This Is That...

...<time of the year>...or so sang Jack Jones about Christmas on this 1967 vinyl LP from Firestone.

Great album and great memories from my childhood, and of course I spin it regularly this time of year.

No, it's not the same one my folks had back then, but in keeping with the spirit of the boomer generation - 

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I bought all my toys back on ebay."

(with apologies to the Apostle Paul, see I Corinthians 13:11,12 for the actual quote)

- I did just that: found it on ebay a few years ago and have been enjoying it -

- at Christmas (again) ever since.

And now, as a tip o' the hat to the inexorable forward march of time, let's do this:

One Week To Go...

...and all through the land...people clamored to know, "O, when will it end?!"

"The answer's contained in the statement, my dear,

"Just 7 more days 'til Christmas is here!"

So hurry and watch those shows on TV!

The halls all need decking; you must trim the tree!

But somewhere amidst all the sparkle and shine,

The tumult and chaos that's stealing your time,

Take a moment or two for calm meditation;

Remember the Reason for this celebration.

The lights and the glitter are all well and good,

The ornaments, presents, songs and the food...

But when you consider the Grand Scheme of things,

They're really just heralds for our Newborn King.

So sing and be merry with those that you love,

But always remember God's gift from above.

With shepherds and Angels we echo it still:

"Glory to God, peace on earth and good will."

Our unseasonably mild weather continues, so you know what that means...

...I'm still whacking wiffle golf balls in my back yard, struggling to apply some of Moe Norman's "hit 'em straight" magic to my wayward swing.

And while it is a struggle, there are occasional glimpses of progress:

a recent session, practicing with my brassie...

...yielded this tight grouping of 4 in a row

Of course, I could include some pics where the little white balls are so far apart they don't even fit in a wide angle lens shot.

I'm never going to be a great golfer - you can't put in what God left out - but I can be a better golfer than I am now...it just takes patience and practice.

my old pal, Deuce Mulligan

Lots and lots of practice.

We soldier on.

Widdout foida adieu, 23 skidoo...

he actually sleeps in that position...go figger

Karen decorated my office, kickin' it Peanuts style

the aforementioned Jack Jones...he also sang The Love Boat theme in 1977

love those eyes

finally got to visit (a picture of) Mt. Rushmore...thrillin'

And that, Kind Reader, brings to a close another excitin' session of blexcellence.

We here at the Atomic Monster Cafe trust your experience was one filled with both delight and wonder, but if not, don't blame us.

We're so delightful, we wonder how anyone could be better, and thus we've concluded "they could not".

And we'll fight any man who says different!

"I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can beat any S.O.B. in the house!"
- Jack Dempsey, heavyweight champion

later, mcm fans...

December 7th, 1941...

...a date which will live in infamy. 

NEVER FORGET

And Now For Something...

...completely different...a brief departure from my usual blog format.

Below are some random images and descriptions - pictures I've taken with my Kodak Brownie Hawkeye or cell phone, some that were sent to me, and of course a few fave comic strips.

Enjoy:

Here's the best thing that happened on the golf course this week...snapped this cellphone pic of a blue heron and some admirers (don't ask why I was close enough to the water to get this picture):

August is Hibiscus month, at least around our place:

Sorry to say, but like summer itself, they'll be gone all too soon.

From the KBH* files:

gotta love good, cheap wine from Aldi's

why oh why did I decide to golf on laundry day?

These next 3 pics were all taken indoors with the flash attachment...really like the clarity; nothing gets "washed out" as sometimes happens with the camera flash:

weltron radio/record player/8 track player...and it looks fake, but that's a live plant on the right

1960's Philco phonograph...the 8 track cartridges are for the weltron "space ball" 8 track player on the left

some vintage favorites...and a random cat toy on the floor

Back outdoors now:

Karen's lower patio garden in full bloom

August 5th of 1962, the date when Marilyn was found dead.  officially a suicide, but many believe the Kennedy's were involved in her murder

tiger lilies are all done now; glad I got this pic while they were in their glory

These last 2 were taken with a close up lens:

Barbie's pet flamingo, pretty in pink

filed under "peacock, pretty as a"

*KBH: Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, 620 film camera, circa 1950.

Here are a couple of cellphone pics from Larry who attended the races at Berlin in tiny little Marne, Michigan...but don't let the location fool you...there were big name drivers there like Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and Johnny Benson:

looked like storms were brewing, but all was well

great view from the stands

I hear my lawn mower calling me, so please let yourself out the servant's exit in the back.

We have our reputation to consider, and we'd rather the neighbors didn't see...well, I'm sure you understand.

later, mcm fans...

Was Recently Sentenced...

...to hard labor on the rock pile...you see before you the results.

Extended our hardscape all the way around (mostly in front) and planted some drought resistant juniper bushes.

We did so mainly because we gave up on ever growing anything that resembles green grass there.

Very sandy soil, and with the summer drought coupled with the Attack of the Killer Moles...

approach to my 4th hole...the green flags mark the mole traps

...we're all in on a Southwest style landscape now.

Throw in a few Saguaro Cacti...

...and voila!  um, I mean listo!  We're there.

Just passed the 79th anniversary of D-Day:

June 6th, 1944

NEVER FORGET

In my last Twins Report I mentioned both of the boys were dealing with ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), an eye affliction that can be serious.

Well, for one of them it led to eye surgery, which can mean some permanent loss of eyesight.

You can imagine the stress of this situation for the parents, and I tried to console my co-worker.

"This is very tough," I said, "but remember: champions are rarely chosen from the ranks of the unscarred.  You're going to be stronger for having endured this."

His telling reply?

"I never wanted to be this strong!"

We can all relate, can't we?

If you're married with kids, you're just trying to hold it all together...go to work, pay the bills, love your wife, raise your children.

You're not trying to be a hero; you just want everyone to be healthy and happy as you watch them grow up.

You know there will be tough times, but as much as possible you'd like to enjoy the years while they're still in your care...go to little league games or dance recitals, play catch in the backyard, teach them to ride a bike, read them bedtime stories, hug them when they're sad, laugh at the funny things they do and say.

No one willingly signs up for the kind of ordeal my co-worker and his wife are enduring, but in God's sometimes confusing plan, there it is.

It's too early, post-surgery, to know the extent of this issue, but the stress for both baby and parents is intense.

If you're standing on praying ground, please take a moment right now and ask for God's blessing on this situation...for healing, as well as for comfort.

In lighter fare, I and the tools of my ignorance...

...ventured forth in search of the answer to my "Bobby Jones or Ironman?" conundrum.

Putting it another way, do I keep my brassie, or use it for firewood and stick to my irons?

The answer is a definite "meh".

After puzzling over why I can hit my driving iron straighter and longer than my brassie, I came up with the brilliant idea of creating a "hickory hybrid":

I cut my brassie down from from 42" to 40", the same length as my driving iron, and it did help.

That, along with slight grip / ball placement adjustments, straightened out my slice...at least when I followed my "relaxed swing, lead with your hips, see the ball" mantra.

Distance improved as well, from 120 up to 155 yards, which for a gutty is not bad.

So my "hickory hybrid" brassie retains its place in my bag.

For now.

Does this mean I've finally ascended from the ranks of dufferdom to the glorious realm of competence?

Hardly.

Last outing I managed to par a couple and bogey a couple...

...but what happened on the remaining holes was an exercise in bizarre physics and higher mathematics that shouldn't be discussed in polite company.

We soldier on.

And now for a little bit o' this & that...

Mr. B caught in the act in our hardscape

this baby blue jay perched on the metal artwork in our courtyard for awhile before flying away on wobbly wings

started a recent round on my backyard golf course with a hole in one.  if I can just do that IRL...

...but it won't be on the first hole of the course I'm playing now; that's a 400 yard par 4.

beautiful blend of moon and dock lights at Larry's cottage

moonlight over our pool

gorgeous white peonies by our back patio

Already approaching mid-June, folks...summer is in full swing now and racing past our outstretched arms.

Grab it before it slips away!  Seize each moment and make it memorable.

Back Yard

by Carl Sandburg

Shine on, O moon of summer.

Shine to the leaves of grass, catalpa and oak,

All silver under your rain tonight.

An Italian boy is sending songs to you tonight from an accordion.

A Polish boy is out with his best girl; they marry next month; tonight they are throwing you kisses.

An old man next door is dreaming over a sheen that sits in a cherry tree in his back yard.

The clocks say I must go - I stay here sitting on the back porch drinking white thoughts you rain down.

Shine on, O moon,

Shake out more and more silver changes.

later, mcm fans...