VS DAY

 Let it never be said that we are too old to learn anything new.

Last Friday . .

that is, a week ago yesterday, on this blog's hilarious (he said) weekly compendium of comedy there was one that said . . well, let me just show it to you again.

Yesterday morning, a week after I posted that, my wife's telephone rang.

In the other room.

(Doesn't it always work that way?)

She, like myself, is of an advanced age now and, like myself, doesn't move as fast as she once did.

So after, hurrying (for what that word means nowadays) to the other room she answered the phone and was greeted by a chirpy female voice saying "Hello, how are YOU today?"

Not recognizing the voice but recalling a lesson learned a week previously, my lovely wife responded with "Fine but speak up please. We're on the air."

The chickie-poo (for that's what she sounded like) said "What? What did you say?"

My wife responded sweetly "Speak up, please, we're broadcasting."

The line went dead.

And that's why I call her "She Who Must Be Obeyed".

And that's why I declare June 11th to be V-S Day.

VICTORY OVER SPAM!!!

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Yes, Gentle Readers, we have careened wildly through yet another week and screeched to a stop at the TGIF sign.

How ya' doin'?

Oh, my, I've been reading Bill Buford's book on the birth of the English language and I fear it's getting to me.

So let's get on with the true business of the day, eh?

For this first one, "turnabout is fair play"!

And with that, I'm "On the Road to Rio".

Well, not really, but I am Hope-ing for a spectacular weekend for all of you, full of fun and frolic and feasts.

Now always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(If you don't understand that one, ask Jolly Jim, who provided it to me . . or some other musician)

YELLOW GOLD

A tiny Goldfinch. 

The birds share their drinking fountain with . . . yup, you guessed it . . . bees!

And amazingly, in spite of those old "birds and bees" tropes, it seems to be a largely amicable relationship.

BIRDIES

 Visitors to the Big Blue Bird Bath recently include

a female House Finch,

and

her more colorful male companion.

It is interesting to me that the males, in the avian world, are more colorful than the females.

I'm guessing they need the color to attract a female for mating purposes, n'est-ce pas?

TG, TB, & TU

 Today, a brief musical interlude.

TO FILM A HUMMINGBIRD

 Trying to get a picture of a nervous hummingbird is a lifework in itself.

For example:

Can you see him (or her)?

It was checking out each of the sun faces for possible pollen and I was amazed to find that I had caught it in mid-flight.

Here's a close-up to prove that statement.

Were it not for the sun casting his fleeing shadow on the wall, I might have missed it as well.

BILLOWS

 

A view of our constantly changing sky an evening or two ago.

Arizona usually has endless days of clear blue skies but this spring has seen clear days, cloudy days, overcast days, rainy sky days, though typically the rain never seems to reach us here.

The drought continues.

The Southwest continues to be a very dry place to live.

Our Wisteria vine was not happy at one end of the arbor and last night we moved it over to a corner of the yard next to the voluptuous Honeysuckle on the wall.

We will see if it thrives there.

SWMBO said she'll give it a chance but if it dies, it dies.

When I have a night like I had last night, wakeful because I forgot to take my bedtime pills, I greet the new day feeling about like that myself.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 This has been one of those lazy weeks where I spend hours in a recliner in front of the television, or reading books I've missed, or taking naps, or just sitting in the sun staring mindlessly.

And, no surprise, the cartoonists have all gone on vacation or on strike or somewhere.

What that means is that I have no pictures for this week's attempt at bringing lightness to your world.

But never fear, the writers are still here.

And I do have plenty of words.

Cue up the All Words Funnies!

And with that I shall bring a respite for your tired eyes and wish you all a spectacular weekend.

Summer is nearly upon us and we all deserve one of those, don't you think?

To help you glide into the sultry season just remember to always keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(Aha! ONE cartoonist is already back to work!)

PEACEFUL

 

This is the front of a birthday card I received from my brother back in April.

The image so pleased me that I taped it to the base of my desk lamp directly in front of me.

WATCHFUL

 Someone who hasn't made up his mind about something is said to be "still on the fence".

It came up because I caught one of our visitors being "still" on our fence.

VISITORS

 The New Blue Bird Bath continues to attract customers, seeking a drink or a bath.

Here are a few of them.

Oh, they're there, all right.

You just have to look a bit closer.

First a Goldfinch couple, then a curious Mountain Jay, and finally a plump Mourning Dove.

I wonder if their vision allows them to see their reflections in the water.

MEMORIAL DAY

 

Let us never forget what the day is really about.

COMING SOON

A new gas station abuilding.

The roof over it is somewhat amazing.

DELAYED MOON SHOT & A DRY RAIN

 In answer to many one request, here is my moon shot of earlier in the week.

Pretty impressive, eh?

Not like the Professor's pictures, where you can (nearly) pick out the golf ball left from a long-ago invasion by an American astronaut.

But if you want impressive, take a look and a listen to this rainstorm video sent to me by Timmer recently.

Have a great Saturday.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 The balmy days are upon us as we near the Memorial Day weekend.

Triple digit temperatures are forecast for the next week in Phoenix.

The 80's up here in the cool climes.

So what better time than now to inject some *true* balminess into the mix, eh?

That last one is definitely my favorite this week.

And yours?

Now, you have a big 3-day gap this weekend to launch into summer so I expect you to enjoy it.

Grilling, the Indy 500, crowds at baseball games; what's not to enjoy?

Oh, and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh)