FIRE IN THE SKY

SWMBO and I both have doctor appointments today...she with her ophthalmologist, me with my dermatologist.

So, a quick glance at some photos I took last week.

I had gone out around sunset and noticed the color in the sky to the south of our plantation, so I snapped that picture and went around to the front of the house where I have a better view of the expanse around us.

There were enough clouds in the sky to reflect the setting sun with glorious color.

Judy favors the last two shots with the narrow slit of blue in contrast with the flaming sky above.

On this particular day, Mother Nature was working her wonders.

SUNDAY SOARING

HAPPY SATURDAY

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Just when you thought there was nothing left in the world to laugh at, here comes your friend Catalyst with his ragbag of cartoons to tickle your funnybones.

Wow!

I got "ragbag" and "funnybones" in the same sentence.

Maybe I really am getting old.

Speaking of which . . .

But enough about me.

Let's get right on with trying to make you feel better, if only for a moment or two.

Let me take a second here to thank some of my "associates" who keep sending me cartoons: Wacky Wally, Carol the Comic, Ribald Ron, Seattle Lori, Crosstown Lori, of course The BRD, and a host of others who will be enraged that I didn't mention them by name.

Your contributions make my job a lot easier so thank you all, named and un-named.

Now I want everyone to have a great weekend.

Don't drink too much, don't snack too much and, for cryin' out loud, will you please finish that jigsaw puzzle!

Oh, and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(YE-GODS!)

ThrowBack Thursday

A glance at the Good Old Days - before Social Distancing.

College days - how many can cram into a VW Beetle?

Acting in a campus production of "Hedda Gabler".

My co-conspirator Phil Perry and I, posing as college journalists backstage with Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck.

(We actually were on a college newspaper but it was a different college 100 miles away.)

Welcoming Chet Huntley to North Dakota and actually shaking hands.

Remember handshakes?

Out for a little run with Governor Bill Guy during Bobby Kennedy's fitness campaign.

Me, on the far right, walking backward while filming the governor, Senator Quentin Burdick and Vice-President Hubert Humphrey.

With Congressman-elect Tom Kleppe on election night in 1966.

He later became head of the Small Business Administration and, later, Secretary of the Interior.

Goofing in Madras jackets and sun glasses (at night!) with photographer Bob Barclay.

Goofing with Orly Knutson and Dave Morgan on the road between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

With my buddy, Tom Cochrun, at WIBC Radio in Indianapolis.

Shaking hands with a reluctant Nguyen Cao Ky while his wife looks on.

(It was in California. I never got to Vietnam.)

Yukking it up with The Duke on the patio of his home in Newport Beach.

With the gang at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, 1984.

And another gang at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, 1984.

The Hole in the Wall Gang.

Actually Judy and I with Beaner and Timmer (Yes! They really exist!) in Grand Junction, Colorado.

With my old pal, Walter Nixon, and others at a Christmas Party in Mexico.

Bearded Baseball Steve and I in Puerto Vallarta, (before we were Senior Citizens).

Yes, Gentle Readers, those were the Good Old Days, when we could throw our arms around each other, hug and kiss, party together, and gather in groups large and small.

Remember *your* good old days fondly and smile at the memories as I do.

A BUSY GHOST TOWN

Sedona, Arizona, is a tourist mecca in the heart of Red Rocks Country.

When we first discovered it in the early 1970's it was a sleepy little burg with an Old West vibe.

Since then it has grown exponentially with constant construction of mansion homes everywhere, expensive restaurants, New Age crystal emporiums, pricey art galleries and traffic, traffic, traffic.

However, during the slowing down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with most businesses being closed, we had heard that Sedona had become a ghost town.

On our recent visit we found many dozens of cars parked alongside the two-lane highway in the picturesque Oak Creek Canyon just outside town as hikers filled the area.

Construction crews working on Midgley Bridge had traffic down to one-lane and were letting lines of vehicles pass alternately.

In town it seemed construction was going on everywhere as the city used the slight lull to improve the infrastructure.

A decorative fence was being put in place through the middle of the street in the Old Town section in an apparent attempt to prevent jaywalkers from blocking, or being run over by, the usually constant string of cars in both directions.

To sum up, the Old West village become jam-packed modern town become ghost town is busy once again.

Not as busy as before the virus caused the state's governor to issue a stay home order but still a bit of a pain to visit.

We were glad to leave it all behind and head for home.

SHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE

A short day-trip.

To Sedona.

FEELING TESTY?

SUNDAY SERMON

FRIDAY RECAP

My 80th birthday yesterday was, as I told my hard-working wife last night, one of my best ever.

The BRD came over for a wine therapy session in the early afternoon.

We met in our garage and sat at a respectful distance from each other and chatted for about 2 hours.

Then a period of rest, followed by our first "cocktails on the patio" for this summer.

But by early evening the shade was on the patio and the breeze was a bit brisk and cooling so we came in fairly soon.

Then to the kitchen and My Master Chef (Judy) took over, assisted by her Sous Chef (me) in preparing the meal of the day.

She's finishing up her Shrimp Scampi, the shellfish bathed in a sauce of butter, garlic and onions.

She accompanied it with Fettucini Alfredo and a nice salad.

And then the pièce de résistance - a Carrot Bundt Cake with frosting and SPRINKLES!

I guess, even at 80, some guys never grow up!

I was beautifully treated on my special day and I was heartily gratified.

(It's hard to show one's joy and gratitude when one has to take one's own selfie.)

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES - BIRTHDAY EDITION

Okay, let's just get over it.

It's my birthday.

When people say "Happy Birthday" . . . I think . . . they're thinkin' of someone way younger than me.

But, wothehell, let's get on with it.

Okay, let's get to the crux of it.

When people ask me how the (....) old are you, anyway, Old Taylor, . . I go into the Pirate Mode.

And there it is.

Another turning point.

From now on you can refer to me as an octogenarian and I won't even ask you to spell it.

And since it's Friday, allow me to wish you a quiet, peaceful, gentle weekend.

But what else could you have if you're, like me, in quarantine!

And always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .