FRIDAY FUNNIES

Have a great weekend, folks, and keep on laughin'.

(Grateful thanks to all contributors, whether they knew it or not.)

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Once upon a time, back in the mid-1980's, SWMBO and I were making plans to move to Mexico for an early retirement.  Before we left, I received this homemade birthday card from our friends, Tom and Lana.

And on the inside of the card . . .

What are good friends for except to make fun of you, eh?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

RAINY DAYS AND NIGHTS

Much of today was rainy here in Arizona's central highlands.  It didn't rain hard but it was nice to get a break from the weatherman. It reminded me of an old tune.

MONDAY MUSIC

It's been overcast most of today.  Now, in the mid-afternoon, the skies are darkening, the sound of thunder rolls in occasionally and it is looking like rain.

I feel the need for some music from one of my favorite groups - Pink Martini and the wonderful singer Storm Large.  Enjoy.

HUMMINGBIRD HUMILIATION

After viewing my video of a hummingbird at one of our feeders, the BRD sent me these two photos.

Talk about humility!

ONE THIRSTY HUMMINGBIRD

SUPER MOON

Last night was the first night of another Super Moon.

This is the best I could do with my $100 camera.  Still.  It has a nice tropical look to it with the sunset colors tinting the sky.

For a great look at the moon, as well as some beautiful flowers, go to my friend, Dr. M's blog.  Quite obviously he has a better camera and lenses than I.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Bet you thought I'd forgot the cat.  Not a chance.  Had to search for him though.  He was hiding.

Have a great weekend, folks, and keep on chuckling!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The Field Producer

Republican National Convention

Dallas, Texas - 1984

In spite of the cigarette, I was fighting a cold.  It was blazing hot outside and air conditioned to freezing inside.

Hard to believe that was 30 years ago!

Here's the full crew, happy the week is finally over

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

UPDATE

I haven't blogged since last Friday so . . .

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Okay, now that you've had a day to enjoy those Ukranian musicians here are the real Friday Funnies.

That's all, folks.  Have a fundalacious weekend and you readers in the U.S. of A. - a happy Fourth of July!

FRIDAY FUNNIES PREVIEW

Just to get you in the mood for tomorrow's glee, here's something that is indescribable but must be seen.  (Click on "Post")

Post by Сергей Бабенко.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Once upon a time, way back in the middle 1960's, I was a clean shaven, short-haired, young radio and television news director at KFYR in Bismarck, North Dakota.  My "staff" consisted of one other reporter and one and a half photographers.  (The other half worked for the ad salesmen.)  It was long hours as we covered newscasts from 7:25 in the morning until 10:30 at night but it was fun.  I'd never go back to it, though.  Schedules like that are for young men and I no longer am.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Goofin' with the Legends in Seattle.

Me and Elvis

My buddy, Steve and Jimi

Two entirely different trips.  Neither one of us together.  Two similar goofs.

Whaddaya gonna say?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE AUTOS GONE?

General Motors has now recalled more than 28 million of its automobiles, dating back to 1997, for problems mainly with an ignition switch that can, and has, caused fatal accidents.  GM's relatively new boss, Mary Barra, was slammed with this growing problem virtually as soon as she took over.  It seems to me she has handled the problem well, bravely facing Congressional panels and members of the news media with equanimity and promises to fix the problem.

Lawyer Ken Feinberg has been hired to settle with families who have suffered fatalities stemming from the ignition problems and GM has put no restrictions in him.

All of which does not prevent the humorists among us from taking advantage of the seriousness of the issue to post a good joke.  At least I thought it was good.  Sometimes when all hell is breaking loose all around us it is good to have a sense of humor.

A MEMORIAL

One year ago today, on June 30th, 2013, a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, took the lives of 19 members of a firefighting team from the Prescott area - the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Crew.

No one has forgotten.  Today in front of the Prescott Valley Municipal Building, flags fly in the breeze in memory of the young men who died together.

Boots rest at the base of 19 of the flagpoles and at one more.  One of the hot shots was deployed as a lookout and survived.

The battle with the Yarnell Fire was terribly bungled by perhaps several agencies.  There is blame enough to go around.  But today is a day to remember the victims.  In memorium.

A SLEEPY SATURDAY

This Saturday begins with a couple of fuzzy pictures of one of the hummingbirds that have taken over our back patio (and its two feeders.)

Those rascals are not easy to photograph, given the speed of their movements.

Next - - - I swear this will be the last photograph I post of rabbits. How could I top six at once in my neighbor's grassy back yard.

You may doubt my count but there's one over against the wall in the upper right.  You can just barely make him out.  I couldn't believe this.  It resembled a scene from Peter Cottontail or Watership Down.

Meantime inside the house, our cats Muggles and Blackwell, have grown totally bored with watching the rabbits.  They both would rather have a nap.

"..and please, if you would, stop flashing that camera in my face!"

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

It must have been a dour week.  I only have a few funnies for you today.

Ah, yes, those were the days.

This next one was probably my favorite.

Of course, I do have one with a cat, as usual.

That's all, folks.  Have a f-f-f-f-f-antastic weekend!

(Oh, and thanks to all of my contributors, whether you knew you were doing it or not.)

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Clowning around at a rest stop during a trip from Indianapolis to Cincinnati where the Lenny Wilson Trio had a recording session. Probably around 1970.

I'm in the middle.  My buddy Orly Knutson is on the left.  He's retired now after a 50 year career as a radio disc jockey in North Dakota, Indianapolis and Minneapolis.  He was known as The Happy Norwegian on the air.  

At one time or another he'd be asked "Is Orly Knutson your real name?"

His stock answer "If I was going to pick a name, do you think that would be it?"

On the right is Dave Morgan.  He was the drummer and occasional vocalist with the trio.  I see that he's gone on to a successful career as a drummer, vibraphonist and vocalist.

Orly was a drummer, too, but he and I were just along for the ride on this trip.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (almost)

I really need to get out more.

IF YOU CARROT (sic) ALL

MINGUS

When I first heard Charlie Mingus in college, I thought "that's crazy."  Not crazy, like hip.  Just bizarre and insane.  But I grew to love his music.  

Years later I learned he was a native of Nogales, Arizona, on the Mexican border.  I have no idea where he came up with this music, living down there.

But I'm glad he did.

A FEAST FROM THE GRILL

The other night on my back patio . . .

. . . pineapple, lemon, corn on the cob, onion, peppers, zucchini, ready for the grill . . .

. . . joining some chicken breasts . . .

. . . and the heat is on . . .

. . . nearly done now as my stomach growls can be heard through the neighborhood.

It was delicious.  And, by the way, if you've never tried grilled pineapple you've missed one of the true culinary pleasures of life.

Bon appétit!