Saturday, April 11, 2020

You Know How It Is...


...with an April day...so quoth Robert Frost in his poem, Two Tramps In Mudtime:


"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March."


At first it was mostly hail...

...but 30 minutes later, this is what it looked like:

Must be Michigan.



Gone fishin'...
...a grandson in Florida is making good use of his free time...

...fishing for both catfish and shark...big fun...

...and beautiful vistas.


In spite of the snowy start to this blog, we've actually had some decent April weather...

...and I've taken advantage of it, swinging my hickories in the back yard.

Last year I'd already been on the golf course by this time, but considering current circumstances...


...it's unlikely I'll see the links much before May.

I may look happy, but...


Now for the Crying Man update...

...and things are going along surprisingly well...down 6 lbs so far.

Of course, the 1st week is usually the easiest when dedication and enthusiasm have not yet been shredded by hard experience and fevered dreams of chili dogs...



                   ...and hot fudge sundaes...

...Yummmmmmm...


Been writing a little...


...researching a little...

...but still not hot and heavy into my next story...haven't hit the zone yet, just kind of dancing around the edges of it.

(And no. I will not include a picture of me dancing...oh, alright, fine...)

Don't blame me; you insisted.



On the movie front, we've seen some good ones lately, including a couple that aren't normally in our wheelhouse...

- and -


...but which both of us enjoyed...and a few old favorites like:
  • Young Frankenstein
  • Sabrina (the excellent 1995 remake with Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear and Julia Ormond)
  • From Here To Eternity (for which Frank Sinatra won a Best Supporting Oscar in 1954)

- and - a film noir classic...

...c'mon...Bogart, Lorre, Greenstreet...great on screen chemistry with those guys...gotta love it.

And they were less than a year away from making cinematic history with Casablanca when The Maltese Falcon was released.

Oh, and the Falcon was pretty cool, too...
wonder who blinked first...


Finally, it's Easter weekend...

...and for what is probably the first time in our country's history, there will be very few church services celebrating the Resurrection of Christ due to "shelter in place" orders...some of them almost fascist in nature.

That does not - can not - negate the great truth of the gospel:

Christ died for the sins of the world on Calvary's cross, was buried and rose to life on the third day as evidence of God's acceptance of His sacrifice. (I Corinthians 15:3,4)

Because of what Christ did, we can be reconciled to our Heavenly Father through faith in His Son. (Romans 10:9,10)

I hope you've experienced that truth in your life, and I hope you enjoy a blessed Easter with ones you love.


later, mcm fans...

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Saturday, April 4, 2020

O No! It's The Return Of...

...Crying Man!

Yes, I'm sorry to report he's back and of course he brought the dreaded diet with him.

Oh well...as much as I dislike the guy, I must grudgingly admit it's definitely time to get back on the straight and narrow...

...of course it would be a lot easier to walk the straight and narrow if it wasn't so straight and narrow.

And so it begins...<heavy sigh>



Other than that little bit of depressing news, there's not much shakin' 'round these parts lately.

Still working from home...
I wish

...which is just fine...I quite enjoy it and am more productive throughout the day when I don't have a 45 minute commute on either end of it.

Will be glad when this COVID-19 nonsense is over, though I won't be happy about driving into the office again.



Speaking of the uncertain times in which we live, got this pic from a co-worker who was about to embark on the dangerous journey to get his mail...

...I know; I'm scared, too...but Larry reported he made it there and back unscathed.

One of these days we'll be telling our grandkids..."you punks have got it easy...in my day we had to wear hazmat suits just to walk to the mailbox, and then we had to self-quarantine for 14 days after..."



We've had some nice spring weather recently, so I've taken Mr. T out for a few jaunts 'round the 'hood...

...quite enjoyable and happy to report he's running well.

And speaking of Mr. T, I've sort of started my next Papa's Model T book...

I say "sort of" started because I've done some research on Hawaii in the early 1900's - not very complimentary to the U.S. government - and have part of a story, but not the whole thing yet.

So we'll see where this goes, if anywhere.

Still percolatin' at the moment...

...Mmm...campfire coffee...



Hey, would you look at the time?

Looks like you're late, so here are some parting shots on your way out the back...


saw this guy go up on hind legs for a tasty bite or two...



must be spring...



our ducks are back...



the continental breakfast bar at a recent Gray Squirrel convention...




when you need a relaxing break from "pandemic panic", try an energy flow increasing, non-nerve jangling, mild Camel smoke...



And that, as they say in the film industry. is a wrap...

All of us here at the Atomic Monster Cafe hope you enjoyed your visit and can't wait for you to come back next time.

Now, if you don't mind, empty your pockets, please...can't have guests stealing the silverware...
yes, that is dumber than a box of rocks Larry David

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

In the "so convenient you can't stand it" department, you can purchase my books here and on Amazon.com!

Get your paperback books here:



Get your ebooks here: