THE BIG PICNIC

As I promised you yesterday, I drove 110 miles or so to Mesa's Pioneer Park today for the annual Stanley picnic.  

I grew up in Stanley, North Dakota.  Many of the people of my home town are snowbirds in Arizona.  (A snowbird is a person who flees the northern climes during the winter to spend the cold, snowy months in some more civilized climate - like Arizona's.)  Some of them have given up on North Dakota altogether and now live in Arizona year-round.

At any rate, old friendships die hard.  So once a year those part-time residents of Stanley or former residents of Stanley gather in Pioneer Park for a picnic, or North Dakota pot-luck.

I last attended one nearly 40 years ago and since I have grown older and have a new car and am retired I decided to attend this year's picnic.

A childhood friend of mine, Jim Burbidge, was instrumental.  He planned to come from his home in Federal Way, Washington to spend time with his brother and sister and attend the picnic.  So we agreed to meet.

Here are the two jolly old codgers, both white-bearded.  Please note that Jim's hair is white, too, unlike mine.  But then he is 7 months older than I am.

Jim's brother and sister also attended.  Jack is my brother's age and I believe Jean is older still.

Jean always was a short young woman but to give you an idea of how short she is now, here's a look at the top of her hat.

When I showed that picture to Jean she said "How did you get that?"

I said, "Well, I am a little taller than you, Jean."

In fact, I didn't even have to stand on tiptoe and I'm just a shade over 6 feet tall these days.

And finally there was Stan Wright.  Stan has lived in Stanley nearly all his life and that life has been a long and fruitful one.  He has been involved in probably every good thing that has ever happened in that small community.  I can remember him as a grown man when I was just a tyke, which must put him at close to 90 now.  I kidded him today about his trombone.  (He's a musician, among his other talents.)  He said he has about three invites every week from some band or another asking if he'd like to sit in.  

Stan the Man.  A life well lived.

I met lots of other people from my home town today but had to be reintroduced to practically all of them.  I haven't seen them for decades and somehow they don't look the same.

My wife said, "Y'know what?  Neither do you!"

"Ouch!"

TRAVELS

On a clear day, you can see forever . . .

Those snow-capped mountains are the San Francisco Peaks which contain the highest mountain in Arizona, Humphreys Peak at a little more than 12,630 feet.  They're about 80 miles away but on a clear day like today they are very visible.

I always think about the first people to come upon these scenic wonders on horseback hundreds of years ago.  I can't imagine what they thought.  Later the West was being civilized (sort of) and the mail had to get through.

Until the railroads made their way to the Pacific Coast, that job was left to a brave bunch of riders on horseback known as the Pony Express.  This sculpture is on a plaza in Scottsdale, which used to be known as the West's Most Western Town.  Nowadays it's more commonly known as Snobsdale because of all it's wealthy residents.  The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as a desert version of Miami's South Beach.

The BRD has just returned from a trip to Florida for the 80th birthday of her father.  He surprised her at the airport with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

And tomorrow I'm heading for Mesa (another suburb of Phoenix) for the annual Stanley picnic.  I'm sure you've all heard of it so I'll save further discussion until I get back.

ONE FINE DAY & THOU SWELL

SWMBO told me a short time ago that Lady Gaga has had to cancel her current tour and is going to have hip surgery.  In spite of all the show biz Gaga is an excellent singer and I wish her well.

Meantime, I'm still gaga over Kat Edmonson, who eschews the show biz but is a wonderful singer and writer.

When I "discovered" Kat recently and SWMBO heard her sing she said she reminded her of the late Blossom Dearie.  Take a listen.

I must agree.  I think they're both great and quite comparative.  What do you think?

FRIDAY FOLLIES

This has got to be the biggest and the happiest beach baby ever.

And as brother Ratzinger fades into the sunset, the humorists have him in their sights.

"Pope Benedict surprised everyone and announced that he is stepping down at the end of the month.  Or as God put it, 'Well, at least he gave me two weeks notice."

                                                    --Jimmy Fallon

And on and on it goes.

101!

It's our birthday today.

Arizona is 101 years old today.

February 14, 1912 the Arizona Territory became the state of Arizona.  It was the 48th state admitted to the union and the last of the contiguous states.

It's a pretty good state to be in.  A lot of beauty lives here.

Not the least of that beauty is in our official state flag.

The top half of the flag has thirteen rays of alternating red and yellow, representing the original 13 states.  The copper star in the center represents the copper mining industry of Arizona.  The bottom half of the flag is the same blue as in the United States flag and represents liberty.  The actual design of the flag wasn't adopted until February 17th, 1917 by the third state legislature.  And that's your history lesson for today.

Oh and by the way, Happy Valentines Day!

WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE?

I was recently tagged by Scott of Flight Plan to participate in this 25 question "getting to know you" exercise. Here goes:

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Stanley, North Dakota

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER SOMEONE?
Yes, my first name is Franklin, the same as my dad.  But I've always been known as Bruce, my middle name.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN, HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?
Five, only one of my own blood.  Curiously his name is Scott, as is one of my stepsons.

HOW MANY PETS DO YOU HAVE?
Two.  Blackwell and Muggles, both cats.

WHAT IS YOUR WORST INJURY?

I guess breaking both of my pinky fingers, years apart.  Neither were set and both have a malformed joint.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I took seven years of piano lessons when I was a kid.  The end result was I used to be able to play Sentimental Journey, badly.  Now I can't even play that!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO BAKE?
Probably bread.  I just got a baguette pan today and plan to try it out tomorrow.

FAVORITE FAST FOOD?
Pizza.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No, my days of daring stunts are long over.  I have enough trouble just walking these days.

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Hmmm, how much trouble can I get into here?  If it's a male, probably sense of humor.  If it's a female . . .(never mind).

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I can't remember but it's usually when I'm reading my wife something and I get to the great ending and can't get it out.

ANY CURRENT WORRIES?

Not really.

NAME 3 DRINKS THAT YOU DRINK REGULARLY.
Coffee, Diet Coke, Vodka-and-water.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?
That's a tough one because I've always been a reader.  "Slaughterhouse Five" by Kurt Vonnegut used to be a favorite.  Most anything by Hemingway.  Several by T. Coraghessan Boyle.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PIRATE?
I would to "have been" a pirate.

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Sauteed onions, lemons, fresh baked bread.

WHY DO YOU BLOG?
I've been a writer (of sorts) all my life and this just keeps it going.  'Course now I can add pictures, videos, music.

WHAT SONG DO YOU WANT PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL?

We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.  Also The Lumberjack Song by Monty Python.

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My appearance.  I'm overweight by about 30 pounds. 

FAVORITE HOBBY?
Oh, just about anything connected with this damnable computer!  Also reading.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A FRIEND?

I'm sticking with what Scott said:  "Someone who can make me laugh, and who I can always trust."

NAME SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD.
Walked the complete base path at Chase Field in Phoenix.  I have a picture to prove it. 

ANY PET PEEVES?
Rap and hip-hop music.  "Celebrities" who are famous for being famous and who act badly.

WHAT'S THE LAST THING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH?
A nasty joke I received by email this morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The instructions say I'm now supposed to tag 10 other people and challenge them to reveal 25 things about themselves, too.   Folks, in no particular order....you're up:

Tom at  Light Breezes

Stephen at The Chubby Chatterbox

Cupcake Murphy at Odd, Good, True

Frank at Vinyl Stats

Oh, heck, I'm gonna let it go at four.  Have at it.

CAR REPAIR

I have stated several times before on this blog that the last automobile I owned that I could open the hood and perhaps fix a problem was the 1948 Chevrolet which I drove in my college days.  It was ten years old when I started.

I believe I have told you about the winter when the brakes went out. I was impoverished in those days and my college sat high on a hill above the rest of the town.  Whenever I had to go into town I would creep down a snow- and ice-covered hilly street in second gear, hoping against hope that no other traffic would be coming on the street at the bottom onto which I had to make a u-turn.  There never was and I would skid across the street backwards until my wheels struck the curb.  Then I could proceed on into town.

It went like this throughout the winter because I knew I didn't have enough money to get my brakes fixed.  And then spring came, the snow melted and for some strange reason I had some money in my pockets.  So I nervously took the car to a garage and waited for the expensive repair estimate.  Finally the mechanic came out and said something like "you're good to go.  That'll be eighty-five cents!"

"What?", I said.

"You just needed some brake fluid," he explained.

OMG!  I had spent all winter risking life and limb when all I needed was some inexpensive brake fluid!

Well, that should tell you all you need to know about my automobile repair expertise.

Until today.

We recently bought a brand new 2013 Nissan Altima car.  But over the past week or so we began to notice a rattle which seemed to be coming from the dashboard on the drivers' side.  We had less than 2,800 miles on the car and already it was falling apart!  After the latest drive by my wife she came home, steaming, and said "We've got to get that thing fixed!"

So I took it to the local Nissan dealer, whose service manager said that day was not a good day and we made an appointment for this morning.  I showed up right on time, having first removed everything from the car that might cause the rattle. A few minutes later he asked me to go for a test drive with the mechanic.  We had a tough time finding a road with bumps in it that caused the rattle but he did hear it and confirmed that I was not crazy.  Back to the dealership.  I returned to the waiting room, he took the car back into the shop.

About 15 minutes later the service manager came out with the verdict.  I braced myself for the bad news.  He said "the mechanic found the problem.  Your sun visor wasn't clipped."

"You're kidding!" I responded.

But he wasn't.

I drove home with the radio turned off, listening intently for any tiny rattle.  There weren't any.  The car drove like a dream.  Silently.  Rattle-less.

Car repair.  It's not for amateurs.