ROCK AND ROLL'S BEST KEPT SECRET....'THE WRECKING CREW'

NO THIS IS NOT 'LITTLE RED' IT'S 'CHIPPY' THE CHIPMUNK

I am very much liking our cooler morning bug free air.  A few touches of color here and there hint at the approaching profusion of Autumn colors.  Colors soon to sweep over the landscape like an artist's palette in search of freedom having carefully slipped from it's easel and run happily over hill and dale setting forests ablaze with it's free and fanciful colors.  

THE HORSES WERE EAGERLY EATING BREAKFAST WHILE THE COWS....NOT SO MUCH

BEAN FIELDS ARE TURNING COLOR

Clouds hung in the air as Pheebs and I made our way slowly along half a dozen country roads north of Clinton this morning.  Brushing by the Hullett Marsh I realized after awhile we were following the same route we had driven the previous Sunday just seven days before.  It was a cloudy morning that day too.  We stayed on that route and after awhile it led us back to where we had started out our day.  Minutes after arriving home clouds parted and the land was once again bathed in sunshine.  Another nice day to again spend leisurely time outside comfortably doing whatever it was I felt like doing.  I don't consider washing windows leisurely so I didn't do that.

JUST A FEW PASSING SEAGULLS  CROSSING OUR PATH ALONG THE WAY

FIELD DRAINAGE IS IMPORTANT HERE IN FARM COUNTRY AND THIS FIELD IS ABOUT TO HAVE A DRAINAGE SYSTEM PUT IN

LARGE ROLES OF PLASTIC DRAINAGE PIPE WAIT TO BE UNFURLED AND PLACED IN THE GROUND

AND I BELIEVE THIS BIG MACHINE PLOWS IN THE LONG DRAINAGE LINES

Taking a break from my many World War 2 aircraft and pilot oriented books I once again turned to the world of music and am now reading another very enlightening book about one of the best kept secrets in the rock and roll era many years ago.  I had heard some rumors about it now and again over recent years but never knew too much about it.  The book is called The Wrecking Crew and I'm sure anyone with any knowledge and interest in music from back in that era knows the truth about this small group of highly trained professional studio musicians in Los Angeles, California.  Glen Campbell is well known for his excellent guitar playing and he was one of them.  Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys used these musicians as did Phil Specter and his 'Wall Of Sound'.  And they were only two of many record producers who turned their hit songs over to the Wrecking Crew.  The music going public never knew that many records of that era were not the original band members playing on the record.  It was the professional studio musicians we hear on a lot of those tracks.  The book by Kent Hartman is well written and traces each member of the crew from their early beginnings telling how they struggled up through the ranks to rise above their fellow musicians and become the best of the best.  And I like how he weaves all the many well known musicians through the Wrecking Crews history. It's fascinating to read about how so many songs we all grew up with and loved were not being played by who we thought they were being played by.  If your a music buff you will love this book and the true mysteries it solves after all these years of unknowing.  For instance, only one original member of the Byrds actually played on their debut hit, Mr. Tambourine Man'.  Everything else you hear on that record was done in the studio by 'The Wrecking Crew.'

TURKEY VULTURES ON A NEIGHBOR'S CHICKEN BARN ROOF

DRYING THEIR WINGS IN MORNING'S COOLAIR

Our day turned out to be kind of a lazy one but I guess that is what Sunday's are for.  If I'm going to have a day of doing nothing I like it to be Sunday.  I am only one of countless others who have been programed that way since childhood.  And that's quite Okay with me.

THOSE CHEEK POUCHES ARE LOOKING PRETTY FULL

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The husband and wife were playing on the ninth green when she collapsed from a heart attack. "Please dear, I need help." she said. The husband ran off saying "I'll go get some help." A little while later he returned, picked up his club and began to line up his shot on the green. His wife, on the ground, raised up her head and said, "I may be dying and you're putting?" "Don't worry dear. I found a doctor on the second hole who said he would come and help." "The second hole??? When the hell is he coming???" "Hey! I told ya not to worry, everyone's already agreed to let him play through."
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A truckload of tortoises crashed into a trainload of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster.-------------------------

You might be a redneck if::
You watch "The Dukes Of Hazzard" and have to find someone to explain it to you.
When your wife walks in front of you it looks like two pigs fighting in a gunny sack.
Your only excuse for smelling bad is it runs in the family.
Your favorite fruit is chicken.
You think those yellow traffic signs that say "Slow children at play" means the kids in the area are not too bright.
You've ever used a hangnail as a tooth pick.
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SORRY, ANOTHER MEDICAL RELATED POST BUT I HAVE A THEORY WHICH MIGHT BE HELPFUL

Like many others I too have my many favorite things.  Contentedly puttering away in our front yard flower bed on a beautiful Saturday's morn brought that home to me today.  A twig snipped here, a fern moved there.  With net in hand I dipped fallen leaves and pine needles out of our frog pond.  An afternoon walk with Pheebs along our Park's sunlit dappled forest trail stretched the smile on my face.  I was feeling a great sense of relief at something both mentally and physically that had thankfully happened to me overnight.

Now I know I've been going on way too much about medical stuff lately but stick with me if you can here because I have a theory about something that just may be of help to someone else.  About a year or more ago I began noticing my urinary trips to the washroom were becoming more and more frequent.  I knew that was common with older folks but also knew it was one of the warning signs for prostate cancer.  Like most men I thought about that but put if off.  My trips to the washroom kept increasing and suddenly my PSA numbers shot up.  A prostate biopsy revealed I did indeed have prostate cancer so I naturally figured that is what was causing me to spend so much time running to the washroom.  But now as of today I do not think my prostate was/is the culprit.  I have a theory but it's only a theory and it's not based on any hard medical facts.  I'm basing it on how bad I felt Friday and how great I feel today.  I'm basing it on how a past year and half's problem suddenly corrected itself in the night.   

While undergoing an abdominal CT Scan of my Prostate about six weeks ago the scanner also revealed something else.  I had two kidney stones partially blocking both my Ureter tubes.  No wonder I was on the run to the washroom so often and as those stones slowly grew my trips gradually increased.  Why I experienced no pain from those stones in both Ureters is a mystery.  After the stones were lasered out a month ago stents were put in and stayed in until a couple days ago.  I was running to the washroom sometimes every ten minutes.  Not nice.  The stents came out Thursday and Friday I had a real bad day.  Bad enough to keep me in my recliner with a blanket over top me.  Bad enough that I even went and laid on my bed for only the second time in three years with the first time being just a couple weeks ago.  My hands were cold Friday but my face felt as hot as a Chile pepper.  Had no appetite so didn't eat all day.  Headachy and I seemed to be running to the washroom more than ever.  And it was uncomfortable each time I did.  

About 9 o'clock Friday night standing in the kitchen by the counter I suddenly became aware I was beginning to feel better.  Popped a piece of bread into the toaster and with some honey I was able to eat that.  Headed to my recliner, tipped myself back for the night and finally drifted off to sleep at least feeling better at the end of the day than the start and during of the day.

Woke up at my usual 5:30 a.m. time and quickly realized I had slept the whole night through and hadn't had to run to the washroom in the night three, four, or six times.  In fact not even once.  I also quickly realized I was feeling fine and here's the absolute best part...…as today's hours ticked by I became increasingly aware from early on I was no longer having to run for the washroom.  It was the first time in about a year and a half.  And as of today I seem to be completely back to normal just like I was years ago.  Now maybe I'm rushing this a bit but I am simply so happy to basically have a normal washroom routine again just like when I was a younger guy:))

Okay, so just in case a few of you folks made it this far I guess my theoretical words to my fellow male readers is this.  If your experiencing a frequent increase in urinary habits it may or may not be your prostate but kidney stones blocking the ureters.  For me I now believe those stones are what it was all along so I have my fingers crossed that problem has finally been solved.  Okay so let's all get out of my bladder now and move on.

Next is my prostate radiation treatments which will begin this coming Wednesday and I 'm going to make it a point not to mention one more darn medical thing between now and then.  Of course when I get home Wednesday I will have something to say about how the treatment went...…………

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A police car pulls up in front of grandma Bessie's house, and Grandpa Morris gets out.  The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn't find his way home. "Oy Morris", said Grandma, " You've been going to that park for over 30 years! So how could you get lost?  "Leaning close to Grandma, so that the policeman couldn't hear. Morris whispered, "I wasn't lost, I was just too tired to walk home." 
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“The mailman who was kidnapped by organ harvesters got delivered.”
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Doctor: "I accidentally left my gloves inside your stomach during your operation. We have to operate on you again."
Patient: "Are you kidding me?!?! Tell you what Doc, take this $10 bill and buy a new pair!"
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THAT'S ABOUT ALL FOR TODAY

Not a good weather day.  Cool, cloudy and wet.  Not nice.  My camera gathered dust and I didn't fare much better.  Try as I did I could not seem to get myself off the ground.  Only thing I can blame it on is a poor night's sleep again.  Cranked up our furnace about noon and basked in the warmth.  Kelly had slipped up to Goderich to run a few errands earlier this morning and we had passed each other on the road when Boogsy and I were headed home.  Aside from the above the day didn't amount to much so that's about it for today.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  Better I hope..……………..

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A journalist assigned to the Jerusalem bureau takes an apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. Every day when she looks out, she sees an old Jewish man praying vigorously. So, the journalist goes down and introduces herself to the old man. She asks, "You come every day to the wall. How long have you done that and what are you praying for?" The old man replies, "I have come here to pray every day for 25 years. In the morning I pray for world peace and then for the brotherhood of man. I go home have a cup of tea and I come back and pray for the eradication of illness and disease from the earth." The journalist is amazed. "How does it make you feel to come here every day for 25 years and pray for these things?" she asks. The old man looks at her sadly. "Like I'm talking to a damn wall." 

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FEELING GOOD ABOUT GETTING TODAY'S MEDICAL PROCEDURE OVER WITH

With our thermometer sitting at 43F this morning I dressed warm and dusted off my winter jacket.  Under sunny skies it was a very pleasant morning cruise for Pheebs and I.  

I FIGURE THEY HAVE ONLY ONE PART TIME GUY WORKING ON THIS TIM HORTON PROJECT

SUMAC FLOWER

Nice day for a scenic drive to Stratford where I checked into the hospital at 1:40 p.m. for my kidney stone double stent removal procedure at 3.  I like to be early.  After registering I was right away taken into the inner halls, changed into a couple blue hospital gowns and led to a secondary waiting room.  There were 20 chairs in there with 16 of them filled with people in...…. blue hospital gowns.  Luckily I again had my Kindle with me so focused all my attention on my reading.  There was much bantering and nervous jitters going around in the waiting room but I didn't get in on it.  Not my thing unless I'm in the mood for that kind of stuff.  It was 3:40 when my number was called and by that time I was the last one left sitting in the waiting room.  I had been quite content sitting there by myself but it was now my turn on the slab.  Not the first time for this procedure but the first time having two stents removed instead of one.  

A NICE FREE PLACE TO PARK HALF A BLOCK FROM THE HOSPITAL ON JOHN STREET....A SLIGHT UPHILL WALK TO THE HOSPITAL THOUGH

I LIKE THE OPEN SPACE ARCHITECTURE IN THE HOSPITAL'S EAST WING

Now I won't go into the details of this because you can find this procedure on the internet.  But must say I was a bit nervous when I saw Doctor Bukala standing at the other end of me with a pair of rusty old needle nose plyers.  That was after the young nurse had a hold my parts swashling them all up with a cold antiseptic liquid.  Well Okay so it wasn't quite a rusty needle nose pliers but the semi-embarrassing swashling was definitely real.  Anyway despite what you might think about this the procedure is relatively painless with just some uncomfortable feelings.  Took him maybe thirty seconds apiece to locate, grab onto and yank each stent out separately.  That was it but during the procedure Doctor Bukala and I were chatting back and forth.  He was very interested in knowing more about this new Sabre treatment I will begin in London next week.  I was able to fill him in on a few things and he said I will be the first to undergo this newer radiation procedure after being referred to the London cancer radiation department from his office.  I'm sure he will be closely following my medical charts now to see how I do.  It's something in the future he may be able to offer to other fellas in my spot coming to see him for advice regarding newer prostate cancer treatments.

WAITING ROOM FIRST DOOR ON THE RIGHT AND MY OPERATING ROOM WAS DOWN THE HALL, TURN RIGHT AND FIRST ROOM ON THE RIGHT

MY TWO BLUE HOSPITAL GOWNS ON THE LEFT WERE A BIT WET FROM MY SWASHLING AND ONE SECOND AFTER TAKING THIS PHOTO I BLEW THROUGH THAT EXIT DOOR ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR

Anyway, 10 minutes after I walked into the operating room I walked out again minus my stents.  Exited the hospital at 4:10 and walked to where I had parked the Jeep in the 'Old Grove' parking lot.  What an absolutely great hours drive it was on the paved back roads from Stratford back to Bayfield and it was my best hour of the day.  Just having those stents out put me back on top of the world.  No more short bouts of pain in my lower back.  And would you believe there is not one single traffic light between our house and the Stratford hospital 53 miles away.  Now how's about them apples anyway eh:)))))

I THINK THIS YOUNG FARM FELLOW KNEW I WAS HAVING MYSELF A GREAT DAY WHEN I FLEW BY WITH MY MUSIC BLASTING

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Signs Of Our Times::

- In the front yard of a funeral home,'Drive carefully, we'll wait.'

- On an electrician's truck,'Let us remove your shorts.'

- Outside a radiator repair shop,'Best place in town to take a leak.'

- In a nonsmoking area,'If we see you smoking, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.'

- On a maternity room door,'Push, Push, Push.'

- On a front door,'Everyone on the premises is a vegetarian except the dog.'

- At an optometrist's office,'If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.'

- On a taxidermist's window,'We really know our stuff.'

- On a butcher's window,'Let me meat your needs.'

- On a fence,'Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.'

- At a car dealership,'The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment.'

- Outside a muffler shop,'No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming.

- 'In a dry cleaner's emporium,'Drop your pants here.'

- On a desk in a reception room,'We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.'

- In a veterinarian's waiting room,'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'

- In a Beauty Shop,'Dye now!'

- In a restaurant window,'Don't stand there and be hungry, come in and get fed up.'

- Inside a bowling alley,'Please be quiet. We need to hear a pin drop.'

- In a cafeteria,'Shoes are required to eat in the cafeteria. Socks can eat any place they want.'

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IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON WE HAD A MINI BIRD INVASION

Had us a nice textured heavy cloud cover this morning with cool westerly winds reminding me I should have put a nylon jacket on.  With higher lake levels this year waves are reaching further inland and I saw an example of that along Goderich's boardwalk shoreline this morning.

WITH LAKE WATERS HIGHER SO ARE THE WAVES AND IT IS THE HIGHER WAVES WHICH HAVE CAUSED THIS FLOODING

GODERICH IS CRACKING DOWN ON RV'ERS OVERNIGHTING DOWN IN THE HARBOR AND BEACH AREAS AND CHECK WHAT'S UNDER THIS FELLOW'S WINDSHIELD WIPER IN PHOTO BELOW

DON'T KNOW IF THIS ROADTREK CHAP GOT A TICKET OR NOT

ON OUR WAY HOME I NOTICED THIS SNOWBIRD FARMER RV GUY GETTING AN EARLY START ON HIS WAY TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER

And before I forget again I've had a few more reader's questions about our previous front yard Squirrel wars.  Yes it is safe to say that after removing one final branch from a nearby shrub Little Red was never able to leap onto the bird station again.  In fact no Squirrels have.  Instead of spending time trying to outsmart Little Red and his gang anymore I now take that time to feed the little fellers every day.  I have four pine stumps in the yard that I leave a little nut laden birdseed on.  In fact it was just a few posts ago I had a photo of Little Red on one of those stumps chowing down some nuts and seeds.

Strangest darn thing this afternoon in our front yard.  With very few birds around for quite awhile we suddenly had a swarm of birds all pile into the yard at the same time.  Could hardly believe my eyes.  Goldfinches, Blue Jays, a pair of Cardinals, a Hummingbird, a Downie Woodpecker, a Hairy Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker.  Mourning Doves, a Robin, and a Grackle.  All these birds appeared in the yard in a space of ten minutes then were all gone again except for the Finches.  I've never seen that happen before.  I did manage a few photos of some of them but most are a bit blurred from my hasty shooting.

NORTHERN FLICKER

ROBIN

MALE GOLDFINCH

MALE CARDINAL

FEMALE GOLDFINCH

BLACKIE THE SQUIRREL

HUMMINGBIRD

SPLISH SPLASH PAPA'S HAVING A BATH

I figure the first paragraph in my Tuesday post must have reached the far edges of the Universe and tapped on the 'Powers That Be' door.  It is the only logical explanation I have for having an uninterrupted sleep from 11 p.m. Tuesday night to 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.  The PTB must have read my first paragraph and took mercy on this poor little mortal and decided to grant him at least one good nights sleep for a change.  Very much appreciated by little mortal me and I hope those 'Powers That Be' see their way clear to grant me a few more of those restful nights.  It sure made a big difference to my energy and interest levels today and I was able to hook up our utility trailer and take a big load of brush to the Park's landfill area.  Got some more tree trimming done as well.

NO THAT IS NOT MARIJUANA PLANTS IN THERE  (SUMAC)

ALWAYS A LITTLE TRICKY BACKING THE UTILITY TRAILER INTO IT'S SMALL TIGHT SPOT

An evening walk took Pheebs and I to the end of the new road heading further into the forest at our Park.  Reaching the end we continued on through the dark forest and I remembered having walked through this area one time about fifteen years ago.  Very dark and foreboding and it is here where the Coyotes hang out after dark.

STANDING AT THE END OF THE NEW ROAD LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE PARK

LOOKING AHEAD PHEEBS AND I WALKED WAY DOWN THERE INTO THE DARK FOREST

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You might be a redneck if...
- Your richest relative buys a new house and you have to help take the wheels off it.
- In an effort to watch your cholesterol, you eat Spam Lite.  
- Your idea of a seven course meal is a bucket of KFC and a six pack.
- You go to a tupper ware party for a hair cut.
- You've ever spray painted your girlfriend's name on an over pass.
- Your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks  stand.
- Someone asks to see your ID and you show them your belt buckle.
- The directions to your house include "turn off the paved road".
- Your dog and your wallet are both on chains.
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“An unlucky skydiver's last pun: 'Ah chute!'”
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While waiting at the bus stop, a man with a stutter asked another, "E-e-excuse m-me, w-w-what t-time is it?"  The other man didn't reply. Again, the man asked, "E-excuse m-m-me, c-can y-you t-t-tell me w-what t-time it is?"  Once again, the other man didn't reply. The man with the stutter got angry and stormed off.  A third man, having witnessed the whole ordeal, asked the silent man, "Why didn't you just answer the man's question?"  The silent man said, "Th-there w-w-would have b-been a b-b-big ff-fight."

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