ThrowBack Thursday

A glance at the Good Old Days - before Social Distancing.

College days - how many can cram into a VW Beetle?

Acting in a campus production of "Hedda Gabler".

My co-conspirator Phil Perry and I, posing as college journalists backstage with Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck.

(We actually were on a college newspaper but it was a different college 100 miles away.)

Welcoming Chet Huntley to North Dakota and actually shaking hands.

Remember handshakes?

Out for a little run with Governor Bill Guy during Bobby Kennedy's fitness campaign.

Me, on the far right, walking backward while filming the governor, Senator Quentin Burdick and Vice-President Hubert Humphrey.

With Congressman-elect Tom Kleppe on election night in 1966.

He later became head of the Small Business Administration and, later, Secretary of the Interior.

Goofing in Madras jackets and sun glasses (at night!) with photographer Bob Barclay.

Goofing with Orly Knutson and Dave Morgan on the road between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

With my buddy, Tom Cochrun, at WIBC Radio in Indianapolis.

Shaking hands with a reluctant Nguyen Cao Ky while his wife looks on.

(It was in California. I never got to Vietnam.)

Yukking it up with The Duke on the patio of his home in Newport Beach.

With the gang at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, 1984.

And another gang at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, 1984.

The Hole in the Wall Gang.

Actually Judy and I with Beaner and Timmer (Yes! They really exist!) in Grand Junction, Colorado.

With my old pal, Walter Nixon, and others at a Christmas Party in Mexico.

Bearded Baseball Steve and I in Puerto Vallarta, (before we were Senior Citizens).

Yes, Gentle Readers, those were the Good Old Days, when we could throw our arms around each other, hug and kiss, party together, and gather in groups large and small.

Remember *your* good old days fondly and smile at the memories as I do.

A BUSY GHOST TOWN

Sedona, Arizona, is a tourist mecca in the heart of Red Rocks Country.

When we first discovered it in the early 1970's it was a sleepy little burg with an Old West vibe.

Since then it has grown exponentially with constant construction of mansion homes everywhere, expensive restaurants, New Age crystal emporiums, pricey art galleries and traffic, traffic, traffic.

However, during the slowing down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with most businesses being closed, we had heard that Sedona had become a ghost town.

On our recent visit we found many dozens of cars parked alongside the two-lane highway in the picturesque Oak Creek Canyon just outside town as hikers filled the area.

Construction crews working on Midgley Bridge had traffic down to one-lane and were letting lines of vehicles pass alternately.

In town it seemed construction was going on everywhere as the city used the slight lull to improve the infrastructure.

A decorative fence was being put in place through the middle of the street in the Old Town section in an apparent attempt to prevent jaywalkers from blocking, or being run over by, the usually constant string of cars in both directions.

To sum up, the Old West village become jam-packed modern town become ghost town is busy once again.

Not as busy as before the virus caused the state's governor to issue a stay home order but still a bit of a pain to visit.

We were glad to leave it all behind and head for home.

SHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE

A short day-trip.

To Sedona.

FEELING TESTY?

SUNDAY SERMON

FRIDAY RECAP

My 80th birthday yesterday was, as I told my hard-working wife last night, one of my best ever.

The BRD came over for a wine therapy session in the early afternoon.

We met in our garage and sat at a respectful distance from each other and chatted for about 2 hours.

Then a period of rest, followed by our first "cocktails on the patio" for this summer.

But by early evening the shade was on the patio and the breeze was a bit brisk and cooling so we came in fairly soon.

Then to the kitchen and My Master Chef (Judy) took over, assisted by her Sous Chef (me) in preparing the meal of the day.

She's finishing up her Shrimp Scampi, the shellfish bathed in a sauce of butter, garlic and onions.

She accompanied it with Fettucini Alfredo and a nice salad.

And then the pièce de résistance - a Carrot Bundt Cake with frosting and SPRINKLES!

I guess, even at 80, some guys never grow up!

I was beautifully treated on my special day and I was heartily gratified.

(It's hard to show one's joy and gratitude when one has to take one's own selfie.)

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES - BIRTHDAY EDITION

Okay, let's just get over it.

It's my birthday.

When people say "Happy Birthday" . . . I think . . . they're thinkin' of someone way younger than me.

But, wothehell, let's get on with it.

Okay, let's get to the crux of it.

When people ask me how the (....) old are you, anyway, Old Taylor, . . I go into the Pirate Mode.

And there it is.

Another turning point.

From now on you can refer to me as an octogenarian and I won't even ask you to spell it.

And since it's Friday, allow me to wish you a quiet, peaceful, gentle weekend.

But what else could you have if you're, like me, in quarantine!

And always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

EARTH DAY PLUS ONE

Yup, I know.

I didn't post anything yesterday about Earth Day.

And it was its 50th Anniversary!

As Jimmy Fallon said last night: "You can tell 
Earth Day turned 50 because earlier today, Earth 
changed its hairstyle and bought a Corvette."

So I suppose I could blame my ignoring the day yesterday on a mid-life crisis but if that's the case I'm going to set a real record for longevity!

Actually I did take a couple of nature shots yesterday so here's my tribute to Earth Day.

What?

A picture of a dead dandelion isn't a satisfactory tribute?

Well, then, how about this.

I was chatting with my neighbor, Captain Doug, awhile back and noted the pretty flower at the edge of his property.

He said it was a weed and he was going to have to dig it and its brothers up pretty soon.

By the way, my first attempt at photographing the pretty flower/weed lacked something and I suppose my longtime friend and renowned wildlife photographer Carol could have explained it to me.

The lesson would have been basically this: if you're trying to photograph a blossom on the ground on a sunny day try not to stand between your object and the sun!

I brought up Carol's name because just yesterday she provided an entry for my Humor Bank, earning her the title "Carol the Comic".

Here it is.

That truly captures the spirit of this pandemic.

As does the final thought of the day, which I swiped from the BRD.

Stay well, everyone.

HERE COMES THE SUN

It seems like just yesterday that I said, "Finally! The 70's are coming!"

But I know that wasn't so because it rained yesterday and the temperature stayed in the 60's.

We also had some terrific thunderclaps during the afternoon.

But today the sun is back and the mercury is forecast to climb into the mid 70's again.

By the weekend, the 80's will be here, followed by the mid to upper 80's next week.

So it's time to put aside all those bitter complaints about how cold it is and bring out the seasonal complaints about how hot it is.

One thing about the weather - it's always changing.

Frankly, I like it when the temperature gets into the 80's

It makes the early evenings (i.e. The Cocktail Hour) pleasant enough to sit out on the patio.

I have noticed that the birds apparently like the warmer weather too.

We have seen an influx of goldfinches, house finches, the occasional robin, some warblers and, of course, the flirting doves.

But the doves seem to stay all winter.

Incidentally, I watched our rent-a-cat Matty up on the wall around our backyard a few days ago with a fixed gaze on something on the ground on the other side.

Then he disappeared, only to appear a short time later with what appeared to be a baby bird in his mouth.

He paid me no nevermind.

He just hurried along the wall, clear around our house and bounded down, heading for his real home with his prey.

So, the cycle of life continues, in spite of the pandemic.

Stay safe and well and sane, Gentle Readers.

We'll get over this in time.

And get out of your houses and enjoy some sunshine.

DRIVING HABITS FOR THE LOCKDOWN

MAKE YOUR OWN FACE MASK

In these times of the Corona-19 Pandemic and its attendant shortages, I thought it would be good to show you how to make your own face mask at home.

So here is a short video.

(scroll down)

Just so you know, I am indebted to Phunny Phil for sending that to me.

Thanks, Phil!

POSTING THE COLORS

I had to go out to pick up some groceries yesterday and my return took me by my local library.

It's been closed for some time now though the staff continues to work within the closed building and users can still order books on-line and pick them up at a drive-through.

But as I drove by the building, I noticed this.

That huge flag hanging from the top of the building was a welcome sight, seeming to remind me of the saying that has become a byword of this pandemic: We're All in This Together.

There were flags flying along the street in front of the building too.

The red, white and blue were a welcome sight, lifting the mood a bit in these dark days.

IT STARTS WITH THE DIRT

There's a massive construction project going on not far from where I live.

The "town" of Prescott Valley has let a contract for the extension of North Viewpoint Drive and work is underway daily, in spite of the Corona-19 epidemic.

So huge machines have been grading the pathway to extend the street north from Manley Drive to connect with the northern stretch of the roadway.

I thought of this and the many home building projects going on all around me as I was reading the biography of one of the candidates for the Town Council.

He said he had moved here after retiring in California because he relished the "small town atmosphere".

This "small town" is currently struggling through an era of exponential growth.