''YAHOUIE LOUIE' PHEEBS AND I ARE BACK 'ON THE ROAD AGAIN':)))))

 A COUPLE OF HAPPY GUYS TO FINALLY BE OUT AND ABOUT THIS MORNING

In a perfect world, it would have been a big bright, sunny morning with warm temperatures for our first day back on the road in 6 weeks.  However, it is what it was and with Willy Nelson's song, 'On The Road Again' rolling around in my head, we happily headed out into the countryside with Pheebs window down and the heater on despite a cold rainy drizzle and cloudy skies overhead.  It was 37F.  I had hoped to start our day off with a good old country road walk but it was not to be so we headed off to Goderich to follow our usual McDonald's coffee and harbor routine and to pick up some stuff at Walmart.  Peanut butter, coffee, etc.

 HOW GREAT TO TURN RIGHT OUT OF THE PARK AND HEAD FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

 WE EVEN SAW 'OLD LONESOME'

 I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE TWO ALGOMA SHIPS ANCHORED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GODERICH HARBOR

 THE ALGOMA NIAGARA

 THE ALGOMA INTREPID

 BOTH SHIPS WERE RIDING HIGH OUT OF THE WATER SO THEY MUST NOT HAVE ANY CARGO ABOARD

Too cold and damp outside for me to be out there so it was another inside job.  A few bird pics and more reading.  Because I mistakenly had my camera's ISO setting waaaay too high (6400) today's photos are grainy and mottled looking but I've decided to include them anyway.  You know me....'perfection only' is not my game and they don't call me, 'One-Shot Charlie' for nothing.  

METHINKS IT'S A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER

 GOLDFINCH

 MOURNING DOVE

 GRACKLE

 A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD AND PROBABLY A MAIL WITH THAT BRIGHT RED WING BAR

Kelly talked to her daughter Rebecca in Spain today.  Rebecca thinks we should move there.  Hmmmmm.  I wouldn't mind going for a couple weeks or maybe a month just to see what it's like but under our present circumstances I don't see that happening any time soon.  

 THESE TWO APPEAR TO BE IGNORING EACH OTHER

 'GET OFF THE BIRD STATION BLACKIE!!!!'

 'I'M NOT LISTENING YOU REDHEADED DINGBAT'

 'ALRIGHT THEN I'LL JUST TAKE MY PEANUT AND GO HOME'

 THERE'S THAT DARTH VADER GRACKLEGATOR AGAIN TRYING TO SCARE A MOURNING DOVE BUT IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE THE MOURNING  DOVE WILL PUT THE BOOTS TO THE GRACKLE

 HMMMM, LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY'S GOT THEIR BEAK IN THE AIR OVER SOMETHING AGAIN

 'I GOT A SEED' ....'WELL I GOT A SEED TOO!!'

 JUST LANDED WITH HIS TAIL STILL IN A FLAIR

A Blast From Our Past:)) It was a Sunday morning on December 20th, 2009 in Arizona's Cochise County when we set out to find a cowboy gunslinger's grave from the late 1800's.  We knew it was somewhere at the foot of the Chiricahua Mountains.  Today We Found The Final Resting Place Of Tombstone's Infamous.....Johnny Ringo

 A LANDING APPROACH FOR THIS RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

 A GRACKLE TAKE OFF

 OVER AND UNDER

 A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD COASTING IN HOPING TO MAKE A PERFECT TWO-POINT LANDING

 OOOOPS, HE DIDN'T QUITE STICK THE LANDING

Al's Music Box:)) On The Road Again is a song written and recorded by American country music singer and songwriter Willie Nelson.  In 1980 Nelson starred in his first leading role in the Jerry Schatzberg film Honeysuckle Rose, about an aging musician who fails to achieve national fame and his relationship with his family, who also are part of his band that travels throughout the United States while playing in different venues. Shortly after signing the contract, Nelson was approached during a flight by Schatzberg and the executive producer of the movie, who requested him to write a song about life on the road to use as the theme song. Nelson quickly wrote the song on a barf bag. The tune featured a "train beat".The song was released with Nelson's 1980 album Honeysuckle Rose, reaching the first position on Billboard's top country albums.  Nelson received a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, while he was nominated for Best Original Song during the 53rd Academy Awards.  (I thought this was a fitting song for Pheebs and I this morning:)) 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A proud and confident genius makes a bet with a local moron.  The genius says, "Hey moron, every question I ask you that you don't know the answer, you have to give me $5. And if you ask me a question and I can't answer yours I will give you $5,000."  The moron says, "Okay."  The genius then asks, "How many continents are there in the world?" The moron doesn't know and hands over the $5.  The moron says, "Now me ask: what animal stands with two legs but sleeps with three?"  The genius tries and searches very hard for the answer but gives up and hands over the $5,000.  The genius says, "Dang it, I lost. By the way, what was the answer to your question?"  The moron hands over $5.

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- My wife asked why I spoke so softly in the house.  I said I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening!  She laughed.  I laughed.  Alexa laughed. Siri laughed.

- A kangaroo mom with seven babies in her pouch told another kangaroo mom, "These sleepovers are killing me."

- The key to looking amazing is looking like crap most of the time so that it is even more amazing.

- My body is just a filter.....coffee goes in sarcasm comes out.

- Marriage is a relationship in which one is always right and the other is the husband.

- I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon......I'll let you know.

- I haven't lost all my marbles yet but I know there is a hole in the bag somewhere.

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BRIGHT IS GOOD

 SHORELINE ICE AT GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE

Although no blue sky today, the thin cloud cover made for a brighter day, and at this time of year, bright is good.  Not much in the way of wind either so all and all it was an acceptable 37F winter's day.  Despite not having any prescriptions to drop off or pick up, Pheebs and I headed to Goderich and back anyway.  And, that's about it for another day........

 HARBOR TUG OCEAN A. SIMARD MANEUVERING ICE FLOWS AROUND IN THE HARBOR'S NARROW CHANNEL

 I BET THAT DOGGY IS HAPPY TO WALKING ON GREEN GRASS AGAIN INSTEAD OF ICE AND SNOW

 IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE SWIMMERS ARE BACK IN THE WATER HERE AT GODERICH'S SOUTH BEACH

 AND, HOW NICE TO SEE GREEN FARMER'S FIELDS AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY

Another Facebook memory from this day in 2009 when we were boondocked alongside the Charleston Road between Sierra Vista and Tombstone Arizona.  We were in a small parking area along the banks of the San Pedro River.  We Didn't Find The Ghost Town But We Had To Move Today  Incidentally, it was the next day we found the Ghost Town......Today We Found The Ruins Of Charleston Arizona.   

Al's Music Box:)) Great Balls Of Fire is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records.  It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer.  The recording used three personnel: Lewis (piano/vocals), Sidney Stokes (bass), and a session drummer, Larry Linn instead of the usual Sun backups Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) and Roland Janes (guitar). Lewis was quoted in the book 'JLL: His Own Story' by Rick Bragg, as saying "I knew Sidney Stokes but I didn't know him that well, and I don't know what happened to them people. That's the last time I ever seen 'em. That's strange isn't it?" Great Balls of Fire was released as a 45 rpm single.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Some "Senior" personal ads seen in Florida and Arizona newspapers:

FOXY LADY: Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim,5'4" (used to be 5-6), searching for a sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion. Matching white shoes and belt are a plus.

MINT CONDITION: Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair, many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, and valves. Isn't in running condition, but walks well.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Recent widow who has fourth husband looking for someone to round out a six-unit plot. Dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW: I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga, and meditation. If you are the silent type, let's get together, take our hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE: Active grandmother with original teeth seeking a dedicated flossier to share rare steaks, corn on the cob, and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES? I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my Camaro on Saturday nights, and still like to play the air guitar. If you were a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen to my boss collection of eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember Monday through Thursday. If you can remember Friday, Saturday and Sunday, let's put our two heads together.

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- Just think, in a few million years Barney will be motor oil.

Q: Why do farmers put bells on cows?

A: Their horns don't work.

- What should you give a man who has everything? A woman to show him how to work it all!

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HOPE IS BACK IN HER HEART AGAIN

 CLEAR BLUE SKIES, BARE ROADS, AND NO SNOW IS ALWAYS A WINNING COMBINATION AT THIS TIME OF YEAR

When Kelly and I talked with the liver transplant surgeon in London a couple of months ago he told her she only had a 4% chance of a live liver donor's blood being compatible with her blood.  That has weighed heavy on Kelly's mind ever since and I could tell she was slowly losing hope.  We don't know when those blood type comparison tests were done but last night (Thursday) Kelly's anonymous liver donor contacted her saying she had received a call from London's University Hospital telling her that the blood tests had been done and that the donor's blood matched perfectly with Kelly's blood.  It is not often I see tears in Kelly's eyes but I saw them last night.  Hope is back in her heart again.  But, in the meantime, the liver-related itching is becoming so much worse.  She had a bad night and today wasn't any better.

OUR SINGLE WINTER GRACKLE STOPS FOR A DRINK FROM OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

Needing to pick up a few things, the furry Kid and I under sunny blue skies and 45F temps piled into the Jeep, hoisted the sails, and set a northern course for Goderich.  Coffee, harbor, Walmart, and home again with nothing exciting in between.

 THE OCEAN-GOING SHIP WICKO IS AT THE GODERICH GRAIN TERMINAL

 TWO WORKERS MONITOR THE LOADING OF MAYBE GRAIN , SOYBEANS, CORN, OR WHEAT INTO THE SHIPS HOLD WITH THE TWO LARGE HATCH COVERS STANDING VERTICALLY ON EITHER SIDE

 THE WICKO HAS ITS COMMUNICATION GEAR IN A FOLDED-DOWN POSITION.....NO LOW BRIDGES AROUND HERE TO GO UNDER SO THE CAPTAIN MAY HAVE SEEN A WHOLE HERD OF SEAGULLS APPROACHING AND QUICKLY DROPPED HIS  ANTENNAE GEAR

Marilyn in our 'Shout Box' asked a question regarding my Thursday post.  A couple photos showed an area in our Park where future homes may soon be arriving next summer.  She asked, 'Do you mind that more homes are coming??  My short answer is 'Yes' but with an explanation.  First, we have been very fortunate over the past 21 years to have lived here so close to nature's forests with their quiet walking trails and wildlife.  For our particular kind of low-key lifestyle, we have been lucky that there hasn't been a large influx of new homes and people.  Of course, we knew the Park would eventually expand and that when new units came it would bring more people and traffic.  However, change is inevitable and we understand and have to accept that.  But, like I said, we have been so fortunate to have lived here for as long as we have in the quieter era we did and currently do.

 A FRIDAY MORNING FARMER OUT SPREADING A LOAD OF GOOD CHEER ON HIS FIELD

Getting used to her new recliner's remote control Kelly pressed one of the buttons today which tossed her out of the chair and backwards into the wall.  Picking herself up she said, 'I guess that E button stands for EJECT!!  Okay, okay, so that didn't really happen but can you imagine if it did:((  

 WAVES ROLLING IN ALONG GODERICH'S SHORELINE

Thirteen years ago today while in Arizona, I wrote this post entitled, The Old West Is Still Alive In This Little Boy's Memory   You can take the boy out of the Wild West but you can't take the Wild West out of the boy.

 WEST OF TOMBSTONE ARIZONA I STAND GAZING AT THE DISTANT HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS  

Al's Music Box:)) Sixteen Tons is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "Sixteen Tons" in 1955.  With Ford's snapping fingers and a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement, it quickly became a million-seller.  On March 25, 2015, Ford's version of the song was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry.

 SEEN IN GODERICH EARLIER TODAY

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A buyer was considering purchasing an aging thoroughbred but wanted a veterinarian's opinion of the horse before finalizing the deal.  When the vet had completed his examination the potential buyer asked, "Will I be able to race him?"  The veterinarian looked at the buyer, then at the horse.  "Sure," he replied, "And you'll probably win!"

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- Thank you, student loan, for helping me through college...I don't think I can ever repay you.

 - I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.

- Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

- I'm sitting in a cafeteria next to a woman who was engrossed in her newspaper. One of the headlines blared: "12 Brazilian Soldiers Killed."  She shook her head at the sad news. Then, turning to me, she asked, "How many is a Brazilian?"

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