OUR FRIEND DIANE

 A few weeks ago Judy and I heard some disturbing news about our longtime friend, Diane Kalas.

She had suffered a stroke in Flagstaff, Arizona, and was in the hospital.

Diane is a vigorous 91 years old but a medical emergency at that age is frightening.

However, Diane being Diane, after a week in the hospital and ten days in a rehab facility she and one of her daughters and a mutual friend left for an annual vacation planned a year ago.

In her beloved Laguna Beach, California.

Diane had lived there as a young woman, fell in love with it and has returned year after year.

She says it works like a tonic to her and judging by her activity it has performed its magic once again.

I met Diane more than half a century ago when we found ourselves working for the same television station in Phoenix.

I was in awe of this woman who hosted a morning program called Today in Arizona.

She had a wall of signed photographs of movie stars, entertainers and politicians that she had interviewed.

Diane went on to success in radio stations in Pittsburgh, Boston and San Francisco before ending her career as "The Shell Answer Lady" for a California refinery.

In later years, she adopted a scruffy mutt she named Rags.

"Nobody better try to cheat my lady at cards!"

So Diane, keep on keepin' on, and this next one is just for you.

FINALLY!

 It was two weeks late but our first monsoon storm of the season arrived yesterday afternoon.

As I remarked, it's as if it was making up for lost time.

It rained, blew and hailed for three solid hours, sometimes lightly and at other times torrentially.

If you turn your audio on you can hear it pattering down.

In this later video, where it was raining harder, you can hear the water pouring down from the flooded eavestrough over the front entrance.

After it had finally stopped, Judy checked our rain guage in the tomato barrel and said we'd gotten nearly an inch and a half.

The cooler air felt good for a change although our summer heat hasn't broken for good and the season is only about halfway through.

HEAT

 

CHILL

 

Guess what today is.

Oh yes, just in time.

It's National Ice Cream Day!

So take the edge off of that heat and get yourself a cone.

Or a dish.

Or a batch.

Whatever your choice, cool off with some ice cream today.

FOLIAGE

Part of Judy's Coleus Forest, trying to take over the patio.

(There are more in the house) 

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Vive la France!

Yes, it's France's National Day also known as Bastille Day!

So let's eat lots of snails!

Or you could celebrate another day today: It's National Nude Day!

A day when nudists around the world go au naturel.

But if you plan on celebrating it, probably better put off that trip to the store.

Here in Arizona the mercury is threatening to pass the 100 degree mark so let's begin, as we did last Friday, with something to cool you off.

You know what that means.

The fun is (mostly) over.

Now, non-alliteratively, I would like you to enjoy a remarkable weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . ooooohhh, I know that feeling . . . )

LAKE VISIT

With summer's scorching temperatures recently we had been pretty much confined to our home.

It is supposed to surpass the 100 degree mark this weekend.

So late yesterday afternoon I suggested we visit nearby Yavapai Lake and watch the ducks for awhile.

It's a small lake, more of a pond really, but catching it in the right light with the fountain going in the center can provide some nice views.

And gazing at that water, one can actually feel cooler.

The duck population has severely diminished as many may have migrated north seeking cooler weather.

But there were enough to amuse us.

These two swam back and forth constantly staying in close proximity to each other.

We watched and conjured up fantasies about their relationship.

First date, maybe?

Many people were walking and some even jogging on the path alongside the lake.

We, however, remained in the car with the air conditioning running.

With advancing age comes loss of energy and mobility but growing wisdom, I like to think.

We are fortunate to have this little lake only a few minutes away.