HAD ANOTHER X-RAY OF MY RIGHT HIP DONE TODAY

Not a lot going on today.  Kelly took Pheebs for a morning walk and then Pheebs and I headed out in Subie to dust up a few country roads.  Snapped a few pics and came home.  With my hand clippers, I trimmed back a number of overgrown small branches encroaching on some of my little trails around the house.  By 1 p.m. I could feel the humidity creeping back into the air so I hustled myself back into the house.  At 3 p.m. I was in the Goderich hospital having a couple X-rays done on my new (Feb. 13th) right hip.  By getting the X-rays done here it will save me having to drive all the way to Sarnia on September 9th for the same thing.  I am really hoping that this X-ray session is the last one.  As for 'how is my hip doing over 6 months later, the answer is great, no complaints.  And, that's about it for another gol darn ding dang day.....................  

 ROADSIDE WILDFLOWERS

 CANADA GEESE GLEANING A HARVESTED AND SCUFFLED WHEAT FIELD

A FOREST'S QUIET STREAM

Al's Music Box:)) The Letter is a song written by Wayne Carson that was first recorded by the American rock band the Box Tops in 1967. It was the group's first and most successful single, reaching number one on the record charts in the United States and Canada. It was also an international success and placed in the top ten in several other countries.  The Box Tops lead vocalist Alex Chilton sang "The Letter" in a gruff blue-eyed soul style. The song launched Chilton's career and inspired numerous cover versions. Rolling Stone magazine included the Box Tops original at number 372 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".  In 2011, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Wayne Carson wrote "The Letter", built on an opening line suggested by his father: "Give me a ticket for an aeroplane".  Carson included the song on a demo tape he gave to Chips Moman, owner of Amerian Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. When studio associate Dan Penn was looking for an opportunity to produce more, Moman suggested a local group, the DeVilles, who had a new lead singer, sixteen-year-old Alex Chilton. The other four members of the group that played on the session were Danny Smythe on drums, Richard Malone on electric guitar, John Evans on electric piano, and Russ Caccamisi on bass. Penn gave the group Carson's demo tape for some songs to work up.  With little or no rehearsal, the group arrived at American Sound to record "The Letter".  Chilton recalled:  We set up and started running the tune down.  Dan adjusted a few things on the organ sound and told the drummer not to do anything at all except the basic rhythm that was called for. No rolls, no nothin'. The bass player was playing pretty hot stuff, so he didn't mess with what the bass player was doing.  Penn added: "The guitar player had the lick right—we copied Wayne's demo. Then I asked the keyboard player to play an 'I'm a Believer type of thing".  Chilton sang the vocal live while the group was performing; Penn noted: "I coached him [Chilton] a little ... told him to say 'aer-o-plane,' told him to get a little gruff, and I didn't have to say anything else to him, he was hookin 'em, a natural singer."  He later explained, "[Chilton] picked it up exactly as I had in mind, maybe even better. I hadn't even paid any attention to how good he sang because I was busy trying to put the band together ... I had a bunch of greenhorns who'd never cut a record, including me".  About thirty takes were required for the basic track. Then Penn had Mike Leech prepare a string and horn arrangement to give it a fuller sound.  Leech recalled: "My very first string arrangement was 'The Letter', and the only reason I did that was because I knew how to write music notation ... Nobody else in the group did or I'm sure someone else would have gotten the call."  Penn also overdubbed the sound of an airplane taking off to the track from a special effects record that had been checked out from the local library.  He explained: That was a big part of the record ... When I finished it up, I played it for Chips [Moman], and he said, "That's a pretty good little rock & roll record, but you've got to take that airplane off it." I said, "If the record's going out, it's going out with the airplane on it". He said, "Okay, it's your record.  "Edwin Pouncey of the Wire described the "sampling" of the overhead jet plane as one of the more notable "pop and rock musique concrete flirtations" of the period.  The DeVilles were renamed the Box Tops and "The Letter", at only 1 minute, 58 seconds, was released by Mala Records, a subsidiary of Bell Records.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( To all the people who said I wouldn't amount to anything because of my procrastination.....just you wait!!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Nobel. Nobel who? You got no bell, so I figured I’d knock.

- Apparently, you can’t use beef stew as a password. It’s just not stroganoff. 

- Why is a swordfish’s nose 11 inches long? Because if it was 12 inches it would be a foot. 

- What do you call a dog that can do magic? A labracadabrador.

- I want to tell you a joke about a girl who only eats plants. You’ve probably never heard of herbivore. 

- What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.

- How do you get a country girl’s attention? A tractor. 

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Why do melons have weddings? Because they cantaloupe. 

- What do you call a cow with a twitch? Beef jerky.

- What is the most detail-oriented ocean? The Pacific.

- I used to hate facial hair. But now it’s grown on me. 

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IT WOULD HAVE PUT AN END TO A LOT OF SPECULATION

Buffalo Springfield's words from their song, For What It's Worth floated through my awakening mind earlier this morning.  Stephen Stills words, 'There's something happening here'.  'But what is ain't exactly clear'...... 'Hey, what's that sound?.  Well, my sleepy mind finally figured out that sound was our furnace running.  Geezzzz, it must be cold if Kelly snapped the furnace on.  It was 52F.

A FUNGUS GROWING ON A STUMP BESIDE OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

 ONE OF OUR FROGS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON ME THIS AFTERNOON

Under bright sunny skies and warming air I drove Kelly to her 10 o'clock medical appointment at the Maitland Valley Medical Center.  Dropped her off at the main door then headed to Tim Hortons for a coffee to go and a spin down around the harbor to put in a little time.  

LAKE HURON WAVES COME ASHORE AT GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE

 A TIRED COUPLE AND THEIR DOG STOP FOR A REST ON A HILLSIDE BENCH IN THE DOG WALKING AREA....IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE WALKERS IS A LITTLE SLEEPIER THAN THE OTHER TWO

 NICE AUGUST MORNING FOR A BIKE RIDE ALONG THE LAKESHORE

 CARRYING A BAG AND A PICK-UP STICK THIS DOG WALKER MIGHT BE PICKING UP LITTER ALONG THE WAY

 A YOUNG GULL BASKS ON THE SOUTH PIER

AN ADULT GULL NEARBY

 A COUPLE FISHERMEN IN GODERICH'S INNER HARBOR

I was back at the medical center by 10:20, parked and reading my Kindle when Kelly came out 15 minutes later.  We were hoping her Nurse Practitioner (Patricia Robinson) might have some answers for her and she did.  Having worked in a transplant unit herself she explained to Kelly that her extended abdomen is normal after having Ascites.  Ascites (ay-SITE-eez) is when too much fluid builds up in your abdomen (belly). This condition often happens in people who have cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.  A sheet of tissue called the peritoneum covers the abdominal organs, including the stomach, bowels, liver, and kidneys. The peritoneum has two layers. Ascites happens when fluid builds up between the two layers.  Kelly's extended abdomen will remain like this.  Now, why couldn't somebody at London's University Hospital have simply explained that to her a month ago.  It would have put an end to a lot of speculation that we have had about 'her swollend abdomen.  Kelly's blood pressure was good this morning but her weight continues to drop and she weighed in this morning at 102 pounds.  She needs to get her weight back up to 110 and above for a liver transplant.  

 A FIELD OF CONE FLOWERS

Following Kelly's appointment we headed off to A&W for a bacon and eggs breakfast.  I think a good old mess of bacon and eggs, toast, coffee, and hashbrowns is probably one of my favorite simple meals.  Followed closely by peanut butter, ice cream, donuts, tarts, pie, cake, and half a dozen various flavored milkshakes.

 MORE CANADA GEESE IN THE AIR FORMING UP THEIR FLIGHT PATTERNS

With still a touch of coolness in the afternoon's breeze, Pheebs and I made it out for a walk over to and around the Park's pond.  It was a one-turtle walk.  I did see the Green-Backed Heron again but it was too quick for me to get a camera shot of him.

 POND REFLECTIONS

YES, IT WAS A ONE TURTLE WALK

Al's Music Box:)) Ring Of Fire was made popular by Johnny Cash after it appeared on his 1963 compilation album 'Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. Written by Cash's eventual second wife, June Carter Cash, and songwriter Merle Kilgore.  Cash's version became one of the biggest hits of his career, staying at No. 1 on the country chart for seven weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA on January 21, 2010, and has sold over 1.2 million digital downloads.  It was named the fourth greatest country song of all time by Country Music Television, while Rolling Stone called it the number one greatest country song of all time and listed it as the 87th greatest song of all time.  In 1999, the 1963 recording of the song by Johnny Cash on the Columbia Records label was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Most of the song is dedicated to a chorus that extends the metaphor comparing the passions of love with a "ring of firer". It describes being burned, and the flames rising, as the person continues falling for quite a distance ("down, down, down"), using the vocabulary of "falling in love". The song concludes without any resolution to the situation.

Duration: 31 second

The song was originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter, on her Mercury Records album Folk Songs Old and New (1963) as "(Love's) Ring of Fire". Mercury released Anita's version as a single and it was a featured "pick hit" in Billboard magazine. After hearing Anita's version, Cash claimed he had a dream where he heard the song accompanied by "Mexican horns". The mariachi horn sound had recently been popularized on American radio with 1962 hit song "The Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert.  Cash said, "I'll give you about five or six more months, and if you don't hit with it, I'm gonna record it the way I feel it." Cash noted that adding trumpets was a change to his basic sound.  When the song failed to become a major hit for Anita, Cash recorded it his own way, adding the mariachi-style horns from his dream. This sound was later used in the song "It Ain't Me Babe", which was recorded around the same time. Mother Maybelle and the Carter sisters are prominently featured in the Cash recording singing harmony. Cash tinkered with a few of the original phrases in Anita Carter's version of the song. Cash's daughter Rosanne said, "The song is about the transformative power of love and that's what it has always meant to me and that's what it will always mean to the Cash children."

 SUNBURST LOCUST LEAVES SOFTLY ALIGHT IN OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The husband and wife were playing on the ninth green when she collapsed from a heart attack. "Please dear, I need help." she said.  The husband ran off saying "I'll go get some help." A little while later he returned, picked up his club and began to line up his shot on the green.  His wife, on the ground, raised up her head and said, "I'm may be dying and you're putting?"  "Don't worry dear. I found a doctor on the second hole who said he come and help."  "The second hole??? When in the hell is he coming???"  "Hey! I told ya not to worry." he said, practice stroking his putt. "Everyone's already agreed to let him play through."

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A friend of mine is a deputy with the sheriff's department canine unit. One evening, the deputy was dispatched to the scene of a possible burglary, where he discovered the back door of a building ajar. He let the dog out of his patrol car and commanded it to enter and seek.  Jumping from the back seat, the dog headed for the building. After lunging through the doorway, the dog froze and backed out. My friend was puzzled until he investigated further and saw the sign on the building: “Veterinarian's Office.”

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Miranda likes to sing, and whenever she begins, her husband heads outside.
Hurt, she asked him, "Don't you like my singing?"  "Of course, dear," he replied. "I just want to make sure the neighbors know I'm not beating you."

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A doctor told his patient after reviewing his x-rays he needed surgery costing $5000.  The patient said he only had $500.00 and what could be done.  The doctor said, "Well, I can always touch up your x-rays."

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Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

NOTICE I SAID 'COOLER' AND NOT 'COLDER'

 A GERANIUM FLOWER

With our morning temperature at 53F I wasn't long in cranking up Subie's heat when Pheebs and I headed off to our morning walking spot under mainly blue skies.  Pheebs wasn't up for a walk so we didn't go far and were soon home again.  With the Subaru so full of dog fur I wanted to take advantage of this cooler weather and get it cleaned up.  I hauled out our big yellow shop vac and got right to work.  Even took the covering out in the hatchback and vacuumed out around the spare tire.  I spent over an hour on this clean-up and had it been hot and humid I wouldn't have done it.  So two thumbs up for the benefits of cooler weather:))))))  Notice I said 'cooler' and not 'colder'.

 EARLY MORNING FOREST SHADOWS ON A CORNFIELD ALONGSIDE OUR WALKING ROAD 

 SUNSPLASH ON A TUFT OF GRASS BY THE ROADSIDE

 CANADAY GEESE PRACTICING THEIR FLIGHT PATTERNS BEFORE HEADING SOUTH LATER

Kelly, tired from driving the short distance to Bayfield's Library and back late this morning spent the afternoon resting in her room.  The 'itching' has ramped up again.  Tomorrow morning I will take her to Goderich for a ten o'clock appointment to see her Nurse Practitioner.  Maybe the bloodwork she had a couple days ago will show something or require a change in her meds.

 A LITTLE MONKEY FACE IN OUR FRONT FLOWERBED

Under sunny skies with a refreshing breeze, Pheebs and I took ourselves for a walk over to and around the Park's pond.  It turned out to be a four-turtle walk and we even saw a Green-Backed Heron.  Great Blue Herons always came to this pond but I have not seen even one this year.  In fact, I haven't seen any Blue Herons anywhere when I come to think of it.  Oh no, don't tell me they are becoming extinct too.  And, speaking of extinct.....I have not seen any Monarch butterflies again this year either.  There should be all kinds of them around right now.  Seems to be no shortage of people though...........  

 PARK OWNER ADAM GRADING A ROAD NEAR THE POND THIS AFTERNOON

 THIS GREEN-BACKED HERON KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON ME FROM ACROSS THE POND

 A PAINTED TURTLE SOAKS UP SOME WARMING RAYS OF SUNSHINE

 MOM AND HER SET OF TWINS

 SAME TURTLE AS THE FIRST PIC AND NOTICE HOW ITS SHELL PLATES ARE KIND OF PEELING UP

Al's Music Box:)) Rave On by Buddy Holly is a song written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty in 1958. It was first recorded by West for Atlantic Records, which released his version in February 1958. Buddy Holly recorded the song later the same year, and his version became a hit, one of six of his recordings that charted in 1958. Holly is instantly recognizable as the artist: the record begins with a drawn-out "Well…" as stylized by Holly's distinctive hiccup ("A-weh-uh-heh-uh-ell…").  Most of West's recordings were produced and engineered by Norman Petty, who also managed Holly, and recorded in Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. "Rave On", however, was produced by Milton DeLugg and recorded with Holly's group the Crickets at Bell Sound Studios in New York City.  The title was inspired by the 1956 Sun Records recording "Dixie Fried" by Carl Perkins, which uses the refrain "rave on." The B-side was Holly's composition "Take Your Time".  Holly's rendition of "Rave On" is ranked number 154 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

 A NEIGHBOR'S BENCH OVERLOOKING THE POND

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Walking through Chinatown, a tourist is fascinated with all the Chinese restaurants, shops, signs, and banners. He turns a corner and sees a building with the sign, "Hans Olaffsen's Laundry."  "Hans Olaffsen?", he muses. "How the heck does that fit in here?"  So he walks into the shop and sees an old Chinese gentleman behind the counter.  The tourist asks, "How did this place get a name like "Hans Olaffsen's Laundry?"  The old man answers, "Is name of owner."  The tourist asks, "Well, who and where is the owner?"  "Me, is right here," replies the old man.  "You? How did you ever get a name like Hans Olaffsen?"  "Is simple," says the old man. "Many, many year ago when come to this country, was stand in line at Documentation Center. Man in front was big blonde Swede. Lady look at him and go, "What your name?" He say, "Hans Olaffsen." Then she look at me and go, 'What your name?'"  "I say, Sem Ting."

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Young Actor: "Dad, guess what? I've just got my first part in a play. I play the part of a man who's been married for 30 years."
Father: "Well, keep at it, son. Maybe one day you'll get a speaking part."

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The man was in no shape to drive, so he wisely left his car parked and walked home. As he was walking unsteadily along, he was stopped by a policeman. "What are you doing out here at 2 A.M.?" asked the officer.  "I'm going to a lecture." The man said.  "And who is going to give a lecture at this hour?" the cop asked.
"My wife," said the man.
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