SNARLED

Where would you rather live?

Los Angeles?

Or Phoenix?

Looks like a toss-up to me.

HAWK SHOP

My neighbor, Lori Down the Block, had a lucky break the other day. She has a nice fountain in her front yard, directly out from her kitchen sink where she does dishes. As she was doing that on Thursday she glanced up and saw this out the window.

This hawk had his eagle eye right on her so she ducked down and hurried to get her camera, then returned and snapped a couple of shots before he flew away.

It's probably a Cooper's Hawk. They seem to be prevalent to the area though one doesn't usually get this good a look at one.

She sent me the photos with great excitement and gave me permission to post them on my blog.

I used my photo software to crop them a bit and make the bird bigger on my screen.

Since these birds spend a lot of time in the air I'm not sure why his feet would be hot but he certainly seems to be enjoying soaking them in the cool running water of the fountain.

He may be a scavenger but he seems like a noble creature as he posed for his photo.

Thanks to my neighborhood Hawk Host and Photographer Lori for the quick work.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ready?

One - Two - Three - Prepare to be amused.

O.K. Gentle Readers and Friday Amusees. That's it.

What?

Oh, the cat.

Nearly forgot.

Have a great weekend, thanks to my contributors/theft victims and always remember to keep laughing.  Ta-ta.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

What was called, back in the day (1972), the "glamour shot". It was taken at a professional photography studio in order to mark my arrival as a news reporter at was then KTAR-TV in Phoenix, Arizona. The call letters were changed to KPNX-TV some years later.

I don't know how glamorous this photo was, considering that weird Lincoln-esque beard I was wearing at the time. I do know that a couple of my bosses were against me wearing it because I was going to be on the air but no one had the courage to tell me to shave it off.

Nowadays, HR would protect it. And besides, facial hair is in once again.

Matt Lauer

Ron Burgundy

Stephen Colbert

David Letterman

Maybe I was just ahead of my time!

UPDATE: THE CAT TREE

I said, in my previous post earlier today, Blackwell would enjoy his cubbyhole until he got bored with it. Or, SWMBO said, until it gets too warm. 

It must have because this is where I found him after I returned from an errand-filled shopping trip.

Yes, that's the big black blob up on top, several stories up from his bungalow.

Meanwhile.

SWMBO asked me to take some pictures of the grooves in the wood support post and ask your opinions. They used to be covered with carpet like the rest of the tree. But much clawing tore it to a frazzled mess and she eventually removed it. That didn't stop the cats . . . predominately Muggles . . . who then proceeded to claw the wood.

Now I know cats claw trees when they're outside.

But this looks like it could be painful.

Maybe inflict splinters in tender paws.

I think it should be re-covered with the available carpet just waiting for it. But SWMBO said she's not sure.

So she asked me to poll you, Gentle Readers.

Should the wood be re-covered with plushy carpeting or should it be left bare, as it presently is.

Curious Oddballs want to know.

Muggles, in the meantime, is snoozing through it on the couch.

SPRING (?) CLEANING

SWMBO decided to clean up the garage today. This consists of her moving stuff around and coming, repeatedly, to ask me to move the car out, bring the garbage dumpster in, call a thrift store to see if they'd take an old 12 inch television set, warm up her cup of tea, etc., etc.

Now I don't mean to complain. I'm happy to do these things for her (us).

The last thing she asked was to bring into the house a tall cat tree that hasn't been used for years. It's in pretty ratty condition but the cats loved it once upon a time and the small scratching post in the house is in even worse condition.

So with some exertion unfit for a man of my years I brought the abominable thing in.

She told me to place it sort of over by the window and once I got it in place she said "that's perfect."

As I was leaving the room, knowing what I'd see, I glanced back over my shoulder.

Yep! SWMBO moved it. About a quarter of an inch. Oh, well, whatever makes her happy.

A minute or so later she came by my den to tell me that within five seconds Blackwell had jumped up into the cubbyhole in the tree.

He stayed put while I grabbed a couple of pictures. Looks like he's found his spot. At least for a short time until he grows bored with it.

At least it's better than the bathroom vanity. As I was walking down the hall this morning he came on a dead run, slipped into the bathroom and leaped up to the vanity right in front of me.

I yelled "Hey!" and he jumped down and took off for another part of the house. 

Just happy that I'm awake, I guess.

TUESDAY TRAVELS

Have heart, folks, there are only four more.

And one of them DOESN'T SHOW ME WEARING SHORT SHORTS!

I thought that would make you happy.

So, this week - - - Minnesota!

The home of the Golden Gophers!

Hang in there. Next week we're going abroad!