SOMETIMES, BUT NOT OFTEN, I DO AMAZE MYSELF

The warmest day of the year so far (73F) left us with a pleasant evening, and although I missed the sunset, I did later head off out to my night sky spot for nearly an hour.  I saw three aircraft, three satellites, and no Unidentified Flying Objects.  At one point, with Subie's windows down and the moonroof open, and my music turned off, I just sat and listened to the distant Peeper frogs.  Some may wonder what I think about, here at my happy place, and I can tell you this.  I try to take my mind away from the day's happenings.  Away from the foibles and fumbles of everyday life.  Away from the negativity, the confusion, the anger, and the world's hostilities.  I try to take myself to a place, not of this world.  A place I had a fleeting glimpse of oh so many years ago on a warm summer's night.  I think of those who are no longer with us and feel content, knowing they have moved on to a place of higher understanding.  A place not of this earth.

 THOSE ARE THE LIGHTS OF CLINTON, ONTARIO ON THE HORIZON

Strong early morning winds with a chill factor of 38F kept me in the house until about 10:30 when temperatures began to rise, and I finally ventured out of the house.  It was not a 'take off my shirt' day like yesterday, but we did get up to a pleasant 66F and I was again able to comfortably putter about outside.  I know it must sound like I live on a 40-acre farm with all my time spent outside doing things, but no, nothing like that.  I'm just kind of a master putterer I guess.  Inside about mid-afternoon for a coffee break, I opened up all the doors and windows, and before I knew it, I had hurricane Amos going on om here.  Oh well, that's Okay because I love all that clean and fresh Spring air blowing out all of the cobwebs in the place.  I have never been a very good cobweb hunter.

 A FEW PHOTOS ON MY WAY INTO BAYFIELD THIS AFTERNOON

 A YELLOW FORSYTHIA BUSH 

I think it was around 3 o'clock this afternoon when I got me a real strong hankering for a foot-long hot dog.  So, without further thought, I piled into the car and was on my way to the Woodland Drive-In.  One footlong with the works, please and thank you.  Yummy:)) Picking the last of the mustard and onions off my shirt, I was soon on my way to the harbor to find a few photos, and from there it was straight home with Subie's interior smelling like a ripe onion sandwich.  I must have dropped a smattering of onions down between the seats.  In fact, I must have dropped a few pieces in my shirt pocket or on my shirt because sitting here tonight typing this, I smell like an onion factory!!  Good thing I'm home alone eh:))

 HET, IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A BIG BITE OUT OF IT

Today's morning dawned sunny, but with our 58F temperature, we had a wind chill factor of 38F.  I had a little trouble talking myself out of the house, and needless to say, no morning walk.

THIS AFTERNOON I NOTICED THE BOAT DOCK CREW INSTALLING THE SUMMER DOCKS ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

THEY WERE PUTTING IN THE ANCHORING POSTS FOR THE DOCKS

 PICKING UP A POST

 CONCENTRATON

 SWINGING THE POST AROUND INTO PLACE

ANOTHER WORKER LINES UP AND STEADIES THE POST

 A DEVICE ON THE MACHINES ARE JACKHAMMERS THE POST DOWN INTO THE RIVER BED

WITH ALMOST REPTILIAN-LIKE EYES THE OPERATOR CLOSELY WATCHES THE HAND SIGNALS OF TWO OTHER CO- WORKERS GIVING HIM ALIGHMENT CORRECTIONS

I WOULD SAY TWO THIRDS OF THE DOCKS ARE NOW IN PLACE

 AND, HERE A COUPLE OF CANADA GEESE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON ALL THE GOINGS ON

As I mentioned in my posts before, I do not have a lot of patience at assembling things.  Things do not generally go as seamlessly smooth as instructions strongly suggest.  And so it was yesterday, but not as infuriating as usual.  It was decided a month or so ago to buy a small portabile BBQ, so Lorraine picked one out at the Canadian Tire Store, and home it came with us.  For some silly reason, I thought we would simply open the box (think Coleman) and take it out, set it up, and minutes later we'd be chowing down perfectly grilled hamburgers.  Well, good luck with that thought Al!!  Turns out, the whole darn thing had to be assembled!!  I absolutely hate having to return things, so rather than do that, I pulled all the parts out of the box and set everything on the kitchen counter.  Geeezzzz, there had to be about 10 million little washers, screws and nuts!!  With my fate now sealed, I grudgingly looked at the instructions and my immediate first thought was to throw the whole mossmagator of a thing in the garbage.  Okay, what about my second thought??  Well, that involved cuss words, so I had to go with my only alternative, which was my third thought, and it sounded something like, 'what the hell', at least give it a try!!  So, with that, I picked up the first couple of pieces to be assembled and proceeded to drop just about every diddly little screw and washer on the kitchen floor about 47 times.  But somehow, and most amazingly, I didn't end up throwing the whole thing out the window and it was the best part of two hours later before I finally stumbled back from the kitchen counter in an exhausted daze with a piece of black metal sitting there resembling something that could very well contain Darth Vader's oversized helmet.  But, now the big test....would it actually work.  Outside, I attached a bottle of propane, turned the heat dial to on, and pushed the red igniter switch.  No, it didn't blow up, but it did actually work.  To say I stood there in a mild state of shock would be putting it mildly.  Sometimes, but not often, I do amaze myself:))

YES, THAT IS A SMALL SLEDGE HAMMER YOU SEE ON THE COUNTER, AND SOMETIMES IF PARTS DON'T FIT QUITE RIGHT I  USE IT TO SLEDGE THOSE PARTS INTO PLACE:))

 SEE, I TOLD YOU IT WAS BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD DARTH VADER'S HELMET AND HEY, IT EVEN LOOKS LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE BOX BELOW

 OOOPS, LOOKS LIKE I HAD A FEW PARTS LEFT OVER

Al's Music Box:: Beautiful by Gordon Lightfoot.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A retired sailor purchased a computer and began to learn all about computing. Being a sailor, he was used to addressing his ships as "She" or "Her". But was unsure what was proper for computers. To solve his dilemma, he set up two groups of computer experts: one group was male, and the other group was female. The group of women reported that computers should be refereed to as "HE" because:::

1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on. 2. They have a lot of data but are still clueless. 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem. 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have had a newer and better model.
The group of men reported that computers should be refered to as "SHE" because:::

1. No one but the creator understands their logic. 2. The native language they use to talk to other computers is incomprehensible to anyone else. 3. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval. 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

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Q: What do you call a bunch of tractors parked in front of a McDonald's on Friday night in Iowa?

A: Prom.

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- Scientists say that one day, it may be possible to live on Mars. I tried one of the bars for a month, gained nearly 10 pounds in weight and developed type 2 diabetes!

- I think I want a job cleaning mirrors.  I could really see myself doing it.

- I made a soup entirely from ingredients extracted from the atmosphere…It was a broth of fresh air!

- When does a regular joke become a dad joke?
When it becomes apparent.

- Anyone remember that chiropractor joke I shared? It was about a weak back.

- I recently visited the "World's Tiniest Wind Turbine" exhibit.  Honestly, not a big fan.

- I only seem to get sick on weekdays. I must have a weekend immune system.

- What did the triangle say to the circle?
You’re pointless.

- Hey, Dad, did you get a haircut? Nope, I got them all cut
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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

I WAS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE WITHOUT A SHIRT ON TODAY

Well, I could have headed out Wednesday evening to check out the sunset after posting my blog, but I was just too plumb tired.  I did step out onto the back deck and, through an opening in the tall pine trees, I took a couple quick handheld pictures of the Moon.

THIS WAS AN iPHONE SHOT THROUGH SUBIE'S MOONROOF TUESDAY NIGHT OF THE MOON SITTING ON TOP OF A POWER POLE

Another big bright, and sunny Spring day found me out this morning, merrily strolling along at my country road walking spot.  Lots of hellos to everything around me, as well as above me.    Home again, I spent much of the day digging up and relocating ferns.  Kelly and I had carried home a couple buckets of ferns that we had dug up from alongside the Bayfield River about twenty years ago, and after planting those ferns, they have taken hold over the years and are popping up all over the place now.  We got up to over 70F today, and I was actually outside without a shirt on.  That warm sun just felt so energizing.  Oh, the wonderful wonders of Spring:))

 BUSH LINES ARE FINALLY TAKING ON SOME COLOR 

Al's Music Box:(( Tin Man by the group America.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, a leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses him, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you into the Kingdom of Heaven ?" The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi driver, from New York ." Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ." Now it's the priest's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am the Right Reverend Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty-three years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ." "Just a minute," says the priest. "That man was a taxi driver. Why does he get a silken robe and golden staff?" "Results," shrugged Saint Peter........... "While you preached, people slept. When he drove, people prayed." Moral of the story: It's Performance, Not Position that Counts

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- In a relationship one person is always right and the other person is a male.

- “I wasn't originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.”

- I'd like two pork chops, asked the woman of her butcher, and make them lean. Yes maam, said the polite butcher, standing them on end.  Which way?

- "Mommy, one of the kids at school called me a sissy." "So what did you do, Billy?" "I hit him with my purse!"

- I was sitting at a bar with a friend the other night when he casually pointed across the bar from us and said, "see those two old drunks sitting there...that's going to be us in ten years." I looked and him and said, "that's a mirror stupid!"

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A young man bought an expensive piece of jewelry as a present for his girlfriend. “Don’t you want her name engraved on it?” asked the clerk. The young man thought for a moment, and then, ever the realistic, steadfastly replied, “No, just engrave it: To My One and Only Love. That way, if we break up and she throws it back to me in anger, I can use it again.”

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery