UP, UP AND AWAY

Here's a great song from the past that is perfect for today's post.

Today, you see was the day for Prescott Valley's annual hot air balloon fest.

It was a perfect day with a beautiful clear blue sky as the balloonists began readying their crafts.

A large fan is used to begin inflating the fabric globe.

Flames from a burner in the basket complete the job.

One of the crewmen told me he'd heard there were 24 balloons this year.

And then it was time to fly.

What a great day for a balloon ride.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Just last Monday I was thinking "Gosh, it seems like this week is going so slowly." 

And then it's Friday again.

So in a week that had many hours of Republican blather, let's see if we can find some humor.

This week you get a bonus cat picture. Just because.

That's it, folks. Thanks to my contributors and others I've stolen from. Let's keep the chuckles going, gang!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

A tiring week, finally over. 

San Francisco, California

1984 Democratic National Convention 

KPNX-TV crew.

(Front, L to R) Political reporter Ron Talley, Anchorwoman Linda Alvarez, Field Producers Bruce Taylor and Bert Sass.

(Back, L to R) Photographers Wally Athey, Greg Voigt, Steve Torbeck.

FALL FOOD

SWMBO's chicken stir fry

TUESDAY TRAVELS

Protect me, Captain Jack!

I was an extra in a movie with Johnny Depp back in the early 1990's. And young Leonardo DiCaprio.

The movie was "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". Here's how the "boys" looked back then.

That was in Austin, Texas.

The picture at the start of this post was taken at the Pike Place Market in Seattle in 2006 after "Pirates of the Caribbean" had come out.

Oddly, Johnny seemed much more one-dimensional to me.

EXERCISE

Every time I see any of my doctors they always ask me if I exercise.

Shamefacedly, I always respond that I have been doing some walking.

The doctors then tell me that is good exercise, if I do it for about 45 minutes every day, or at least several days a week.

My walks are more leisurely, 10 or 15 minutes, and of late they've been weeks apart.

So I'll try to get back to daily walks and try to extend their duration.

There are a lot of walkers in my neighborhood, some with dogs, some without, some amblers, some power walkers.

So the example has been set for me.

My longtime friend, Tom, over in California, has taken up tennis and become quite involved with a group of fellow seniors (sorry 'bout that, Tom). I think most of them are older than he is.

I don't plan to take up tennis.

But there is an alternative, apparently designed for we age-challenged folks.

It's called Pickleball.

It's sort of a cross between ping pong and tennis.

It's played with a paddle and a plastic ball and a net.

I've read that it's easy to learn but can develop into a fast-paced and competitive game for experienced players.

The other day I wandered (drove) over to the recreation center here and watched a group of four playing the game for a short time.

It looks like fun though I'm not sure I'm agile enough for it.

Maybe I'll just WALK over and be a spectator.

AUTUMNAL TINT

A sign of things to come