quiet ambient music, soft lighting, and enough good food to last me almost forever.  No people stress, and no Christmas stress.  I don't have to be anywhere I don't want to be and I don't have to do anything I don't feel like doing.  I am as content as a snugly bug in a rug.  So, don't worry or stress about Pheebs and I folks.  Enjoy these days with your loved ones and families.  Maybe go out and kick a soccer ball around or something:))

Al's Music Box:)) End Of The World is a pop song written by composer Arthur Kent and lyricist Sylvia Dee, who often worked as a team. They wrote the song for American singer Skeeter Davis, and her recording of it was highly successful in the early 1960s, reaching the top five on four different charts, including No. 2 on the main Billboard Hot 100. It spawned many cover versions.  "The End of the World" is a sad song about the aftermath of a romantic breakup. Dee, the lyricist, said she drew on her sorrow from her father's death to set the mood for the song.  Davis recorded her version with sound engineer Bill Porter on June 8, 1962, at the RCA Studios in Nashville, produced by Chet Atkins, and featuring Floyd Cramer on piano.  Released by RCA Records in December 1962, "The End of the World" peaked in March 1963 at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby & the Romantics), No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart.  It is the first, and, to date, the only time that a song cracked the Top 10 (and Top 5) on all four Billboard charts.  Billboard ranked the record as the No. 2 song of 1963.  In the Davis version, after she sings the whole song through in the key of B-flat-major, the song modulates up by a half step to the key of B, where Davis speaks the first two lines of the final stanza, before singing the rest of the stanza, ending the song.  "The End of the World" was played at Chet Atkins' funeral in an instrumental by Marty Stuart. The song was also played at Davis's own funeral at the Ryman Auditorium. Her version has been featured in several films, TV shows, and video games.

 SOME DAYS WHEN I AM FEELING A LITTLE SAD AND BLUE MY DUCKS FEEL A LITTLE SAD AND BLUE AS WELL

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A cocky State Highways employee stopped at a farm and talked with an old farmer. He told the farmer, "I need to inspect your farm for a possible new road."  The old farmer said, "OK, but don't go in that field." The Highways employee said, "I have the authority of the State Government to go where I want. See this card? I am allowed to go wherever I wish on farm land."  So the old farmer went about his farm chores.  Later, he heard loud screams and saw the State Highways employee running for the fence and close behind was the farmer's prize bull. The bull was madder than a nest full of hornets and the bull was gaining on the employee at every step!!  The old farmer called out, "Show him your card!!"  "Show him your card!!"

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What do you get when you play a County & Western song backwards?
You get your wife back.
You get your kids back.
You get your house back.
You get your truck back.
You get your dog back.

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A couple was making their first doctors visit prior to the birth of their first child. After the exam, the doctor took a small stamp and stamped the wife’s stomach with indelible ink. The man and his wife were curious about what the stamp was for, so when they got home, the man took out his magnifying glass to try to see what is was. In very small letters, the stamp said, “When you can read this, come back and see me.”

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It was a fair-haired lady's first day at the office. Her first task was to go out for coffee.  Eager to prove her worth to her new bosses, she grabbed a large thermos and hurried to the nearby coffee shop.
She held up the thermos so that the
counterman could view it, and she asked, "Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?"
The counterman looked at the thermos and replied, "Yes. It looks like about six cups to me."  "Oh good!" the fair-haired lady sighed in relief. "Give me three regular, one black, and two decaf."
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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly's Corner

 ONE OF THE LAST NICE PHOTOS I TOOK OF KELLY LAST MONTH

A MORNING DESERT WALK

 ON OUR FRONT PORCH WITH PHEEBS IN CONGRESS ARIZONA

Al's Art Gallery

MY 97 YEAR OLD AUNT JEAN IS STILL A PRETTY SHARP COOKIE

I think the last time Pheebs and I were at a 'Burger King' was in Wickenburg, Arizona about 10 ago.  This morning, we set off to go to Burger King again, but not to Wickenburg.  We headed to Exeter Ontario where I knew a new Burger King to be.  It wasn't the only reason we went to Exeter though.  I'm almost out of Melita #1 coffee filters.  Canadian Tire in Goderich carried them at one time until they didn't.  Home Hardware in Goderich carried them until the store burned down last May.  So, the closest place with #1 coffee filters is at Home Hardware in Exeter Ontario a 22 miles from here.  Slightly longer than 16 miles from Congress to Wickenburg Arizona which incidentally had 3 round-a-bouts along the way.   Anyway, that was our reason to drive to Exeter on this cold and gray winter's morn.

 I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE PATCHES OF BLUE SKY WHEN PHEEBS AND I ROLLED OUT OF THE PARK THIS MORNING

 THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT MOST OF OUR DAY LOOKED LIKE

We rolled out our driveway at 9:20 and upon exiting the Park I was surprised to see encouraging patches of blue sky.  We took the highways to Exeter and before long we were at the Home Hardware store.  I scooped the last two Melita #1coffee filters off the rack and thanked my lucky stars they at least still had two left.  From there it was over to Burger King a short distance away.  We 'Whopperized' ourselves with a few fries to boot.  The burg was kinda juicy so needless to say part of it ended up on my shirt and my pants.  All very parr for the course with me.  Sitting in the parking lot we finished up the burg and fries as best we could.  It will probably be the last burg and fries I have for a long time.  As with a number of other foods, I seem to have lost my taste for burgs and fries too.  Just as well I guess, and I might add, it's about time too.  There was nothing wrong with the Whopper and fries.  It's just me.  Heading home we stayed off the highways and meandered ourselves along half a dozen snowy gravel roads.  Snapped a few pics while emboldened by a few sun splashes along the way.

 EXETER'S NEW BURGER KING

 PHEEBS IS LASER FOCUSED ON THE DRIVE-THRU WINDOW WHERE THE WHOPPER WILL COME FLYING OUT OF

 HEY, AT LEAST I'M GETTING MY VEGGIES FOR THE DAY

 SHARING WITH MY BEST PAL

AND YES, THINGS WOULDN'T BE NORMAL IF I DIDN'T GOOB MYSELF WITH SOME JUICY TOMATO DROPPINGS AND A CHUNK OF LETTUCE

SOMETIMES MY TRUSTY NAVIGATOR CURLS UP ON THE FRONT SEAT AND GOES TO SLEEP....IT IS AT THESE TIMES WE OFTEN GET LOST

 'I'M NOT SLEEPING DAD, I KNOW WHERE WE ARE'

 DRIVING THE COFFEE FILTERS HOME

I think we were home around noon when an odd thing happened and I'm sure that Kelly was behind it.  I was standing at the kitchen sink when a thought popped into my mind.  Go look under the placemat on the computer desk in the sunroom.  I did that, and there on a piece of  paper, was written my SIN number as well as Kelly's.  Well, I hoped it was mine.  Then, a second odd thing happened.  I saw an email in our 'Outlook' email program from Aunt Jean in Florida.  In it she said...."Hi Allan,  After our telephone visit last night, I got to thinking that I perhaps had the number you're looking for.  Remembered to check my files & sure enough, there it was.  Here it is, ???-???-???.   Take care my dear.  Love & Hugs........Jean".  I checked Jean's number with the number on the piece of paper and 'Walla' they matched.  Yessiree, my 97-year-old Aunt Jean is still a pretty sharp cookie:))  Now I can get those other 3 envelopes finally mailed.

 IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST TOOK A PHOTO OF A BARN BLOCK QUILT

 I LIKE HOW THAT LITTLE RED SHED HOLDS ITS OWN AGAINST THE SURROUNDING BIG GRAY FARM BUILDINGS

 OH-OH SHED FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM

 MAYBE THEY CAN MAKE A CHICKEN COUP OUT OF IT

 IDLE FARM MACHINERY PATIENTLY AWAITS NEXT SUMMER'S BUSY DAYB

 I REMEMBER THEM PUTTING THE RED ROOF ON THAT FARM HOUSE YEARS AGO

For the third afternoon in a row, I haven't had one ounce of energy to spare.  I spent most of my time in my living room recliner nodding off every time I tried to read something on my laptop.  Thanks to commenter Ron from Franklin, Tennessee on last night's post, I have tapped into Rich Bowlin On YouTube with his iPhone tips for Seniors.  How great to have a clear English-speaking instructional Senior person on YouTube for a change.  Anyway, as soon as I can get all these dosing zzzzzz's out of my head and clear up my mind, I will be following this fellow's instructions with Kelly's iPhone 15 in hand.   Wish me luck.  

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A Blast From Our Past:)) Our Sunday Search For Cochise's Council Rocks...It took us two tries to finally find the location of the Indian Chief Cochise's council rocks in the Dragoon Mountains of southeastern Arizona but 14 years ago yesterday we did indeed find that location.  Remember to click on the smaller pictures to enlarge them.

 A WANDERING DRAINAGE DITCH CUTS THROUGH A FARMER'S FIELD

BARE BRANCHES REFLECTED IN A COLD DECEMBER CREEK

 I'VE ALWAYS KIND LIKED THIS HILLTOP HOUSE FOR SOME REASON

Al's Music Box:)) The Master's Call “The Master’s Call” is a song featured on Marty Robbins’ iconic 1959 album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.  Written and performed by Robbins in a strophic song structure, “The Master’s Call” is a redemptive tale about a young man who leaves home behind to plunder and rob as an outlaw.  One night the speaker is rustling cattle, which was once “a common hazard of early settlers in Texas,” when he finds himself reflecting upon his sinful life.  Distracted by strange voices and visions, the narrator is thrown from his horse and faced with the stampeding herd of cattle.  The narrator cries out for mercy and witnesses the face of Jesus Christ in a flashing bolt of lightning.  The same bolt of lightning kills the charging cattle, thus saving his life and reaffirming his faith in God.  The song’s intended message is that God has a reason for everything, and it ends with the narrator devoting his life and soul to his savior.  From the moment “The Master’s Call” begins we are subject to somber background vocals mournfully singing alongside a soft guitar harmony.  These aspects immediately set the tone of the track before any words are exchanged.  Thus by the time that Robbins sings the first line, “When I was but a young man I was wild and full of fire,” we already have the feeling that this is going to be a sad tale.  Sure enough, the speaker ends up leaving his parents to lead a life of sin.  Since it is composed in the strophic form, the instrumentation does not change much during the course of the song.  However, “The Master’s Call” is a powerful song that builds in intensity as the song progresses, and Robbins’ vocal inflections convey a considerable emotional depth to the listener.  Robbins sings with passion, and he sings less calmly and more passionately as the song builds.  We can truly feel the remorse in his voice as he sings: And I cried oh Lord forgive me, don’t let it happen now.  I want to live for you alone, oh God these words I vow.  These lines actually lead up to the song’s emotional climax, in which the speaker privately realizes the sinfulness of his life and the years that he has wasted pursuing unjust causes.  Robbins’ singing during this verse is powerful and commanding, even when compared to the rest of the song.  In fact, this is the one part in which the instruments deviate from their regular structure.  The guitar branches out and does its own thing, seemingly reflecting the speaker’s own loss of control.  Before long the pace of the song has returned to normal, and the speaker is back to the present moment again and out of the moral dilemmas brewing in his head.  As listeners, we have to almost readjust after such a raw display of emotion.  The song’s themes of redemption, faith, and devotion are indubitably related to Marty Robbins’ own religious beliefs. When asked in an interview whether he believed God played a role in his career, Robbins had the following to say: “I started praying for this long before I ever got it, and long before I ever got into the business. Because I do believe in prayer. And I prayed for all these things, and God gave me the strength to get them. I have never set up any particular goal. Never. I just let it happen. Because I knew it was going to happen”.  Robbins’ faith in a wise and benevolent God is evident in this song, in which a sinner is spared and allowed a second chance at life.  “The Master’s Call” is arguably one of the most powerful tracks from Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.  Haunting background vocalists and memorable guitar playing set a somber stage for the listener, but ultimately only serve to complement Marty Robbins’ outstanding talent as a singer and a songwriter.  This song’s instrumentation, vocals, and overall message make it an incredibly engaging and potentially enlightening experience for listeners.

 GOLDFINCH

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Although this married couple enjoyed their luxury fishing boat together, it was the husband who was always behind the wheel operating the boat. He was concerned about what might happen in an emergency. So one day out on the lake he suddenly said to his wife, "Ok honey, this is a drill. Pretend that I am having a heart attack. You must get the boat safely to shore."  She was initially surprised and flustered, but she soon settled down and was able to safely drive the boat to shore.  Later that evening, the wife walked into the living room where her husband was watching television. She sat down next to him, grabbed the remote control, switched the channel, and said to him, "OK honey, this is a drill. Pretend I'm having a heart attack. You must set the table, cook dinner, and wash the dishes."

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- Why is it called a "building" when it is already built?
- do they call them "apartments" when they are all stuck together?
- Why is there an expiration date on SOUR cream?
- If you keep trying to prove Murphy's Law, will something keep going wrong?
- Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing?
- How can someone "draw a blank"?
- Shouldn't there be a shorter word for "monosyllabic"?
- Why is the word "abbreviate" so long?
- Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
- What is another word for "thesaurus"?

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A Policeman said to a fair haired lady: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?  The fair haired lady replied: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

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- They say money talks, but mine just waves goodbye.

- The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how much I play, I’ll never be as good as a wall.

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"A guy was so happy that it was St Patrick's day, he was literally bouncing off the walls!"  "What was his name, you might ask?"  "Rick O'Shea."
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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly's Corner

 KELLY WALKING WITH HER SISTER IN LAW LESLIE IN SARASOTA FLORIDA

 KELLY WITH HER OLDEST SON JASON AT BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET SANTA CLAUSE PARADE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO

Al's Art Gallery