NOT THAT I AM A BIG CELL PHONE USER OR ANYTHING, BUT HERE'S SOMETHING I RECOMMEND

 FEMALE CARDINAL

We had about three inches of snow overnight, so I was once again on the end of my snow shovel this morning.  All paths are shoveled now, and the driveway is clear.  Looking forward to a few above-freezing days, hopefully starting Tuesday, so maybe we can get rid of some more snow before the next big batch of the cold white stuff rolls in.  Weather report complete!!

 CAUGHT THE EAST END OF A BLUE JAY HEADING WEST PAST ONE OF THE BIRD FEEDERS

 NUTHATCH

Santa brought me something for Christmas that for anyone with a cell phone, I highly recommend.  It's called an Otterbox and it's a tough protective case for your phone and especially practical for people in work situations where the chances of dropping a phone are likely. I like the added grip it gives me and the added protection in case I drop the phone.  It was a bit of a willickers to get onto the phone, and I didn't have the patience for it, but just seconds before her patience ran out as well, Woodsy figured out how to reassemble two pieces and got it on.  I have a habit of carrying my phone in my shirt pocket, which makes it susceptible to damage by falling out of my pocket when I bend over.  But I've noticed the Otterbox cover seems to grip the shirt material, and the phone does not slide out as easily as it did before.  Plus, the open ports now have dust-prohibitive covers over them, and overall, I like the secure feeling of the Otterbox's non-slippery textured cover when in hand.  Not that I am a big cell phone user or anything...............

 TUCKED SNUGLY IN MY SHIRT POCKET ALONG WITH MY EVER-PRESENT NOTEBOOK AND PEN

 A RECENT PHOTO OF MY SON SEAN AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, KIM

Woodsy headed back to Stratford this afternoon for a few days.  The weather was clear, and the highway was bare.  After she left, I moved the Subaru out and shoveled all the accumulated salty road slush out of the carport.  Also hauled a tall 10-foot stepladder into the sunroom to get up and clean the ceiling fan and any cobwebs that may have gathered since I last did this nearly a year ago.  

 MALE CARDINAL

Al's Music Box:: Fire And Rain by James Taylor. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The Laws of Golf::

LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former. 

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must solemnly chant "You looked up," or invoke the wrath of the universe.

LAW 6: The higher a golfer's handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.

LAW 7: Every par-three hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its desire.

LAW 8: Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man.

LAW 9: Palm trees eat golf balls.

LAW 10: Sand is alive. If it isn't, how do you explain the way it works against you?

LAW 11: Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.

LAW 12: A golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your group. Likewise, a group you accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional wrestler, a convicted murderer and an IRS agent -- or some similar combination.

LAW 13: All 3-woods are demon-possessed.

LAW 14: Golf balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another, particularly out of bounds or into the water (See Law three).

LAW 15: A severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty.

LAW 16: "Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy putt." Similarly, "tough break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one, sucker."

LAW 17: The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you. 

LAW 18: The last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.

LAW 19: Golf should be given up at least twice per month.

LAW 20: All vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset.

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David had been extremely anxious for years. It got to the point where his compulsive worrying was ruining his life, so he went to a psychiatrist, who recommended that David hire a professional worrier.  After he'd been working with the specialist for a few months, David's friend John noticed a change. "What happened?" John asked. "You don't worry about anything anymore."

"I hired a professional worrier!" David answered.  "That must cost a fortune," John said.  "Yes, he charges $3,000 a month," David said sheepishly.  "Three thousand dollars! How can you ever afford to pay him?" John exclaimed.  "I don't know," David said. "That's his problem."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery