WEATHERING THE WEATHER

Here's an anecdote from my past life in the television news business.

I was working in Phoenix one winter when a national governor's meeting was being held in the Valley of the Sun.

I got a telephone call from a reporter in Buffalo, New York where winter meant WINTER!

In my chat with him he asked what the weather was like and I told him it was around 75 degrees and sunny.

He groaned and said something like "You really know how to rub it in, don't you."

I then added that the conference wasn't really going on in Phoenix but in a suburb called Paradise Valley.

He responded with a sarcastic "Oh, thanks a lot!"

Those were good times for me.

I am still in Arizona but now about 80 miles northwest of Greater Phoenix and around forty-one-hundred feet higher.

True, we are further south than Denver, Colorado but our elevation is nearly the same at around 5 thousand feet.

And it's a bright sunny day here but the temperature as I'm typing this at 11 a.m. is only 39 degrees.

And while I grew up in North Dakota, only about 50 miles from Canada, I've been gone a long time and have spent over half my life in Arizona.

My blood has thinned and I'm shivering and complaining about the cold a lot.

But unlike the other Sunshine State, Florida, we do not have 8 inches of snow on the ground!

And to my way of thinking that is a blessing!

So we struggle along here in the sunny Southwest.

I think I can get through it until Summer is back and I can complain about how blasted hot it is.

SOUTHERN SNOW

In spite of that header picture above, we have had no snow in my part of Arizona.

But the same can't be said for much of the southeastern United States.

From Texas to Florida, residents woke to find snow covering the ground.

In Arkansas, where the normal yearly snowfall is 3 to 4 inches there were reports of 10 inches from yesterday's blizzard.

Here's an Associated Press photo from Nashville, Tennessee.

Children are loving it, drivers are cursing it.

But there's hope  . . . .

In the meantime, just keep shoveling! 😄

FISH-EYE

 This winter driving tip was aimed at Minnesota drivers but it could be equally valid for North Dakotans or Canadians.

Always stay alert, no matter the hazards.

Right, Red?

JANUARY 20TH, 2025 - COMMENTARY

COFFEECAKE

I didn't spend all day yesterday dancing around to music by the Pointer Sisters.

But I did spend quite a bit of the day on my feet.

In the kitchen, where I baked an Applesauce Coffeecake.

It came out of the oven high and mighty and though it was meant for Sunday morning breakfast, SWMBO just had to sample it while it was still warm and I joined her.

She pronounced it a success while I was iffy on it.

Later in the day I baked a Chicken Enchilada casserole I brought from the grocery store.

With some refritos (refried beans) and some leftover fruit Judy had in the refrigerator it was a fine meal.

Quite a bit later I had another piece of that coffeecake and decided time had done it some good.

I told her I couldn't understand how women who cooked and baked day after day for their family ever did it.

I was exhausted.

But then I noted that I hadn't begun in earnest until I was 84.

So there's that.

I'M SO EXCITED

Saturday being the first day of a weekend, it's a day for fun.

So let's have some fun with this remarkable video put together a few years ago from old movies and the Pointer Sisters singing "I'm So Excited".

You may want to "embiggen" it to full screen once it starts to fully appreciate it.

And note: If you enjoy it there are many other of these type of videos available free on YouTube.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

You know how it goes.

Life is just one thing after another.

It's kind of like . . . a week is just one day after another.

You start out and before you know it people are shouting TGIF!

It's Friday once again.

But it's a good thing there is only one Friday in a week.

I don't think you could stand more days than that of jocularity.

Let's see how you handle this Friday's dopey dizzy dose of daffiness.

Wordplay.

It's a strange thing.

Some people (your scribe included) love 'em, some people hate 'em.

Nevertheless, as long as the Trekkies are around puns will continue to exist.

Existence.

Now that's a strange thing too.

(Oh shut up, Catalyst!  We've had enough!)

So that's how you feel.

Well then just take my wish that you have an absolutely wonderful weekend and that's it's not just a weak end.

But always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . I think you're not the only one, pal . . . )