Atomic Monster Cafe: May 2024

Sunday, May 26, 2024

On This Cold And Rainy...

...we pause to remember and honor those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.

Speaking of military veterans, #5 son has gone from clean shaven soldier...

...to bearded cross fit instructor.

Either way, he's still kickin' it hard core.

Hoping to see him sometime this summer.

Hickory golf this week was a par, a bogey and...

...well, yeah...not quite that bad but pretty darn close.

The cause of all this pain and anguish?

My tee shots, per usual.

I've been hitting fairly well at the driving range, but that's with hybrids, not hickories.

Since hybrids are designed to be forgiving and are easier to hit, it's sorta like using a rifle for target practice then switching to a BB gun for the hunt.

At a loss for what to do, I finally decided to try my one and only modern hickory club at the driving range, a playclub made by <Tad Moore>:

It's still not a brassie, but at least it's a hickory long club.

Started off slow, but I was able to tweak a couple of things and ended up hitting 'em straight by the time I finished.

Problem solved?

Next round will tell, but what I really need is an open field where I can practice with my hickory brassie and super soft golf balls.

And a dash of Walter Hagen's attitude wouldn't hurt.

He maintained that 3 bad shots plus 1 good one makes par.

In his world there was only one shot that truly mattered: the next one.

Either way, it's probably worth remembering what Jack Nicklaus said about teeing off:

"A perfectly straight shot with a driver is a fluke."

It is in my world for sure.

Ok, enough palavering, it's time to cowboy up and ride into the sunset.

Let's 23 skidoo:

the fence #1 grandson built for us...

...and after Karen painted it...

...to match the house trim

Larry's got his dock in at his cottage...

...just in time for Woody to fly in for a visit. That’s one big pileated woodpecker.

roses in bloom...

...as well as the rhododendron in the hardscape

believe it or not, he's sleeping, not stretching

That's a wrap for now, boys and girls, but tune in next week when Mr. Bolts will say:

Yeah, he doesn't talk much, more of the strong silent type.

Like me.

Hey, don't laugh...

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

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

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Survival Skills 101...

...or how to make "Go-Go Juice".

#1 Grandson's wife gave us the cool mcm percolator; 1st one I've used made of glass, rather than metal.

Fun watching the magic happen as water is transformed into that essential building block of life, coffee.

Of course coffee snobs...

...eschew percolators as a means of acquiring their drug of choice, claiming it produces a bitter, strong drink.

I say if it's bitter you're doing it wrong, and if weak is your forte, drink Postum (insert involuntary gag reflex here).

If it doesn't put hair on your chest, you're missing the point.

So stop by your local antique shop, pick up a vintage percolator and start kickin' it old school.

see? coffee percolators are smart!

Percolating coffee will make your kitchen smell great and banish annoying coffee snobs from your life.

You're welcome.

In other news...

...America is doomed if Slo-Joe's handlers can cheat him into office again come November.

We've gone from energy independence, low inflation, secure borders and a strong military to the exact opposite under Dementia Joe's "America Last" policies.

Equally troubling is the rapid rise of antisemitism in this country and our refusal to stand by our ally Israel.

Any country that turns against God's chosen people is doomed.

Kicking the clown in chief to the curb is not just a good idea, it's essential for our survival as a top tier nation.

that vacant eyed stare tells you the lights are on, but nobody's home

Since we're commanded in Scripture to pray for our leaders...

...I've chosen part of David's prayer from Psalms 109, verse 8:

"...let another take his office."

Please LORD, let it be so.

In another remarkably gracious act by yours truly, here's the only hickory golf pic you needs must endure this week:

That's my birdie putt leave on the par 4 fifth hole.

Decent tee shot with my brassie, followed by a good mid iron put me on the green in 2.

I'd love to write I drained that for my first birdie of the season...

...but conscience forbids; truth is I rimmed the cup and happily took a par.

Grabbed one more and should have had a 3rd, but rimmed the cup on #7 for a bogey.

So 2 pars, 5 bogeys, and 2 mind your own business's comprised this week's effort.

I am forever constrained by modest talent, advancing years and limited time - that’s a mouthful of restraints right there - but whatever progress I’m making this season...

...is due to the instruction and wisdom of Harry Vardon.

A quick peek out the window...

...tells me it's time to 23 Skidoo, so let's do this:

pool area is shaping up nicely

irises blooming in the courtyard

mr. O enjoying a bite of grape jelly

snowballs in may

the flamingos flew home

"in what country is that corner?" he's a newspaper editor; he should know better

The season of floral beauty and outdoor living has finally arrived in all its natural splendor, so do your best to live a curated life of conscious choices.

That clock's a-ticking'...

And keeping with the theme of Davidic Psalms...

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

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

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Saturday, May 11, 2024

The Tulip Time...

...that almost wasn't.

I did say "almost".

When the tulips bloomed this year they were stunning as always.

Unfortunately, they bloomed early; thus when Tulip Time began they were - how shall I put this?

Dead or dying.

Not the look the organizers of Tulip Time were going for.

Even so, there were still plenty of activities to keep the punters busy - craft shows, concerts, walking tours, food trucks, <klompen dancing>, a carnival, parades, etc.

And the 600,000 or so folks who come to town each year made life interesting as always: turning the wrong way down one way streets, creating traffic jams, overcrowding parking lots.

But they do enjoy themselves...

...and they spend a boat load of $$'s here so the local businesses love 'em.

The rest of us?

Well, I'm originally from Texas, so...

My dos centavos.

May is without a doubt the prettiest month here in Michigan as nature bursts forth in a symphony of blooms…

courtyard's coming into focus

...blossoms...

spirea are gorgeous this year

...and birds.

I didn't even know they made upside down Orioles

Oh yeah...also bugs...

left, top right, bottom right: Michigan's state bird, flies, stink bug

3 out of 4 ain't bad.

The Dimwit In Chief is at it again...

...as usual, on the wrong side of history and endangering the country he's supposed to be protecting through his stupidity and Biblical illiteracy.

God told Abraham, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

- Genesis 12:3

Standing with the enemies of Israel is a one way ticket the dustbin of history.

Makes perfect sense Dementia Joe would lead us there.

In the good news / bad news department, I was able to add whipping to my new "spliced head" brassie, so it went from this:

To this:

In the bad news department:

Yeah, that.

It worked well for awhile, but then I felt a wobble in the handle area, and investigating further I discovered some jackwagon did a half-ass job of trying to extend the shaft.

Don't know if they're incompetent, dishonest or both, but as always it's caveat emptor when buying old hickory clubs on ebay.

This one's heading off for repair to an excellent craftsman I know in Vermont.

And on the subject of hickory golf...

...it was another gorgeous day on the links, and that's the only pic you have to hay through this week.

2 pars, 2 bogeys, the rest not worth mentioning so I won't.

Did have a chance to use my niblick the way it's intended when exiting a sand trap, and worked beautifully...thank you, Harry Vardon. That was one of the bogey holes.

But as usual, my achilles heel is consistency; specifically, a lack thereof.

For every decent hole I put together, there's at least 1 other where I play like I've never seen a golf club before.

Frustrating.

Still in search of a complete round.