MY FORGETFUL BRAIN ENJOYS ANNOYING MY ALREADY CONFUSED MIND

 THE SOUTH-FACING SIDE OF LONDON'S VICTORIA HOSPITAL WITH THE PHOTO BEING TAKEN FROM THE GROUNDS OF PARKWOOD HOSPITAL

On this cold damp Saturday Pheebs and I had a destination so it was off to Goderich's Canadian Tire Store.  To buy something?? Nope.  To pick up something??  Yup.  Earlier this week I had popped into the CT store to buy a few #1 coffee filters and a liter of motor oil.  Used my debit card to pay for things and headed off home.  Everything was fine until Friday afternoon at the Subaru dealer in Stratford when I went to pay for my oil change.  My debit card wasn't in its usual place in my wallet.  Luckily, I had a seldom-used credit card and that saved the day for me.  Okay, so where was my debit card??  Well, it wasn't in the Jeep or any of my shirt or coat pockets.  I had done a load of laundry but I didn't find it in the washing machine or dryer. Where had I used it last??  Hmmmm, Canadian Tire comes to mind.  Kelly phones Canadian Tire and yup, that's where it was.  I had left it in the debit machine.  Just another example of how my aging and forgetful brain enjoys annoying my already confused mind whenever it gets a chance.  Just to make sure my card still worked and nobody had sneezed on it, I went over to Walmart and bought a banana.  With that, we slipped through MacDonalds for a coffee to go, slid down around the harbor and beach area for a look-see, and then headed out for home.  An hour and a half later it was all three of us in the Subaru heading for London's Victoria Hospital where  Kelly had another Plasmathoresis treatment lined up for 12:30 p.m.

 A LITTLE SCRABBLE GOING ON BETWEEN A GRACKLE AND A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

Minutes after dropping Kelly off at the hospital, Pheebs and I were once again at the Westminster Ponds area.  With overnight rains heavy at times I knew the trails would be very muddy so our walk took us around the perimeter of the grassy double baseball diamonds with a short deek on a side trail.  We also walked around the 'old foundations' area again as well.  By the time we made it back to the car, my legs were tired but at least my hip wasn't bothering me like it had been earlier just after I got up this morning.  'Ouchy-Ouchy'

 WE SNAGGED OUR FAVORITE PARKING SPOT TODAY AND NO YAKKY DOODLES TO CHASE US AWAY

 WE TRIED OUT ONE SIDE TRAIL BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE TOO MUDDY

 IF THIS LITTLE FELLOW HADN'T MOVED I WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN HIM

 A HANDSOME LITTLE CHAP INDEED

 ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER I TOOK THIS LONG TELEPHOTO SHOT, PHEEBS MISBEHAVED AND JOINED THEM FOR LUNCH

 GIVING MY LEGS A REST ON THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BENCH

 PICKING UP KELLY AT THE HOSPITAL

THE CLOSER WE CAME TO BAYFIELD THIS AFTERNOON THE WETTER THE RAIN GOT

My cell phone rang around 2:30 and Kelly was ready to be picked up and chauffeured home.  After a quick Tim Hortons stop for coffee to go we made it home in the rain about 4:15 p.m.  For the first full day of our May24th holiday weekend, it certainly was not a good one for campers, boaters, tourists, retailers, and outside Saturday night patio partyers.  Cold and rainy grey skies do not make for happy-face beach-goers here along the shores of Lake Huron.   

 I THINK WE HAD A BLUEJAY CONVENTION IN OUR FRONT YARD BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER 'LITTLE RED'

 IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE BETWEEN THESE TWO IT IS THE MOURNING DOVE THAT WILL PREVAIL

 A DIVE BOMBING BLUE JAY

Al's Music Box:(( Memphis by Johnny Rivers from the album 'Whiskey A Go Go'.  1964

 KELLY'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND THIS IS THE SAME HOSPITAL I HAD MY RADIATION TREATMENTS A FEW YEARS AGO

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A western cowgirl decides to learn and try horseback riding assisted without any experience or lessons.  She mounts the horse with great effort, and the tall, shiny horse springs into motion.  It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the cowgirl begins to slip from the saddle.  Out of shear terror, she grabs for the horse's mane but cannot seem to get a firm grip.  She tries to throw her arms around the horse's neck, but slides down the side of the horse anyway.  The horse gallops along, seemingly oblivious to its slipping rider.  Finally, giving up her frail grip, she leaps away from the horse to try and throw herself to safety.  Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup.  She is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground again and again.  As her head is battered against the ground, she is moments away from unconsciousness or even death when Todd, the Wall-Mart Manager, runs out and turns the mechanical horse off.

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Little Sonia was shouting her prayers. "Please God send me a new doll for my birthday." Her mother, overhearing this, said, "Don't shout dear, God isn't deaf."  "No, but Grandpa is, and he's in the next room," Sonia replied.

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TO STRATFORD'S SUBARU DEALER AND BACK THIS AFTERNOON

Slightly hazy skies started our day off and with temps above 50F it was a pleasant morning for a quiet walk in the Bayfield Cemetery.  

 PAVING IN DOWNTOWN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

The Stratford Subaru dealer had called a couple weeks ago saying our Subie was due for its oil change but with our crazy schedule lately, we were unable to pick a day that was suitable for me to bring it in.  Turns out they had a last-minute cancellation today and wondered if I could bring it in this afternoon.  So, without any further adieu, I was quickly on my way to Stratford.  Unlike many years ago when I would never bother with oil changes or maybe get one every two or three years or so I didn't want to get in that routine with the Subaru.  Subie's previous owner kept its maintenance checks up to date and it's my intention to do the same.  And, they don't just do the oil change, they do a host of other checks on the car as well.  And then they even wash the car before it goes out the door.  They tightened up an ill-fitting rear license plate and fixed a stuck vent in the dash free of charge too.  That all works for me so I intend to stick with those routine oil changes.  Plus, it's a nice quiet paved road drive from Bayfield to Stratford and back through the scenic countryside.  And soothing instrumental music all the way on SiriusXM Radio Channel 68 'Spa':))

 STORMY-LOOKING SKIES ON THE WAY TO STRATFORD

 IT LOOKS LIKE THIS POOR OLD BARN IS BEYOND SAVING

 FARMERS WERE BUSY IN THEIR DUSTY FIELDS TODAY

I reached Stratford on the early side of course so I took a quick swing down around the river and dashed off a few quick drive-by photos.  I enjoyed my time living in Stratford years ago between 1975 and 1995 but I'm sure glad I don't live there anymore.  Despite its lovely Park system, the city has become waaaay too big for me with all its bonkers traffic and people now.  No, I didn't say the people were bonkers, I meant the traffic was bonkers!!      

A QUICK DRIVE AROUND THE RIVER IN STRATFORD

Reaching the Subaru dealer at 2:20, they took me right in.  I think they had the oil change and check-up done within half an hour but they forgot to tell me it was done.  Sitting quietly in the waiting room reading I wasn't paying much attention to the time and it was just past 3:30 when a fellow walked over and wondered if I had been looked after yet.  What!!  Anyway, they were very apologetic and it was okay with me because I wasn't watching the clock anyway.  I had hoped to make it home before the rains came but I didn't make it so despite the Subaru being washed twice in the past 24 hours, it's all a mess again:((  After a great relaxing drive home, I rolled into our driveway at 4:45 p.m.  It was an 85-mile round trip.    

 HERE'S SUBIE REPORTING IN FOR HER OIL CHANGE THIS AFTERNOON

 A VIEW OF THE PARTS DEPARTMENT FROM THE WAITING AREA

 CLOSING IN ON OUR PARK'S ENTRANCE PRETTY WELL WRAPS UP ANOTHER DAY

Al's Music Box:)) Just A Song Before I Go by Crosby Stills and Nash from the album 'CSN'.  1977

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The room was full of pregnant women with their husbands.  The instructor said, "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you.  Walking is especially beneficial. It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier. Just pace yourself, make plenty of stops and try to stay on a soft surface like grass or a path."  Gentlemen, -- you're in this together. It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her. In fact, that shared experience would be good for you both."  The room became very quiet as the men absorbed and pondered this information. After a few moments a man at the back of the room, slowly raised his hand.  "Yes?" asked the instructor.   "I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carried a golf bag?"

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ANOTHER ENJOYABLE BACK ROADS COUNTRY COFFEE TOUR

Yet again it was a cold 32F morning so it was a short drive for Pheebs and I into Bayfield and back with the Jeep's heater going and my winter coat on.

 TULIPS IN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

 APPLE BLOSSOMS

 A FEW READERS HAVE WONDERED WHAT THESE PRETTY TREES ARE AND MY GUESS IS THAT THEY MIGHT BE REDBUD TREES BECAUSE OURS IS IN BLOOM RIGHT NOW

Home again and switching vehicles I headed over to my good buddy Richard's place and picked him up.  It was 9:20 a.m. as we headed north to Goderich for two McDonalds coffees and two carrot muffins to go.  Our pleasant morning drive took us north of Goderich up around the Dungannon area.  We had another great couple of conversational hours before I dropped Richard off back at his place and headed myself on home.On the country road travels with Richard this morning I turned onto a gravel road that had just been sprayed with chemicals to keep the dust down.  I didn't go too far before turning around and headed back in the direction from whence we had come.  When home later I could plainly see what a mess the dust-suppressing chemicals had made of the Subaru.  Out came the hose, a bucket of water, and with some well-placed elbow grease I had Subie looking all sparkly clean again.  I also vacuumed out enough interior doggy fur to make another half dozen little puppies.   We are trying to nail down a Spa time for Pheebs which should solve that fur problem but with all the appointments going on we haven't been able to get her in yet.  Next week our calendar is totally zany.

 THIS IS THE ONLY PHOTO I TOOK ON OUR MORNING COFFEE TOUR

With little to show in the way of photos tonight, I turned my attention to our front yard and snapped a few bird pics late this afternoon.        

 MALE CARDINAL

 GRACKLE

 BLUE JAY

 REDWING BLACKBIRD

 MOURNING DOVE

MALE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

Al's Music Box:)) Love Is Blue by Paul Mauriat from the album 'Blooming Hits'.  1968  This song reminds me of a hometown girl and the brief time when I lived in Toronto earlier that year.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of - first, the truck, the car, playing golf ' Always something more important to me.  Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, 'When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.'  The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

- What's white and if it fell out of a tree would kill you?  A fridge.

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