A DEPLETED ENERGY DAY AND OUR COMPANY ARRIVES

 AN OVERNIGHT THUNDERSTORM LEFT A DELUGE OF RAINDROPS ON EVERYTHING

I don't always remember where I go or what I do when I'm asleep, but too often I wake up so totally de-energized.  Last night for example, I remember trying to make my way through a maze of tightly packed streets driving some kind of large vehicle in a big unknown city.  This is a recurring dream for me and the situation always has me highly stressed.  I also seem to be interacting with a number of people.  Some of them still living and some of them not.  I was so tired by the time I woke up this morning that later when out for a drive with Pheebs I couldn't even talk myself into stopping anywhere to take my legs for a walk.  I kinda remained in that depleted energy state for the rest of the day.  Besides, the hot and humid day held little interest for me to be outside anyway.    

 PHEEBS AND I WANDERED A FEW COUNTRY ROADS IN THE WHITE CAR

 SPOTTED THIS BURNT-OUT COMBINE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TIPPERARY LINE

 LARGE STRAW BALES STACKED HIGH IN THE MORNING'S SUNLIGHT

 IDLE FARM MACHINERY AWAITS THE MAGIC OF A FARMER'S HAND

Kelly's brother Peter and his wife Leslie traveling from Webster New York, arrived at the Ashwood Inn on the northern outskirts of Bayfield at 4 p.m. this afternoon.  Kelly and I slipped over at 5:15 and picked them up for supper at the recently newly renovated Out Of The Blue Seafood Market.  After that, we took a drive around the village and parked on Main Street for ice cream at Rosies Ice Cream Shoppe.  Following that we had ourselves a drive down around the harbor and beach areas.  It was a real nice sunny warm summer's evening.  We dropped Leslie and Peter of at the Ashwood Inn around 8:15 and came home.  We had a very happy little dog waiting for us.

 KELLY, LESLIE, AND PETER CHECK OUT THE ICE CREAM MENU

 PETER HAD SO MANY SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM IN HIS CONE HE BUCKLED UNDER THE WEIGHT

Al's Music Box:)) 500 Miles by Peter, Paul & Mary from their debut album 'Peter, Paul and Mary'.  1962

 A FORESTED STREAM ALONGSIDE THE ROAD HOSTS A DAPPLE OF SUNLIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( One Day the Devil challenged the Lord to a baseball game.  Smiling the Lord proclaimed, "You don't have a chance, I've got Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and all the greatest players up here."  "Yes", laughed the devil, "but I have all the umpires!"

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1. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

2. Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.

3. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

4. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

5. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

6. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

7. There are two theories to arguing with a women - Neither one works.

8. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

9. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

10. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

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KELLY ACED HER PHYSIO TEST THIS MORNING:))))))

 NOT REAL FLOWERS BUT PRETTY ANYWAY

It was 8:30 under warm sunny skies when all three of us in the white car rolled out our driveway heading for University Hospital in London, Ontario.  Kelly was feeling fine and up for the challenge of her physio tests this morning.  It was a nice scenic drive through the countryside and we rolled up to the hospital's main door at 9:35.  She bounced out the door and headed inside.  

 A NICE MORNING'S DRIVE TO LONDON

THIS TRACTOR IS TOWING A ROUND BALING MACHINE WHICH MAKES OF COURSE, ROUND BALES

 MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE RICHMOND STREET/FANSHAWE ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL

Pheebs and I headed back through the construction north of London to our first stop at the Ten Mile Cemetery.  It was another marvelously beautiful summer morning and we weren't long in cracking open the sunroof.  We didn't stay at the cemetery long because a work van was there with a couple workers busy engraving a few headstones.  A very noisy process.  Heading west we ambled along a couple quiet country roads soaking up the tranquil serenity of the scenic countryside.

 PHEEBS AND I MAKE OUR WAY NORTH THROUGH THIS ROAD-WIDENING PROJECT BETWEEN LONDON AND ARVA

 THE TEN MILE ROAD CEMETERY

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN A HAPPY FACE ON A TOMBSTONE

A TRACTOR TOWING A COUPLE HAY WAGONS INTO A FIELD

 WHEN THIS YOUNG FELLA LOOKS UP FROM HIS SMARTPHONE HE WILL SEE THE TRACTOR WITH THE HAY WAGONS IS WAITING FOR HIM

 "HEY HANK GET THAT BALE OF STRAW OVER HERE WILL YA'!!!!

Working our way back towards London we stopped at the Arva Cemetery north of London for a second walk.  I took a few more photos.  Cemeteries have a beauty all their own and I don't view them as morbid places.

 I WAS ABLE TO SET THE LITTLE PUSSYCAT ON THE LEFT BACK UP ON ITS FEET AGAIN

 I THOUGHT THIS A VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLOT MARKER

My cell phone rang shortly before 11 and it was Kelly saying she was ready to go.  It didn't take Pheebs and I long to slip through the construction zone north of the hospital and pick Kelly up shortly after eleven.  Feeling the need for a coffee Kelly suggested we stop at McDonalds and that is what we did.  At least at McDonalds, the coffee is consistently good which I think is something Tim Hortons can no longer claim.  Anyway, with coffee in hand, we were soon on our way out of London and into the rolling countryside.  Traffic was very light and we arrived home about an hour later.

 HERE COMES THE BOSS WALKING WITH CONFIDENCE

 SHE ACED THE PHYSIO TESTS

 AND HERE COMES THE COFFEE

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we have company arriving from Webster New York. (east of Rochester) Kelly's brother Peter, and wife Leslie are coming for a couple days and staying at the Ashwood Inn which is only about a mile west of us.  Peter and Leslie came out and stayed with us at our Congress Arizona place three times for a week several years ago and the last time I saw them was in early March of 2018 in Sarasota, Florida.

 TROTTING ACROSS THE PASTURE

 A FARMER CHECKS HIS BEAN CROP

 A LARGE COMBINE ATTACHMENT BEING TRAILERED BETWEEN JOBS

 'AWWWW NUTS' I WENT AND SPENT MY LAST $50 A WEEK AGO:((

My son Sean, who was badly injured in a motorcycle accident well over a month ago finally made it home a few weeks back and in his own words, here is how he is doing....... I am up and walking around. The big wound on my knee is healing nicely and I’m hoping to have the wound dressings off in the next week or so. Shoulder, neck, and lower, right ribs are still quite sore but that’s just going to take time. I am in Physiotherapy a couple times a week for my shoulder. My physiotherapist who is a good personal friend of mine wants me to get it re-imaged because he thinks there’s something else going on. I am back in the studio, but not as much as I used to be. Just building up my tolerance to sitting for so long. I have a film that I’m supposed to start in the next week or so which is going to see me up there a fair bit but I’m looking forward to it. 

 SHORTER PEOPLE CORN IN THE FOREGROUND AND TALLER CATTLE CORN IN THE BACKGROUND

 OUR AREAS WHEAT AND BARLEY HARVEST IS STILL IN FULL SWING...MAYBE EVEN ALMOST OVER

With her positive attitude in place, Kelly aced the administered physio tests this morning.  In the grip strength test, she needed to at least reach a strength number of 17 to pass.  She came in at 19.3.  That's strong enough to crush Hulk Hogan's hand.  The goal in the 6-minute walking test was 250 meters and Kelly blew the doors off at 385 meters.  She passed the chair stand-up and sit tests like a 'jack-in-the-box' with no problems.  Passed the balancing test like a high wire walker as well.  This physio test was the last in a series of tests including extensive blood work and an echocardiogram.  And here's the bottom line.....she passed every test with flying colors.  This final physio assessment showed Kelly is in the pre-frail category which is the best of three categories with the other two being moderate frail and absolute frail.   With the physio test now successfully under her belt, the next thing to happen takes place next Monday when the Liver Transplant team meets to determine whether Kelly (and others) will be accepted or rejected for a liver transplant.  We are 'cautiously' optimistic.  Sometime after next Monday, Kelly will be notified by phone of that decision.  If she is accepted and officially placed on the liver transplant list, Kelly's liver coordinator person told her things could possibly happen very rapidly......or not.  If a suitable liver suddenly becomes available that is an 'exact' match for Kelly and meets all the criteria we could receive a sudden phone call at any time including the middle of the night saying to head to the hospital immediately.  Of course, I am getting way ahead of myself here but that is the information she was given in the event that she is accepted for a liver transplant.                         

 YES, WE WERE DEFINITELY DRIVING THROUGH HORSE COUNTRY THIS MORNING

Al's Music Box:)) Up A Lazy River by the Mills Brothers from the year 1952.  I remember listening to this and other Mills Brothers songs on the radio as a small boy.  I liked the songs then and I like the songs now.  Unlike much of today's music, this was an era of 'feeling good' music and I consider myself to be so fortunate to have grown up in these times. 

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"I see who you are. I hear who you are. I feel who you are. I know who you have been. I am who you will be."

 AND YES, ITS THISTLE TIME AGAIN

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello (comedians), and too old to really understand computers, to fully appreciate this.

For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on first?" might have turned out something like this: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "W" if you don't start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet?

ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One.

COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need!

ABBOTT: Real One.

COSTELLO: If it's a long movie, I also want to watch reels 2, 3 and 4. Can I watch them?

ABBOTT: Of course.

COSTELLO: Great! With what?

ABBOTT: Real One.

COSTELLO: OK, I'm at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?

ABBOTT: You click the blue "1".

COSTELLO: I click the blue one what?

ABBOTT: The blue "1".

COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue "W"?

ABBOTT: The blue "1" is Real One and the blue "W" is Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: But there are three words in "office for windows"!

ABBOTT: No, just one. But it's the most popular Word in the world.

COSTELLO: It is?

ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren't many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other words out there.

COSTELLO: And that word is real one?

ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn't even part of Office.

COSTELLO: STOP! Don't start that again. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with the computer. How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on "START".........

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A RELAXING DAY AHEAD OF A BUSY WEEK

 YES, IT'S THIS TIME OF THE SEASON ALREADY

A drive to Goderich and back this morning for Pheebs and I and a last day of rest before a busy week ahead. 

 COOLING OFF AT THE GOOSE FOUNTAIN

 SUNDAY MORNING PICNIC BY THE LAKE

 RELAXING AT ROTARY COVE

 PERHAPS CONTEMPLATING JUMPING HIS BIKE OVER LAKE HURON TO MICHIGAN

 DOING SOME RELAXING SUNDAY MORNING FISHING IN GODERICH'S HARBOR

 SO, DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS FELLA SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PAINT JOB OR DID HE JUST ACCIDENTALLY BACK HIS TRUCK INTO A TAR PIT??

Al's Music Box:)) Groovin' by the Young Rascals from the album 'Groovin''.  1967

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Classmates at college were lamenting the cost of long distance phone service and debating the relative advantages of AT&T, MCI, and Sprint.  "I've found CTC to be the cheapest plan around," offered one.  "CTC? Who are they?"  "You know," he responded. "Call Them Collect."

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You might be a redneck if...

Your home has more miles on it than your car.

Your Christmas tree is still up in July.

There is a stuffed possum somewhere in your house.

You hammer bottle caps into the frame of your front door to make it look nice.

You own a homemade fur coat.

Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat.

Your momma has "ammo" on her Christmas list.

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