THROWBACK THURSDAY

Judy (SWMBO) & I in the 1980's

Guadalajara, Mexico

Pre-white hair

Pre-Pacemakers

Those were the days!

UPDATE

Judy (SWMBO) now has her Pacemaker installed.  The operation went well this morning, she's now on 6 hours of bedrest and will spend the night in the hospital.  We are both relieved.

INVERTED

First off I apologize for the fuzziness of the photos today.

Second, do any of you people who have cats have cats that do this?

Muggles is famous for lying on her back with her hind feet in the air. She does it when she's relaxed, when she's content and, as SWMBO says, when she's happy.  She also does it sometimes when she's asleep.  It always amuses me and she was lying on the floor like this, grooming herself, looking around, day-dreaming . . for a long time last night.

It's difficult to photograph her like this, especially when she's rolling around and particularly when she becomes aware of the camera.

 - - - - -

SWMBO, by the way, is going in to the hospital tomorrow to have a Pacemaker installed.  This follows a scary incident about a week ago when she had a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) or mini-stroke and went to the hospital in an ambulance.  After one night there and a battery of tests she was home again, waiting for her appointment with her cardiologist yesterday.  He recommended and she quickly agreed to the Pacemaker so it will be done in a relatively non-invasive surgery* tomorrow.  She'll have one arm in a sling for a week or so but I can assure you she'll still be giving the orders around here.  I shall strive to survive her surgery and what follows.  

*relatively non-invasive surgery:  the device is planted just under the skin.  But they do run leads into her heart.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

The BRD has acquired many of her mother's talents.  She sent me some photos yesterday of her latest offerings from her kitchen.

A panful of oysters frying.

Jalapeño Poppers and crisp bacon.

And Eggs Benedict.

Voilà!  Sunday Brunch at the BRD's house.

Damn!

Now I'm hungry again.

THE MIGHTY CENTURY PLANT

It begins with a cluster of tough leaves.

The flower stalk that rises from the center of the cluster heads for the sky.

It is said the stalk can rise as high as 26 feet.

As it  rises, blooms form near the top.

The plant whose scientific name is Agave Americana has been nicknamed the Century plant because it blooms only once in its 10 to 30 year life and then dies.  But shoots from the base prolong the life of this majestic plant.

These are not yet in full bloom.  I will try to get a picture when they are.

Meantime, this one plant . . not yet blooming . . seems already to be waving goodbye.

APRIL IN ARIZONA

Strong winds are swirling the snow around in the air but the temperature is 39 and most of it is melting when it hits the ground. The moisture is moving quickly through the state and the sun will probably be out later this afternoon.  On a day when I don't have to go out of the house it's fun to watch.

THE WHISKEY OFF ROAD

For three days in April, Prescott, Arizona  becomes the center of Mountain Bike Riding.  Yesterday was the first day.

It's called that because all of the races begin and end on Whiskey Row and the Courthouse Square.  

Tarps cover the headquarters of racing teams and vendors along the street.

Bikes and their riders of all ages lined up and filled the street, ready to ride.

At the location of one of the racing teams, extra bikes waited their call to duty.

You can read more about the event and see more photos and a video of some of the racing by going to Doug Cook's story in the Daily Courier here.

Yesterday's weather was perfect but today rain is falling and the course will get very muddy.  I'm staying home.