Wednesday, August 9, 2023

A GATHERING

It's become a thing - these gatherings at "The Pie Place".

I think I picked the spot years ago because it is about midway between Prescott Valley, where I live, and "The Valley", the metropolitan area centered on Phoenix.

It's the Rock Springs Cafe, famous far and wide for their huge selection of pies.

In case you're new here, this is all in Arizona, U.S.A.

The gatherings are lunch groups of half a dozen or so former colleagues in the television news business who worked together at KPNX-TV (formerly KTAR-TV) in Phoenix.

Since I'm writing this I can disclose that the ages of the participants are now in their 70's and 80's.

Yesterday's gathering was prompted by the visit to the Valley of Tim Dietz, who was a photographer at The Dozen (a relatively new title prompted by the station's Channel 12 location).

Tim only spent a few years with us.

He was a Midwest boy who was appalled and nearly overcome by the heat of Phoenix summers.

He escaped back to Denver, Colorado, where he had interned at a sister station while in college, and spent the rest of his long career there, ending it as a vice-president of the business.

Tim and I have remained friends through the decades and when he contacted me and said he'd buy me lunch if we could meet somewhere halfway of course I suggested The Pie Place and began rounding up some other pals of days gone by.

So, here they are . . older, grayer, heavier . . but still friends.



Wally Athey (photographer extraordinaire), Ron Brooks (instant sportscaster, deputy sheriff and whatever), Tim Dietz (the sort of retired exec), Roger Ball (photographer, assignment editor, news director), Bruce Taylor (your scribe), Mike Martin (film editor, computer whiz), and the ever-young Baseball Steve Torbeck (photographer, 12 Country one-man band).

Now you might think that senior members of our society like these would be a dignified lot.

Well, you'd be wrong, and apparently our waitresses caught the vibe.




As is often said of gatherings like these, the lies and the gibes flew fast and furious.

Good times, good pals.

Monday, August 7, 2023

NO GRATITUDE

I just came home from a quick trip to the grocery store to buy cat food.

I told Sweetie Pie that I'd brought home *twenty* cans of her favorite.


She said, "Only twenty?"

Some cats can't be satisfied.

Friday, August 4, 2023

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Wow! What a week, eh?

Never thought it would happen.

The Diamondbacks traded for a relief pitcher and then sent him immediately to the Minors.

Who'da ever imagined.

Oh yeah and there was some other stuff happening in the news but we'll just leave that to others.

What WE'RE here for . . and YOU, I'd venture to say . . is to have our ribs tickled.

So shall we begin?

We shall.























What's that?

TWO Star Trekkies?

I'm sorry, I just couldn't decide.

But you can now decide to have a delicious and decadent weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

Thursday, August 3, 2023

TRAIL OF TEARS

 


Or maybe they're just clouds.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

MONSOON SKY

 


I call them "thunderbumpers".

They piled up yesterday afternoon but we only got a brief evening shower this time.

Monday, July 31, 2023

LEGADO UPDATE

 Some of my (you) readers commented unfavorably on the Legado project in downtown Prescott Valley that I reported on the other day.

Yes, right now it looks very ugly.

But as I've been trying to say, that is the parking garage and it will be enclosed with apartments and retail businesses.

Here, courtesy of Legado, is one picture of what it will look like when it's done.


It will have a rooftop restaurant, a smaller Arcade dining spot and a market at ground level, all operated by the well-known Prescott chef and restaurateur Barry Barbe.


So you see, it's not urban blight but a stylish addition to our town.

Patience, dear friends, patience.

Saturday, July 29, 2023

GROWING

 The Legado Project, which I told you about earlier this month (click here) continues to grow in the heart of Prescott Valley.



I took this photo yesterday through my rainy car windshield.

Once again we had heavy rain and occasional hail.

And a power outage in the evening that Judy says lasted a couple of hours.

I've been busy re-setting clocks this morning.