NEED A BIT OF A PROD?

If so, you might try a Red Hot Poker!  I have a photo.

The gals down at the Prescott Valley Nursery assure me that's the correct name for this plant.  Although it also is known as a torch lily or a tritoma.  Technically it is a Kniphofia.  It was named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, an 18th Century German physician and botanist. Don't think he ever made it to Arizona but his plant did.

The blossom only lasts for a few days but the lower part is an evergreen and stays year-round.

And that's your botany lesson for today.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD!

While down in "the Valley" this week, SWMBO (Judy) and I stopped at the Phoenix Art Museum to see a special exhibit.

"Hollywood Costume" features more than 100 costumes from a century of film making.

The exhibition was originally curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum of London.  The Phoenix Art Museum showing, which runs to July 6th, is the second showing in the United States and the final showing.  Once it closes the costumes will go back to private owners and studio archives.  So it's a great chance to see costumes from some famous movies.

One can envision Elizabeth Taylor in this costume from Cleopatra.

Or Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady".

Right next to this much flashier costume worn by Streep as Donna in "Mamma Mia".

Glenn Close wore these costumes as Cruella De Vil in "101 Dalmatians".  You will notice the video screens where the characters' heads would be.  They play videos of the actual actors.

Warren Beatty's costume worn for the lead role in "Dick Tracy".

Some other gun-toters from "True Grit".

And Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress that blew up over a New York subway grate in "The Seven Year Itch".

There is much more and, if possible, you'd be well-advised to pay it a visit before it goes away.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

My friend, Steve, enjoying one of my jokes.

And finally, the cat.

Have a spectacular weekend, folks!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

A 44-year-old Selfie.  Yikes!

No, not me.  I was only about 30.  But the photo is 44 years old.

"HOUSE" MUSIC

Those of you who may have watched the television series "House" are then familiar with its star, British actor Hugh Laurie.  But Laurie is a Renaissance man, who also includes music in his catalog of versatility.  He has now recorded two C.D.'s of mainly blues music in the New Orleans style.  And he's been touring for a year or more with a group known as the Copper Bottom Band.  Last night they were in Mesa, Arizona, at the Mesa Arts Center and SWMBO and I were lucky enough to be in attendance at their concert.

First the stage is set.

Then the band appears and begins a bit of drum and bass work and then Laurie appears at the back of the stage and, when he is recognized by a roaring crowd, stops dead still and stares out with a blank expression and then comes forward and the show is on.

It continues for better than 2 and a half hours and three encore performances and a "God Bless You, Mesa" from Laurie before the exhausted performers call it a night.  The crowd is still left roaring for more.

Laurie is not only a wonderfully entertaining musician and singer but a marvelous actor as he mugs and stunts through the night.  And he has taught his crew well.

Photography was forbidden, though not obeyed by this amazingly appreciative audience but my (illegal) attempt to get any of the show failed to achieve my exacting standards.  But I wanted to give you a hint of what we saw last night so here, from an earlier show elsewhere, is one of the stellar (though, not necessarily bluesy) performances.  Laurie, with one of his amazingly talented backup singers, Gaby Moreno, doing El Choclo, or The Kiss of Fire.

A fantastic show, though for us older folks, a bit long.  

Still, if he comes to a town near you . . . GO SEE HIM!

WASHING DISHES . . FROM THE INSIDE!

O.K.  Here's something you always wanted to know.  Someone was curious about what really happens inside a dishwasher.  So this curious person put a GoPro camera inside and ran the machine. 

Behold!

And now you know why this is called Oddball Observations!

CACTUS FLOWER

Back in 1969 there was this quirky little movie with a cute, big-eyed blonde at the center of it.

Her name was Goldie Hawn.  This was her first movie and she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for it.

Earlier the "dumb blonde" had made her fame on the t.v. show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, frequently in a bikini and a lot of body paint.

Now you're wondering why I brought Kate Hudson's mother to your attention today.  

For precisely this reason.

I thought of her when I was photographing these "cactus flowers" the other day.

(Pretty sneaky way to get a picture of a blonde in a bikini into my blog, eh?)