Sick Of Politics Yet?

I definitely am.

Would love to skip straight to the election, vote, and be done with all the nonsense that surrounds such an important decision.

This country has been knocked off its foundations by corruption and incompetence and cannot withstand another 4 years of democrat rule.

They’re now pretending to be shocked, shocked!  to discover Slo-Joe has dementia.

Who knew?

It must have been one of those "sudden onset" things, where prior to the debate he was "as fit as ever", then suddenly, wham!  He's senile!

from the 2020 presidential race

Right.

If you're one of those folks who really did not know, you should quarantine yourself on a deserted island.

You're obviously too stupid to handle the rigors of daily life, and the rest of us shouldn't have to put up with you.

If you're one of the great teeming mass of Democrats who knew, said nothing, and are therefore complicit in the coverup, please see the above course of action, but replace the word "stupid" with "morally bankrupt" as the reason.

Now Biden's good friends are so concerned with this totally unexpected development...

...they've convinced him to "drop out" of the race.

Democrats may be devoid of principles, but at least they're predictable.

Lord, please help us endure...

...until November.

Before:

...and after:

The stone, glass and half moon shape make Dean Bryant Vollendorf's Baysweep design unique.

The white trim and redwood stain give it a coherent color scheme and make it "pop".

So take that.

In what I'm sure will be hailed as a victory for kindness and decency, I've decided to spare you the usual Hickory Golf Report and proceed directly to

to wit:

our dinner plate hibiscus are early this year...

...but gorgeous as always

It's fun to stay at the Y M C A!

that's one dedicated Lions fan

too bad there's still 3 months to go

I'll never eat another Oscar Mayer weiner

In honor of Moon Landing week...

July 20, 1969

...I leave you with this thought from God's Word:

later, mcm fans...

Know What This Is?

...I didn't, until a couple of weeks ago.  

That's when our 1956 Philco V-handle quit on us...

...and our investigation into electrical mysteries from the 1950's began.

And yes, this is the same beast we just put in service again, having finally solved the problem with the sweating freezer door.

With some pointers from a FB group, I tipped Phil over on his side, and found that electrical start relay you see in the first pic.

It lives underneath the fridge next to the compressor, and apparently had gone bad...at least I hoped that was the problem, and not the compressor itself.

Since I'm not an electrician, finding someone willing to deal with vintage appliances is no easy task.

Typically when I start the conversation with, "I have a 1956 Philco V-handle refrigerator..." the next sound I hear sounds a whole lot like a dial tone.

But the good folks at...

...who've done all our residential electrical work during our restoration of The Castle Frankenstein...

1961 write up in New Homes Guide for Dean Bryant Vollendorf's "Baysweep" house plans

...have one gentleman with ice water in his veins, and he was willing to have a look.

He came out, did some analysis, we tipped Phil on his side and he removed the old relay.

We checked Amazon, I bought a replacement for $12, and a few days later he came back out and installed it.

Had to wait 24 hours after standing Phil up again to let all the refrigerant settle, and then the moment of truth:

Voila!  Man Cave Fridge back in action, and all is well in MCM Appliance Land once again.

For now.

Well, they done dooded the dirty deed:

Karen's youngest daughter tied the knot.

She married her long time beau, but at a different park than Karen scouted.

This park is right across the street from where the happy couple first met, so it holds some significance for them.

It was a Moms only affair; just the the bride and groom, the officiant, Karen and the groom's mother were in attendance...a cozy, intimate ceremony.

Wishing the newlyweds every happiness in the years ahead.

In my last outing of the season...

...I opted for "simple golf"...a wood, a mashie and a putter.

On a par 4 using guttys, that's typically my brassie from the tee and the fairway, my mashie for a chip onto the green, and Calamity Jane for my (usually vain) attempt to 1 putt for par.

'Twas a gorgeous, late fall day, sunny and a brisk 50 degrees, but I did ok...

...as I managed one unlikely par by sinking that putt on #6, and 4 bogeys.

The others were the uglier 2nd and 3rd cousins...

...of the bogey family.

Hate to admit it, but we're more than just casual acquaintances.

Even so, it was an enjoyable round...

...due in part to the beautiful colors.

We're at peak, or maybe just a bit past now.

I was also striking the ball pretty well from the tees...

...and the fairways, mostly straight to a slight fade.

Sadly, the course I play closes Monday, so it's farewell and adieu to my favorite pastime...

...at least until April.

Heavy sigh.

For no particular reason, I'm renaming Parting Shots to "23 Skidoo", so here we go:

Line up according to IQ points and for those of you rushing to the front of the line, I didn't specify if it's high to low or vice-versa.

In any event, 23 Skidoo:

2023 Art Prize entry: "Anonymous Vagrant Standing On Weltron"

some color up north near Larry's cottage

Karen made the happy couple a wedding cake

Big Frank standing guard

the treat factory is almost done for another year

With All Hallow's E'en almost upon us, it's time to buckle up...

...and hold on tight.

The downhill race through the holidays to the end of year is about to begin.

later, mcm fans...

This Is Why...

...I love fall golf...absolutely beautiful morning on the links.

Didn't hurt that I played pretty well...handled my niblick around the greens almost like I knew what I was doing, hit my mid iron with some proficiency...

...and experienced a mi'racle with Calamity Jane on #3 when I dropped a 40 footer for par.

mi'racle   noun

mir-a-cle  | \ `my ra kul \

a contraction of "minor" and "miracle"...not divine intervention, but unusual enough to merit more than a passing comment.

As a bonus, I managed to finish with bogey, bogey, par on 7, 8 and 9.

Above all it was a delightful stroll through the countryside on a perfect autumn morning.

Couldn't really ask for more.

As always, Karen has been busy in the home improvement department.

She decided to paint DBV's newly exposed metal artwork, changing it from its original white...

...to a more mid century modern orange that looks better from the outside...

...as well as from the inside.

As our friends in France might say, Magnifique!

6 months ago, there was really only one place from which my IT fellows and I could work, and that was the home office.

But now...

note the hand sanitizer and tp

...there's really only one place from which my IT fellows and I may NOT work, and that's the home office.

Consequently, I've been working from home for the past half year and loving it...and one of my co-workers has recently been working from his cottage up north and doing the same thing (loving it, that is).

Larry has been enjoying beautiful sunrises before work...

...dazzling scenery on his lunch break...

...spectacular autumn colors on his trips to the store...

...and serene sunsets in the evenings.

We'll all be glad when this crazy time is over, but you have to give thanks for unexpected blessings along life's uncertain paths.

Heard some strange noises emanating from the garage today so decided it was the better part of wisdom to investigate.

Sauntering toward the source of the hubbub, I opened the door and was shocked - shocked! - at what my wondering eyes there beheld:

Mr. Bolts is not much of a conversationalist so I never really did get much traction as I tried to uncover what this gang of All Hallows E'en escapees were up to.

I finally surmised from their grumblings they were tired of being cooped up in storage when we're so close to the big day.

Heartless wretch that I am, I shepherded them back into their boxes - all of them except Mr. Bolts, that is - his box had been taken over by a mama mouse and her babies.

Not a welcoming sight - so he's currently standing guard in the back of the garage behind Mr. T.

2 weeks and counting...

Some random sightings from hither and yon...

saw this on the way home from the links today...I'm sure our liberal friends are horrified to be seeing double when it comes to the Bad Orange Man

Karen prepared a delicious meal tonight: Tikka Masala with chicken over rice, served with nan bread and roasted veggies, complemented with a nice glass of pinot noir...I do not deserve to eat this well, but I'll take it.

the view from the command center this evening while enjoying a kentucky cheroot cigar...not quite as good as toscano anticos, but at 1/3rd the price, they're pretty darned good.

Karen came home with a venus flytrap plant and waddya know?  it works...mr. mosquito landed for a blood meal and that was the last thing he did.

one cool morning last week as the sun rose over the trees

I'm happy to report we've successfully landed another excitin' flight of the Atomic Monster Cafe Aero-Express...

...and conveniently parked in the midst of arboreal splendor for your viewing pleasure.

The pilot ejected a while ago, so feel free to shinny down the trunk and make your exit at your leisure.

later, mcm fans...