DAY OF THE DEAD

Today, November 2nd, is a public holiday throughout Mexico and in many other countries around the world.

It is a day chosen for people to honor the memories of their deceased relatives and friends.

It is traditional to build private altars, called ofrendas and to decorate graves with sugar skulls, marigolds and favorite foods and beverages of the departed.

Relatives bring their own food and drinks and music, often spending the night at the cemetery in a sort of melancholy picnic atmosphere.

These pictures were taken at the cemetery in Ajijic, a small village on the north shore of Lake Chapala where we first lived when we made our excursion to Mexico.

It was an interesting and somewhat macabre introduction to the native culture for us.

I have since read that the origins of the holiday date back thousands of years to indigenous peoples and an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess.

COSTUMERY

Yesterday being Halloween, a number of service employees around town wore their costumes to work.

For instance, this jungly mail carrier.

I don't know that giraffes wear sunglasses but never mind.

Here's a "wonder-ful" young lady.

A local hair salon had a number of costumed cutters.

And a grocery store yielded a few more.

This lady went all out with her princess dress and wig.

You may have noticed that all of the tricksters were women.

Well, not quite all.  There was this scary guy in the meat department.

As for trick or treaters last night, our doorbell only rang twice.

Yum!

More candy for me!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Most of the rest of these are signs on actual businesses.

Or they've been Photo-Shopped.

I think that last one is my favorite.

But then, of course, there is the obligatory cat cartoon, this week featuring a couple of "Lion Kings" and a little (or big) poke at Chicago baseball fans.

So ends this week's hilarity. Thanks to my contributors and theft victims who make these weekly forays into fun 'n' games possible.

Have a great weekend and keep smilin', Jack.*

*old comic books reference.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

She had to then go through a Senate confirmation hearing.

Since she was from Arizona, KPNX-TV in Phoenix sent a crew to Washington to cover it.

Photographer Wally Athey, reporter Ron Talley, anchorwoman Linda Alvarez, field producer Bruce Taylor.

We were on top of a building which housed the editing facilities and the satellite uplink we rented. I think there was a view of the Capitol somewhere in the distance.

A quiet moment of conversation between Talley and Taylor in the hallway outside the hearing room.

Here's a little tale about Ron Talley. His real name is Ron Thompson but when he came to work at KTAR-TV, the station had an anchorman named Ray Thompson.

So they changed the young reporter's name and he became Ron Talley for evermore.

The station also changed its name, later becoming KPNX-TV.

Oh, and Sandra Day O'Connor?

She was confirmed and spent 25 years on the high court.

WAYBACK WEDNESDAY

A long time friend, Seattle Lori, wrote after yesterday's blog to say that she didn't know I had interviewed John Wayne.

I thought sure I had bragged told her about it.

But here's the proof, from 1975 on his back patio overlooking the bay in Newport Beach.

"C'mon, don't touch my knee!"

"Timmer, Is this guy really a reporter?"

"Isn't it about time for you to leave?

Incidentally, again in reference to yesterday's post, Timmer  . . who took these pictures . . wrote and said it wasn't his first trip to California but probably his first trip to Newport Beach.

Now reversing course a bit, here are some more pictures taken at various places on the Mexican Pacific Coast where Hurricane Patricia came ashore this week.

These were all taken when we lived in Mexico during the 1980's.

One of my first friends in Mexico, Bob, and, yeah, I was probably just as skeptical about whatever he was telling me than I appear to be in the photo.

The previously mentioned Philomena, proprietress of Los Pelicanos bar and restaurant in Melaque and, Judy noted below this picture, "story teller".

One can only wonder what story she was telling this time but since she was holding a gun on us we listened politely.

Boat-mates Bea and Harry with my beautiful bride.

B and H are wearing their "sand dollar" t-shirts in reference to the name of Harry's boat, Sand Dollar II. I'm not sure what happened to Sand Dollar I.

Harry whistling a new companion to attention. He had a way with parrots. And with people.

Before he retired to the "yachtie life" in Mexico, he was some kind of nuclear engineer in New Mexico.

We went sailing a couple of times on Harry's boat.

Great guy, gone now I think.

TUESDAY TRAVELS

A gray California morning in 1975.

Enroute to Newport Beach to interview John Wayne, driver/photographer Tim suddenly turned off the highway with an "Okay, we've got to check out this beach!"

(It may have been his first time in California, I'm not sure.)

So we made a quick stop at Huntington Beach State Park to look at seaweed and shells in the sand.

And then back to work.