Saturday, February 5, 2022

MO SNO

 oh-HO!

So you say you like snow creatures, do you?

Well I've got more!
































Okay, okay, that's enough.

And if she gets a ride, that'll be the end of this snowman saga, right kitty?

(oh, man)


Friday, February 4, 2022

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 I was watching the weather channel yesterday with a little bit of suppressed glee.

It was showing snowstorms in Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; Little Rock; Oklahoma City and Dallas.

I sent an email to Easy Ed in Indy, where I once lived for a few years, saying I didn't miss that kind of snow at all.

Or the kind where his wife and I come from, in North Dakota.

But today I'll put my gloating aside and show you snow people how to enjoy the days.

After all, it's time for the weekly cartoons!


























Those are the jokes, folks.

And a special thank you to L.L., aka Cross Town Lori, a native Michigander, for all those wonderful snowmen and women.

Now here's the message for this weekend: whether it's building your own snow people or sledding or skiing or snowball fights, get out there and enjoy yourself as best you can.

I'll be down here in Arizona basking in the . . . well, no, I'll be inside by the fire!

But always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .


Thursday, February 3, 2022

PROGRESS (?)

In 1877, a mere 145 years ago, a young man named Thomas Edison introduced a new invention, the phonograph.

He demonstrated it by playing a recording of a poem he had recited.




Today we have Rap.

Thanks, Tom.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

ONE MORE

 For William, and for all the rest of you.




(By the way, Punxsatawney Phil reportedly did see his shadow today and subsequently predicted six more weeks of winter.)

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

GROUNDHOG DAY

 Tomorrow (or today), February 2nd, is Groundhog Day.

If you don't know, and how could you not, it's the day when a rodent called a groundhog is pulled out of his wintertime siesta to see whether he sees his shadow or not.

The result of that unlikely occurrence will (supposedly) tell we "believers" whether there will be six more weeks of winter or not.

C'mon, folks.

Does anyone really believe that?

Oh, and there's a movie starring Bill Murray where a television weatherman gets trapped in a time loop and has to relive the day repeatedly.

Now you might expect me to have a great post about this today.

Well you'd be wrong.

Because one of my fellow bloggers has vanquished me without a fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the new and forever champion of Groundhog Day.




Check his blog by clicking his name.

Monday, January 31, 2022

THE FAMOUS(?) LEMON SHEET CAKE

 Okay, friends, neighbors, Gentle Readers and fellow gourmands.

You asked for it.

Judy made it Sunday and here's how it turned out.




In addition, some of you asked for the recipe so here it is.

Lemon Sheet Cake


Ingredients

  • 1 package lemon cake mix (regular size)

  • 4 large eggs, room temperature

  • 1 can (15-3/4 ounces) lemon pie filling

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened

  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar

  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk

  • Colored sugar, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the cake mix and eggs until well blended. Fold in pie filling.

Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in vanilla and enough milk to reach desired consistency. Spread over cake. If desired, sprinkle with colored sugar. Store cake in the refrigerator.

Just to further pique your taste buds, here's how it looks on the plate.

Very briefly.



Enjoy!

Sunday, January 30, 2022

A HOAGY SKY

 


Yesterday's clouds made a spectacular display in the sky.

Whenever Judy or I see a sky like this we're reminded of Hoagy Carmichael, who performed the song "Ole Buttermilk Sky" in the movie "Canyon Passage".




Carmichael was an Indiana native who earned a law degree at Indiana University but found his forte in songwriting.

He and Jack Brooks wrote "Ole Buttermilk Sky".

With many partners, he also is credited with writing "Stardust", "Georgia on My Mind", "(Up A) Lazy River", "In the Still of the Night", "Lazybones", "The Nearness of You", "Heart and Soul", "Two Sleepy People" and dozens more.

But somehow we always think of him when we see a sky like this.



An old buttermilk sky.

Saturday, January 29, 2022

CAKE, ANYONE?

Today the extremely overworked Catalyst takes the day off and turns Oddball over to his beloved Judy, aka She Who Must Be Obeyed.

 

A while back we acquired a recipe for a "Lemon Sheet Cake" that has become a favorite for many reasons.  

It is quick and easy to make and it tastes great.  

But it requires a boxed cake mix AND a can of lemon pie filling.  

Therein, we find, lies the problem.  

Canned lemon pie filling has become elusive and very hard to find in our area.   

Maybe all of our neighbors are making the same cake.  

It could happen.

This week when we did our online grocery order from Walmart (to be picked up in the parking lot), we tried again.  

As the order was being finalized we were informed that the lemon pie filling was not in stock in this store, but they would ship it to us.   

What?   

No, No,  just cancel that!  

But there was no way on that page to do that.

Sooooooo.....four days later the doorbell rings and lo and behold, there is a box containing ONE CAN OF LEMON PIE FILLING.

Shipped all the way from Sparks, Nevada!





Now, someone is going to have to bake a cake!

Friday, January 28, 2022

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Curiously, just this morning I received an email from LL, aka Cross Town Lori, containing a batch of puns.

I say curiously because just last night I had decided that today's edition of the Comedy Cavalcade would be all puns.

So, with a special dedication to Lori, and apologies to all the pun-haters out there (SWMBO included), here we go!

This first one is actually just for Lori's husband, who happens to be named Rick.


























So is that enough for you?

Here in Groanland, the applause is deafening.

Or is that deaf to me.

Well that's my destiny.

I know what you're saying: Stop! Stop! Stop!

So I'll pull out all stops to wish you a very organ-ic weekend full of total enjoyment, fun and frolic.

And never forget: Always Keep Laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .


Thursday, January 27, 2022

FRIDAY FUNNIES PREVIEW

 This one was too good to hold for tomorrow.


Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

MOVIES FOR OLD FOLKS

 I was having some conversation with SWMBO this evening and the expression "our precious bodily fluids" came out of my mouth.

I knew where it came from, I just didn't know why.

But after looking at a couple of clips on You Tube, I went to Amazon Prime and rented the movie.

We have 30 days to begin watching it - a true classic.



George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden and Peter Sellers, Peter Sellers, Peter Sellers.

I urge you all to join me . . whether old folks or young.

NERDS, ARISE!

So yesterday's little game got mixed results.

Margaret was the first to come up with a correct answer.

For those who didn't understand it, let me explain.

The device shown in the photo is a Voltohmmeter which normally measures various types of electric units.

The selector knob in the photo is turned to the symbol for ohms, which denotes resistance.

Hence, the device is telling you that "resistance is futile".

The phrase may have been first used in an episode of Doctor Who in 1976.

It turns up fairly often in science fiction movies and television shows.

But most of my nerdy friends connect it to an alien collective known as The Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

And no, I have never seen it either.

I've never been a trekkie.

So for those of us who've never seen it, here's a clip.



And now our lives are complete!

Monday, January 24, 2022

NERD ALERT

 Let's see how many nerds are out there.