tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72259087094830969652024-03-18T09:24:42.113-07:00Oddball Observations Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.comBlogger4640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-25303821516139071142024-03-17T06:21:00.001-07:002024-03-17T06:21:10.230-07:00TO THE IRISH EVERYWHERE<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTBxPJU_OngBgTUAy3rj4Xw0jNvqbf1D1DBt6K-t9Z2tN03DjAPYfMVQy9eCgxkJAhI6N1DhvXZ156NL9NoyUI74Zs2BKCTznmBWrYAAnPu__xh-Ru51HWExrTeNE06wFgK6qnJ9zaWkctOnGaMCyTrMRGK8d5fvGWxS0sKP0oth9sJXNcw5aAvv/s374/unnamed%20(22).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTBxPJU_OngBgTUAy3rj4Xw0jNvqbf1D1DBt6K-t9Z2tN03DjAPYfMVQy9eCgxkJAhI6N1DhvXZ156NL9NoyUI74Zs2BKCTznmBWrYAAnPu__xh-Ru51HWExrTeNE06wFgK6qnJ9zaWkctOnGaMCyTrMRGK8d5fvGWxS0sKP0oth9sJXNcw5aAvv/w480-h640/unnamed%20(22).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik_M7ILh5UaEWj2gCcM5Q4-Jy5cEfneXZKxnVX9uIFpw9Tk9DL8HsbaIed3iwQwTDGBBaMzpzKSYwER69krYOvXCJv_knjNaDp4FEyIBQRRKhpq4trcxsia4KtvTVpGawOi_AOms6lojzGc64osChkjQfSxYYzXlTacSQDncoxbXszxzcUA_eGN57/s770/best_crop_7142368884187470b643_mini_magick20240316-11329-1ujeyua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="770" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik_M7ILh5UaEWj2gCcM5Q4-Jy5cEfneXZKxnVX9uIFpw9Tk9DL8HsbaIed3iwQwTDGBBaMzpzKSYwER69krYOvXCJv_knjNaDp4FEyIBQRRKhpq4trcxsia4KtvTVpGawOi_AOms6lojzGc64osChkjQfSxYYzXlTacSQDncoxbXszxzcUA_eGN57/w542-h421/best_crop_7142368884187470b643_mini_magick20240316-11329-1ujeyua.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-41540970330654428212024-03-16T12:04:00.001-07:002024-03-16T12:04:45.452-07:00SPICE BUNDT CAKE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I tried a new recipe yesterday and it was only a partial success.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_t7h8TD9oMnP5K9zeTj_g8tJQhvmlSeHPzzJxLawHPit9CaDTTqOcgHTsVGce4Ra5MY8OjvrGjLbHumO2cR7uOoe593v-6heLpbsuMqBw7TgaV6EPyDpUkSRQzaZ5XfP-YsHCAM7ugb2KoDRMP7y_5AIpFdVyPmWtSitGllfTOWuyR4Y1R5prPGA/s2814/cake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2814" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_t7h8TD9oMnP5K9zeTj_g8tJQhvmlSeHPzzJxLawHPit9CaDTTqOcgHTsVGce4Ra5MY8OjvrGjLbHumO2cR7uOoe593v-6heLpbsuMqBw7TgaV6EPyDpUkSRQzaZ5XfP-YsHCAM7ugb2KoDRMP7y_5AIpFdVyPmWtSitGllfTOWuyR4Y1R5prPGA/w557-h408/cake1.jpg" width="557" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a Spice Bundt Cake.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't do a good job of preparing my bundt pan so I had a dickens of a time getting it out, even after it was completely cool.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the top and sides came off but the glaze would cover that , right?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Except that I didn't get the glaze thin enough and instead of running artfully down the sides of the cake, it just kind of glopped onto the top.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took this next picture with the flash on my camera so you could better see the consistency of the interior of the cake.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkNGiZbsef7DwGDZ0kfXzJh2zXB6Ag6Duh72Sokl4zBSyj9JGyKsaNSXcleyz0rhwHy92ig3RknAPjyfEFiQFkieJP_8EYDOz-FBZ2H2aoHKpnuRbSAqNX5bbl8JrOLM-myUP0_8Gc1EmQ0w8Rc-r-9WHtuC8Qa6uQB8nGJjXK-C04e0m8dhFwSj5/s2295/cake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2295" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkNGiZbsef7DwGDZ0kfXzJh2zXB6Ag6Duh72Sokl4zBSyj9JGyKsaNSXcleyz0rhwHy92ig3RknAPjyfEFiQFkieJP_8EYDOz-FBZ2H2aoHKpnuRbSAqNX5bbl8JrOLM-myUP0_8Gc1EmQ0w8Rc-r-9WHtuC8Qa6uQB8nGJjXK-C04e0m8dhFwSj5/w527-h323/cake2.jpg" width="527" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">'Course then you can see the glaze (more like frosting) piled on the top.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, artful it ain't.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it tastes pretty darned good, especially this morning after resting and mellowing a bit during the night.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every time I do something in the kitchen I learn a little bit more.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now if I can just live to 150!</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-1617940737062906942024-03-15T05:00:00.001-07:002024-03-15T05:00:00.144-07:00THE FRIDAY FUNNIES<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was PI Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You know, 3.14 yada, yada, yada.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I read somewhere that a man in India memorized Pi through 70,000 decimal points.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd say he had too much time on his hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But then, of course, I read it on the Interwebs and you know you can't believe anything there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At any rate, we finished Judy's delicious Lemon Sponge Pie the night before last so I didn't even get any pie on Pi Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh well, Sunday is St. Patrick's Day and I'm holding onto a recipe for Guiness Cake but I'm not sure if I'll make it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All of these holidays can get wearing, you know, especially for we retirees.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I mean we don't even get a day off!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, it's back to work to present to you this week's drollery.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVXFeYnbyQVT7If0diJWQ4rGr0YmL7YhxhV3r3Af92a2VVBfwF23ObzU5RwE2mGhtCmcUQ05J-SdGjNDEN2J-drFwXBJbyEMEz-0YUIbXv_IIW2oeJQ8XxiXB3BFX4q6NGj6X9uzILpiipm9AakmxRfIl79ERDoyFcUXCUpL9GYLKXwgkDnWCXn9m/s1379/First%20Sign%20of%20Spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVXFeYnbyQVT7If0diJWQ4rGr0YmL7YhxhV3r3Af92a2VVBfwF23ObzU5RwE2mGhtCmcUQ05J-SdGjNDEN2J-drFwXBJbyEMEz-0YUIbXv_IIW2oeJQ8XxiXB3BFX4q6NGj6X9uzILpiipm9AakmxRfIl79ERDoyFcUXCUpL9GYLKXwgkDnWCXn9m/w314-h400/First%20Sign%20of%20Spring.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXv2h-Q4ApETzkQzNz2z0z9D_S1euVCIltlgPmuofzAfCKS1FgtMN4k4nSK_5_zjgRSdjHMExdjCJ3hPjAlLnU9NLISc6QtqHOzB6YfuvumdlsUnmrMjvwQsSXDZybaUzsznKX8RweXjRpI5v1MApdbKN5JFjZgOzG7PCkhYNjv4uybf989OuUj3C/s1280/image%20(5).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1008" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXv2h-Q4ApETzkQzNz2z0z9D_S1euVCIltlgPmuofzAfCKS1FgtMN4k4nSK_5_zjgRSdjHMExdjCJ3hPjAlLnU9NLISc6QtqHOzB6YfuvumdlsUnmrMjvwQsSXDZybaUzsznKX8RweXjRpI5v1MApdbKN5JFjZgOzG7PCkhYNjv4uybf989OuUj3C/w315-h400/image%20(5).png" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpGo0NZA5BqHpn6sdHNAAZ7pa45EV5YOb3bA5Cs-GRF6V6N0p0FykeJZnwh_eqyrOEy__Ho06o9XB1sbAu-r9EGuTN13ceZMEs48aEGODw0gOhCezil3uaF_3YdMVZXztY5e4iLJza5ctZUFGV4b8Y45o-jqwsQcteCbwlhjUEMaUc9QcgtBkAx_T/s400/image%20(27).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="400" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpGo0NZA5BqHpn6sdHNAAZ7pa45EV5YOb3bA5Cs-GRF6V6N0p0FykeJZnwh_eqyrOEy__Ho06o9XB1sbAu-r9EGuTN13ceZMEs48aEGODw0gOhCezil3uaF_3YdMVZXztY5e4iLJza5ctZUFGV4b8Y45o-jqwsQcteCbwlhjUEMaUc9QcgtBkAx_T/w400-h396/image%20(27).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGsijO2YR4-4bZV4uNsvwuAi6QPdWKOCsnGHUGmcs43ru9bn-qMQcRDixaqQKyneRrBpDMOs3_1scvmQxfncfrBuxu9QtQ2BEn9aIPDyEp2qBSKpXs2DGk7rBzsvWaUX-1iDItcpHHvt3KN0lazStUpDOQSDjQKw4cMM-tazzFx3nlwbULFWZf4Kr/s564/unnamed%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="564" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGsijO2YR4-4bZV4uNsvwuAi6QPdWKOCsnGHUGmcs43ru9bn-qMQcRDixaqQKyneRrBpDMOs3_1scvmQxfncfrBuxu9QtQ2BEn9aIPDyEp2qBSKpXs2DGk7rBzsvWaUX-1iDItcpHHvt3KN0lazStUpDOQSDjQKw4cMM-tazzFx3nlwbULFWZf4Kr/w400-h283/unnamed%20(20).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Zx8loTKVz8ObdAXPdJ0h7YkCkjj4UipgoH2Uym74MVU49A3TAFRS7Lecvkx7GLX-x_hqyijuBXlamjr5SqlBOfXZNQWyCKTQyqml97scBhzucbIGUd3YOGOrNaHLBAvQyVgpv-W64ei3VA76SSgXvUTRu5VnCkZflAIGrfaT4LmgJLK4ycHpLJ-d/s550/hyp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="544" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Zx8loTKVz8ObdAXPdJ0h7YkCkjj4UipgoH2Uym74MVU49A3TAFRS7Lecvkx7GLX-x_hqyijuBXlamjr5SqlBOfXZNQWyCKTQyqml97scBhzucbIGUd3YOGOrNaHLBAvQyVgpv-W64ei3VA76SSgXvUTRu5VnCkZflAIGrfaT4LmgJLK4ycHpLJ-d/w396-h400/hyp.png" width="396" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdEN52FpsXKTYgTwdE7RMo_KjlXoSteqxKYYpBTwvXYSsLUJwJEAxuKPEE0swegqrKAvhDUpgO2HQL47T1F19USpJ1FbU9J1SvoXAytun_QFynF37NF68ZD-FSyH-nbOdLmP1SFqcpDuNDK1AUM8EWC8q6gZnZ8ayISqT4Gl_73cBs_KmO_T5cpGu/s994/tree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdEN52FpsXKTYgTwdE7RMo_KjlXoSteqxKYYpBTwvXYSsLUJwJEAxuKPEE0swegqrKAvhDUpgO2HQL47T1F19USpJ1FbU9J1SvoXAytun_QFynF37NF68ZD-FSyH-nbOdLmP1SFqcpDuNDK1AUM8EWC8q6gZnZ8ayISqT4Gl_73cBs_KmO_T5cpGu/w345-h400/tree.png" width="345" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8pUPCCh86njIk55uSEd9ETLoemwUU6PkQEEY4oBpXrmM5vOhXVLycruBD85gOMcwk-fBUoLDs9bkrkdaXdELIgKq6SzppjjoRKjISB7OAjid8noHX1H26nM5frnEPuBqxMb4-7NsjxNuzWcMO165Mt4f-xX9V7Rp61Qm_Qwf7gPvSIM_k3YNrkSS/s540/image%20(75).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8pUPCCh86njIk55uSEd9ETLoemwUU6PkQEEY4oBpXrmM5vOhXVLycruBD85gOMcwk-fBUoLDs9bkrkdaXdELIgKq6SzppjjoRKjISB7OAjid8noHX1H26nM5frnEPuBqxMb4-7NsjxNuzWcMO165Mt4f-xX9V7Rp61Qm_Qwf7gPvSIM_k3YNrkSS/w334-h400/image%20(75).png" width="334" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3sOIbJt337mTcT3t7gMIY2t-AUhAODiU0KqQW0KkIe-HlioUSUkjm9bvIS80YxsS8PrQjFihCT5MRomcmNxbjiThe0hgr4k6Y5-Qy_fEMBx-Hoq_tBxaQ5ssXpu-ttqDoLJavWZmOH_2sgcLMjEEdrngXJ4_OFWayzZmCr5mVyNilUk6dgMzkMFp/s1066/image%20(72).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3sOIbJt337mTcT3t7gMIY2t-AUhAODiU0KqQW0KkIe-HlioUSUkjm9bvIS80YxsS8PrQjFihCT5MRomcmNxbjiThe0hgr4k6Y5-Qy_fEMBx-Hoq_tBxaQ5ssXpu-ttqDoLJavWZmOH_2sgcLMjEEdrngXJ4_OFWayzZmCr5mVyNilUk6dgMzkMFp/w300-h400/image%20(72).png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJcRCk7eI6NkxW4DDZdJ-gpOjztFooC1YH_IZuzctBGTdQmk2eSUsE6ONCO7i3H21IIrWZ3Q5Cp3GDJMHPOGkdWdP7DGYBxUfG9NkHWecWwcfr_HFRjh4jaaV-p23c7LoXiLxQ4A9rQT12ZLr2y4QSXkvp0xMq9DJWxMzTxTnGnpICB8PV6PG_gMz/s362/image%20(54).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJcRCk7eI6NkxW4DDZdJ-gpOjztFooC1YH_IZuzctBGTdQmk2eSUsE6ONCO7i3H21IIrWZ3Q5Cp3GDJMHPOGkdWdP7DGYBxUfG9NkHWecWwcfr_HFRjh4jaaV-p23c7LoXiLxQ4A9rQT12ZLr2y4QSXkvp0xMq9DJWxMzTxTnGnpICB8PV6PG_gMz/w331-h400/image%20(54).png" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPH3uPTz86966m2NXz2IwAEcs5LupoUEpzNcy27fVm6xE481mXdM-w9MehfjLf6EiesBYvPvggT9SdeWSSgD6oEqx6usH9XBGOxRgiNTBD7MTemn1CXhKXLSjrxADj7RG1XZRlqkAr_u5MRKPYeWCxwqtfySUcdItcoIRlRbok4KGjCJAsDOiQYuq/s675/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="675" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPH3uPTz86966m2NXz2IwAEcs5LupoUEpzNcy27fVm6xE481mXdM-w9MehfjLf6EiesBYvPvggT9SdeWSSgD6oEqx6usH9XBGOxRgiNTBD7MTemn1CXhKXLSjrxADj7RG1XZRlqkAr_u5MRKPYeWCxwqtfySUcdItcoIRlRbok4KGjCJAsDOiQYuq/w400-h356/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBWgu-JLAym2T0hYVZzT2KwmsjKjojXMGjlmVTXhqqI8pLHMUqlbb016Ns8kT4qkYEKyvuDCMx-MIy3lUO3Ethyx1Qix7TCfQifKYUBKiGon67gfOj79jKMUVozLZ2Dz_cV19itwYUfmmUp_x_qK5lPoqoKl8UvHJU7dXEswfiJAcoELckjv1RRqD/s960/image%20(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBWgu-JLAym2T0hYVZzT2KwmsjKjojXMGjlmVTXhqqI8pLHMUqlbb016Ns8kT4qkYEKyvuDCMx-MIy3lUO3Ethyx1Qix7TCfQifKYUBKiGon67gfOj79jKMUVozLZ2Dz_cV19itwYUfmmUp_x_qK5lPoqoKl8UvHJU7dXEswfiJAcoELckjv1RRqD/w334-h400/image%20(3).png" width="334" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that's all I can do to improve your moods, Gentle Readers.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now venture forth (or stay in your recliner) and try your darndest to have a mind-numbingly fine weekend.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And always remember to keep laughing.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1hiQTo0I6CGsogN0xRuv8uMToFk59dOeCXTxwfb75eBONofrlQCoER5H8ZceK8QJ8wpD6G3Nfgo53Mpc2tZq2f_nfe84jbLxx-H4nfUFPO-KIZkEBZ9PCfd0mCnRsEnJynpFcnXZOwxGmek4r9uPjDr5N_sO-RvURufclfvquts9754_FjeYgoq4/s315/image%20(33).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1hiQTo0I6CGsogN0xRuv8uMToFk59dOeCXTxwfb75eBONofrlQCoER5H8ZceK8QJ8wpD6G3Nfgo53Mpc2tZq2f_nfe84jbLxx-H4nfUFPO-KIZkEBZ9PCfd0mCnRsEnJynpFcnXZOwxGmek4r9uPjDr5N_sO-RvURufclfvquts9754_FjeYgoq4/w400-h400/image%20(33).png" width="400" /></a></div>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-19278996064915426172024-03-14T15:21:00.000-07:002024-03-14T15:21:20.507-07:00THROWBACK THURSDAY<p><span style="font-size: large;">A number of years ago a blogger who went by the name of "Willow" created an exercise among a number of other bloggers called "Magpie Tales".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Each week she would post a photo and invite the others to write a story, a poem, an essay that came to their minds from the prompt.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Willow, after some years, unveiled herself as Tess Kincaid and some time later she moved from the American midwest to England where she had fallen in love with one Robin Gosnall and where she lives happily today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I was looking for something else, I discovered a short story I had written as one of her Magpie Tales and having nothing of importance to blog today, I decided to present it again. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It begins with Willow's photo prompt.</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><p><br style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_artRsaaSwjs/S9TCQzSNNrI/AAAAAAAADcg/wU7s6DLWwTo/s1600/IMG_3567a.jpg" style="background-color: #882222; color: #ffffcc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464205841807521458" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_artRsaaSwjs/S9TCQzSNNrI/AAAAAAAADcg/wU7s6DLWwTo/s400-rw/IMG_3567a.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(102, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></p><p style="background-color: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The only clue was a black wooden walking stick, capped with silver. There was engraving of some kind in the silver but it was impossible to determine what it said or what it meant. The stick had been left leaning against the the white-washed wall of the room. There was nothing else.<br /><br />Montclair had lived in this room since arriving in St. Elys three weeks prior to his disappearance. He never left it in the daylight, only slipped out in the dark of night wearing a black trilby hat which matched in color the cape he also wore. No one really saw him leave or knew where he went. He was just a ghostly shadow passing by. Wherever he traveled, he was always back in his room by morning light.<br /><br />His meals were left on a tray outside the door to his room and though no one saw him open the door, the empty and soiled dishes appeared back in the same place some time later.<br /><br />This went on for three weeks. Then the food dishes weren’t picked up one day. The landlady knocked repeatedly on the door and called Mr. Montclair’s name but there was no answer. Finally, after calling the town constable to her establishment, the two of them unlocked the door and cautiously entered.<br /><br />There was nothing. No sign that anyone had ever been living in the room. The only sign of anything out of the ordinary was that silver-capped walking stick leaning against one wall. Montclair was gone. With the exception of the walking stick he left behind it was as if he had never existed, never been there.<br /><br />The landlady has kept the walking stick, waiting for its owner to return or to write or to call, asking for it. But all these years later, the request has never come. And the man in the cape and the hat known only as Montclair remains a mystery to this day.</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-32839372259746763432024-03-13T14:53:00.000-07:002024-03-13T14:53:38.393-07:00THE SKY HAS LOWERED<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I had to blather on about Spring almost being here, didn't I?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our temperatures have dropped somewhat today and it's been in the 50's.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And it's raining.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT0xsbVtTWyJBpCO8rYKgnzDzqtNxKxXNudM80FJ279EYnRBv6nEy4BzCTWN-H16oT33Z2MSE6Nijhv_YS00o9-8tpILsAtcXrHkv3VJmeYrJiilChWYYgLVzijUD9MaX3_DB_poIcLrVod8zdGibINvfG0CuhGGQ_LfBnK1UITGrOzI7PYd4QxQh/s3264/20240313_140937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT0xsbVtTWyJBpCO8rYKgnzDzqtNxKxXNudM80FJ279EYnRBv6nEy4BzCTWN-H16oT33Z2MSE6Nijhv_YS00o9-8tpILsAtcXrHkv3VJmeYrJiilChWYYgLVzijUD9MaX3_DB_poIcLrVod8zdGibINvfG0CuhGGQ_LfBnK1UITGrOzI7PYd4QxQh/w400-h300/20240313_140937.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As evidenced by our very wet patio right now.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A week or so ago, a big fat robin landed on the edge of our tomato barrel and then flew to the top of one of our patio chairs and glared in the window at us.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He seemed to be saying <i>"Okay, I'm here! Where's that blasted bird bath?"</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently that and the warmer weather we'd been enjoying prompted Judy to dig it out and clean it for the coming season.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I put it in the tomato barrel as a temporary spot because Judy said it would be easier to get the ice out of it if it froze overnight.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I filled it with water but I guess that wouldn't have been necessary since the rain has been filling it today.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFBIEbNpBvHDM_iyoYabtQilHyjIq8zYFe3XyrVU6l185NBJcvvJpJPWqlQKuWHYSaHbuaX-KXfkYMEwBI1Difouzu7JLf3vmkHaPj03da22seY-c-V_3bMcm-nC0087761JruQSNdhx_NaOn8qD0TcDitbH7ZpOUwwsI_73X5g08tTVVNHVirw-G/s2164/20240313_140907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="1934" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFBIEbNpBvHDM_iyoYabtQilHyjIq8zYFe3XyrVU6l185NBJcvvJpJPWqlQKuWHYSaHbuaX-KXfkYMEwBI1Difouzu7JLf3vmkHaPj03da22seY-c-V_3bMcm-nC0087761JruQSNdhx_NaOn8qD0TcDitbH7ZpOUwwsI_73X5g08tTVVNHVirw-G/w358-h400/20240313_140907.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just have to remember the lyrics of an old song <i>"Those April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it isn't even April yet.</span></div><p></p><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-73170523660777827302024-03-11T13:55:00.000-07:002024-03-11T13:55:24.893-07:00SPRING IS NEAR<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span>This year Spring officially begins a week from tomorrow, on March 19th.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Almighty Google tells me that it always begins on March 19th, 20th or 21st but because this is a Leap Year, February got an extra day and the Vernal Equinox comes a little early on the calendar.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course for people in the Southern Hemisphere, i.e. south of the Equator, this date marks the beginning of Autumn.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we took a short drive today we saw signs that nature and people were rushing the season a bit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Judy said "The trees are budding."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I reminded her that she said not to plant flowers and herbs until after her mid-May birthday, she replied "That's for tender plants. The trees know what they're doing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We saw people out in their yards, raking up old leaves and at least one yard had a flower box with fresh plantings.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the most certain indication that Spring is on the way was at our nearby Urban Lakes Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The town had drained one of the two lakes to seal and repair leaks in the dam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But it's all filled again as we found on our drive around town.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwU39_4tuudQWooiX0HMptZu1bKj0DZ8hCR8y4FEohDRizPgK1_0yYQYyLwUbOcKIX4DxYDEk1agJNlxx4wl7wv8Q5KnSGpfCLoGhEp1e1GW0rXzFMCM5PwM8t4uq3cq8SDTybcAvmIxJMHYUM5MTTteHMkl_FpfzooDr-kPmXHbypeuq0O_hFObX/s3092/20240311_130347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="3092" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwU39_4tuudQWooiX0HMptZu1bKj0DZ8hCR8y4FEohDRizPgK1_0yYQYyLwUbOcKIX4DxYDEk1agJNlxx4wl7wv8Q5KnSGpfCLoGhEp1e1GW0rXzFMCM5PwM8t4uq3cq8SDTybcAvmIxJMHYUM5MTTteHMkl_FpfzooDr-kPmXHbypeuq0O_hFObX/w524-h231/20240311_130347.jpg" width="524" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Way off on the far side you might be able to see a man standing at the water's edge.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He's a fisherman trying his luck.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But on our side of the lake, the water was teeming with ducks and geese.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk8RdzpuGY0cFNRcEH_XntTHgXydv_P9lJYlOhVbT-EqVnuJn_OiOo7qyX4ftAyCtoJgUHv11G8YXiGnOiRsLYOjOGhONLjwMtSBtm8sbxw6cJ-PrI5pFjLCY_9LERkNpsSKH4ZnG6TA60f1KvqDKmKqmXUT_YE_mEBUHVGzC52m7TSnebwQBlRqv/s3264/20240311_130437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk8RdzpuGY0cFNRcEH_XntTHgXydv_P9lJYlOhVbT-EqVnuJn_OiOo7qyX4ftAyCtoJgUHv11G8YXiGnOiRsLYOjOGhONLjwMtSBtm8sbxw6cJ-PrI5pFjLCY_9LERkNpsSKH4ZnG6TA60f1KvqDKmKqmXUT_YE_mEBUHVGzC52m7TSnebwQBlRqv/w480-h640/20240311_130437.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">They seemed happy to have their playground back.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it appeared Spring had produced thoughts of romance to many of the creatures as they chased each other around their corner of the lake.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6or24KylGaIoPv6A22wBc6qIHhycMLxkmWbn6R6mqTiM55XxJ5OdNVmbS59KuXJEZtZEBVhpkqMieWDN8B8Bf5hFU5xkgBboK0pNf6sfVqLw_doYJ7lS3loNY74ybHFVMKXgQhtfTO32Wy7ZNNjg9F7pODu1abRppBHIWa95wN8WoMwhUkkk3f_7k/s1109/20240311_130424-+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="1109" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6or24KylGaIoPv6A22wBc6qIHhycMLxkmWbn6R6mqTiM55XxJ5OdNVmbS59KuXJEZtZEBVhpkqMieWDN8B8Bf5hFU5xkgBboK0pNf6sfVqLw_doYJ7lS3loNY74ybHFVMKXgQhtfTO32Wy7ZNNjg9F7pODu1abRppBHIWa95wN8WoMwhUkkk3f_7k/w640-h234/20240311_130424-+.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spring is a time of year for growth, it is said, and perhaps too for starting a fresh family!</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-80649783039045940832024-03-08T05:00:00.001-07:002024-03-08T05:00:00.131-07:00THE FRIDAY FUNNIES<p> <span style="font-size: large;">TCB: To all of my dear friends and Gentle Readers here at Oddball, let me thank you for your shock, shared grief and condolences over the sudden and irreparable demise of my Coconut Cornbread earlier in the week.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To Ellen D. - I *did* get a tiny piece for a taste, following the lead of my mentor, SWMBO, who dug a sliver out of the top in spite of my horrified statement that it was probably full of tiny pieces of glass.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But you know me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If she did it, then I wanna do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a disappointment because I think the piece (of cornbread, not glass) was too tiny to even get a sense of the flavor.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As for those of you who commented that I deserved a Piña Colada after that tragi-comic experience, I will say that I have not had one yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have the rum but not the pineapple juice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And for those who have encouraged me to try again, I'm still dealing with my loss.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I did make a couple of loaves of English Muffin Bread and a huge round flattened loaf of German Farm Bread at mid-week.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Next time I make that latter bread though I'll put it in a couple of loaf pans and not try to make the rustic round loaf I was trying to accomplish.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The dough is just too liquid.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So now that I have Taken Care of Business, let me get to the business of the day: FUN!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBScuszCDPtm71x1j60yVeAt9oH67xP04ItKKoNEfSweYBm5nMaFLZexbpsAcWcjoQIrwOnxayye-gGPcNPVUG3zHcoONhOifVAheMsugjnAzsjMWHpRRiVluxH4sS8Ma2u8BDkbh_Lk-blBnWZ-7rWA8gYliVCuR3VnuuMq6_cUzRrh08CCpqmot7/s902/DINNER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="902" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBScuszCDPtm71x1j60yVeAt9oH67xP04ItKKoNEfSweYBm5nMaFLZexbpsAcWcjoQIrwOnxayye-gGPcNPVUG3zHcoONhOifVAheMsugjnAzsjMWHpRRiVluxH4sS8Ma2u8BDkbh_Lk-blBnWZ-7rWA8gYliVCuR3VnuuMq6_cUzRrh08CCpqmot7/w400-h371/DINNER.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUY0TAp90suiOZw586Osg3kMr75KC-jzvUG36caumoT3J4X-H8SEhTrVt5crBcQYdHEPOa9Mqek1XY1zrwE4pFimYbydE8qKcD4NL9Ulm3d5RQY2pGbp_03tHPmqrKgwhfCzQjGQq3-AByCZuIVNgCFEdX3-b_fWPf9Dm10S_sxniiLCT-ilEB-G8/s746/image%20(57).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUY0TAp90suiOZw586Osg3kMr75KC-jzvUG36caumoT3J4X-H8SEhTrVt5crBcQYdHEPOa9Mqek1XY1zrwE4pFimYbydE8qKcD4NL9Ulm3d5RQY2pGbp_03tHPmqrKgwhfCzQjGQq3-AByCZuIVNgCFEdX3-b_fWPf9Dm10S_sxniiLCT-ilEB-G8/w386-h400/image%20(57).png" width="386" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DPf0zZkeDx2S9B-6KtkJLC1Q3kXTjf02gLhCKiekYzB-OIA9ifjSbHZs0Tc-FjRddCEZ5VjIaOMGUBev_v7_ULmjB89Tg2AStAT_JUj9YY1afeddhpJ_Xvz4ixa4VRR0kjdFQVJhrOE7y9s_VFkAQcSRF_VZTlhKpJADvGbk7Ochp9wCfcDvRqZO/s599/smors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="599" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DPf0zZkeDx2S9B-6KtkJLC1Q3kXTjf02gLhCKiekYzB-OIA9ifjSbHZs0Tc-FjRddCEZ5VjIaOMGUBev_v7_ULmjB89Tg2AStAT_JUj9YY1afeddhpJ_Xvz4ixa4VRR0kjdFQVJhrOE7y9s_VFkAQcSRF_VZTlhKpJADvGbk7Ochp9wCfcDvRqZO/w400-h270/smors.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuyhadOVsXJzNDRoo38uTXs-WtCOYCBqswyoBmjAR7oh90FmKyN0qz3G6KyjHP9IcJdofeZD5WHp49E7nTlMDkRUsjTXmYWoVl8kIDbZ9f9ecYSioDfrWLlC8kSy6jTppLhx8GbVZb1bsz3oI9mrO3SUR_rKFS0PTd2P97dh-XCrSQ0ldrbkIQzd6/s360/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="360" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuyhadOVsXJzNDRoo38uTXs-WtCOYCBqswyoBmjAR7oh90FmKyN0qz3G6KyjHP9IcJdofeZD5WHp49E7nTlMDkRUsjTXmYWoVl8kIDbZ9f9ecYSioDfrWLlC8kSy6jTppLhx8GbVZb1bsz3oI9mrO3SUR_rKFS0PTd2P97dh-XCrSQ0ldrbkIQzd6/w400-h224/IMG_5074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk9ZRKSOmWU2wEK1W2LmPiby8-jWknInhv3ZrxuJD823DO5rtbL_ury3oewWArlg7YvDWgxuBn64nyWKbGeE2W685GSlLCGdZoruwi6BKNRZy-3Py3D-DPAeQec-z9I61UFD7ksDcS4r2rF_c8rsKpMtmOghra6SHYGIe6wOPa_ylxJB2kSBYXUtx/s710/image%20(65).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="710" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk9ZRKSOmWU2wEK1W2LmPiby8-jWknInhv3ZrxuJD823DO5rtbL_ury3oewWArlg7YvDWgxuBn64nyWKbGeE2W685GSlLCGdZoruwi6BKNRZy-3Py3D-DPAeQec-z9I61UFD7ksDcS4r2rF_c8rsKpMtmOghra6SHYGIe6wOPa_ylxJB2kSBYXUtx/w400-h386/image%20(65).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZmCcuun64U7y07VYGLXTo9sMTCxKoENNHqAFxf5YaCzuzmwxS8juTh2MF6vLlX86jXdB2b6R30o7MoMhTDQ8xlHx4lggh-E66UavSUbYo8TeS1b4gwGFzB-TVPUO8ssbIicoy1RIY63SFemiYFSLAt9vI0c8Kg8gc2WBihHKacbK2333WUNm6ACb/s355/ATT00035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZmCcuun64U7y07VYGLXTo9sMTCxKoENNHqAFxf5YaCzuzmwxS8juTh2MF6vLlX86jXdB2b6R30o7MoMhTDQ8xlHx4lggh-E66UavSUbYo8TeS1b4gwGFzB-TVPUO8ssbIicoy1RIY63SFemiYFSLAt9vI0c8Kg8gc2WBihHKacbK2333WUNm6ACb/w400-h400/ATT00035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIrkbIoMzUL9SVBeQYXjfV0uMeipFLyr1HIe70WpM397mVrHd3qf75OIQRBHFFMyrKwXXmWOS71E7KZBSBy8oh68sxWYlQFYoWRZUq-AHiJml2T2eaNK0tvUxSIVMD2PpOws-yFf-lQ79OZcY69QNYeZAG_oSWnqbKI2u26IMAwfVnsHKiFrvwXZA/s1204/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="962" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIrkbIoMzUL9SVBeQYXjfV0uMeipFLyr1HIe70WpM397mVrHd3qf75OIQRBHFFMyrKwXXmWOS71E7KZBSBy8oh68sxWYlQFYoWRZUq-AHiJml2T2eaNK0tvUxSIVMD2PpOws-yFf-lQ79OZcY69QNYeZAG_oSWnqbKI2u26IMAwfVnsHKiFrvwXZA/w398-h498/IMG_0512.JPG" width="398" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_lHIq0GzLaCsGMoI7KQQjMk2ZvoSKDwwTF65gKl61SgHDb-dpjWYIP62lKRgsfqy0yCARbSLoIReomCVZrNoreNyjcFs4hNHU0EZ0P7NfHHiXahPSWVfEgMUDPp-YfEAkIoRo5-paV2y478gJQn_7schyphenhyphenmZ5fPLMPgrixWw4b0COw1_aQxLf1Fop/s595/laz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_lHIq0GzLaCsGMoI7KQQjMk2ZvoSKDwwTF65gKl61SgHDb-dpjWYIP62lKRgsfqy0yCARbSLoIReomCVZrNoreNyjcFs4hNHU0EZ0P7NfHHiXahPSWVfEgMUDPp-YfEAkIoRo5-paV2y478gJQn_7schyphenhyphenmZ5fPLMPgrixWw4b0COw1_aQxLf1Fop/w349-h400/laz.png" width="349" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tOTdMYcOa6jLkgPe5TaPfv7LjefhdzK_KRD1TA5AxomB3sUbdLPSd4IzkAPWqBxbrqjKMMss0vtO-vdfsm6qkHxgwEKswAo3fL8_YZSMFSkvWeTit9QLTS2D1mRiyGoWfCvqUjd0pwLrCkx5_5pxLOCp4dhFYhO0XmwLdfwgC6egfGZf9yg4d7JV/s960/lyre.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="817" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tOTdMYcOa6jLkgPe5TaPfv7LjefhdzK_KRD1TA5AxomB3sUbdLPSd4IzkAPWqBxbrqjKMMss0vtO-vdfsm6qkHxgwEKswAo3fL8_YZSMFSkvWeTit9QLTS2D1mRiyGoWfCvqUjd0pwLrCkx5_5pxLOCp4dhFYhO0XmwLdfwgC6egfGZf9yg4d7JV/w340-h400/lyre.png" width="340" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YZ-HZQegO7lHlBvS83vMens2UCMhMKemYfOfUIGjXNUuGNJD2_D3CVv2TPyPJz9xXmGum1wIk24Wu3hyphenhyphenGSeBhbrV3vatcGkf7nqn2I9dYAgk7nxqQ3YU5DsyyESI84Q4RBl4QGiL5Yb8V4wq5EvIHMkvbatCWm_650fc5o1gmV5w6ZOCV8SaNJc-/s493/image%20(50).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YZ-HZQegO7lHlBvS83vMens2UCMhMKemYfOfUIGjXNUuGNJD2_D3CVv2TPyPJz9xXmGum1wIk24Wu3hyphenhyphenGSeBhbrV3vatcGkf7nqn2I9dYAgk7nxqQ3YU5DsyyESI84Q4RBl4QGiL5Yb8V4wq5EvIHMkvbatCWm_650fc5o1gmV5w6ZOCV8SaNJc-/w400-h400/image%20(50).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJRy_h9lY1TA_HfdmSp_ZFjwn7ChbmF5FkK3HWDlrbIL-BgTrNxgO_kVcxtnVGxSWDqhvvdP6ysWPB9dyD_dxJOZYFckB-SWLTcvqu1OCOHUYNFD4Hzlc95I29Av5iy7EBFdLZ2z0bwXNmR8p9-n0MQpr-LXPh77JcCAwvNcZdpiHEu-Uv2aE4BPk/s756/dam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="640" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJRy_h9lY1TA_HfdmSp_ZFjwn7ChbmF5FkK3HWDlrbIL-BgTrNxgO_kVcxtnVGxSWDqhvvdP6ysWPB9dyD_dxJOZYFckB-SWLTcvqu1OCOHUYNFD4Hzlc95I29Av5iy7EBFdLZ2z0bwXNmR8p9-n0MQpr-LXPh77JcCAwvNcZdpiHEu-Uv2aE4BPk/w422-h498/dam.png" width="422" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All right then, my work here is nearly done.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you've enjoyed it.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you found anything you liked, feel free to pass it on.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now coming up, whether you bake bread or not (and you non-Arizonans may not have time for it since you're going to lose an hour), have yourselves an absolutely gobsmackingly fine weekend.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And always remember to keep laughing!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">( . . oh, isn't that just great to know . . )</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKfxjpevH3wsMotflw0TokRmdxsjP60m3tlWlHBvS9gYfia3GH7fHz9ITOj9cmBmrWiAhI6H-gXcylfgP3Zpphi17L-49ogGniJIjIWmntzBRm6dXuKrhhc3V6RgEtw0Yl68PqeL8PCS_sGw5T1xE3BUApnKOq-P6mHRuqZj0LUvCPUH6VX-Cnw4j/s516/364680568_2549014898619888_7113133185867668383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="516" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKfxjpevH3wsMotflw0TokRmdxsjP60m3tlWlHBvS9gYfia3GH7fHz9ITOj9cmBmrWiAhI6H-gXcylfgP3Zpphi17L-49ogGniJIjIWmntzBRm6dXuKrhhc3V6RgEtw0Yl68PqeL8PCS_sGw5T1xE3BUApnKOq-P6mHRuqZj0LUvCPUH6VX-Cnw4j/w400-h395/364680568_2549014898619888_7113133185867668383_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-42690236521284638062024-03-07T16:38:00.000-07:002024-03-07T16:38:19.088-07:00TRIAL BY ERROR<p><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;">Once again, I turn the writing today over to the real talent in the family, She Who Must Be Obeyed.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soooooooooooooooooo...........</span><wbr style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></wbr><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">................</span></span></p><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me tell you about my shopping trip today: Bruce has been doing</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">most of our shopping since my knee replacement surgery. But today I</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">felt up to it and just wanted to get out on my own,</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just as I was getting ready to go our power failed. I sat down by the</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">front window ready to wait it out, thinking the power may have failed</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at the store also. Hard to find all that stuff in a dark store and</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the computer wouldn't have processed my debit card.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put on my glasses and turned to the current novel I'm</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reading. In a short while the lights came back on and I left for the</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">store. While driving there I noticed my vision was a bit blurry. I</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">refused to return home because of that little bother.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursdays are a good day at the local store, especially after "Senior</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday" when the store is mobbed. I headed for the produce</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">department and started having a hard time telling the cucumbers from</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the zucchini. I suddenly felt I was having a health scare because</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">everything was blurry. <i>(Damned if I'll quit now. I'll finish this</i></span><i><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">shopping and deal with the oncoming stroke when I get home.)</span></i><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My list was long so it took about an hour or more to cover all the</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ground I needed to cover. Finally I checked out and headed home. I</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was trying to figure out how to tell Bruce we had a medical emergency.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got home he unloaded the car and I put away all the frozen</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stuff. Then I went to lie down and figure out how to tell him.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stretched out on the bed and removed my glasses. MY READING</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GLASSES! OMG! The whole time driving there and shopping had been </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">done without my trusty bifocals, but with my reading glasses. I</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wasn't having a medical crisis. A stupidity crisis is different.</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entirely different.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I told him.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #990000; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He made me a drink.</span><br /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am healed........................</span><wbr style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></wbr><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...for the moment.</span></span></div>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-53827005604409290412024-03-04T15:27:00.000-07:002024-03-04T15:27:52.686-07:00VICTORY! (and disaster!!)<p><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I had seen and printed out a recipe from the New York Times' Melissa Clark (everyone's favorite redhead) for Coconut Cornbread.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It sounded interesting to me and I told SWMBO about it and said I was going to try making it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now she has a cornbread recipe in her head that she learned back in her younger days in Indiana and she makes it whenever she can sneak it past me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I prefer the sweeter version from the back of a grocery store box.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So when I told her about this coconut recipe she: </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>a) sneered </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>b) laughed </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>c) cursed </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>d) all of the above</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You pick the reaction you think was hers.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">At any rate since she was going to the grocery anyway I asked her to pick me up a can of coconut milk.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">When she returned she showed me a can of coconut cream and said she had looked everywhere in the store and could not find coconut <i>milk.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked at the coconut cream can and saw a recipe for a Piña Colada cocktail and determined that this stuff would be too sweet for my cornbread recipe.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days later I went to the store and easily found coconut milk, in the Asian Foods aisle.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I bought a can and brought it home, showing it (smugly) to my increasingly perturbed wife.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're still with me, I will tell you that today (several days later) I determined to make the previously mentioned (way back at the beginning of this screed, remember?) Coconut Cornbread.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had all the ingredients and it went together fairly easily.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Clark's recipe said the prep time was 5 minutes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mine was probably about 45 minutes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where do they get these estimates anyway?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Probably from having a band of little elves who lay everything out for her and that five minutes is just to throw it together and pour it into the pan.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or in my case a glass baking dish.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Keep that tidbit in mind, Gentle Readers.)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So after my 45 minutes of melting butter in the microwave and mixing all the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another and making a coconut flake topping in yet another bowl and then combining the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients and mixing it into a batter and pouring it into the (glass) baking dish and topping it (unevenly, as it were) with the topping . . . it went into the preheated oven.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Maybe my prep time was more like an hour.)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">About 40 minutes later, this was what came out.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziXm4p-IfUvCT1Z7OnN-AuuAvaaR5h2xkfyLn9eYAD6jIlh9A0X3AyoSwfzJHmSZISoMgTTCMPMFPK-bPMfvAtdRaSPNJsi5HWra-CjcbM6v3jVj5nGES0jC7DSRFGpRH8LLY_wjslKgRYTvCHI0yU07jBBS3PFPc84WaPL9GzA8L0mh6ipjxdr4T/s2379/20240304_134311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2379" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziXm4p-IfUvCT1Z7OnN-AuuAvaaR5h2xkfyLn9eYAD6jIlh9A0X3AyoSwfzJHmSZISoMgTTCMPMFPK-bPMfvAtdRaSPNJsi5HWra-CjcbM6v3jVj5nGES0jC7DSRFGpRH8LLY_wjslKgRYTvCHI0yU07jBBS3PFPc84WaPL9GzA8L0mh6ipjxdr4T/w400-h374/20240304_134311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It looked pretty good, even with my uneven sprinkling of the now toasted coconut topping.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's another angle to show you sort-of how high it rose.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0wUKhODazUS_OGQXmdqCwEgQYFCKznB760bAZdJ_XlZej58yW1arpm4kFy8pVZ4kpBzJqaArVfdtqMqpWdfDtgz5yt97eRTz-N_BUV8LtPhkJT0sxsG0mp_XIsSbLf6F8hyphenhyphenjMptsWAoVDR12cJc1LzUsOjAAJ7Csc6qpNI7nKGLLsa45Hy1-GxJ1/s1980/20240304_134327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="1980" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0wUKhODazUS_OGQXmdqCwEgQYFCKznB760bAZdJ_XlZej58yW1arpm4kFy8pVZ4kpBzJqaArVfdtqMqpWdfDtgz5yt97eRTz-N_BUV8LtPhkJT0sxsG0mp_XIsSbLf6F8hyphenhyphenjMptsWAoVDR12cJc1LzUsOjAAJ7Csc6qpNI7nKGLLsa45Hy1-GxJ1/w400-h308/20240304_134327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it smelled DIVINE!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took these pictures and went into the other room to show them to SWMBO.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">She agreed they looked good.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked her if she could smell it and she replied "No, and I don't know why."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I went back into the kitchen, picked up the dish with a pair of potholders and carried it into her room to show her and saturate her with the delicious coconut aroma.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Ah," she said, "now I can smell it and it smells wonderful!"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I headed back toward the kitchen but turned to tell her "That's probably because it smells like a Piña Colada!"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as I turned, my arm bumped the corner of the wall and before I could get off my funny line . . . .</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">. . . yeah, you guessed it.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I dropped the coconut cornbread in its dish (remember that glass dish?) on the hard floor and upside down now the dish exploded in a shower of glass shards.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cornbread lay forlornly in the midst of the debris.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just froze and stood there staring dumbly at the remnants.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judy and I cleaned up the mess and, though I vacuumed everywhere I could see a sparkle of glass fragments, I told her that we must not come into this room barefoot for a very long time.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the lengthy cleanup, Judy said "Can you make it again with that can of coconut cream?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I fervently allowed that stuff was probably too sweet and it was meant to be used for making Piña Coladas.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then I consulted with the Allmighty All-Knowing Omnipotent Google and learned that coconut cream can be substituted for coconut milk by diluting it carefully with water.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking about that.</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-64074063500629857602024-03-01T14:03:00.000-07:002024-03-01T14:03:39.898-07:00THE (delayed) FRIDAY FUNNIES<p> <span style="font-size: large;">So there I was, dozing in the Arms of Morpheus, thinking "I didn't do the Friday Funnies yesterday and schedule them to publish early this morning."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But feeling incredibly lazy I decided I'd just grab a few more winks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And then.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And Then.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And THEN!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I finally got up, turned on my computer and nothing happened.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I got some weird messages that said it wouldn't boot up and after fussing with it for some time I got in touch with my computer genius, who I refer to as Saint Rick.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He said to bring it over and awhile later I did.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He fixed it in about 30 seconds.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I won't go into the details.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They're too embarrassing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But anyway, on this first day of March, FINALLY, here are my snippets of silliness for the week.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYeYRtwvGoKu6h74tr3z-hhMwtZWqFbMs0FyzoThrOhyi1-I4LDEPcjplv2uad8EIZNLqF70tGbR_-6mWG9kqy87bEO0_6fbouU85a7XPndMeiY07FV_e6IkIvYPhg_UMnJ5-CE2sjtWCRps8zBiC2hWfalOtmCcxaVUamdLxJ16aC7YnfIR_agx-/s1440/gom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYeYRtwvGoKu6h74tr3z-hhMwtZWqFbMs0FyzoThrOhyi1-I4LDEPcjplv2uad8EIZNLqF70tGbR_-6mWG9kqy87bEO0_6fbouU85a7XPndMeiY07FV_e6IkIvYPhg_UMnJ5-CE2sjtWCRps8zBiC2hWfalOtmCcxaVUamdLxJ16aC7YnfIR_agx-/w400-h266/gom.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9EdZpmFOM9OPKATcD0mV78ZP5tscaXIU4CiqgzIGVMQPYR76HgxsBNi3kggF3yYG3Tf9LrzjNdjz_1iSKPByyqgn7HVfUfaStfCnGTQzb_3G2y4LPDC0IlYRjWrTklFuZm3SwYRNGFwWY_u18L9WQuHIYFl3PRY5eCpOQ5j_0kxNF_JNocgtoR7X/s264/image%20(7).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="264" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9EdZpmFOM9OPKATcD0mV78ZP5tscaXIU4CiqgzIGVMQPYR76HgxsBNi3kggF3yYG3Tf9LrzjNdjz_1iSKPByyqgn7HVfUfaStfCnGTQzb_3G2y4LPDC0IlYRjWrTklFuZm3SwYRNGFwWY_u18L9WQuHIYFl3PRY5eCpOQ5j_0kxNF_JNocgtoR7X/w400-h329/image%20(7).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrLWaKkLl8V12bq4ypXRmjQOWRTVGgUNTreWGDqcDTtZxCiHe2PjQRkD_9OQURSC94uasqYaNlooY9BOuuqsJ8UNruXR_AQcDlnYi-iXDxddf1dM7re54MgmxXTvPykLredyOs9qyo1vvENcBtJEM0UVfcO9-qfb4Rnri1BO0eYJbFY8oZnYCU-3O/s526/gps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrLWaKkLl8V12bq4ypXRmjQOWRTVGgUNTreWGDqcDTtZxCiHe2PjQRkD_9OQURSC94uasqYaNlooY9BOuuqsJ8UNruXR_AQcDlnYi-iXDxddf1dM7re54MgmxXTvPykLredyOs9qyo1vvENcBtJEM0UVfcO9-qfb4Rnri1BO0eYJbFY8oZnYCU-3O/w400-h400/gps.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0-1m6cr4kmk6OIaspZkrEyuQUI9OekU4vnenhjKGCOkkG9-3yFholuqeL4NaVLUnWyXDdJYFpqscKyxholckom_JRYGCHIYgkr9HK9gpeZq3LJFUN72oQGbe3YOAo5yba3hPHzgpKZTThxFgkfGhTsdGNTgoFa1Npm7Chb58IbpUE2_zKRPS0xp3/s1479/425712989_10161389071538537_2038955683089435109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1242" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0-1m6cr4kmk6OIaspZkrEyuQUI9OekU4vnenhjKGCOkkG9-3yFholuqeL4NaVLUnWyXDdJYFpqscKyxholckom_JRYGCHIYgkr9HK9gpeZq3LJFUN72oQGbe3YOAo5yba3hPHzgpKZTThxFgkfGhTsdGNTgoFa1Npm7Chb58IbpUE2_zKRPS0xp3/w394-h469/425712989_10161389071538537_2038955683089435109_n.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfWIR0UnrN0YG5yPdp1sOrWZaxMy8vHHlAzqhR7Vqi_MsZdrUFveacHRmcE5Auzfjv-fcv-JU262JuaLKXBQEzSbdYXYmjmX6dxyr6P-ZubowKthHbodwpc7dEGAPvv9mNn0a3ltSIWHoravV5woM7qR8jpRVe8zbn6nFmFU3C9TwlGjRCGCSwS-N/s626/zxc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="480" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfWIR0UnrN0YG5yPdp1sOrWZaxMy8vHHlAzqhR7Vqi_MsZdrUFveacHRmcE5Auzfjv-fcv-JU262JuaLKXBQEzSbdYXYmjmX6dxyr6P-ZubowKthHbodwpc7dEGAPvv9mNn0a3ltSIWHoravV5woM7qR8jpRVe8zbn6nFmFU3C9TwlGjRCGCSwS-N/w407-h532/zxc5.jpg" width="407" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNzExrZBJZS5vn1WnDAt3OD0ZPtoYFKpQPtqPYNwVplydrG_FontlgDnFXeqOMbgQSjK4RYFmKW6f05yvDfSgxx_5lcNvyQf0elGR8jS1L26RZYmVcHNeTev_sqC1jPdELOnLS5CmyuXShVZ4SYrKmKsTRnP7FLAIKxp6VfS78Dg4wJuHgQLAPKoD/s370/image%20(17).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNzExrZBJZS5vn1WnDAt3OD0ZPtoYFKpQPtqPYNwVplydrG_FontlgDnFXeqOMbgQSjK4RYFmKW6f05yvDfSgxx_5lcNvyQf0elGR8jS1L26RZYmVcHNeTev_sqC1jPdELOnLS5CmyuXShVZ4SYrKmKsTRnP7FLAIKxp6VfS78Dg4wJuHgQLAPKoD/w400-h400/image%20(17).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO3cW4BNew86YaOSLFAcSZ-n7xrB5OOmq7AcKyP8pE-cNBbpPwlFHMqnPhCLae6IHYwbwek1n7UPjGfkZ7SdAAGLNtkn_YrLhh0PPaWZ2ZZPF_ZW1quyuee2gyGQlZFfaggON_2I0uhwxhasXwMBnk6cQyKpJ0F-HWSsCVYW1Pr83Z-uGGMdae00T/s529/julia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO3cW4BNew86YaOSLFAcSZ-n7xrB5OOmq7AcKyP8pE-cNBbpPwlFHMqnPhCLae6IHYwbwek1n7UPjGfkZ7SdAAGLNtkn_YrLhh0PPaWZ2ZZPF_ZW1quyuee2gyGQlZFfaggON_2I0uhwxhasXwMBnk6cQyKpJ0F-HWSsCVYW1Pr83Z-uGGMdae00T/w398-h400/julia.png" width="398" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1bU_YeB0sS_l9sU4YIv9u6Pe_8cRFQeR9BBft0AO053jDUyWhTdKHlvvimHutCc9F38H987iHtvyj9MxHlPS3N__hFRK1tGkOYy79l5iuGbRQFLUcWm0avhqCjz9c-2V5mbEF1sZQFbFXOVtvI8d8EP0Qg9F_VaxCYVYrD28Bo_HvtsQwt9UVWou/s1080/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1bU_YeB0sS_l9sU4YIv9u6Pe_8cRFQeR9BBft0AO053jDUyWhTdKHlvvimHutCc9F38H987iHtvyj9MxHlPS3N__hFRK1tGkOYy79l5iuGbRQFLUcWm0avhqCjz9c-2V5mbEF1sZQFbFXOVtvI8d8EP0Qg9F_VaxCYVYrD28Bo_HvtsQwt9UVWou/w400-h400/IMG_5606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CUtUxD4AyteUTfHYBIXB1nXMBHDDnSnuuNcx6qQLaKroEeUPdSSf7ILuFMYx1qaXRhNaAfAaz2xnoDmYwJmPeUiYFIBTLZlotJoOC9q9LjkA7HHdh6W-OvmVabhi_pVkVwBFG17xouv4XqQDzuSF0IcC4Gl38ffFXJAkdUhgHLyxIwPgkw5pAUo5/s720/420133900_10226983702392496_2752262539671421536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="720" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CUtUxD4AyteUTfHYBIXB1nXMBHDDnSnuuNcx6qQLaKroEeUPdSSf7ILuFMYx1qaXRhNaAfAaz2xnoDmYwJmPeUiYFIBTLZlotJoOC9q9LjkA7HHdh6W-OvmVabhi_pVkVwBFG17xouv4XqQDzuSF0IcC4Gl38ffFXJAkdUhgHLyxIwPgkw5pAUo5/w400-h304/420133900_10226983702392496_2752262539671421536_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT95O3oTSt9ONkHe_F6j1t2Wwnra1w_LVw2yJ7rbwBU_UXmZedXk8TQjqQEnwf2fnHh6kmivtnTIVoGNB6wA7WN1wmsYy__FK7xxIJuixcLHZ9JL9mGdtEvb27wQshIjU-RwNALr9n7XBrdkTbWfpCtmjpD5bamE-j0hU0A116Imp-QXn-J0XvZd4n/s1200/bull.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1200" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT95O3oTSt9ONkHe_F6j1t2Wwnra1w_LVw2yJ7rbwBU_UXmZedXk8TQjqQEnwf2fnHh6kmivtnTIVoGNB6wA7WN1wmsYy__FK7xxIJuixcLHZ9JL9mGdtEvb27wQshIjU-RwNALr9n7XBrdkTbWfpCtmjpD5bamE-j0hU0A116Imp-QXn-J0XvZd4n/w400-h386/bull.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that my dear and patient friends, is it!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The very late but ridiculously laughable items for this Friday.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(where it's still Friday)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now don't let YOUR computers jam up on you this weekend and make it a memorable one.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And always remember to keep laughing!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">( . . . oh, yeah, I've been there . . . )</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz8YQ2zj9Ht9AmZKGKTETt509UZ_odYv_qB-M8CLfj0oiEmpJEeVnDGgHPfWBHAtu32M2L2ST-6JanF8T4h5e7TWGU3a-VcZ_rGhED-RLR39YhRq2iD62FM2q7Hwe5l2-auvBIU1ujKt5jX9UgkDr_MNMy-TItB9LTWqbvM-0VqDRa6AejFkpHj_x/s750/lingstov-cat-comics-22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz8YQ2zj9Ht9AmZKGKTETt509UZ_odYv_qB-M8CLfj0oiEmpJEeVnDGgHPfWBHAtu32M2L2ST-6JanF8T4h5e7TWGU3a-VcZ_rGhED-RLR39YhRq2iD62FM2q7Hwe5l2-auvBIU1ujKt5jX9UgkDr_MNMy-TItB9LTWqbvM-0VqDRa6AejFkpHj_x/w400-h400/lingstov-cat-comics-22.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-48854046988479117712024-03-01T07:29:00.001-07:002024-03-01T07:29:16.246-07:00Oops<p> Sorry, no Funnies.</p><p>Computer is down.</p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-88303074508836759962024-02-29T07:29:00.001-07:002024-02-29T07:29:23.779-07:00ONE EXTRA DAY<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Happy Leap Day!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today is February 29th, one extra day on the calendar that occurs every four years.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEzmqrdPoVQcZ0WfkToTxtNOAyM03CuyAVp3os4fXFgnn0-Avvefg2rdS3pDcUTo51uzm2VdPQNSguxj0_gSX-kNehroCwgxMG_lgH0Wb0Z0FTRm7EfUqBkkbhj7yi2EOrJeZ38yaybR_VG_yDqBBl89P5D7VKD7Xs6sHwoGdgezUQ7Eew9W5lj27/s1986/20240228_133306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1986" data-original-width="1726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEzmqrdPoVQcZ0WfkToTxtNOAyM03CuyAVp3os4fXFgnn0-Avvefg2rdS3pDcUTo51uzm2VdPQNSguxj0_gSX-kNehroCwgxMG_lgH0Wb0Z0FTRm7EfUqBkkbhj7yi2EOrJeZ38yaybR_VG_yDqBBl89P5D7VKD7Xs6sHwoGdgezUQ7Eew9W5lj27/w348-h400/20240228_133306.jpg" width="348" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This strange specimen arrived from the grocery store in a bag of mini-peppers this week and for me it sort of symbolizes the change from February into March.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For those born on this day, like our dear friend Jeanne aka The Beaner, it's a chance to truly celebrate a "real" birthday.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For us, with the temperature hovering at a high of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it symbolizes the hope for an early Spring.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But maybe just not yet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After all, some of our memories of heavy snowfalls here have occurred in March.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And SWMBO has always said to not plant herbs or flowers until after her birthday, which is in mid-May.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">At any rate this ripening pepper will eventually turn from fully green to totally red, if we treat it right.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVB8cI8wbdLGf-JRfs_Rbkx1lcH9nsddJlP5sbdBQfi4OlBZYKBv3oL6XyNUwoM7PUBXu3g_GaFe7GHFVGwHW46bB0tAThvuRTwkv_EUmpDeBuDCjHKlkL6WPJaLkiXmw849ygpWrh7gJ3v250DF1MDScIb9C9i_9oxO_QATWOXRdwlByBso-tLl-/s2046/20240228_133206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="2046" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVB8cI8wbdLGf-JRfs_Rbkx1lcH9nsddJlP5sbdBQfi4OlBZYKBv3oL6XyNUwoM7PUBXu3g_GaFe7GHFVGwHW46bB0tAThvuRTwkv_EUmpDeBuDCjHKlkL6WPJaLkiXmw849ygpWrh7gJ3v250DF1MDScIb9C9i_9oxO_QATWOXRdwlByBso-tLl-/w400-h289/20240228_133206.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then again, an impatient old man may just eat it!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x01NHAgNzJgr77-9DGMNqu3hpQgCuL0GqXcpN3q6xCPRXENteo-5pDceTqYyJqNl3LN5GkgSCzh3Oay8kAjmdaR-zfORCA847ZxVw4l8yEAnySHXpyxEOVqlopGfZNHbjaCcNk8otF5KA9J5GjE5hizj1eRcoZyGFCSGs2F4BEySBL-PAyTBz01c/s1080/IMG_0566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1080" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x01NHAgNzJgr77-9DGMNqu3hpQgCuL0GqXcpN3q6xCPRXENteo-5pDceTqYyJqNl3LN5GkgSCzh3Oay8kAjmdaR-zfORCA847ZxVw4l8yEAnySHXpyxEOVqlopGfZNHbjaCcNk8otF5KA9J5GjE5hizj1eRcoZyGFCSGs2F4BEySBL-PAyTBz01c/w400-h380/IMG_0566.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-59102261175779654242024-02-27T14:21:00.001-07:002024-02-27T14:52:37.859-07:00THE OLD PRO'S<p><span style="font-size: large;">Frankly, I'd have thought all of us would have passed into The Great Beyond by now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But no!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yet another gathering of former television journalists was convened but not in the Pie Place this time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Taking pity on the oldest member of the gang (me) they came to Prescott Valley for lunch.</span> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTJKhMdfsAd1vKet0AhjNm-U0jRon30NP0oQazrMDMDRUCFSfRjpP7S29qw6PCTCvWEVk1xv-opuVaK-BQIdqIvqE3IwZBxDynb0r7d4Fl13-b8OFCwXSytJYiy4I4LsVcpgU2mmQSAjYTV6lpuAOrJ3FXZAl7oamqC18RwlnqVC2RpKmjNBlPdZ_/s2048/2-21-2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="2048" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTJKhMdfsAd1vKet0AhjNm-U0jRon30NP0oQazrMDMDRUCFSfRjpP7S29qw6PCTCvWEVk1xv-opuVaK-BQIdqIvqE3IwZBxDynb0r7d4Fl13-b8OFCwXSytJYiy4I4LsVcpgU2mmQSAjYTV6lpuAOrJ3FXZAl7oamqC18RwlnqVC2RpKmjNBlPdZ_/w562-h279/2-21-2024.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The group this time was composed of, from left to right, former videographers Wally Athey and Steve Torbeck, former producers and news directors Al Macias and Yours Truly, and former reporter in both Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Ron Thompson, known in tv land as Ron Talley.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ron's journey to Arizona from his home in Raleigh, North Carolina was the impetus for the gathering.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm0GSm5yNM8YU1LH8cvCtWbGG1PsS3yWrozJ7TPMJzbpsyzO3U5besmFdcuvCY1HFGC6JkLZ5NqhWDU0I_B2vwHTSAdKLx6hkyfnd0udwHOd4LtlxMCoE7bczIDGjyWVo1kf3l_mZqzycOxmfQu_rwq6thBGAA7Rrpq8cXiKFV1rHt243doTyHJq3/s2262/Ron%20Talley%20-%202-21-2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2079" data-original-width="2262" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm0GSm5yNM8YU1LH8cvCtWbGG1PsS3yWrozJ7TPMJzbpsyzO3U5besmFdcuvCY1HFGC6JkLZ5NqhWDU0I_B2vwHTSAdKLx6hkyfnd0udwHOd4LtlxMCoE7bczIDGjyWVo1kf3l_mZqzycOxmfQu_rwq6thBGAA7Rrpq8cXiKFV1rHt243doTyHJq3/w400-h368/Ron%20Talley%20-%202-21-2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he didn't come to Arizona just to visit me.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ron is a native of a Chicago suburb but also a fervent alumnus of the University of Arizona in Tucson.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And its sports teams.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He came to see a couple of basketball games featuring his beloved Wildcats.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was pleased with the seats he secured.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH3Da8vcrmwXl88gKjp8bLt2QCdcljsM0PTTpBrhNYqKRr3OfTG0BjrVZq58m3b2h7koJXnvjpzanF6ORdMACuRUj_-50zZ1SwX5n0UInWUxFtfixh70BkL3P0DnTcqT6UJhDbbfhL9YDkBTrybIP7WJp1Vti9UlpWnY0WTyV8O-OUYR6yBXfgr7x/s2016/IMG_0116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH3Da8vcrmwXl88gKjp8bLt2QCdcljsM0PTTpBrhNYqKRr3OfTG0BjrVZq58m3b2h7koJXnvjpzanF6ORdMACuRUj_-50zZ1SwX5n0UInWUxFtfixh70BkL3P0DnTcqT6UJhDbbfhL9YDkBTrybIP7WJp1Vti9UlpWnY0WTyV8O-OUYR6yBXfgr7x/w480-h640/IMG_0116.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now to take you back . . way back . . into the distant past, let me start with our trip to Washington for the Sandra Day O'Connor confirmation hearings to the U.S. Supreme Court.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHomTy4W3vMGzjQxvVeWH3GyCns4hh_3rZrOduhaOd1d7qSy_fcXFpP9sg8ZGNlCsYmDnKegdi5zHvGqk4WBTwrPJjrqdSovYoXfnhLkexLegkMp8-i59ipcRYx42AZDlEU7uyUgI19EGUwc29Mjzt4myVn8kbUKbBdGjad7zJ1ACb3omhn_5hr_05/s589/Ron%20and%20I.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="589" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHomTy4W3vMGzjQxvVeWH3GyCns4hh_3rZrOduhaOd1d7qSy_fcXFpP9sg8ZGNlCsYmDnKegdi5zHvGqk4WBTwrPJjrqdSovYoXfnhLkexLegkMp8-i59ipcRYx42AZDlEU7uyUgI19EGUwc29Mjzt4myVn8kbUKbBdGjad7zJ1ACb3omhn_5hr_05/w400-h253/Ron%20and%20I.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Talley and I conferring on matters of state.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then to Detroit, at the Republican National Convention in 1980.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir90y3r3yjjcfuraYw4pct02Me8jMgGilfUWFQhC7woU3JyJ4QsaKhjgTannRg0P8SXK0bR680rlGPdb7RVcheEZWkUqQ2N48gqb3IpzJFxXmFJjqVpuS_OrXxtkU5iZ7gp4fHgqJfOaNrbllzVA9VmzFg0HX1KzUYEtdEV7ULW_M1k-wjczxCljfO/s2766/Tally-Athey-Dana%20%20Detroit%201980.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2333" data-original-width="2766" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir90y3r3yjjcfuraYw4pct02Me8jMgGilfUWFQhC7woU3JyJ4QsaKhjgTannRg0P8SXK0bR680rlGPdb7RVcheEZWkUqQ2N48gqb3IpzJFxXmFJjqVpuS_OrXxtkU5iZ7gp4fHgqJfOaNrbllzVA9VmzFg0HX1KzUYEtdEV7ULW_M1k-wjczxCljfO/w400-h338/Tally-Athey-Dana%20%20Detroit%201980.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Best buddies Talley and Athey, perhaps relieved that it was all over.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1984, we were found in San Francisco, at the Democratic National Convention.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziE_elDzjHMUY1xelgo1fcCiMmsXC5Z7qEBW8ZX1tKho-D56hvfII2PW6snSMPrC3J5NhtNKAK9_CVudpSMulI83NooxaRkUE_7vG9UD-OhuC3nucH3Trp5C1MjjwpGMs4VdINbLlqUWczOWHU-7zhK4lIcBMtXqE76Z-dnVp0m6xtUGAui6E_CGO/s652/%234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="652" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziE_elDzjHMUY1xelgo1fcCiMmsXC5Z7qEBW8ZX1tKho-D56hvfII2PW6snSMPrC3J5NhtNKAK9_CVudpSMulI83NooxaRkUE_7vG9UD-OhuC3nucH3Trp5C1MjjwpGMs4VdINbLlqUWczOWHU-7zhK4lIcBMtXqE76Z-dnVp0m6xtUGAui6E_CGO/w400-h239/%234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As usual, I was on the phone (a landline!) while Talley waited to hear how much time he was going to get on the evening telecast.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks later, we had much roomier space in Dallas for another Republican National Convention.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2NxtR5dWPYDOwerGGREpizdI4TCDz1ia1gzRd8zPDHRMbsESx-6hzLW8JX_X_NgGazQB3932gi2NWP5RARBdxirBfhfL-gID1F-1RCCTDJxw9TH_VhSzYoquJO6WQj6qQuJlR5CqxV8M3efxgvlnVphcukUnIzlgEJ6pFYZcaKLChsgJm6chivAI/s983/%233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="983" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2NxtR5dWPYDOwerGGREpizdI4TCDz1ia1gzRd8zPDHRMbsESx-6hzLW8JX_X_NgGazQB3932gi2NWP5RARBdxirBfhfL-gID1F-1RCCTDJxw9TH_VhSzYoquJO6WQj6qQuJlR5CqxV8M3efxgvlnVphcukUnIzlgEJ6pFYZcaKLChsgJm6chivAI/w400-h265/%233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Athey is editing videotape and Talley, this time, is on the phone.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Macias joined us at that convention and joyfully joined in on the "thank god it's over" celebration.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRx9KNsx4cf7zdBEOSVjfBm5Zjazmki9MVqa8F8qhGu3JzBn_LhSSPg0Pjeu6_njYf5axfLL-vH7V5tUJecDNz95DETNxlg72rve8A64t3jIz6hNpoy-aUQUZ1dZnASfVVH6Nd2lnrZOuHuBhhk8rgxtUSNL1lCjmMHNWbYletN6B86fXnzzpBisL/s1219/scan0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1219" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRx9KNsx4cf7zdBEOSVjfBm5Zjazmki9MVqa8F8qhGu3JzBn_LhSSPg0Pjeu6_njYf5axfLL-vH7V5tUJecDNz95DETNxlg72rve8A64t3jIz6hNpoy-aUQUZ1dZnASfVVH6Nd2lnrZOuHuBhhk8rgxtUSNL1lCjmMHNWbYletN6B86fXnzzpBisL/w400-h325/scan0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, somehow I don't have any photos of this Steve Torbeck on these many adventures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zejC83eilsUflujaqZC-lMc4DyNhMPTVZNhDhuINDdFHACS5Ex6rku3gT6X3pjEVxHfbmW2aWpXoRMDwCf3GWU_Gq2GhQkQJp3-R-1Ujqmm4Zzia4iJY3N_PeH5TmvRpwR0GgapKOcYG2pltetJuclyrbkpgUSb5YeesZkSMAjIBUNZVyJQHK0HW/s229/Torb%20with%20beard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="219" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zejC83eilsUflujaqZC-lMc4DyNhMPTVZNhDhuINDdFHACS5Ex6rku3gT6X3pjEVxHfbmW2aWpXoRMDwCf3GWU_Gq2GhQkQJp3-R-1Ujqmm4Zzia4iJY3N_PeH5TmvRpwR0GgapKOcYG2pltetJuclyrbkpgUSb5YeesZkSMAjIBUNZVyJQHK0HW/w383-h400/Torb%20with%20beard.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But good old Baseball Steve was at that convention in San Francisco and was a photographer whom I've known for an even 50 years!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3mP7UoCia2u-JMJ2DM_LNwjBa8_muuRI8iwd0b2kZhpbcfuOB3IbNCW285tZQnwMx7nRDi1inQQmvjnaTMszcGlnkRsy3j2G4FhPehFfCWtgLQyfErK_HWbuNfbz1uoz7zjZnTXdAzgE6w3trM3NCnbynLljfc1jxge82JiQ9qayYSMNlPdFlLeZ/s1838/img002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1838" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3mP7UoCia2u-JMJ2DM_LNwjBa8_muuRI8iwd0b2kZhpbcfuOB3IbNCW285tZQnwMx7nRDi1inQQmvjnaTMszcGlnkRsy3j2G4FhPehFfCWtgLQyfErK_HWbuNfbz1uoz7zjZnTXdAzgE6w3trM3NCnbynLljfc1jxge82JiQ9qayYSMNlPdFlLeZ/w400-h270/img002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here he is luring me to the edge of the Dread Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona, telling me "just take one more step back!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And he made a trip to Puerto Vallarta in 1991 to share a couple of Boys' Nights Out with me when I lived in Mexico.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Even though he had given up alcohol by that time.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZIP49biqXXOFZRyxGLdjYsUOO8EptbDnvyuVHhxmnIRn6rgCiZ6ppoQF1dzueCUA62edbFVyqB_ziaxCMs2zoIpQKLsfR_Kj8l0ecEirH4PXPuhcLJnCmb9Xg41hE-VD3IRR9Jl4473ZyGwUYb9exzag800G9qRSsPtVOqrWXBd5OGzLbEntyH66/s470/BT%20&%20Steve%20in%20Puerto%20Vallarta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZIP49biqXXOFZRyxGLdjYsUOO8EptbDnvyuVHhxmnIRn6rgCiZ6ppoQF1dzueCUA62edbFVyqB_ziaxCMs2zoIpQKLsfR_Kj8l0ecEirH4PXPuhcLJnCmb9Xg41hE-VD3IRR9Jl4473ZyGwUYb9exzag800G9qRSsPtVOqrWXBd5OGzLbEntyH66/w349-h400/BT%20&%20Steve%20in%20Puerto%20Vallarta.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But getting back to our recent gathering, it was fun comparing notes on other old friends and sharing stories (once again) from the old days, most of which can not be repeated in decent company in these much more P.C. days.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But one story Mr. Talley told me I had never heard before.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I knew that when he came to work at Channel 12 there was already a Thompson on the news staff, the legendary anchorman Ray Thompson.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The powers that be didn't think they should have two by that name and so he became Ron Talley.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(He picked "Talley" from the name of a Chicago sportswriter.)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But before that, as they were all trying to come up with his "new name", it was noted that it was a rare rainy day in Phoenix and if he hadn't objected, he could have launched his television career as Ronny Rain!</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-53096737637031484612024-02-23T05:00:00.001-07:002024-02-23T05:00:00.147-07:00THE FRIDAY FUNNIES<p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's been quite a week.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The U.S. of A. is back on the moon once again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not the whole country, you understand, just a lunar lander.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But it's 14 feet tall so get your telescopes geared up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, back here on Planet Earth, it's time to focus your view on this week's items of comedy, much shorter than that lunar lander but hopefully funnier.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEreES1uXHnJY_SKAYpZAKLHHn-F_eGmdC6f-K7Wl4-fQs_JbDo2CuZpXAnwEOTxqQ3VHIYecHTob8N7IvqEA6Lr7Of2ULR9YW2jk1pt875kRi2WHHvA0JcTQyLQk-n85f2UiIwV8-VdGRLaFlM7eRx5618OMZEImksT4wAFEwLA4mCnxZk-PmdDVY/s1280/image%20(51).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEreES1uXHnJY_SKAYpZAKLHHn-F_eGmdC6f-K7Wl4-fQs_JbDo2CuZpXAnwEOTxqQ3VHIYecHTob8N7IvqEA6Lr7Of2ULR9YW2jk1pt875kRi2WHHvA0JcTQyLQk-n85f2UiIwV8-VdGRLaFlM7eRx5618OMZEImksT4wAFEwLA4mCnxZk-PmdDVY/w534-h640/image%20(51).png" width="534" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KhUrQaxXj4AtZN65TDb8CtLPmNyWMqQwnHR-n2JTrfmHHKkSMlEnV2udVcSerEVVzsLTISIv3qvmOx9tJeuQKiP_Kl4k5yxCgdL125fLaIzZay6KoJpbif7gQ0oXAOjI5-Ujj6iyCvLGYGdcozl3b-7YlOJjywIqrA9dL7jab_BzcXkorHip_66W/s640/image%20(40).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="640" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KhUrQaxXj4AtZN65TDb8CtLPmNyWMqQwnHR-n2JTrfmHHKkSMlEnV2udVcSerEVVzsLTISIv3qvmOx9tJeuQKiP_Kl4k5yxCgdL125fLaIzZay6KoJpbif7gQ0oXAOjI5-Ujj6iyCvLGYGdcozl3b-7YlOJjywIqrA9dL7jab_BzcXkorHip_66W/w529-h404/image%20(40).png" width="529" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHnpP2kpsMIFmGiEem1mdM5VAZCuQ-XgEB_3Tq9FvuhM3m90AlkJ4CNWmG83bR15LLaLYqW5MX59f8XqxKPEv2n6KlRTyCJEELpsfKEkPWyiMO8sgzj9cTUXHxFjrzDzW8KT4ErZOvgYx6Iota3osuGfTchPqsbwKQrKBITqXqX3K8y3UYgkIwsws/s960/sci.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="960" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHnpP2kpsMIFmGiEem1mdM5VAZCuQ-XgEB_3Tq9FvuhM3m90AlkJ4CNWmG83bR15LLaLYqW5MX59f8XqxKPEv2n6KlRTyCJEELpsfKEkPWyiMO8sgzj9cTUXHxFjrzDzW8KT4ErZOvgYx6Iota3osuGfTchPqsbwKQrKBITqXqX3K8y3UYgkIwsws/w523-h409/sci.png" width="523" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9i-ypUBjKjSh5KDXbxkN9y-aK4tIz4DFpG3CVtpCWmCMLkuJmLmf3RpR1d7wjYDB_SOBD1_1Mwm_KoDUoyD1rhmIB1JsMy0FfHcJ9clG6U5bZIIlOPIpm0B__Z7GYyb2Cca_nXlrijOKcxEhtZ6mpoOp8GhXH1JqyOAXZA2ayLFjtvtkpBIa6c79j/s640/image%20(41).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="640" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9i-ypUBjKjSh5KDXbxkN9y-aK4tIz4DFpG3CVtpCWmCMLkuJmLmf3RpR1d7wjYDB_SOBD1_1Mwm_KoDUoyD1rhmIB1JsMy0FfHcJ9clG6U5bZIIlOPIpm0B__Z7GYyb2Cca_nXlrijOKcxEhtZ6mpoOp8GhXH1JqyOAXZA2ayLFjtvtkpBIa6c79j/w518-h460/image%20(41).png" width="518" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KUX996hrAh9DJ75l8X94fd8pRaLGHiqPNFloQATq8wwHeU09JIdPsZF_Xg7o6ylXzbi1tu4yEcdj3hWjYLVVPykuijbZZGz7AjVaQeGMwxhidmfbMerdf6i6CWyFVRBt72Gt9o6TzUtOPpTDpyVew66d-guh1y72mzYx1luqi8njLKUdUaBg3scP/s1200/image%20(5).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="540" height="1147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KUX996hrAh9DJ75l8X94fd8pRaLGHiqPNFloQATq8wwHeU09JIdPsZF_Xg7o6ylXzbi1tu4yEcdj3hWjYLVVPykuijbZZGz7AjVaQeGMwxhidmfbMerdf6i6CWyFVRBt72Gt9o6TzUtOPpTDpyVew66d-guh1y72mzYx1luqi8njLKUdUaBg3scP/w516-h1147/image%20(5).png" width="516" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU16cZ3ufdZFA8zBH3Fqnmk1nnXBBvWyhseci0-4yi4WtGEmRZWvc5MDSz_TASH35ijW0LqK5ZXPFWg8-1PAGygzeqfzEh1NmxQmhVUOSZ6Nh2BhNNxjE1kSRo97P9Wflsr6y7ZVPDl60tEATqj_o1Ml_G7Xt6xV_x57Irltunn8AT1sgkObWT6qcW/s559/IMG_5012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="559" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU16cZ3ufdZFA8zBH3Fqnmk1nnXBBvWyhseci0-4yi4WtGEmRZWvc5MDSz_TASH35ijW0LqK5ZXPFWg8-1PAGygzeqfzEh1NmxQmhVUOSZ6Nh2BhNNxjE1kSRo97P9Wflsr6y7ZVPDl60tEATqj_o1Ml_G7Xt6xV_x57Irltunn8AT1sgkObWT6qcW/w513-h430/IMG_5012.JPG" width="513" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQUS21LLtcWUlHGYH8y37R9TlW3aWAmLGI2XeclF95Pczr8TLZOy0bDc6sM7yJ1lzQnojcW3DclFv4lGa80ju0G-acr-l3xKZpTxmQsFr12RQdfMqTXFkpxTcE6J6LNMzQzFF9FQo8Pg510VkJLA_cRNRObVk-viJMD1MUvMY-rtQivF0S99L4d2x/s811/image%20(24).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="547" height="759" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQUS21LLtcWUlHGYH8y37R9TlW3aWAmLGI2XeclF95Pczr8TLZOy0bDc6sM7yJ1lzQnojcW3DclFv4lGa80ju0G-acr-l3xKZpTxmQsFr12RQdfMqTXFkpxTcE6J6LNMzQzFF9FQo8Pg510VkJLA_cRNRObVk-viJMD1MUvMY-rtQivF0S99L4d2x/w512-h759/image%20(24).png" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpXVB7JXrz9PQBDrcse9Y1GO8Eq-Lw0HdNb2j8i2aL9y_fbtezr-te3tfrrw7WO0NwoPAvy7IwmKSsFFnLvv6DcpBhXHQNjakEraGqkCCaPYuPaE7QH1U3YjqoY_ebuxIGCVAzWjXtUfsKPothmHtzxFLAtM_t4YnlinDK3SVxVUF9fE5kozrMKMT/s728/image%20(52).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="600" height="623" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpXVB7JXrz9PQBDrcse9Y1GO8Eq-Lw0HdNb2j8i2aL9y_fbtezr-te3tfrrw7WO0NwoPAvy7IwmKSsFFnLvv6DcpBhXHQNjakEraGqkCCaPYuPaE7QH1U3YjqoY_ebuxIGCVAzWjXtUfsKPothmHtzxFLAtM_t4YnlinDK3SVxVUF9fE5kozrMKMT/w514-h623/image%20(52).png" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oZMg6H-5VrktadWc6Z6v3Cxr4bo-f4V745BBDgRaX6sTT4AAetsojc6Mr96wZFH2BjvBDX203C06yiGDImSLoGwbhfJqWoFuYShp5rQChPUYYt3CYxPQq8rroI9D5kx693Ln8aiYA0jmXXFGaJhewsqccRyErgQDinv9kArPiwBs2T1c6V8sp54k/s640/IMG_4924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="640" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oZMg6H-5VrktadWc6Z6v3Cxr4bo-f4V745BBDgRaX6sTT4AAetsojc6Mr96wZFH2BjvBDX203C06yiGDImSLoGwbhfJqWoFuYShp5rQChPUYYt3CYxPQq8rroI9D5kx693Ln8aiYA0jmXXFGaJhewsqccRyErgQDinv9kArPiwBs2T1c6V8sp54k/w502-h442/IMG_4924.JPG" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bbHOLDanoeeRo8BlAdze1SopaYWV2UMnMM9zXi0SxvR2RlRNPHCPZU-9GaIwu2ht5KDa1gampbXjv27gD1lzse8Q9_BFaaxYwIBm9DQSKcO_w0GzOnafh_J4Bh_Aj817RATkY7A6sFXbbu6vrhIAmzMiA4Gc5WYGpYHF4PWf3yhreUWjcRKr76CP/s960/IMG_4798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bbHOLDanoeeRo8BlAdze1SopaYWV2UMnMM9zXi0SxvR2RlRNPHCPZU-9GaIwu2ht5KDa1gampbXjv27gD1lzse8Q9_BFaaxYwIBm9DQSKcO_w0GzOnafh_J4Bh_Aj817RATkY7A6sFXbbu6vrhIAmzMiA4Gc5WYGpYHF4PWf3yhreUWjcRKr76CP/w472-h472/IMG_4798.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y15EMa-vgUUZj0JPJuer2zB9YBMIIggdsgCcmviLMGiX6Ubs7nWKUC6vQiai324kI9NSos_zeK_tbvAhXbRsy_AmKtfvsUB4uoE0ftXUEB1JSjOxF3HGXvFmLdB-mPxLJcpA7bAgxRmX5hryZp4pBmP4EkmsdifQhMg2uPRleKuStb2PtByZHu5W/s960/image%20(15).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y15EMa-vgUUZj0JPJuer2zB9YBMIIggdsgCcmviLMGiX6Ubs7nWKUC6vQiai324kI9NSos_zeK_tbvAhXbRsy_AmKtfvsUB4uoE0ftXUEB1JSjOxF3HGXvFmLdB-mPxLJcpA7bAgxRmX5hryZp4pBmP4EkmsdifQhMg2uPRleKuStb2PtByZHu5W/w479-h640/image%20(15).png" width="479" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That one brings us back to the mysteries of space.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But don't touch that spacebar.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead voyage onward into a universe of wonder and have yourselves a spectacularly moonstruck weekend.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Cher and Cher alike.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and don't ever forget to keep laughing!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO9tJ8BfMWpdRFhyphenhyphenKSQLogvJXcIq4rgNM_wzkucT-Fmcsl6OlXn4e_h2rm0foHWvj0eAFGjWKx-MGqpSETFVgTPAJ6lUUA8_MCL477YbkrPY5NsPR95XukPMbaBvBAfknpmtth-8JTtjDF-1LbuXCHmBIi-md3qmdr2ENj5VTgv_4AAn9CsaxsFFI/s800/0ae714e8499849b28ae562d044a395a1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO9tJ8BfMWpdRFhyphenhyphenKSQLogvJXcIq4rgNM_wzkucT-Fmcsl6OlXn4e_h2rm0foHWvj0eAFGjWKx-MGqpSETFVgTPAJ6lUUA8_MCL477YbkrPY5NsPR95XukPMbaBvBAfknpmtth-8JTtjDF-1LbuXCHmBIi-md3qmdr2ENj5VTgv_4AAn9CsaxsFFI/w489-h489/0ae714e8499849b28ae562d044a395a1.webp" width="489" /></a></div></div>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-34841618074490688622024-02-22T16:03:00.000-07:002024-02-22T16:03:04.152-07:00THE SALAD SPINNER<p><span style="font-size: large;">See how easy it is to prepare an artful salad?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dgk-dsyG6QOdV47yCqAPyGMHyHVNC4UlA4doe0UX4c_P7iFI42hwca2Rm9xULwATEC0jEILdoyMeeHlVjNPwDskleWhcrFeyIxqg_352liCZuLe2A6MaMKxjrAZBdg9qvCz9LYkncgO0L5JzjgGoKgvqsHHNMI7aqaDqAg_RYxYd1ZXHDTtq5aSs/s2772/20240222_140946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="2391" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dgk-dsyG6QOdV47yCqAPyGMHyHVNC4UlA4doe0UX4c_P7iFI42hwca2Rm9xULwATEC0jEILdoyMeeHlVjNPwDskleWhcrFeyIxqg_352liCZuLe2A6MaMKxjrAZBdg9qvCz9LYkncgO0L5JzjgGoKgvqsHHNMI7aqaDqAg_RYxYd1ZXHDTtq5aSs/w552-h640/20240222_140946.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All you need are the proper ingredients.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, of course, someone as talented as my wife.</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-9677250699078863712024-02-21T19:53:00.000-07:002024-02-21T19:53:36.516-07:00A CLOUDY DAY<p> <span style="font-size: large;">It looked wicked but all we got here were a few sprinkles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Great skies though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(Sorry for the power lines and poles.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPQwpimq4WSAqpjnCzEll7uEfHEZJw9SppqkMDIqEKP-ZG7FVlq___sfYswAOWeCEvv3uOtwB7YLx6YGMa31i1CiHPmeQWmMTTs5i1jXSV-DvZS95J95WwZXfDRpclcavuWyS_9_T7aR4Wa4XBGWv-0FVdZu4iRY0d8o6vkAwCf_A1DQ8caEBjqo8/s3264/20240221_152908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="3264" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPQwpimq4WSAqpjnCzEll7uEfHEZJw9SppqkMDIqEKP-ZG7FVlq___sfYswAOWeCEvv3uOtwB7YLx6YGMa31i1CiHPmeQWmMTTs5i1jXSV-DvZS95J95WwZXfDRpclcavuWyS_9_T7aR4Wa4XBGWv-0FVdZu4iRY0d8o6vkAwCf_A1DQ8caEBjqo8/w558-h239/20240221_152908.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmxy4nMBR-3XFxECUcqV8OvjXaSbKmu35TBKrjaPEyR-pMBWQNqyuyOYd20I6wi_QvfL4AkhJ4NezIfT1SR3u-uRAkuDr5f7Ru-83kNlGI0AWvyQmPpiaLPcDlEoX61RMRtzbLHL7MQ_c9SVleni4KQ2cq87I3GUneEkAlIGdBuVd4vQkutqTMfLK/s3264/20240221_153316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="3264" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmxy4nMBR-3XFxECUcqV8OvjXaSbKmu35TBKrjaPEyR-pMBWQNqyuyOYd20I6wi_QvfL4AkhJ4NezIfT1SR3u-uRAkuDr5f7Ru-83kNlGI0AWvyQmPpiaLPcDlEoX61RMRtzbLHL7MQ_c9SVleni4KQ2cq87I3GUneEkAlIGdBuVd4vQkutqTMfLK/w550-h287/20240221_153316.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC66379ycRRSQ_dAEDmUfT2mkSATxe3ecDwtMF95n3LfrRhByvMGx7z9MaIKk1WZ9UvitAhDSWeUVNMSghBEFQvHHFPMFyZ7WTmM3KxeG6CUqW6kJhOcQWQM-yr8DSWjVYn8diwpbm43F06Y8VTF0eiBsQXXlnKE0lUifYczSsoHo5oXHtDikGbrQ1/s3264/20240221_153321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1847" data-original-width="3264" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC66379ycRRSQ_dAEDmUfT2mkSATxe3ecDwtMF95n3LfrRhByvMGx7z9MaIKk1WZ9UvitAhDSWeUVNMSghBEFQvHHFPMFyZ7WTmM3KxeG6CUqW6kJhOcQWQM-yr8DSWjVYn8diwpbm43F06Y8VTF0eiBsQXXlnKE0lUifYczSsoHo5oXHtDikGbrQ1/w545-h309/20240221_153321.jpg" width="545" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud6tW3pMTLYtbEEk7pRUusMgi5i62KFinxPCDzvOjOv-fNSdcSXGNIN9CQwhp9rXcjICI60sfhgN5mgyjTUPUU1pnaY6PFZgMQkgn7hGVtotSR7BjT2L-1cBZIIwfNPVYOvuJvggwIkndzbRf51T_UG6h3hvBsE7Ych_N5wB1ky_Gx08JfC37Y8Fm/s3021/20240221_153616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2022" data-original-width="3021" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud6tW3pMTLYtbEEk7pRUusMgi5i62KFinxPCDzvOjOv-fNSdcSXGNIN9CQwhp9rXcjICI60sfhgN5mgyjTUPUU1pnaY6PFZgMQkgn7hGVtotSR7BjT2L-1cBZIIwfNPVYOvuJvggwIkndzbRf51T_UG6h3hvBsE7Ych_N5wB1ky_Gx08JfC37Y8Fm/w536-h359/20240221_153616.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QIUwyi9JateDH4tzQn4AbEQ4-y7dUA0t8k_EJjQ0Be1faszXdjjbEMmYKq7sP1w2HNY3zB-gPdDmMb7MxxzjUbG9qnMPLgu-XDbEzz6I591FBHlfG8w36UjmHORiazwip043JNBhcHVOK0iGE1IEllMeanrWNJj2k9RQvREl8jFRHpnUijLWL_v6/s3264/20240221_153708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1615" data-original-width="3264" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QIUwyi9JateDH4tzQn4AbEQ4-y7dUA0t8k_EJjQ0Be1faszXdjjbEMmYKq7sP1w2HNY3zB-gPdDmMb7MxxzjUbG9qnMPLgu-XDbEzz6I591FBHlfG8w36UjmHORiazwip043JNBhcHVOK0iGE1IEllMeanrWNJj2k9RQvREl8jFRHpnUijLWL_v6/w532-h263/20240221_153708.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-24584269266217402202024-02-16T05:00:00.002-07:002024-02-16T05:23:36.897-07:00THE FRIDAY FUNNIES<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Well, here it is again - Friday FunDay.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know how your week has gone but at least it's gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So let's get onto the humor that you all come here for and that you all love each and every week, the humor that your collaborator collects from comedy characters here, there and yon; the humor that brightens a gray and dreary day and perhaps even a dark night, the humor that . . . (oh shut up, Catalyst).</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe6utV-fGWhC5yocwQHjhmBEhtqOZWSK-RGIYMz0oZxaGux_FSVuHJV1vDU7yFGGohkU22IUHi5HSyvp2hbD80_d5gklOXhABjP5hLcXxIJPlrxjfCERXwV8g62dA67if8hDSmLuZF3_lhsb8UriCYOhtsqPTVYgAI3UPhXkBgBulBzDiuI-jIxT9/s467/image%20(11).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="467" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe6utV-fGWhC5yocwQHjhmBEhtqOZWSK-RGIYMz0oZxaGux_FSVuHJV1vDU7yFGGohkU22IUHi5HSyvp2hbD80_d5gklOXhABjP5hLcXxIJPlrxjfCERXwV8g62dA67if8hDSmLuZF3_lhsb8UriCYOhtsqPTVYgAI3UPhXkBgBulBzDiuI-jIxT9/w400-h394/image%20(11).png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_1baKWKQ88ti7clesda7E7l6D2-w41QtEJf3KvxyLvvie4SC0TbGKBJpIa6a5o6QiWqEZ04disq7Aht8NGYat45xPJBPMO400bwRpwzOau1Wqza_WtQlB5QOutBLHDEC5jRRnKIrzuefgAw146k6ZYlUMart5vet4y56SyCcela1b-PfPfLSVloV/s845/image%20(35).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="727" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_1baKWKQ88ti7clesda7E7l6D2-w41QtEJf3KvxyLvvie4SC0TbGKBJpIa6a5o6QiWqEZ04disq7Aht8NGYat45xPJBPMO400bwRpwzOau1Wqza_WtQlB5QOutBLHDEC5jRRnKIrzuefgAw146k6ZYlUMart5vet4y56SyCcela1b-PfPfLSVloV/w399-h464/image%20(35).png" width="399" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G4N6xMvH6RbhAUGT-tlURjGZjLQ155xVXwRmWtA01dr6zVfOjBro278FYBvY6EM2y1MQ5Ygj-KfNNvl4hdj2j03YhrhejohPNMG8lZOWuFYs_4l-_B7fE21cniuPDWTCPkpHKrlnfypbhlKJU1i9bJ2hgKxmTDcxwMvoAdHhi_SZVsdkyn2wN1wz/s770/pushpull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="770" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G4N6xMvH6RbhAUGT-tlURjGZjLQ155xVXwRmWtA01dr6zVfOjBro278FYBvY6EM2y1MQ5Ygj-KfNNvl4hdj2j03YhrhejohPNMG8lZOWuFYs_4l-_B7fE21cniuPDWTCPkpHKrlnfypbhlKJU1i9bJ2hgKxmTDcxwMvoAdHhi_SZVsdkyn2wN1wz/w400-h314/pushpull.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUtcsEKOI1zskJVcFGYttOWEWBGau9ezLFNZa8Q8cvsLfHAiWsLdJPUuITT5bIz700ExzEB5AZSBRb40DTckzLR2BpImzsiN18NyC5vLsZ39Ir-JkUUpp3XpKsS83SCF5WUxEUfh_v-3lzpRjbQvnmZIZp6AfMgqIPuJUkcJwLeN_T-BObXGgUYrM/s564/exit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="564" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUtcsEKOI1zskJVcFGYttOWEWBGau9ezLFNZa8Q8cvsLfHAiWsLdJPUuITT5bIz700ExzEB5AZSBRb40DTckzLR2BpImzsiN18NyC5vLsZ39Ir-JkUUpp3XpKsS83SCF5WUxEUfh_v-3lzpRjbQvnmZIZp6AfMgqIPuJUkcJwLeN_T-BObXGgUYrM/w400-h295/exit.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4McYOePWmZso4G-rMc9uQ1LoOfQMNKvSpbyA-sIp313BgBLl5rATltXyTYD52L6p5iMUz7v5zOSKRPVyEQgXdvlDOecZRht-r_T0G2VcqDtjCLRW8jkG5LmbQoJzePXdaNc-gpx2StxcTszJsWAO5Dl3xvC9Pjllze6M8KGMom3REi_RV9NZBtTz/s1804/image001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4McYOePWmZso4G-rMc9uQ1LoOfQMNKvSpbyA-sIp313BgBLl5rATltXyTYD52L6p5iMUz7v5zOSKRPVyEQgXdvlDOecZRht-r_T0G2VcqDtjCLRW8jkG5LmbQoJzePXdaNc-gpx2StxcTszJsWAO5Dl3xvC9Pjllze6M8KGMom3REi_RV9NZBtTz/w399-h400/image001.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqqRVqkdnEb_BpOv9YR5Ck4E6I7CBr3652d97-eWQr981LfSiugixzRwJIPP2vALud_GsgZRXVKXzaVqfdeX7w66nAfb3JAqzFLGR7HjLifb-jyR5kmTkDiFqMLyzakq-sI7XuOcz2K8ETHjtuHo_vMxpf5YHfddblCYKr8mPgrKFHXu1vHkyCGuc/s866/treb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="800" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqqRVqkdnEb_BpOv9YR5Ck4E6I7CBr3652d97-eWQr981LfSiugixzRwJIPP2vALud_GsgZRXVKXzaVqfdeX7w66nAfb3JAqzFLGR7HjLifb-jyR5kmTkDiFqMLyzakq-sI7XuOcz2K8ETHjtuHo_vMxpf5YHfddblCYKr8mPgrKFHXu1vHkyCGuc/w406-h438/treb.png" width="406" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMFfbeVVZOrAGkYsZbv_hMuu4P4UYz39ROo3ZdN6AdeBxhGEckCtH4Raq0qgjabYWBONb1njZ1-IPo5VQGmRX9Bqrn36Zj-UQqz0agaLIIuB9bNmqtph8eg1CXRfTF2ZnktXZ3H1a5kYeG2vxpNrUNfOzHBf5PLx9B6jm4_t5jJeyXT_lXuBnYS8L/s960/IMG_4902.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="913" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMFfbeVVZOrAGkYsZbv_hMuu4P4UYz39ROo3ZdN6AdeBxhGEckCtH4Raq0qgjabYWBONb1njZ1-IPo5VQGmRX9Bqrn36Zj-UQqz0agaLIIuB9bNmqtph8eg1CXRfTF2ZnktXZ3H1a5kYeG2vxpNrUNfOzHBf5PLx9B6jm4_t5jJeyXT_lXuBnYS8L/w395-h416/IMG_4902.JPG" width="395" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxJFAquNUe-h9eOXeQ9YIvcyheh8UMG_JyX9fMWEwU2__bVEKGHRI4n478ddwgn0ekQUnbCYUSIbRXZSHfQdh1XCXlm9bFNMVgbek-lPE7gM3WnMwW80UBwnj1rwkRTfG8H3wvBgtp4rH_vJz_HDV49hmpSRs8A1eA7JAEuVmdb8trJMxpXr090ay/s482/image%20(45).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="482" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxJFAquNUe-h9eOXeQ9YIvcyheh8UMG_JyX9fMWEwU2__bVEKGHRI4n478ddwgn0ekQUnbCYUSIbRXZSHfQdh1XCXlm9bFNMVgbek-lPE7gM3WnMwW80UBwnj1rwkRTfG8H3wvBgtp4rH_vJz_HDV49hmpSRs8A1eA7JAEuVmdb8trJMxpXr090ay/w400-h399/image%20(45).png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8oGqiBDSSq-_CD6Y9GxBxgKdSlbZTQOdPJRXbG4sMY0PByh2LmU5kOgkcXtaks_yyJ0oJoL7yfnHz2oGvXoDuXsO0U2R_MTal3BDjgIE2vqAGHKUHge5ceuIc-bT5HKCjHdZ_xZ2xKtq23tgM4qPs5MmL-7yAf-KRrp8YOryXHCTet3A0qIHXSb4/s960/IMG_4897.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="868" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8oGqiBDSSq-_CD6Y9GxBxgKdSlbZTQOdPJRXbG4sMY0PByh2LmU5kOgkcXtaks_yyJ0oJoL7yfnHz2oGvXoDuXsO0U2R_MTal3BDjgIE2vqAGHKUHge5ceuIc-bT5HKCjHdZ_xZ2xKtq23tgM4qPs5MmL-7yAf-KRrp8YOryXHCTet3A0qIHXSb4/w393-h436/IMG_4897.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3P27r6hGlytEM7ltJsC8xkesohk-_OdJASFI2XneECebQrh41b-QmmWLrWsXU0H9jhNkwexbdtkceq3nLMIvjeZPfcBo6EDkbQXDH4Octaxhyc1Z74Zi2BgQuMQcoVx6gqfzNJ9XZHBfDy5s8-ka9cIDM8ASsuHkoAoK8sM-dFnUbm8UTZYREhs0/s853/image%20(38).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="720" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3P27r6hGlytEM7ltJsC8xkesohk-_OdJASFI2XneECebQrh41b-QmmWLrWsXU0H9jhNkwexbdtkceq3nLMIvjeZPfcBo6EDkbQXDH4Octaxhyc1Z74Zi2BgQuMQcoVx6gqfzNJ9XZHBfDy5s8-ka9cIDM8ASsuHkoAoK8sM-dFnUbm8UTZYREhs0/w392-h464/image%20(38).png" width="392" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCYZi9GlL3vlpH4rhccSfZG07v7-KwX3Ridggm8gmTZ__qhNZ8NK31HNC_GxW7QLkTNyhrrzRTFJnIJVJ0BmBDedW9y3ZqcdWdEOUItZZrPSEt-1myIauZvsKlu05pk-932tdmRIpALiWjQf1vCa57bhhhtY96yvSjdHH1wuSs6QZX86vv4y1eJq5/s960/imageGLUE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="954" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCYZi9GlL3vlpH4rhccSfZG07v7-KwX3Ridggm8gmTZ__qhNZ8NK31HNC_GxW7QLkTNyhrrzRTFJnIJVJ0BmBDedW9y3ZqcdWdEOUItZZrPSEt-1myIauZvsKlu05pk-932tdmRIpALiWjQf1vCa57bhhhtY96yvSjdHH1wuSs6QZX86vv4y1eJq5/w398-h400/imageGLUE.png" width="398" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">That's it, folks.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That's all there is.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And you call that humor?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or do I?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Never mind.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Have a phenomenal weekend, y'all.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">( . . . heh, heh . . . )</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8IeZgwf9wgBixbz27yWdql_YQBIySdCibB6f5X1yJT84p8zrOkoMcfnZk7k-oYbRB1K07bJiITUsg9PLDpONGJMJPWetGN1p_4xSQg_jYpE2gp6Qbega6ClG3hsRvSECrQazxfhku_bb795accfF14KpiMoHoRJkD0ghKtPde03RswUe5e4MqMRM/s632/IMG_5561.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8IeZgwf9wgBixbz27yWdql_YQBIySdCibB6f5X1yJT84p8zrOkoMcfnZk7k-oYbRB1K07bJiITUsg9PLDpONGJMJPWetGN1p_4xSQg_jYpE2gp6Qbega6ClG3hsRvSECrQazxfhku_bb795accfF14KpiMoHoRJkD0ghKtPde03RswUe5e4MqMRM/w533-h640/IMG_5561.JPG" width="533" /></a></div></div>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-25567737503794012002024-02-15T11:42:00.000-07:002024-02-15T11:42:25.298-07:00JUST ANOTHER DAY IN MONACO<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I was reliving an experience by email with Phil, a friend of mine, this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The event came nearly 39 years ago, in April of 1985.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Judy and I fulfilled a dream of spending a month traveling around Europe.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Le grand tour.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now we are lovers of escargot, snails in a garlic butter sauce.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpd764NpaiQdvkdiR-sUW0Q5d9vsWG5u9dbpZO8TsBrHzWuj2h0ah_oMWtjA1AO_fhuFQqBP53EiuZOErK8g-hXXY72p5p4B1xfHefXDQ6By_YoLdgMMTHFNlXUhx3hSJt66RwQ3UdGkxPjb4I4znEHQCkVvJv7BUKuPf8qeqsOFcPYrgKYzTRDZ3/s600/Landon%20Nordeman.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpd764NpaiQdvkdiR-sUW0Q5d9vsWG5u9dbpZO8TsBrHzWuj2h0ah_oMWtjA1AO_fhuFQqBP53EiuZOErK8g-hXXY72p5p4B1xfHefXDQ6By_YoLdgMMTHFNlXUhx3hSJt66RwQ3UdGkxPjb4I4znEHQCkVvJv7BUKuPf8qeqsOFcPYrgKYzTRDZ3/w426-h640/Landon%20Nordeman.webp" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo by Landon Nordeman)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we had vowed that we would have them every time we saw them on a restaurant menu.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lack and alas, the only time in a month of travel through country after country . . including France . . that we ever saw them was when we spent part of a day in Monaco.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were traveling from San Remo, Italy, to Nice, France and stopped at a small bistro in Monte Carlo and ate our snails at a sidewalk table alfresco.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were delicious!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later, wandering around, we found the famous Casino featured in several James Bond movies.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS6AFSA0DWgvhEzTf8XNPwD4UMQ9-tN3dOC5GYr9q56bJ1YG23xEdyy9ioJxk9loU26HAiMLGkXbosLt4hgoniylXVUV6bp5LP_9lbpno02nTWOX2FIlgzwuOueYYSStHMf1scoE-tFWDjhifbvhX0FxTGJPcUPEjfnGgO85s__l5r3ZdvH3Lk4P1/s792/Casino%20Monte%20Carlo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="679" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS6AFSA0DWgvhEzTf8XNPwD4UMQ9-tN3dOC5GYr9q56bJ1YG23xEdyy9ioJxk9loU26HAiMLGkXbosLt4hgoniylXVUV6bp5LP_9lbpno02nTWOX2FIlgzwuOueYYSStHMf1scoE-tFWDjhifbvhX0FxTGJPcUPEjfnGgO85s__l5r3ZdvH3Lk4P1/w548-h640/Casino%20Monte%20Carlo.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's me in the lower left before entering and losing a few coins in a slot machine.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we walked the streets we found them lined with huge grandstands being built.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Monaco Grand Prix was to be held the following month.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We also spent some time gazing at the crystalline blue waters of the harbor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht193U28DYlVGPDqYvjfEQpENaK_uXkTibc_cOxOY3ZiezGiu-7aeK0bf6z012gNmLQTAHSVjWizh-XEUhyphenhyphenqXfRmKx1AmS-PqFPF4EWEtgWoyczjgEZmF6ePT5Bu1iQ7rsONfyc4MjJknNh1yd71wugnxg1hVlPk8Rl4gZ0w1zKo2B02Vj0KPk2-SI/s868/Monaco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="868" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht193U28DYlVGPDqYvjfEQpENaK_uXkTibc_cOxOY3ZiezGiu-7aeK0bf6z012gNmLQTAHSVjWizh-XEUhyphenhyphenqXfRmKx1AmS-PqFPF4EWEtgWoyczjgEZmF6ePT5Bu1iQ7rsONfyc4MjJknNh1yd71wugnxg1hVlPk8Rl4gZ0w1zKo2B02Vj0KPk2-SI/w581-h459/Monaco.jpg" width="581" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yes the water really is that blue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the yachts are large, expensive and numerous.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Sorry, no pictures of them.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We only spent part of a day there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were a month early so we didn't see the race.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We didn't break the bank at the Casino.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the snails were marvelous!</span></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-73493753211047542142024-02-14T15:45:00.000-07:002024-02-14T15:45:11.233-07:00ANOTHER BIG DAY<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I know.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today is Ash Wednesday.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And Valentine's Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And Basant Pachami.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Aha!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bet you didn't know about that one!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Don't feel bad, neither did I.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's a Hindu festival to herald the Spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And if you have doubts about that, let me tell you that it is 62 degrees Fahrenheit in my part of Arizona right now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Judy said with the sun shining on our patio it's probably 70 out there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And she just came back inside with some fresh chives that have sprouted from a potful that looked dead up until today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I digress.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All of those special days aside, today is an even more important day here in Arizona.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Because . . .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZyRR4V8XJNVSU9JpsJDhy3kXRII7s-nZrbrUVWHd8Lexj_Vl2YtaWjTad6wJHuNWIMxdnePdI5M4CJi5KcQ6nvNN6o6MRf2B0jgF9w4VGBReww-rUWw-5rptATt0RnaDOO5T1-GAPSdi8w71_J4vhC9lPi-ZMKuYuwgQJ2sGIPBa96yERYsH3D40/s236/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="551" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZyRR4V8XJNVSU9JpsJDhy3kXRII7s-nZrbrUVWHd8Lexj_Vl2YtaWjTad6wJHuNWIMxdnePdI5M4CJi5KcQ6nvNN6o6MRf2B0jgF9w4VGBReww-rUWw-5rptATt0RnaDOO5T1-GAPSdi8w71_J4vhC9lPi-ZMKuYuwgQJ2sGIPBa96yERYsH3D40/w551-h551/th.jpg" width="551" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's right.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's the State of Arizona's 112th birthday today.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It officially became the 48th state in the U.S. of A. on February 14th, 1912.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So raise a glass to this (fairly) new kid today.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you've got room after all that chocolate.</span></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-67094552436917174412024-02-13T11:12:00.001-07:002024-02-13T11:12:22.073-07:00CELEBRATE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's Fat Tuesday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Laissez le bon temps rouler!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Let the good times roll.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You might start your celebration with the traditional Hurricane (drink).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl6lnZk5XdojytO-8rVXlsyxpzk85BF1FYCEIO-8OaGgULJRAteVvd8kG7cRhY-kZGKIHOXsvhGeX0rmTc8K735V-E-8Ys3QT1oteN3V_GFvuf3DEDUzunXycr0-1otw08Qsid8qgCVgqea83qLycuwairjEtCMkmUfUQ1XZH6S9OWUoG5xVPWI0V/s1139/New-Orleans-Hurricane-Drink-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl6lnZk5XdojytO-8rVXlsyxpzk85BF1FYCEIO-8OaGgULJRAteVvd8kG7cRhY-kZGKIHOXsvhGeX0rmTc8K735V-E-8Ys3QT1oteN3V_GFvuf3DEDUzunXycr0-1otw08Qsid8qgCVgqea83qLycuwairjEtCMkmUfUQ1XZH6S9OWUoG5xVPWI0V/w428-h640/New-Orleans-Hurricane-Drink-2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, maybe, indulge in a big pot of Jambalaya!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiinFJJ_fxurpcDTZmhgOsU2pUSEFJoDLc0zllGEWq-8PUG6LJi7XpeMLzMhO3F50YsGT1_4N2qWTmLvipipBoxHyW-qWoVfa5vk3y_D0EiSHRGVMmijEGG7WHs0zkfzlhwEkC1lhuIMNBZyX3DZblQrhBiCRN1io4IiHp8Yvq7ByJ-1x3wZz6Pf5n/s1536/Jambalaya-2-1035x1536.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1035" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiinFJJ_fxurpcDTZmhgOsU2pUSEFJoDLc0zllGEWq-8PUG6LJi7XpeMLzMhO3F50YsGT1_4N2qWTmLvipipBoxHyW-qWoVfa5vk3y_D0EiSHRGVMmijEGG7WHs0zkfzlhwEkC1lhuIMNBZyX3DZblQrhBiCRN1io4IiHp8Yvq7ByJ-1x3wZz6Pf5n/w432-h640/Jambalaya-2-1035x1536.webp" width="432" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And don't forget the King Cake!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-hAEOiLFPG7OKg_UXXNHT9GF40ESiSAPG6aYz-yquSPL1-3Qvv1ysXYHKC6OycfzArnOLgikvd_J6HlZf930-A9hdMlvaR_T9JB11laxLbAMKQephOnmwVtK50_191xelrq86-_2su2hWfRzuYEGmYV27xbF9mTaLzadVSmPMxVPrskf5vOZ7f7R/s750/Southern-Living_Mardi_Gras_King_Cake_022-2-a3b533197a964a54bb3764f2281c5646.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-hAEOiLFPG7OKg_UXXNHT9GF40ESiSAPG6aYz-yquSPL1-3Qvv1ysXYHKC6OycfzArnOLgikvd_J6HlZf930-A9hdMlvaR_T9JB11laxLbAMKQephOnmwVtK50_191xelrq86-_2su2hWfRzuYEGmYV27xbF9mTaLzadVSmPMxVPrskf5vOZ7f7R/w400-h266/Southern-Living_Mardi_Gras_King_Cake_022-2-a3b533197a964a54bb3764f2281c5646.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course if you take a dim view of all this indulgence and call the day Shrove Tuesday, right after confessing your sins and begging for absolution, you'll have to settle for pancakes.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcERGOQhSA78eEU1S3Q6roNDg9l6781Hq8kh_DHWgL7YB9SoGisGmy0HXwWDFgs9I-yhl_BPr36xl3E_aLmblAA8miyRTeVTHWpWMp_3cPvjgwKXvPR6ADLGP5iygsYb6tcp6keZJjJQJ16LY-Qq0dIU_xUoC49xgYAa0f9GuzLc2_AG3arVTYakC7/s624/pancakes-1512834_640.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="624" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcERGOQhSA78eEU1S3Q6roNDg9l6781Hq8kh_DHWgL7YB9SoGisGmy0HXwWDFgs9I-yhl_BPr36xl3E_aLmblAA8miyRTeVTHWpWMp_3cPvjgwKXvPR6ADLGP5iygsYb6tcp6keZJjJQJ16LY-Qq0dIU_xUoC49xgYAa0f9GuzLc2_AG3arVTYakC7/w400-h304/pancakes-1512834_640.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow (some say) is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of 40 days of Lent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A time for fasting and giving up foods you love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But for the rest of us tomorrow is Valentine's Day, a day to indulge in chocolate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lots and lots of chocolate!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU17-wZu4bTOBSRYR_Mf8m2ijGyENi7YPzITPxQtJimRqSNKzzHc34TrTAhatuUdYp5fFC1zXbJHBpIqAs0bB3m1QdR2jaJrvoxdCRpfQfOvmQmKADacULPbd93wqoVvT_8yZQtwTACAvV4iggP-Xd_EXXXbgiK1n68A7pm7QKuQ-KRoHOkM77GxlB/s400/1lb_heart_2023_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU17-wZu4bTOBSRYR_Mf8m2ijGyENi7YPzITPxQtJimRqSNKzzHc34TrTAhatuUdYp5fFC1zXbJHBpIqAs0bB3m1QdR2jaJrvoxdCRpfQfOvmQmKADacULPbd93wqoVvT_8yZQtwTACAvV4iggP-Xd_EXXXbgiK1n68A7pm7QKuQ-KRoHOkM77GxlB/w400-h400/1lb_heart_2023_400x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-69392542564592113032024-02-10T10:25:00.001-07:002024-02-10T12:12:37.276-07:00SATURDAY MADNESS<p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Being "cat people", we and daughter Gayle both have had for many years Cat-a-Day Calendars.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But today's chosen kitty was a shocker.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there's only one calendar page for the entire weekend, both Saturday and Sunday.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So here's what greeted me when I changed the calendar this morning.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6fVAS0P17owIbBVGTFC46tdGx0CtmoXnjVlySTrOTtnrgOl0Cgw0JBwN0aW7CrmiieJ_K06dchF1DSW6cxDGimyWNfphS48eZUnjdwyBZatvEeiy5vagbgDl0I0saQj2SgT61upVBTTG6epKbxdGweCAX-rVCD8iM-asjk6BUe40ShixvsR4P4Lu/s2878/20240210_094857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2878" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6fVAS0P17owIbBVGTFC46tdGx0CtmoXnjVlySTrOTtnrgOl0Cgw0JBwN0aW7CrmiieJ_K06dchF1DSW6cxDGimyWNfphS48eZUnjdwyBZatvEeiy5vagbgDl0I0saQj2SgT61upVBTTG6epKbxdGweCAX-rVCD8iM-asjk6BUe40ShixvsR4P4Lu/w544-h640/20240210_094857.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now this particular breed of cat is called the Sphynx and they are naturally completely fur-less.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My wife and our daughter both hate the look of them and feel that they are eternally cold.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I held one at a cat show one time and can confirm that they are warm, as warm as any other cat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless, the two members of MY tribe were comparing notes this morning and conjuring up ways to both cover the "naked" cat and keep it warm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judy found that her wool cap would do the trick.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26VlY0UScfU1BlcvY135WeCyc4vHXlLUrw2dyYwEBUd2x3bRZkxDnnP49LDEDAsrysMJohxmRZIu-rzjHi4B5KPYLlXC5zHOJDmvE94uyYJStKA7wVkwijIVHr682yS7XTGsxaXFQyDwlKhy26zenpmPWcA4jIGuTkpezy99WdVwEQP5cDb1B4j7u/s2803/20240210_083145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2803" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26VlY0UScfU1BlcvY135WeCyc4vHXlLUrw2dyYwEBUd2x3bRZkxDnnP49LDEDAsrysMJohxmRZIu-rzjHi4B5KPYLlXC5zHOJDmvE94uyYJStKA7wVkwijIVHr682yS7XTGsxaXFQyDwlKhy26zenpmPWcA4jIGuTkpezy99WdVwEQP5cDb1B4j7u/w558-h640/20240210_083145.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gayle, aka the Beautiful Artistic Daughter, always the artist, put scissors to work on another previously used calendar page picture she found to remedy the situation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0pCJmh9s8cMBcEJN5KZD7yUk0cwVyUZ8k6OOL3beAyWssoWXCp1_mYDkZaMHoRtTtR3BjobAtvbzIA3hpxrR8tUOOk3fMEAW2EqJbYk1QtFTuXYbZUCWAJsVMZgWNbwBU-uZAr4rYoa9fMlN5BAjvVoOW-FFBcVII-WstDvJPBSGt0uSNxs_RLYh/s2148/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="1832" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0pCJmh9s8cMBcEJN5KZD7yUk0cwVyUZ8k6OOL3beAyWssoWXCp1_mYDkZaMHoRtTtR3BjobAtvbzIA3hpxrR8tUOOk3fMEAW2EqJbYk1QtFTuXYbZUCWAJsVMZgWNbwBU-uZAr4rYoa9fMlN5BAjvVoOW-FFBcVII-WstDvJPBSGt0uSNxs_RLYh/w546-h640/unnamed.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There! Problem solved!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">About this next item, I shall have no further comment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48cweXoiQt0iXqOZjrT0qVVH87SI2dLdJ_zFpx0SVgH3l6cfSZ_sCsn7EgJQlM5dICP_9rBk4ihIVAOQVq-LV5di3J6E4zg6jHQZJufrFxCuJ1rBnNvCyi_hmkQBozcViBqzB_tUvCGrAFBNQYgzWSyOaBqvn_sjP5VYkdWA3HGrIKfspMTQoq_3Q/s1181/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48cweXoiQt0iXqOZjrT0qVVH87SI2dLdJ_zFpx0SVgH3l6cfSZ_sCsn7EgJQlM5dICP_9rBk4ihIVAOQVq-LV5di3J6E4zg6jHQZJufrFxCuJ1rBnNvCyi_hmkQBozcViBqzB_tUvCGrAFBNQYgzWSyOaBqvn_sjP5VYkdWA3HGrIKfspMTQoq_3Q/w542-h640/image.png" width="542" /></a></div></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-75805889258696602232024-02-09T05:00:00.001-07:002024-02-09T05:00:00.152-07:00THE FRIDAY FUNNIES<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Aaaahhhhh, Gentle Readers, it's the Big Weekend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Especially in Las Vegas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For Sunday a bunch of highly remunerated professional football players will meet there in the 58th Super Bowl.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Or as my wife and many, many, many wives across the planet call it The Stupor Bowl.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since I cut the cord on my cable subscription I will not be watching it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But to all of you fans (see "fanatics") I say enjoy yourselves and good luck.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Especially to the gamblers among you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now to get down to the business of the day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHstb_hy8xEn1c_05x8skKCPojeWdjZ1xI6tB6wE5aofD7h5Z-l7WCWRsgIPEZDbJ01tUdUborG8J7noYO2V-1HpZ-K94WXrBBG4gXlJqwvwtXmCM5GKThxAGY_BLfjrh29PcnvHQ5y12ZjQvJ9aI8anoZgi61rQ71shbtHGapHA1wtR5hgR7heoy_/s1254/image%20(19).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHstb_hy8xEn1c_05x8skKCPojeWdjZ1xI6tB6wE5aofD7h5Z-l7WCWRsgIPEZDbJ01tUdUborG8J7noYO2V-1HpZ-K94WXrBBG4gXlJqwvwtXmCM5GKThxAGY_BLfjrh29PcnvHQ5y12ZjQvJ9aI8anoZgi61rQ71shbtHGapHA1wtR5hgR7heoy_/w345-h400/image%20(19).png" width="345" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGUEjb6lc_bF31wvEgB0Rq8oUgnH8tSBG32Ghgo7PazbvQ8r3YZvcVujZwBtWZettEAcKFDpKmK_ZqlTqxa3JmV8oa6Zjo2nTxq_fudlFX08TiakidAwanaCOWh1Y5Cgds4DbswsNJJ8xVByt9AGMgLfTxxNofcGhVLcdBKap0aRg2fVFo1Qa1E1o/s701/image%20(7).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGUEjb6lc_bF31wvEgB0Rq8oUgnH8tSBG32Ghgo7PazbvQ8r3YZvcVujZwBtWZettEAcKFDpKmK_ZqlTqxa3JmV8oa6Zjo2nTxq_fudlFX08TiakidAwanaCOWh1Y5Cgds4DbswsNJJ8xVByt9AGMgLfTxxNofcGhVLcdBKap0aRg2fVFo1Qa1E1o/w361-h482/image%20(7).png" width="361" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-eC1fTKljcdkv9iGuB6Eubs18duiZjPQKb5ATr1XPOzA320lwdoHs8vB7mDqHUKOFoiVGNEqLqr0XuJcFLgtL9jcz6D9WIhsr449aTdOjlcGcqzH6qsy9qsvwyf3sCTlSPQHKdWAvHtA_8JrJ0cCvPSfjshpPGmX_A7tNJGUnRaxJLzpz60HVav-/s540/friar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="450" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-eC1fTKljcdkv9iGuB6Eubs18duiZjPQKb5ATr1XPOzA320lwdoHs8vB7mDqHUKOFoiVGNEqLqr0XuJcFLgtL9jcz6D9WIhsr449aTdOjlcGcqzH6qsy9qsvwyf3sCTlSPQHKdWAvHtA_8JrJ0cCvPSfjshpPGmX_A7tNJGUnRaxJLzpz60HVav-/w354-h424/friar.png" width="354" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-5nHz2dNPAf4QivaEX2iNaZVyFxnkFgW0O_uiEUXLe1vAb2c8n_MaqOV4pkFeMmX5D7q33SXznjvdBPl9QFYguDyPMd2PB7YoQkC7FxF_wUiAxYyCY9-q9DIFpTBvCtw61WsA4PPA7ca_uE_kykIgXuqOS3e9GE1MdLtYKpLtlgzJmH2BLi0Y2Oq/s720/hail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-5nHz2dNPAf4QivaEX2iNaZVyFxnkFgW0O_uiEUXLe1vAb2c8n_MaqOV4pkFeMmX5D7q33SXznjvdBPl9QFYguDyPMd2PB7YoQkC7FxF_wUiAxYyCY9-q9DIFpTBvCtw61WsA4PPA7ca_uE_kykIgXuqOS3e9GE1MdLtYKpLtlgzJmH2BLi0Y2Oq/w400-h300/hail.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajCsEbygjAkkvqaBbJaoUpcGDeJ7Kpb7oo4-HCiz5BFpeqGggy7qMNSvUVyJJ7NQwgT-w4ETKanlgXLQXUMZRbbYYiXDWfqJMVPJddSYGI_YBLT3Z-1traMl9r3mPXWjD3fGWaHx8m8fkCCemb5a9YA-AEYYozG9L-gnNugHfC6MooipBynuTUlqu/s516/zxz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="516" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajCsEbygjAkkvqaBbJaoUpcGDeJ7Kpb7oo4-HCiz5BFpeqGggy7qMNSvUVyJJ7NQwgT-w4ETKanlgXLQXUMZRbbYYiXDWfqJMVPJddSYGI_YBLT3Z-1traMl9r3mPXWjD3fGWaHx8m8fkCCemb5a9YA-AEYYozG9L-gnNugHfC6MooipBynuTUlqu/w400-h373/zxz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b8-BdITFmeo1PwgbFy7eH8MFAQoSjdGUGtqr4Yj4jxmXnyFsOHAmlnGE3l0KamNltTZppbkS71h12HSoMay0Ba-SItWxP1sB2TOQzB-bVjHf1V9MEOWJ_Zf1c3NyQDwnAv-ieHxxA0KkuOEdMjeoTiGXKN-fbVrQgY1vjwM8p_vEj8qWoJB_kWds/s500/image%20(34).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="500" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b8-BdITFmeo1PwgbFy7eH8MFAQoSjdGUGtqr4Yj4jxmXnyFsOHAmlnGE3l0KamNltTZppbkS71h12HSoMay0Ba-SItWxP1sB2TOQzB-bVjHf1V9MEOWJ_Zf1c3NyQDwnAv-ieHxxA0KkuOEdMjeoTiGXKN-fbVrQgY1vjwM8p_vEj8qWoJB_kWds/w400-h391/image%20(34).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LEzqDQlK2uFfoEPUl7u8wyz-szBO8QIExO_bqW24HokwJKaJJwC7tIvLta4WdRYK-O1vtD5m1xsCO9tHNasay70Q2-O6I_YtT0zuIFeVJ1sDR_o63o9cRCLdfnh1Q6954rOBSqBYv8YesVvFva6rXuJsyFaNb4WNa8bYNrO1E0k8d7mudRbDP2Ga/s828/IMG_0489.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="828" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LEzqDQlK2uFfoEPUl7u8wyz-szBO8QIExO_bqW24HokwJKaJJwC7tIvLta4WdRYK-O1vtD5m1xsCO9tHNasay70Q2-O6I_YtT0zuIFeVJ1sDR_o63o9cRCLdfnh1Q6954rOBSqBYv8YesVvFva6rXuJsyFaNb4WNa8bYNrO1E0k8d7mudRbDP2Ga/w400-h388/IMG_0489.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81MQpGfFLivGonwgH3oeIi-5ARG67Kwk4g7vmQnEwS6b5r72361N3peuv4mL1FWY-Z7lXBoZ_Or0vPOThtjAgP9IEW-tDvGhDcLgSMqgL6O8-Bfrx-URLg3grbh2rPCqSv5-_n1QXF0ffyA-dCYTa84WnlhK1qLJQzB5nPCTdLIAOZKS2-KDgOOwb/s320/image%20(25).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81MQpGfFLivGonwgH3oeIi-5ARG67Kwk4g7vmQnEwS6b5r72361N3peuv4mL1FWY-Z7lXBoZ_Or0vPOThtjAgP9IEW-tDvGhDcLgSMqgL6O8-Bfrx-URLg3grbh2rPCqSv5-_n1QXF0ffyA-dCYTa84WnlhK1qLJQzB5nPCTdLIAOZKS2-KDgOOwb/w400-h400/image%20(25).png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nXJwzWlX3BqEanx2qI8sH8NgWZoQej8HodMsaVEH6NCupCfoBytg0DGLvdo2iv6RKXqXo2eGPoMSp_YgTJny4AEQ-uqg3EmXb5WBhOIG2x3TyeIYpnq_pS-zhU3wryL9EEiO2RuF0DbWglEupzYPEDQO6QUuHQAqmVaAPXc852cACwBAnl33nlvg/s259/lam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nXJwzWlX3BqEanx2qI8sH8NgWZoQej8HodMsaVEH6NCupCfoBytg0DGLvdo2iv6RKXqXo2eGPoMSp_YgTJny4AEQ-uqg3EmXb5WBhOIG2x3TyeIYpnq_pS-zhU3wryL9EEiO2RuF0DbWglEupzYPEDQO6QUuHQAqmVaAPXc852cACwBAnl33nlvg/w400-h300/lam.png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrsmKzY2QOLxysixnxMhsXHEXcq0qlrcSOVGF75OVYCqAhqa69UQNPavcL7d3rtYHGCrUMVdXgjQXOcI164baxJzPnkRmYCoLGHCw2hGoqM5awdwzTq-0cFmNSP4XPMEm2Zq-GCyjZ9ZwjK7svnP2u8opRLxIdHSznxvF5C9TKA_b0saQ2y5tl_c7/s450/xcv.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="444" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrsmKzY2QOLxysixnxMhsXHEXcq0qlrcSOVGF75OVYCqAhqa69UQNPavcL7d3rtYHGCrUMVdXgjQXOcI164baxJzPnkRmYCoLGHCw2hGoqM5awdwzTq-0cFmNSP4XPMEm2Zq-GCyjZ9ZwjK7svnP2u8opRLxIdHSznxvF5C9TKA_b0saQ2y5tl_c7/w395-h400/xcv.png" width="395" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oho! Riker finally got even!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe the Star Trek crew has landed on Rikers Island.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, just ignore that one.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now whether or not you watch the Celebration of High-Paid Violence on Sunday or not, I hope you ALL will have a great weekend.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And always remember to keep laughing!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, kitty-kitty . . .</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(. . . oh, I know how you feel . . . )</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb4kUS_qI0yvvUI9dv0DaOTNBelUhM_2Lq706028QDEtoWH-9O-S7PnDBB0uYZOrdZnGbAnH3EFVQhSAeZ-x0jma2lwcpiYpcmJeQ_eyH0m9Pakjh-QBSaQfTUE0mmqDkVEW6KvJHnWuRTyq-iGLqWr-FTMI7pINgZdVMNZvyOlfkIVUDVr3ifnoZ/s517/shutup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="517" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb4kUS_qI0yvvUI9dv0DaOTNBelUhM_2Lq706028QDEtoWH-9O-S7PnDBB0uYZOrdZnGbAnH3EFVQhSAeZ-x0jma2lwcpiYpcmJeQ_eyH0m9Pakjh-QBSaQfTUE0mmqDkVEW6KvJHnWuRTyq-iGLqWr-FTMI7pINgZdVMNZvyOlfkIVUDVr3ifnoZ/w400-h386/shutup.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-30165964662263162022024-02-08T16:38:00.000-07:002024-02-08T16:38:15.507-07:00WEATHER UPDATE<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Another day, another snowfest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bemgfvx9QUgDUAebTFEbxsLA_eOvx8xv8d00C9cZjG-f23MAlconwovCXNr93f8i3Tu2tOMWKcZuObCW_5JcdkM8wztUuCxXo2o8aK6NttympH_yZb3jUz4oOeY0BxdVY7ZDDpjXDMQpQflEou7ZtVpP8xQ4_aNn80tftY8T_Q3j_oOg_pcBTk6k/s3264/20240208_125738%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bemgfvx9QUgDUAebTFEbxsLA_eOvx8xv8d00C9cZjG-f23MAlconwovCXNr93f8i3Tu2tOMWKcZuObCW_5JcdkM8wztUuCxXo2o8aK6NttympH_yZb3jUz4oOeY0BxdVY7ZDDpjXDMQpQflEou7ZtVpP8xQ4_aNn80tftY8T_Q3j_oOg_pcBTk6k/w400-h300/20240208_125738%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowvcqDZ2emadqRDsUb7Jki-TNlOlBIqvQpQFmdX_JedfK4O8GgwRn04IzAsnAf3uP8OYgN7LpLI0xKDGfpAtly-WwWExQkUFl2ayjGGtI4VnMJI-C-5Vw3zJe8-2YmVyv1choYOhceDWoSi5SIlQTC8AfM0LgMuRvG87tYYDyCHTfqYjNw6X8bic9/s3264/20240208_125658%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowvcqDZ2emadqRDsUb7Jki-TNlOlBIqvQpQFmdX_JedfK4O8GgwRn04IzAsnAf3uP8OYgN7LpLI0xKDGfpAtly-WwWExQkUFl2ayjGGtI4VnMJI-C-5Vw3zJe8-2YmVyv1choYOhceDWoSi5SIlQTC8AfM0LgMuRvG87tYYDyCHTfqYjNw6X8bic9/w400-h300/20240208_125658%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">To those of you who are expressing amazement at seeing snow in Arizona, let me remind you that it is a state of many altitudes and climates.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">While Phoenix sits at around 900 feet above sea level, here in the foothills 80 miles or so to the northwest our elevation is nearly 5,000 feet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's almost as far above sea level as Denver, Colorado.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we <i style="font-weight: bold;">do</i> get snow here from time to time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">About 10 miles southwest of here, in Prescott and a few hundred feet higher, snowstorms are more frequent and usually more severe.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a couple of photos the BAD took out her door today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9RA5rR1z6DPSv6PkTIkhKFW4sBVXfUrdwy3IXF657_4xzmezTKI2ebI6m11IiwP1nnFvbDx9pnjfQez4wrG1XirzIMNeM4Fh1p1GtC8kXVVnCDG8pNm6Vt27vLk0WlW_DhWsHqsmr0X65oDY6lqet-EEK-9w6wcTIVQkiqbFP-nZiyxq298Q8RPI/s3264/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9RA5rR1z6DPSv6PkTIkhKFW4sBVXfUrdwy3IXF657_4xzmezTKI2ebI6m11IiwP1nnFvbDx9pnjfQez4wrG1XirzIMNeM4Fh1p1GtC8kXVVnCDG8pNm6Vt27vLk0WlW_DhWsHqsmr0X65oDY6lqet-EEK-9w6wcTIVQkiqbFP-nZiyxq298Q8RPI/w480-h640/IMG_4821.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7QbBjaWnKSCix9vPDgWT0waSjVdD65mVHYI8jDH1xA6FkflXHbE9-rAJaCXZaf6GmbIEdjnU2zlsm9SDxOqZm15kGY3IIWSVEBxb4XMg6pFiF8BQaN14X9T0voxHofiEaX31Pq3-ri56kD1N3s7YEwZnpxtNrIuPnz5A8SOwkY6AlW2E6UVrLfCP/s3264/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7QbBjaWnKSCix9vPDgWT0waSjVdD65mVHYI8jDH1xA6FkflXHbE9-rAJaCXZaf6GmbIEdjnU2zlsm9SDxOqZm15kGY3IIWSVEBxb4XMg6pFiF8BQaN14X9T0voxHofiEaX31Pq3-ri56kD1N3s7YEwZnpxtNrIuPnz5A8SOwkY6AlW2E6UVrLfCP/w480-h640/IMG_4822.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I might add that since these photos were taken, at least here in Prescott Valley, the sun has been out and melting off much of what fell earlier.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's that old story, <i>"If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes."</i></span></div> </div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-68498663962168018202024-02-07T09:54:00.000-07:002024-02-07T09:54:46.819-07:00JACK IS BACK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iYZ01aIHnZMikNJpz4MntEaG-E0cSG24dwjELkN67IzXdU9X54NjB9zza_2WBQZjx2t_0Eha1JSV0KCQU8l8iPY3TCmX9Qw9S0MwAJ-_0p9vVEDwn-HeTbWMSxa1I0j4JYhPVefwaV8vkSk7XcxMioYiF6aoBKc7P8-aS-Cr4BiogK5DcNHfNrV9/s3264/20240207_084201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iYZ01aIHnZMikNJpz4MntEaG-E0cSG24dwjELkN67IzXdU9X54NjB9zza_2WBQZjx2t_0Eha1JSV0KCQU8l8iPY3TCmX9Qw9S0MwAJ-_0p9vVEDwn-HeTbWMSxa1I0j4JYhPVefwaV8vkSk7XcxMioYiF6aoBKc7P8-aS-Cr4BiogK5DcNHfNrV9/w480-h640/20240207_084201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a rainy day yesterday, courtesy of the winter storms that have been hammering Southern California, Jack Frost paid a visit to us here in ARIZONA overnight.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is what started our day today.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7j2q8sOYH0IPRPeXmRuANMBfnxt2cK00v6u8YI6sPcZrw-nrI7poGXhI3WiyCRNTxCe_zX4bMI17a2_uebxeUhJH9GxA8o07VZHVa55GOOvoP4essaoSgciE2aTIBytXh_mEJnaKaz6aqeA4h2CkvTFLpq0p7yjVOMkrcHV3FmEx6osoAGfysKLe/s3264/20240207_084330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7j2q8sOYH0IPRPeXmRuANMBfnxt2cK00v6u8YI6sPcZrw-nrI7poGXhI3WiyCRNTxCe_zX4bMI17a2_uebxeUhJH9GxA8o07VZHVa55GOOvoP4essaoSgciE2aTIBytXh_mEJnaKaz6aqeA4h2CkvTFLpq0p7yjVOMkrcHV3FmEx6osoAGfysKLe/w480-h640/20240207_084330.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPRYWX_Vr8Odcrc2kFigDJumPGrFz7rv8PNnJGbi91d8WAXVBu21qtshLWurlRXJ8FjggWDjeum4L22pn-LX9AQfLwlmpuAjvI62PP_esVhflvrsFpdgkHBeBOcgsjDB_FDBuGgL8whc8xuArlsZNi4NIwtNBdahl2qBPC5JKVU7Wq9n0bqeeR-1t/s3264/20240207_084502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="3264" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPRYWX_Vr8Odcrc2kFigDJumPGrFz7rv8PNnJGbi91d8WAXVBu21qtshLWurlRXJ8FjggWDjeum4L22pn-LX9AQfLwlmpuAjvI62PP_esVhflvrsFpdgkHBeBOcgsjDB_FDBuGgL8whc8xuArlsZNi4NIwtNBdahl2qBPC5JKVU7Wq9n0bqeeR-1t/w540-h233/20240207_084502.jpg" width="540" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZuTzJfG3fSiXBgVi18MdSqQ5CVUErqZErykYpkUYb4jEU99JVUS3FGIYTS0kqbnlc-YxaHAyp9ZvF7fMOk3StbsIj-_sOGlycrP_SHTrbR4C1nxOYsjFr0oo7WEtJqcH7VTW0W3oPqkcgg9rjUA9G9dPAToro-25hovmDgXopWXd3EuvC3PPE05k/s1059/20240207_084412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1059" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZuTzJfG3fSiXBgVi18MdSqQ5CVUErqZErykYpkUYb4jEU99JVUS3FGIYTS0kqbnlc-YxaHAyp9ZvF7fMOk3StbsIj-_sOGlycrP_SHTrbR4C1nxOYsjFr0oo7WEtJqcH7VTW0W3oPqkcgg9rjUA9G9dPAToro-25hovmDgXopWXd3EuvC3PPE05k/w531-h307/20240207_084412.jpg" width="531" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAEM7Es93sJAM5LoS2bHxbQXVnEDmyRnblB7yfrFT_1-wtuScCMTwJzxJtI96wSOBmoJu3_mGr2lMoK9BTKA24d2ygCV2bFOwySmgqT5Ka2B5XKyRP0ONHe40kI9VSK3Sffzg0jNPttFePTSNexN4Qk3CaHddIQADg4pFnZIDo390UlgbO86Y5E1U/s3119/20240207_084702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="3119" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAEM7Es93sJAM5LoS2bHxbQXVnEDmyRnblB7yfrFT_1-wtuScCMTwJzxJtI96wSOBmoJu3_mGr2lMoK9BTKA24d2ygCV2bFOwySmgqT5Ka2B5XKyRP0ONHe40kI9VSK3Sffzg0jNPttFePTSNexN4Qk3CaHddIQADg4pFnZIDo390UlgbO86Y5E1U/w529-h309/20240207_084702.jpg" width="529" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's the disheveled spinner in our back yard, manically twisted by the high winds yesterday that toppled a dead tree in a neighbor's yard.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And as always after a snowfall, I had to check on the Blue Cat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSd52h1yk77-4LRjf_urU51iazuwzJpuSVc1l1RIwCj8PbYmRMNrSwt-to6nNGVz_lhAe15_3S2dFYnNgQQ0kQrO88eu-IPklmp3BMu2nhmOhrvvzlApOSUYz0pAuk-Dp5dDODZu4TTQcfF58F9PSCYo9ruioNCKadTUBcc4r5SeroJu-8qx4Lcn4/s2047/20240207_084628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="2047" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSd52h1yk77-4LRjf_urU51iazuwzJpuSVc1l1RIwCj8PbYmRMNrSwt-to6nNGVz_lhAe15_3S2dFYnNgQQ0kQrO88eu-IPklmp3BMu2nhmOhrvvzlApOSUYz0pAuk-Dp5dDODZu4TTQcfF58F9PSCYo9ruioNCKadTUBcc4r5SeroJu-8qx4Lcn4/w540-h497/20240207_084628.jpg" width="540" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it's covered in a fresh white blanket, meowing <i>"I didn't move to Arizona for this!"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the sun is out and soon this will all be melted off.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's life in the mountain foothills of Arizona.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlwCo_KGLqK33PVmLFRgXudz3qva52LwapzP4YdjWpq98sJS9ESvb0jvDfFDOf2HRhxnkxBiUMtkr6sZFNyRmTl_uuhasg9OllVKV9DN1B0TrjE2AYedyoCmNTf_CIGcV0g3jGmNsrNj7-EkkO-Hg7eI4UZturStMP0_NRyGWWzPZdFHHxN9ZfTly/s3264/20240207_084429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlwCo_KGLqK33PVmLFRgXudz3qva52LwapzP4YdjWpq98sJS9ESvb0jvDfFDOf2HRhxnkxBiUMtkr6sZFNyRmTl_uuhasg9OllVKV9DN1B0TrjE2AYedyoCmNTf_CIGcV0g3jGmNsrNj7-EkkO-Hg7eI4UZturStMP0_NRyGWWzPZdFHHxN9ZfTly/w482-h362/20240207_084429.jpg" width="482" /></a></div></div><p></p>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225908709483096965.post-71907503611991018362024-02-05T13:38:00.000-07:002024-02-05T13:38:28.542-07:00CONFLICT<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDAzW2ZXxJko9w1nmL1S-o2eo9ZvBqg4kqIdlC6F0dbO6Z-hS8amwceKbJd4qeN_19uGfPUUdkIC0e5MA1548n8T9L64qRROU5dKGehwrkrNyqpBVKAXJlhmeKNu0-vPDq9TTTLN8OlvsyP5WY-r1nRAp_6dE2RU0sXYHeE9mSGV5newBP-Ue6a-qE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1200" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDAzW2ZXxJko9w1nmL1S-o2eo9ZvBqg4kqIdlC6F0dbO6Z-hS8amwceKbJd4qeN_19uGfPUUdkIC0e5MA1548n8T9L64qRROU5dKGehwrkrNyqpBVKAXJlhmeKNu0-vPDq9TTTLN8OlvsyP5WY-r1nRAp_6dE2RU0sXYHeE9mSGV5newBP-Ue6a-qE=w547-h405" width="547" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I spotted this on Facebook today and thought I'd pass it along here in the interest of helping this fellow out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A friend of mine has two tickets for the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, 50 yard line box seats. He paid $2,500 each but he didn't realize last year when he <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>bought them, it was going to be on the same day as his wedding. If you are interested, he is looking for someone to take his place.</span></div></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It's at St. Michaels Church, at 3pm. The bride's name is Geri, she's 5'5", about 115 lbs, good cook too. She'll be the one in the white dress.</span></div></div></blockquote>Catalysthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.com23