Thursday, January 09, 2025

I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS THEM FROM TIME TO TIME


It was Richard's turn to drive this morning so I was at the end of our driveway as the burgundy van slowly rolled around the corner.  Within seconds we were off and squawkin' and it didn't take us long to snag our customary coffee and muffins at McDonalds in Goderich.  From there, under breaking sunny skies we cruised out of town northeast through the countryside's snowy white landscape.  It was another couple of hours well spent in meaningful conversation between two old friends who go back close to fifty years.

 PALS
With my day starting at 4:45 this morning (I don't know why I keep waking up so early) it turned out to be a low energy afternoon and evening.  There were things I could have been doing, but they just didn't get done.  Not a down day, not so much a sad day, just kind of a nothing day.  These nothing days for me often follow a poor night's sleep.  I'm sure everyone has them from time to time.  I have a busier Goderich morning lined up for Friday..........   

 THAT BRIGHT SPOT IN THE TREES IS THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN SHINING THROUGH
WHILE LOOKING AT THE SUN IN THE TREES A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND BLEW A BUNCH OF SNOW OFF THE BIG PINE TREE BRANCHES

Ellen's Groove:)) Ellen continues to show progress practicing a new Groove

Al's Music Box:)) Hallelujah by kd lang is a song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album Various Positions (1984). Achieving little initial success, the song found greater popular acclaim through a new version recorded by John Cale in 1991. Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, creators of the 2022 documentary film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, said that Cohen took about five years to write the song, and reconfigured it numerous times for performances. Unlike some other songs that became anthems, "Hallelujah" initially was on an album that was rejected by Columbia Records, was largely ignored after an independent label released it, and was not widely covered. until until Cohen's death in 2016. Reflecting on the song's initial rejection, Cohen related that Columbia told him that "we know you are great, but don't know if you are any good".  When at age 50 Cohen first recorded the song, he described it as "rather joyous", and said that it came from "a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm and emotion." He later said "there is a religious hallelujah, but there are many other ones. When one looks at the world, there's only one thing to say, and it's hallelujah".  Canadian singer k.d. lang said in an interview shortly after Cohen's death that she considered the song to be about "the struggle between having human desire and searching for spiritual wisdom. It's being caught between those two places.  Meaning of 'Hallelujah'..... "This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that's what I mean by Hallelujah".—Leonard Cohen.  

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Hello. Welcome to the Psychiatric Hotline::

- If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly.
- If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2.
- If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, and 6.
- If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line so we can trace the call.
- If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.
- If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.
- If you are anxious, just start pressing numbers at random.
If you are phobic, don't press anything.
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“Pull over the curb,” said the policeman. “You don’t have a taillight.”  The motorist stepped out, looked in back of the car, and stood quivering and speechless. “Oh, it’s not that bad,” said the policeman. The man mumbled, “It’s not the taillight I am worried about. Where are my wife and trailer?”
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Teacher: What does your father do for a living?
Student: He is a magician.
Teacher: what is his favorite event.
Student: He cuts people in two.
Teacher: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
Student: One half-brother and one half-sister....

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A three-year old walks over to a pregnant lady while waiting with his mother in a doctor's surgery.  "Why is your stomach so big?" he asks.  "I'm having a baby," she replies.  "Is the baby in your stomach?" he asks, with his big eyes.  "Yes, it is," she says.  "Is it a good baby?" he asks, with a puzzled look.  "Oh, yes. A really good baby," the lady replies.  Shocked and surprised, he asks: "Then why did you eat him?"

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Before a burglary trial, the judge explained to the defendant, “You can let me try your case, or you can choose to have a jury of your peers.”  The man thought for a moment. “What are peers?” he asked.
“They’re people just like you – your equals.”
“Forget it,” retorted the defendant. “I don’t want to be tried by a bunch of thieves.”

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kellys Corner
TAKING A BREAK SOMEWHERE ALONG A DESERT TRAIL

 KELLY WITH ONE OF THE MANY INUKSHUKS SHE LIKED TO BUILD ALONG THE WAY
 SOMEWHERE ON A SECURITY PROPERTY BETWEEN ELFRIDA ARIZONA AND THE SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS
Al's Art Gallery













Wednesday, January 08, 2025

CERTAINLY NOT THIS GUY

PHEEBS PLOWING THROUGH THE SNOW THIS MORNING
Parting the curtains this morning I was surprised at the amount of snow that had fallen overnight.  Judging by our birdfeeders I'd say we easily had a foot or more of snow.  I knew right away the first order of business for the day would not be a car ride for Pheebs and I.  It was going to be me on the end of my snow shovel.  So, without further ado, out I went and got at it.  Luckily, the snow was light and fluffy and easy to move.  After shoveling all my paths, I loaded up the Pheebs and off we went into Bayfield.  

 NO THAT ISN'T A UFO...JUST OVERNIGHT SNOW PILED ON TOP OF THE BIRD FEEDER
Needing a couple new batteries for a diabetes 'One-Touch' monitor, our first and only stop was at Michaels Pharmacy where by golly, they had those batteries.  I have my semi-annual appointment with my diabetes lady next week so she will be wanting to know what my blood count numbers are.  I only ever do those 'finger-stick' procedures a week prior to my appointments.  Not much going on in Bayfield this morning.  The river is completely frozen over and the damaged Albion Hotel is now completely draped in plastic as workers carry out the restoration work.  

SEEN A LOT OF FOLKS OUT WITH THEIR SHOVELS AND SNOWBLOWERS THIS MORNING
 THE ALBION HOTEL IS WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
 THE BAYFIELD RIVER IS NOW COMPLETELY FROZEN OVER
THOSE FLOATING CHUNKS OF ICE IN THE WATER WILL SOON JOIN UP TO CREATE A LAYER OF ICE ON THE LAKE ALONG THE SHORELINE
A NICE SPLASH OF COLOR ON A BAYFIELD SIDE STREET
 HEADING HOME
Home again about 10:30 I took a cruise around our Park keeping an eye out for a few photos.  There are generally always a few to be found and this morning was no exception.  Imagine my surprise when I pulled up to our house to find some kind neighbor had blown out our driveway again.  Now, how nice was that I thought. It sure saved me a lot of shoveling and at only 19F who wants to be out shoveling snow.   Certainly not this guy.  Thank you to whoever did that:))  For the rest of the day, I stayed in and puttered around with small stuff.  Reading took up some of my time as well.  

 A FEW PICS FROM AROUND OUR PARK
 OWNER ADAM SPREADING SAND ON THE ROADS
 NICE SPLASHES OF BLUE
 STILL LOOKING KIND OF CHRISTMASY IN OUR PARK
A LONE RESIDENT OUT FOR A WALK AT THE SOUTH END OF TAMARACK DRIVE
A Blast From Our Past:)) Return To Ghost Mountain
Al's Music Box:((
Reflections Of My Life was a 1969/1970 hit single for the Scottish band, Marmalade. It was written by their lead guitarist Junior Campbell and singer Dean Ford (credited to his birth name, Thomas McAleese). Released in late 1969, it was the band's first release on Dean Ford following an earlier spell at. CBS.  
The song went on to chart worldwide, reaching number three in the UK in 1969, No. 10 in the US in 1970 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 7 on the Cash Box Top 100. Initial sales were significant in both countries, and the one million mark was reported in November 1971, when the group was presented with a gold disc for global sales. The track featured a lead vocal by Ford backed by vocal harmonies, and included a reverse tape guitar solo by Campbell.  "Reflections of My Life" has produced sales of over two million units. In 1998 the writers were awarded a Special Citation of Achievement by the BMI for attaining radio broadcast performances in excess of one million in the US alone.  The recording took place over three days in October 1969 at Decca Studios 2 and 1 in West Hampstead London with band members Graham Knight on bass, Alan Whitehead on drums, Pat Fairley on acoustic guitar, and Junior Campbell on keyboards and electric guitars. Dean Ford sang lead vocal and Junior Campbell and Graham Knight provided harmony vocals.  The added brass and strings were orchestrated by Keith Mansfield. "Reflections of My Life" was released on 14 November 1969 in the UK. The Decca staff recording engineers were Bill Price and Peter Rynston.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field. They advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. They also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung. Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

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Once my dog ate all the Scrabble tiles...
He kept leaving little messages around the house.

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My wife asked me to buy ORGANIC vegetables from the market. I went and looked around and couldn't find any.  
So I grabbed an old, tired-looking employee and said, "These vegetables are for my wife. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous chemicals?"  "The produce guy looked at me and said, "No. You'll have to do that yourself."  

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kellys Corner
 SIGNING THE FINAL PAPERS  IN WICKENBURG ARIZONA FOR THE SALE OF OUR CONGRESS HOUSE

OUR HOUSE ON GHOST TOWN ROAD IN CONGRESS ARIZONA
 IN OUR CONGRESS HOUSE ON A LAZY AFTERNOON
 LOOKING FOR GOLD NUGGETS IN CALIFORNIA CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS WEST OF YUMA ARIZONA
Al's Art Gallery