SADNESS ABOUT MADNESS

What happened in Aurora, Colorado was . . . and unfortunately the word "again" must be inserted here . . . madness.  It leaves one speechless after the repetition of an act that occurs much too often in our country, in our world.  So . . hug your children and your other loved ones.  Find solace, perhaps, in the blessings of nature. 



STRANGE PHOTOS FOUND ON THE INTERNET

The Internet is a fount of information . . . and of weird stuff.  Here are some photos I've gleaned this week.



From 1923, a bunch of looneys posed on top of the Overhanging Rock in Yosemite National Park.  It's 3,300 feet straight down off the edge of that rock.

Then there is this photo of the writers Tom Wolfe and Kurt Vonnegut on a lifeguard tower.

And finally a delicious photo of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.  See if you can pick out her trademark.



O.K. fellows.  Be honest now.  How many of you noticed Frida's famous unibrow?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone.

PURPLE-TUNIAS

At the BRD's house.



CATNIP!!!

SWMBO sprinkled out some catnip the other night.  It's the cats' drug of choice.  Muggles got to it first as Jazz waited politely.

Though Jazz was waiting patiently, Muggles seemed to be sticking out her tongue at her.

Maybe she's just working up to a sneeze.

A little later, after Jazz had her taste and lay down near the stash, Blackwell showed up to see what the big deal was.

He soon found out.

Jazz and Blackwell never get this close to each other without some trouble.  But both stoned?  A different story.  And I do mean stoned.

Blackwell:  "Is anyone going to supply us with some chocolate?"

Jazz:  "I'd get some but unfortunately I can't move right now."

AS THE YEARS GO BY

This is a picture taken a couple of weeks ago of my high school graduating class.

The class of 1958.  This was their 54th class reunion.  I wasn't there.  As I have not been to one since my 10th reunion, in 1968.  To add to that, I haven't been back to my home town since 1988, 24 years ago.

All of which may explain why I can only identify a few of the people in this photograph though I grew up with most of them in a very small town in isolated North Dakota.  People change over the years and I have come to realize that if you're not keeping track of the changes through the years, you lose track of what the people now look like.

Who would have thought, for example that this handsome young guy from 1958 . . .

 . . . would turn into this gray bearded old guy in 2012?

That guy in the upper left in the group picture was one of my best friends in high school and, amazingly, he hasn't changed hardly at all.  Plus I've seen him a few times in recent years.  He now makes a trip down to Arizona and Texas about every winter and stops for a cup of coffee with me.  I remember seeing pictures from, I believe, the 50th reunion which featured a fashion show and he ended it by coming on stage in the same outfit he wore to our senior prom.  It still fit him perfectly! 

But most of the rest of us have put on weight, gotten gray or white haired or even bald.  And of course a handful of my classmates aren't around anymore.

Time.  It's a killer!  Know what I mean?

LITTLE RED ROD

I snapped this picture the other day at an intersection in Prescott.  It's through my windshield.  Sorry for the reflections.  And for the crack.  (Shhhhhh!  Don't tell anyone.)

ALOHA PRESCOTT!

Saturday was the big day for the Old Fireside Plaza's annual Hawaiian luau day.  This is the third year that Goodwin Street in front of the plaza has been closed off after tons of sand have been dumped on it for a sand volleyball tournament.



The entire plaza is decorated, Hawaiian style.



There is live entertainment by local bands, a pig roast, raffle prizes and much more.  Visitors are encouraged to "dress Hawaiian" and many of them do.

The employees of the plaza's shops also dress the part.

I could feel this poor fellow's pain.

The mascot for the Arizona Sundogs hockey team showed up and posed for pictures.



Security is provided by the Arizona Rangers in their natty all-black uniforms.



That's probably a pretty good thing considering some of the other employees and their costumes.  If you're not an admirer of the female form you might want to look away.  But you'll be missing something.  After all, it's Hawaiian, right?

This young lass was getting a compliment from a female customer on her red hair.  One of her male co-workers commented "Don't worry, no one's going to notice it today."

I asked this young lady to pose as I wanted a picture of her tree.  She commented, "that's one I've never heard!"  But she posed.



What can I say . . . but . . . aloha!  Oy!