Tuesday, October 20, 2026

AND YET, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE

 OUR PARK'S ENTRANCE IS JUST UP THERE ON THE LEFT
My creative side (writing and photography) seems to have wandered away somewhere again.  And just when all the beautiful Autumn colors are out, and our weather just couldn't be nicer.  It left yesterday, and I don't know where the heck it went.  I never took a picture or typed a word Monday.  Oh well, at least I was able to haul my tall ladder out and teeter around getting some eavestroughs cleaned out before winter.  And of course at this time of year there is always the raking, and raking, and raking.

 SAW THIS COLORFUL TREE IN CLINTON THIS MORNING

 AUTUMN DAISIES IN OUR PARK
Ever since Kelly passed away in early December of 2024, I've had a lot of things on my mind, and many of those things are still rolling around in there.  In the Spring of 2025, Woodsy helped me with both a big inside and outside cleanup and purging of things.   There was a lot of old stuff that just had to go.  And there still is a lot of stuff that has to go.  At that time, in the Spring of 25, I had to take a realistic look at what the road ahead might be shaping up like.  This house (mobile home) I live in is old and showing its age.  The plumbing is old, the decor is dated, it could use some repairs.  The outside needs a facelift, and the grounds would benefit from some new ideas.  Despite those things, I love doing all the outside maintenance and grounds work myself, and it keeps me limber.  However, I continue to experience the tell-tale signs of Senior aging, and that is a worry when I try to plan a few years ahead of me.  And yet, what is the alternative??  The thought of living in an apartment absolutely mortifies me.  I love being able to walk out the door and putter around, but how long is that going to last.  I have been very aware of an uptick in both my physical and mental abilities as of late.  I am experiencing subtle changes that, at some point, are going to require decisions.  The question then becomes: how does one prepare for those decisions, and when?  I love living here and have loved it ever since Kelly and I (and our dog Max) moved here just a couple of weeks short of 24 years ago.  But I know I can't stay here forever, and I don't want to find myself in a situation where I can't keep up with all the necessary outside grounds work and maintenance, etc. I can feel that day approaching.  I am writing this today because I know there are others in the same situation I am in.  Some have reached this point, dealt with it, and moved on, while others are dealing with it right now.  Others like myself are on the doorstep of change.  And no, I am not planning to sell my house.  Not yet anyway...................  

 SLIPPED NEIGHBOR MONICA INTO CLINTON THIS MORNING FOR AN EYE APPOINTMENT
Memories Music Box:(( Leaving On A Jet Plane by Peter Paul and Mary.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( One night Father Gill asked Fabio to share his secrets for staying happily married for almost 50 years. Fabio explained that he’d tried to treat his wife nice, buy her a few things, and best of all, he took her to Rome for their 25th anniversary. Father Gill asked, “So what are you going to do for your 50th?” Fabio proudly answered, “I’m gonna go pick her up!”

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You ever talk about a movie with someone that read the book? They're always so condescending. Ah, the book was much better than the movie. Oh really? Yes, what I enjoyed about the movie most was no reading.

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- “Did you hear the one about the woman who threw her toaster away because it kept burning the bread? She was black toast intolerant.”

- My brain is like the Bermuda Triangle. Information goes in and then is never found again.

- Teacher: "I asked you to draw a cow and grass, but I only see a cow. Where is grass?"
Student: "The cow ate the grass, sir."
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The little Moron was visiting his friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked him what their names were. The friend responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex.
His friend said, 'Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?' 'HELLLOOOOOOO......,' answered the friend. 'They're watch dogs'!!

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Today's Art Gallery









Sunday, October 18, 2026

FOR THE PAST 47 YEARS, OCTOBER 19TH HAS BEEN A SPECIAL FOR ME

Dressed warmly against the evening's encroaching cold Saturday night, I walked along my country road as the setting sun slowly sizzled into Lake Huron far to the west of me. No sweeping magnificent clouds, just an orange glow sweeping up into the clear sky.  Following my walk, it was into Clinton for my Hortons coffee to go and a slow drive through the countryside to my starry night viewing spot.  However, with a bright half Moon in the sky, not as many stars were visible.  I did manage to see two satellites, two aircraft, and one farmer with lights on his tractor, probably working his bean field somewhere off in a darkened field to the east.

Ten years ago today, Kelly, Pheebs and I piled into the Motorhome and headed for a longer-than-usual journey to our beloved Southwest.  We stopped in Spencerport, New York at Kelly's Mom's for a few days, and then headed south to Sarasota, Florida to visit with my Aunt Jean, before eventually heading west.  Here's a link to my post for that first travel day.... Bayfield To Spencerport, New York

SOMEWHERE EAST OF BRANTFORD ONTARIO, PHEEBS WATCHES FOR KELLY TO EXIT A TIM HORTONS COFFEE SHOP WITH COFFEE IN HAND
With Monday being October 19th, I will once again include a link to a post I wrote years ago about how on this date, with the help of many newfound friends, I turned my life around and have never looked back.  I Have Now Been Sober 47 Years
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Memories Music Box:: Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes.' He addressed the man, 'Can you name your wife's favorite flower?' Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, 'It's Pillsbury, isn't it?

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Did you ever notice? When you put the two words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "THEIRS"?

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- Did you hear about the farmer you ploughed his field with a steamroller ?
He wanted to grow mashed potatoes!
- What did the neurotic pig say to the farmer? You take me for grunted.
Q: When is a farmer like a magician?
A: When he turns his cow to pasture.
Q: Why did the farmer call his pig "Ink"?
A: Because it was always running out of the pen.
Q: What do you call cattle with a sense of humor?
A: Laughing stock.
Q: Why can't the bankrupt cowboy complain?
A: He has got no beef.

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At a meeting, the Boss told a joke.
Everyone on the team laughed except one guy. The Boss asked him, 'Didn’t you understand my joke?' The guy replied, 'Oh I understood it, but I resigned this morning.'

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Today's Art Gallery