NOW, HOW'S THAT FOR A GOOD EXCUSE

Ummmm, I may have inadvertently created a false impression in my Friday post.  When I referred to my total days on the Planet, it was from the day I was born in October of 1944 up to the present day of June 13th 2025.  But thanks for the early birthday wishes anyway:))

 MANY BIRDFEEDERS AT THE PORTER'S HILL WILD BIRDSEED LOCATION

 SNAPPED A COUPLE FLOWER PICS WHILE HEADING OUT THE BIRDSEED DRIVEWAY 

It was sunny and 65F this morning at 9 a.m., and I think that is the warmest it's been at that time of day this year.  Could we almost be getting into summer finally??  I headed out in the Subaru southeast of Bayfield for a drive to a favorite walking spot on Pavilion Road, where Pheebs and I often went.  Our last time there was late in the late Fall, and I had a feeling at that time, with her failing health and winter coming on, it might be our last walk there together.  It was.  And, it was a sad walk this morning.  On the way home, I picked up a 20 pound bag of birdseed at the Porter's Hill Wild Birdseed Company 

 A NICE MORNING FOR A DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

 OVER THE YEARS, PHEEBS AND I HAVE WALKED THIS GRASSY STRIP MANY TIMES

AN IRIS FLOWER IN LONG SHADY GRASS ALONG THE HEDGEROW

Lorraine and I busied ourselves this afternoon fixing and cleaning an eaves trough running along the porch overhang.  Woodsy worked longer and harder than I did, but then again, she's younger than I am.  Now, how's that for a good excuse.  

Al's Music Box:)) Different Drum is a song written by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith in 1964.  Nesmith offered it to his group the Monkees, but the producers of the TV show turned it down, though he did perform a short comic version of the song in one episode.  The song is best known for the 1967 version credited to the Stone Poneys, issued by Capitol Records featuring a vocal performance by up-and-coming 21-year-old singer Linda Ronstadt. It was Ronstadt's first hit single, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as No. 12 on the Cash Box magazine singles chart.  Ronstadt's version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyrics, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty". The Stone Poneys had intended to record an "acoustic ballad version" of the song, but producer Nick Venet opted for a more complex instrumental approach, using an arrangement by Jimmy Bond (who also played bass), guitarists Al Viola and future Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon, drummer Jim Gordon, strings led by Sid Sharp, and harpsichord played in baroque style (and largely improvised during the recording) by Don Randi. As a result, Ronstadt was the only member of the Stone Poneys who performed on the record. The version that was released was the second take, with no overdubbing. Ronstadt later commented that she had been surprised and "completely confused" by the changed approach to the song, and that even years later she perceived "fear and a lack of confidence" in her performance. Nesmith, on the other hand, said that Ronstadt's performance "infused it with a new level of passion and sensuality".  In later live performances of the song, Nesmith would often sing the closing verse in the same singing style as the Ronstadt version.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A number of new Air-Force recruits were being taken on their first training flight.  The plane had just leveled out after taking off when one of the engines seized up, and another began smoking badly.  Adjusting his parachute, the instructor strove for nonchalance as he made his way to the hatch door.  "Now I want you men to keep perfectly calm," he said, "while I go for help."

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Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Pettry amzanig huh?

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If you drive a Subaru in reverse, what are you?  U r a bus

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Some people asked the secret of Anthony's long marriage.  Anthony said, "They take time to go to a restaurant two times a week, a little candlelight dinner, soft music, and a slow walk home.  The Mrs. goes Tuesdays and I go Fridays".

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Only in America::
- Only in America... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
- Only in America... are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.
- Only in America... do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
- Only in America... do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet Coke.
- Only in America... do banks leave both doors to the vault open and then chain the pens to the counters 

- Only in America... do they leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
- Only in America... do they use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so they won't miss a call from someone they didn't want to talk to in the first place.
- Only in America... do they buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
- Only in America... do they use the word "politics" to describe the process so well; "Poli" in Latin means "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".
- Only in America... do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly & Pheebs Corner

Al's Art Gallery