ANOTHER HO-HUM DAY HAS LEFT ME WITH LITTLE TO SAY

 I'M GLAD I NEVER TOOK AN INTEREST IN FISHING YEARS AGO OR THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ME HUDDLED UP OUT THERE ATOP BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER ON THIS COLD WET AND RAINY MORNING

Under a gray damp overcast, we had a slight combination of snow and drizzly rain this morning.  Kelly wandered off to Goderich to return a few things while Pheebs and I took a short drive into Bayfield and back.  So, another ho-hum day has left me with little to say.       

A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN LAKE HURON'S WATER LEVEL WAS HIGH IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THESE BOULDERS TO THE WATERLINE

Here is an 'exceptionally well-done' short film by filmmaker Erik Wernquist about what future space travel may look like for travelers.  One Revolution Per Minute. Watch this on the largest screen you can, with the best sound you have. (preferably headphones)  'Sights I'd Like To See From Places I'll Never Be'.  Also, from the same director is another fine short film entitled Wanderers narrated by the late astronomer, Carl Sagan.

 IT LOOKS LIKE THESE TREES HAVE GROWN UP AROUND SOME OLD NAUTICAL GEAR NEAR THE BAYFIELD RIVER

A random post from our ranch sitting days southeast of Tombstone near McNeal Arizona....A Valley Of Legends  

Ellen's Groove:))  A new bass guitar for Ellen.  She tries out her Mayones bass and does a bit of singing.  She has a ways to go but by golly, she's getting there.....Ellen's New Bass Guitar

 SOME FARMERS ARE STILL TRYING TO GET THEIR CORN HARVEST IN BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES

Al's Music Box:)) You Didn't Have To Be So Nice is a song by American rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. It was issued on a non-album single in November 1965 and reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966.  The song was later included in the band's March 1966 album Daydream. According to its writer, band bassist, and songwriter Steven Boone, it was inspired by 1960s celebrity photographer Nurit Wilde. Billboard described the song as having a "good lyric and strong dance beat." Cash Box described it as a "catchy cut" with "a sweet romantic touch."  The song has been cited as an inspiration for the composition of the 1966 song "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys.

 YUP, IT'S DEFINITELY PURPLE ALRIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty.

I choked on a carrot this morning, and all I could think of was, "I'll bet a doughnut wouldn't have done this to me."

Nothing spoils a good story more than the arrival of an eye witness. (Mark Twain)

I finally realize why I look so bad in pictures. It's my face.

It only takes one slow-walking person in the grocery store to destroy the illusion that I'm a nice person.

Women are like telephones ... They love to be held. They love to be talked to. But, if you press the wrong button, you're DISCONNECTED.

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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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THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE I ENJOY DOING IT

As much as I complain about boring routines sometimes it's also nice to have the stability that routines can offer.  I was aware of our break in routine this morning when after our disruptive water leak Wednesday morning Pheebs and I were back on track with our routine Jeep ride earlier today.  Added to that routine this morning was a Bayfield cemetery walk thrown in for good measure.  At this time of year with winter's messy bluster over I not only get exercise walking in the cemetery but I get additional exercise by bending over a lot and picking things up.  Maybe some small pine branches on the road but mostly it's plastic flower arrangements that have been flattened by the snow load or knocked over by the wind.  I set the small family ornamental tributes back up that are lying beside or on the tombstones as well.

 I LIKED THE INSCRIPTION I SAW ON THIS TOMBSTONE

Despite an overnight temperature drop and a cold wind, I wasn't long in getting outside after Pheebs and I returned from our morning Jeep ride.  Lots of yard work remains to be done and after sitting in the house for all of Wednesday's rainy day, I was definitely chomping at the bit to get outside and do something, anything, just get outside and get something done!!  Today my efforts resulted in putting three crates of vehicle cleaning supplies back in their summer place in our carport and working on cleaning up all my little garden paths around the place.  And I did a big cleanup along the roadside in front of our place as well.  There is still lots of yard work left to do and that's okay because I enjoy doing it:))

 I LIKE MY PATHWAYS:))

 MY TRUSTY HELPER TODAY

 I WILL PROBABLY GET THE FROG POND PUMP GOING IN A COUPLE DAYS AND YES THERE ALREADY IS ONE RESIDENT FROG IN THERE

Thanks to a Park resident friend of ours lending us her dehumidifier the section of wet carpet in our spare bedroom from Wednesday's bathroom faucet leak is almost dry.

 TWO MORE SIGNS OF SPRING....KELLY'S BICYCLE AND THE LAWNMOWER

 THE VEHICLE CLEANING SUPPLIES ARE BACK IN THEIR SUMMER PLACE

It was nine years ago on April 7th, 2014 that Kelly, Pheebs, and I took a rough and tumble Jeep ride through Navajo country in Arizona's Monument Valley.  Probably one of the roughest Jeep Wrangler rides we have ever taken.  Jeep Scrambling In Indian Country

Al's Music Box:)) Nowhere Man by The Beatles from the album 'Rubber Soul'.  1965

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Three vampires walk into a bar. The first one says I'll have a pint of blood.  The second one says I'll have one, too.  The third one says I'll have a pint of plasma.  The bartender says, So, that will be two Bloods and a Blood Lite.

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I'm afraid that fulfilling my potential would really cut into my sitting-around time.

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A Prius just tried to race me at the light...I totally had it for the first 100 meters, but I can only walk so fast.

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