HOUSEBOATING

The past has snuck (or is it sneaked?) up on me once again.

You may remember a few weeks ago the photo of that mystery home in Guadalajara that for the longest time I couldn't quite identify.

The same guy who sent me that photo has done it again.

Not with a home but with a much younger me.

Looking somewhat terrified as I tried to pilot a houseboat on Lake Mojave, in northwestern Arizona.

That was back in the day when I was foolishly still smoking, as you may be able to see.

A group of friends had the use of the houseboat for a weekend and good times were had by all.

Even me, after I relinquished the wheel to a more experienced lake negotiator and relaxed with a buddy (actually a Budweiser beer.)

I may have looked a little admonished by the casualness of this showoff lake pilot, steering with his foot.

A sizeable quantity of alcohol was consumed by the boatload of loonies on that weekend.

I'm not sure if that had anything to do with this sweet lady being the best boat captain or not.

Good times in the 1970's when we apparently weren't quite old enough to know any better.

But it was one fun weekend!

AH YOUTH

Once one reaches a certain age one's curiousity about his past comes to the fore.

Apparently that also comes to the minds of one's friends.

At least mine.

Tommy Terrific sent me this photo the other day and after cropping it slightly and correcting the color intensity, I thought I'd show it to you.

Left to right here are the afore-mentioned Tommy Terrific, your Catalyst, and the frequently named in this blog Timmer.

Just to treat them with the respect their years have earned them their true names are Tom Cochrun, Bruce Taylor, and Tim Dietz.

Three journalists.

Tom is now retired in Central California, Tim has (finally!) retired in a suburb of Denver, and I live in Central Arizona.

Tom and I have been friends for over 55 years, Tim and I for around 50.

Baseball Steve (Steve Torbeck of Phoenix) and I have over 50 years on the calendar as friends.

I heard from all three of them on my recent birthday.

Sometimes the old friends are the best friends.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

I thought of delaying the Friday Funnies today because of how long it took me to post the Thursday Thrillers yesterday but then . . .naahhhh.

So without further introduction here they go.

That's all I got, comrades.

Oh, sorry for that.

I meant friends.

Don't want to get Vlad pissed off.

Have yourselves a very merry weekend.

And don't forget to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh yeah, I know about that . . . )

THE HAT TRICK

Now I'm not doing this because I'm trying to urge you to send me birthday greetings but today I hit another big one.

In fact, a BIG big one.

I turned 85 years old today.

But lest you rush to inquire after my health before it's too late, be assured that I'm just fine except for a small pain in my back.

SWMBO would be the first to tell you that I've been a pain a bit lower than that for most of the years we've been together but never mind that.

What I want to talk to you about today is headgear.

It must have begun when I was a wee lad, overcome with my talent at performing tricks from a magic set I'd been given one Christmas or birthday and assisted by my mother's sewing and crafting skills, I soon became The Great Taylor, magician extraordinare.

Or maybe it was that impressive chapeau I donned for one of my first acting experiences as a Prince Charming.

When I became a bespectacled adult(?) my glasses were more likely to find themselves on the top of my head than on my eyes.

Then years later I met Judy.

She overlooked my hippie days . . .

. . . and soon fashioned a costumed hat for a Halloween party.

Once again I was a wizard!

Those early years in Phoenix found me working for Channel 12 in Phoenix and I quickly confiscated a hat.

In the next decade, a trip to Dallas, Texas for a political convention found me in a newly acquired straw Stetson.

Later, in a few years in Mexico, my hat collection expanded.

Even when (before the Diamondbacks existed) I was a Dodger fan!

Back in the States, I posed for my wife's camera in a hoped for career as a movie extra.

Apparently Texas doesn't have much film use for Greek fishermen!

Well, after a decade or two I found myself in retirement and a chance to . . . what else . . . grow my hat collection.

I don't always wear hats.

But it's not due to that Willy Nelson-esque attitude.

Believe it or not, some hats just make me grumpy.

EARTH DAY

 

Do whatever you can to save it.

EASTER DINNER

No company yesterday.

Just us.

So a simple meal for two.

Deviled Eggs.

Judy said she has to have deviled eggs for Easter.

Sauteed Green Beans.

Which I insist on calling by their French term: Haricots Verts.

Sounds fancier.

Cole Slaw.

Ham, of course.

Ham steak this time.

We don't eat lamb but we occasionally toast in the Greek manner with Opa!

Accompanied by Sweet Potato Medallions.

It made for a pretty good "simple meal for two".

p.s. And enough for leftovers today!

BRUSHWORK

Happy Easter!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona

11 a.m. Friday

Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona

10:30 a.m. Saturday

(24 hours later)

Just part of the wondrous scenery that is Arizona!

And on another note, yes Debby and all you blue bag watchers, it's still there this morning, in spite of driving rain and snow yesterday afternoon.

Neither of our "smart-" phone cameras do a good job of showing it but it's still up there, stuck in the tree.

Kinda like Charlie Brown's kite, if you read that comic strip.