THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

All right, all right, I know you've been waiting less than patiently for me.

Some people are in such a hurry.

So let's ge . . . what the heck?

Sheesh!

Everybody wants to get in the act!

So, anyway, on this edition of The Friday Funnies we're going to have a little fun with the Great (but only second largest) State of Texas!

Ta-dah!

That last one is my favorite . . . how about you?

And Texans, I'm only pickin' on you because I used to live there back in the early 90's so I'm at least a former Texan.

Now for everyone, tomorrow is a big day in Texas and Arizona and even Chicago (not so much in Mexico but hey . . .) so I want all of you in the Cinco de Mayo sense to ¡Qué lo paséis bien!

In other words, enjoy yourselves and let the joy spread throughout the weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

AN EDWARD HOPPER LANDSCAPE

Prescott Valley, Arizona

as a wet cold front moves through

TWINS

It's been quite awhile since we've seen a cat in our yard, with the exception of Maddy, who likes to snooze under the bushes and trees in front.

But this morning . . .

. . . look who showed up.

Our neighbor across the street has a black cat but he/she wears a collar while this one doesn't.

But he sure seems tame.

When I brought Blackwell's attention to him he didn't bat an eye.

In fact, he displayed how much fear he had of this big bulky home-protector by turning his back.

This seemed to drive Blackwell a bit into a frenzy as he crouched and glared.

There are no more pictures (HEY, I heard that sign of relief!) but when the interloper headed over toward the glass slider in the other room, Blackwell raced over there and stood only a foot or two from him pawing heedlessly at the barrier.

And when the dark stranger moved off around the side of the house, Blackwell ran to the kitchen window where he got one last glance.

If ours was an "outside" cat the two of them probably would have a scrap, then make up and run off together.

But an hour or so later, Blackwell is resting comfortably on my bed from his bout of nervous exhaustion.

And life (as we know it) goes on.

BIRD BRAINED

We've had lots of activity at the bird bath recently.

Along with a plethora of house finches, goldfinches and doves it was also visited by a woodpecker . . .

a mockingbird . . .

and a robin checking the water.

Then he used his toes to see how cold it was.

Satisfied with the temperature, he dived in and took a rousing bath.

He splashed and ducked until he appeared to be sopping wet.

Then he launched his now-heavier body into the air.

But he didn't go far.

Just into the tree above the birdbath where he preened himself for probably 10 or 15 minutes.

And when he was finally clean and preened and combed and brushed he flew off to find a lady friend to impress.

Robins.  I could watch them forever.

NEVER TOO OLD

Some people can't resist a challenge.

One of these is the BRD's Beau Jack.

When a client of his expressed a desire to climb Granite Mountain, Jack said he'd go too.

Never mind that Beau Jack is no spring chicken anymore, in fact 14 years older than his climbing companion.

Never mind that Granite Mountain tops out at over 7,600 feet.

That makes the climb nearly 2,500 feet.

There are trails but it is still a challenging climb.

They planned their excursion well, taking lots of fluids and caching a supply partway up for the return to normality.

"Here Jack, have some Gatorade!"

Somewhere down there . . . way, way down there . . . is where they started this insane trek from.

And finally, after approximately five hours, they reached the summit.

Jack's only regret?

He left those expensive sunglasses at the top and thought of going back for them but, perhaps wisely, changed his mind and left them for the next intrepid climber.

Back home he plunged into his whirlpool spa.

Two days later, he looked none the worse for wear as we celebrated my birthday in a local restaurant.

Beau Jack says next on his list: Mt. Everest.

We.  Don't.  Think.  So.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

That's if we have anything to celebrate.

Well, the leaders of the two Koreas each crossed the line between them yesterday.

So that's a start, I guess.

But, Gentle Readers (hiya, Karl), let's see what's in the humor files this week.

All right folks, you know the drill.

Tip-toe through the tulips and make a timely tintinnabulation throughout this weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

ONE MORE TRIP AROUND THE SUN

I became 78 years old today.

Still crazy after all these years

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Uh-oh.

To those of you Gentle Readers who are not well-versed in Cheech and Chong movies, today is April 20th.

i.e. 4-20.

And 4:20 is a universal code term for the smoking of marijuana dating back to some California teenagers who used to meet for that purpose when their classes ended at 4:20 p.m.

Here in the United States, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York today plans to introduce a bill to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level.

There are some negatives about the use of "weed".

But despite it's popularity, some people still stick to old favorites.

And some of those deleterious effects mentioned above may not be the result of your particular taste in "moral decay".

So I'll leave you to your choices for romping riotously through a ribald weekend but remember . . . always keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

AT THE SPRINGS

Ah, Gentle Readers, today was a day like any other day.

Any other day, that is, when an infrequent meeting of the Rock Springs Rumble is held.

Baseball Steve organized this lunch gathering at the famous Rock Springs Cafe.

Steve is shown here accepting the plaudits of the other participants.

Or perhaps doing a perp walk, one can never be sure.

Others on hand included Legendary Lew Ruggiero.

That's just water with lemon, not a gin and tonic.

And King Karl Kindberg, here about to attack a giant plate of nachos.

Karl told me today I should drop that "Gentle Readers" crap from these posts.

In spite of my high regard for the man who for reasons I can't explain acquired the nickname "Doc", I shant.

And a new "mystery guest" to these gatherings, as Steve put it.

One of our number who still actually works for a living, Al "Bert" Macias.

Oh, yes, and your scribe was there too, though my photograph comes from my files.

And though it may resemble it, not from beyond the grave.

As usual many tales of long ago were told.

Some of them true, one would guess.

I shall not repeat any of them here, regardless of the statute of limitations.

Suffice it to say a good time was had by all, as always, and none of us got arrested.

POTPOURRI

That ought to wake you up and get you prepared for mailing off your 2017 tax return, if you haven't already done it.

I e-filed mine back in early February.

It's a pretty simple return and I haven't had to give the IRS any money for years.

One of the advantages of a retirement income.

* * * *

SWMBO had an ear ache yesterday, following a couple of days of a runny nose, apparently caused by spring allergies, which are rife here in the Central Highlands of Arizona.

So this is for her.

Actually, I think it's about over.

* * * *

On the political front, the best headline of yesterday came from the Stephen Colbert show: Hannity Insanity.

"Who, me?"

* * * *

And for all of you Gentle Readers who have grown fond of my birds-at-the-bird-bath pictures, let it be known that I have been bested not once but TWICE by my companions on the Great World Wide Web.

This morning it was Steve in London, who posted these amazing pictures from LONDON on his blog Shadows & Light.

And yesterday my friend Lori, who used to live down the street but now is across town since we moved, sent me this link to an eagle's nest in Decorah, Iowa where three eaglets have been born and are being raised by a pair of adults.

The live camera views are simply fascinating.

So I've been outdone, not once but twice in less than 24 hours and may have to retire my bird bath photography.

Oh well, I've still got my cats.