THAT APPOINTMENT SURE TORE THE HECK OUT OF A THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLAR BILL

 'HARK, FROM YONDER DISTANCE A PLOWER OF SNOW DOTH COME ON THIS SNOWY JANUARY MORN'

Another snowfall during the night.  Checking the temperature first thing this morning and seeing it was up to 19F I thought to myself, 'OMG' it's a heat wave!!

 STARTING OUT FOR ZURICH WITH A FEW BRIEF THOUGHTS ABOUT GOING AT ALL

 THE TRICK ABOUT DRIVING IN CONDITIONS LIKE THIS IS IN KNOWING WHERE THE ROAD IS IN FRONT OF YOU

WHEN I SAW THIS SNOWPLOW COMING FAST I CHECKED MY REAR VIEW MIRROR THEN SLOWED RIGHT DOWN TO A CRAWL TO LET HIM GO BY BECAUSE i KNEW HE HAD A BLINDING WALL OF SNOW COMING BEHIND HIM

 WHEN HE WOOSHED BY I WAS COMPLETELY ENVELOPED IN A WALL OF SNOW FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS....SEE ALL THE FUN YOU SOUTHERNERS ARE MISSING

 KNOWING SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO THE VET, PHEEBS TOOK IT ALL IN STRIDE

Pheebs appointment with the Vet in Zurich this morning was at 9:50 and I decided to leave early because the weather was not good.  I hadn't gone far when I contemplated turning back.  It was snowing and the visibility was not the best, and the roads were iffy with all the new fallen slow.  Had I not been driving a rock solid and steady all-wheel drive Subaru I might not have continued but I had all the confidence in Subie's ability.  The weather was much better in the Zurich area.  The Vet checked Pheebs watery eye and a growth on her upper eyelid.  The lady said the growth is luckily growing outward and not inward.  They did some geriatric tests of which the results will be in tomorrow.  Those tests will determine if it would be feasible for Pheebs to have that small growth removed if so decided.  That appointment sure tore the heck out of a three hundred and fifty dollar bill:((

AT THE SOUTH HURON VET CLINIC IN ZURICH ONTARIO

 SPACIOUS LOBBY

WAITING FOR PHEEBS

From the Vets, we slipped up the street to Jerry Raders and stocked up on some more supplies plus a turkey salad sandwich to share on the way home.  The closer we got to home the worse the weather deteriorated but we made it.  And, Frank had blown out our driveway again:))  I think Frank must have some Polar Bear ancestry.  I am so grateful he has done this for me.

LEAVING JERRY RADERS, PHEEBS KEEPS AN UNWAVERING EYE ON THE TURKEY SALAD SANDWICH SITTING ON MY LAP

 OKAY, I GOT MY HALF

 SHE WON'T GRAB IT UNLESS I TELL HER TO

 OKAY BABES IT'S YOURS

 THE CLOSER WE GOT TO HOME THE SNOWIER IT BECAME

I didn't get much of anything accomplished this afternoon except to slip outside and give my paths a shovel.  At the rate it's snowing they will be filled in again by nightfall.  I don't think I have ever seen as much snow here as what we have right now.  'Snow snow go away so that I may come out to sing and play'.  But here's something happy I noticed late this afternoon.  It was 5:30 and it was still light out:)))))

 THANKS FOR PLOWING THE DRIVEWAY FRANK

 YUP WE WERE ON SOME SNOWY ROADS THIS MORNING ALRIGHT

Al's Music Box:)) Sing is a 1971 song written by Joe Raposo for the children's television show Sesame Street as its signature song In 1973, it gained popularity when performed by the Carpenters, a number 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  Raposo was a staff songwriter for Sesame Street, and the song became one of the most popular on the program.  In its initial appearance, it was sung by the show's adult human cast members and the Muppets, including Big Bird. Although Barbra Streisand had an easy-listening hit in 1972 with "Sing," Karen and Richard Carpenter heard the song for the first time as guests on the ABC television special Robert Young with the Young in 1973. They loved the song and felt that it could be a hit.  It appeared as the debut single on the group's 1973 album Now & Then. It became the group's seventh gold single. It also became Carpenters' eighth top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100. The Carpenters' recording was produced and arranged by Richard Carpenter and engineered by Ray Gerhardt. Karen Carpenter sang lead vocals, with backing vocals by herself, Richard and the Jimmy Joyce Children's Choir. Keyboards were played by Richard, bass by Joe Osborn, drums by Karen and recorders by Tom Scott.  In 1974 while touring Japan, the Carpenters recorded their first live album in Osaka. It contained a new version of the song with the children's chorus sung by the Kyoto Children's Choir. It is featured on the album Live in Japan, recorded in June 1974 and released in Japan only on March 7, 1975. The album has since been released on CD.  A new recording and remix of Carpenters' version was created in 1994 by sound engineer Roger Young.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man was seen fleeing down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.  "What's the matter?" he was asked.  He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.'"  "She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"  "She wasn't talking to me. She was talking to the doctor."

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- What do you call a belt made out of hundred dollar bills?  A waist of money.

- "I believe in dragons, good men and other fantasy creatures."

- Two tons of human hair was stolen from a wig factory.  The police said they were combing the area.

- A hunchback comes home from work to see a wok on the table. He says to his wife, "Did you cook Chinese food tonight?" She says, "No, I just finished ironing your shirts."

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A man was driving to work when a truck ran a stop sign, hit his car broadside, and knocked him out cold. A Passersby pulled him from the wreckage and revived him.
He began a terrific struggle and had to be tranquilized by the medics. Later, when he had calmed down, they asked him why he had struggled so.  He said, a bit sheepishly, "I remember the impact, then nothing. I woke up on a concrete slab in front of this huge, flashing sign. Turns out somebody was standing in front of the 'S' on the 'Shell' sign."
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The newlywed went to the store to ask how to operate the new coffeemaker received as a wedding gift. The salesman carefully explained how everything worked; how to plug it in, set the timer, go to bed, and upon rising, the coffee is ready.  A few weeks later the newly wed was back in the store and the salesman asked her how she liked the coffee maker.  "Wonderful!" she replied, "But... it's just awfully inconvenient to have to go to bed every time I want to make a pot of coffee."

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Al's Doggy Corner

Meanings::

Kellys Corner

 ON A DESERT TRAIL SOMEWHERE

 HEADING OUT FOR A MORNING WALK WITH PHEEBS AND CORA

 AT THE CITY OF ROCKS STATE PARK IN NEW MEXICO

Al's Art Gallery

IT WAS A SPIFFY LOOKING PHEEBS THAT CAME HOME FROM THE GROOMER TODAY

 HOME FROM THE GROOMER PHEEBS KNOWS I KEEP DOGGY TREATS IN THAT DRAWER

There came through the window a single ray of sunshine this morning to ever so softly alight upon my coffee cup on a table beside my chair. It didn't stay long and soon was gone but not before it had lifted my spirits on this oh so cold wintery start to the day.  I think it was somewhere around -1 this morning with a severe windchill factor later on.

 OUR BRUTALLY COLD SNOW FILLED FRONT YARD

WINDS WHIPPING SNOW ACROSS THE ROAD HEADING INTO CLINTON

Seeings how Pheebs and I would be heading for Clinton soon after noon, we didn't bother going anywhere this morning.  I can't remember what I did for the morning but it couldn't have been anything too exciting or I might have had a chance of remembering it.   Pheebs groomer appointment in Clinton was at 12:45 so we headed off on the early side because winds were whipping the snow around and blowing it across the road to Clinton.  I dropped Pheebs off in good time and the nice lady said to come back in about an hour and a half.  I headed out to Clinton's north end to gas up the Subes and then to Bartliffs Restaurant for another mess of bacon and eggs.  That held me for the rest of the day.  With still more time to put in I headed from Bartliffs to Tim Hortons for a sit-down decaf coffee inside.  At one brief point, I was the only one in there.  I don't think I've ever had that happen before because Tim Hortons generally have lots of people coming and going.  Drank my coffee slowly but still ended up with some time on my hands.  I took Subie for a drive out the south end of Clinton through Vanastra and then headed back into town.  It was finally time to pick up the Pheebs.  Oh my, what a different-looking little Sweety she was.  It was like I had a new dog. She was all spiffed up and smelling nice.  Her fur was shiny and it looked like she had lost about 10 pounds with all that old fur gone.  And what a happy little monkey she was to see me.  The groomer called her a trooper.  From the Groomer we sure didn't waste any time in getting home and getting out of that frigid Arctic air.  The cold here right now is downright brutal.

 PHEEBS FUR IS SO SOFT AND SHINY NOW

AS SOON AS SHE GOT INTO THE SUNROOM SHE HAD HERSELF A BIG UPSIDE DOWN SQUIGGLE

Minutes after dropping off Pheebs earlier today the music on my XMSirius Satellite Radio suddenly stopped.  WHAT!!!!  In my world of continuous music, this was a disaster.  I white screen had popped up and all my channels were gone just like that.  No matter how much I fiddled with the radio I was in painful silence.  I finally realized there was nothing I could do about it until I got home so within minutes of entering the house later I was on the phone to XM radio.  So, here's what happened and I should have seen it coming.  When Kelly set up Sirius Radio for me decades ago she of course put it in her name with her credit card.  I was under the impression we paid the bill for XM radio once a year but Kelly at some point must have switched it to monthly.  Anyway, after her passing, her credit cards were nullified and sure enough, December's XM monthly payment wasn't received and early this afternoon they pulled the plug and shut my XM music off just like that!!  Anyway, after a lot of haggling on the phone, they set me up with a new account in my name and credit card.  But, just to be sure the radio was going to work I had the fellow on the phone wait until I went out to the car and turned on the Satellite radio.  Of course, it didn't work and I still couldn't get any channels.  I was about to self-destruct when the puzzled guy on the phone asked me if I was under any trees.  Of course not I said, I'm in my carport (with a steel roof).  'BINGO'.  Sheepishly, I drove the car ahead about 10 feet out of the carport, and 'BINGO' again as the satellite signal was now able to connect to my XM Sirius Satellite Radio. And there were all my music channels again.  Oh 'WOW', I thought to myself, another near disaster narrowly avoided in the life and times of Allan R. Bossence.......

NOT MY SHARPEST BIRD PHOTOS EVER BUT HERE THEY ARE ANYWAY AS SEEN THROUGH THE SUNROOM WINDOWS AND YES, THOSE ARE SNOW FLURRIES YOU SEE IN THE AIR

 MALE CARDINAL

JUNCOS ON THE FRONT PORCH EATING BIRDSEED I HAVE THROWN FOR THEM THERE

 JUNCO ON THE LEFT AND A FEMALE CARDINAL ON THE RIGHT

 

A Blast From Our Past:)) It was January 21st, 2009 while boondocked in Quartzsite Arizona that I wrote the following post.  'Oh No'...Rembrandt's On The Loose With His Paint Brush Again.A

 OUR RIG'S END BEDROOM WALL

Al's Music Box:)) Sunshine On My Shoulders (sometimes titled simply "Sunshine") is a song recorded and co-written by American singer-songwriter John Denver. It was originally released as an album track on 1971's Poems, Prayers & Promises and later, as a single in 1973. It went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. in early 1974.  Denver described how he wrote "Sunshine on My Shoulders": "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'."  The song was slightly remixed for single release, with the addition of strings and woodwinds to enhance the background of the song. The album version features an extra verse, not heard on the Singles charts, due to the song's length. In addition to Denver's first verse describing if he had a day and a song, the second verse mentions Denver's describing if he had a tale and a wish. The song ends with the words "Sunshine almost always" (instead of "Sunshine always"), being held on until the song's end. The full length single mix with the second verse has been released on most of Denver's hits compilations.  It was originally the B-side of one of his earlier songs, "I'd Rather Be a Cowboy". As the Vietnam War came to an end, the song took on a new significance and began to receive airplay on adult contemporary radio stations. The song also topped the adult contemporary chart for two weeks in 1974.  Billboard ranked it as the No. 18 song for 1974. Cash Box said the "Soft, tender ballad receives a treatment equal to the task and the pretty lyrics come shining through as a result. A good remedy for relaxation in these troubled times." Record World said that "Denver scores with this ballad which will send him back home to the top of the charts."

 AT TIM HORTONS THIS AFTERNOON ALL BY MYSELF

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The night before one exam, two students tied one on, (well, actually, tied two on, one each), and managed to sleep through the final. They realized they were in serious trouble, so they agreed to tell the professor that they had a flat tire on the way to the exam.  ``No problem." said the Professor, ``Come by my office at 5 P.M. and I'll give you the exam then."  Feeling pretty clever, the students spent the intervening time getting information on the exam from students who had already taken it, and making sure they knew how to do the problems. Coming to the professor's office that evening, they were told, ``Leave your books in my office, and I'll put you in two separate rooms for the exam." They were both ecstatic to see that the Professor had given them the exact same exam taken by the class that morning. However, there was an additional page tacked on the end, upon which was written, "For 50% of the grade, which tire was flat?"

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- Last night, my wife and I watched two movies back to back.  Fortunately for me, I was the one who was facing the television.

- How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?

- My wife and I just celebrated her 32nd birthday yesterday.  It was the fastest birthday party we’ve ever had.......If you don't get it, read it out loud several times if needed.

- My boss texted me, "Send me one of your funny jokes, Pete."  I replied, "I'm working at the moment, Sir, I will send you one later."  He replied, "That was fantastic, send me another one."

- In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and then He rested.
Then God created man, and then they both rested.  Then God created woman, and since then neither God nor man has ever rested.

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Three older ladies were discussing the travails of getting older.  One said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand, in front of the refrigerator, and I can't remember whether I was taking it out or putting it away."  The second lady said, "Yes, sometimes I find myself on the landing of the stairs, and I can't remember whether I was on my up, or on my way down."  The third lady chimed in, "Well, I'm glad I don't have those problems. Knock on wood." With that, she rapped her knuckles on the table, then said, "That must be the door. I'll get it."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kellys World

FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS KELLY HAD A LITTLE HOBBY BUSINESS OF BUYING AND SELLING THINGS AND HERE SHE IS ABOUT TO SEND ONE OF HER PURCHASES TO AN ALBERTA CANADA BUYER

 SOAKING UP SOME LATE-IN-THE-DAY DESERT SUNSHINE

MORNING WALK WITH THE PHEEBS

Al's Art Gallery