FRIDAY FUNNIES

Before we get to the humor(?) let me remind you that today is Veterans Day.

Say thank you to a vet today.

Now let me try to lift the miasma of gloom and despair prevailing, Gentle Readers, and give you a ray of sunshine.

Here's one more for you dog-lovers.

In spite of that, I'm still going to call for the kitty at the end of this.

But in the meantime, the old humor bank is running low so, Gentle Readers, if you have any good ones out there send 'em to me.

I appreciate it.

Now, this is an order: as has occurred in our house, turn off the t.v., stop reading the newspapers, get outside maybe and kick some leaves around and try to have yourselves a good weekend.

And always remember that laughter is the best medicine.

Now then.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Does anyone remember what these are?

That's just a small part of my collection gathering dust.

Here's what is inside one of those plastic cases.

If you're old enough to remember cassette tapes, then this is familiar to you.

They came after LP's, which came after 45's, and before CD's.

You remember CD's, don't you?

Here's a sample of what you could have heard on that tape above.

And curiously, it's rather apt for Throwback Thursday.

RED

TUESDAY TRAVELS

THE EVE AND GOOD EATING

One more day of bomfoggery, flibberty-gibberty and gibble-glabbing.

Then we vote.

In the meantime, there is the inner man (and woman) to satisfy.

And satisfy she (SWMBO) did last night with this beautiful dish of onions and peppers and baby squash.

Seasoned and headed for the oven.

They accompanied this dish of slow-cooked spicy pork chops draped with barbecue sauce.

Gentle Readers, you shoulda been here.

That was some good eatin'.

THE END IS NEAR

Can you believe it?

Only two more days remain until this campaign flutters to an end.

Speaking of which . . .

I found the remains of this beautiful creature on the floor of my garage the other day.

I've often thought, as I watched the butterflies flitting around, why they were named that.

It seems a more apt name would have been flutter-bys.

SWEET SATURDAY

Only three more days, Gentle Readers.

Have faith and patience.

What might help?

How about a loaf of banana bread.

I baked this up the other day and I can tell you it makes everything else seem trivial.

Those white flecks imbedded in the loaf are shredded coconut.

The recipe comes from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything cookbook and he calls the coconut his secret ingredient.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

That's how many days are left until the campaign is over.

For the U.S. citizens among you, don't forget to vote.

And don't forget to smile awhile.

It's said that this election season is tearing couples, families and longtime friends apart.

But not everybody . . .

O.K.  Enough about that.

On to more important subjects.

All right, wine lovers, er, Gentle Readers, I want you to have yourself a totally stress-free weekend.

SWMBO told me that both CNN and Fox News are down this morning.

That's a start.

Don't forget to vote and don't forget to always keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Up until last night, the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.

Congratulations, Cubs fans.

The number of days left in this awful presidential campaign.

TIMING AND PROBLEMS AT THE LAKE

Only six days left in this year's presidential election campaign in the United States of America.

Otherwise known as the Silly Sweepstakes.

But on to other matters.

I took a drive over to Fain Park the other day and this is what I found.

The "lake" looks terrible due to lack of water.

It was drained a few months ago in order for work to be done on the drainage system at the dam.

But it was full again in August.

Now it's down again.

I guess problems continue.

In spite of this sign, I noticed a couple of people had climbed over the fence and were trying in vain to snag a fish or two in the lowered water.

Some folks apparently can't read.

TUESDAY TRAVELS

We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1972 and lived there until 1987.

Then, in 2013 we moved there again.

It had changed a lot in those 26 years.

In 1972, downtown Phoenix was a quiet place that was "dead" in the evenings.

No more.

Nowadays it is a modern thriving city with a vibrant inner city atmosphere.

Restaurants, theatres, bars and clubs, and more and more condos and apartments fill the downtown area these days.

Arizona Center brings a park atmosphere to the heart of this city of a million and a half residents.

(The metro area brings the population up to well over 4 million, as of 2010.  Probably more now.)

Landscapers have brought a touch of beauty to all the modernist surroundings.

Not a bad place to live, if you can afford it.

And if you can stand month after month of living in a climate of triple-digit temperatures.

We couldn't.

We only lasted 10 months before returning to our refuge in Prescott Valley once again.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

SLEEPY SUNDAY