MONSOON SKIES

I sat out on our rear patio last night gazing at an impending rain storm as the clustering clouds filled the sky.

Here's how it looked before the rain began.

To those who fear storms that produce crashing thunder, brilliant lightning and heavy downpours of rain these clouds may appear frightening.

Other denizens of my backyard can't wait for it to begin.

Of course he carries his own protective roof to pull in under if the weather gets too bad.

SWMBO'S FAITHFUL COMPANION

Gentle Readers, you have been inundated with photos of MY Faithful Companion, the legendary Blackwell.

But, you may be surprised to learn (or not) that the woman I currently live with (and have for 46+ years) ALSO has a Faithful Companion.

It is the Adorable One, whose given name is Muggles.

Like any cat, she knows instinctively where she looks best and settles there and preens.

Muggles is less of a photo-poser than Blackwell, hence the dearth of pictures of her on this blog.

But when I get one . . . it's a good one.

SWMBO called my attention to this pose and commanded invited me to take a photo as the Little Darlin' lay next to her on the bed.

She's a good 'un.

THE MOOCH GETS MOOCHED!

Not really breaking news: White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci was fired today, after less than a week on the job, by new Chief of Staff John Kelly and escorted from the grounds.

Oops!

My lips are sealed.

Ta-ta, y'all.

Love ya!

PUSSYFOOTING

We have a neighbor who comes to visit.

The previous tenant told us he used to feed her.

We haven't done that but she keeps coming back.

Like others of her breed, she is a master of balance.

I opened the window I was shooting these pictures through and her tiny comments attracted Blackwell.

When her antics finally convinced her that she wasn't going to get a treat, she got off the fence and went on her way.

TRUMP'S ACHILLES HEEL

Aside from the MSM (Main Stream Media) railing on about President Donald Trump's "West Wing in Chaos", the Prez has another perhaps hidden danger lurking in his administration.

I could say lurking in his ego but that wouldn't be kind.

What I am talking about is the imminent threat of a secret group (perhaps) plotting a takeover of the fedrul guvmint (previously known as the federal government.)

What I am talking about is a military coup.

We have heard about it for years, decades even.

The military branch finally has had enough of incompetence at the executive level and takes control to "make things right."

("Right" is not meant here as a perjorative term.)

For decades, we have read, thought about and generally scoffed at that possibility.

But could it be nearer than we think?

The President has just appointed retired Marine General John Kelly as his new Chief of Staff, the office closest to the president, at least in the past.

His National Security Advisor is Army General H.R. McMaster, who is NOT retired from the military.

His Secretary of Defense is retired Marine Corps General James Mattis.

And way down the line but we're just conjecturing here anyway is his Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, a 20 year veteran of the Navy Seals.

Now let me be the first to say it: that's a lot of military heft in the Trump hierarchy.

Granted, it is known that Trump gets an erection from has a fond sense of military leaders, especially considering he never served in the military himself, due to claimed bone spurs in his feet or some such silly excuse.

But I wonder if he's ever read Seven Days in May or seen or understood Dr. Strangelove.

Maybe, like Reince Priebus, I'm just a paranoid schizophrenic but there could be some things to think about there.

The generals are gathering.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Yup, it's the end of another week.

TGIF.

It's time for the Friday Funnies.

So without further ado, let's look at some pie charts.

(PIE!  I WANT PIE!)

(OR CAKE!)

Warning!  The next one is not P.C.

All right, already, that's enough bliss for this week, right?

Now listen, Gentle Readers, I want you all to have an extraordinarily spectacular weekend, replete with all the pie and cake joy that you can stand.

And never forget to keep on laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY - RADIO DAZE

It's been quite awhile since I've posted a Throwback Thursday missive but this week I was thrust back, back, back to my early days in broadcasting.

You may (or may not) notice a blog link I've posted called "Minot Memories" over on the right side of Oddball under "Others' Observations".

It's a blog about old-time memories of Minot, North Dakota, written by a fellow who happens to be an announcer and a salesman at KCJB Radio in that town.

The other day he had a post that included a list of the top songs from 1974: the top 9 plus 10.

That was a sly reference to the station's frequency, which was 910 on the AM dial.

Well it took me back about 12 years to 1962, when I was the night disc jockey at that station.

I actually got my first experience in commercial radio at KEYJ in Jamestown, while I was going to college.

But my time at KCJB was based on rock and roll radio, or Top 40, as it was known in those days.

These four young men kept the records spinning from sign-on until sign-off.

Yes, the radio stations in those days went off the air at midnight and came on again at 5 or 6 in the morning.

As you can see, I was identified as Bruce Taylor on this Top 40 sheet but I was famous (or as famous as one can be at a small radio station in a small market) as Bruce On The Loose!

There are still people around who remember me with that monicker.

I've lost track of the other three guys, don't even know if they're still gracing the earth but I still remember some of our crazy antics from those early days in radio.

By the way, for music fans, here's the other side of that yellow sheet from above, showing that Ray Charles was topping Elvis Presley . . at least for that week.

Along with record sales and record hops you old timers may spot something else that's no longer around: a Transistor, or transistor radio, about the size of a smart phone today.

CACTI COLOR

The BRD sent some photos of blooming cactus on her patio the other day.

I love the color!

GLAD FOR GLADS

SWMBO and I were surprised (again) by a delivery of a live plant the other day.

It appeared to be just some green stems of some kind of flower but the directions that came with it told us to put in them in the accompanying vase with some water and some of the plant food that came with them.

Only a few days later, this is what we had.

I have since read up on gladiolus plants and can swear to the claim that they make wonderful cut flowers as well as ground plants.

They're a wonderful splash of color in the house.

ARGHHH, MONDAY AGAIN?

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ah, here it is again.

FRIDAY!

It's my favorite day of the week because I get to tickle your funnybones, Gentle Readers.

It's my particular moment of joy.

Well, not me, exactly.

But wothehell, let's get on with it.

Drink up, my friends.

So while you're all groaning let me take this opportunity to wish you an amazingly bodacious weekend, filled with everything you want it to be.

And always, Gentle Readers, always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

MIDWEEK ON THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE

Prescott, Arizona has a number of qualities that make it a desirable place to live.

Chief among them is the courthouse square in downtown which may be one of the reasons the city is known as "Everybody's Home Town".

On any nice day people can be seen walking the wide sidewalk that surrounds the county courthouse.

This fellow might have thought there were some deer hunters to be avoided.

It is quite definitely a dog-friendly area.

This fellow had a brace of poodles on leashes.

A young father had a different pet to corral.

Some of the tourists were doing what I was doing.

Though these two were focused on the buildings across the street . . . on Whiskey Row.

One of the visitors enjoying the shade under the trees favored the "off-the-shoulder" look.

Wait a minute!

Is that Bernie Sanders with her?

Oops, sorry, guess not.

Watching over all of this is what we used to call when I was a kid "the friendly gaze of the cop."

Kind of gives new meaning to the expression "I've got your back", doesn't it?

I'll end this tour with a gentleman with the best advice of all.

Now THAT'S a Kitty!

The picture that showed up on my daily calendar today is so beautiful I had to share it with you all, Gentle Readers.

A BRIEF SHOWER

What does it look like when the sky opens up?

Kind of like this.

The monsoon rains have definitely come to Arizona, as shown in the tragic story from this weekend when 9 people drowned in a flash flood that surprised them at a swimming hole where rain had not fallen.

The raging water, carrying trees and mud, came from where rain had fallen, miles away.

A 10th person is still missing.

Amazingly, this rainstorm I photographed earlier today, though headed right for us, never materialized in our area, though other parts of Prescott and Prescott Valley were drenched.

It's a good time of year to remind locals of the danger and to heed the advice: stay safe.

MO(U)RNING VISITOR

Judy has now passed the one-month mark since her accident.

She's reached the point now where she's frustrated at "how long" it's taking.

In spite of the fact that all the data says it takes 4 to 6 months.

We try to subtly remind her of that from time to time.

Meantime the back yard has been a busy spot with mockingbirds, the house finches, Say's phoebes, even a couple of huge pigeons paying visits to the bird bath.

And, of course, the mourning doves.

These (take your pick) bold or dopey birds will graze the gravel for bugs within a few feet of we seated humans.

I caught this one with his eyes closed about to take a dive into that inviting water.

They use their long tail feathers to balance themselves as they bend way over to get a drink.

In spite of their tenuous hold on the rim of the bowl and the level the water has evaporated down to, they never seem to fall into the water.

Except when they want to.