MAD MONDAY

Yes, it is Monday and the markets are reacting to the government's efforts to buoy up the economy* by dropping like a rock.

The man who (sometimes) occupies the Oval Office must be tearing his hair out.

* Actually I think they're reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.

And we seem to be reacting to it too.

I got a handful of cartoons from Crosstown Lori over the weekend and several dealt with that subject.

For example . . .

And there's the continued unexplained panic buying of those round, white rolls of relief.

SWMBO and The BRD went out to lunch Saturday but Judy told her daughter that's the last time she's going to venture out for the foreseeable future.

She and I, because of our ages and various health infirmities, are among the population most in danger from the virus.

And I rarely venture out except to buy groceries and visit doctors.

(I've often said that if I didn't have my doctor appointments I'd have no social life at all.)

And "the girls" are suggesting that I avoid the grocery stores and either order on-line and then pick up the goods outside of the store or have them delivered.

I may try that.

It's a strange world we are being forced to live in but I guess we have to obey the new rules if we want to live at all.

Stay well, Gentle Readers, and don't forget to wash your hands.

Often.

A LITTLE CONFUSION

Spring?

Or not?

(Both photos shot the same day within a mile or two of each other.)

JUST GOT BACK FROM COSTCO

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Dear Gentle Readers, if you're like me you've been struggling through another week, full of dire news about the coronavirus, the stock market, cancellations of virtually all events where people gather together and contradictory statements from "the people in charge".

And then we wake up this morning and learn that it is Friday the 13th!

I've got admit, I had never heard of a thundershirt and had to have my humor supplier, Wacky Wally, explain it to me.

But anyway, after a week like that, we all need a little levity so here goes.

And then there's this one, a little off the subject but it tickled me.

So that's it, ladies and gentlemen.

Now without alliteration but with all the hope and grins I can offer, have yourselves a great weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(. . . everyone wants to get in on the act . . .)

WET WEATHER

Wet and wetter.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

A TALE OF A TREE

You frequent readers of Oddball Observations have followed our adventures with the avian visitors to our back yard, and to our bird bath.

You may recall that there used to be a fairly tall though fragile tree next to it which gave the birdies a place to perch whilst waiting their turn to get a drink or, horror of horrors, actually take a bath.

If your minds have not been permanently altered by reading my observations through the years you may recall the sad day late last July when we lost that tree.

If you don't recall that tragic event you can renew your memories by reading about it here.

If you're back now I will remind you that SWMBO had a brainstorm involving buying an artificial tree and planting it where the real tree had once towered so the birdies could eventually once again have a place to perch whilst waiting their turn . . . well, you know.

So a small artificial tree was procured and "planted".

Now let me tell you of the wisdom of doing such a thing in a part of the country where the wind frequently blows like crazy!

Here is the bird perch today.

(It's windy, by the way.)

You may be able to tell that that poor excuse for natural flora has been stripped of great quantities of it's fake leaves.

That is not fake news.

Here, and at other locations scattered around the yard, is the proof.

SWMBO has expressed a Panglossian (damn, I love that word!) view that she will somehow rescue the scattered leaves and restore them to that ridiculous stub.

My more pragmatic view is the one I expressed when the original tree blew down.

Never tweak the Weather Gods.