Archive for BIRDS

{ October 23, 2008 @ 3:51 pm } · { Achmed, Beach, BIRDS, HALLOWEEN, Home, Hurricane, Politics, Thursday, Treats }
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[this week, 13+photos of eclectic choices -edition #80]

“SILENCE!!!!—— I ….”

I was still recouping from last Friday Night on Sunday!! The Jeff Dunham show actually began on time [usually when we attend these 'concerts' they make us wait, but not this one]. The bank center where the event was being held was packed. We had pretty good seats, but not front row. By the time I got into ticketmaster, the front rows were taken already. But we had section B, floor, row two and seats 12 and 13 near the stage. And luck was on my side, we had no one to the left of us…so, we were very comfortable. Believe me when I say it was elbow to elbow. It was like squirming sardines, packed so close.

And loud. But, don’t get me wrong, I love loud when it comes to having fun. And this was fun! So much fun that I ached halfway through the show. I haven’t laughed this hard and this long for soooooooo long. And the concert lasted hours! It started shortly after 8 and went to about 11:30/11:45!! When we got home afterward, we were tired. No, Exhausted— But, truthfully, it was a good exhaustion [I'll be trying for days now to get back to normal].

First, the Guitar Guy. If you follow Jeff Dunham, you know now that Achmed sings with the Guitar Guy. Brian Haner. He and Achmed sing a version of a Christmas song “Jingle Bombs”. Well, at eight, on stage comes Brian. And he can really play the guitar. He had me so hyped up. He actually played a Guns and Roses…’Sweet Child of Mine’. Loud enough to probably break a few eardrums…but wow!!! And his comedy routine while playing was a hoot!!! He entertained us and played his guitar about 20 to 30 minutes. About a ten minute break then before the star Walter, Achmed, JEFF comes on stage. Okay…Bud and I go out and get a beer. Nice and cold and icy. It hit the spot.

…back to our seats! Lights dim…anticipation of an hour of gut splitting laughter ahead!!

On stage comes Jeff! He does a new stand up routine about his three teen-aged daughters. That was very funny. A short synopsis you want? Well, if you have a daughter, you know what he’s talking about….boobs appearing, dating, cars. He described how ‘evil’ his wife was while he was out on the road with his show…they bought their daughter an used car for her 16th birthday. Wife tapes a lot of the girls’ lives for Jeff since he’s on tour a lot. The car…daughter pumping gas for the first time…wife videotaping…Jeff telling us the whole spiel! Funny!!! He then, gets us riled —and to our delight, out comes Walter!!!

Then…

He’s such a grumpy ol’ man, you just gotta love the guy! Walter has been around a long time and knows all about life! You just can’t disagree with his attitude! He’s right on. His way of thinking is just too good. And so often his statements make you just say “YA!!! You’re so right Walter!” “Way to go!” “More, more!!!” His routine was quite eloquent if I may say so. I loved the part where he tells Jeff that he has suspicions of the fact that Jeff needs to be watched. The reason, he has been to his house and he has seen all the shooting missiles. All encased. [remember three daughters and a wife at home!] And that they have to be missiles!!! He has seen the tiny fuse [the string] on each and every one of them!!! [of course if you'd been there, you'd know that he was talking about the use of tampons...all over the house! Guess you had to be there....

On to my favorite---

Walter goes back into his beloved trunk, and on stage comes my most favorite. The unbelievably appealing dead terrorist....Achmed!! I yelled, stood up, and whistled to his entry! I just love the guy. Did I say he's adorable? Yes indeedy, he IS!! And with the 'new' routine -that Jeff informed us all will be shown on Comedy Central during the holiday months on cable- it'll be about the holidays of course. And to my ultimate delight, Achmed had his Santa hat on. You see, he's a terrorist that has remained 'alive' but botched his mission....he is so funny!! I laughed and laughed. Some new, some of the more usual routine, but all so refreshing to see them 'live and in person'!!!! Of course by the end of this segment, which ran about 40 minutes maybe...Achmed calls for the Guitar Guy, and sings his ever so popular Jingle Bombs!! [to the tune of Jingle Bells] I’ve seen and listened to this song for so long, I can mouth the words, I love it that much—

    Dashing through the sand
    with a bomb strapped to my back.
    I have a nasty plan
    for Christmas in Iraq.

    I got through checkpoint A,
    but not through checkpoint B.
    That’s when I got shot in the ass
    by the US Military…

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    Mine blew up you see.
    Where are all the virgins
    that Bin Laden promised me?

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    U.S. soldiers shot me dead.
    The only thing that I have left
    is this towel up on my head.

    I used to be a man,
    but every time I cough,
    thanks to Uncle Sam,
    my nuts keep falling off.

    My bombing days are done.
    I need to find some work.
    Perhaps it would be much safer
    as a convenient store night clerk.

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    I think I got screwed.
    Don’t laugh at me because I’m dead
    or I’ll kill you…

    [a deep guttural voice now] I KILL-L-L YOUOUOU!

It’s just amazing to actually know that Jeff is doing this…in fact, just a couple of times, I glanced over to see Jeff and his throat moving in rhythm…it boggles the mind how a ventriloquist works his voice like that through tight lips. Amazing. I know, I know…I KNOW that I actually think that Achmed is real!!

After Achmed’s hilarity, out comes Peanut!! Peanut is another favorite. He’s just so hyper, with his ‘act’…you find yourself becoming over zealous yourself. And of course Guitar Man comes out during the skit…more laughs and aching sides. I just didn’t want it to come to an end. I knew the show was getting ready to close, and I remained rivited to my seat….Jeff closed the act. The stage was cleared. Standing ovations and cheers and whistles! “Good Night Corpus Christi!!!” Only to have Jeff come back to more cheers and applause. He boughs, gives his thanks, and then, brings out ………

….Bubba J! After the roaring crowd settles down in their seats, the show continued for a few minutes with Jeff saying he’d do this: Which was the familiar routine with Bubba. And as it commenced, those of us who have watched the Dunham show over and over could give Bubba’s answers from our memory…it was a hoot. And let me tellya, the show began about five minutes after 8 in the evening, and it wasn’t over until after eleven!!! We live just a few miles from the downtown area, about 10 minutes at the slowest time [I can drive home from downtown on a GOOD day with no traffic in 5!]….we didn’t get home until about ten minutes after midnight! The show, tho long, I could have stayed and watched more. It was just marvelous. Funny, laughter, —-the best in comedy!

In Political News:

In Texas, one of many states here in the USA, registered citizens can vote for President and local candidates along with bonds and propositions for the county, early! Here in this state, early voting began October 20th. Bud and I decided that we’d get our voting done and avoid the crowds on November 4th. Ummmmmm, I don’t think so!!! We arrived close to the poll’s opening time, and there was a line already! The two of us ended up, in line, over an hour…it took us about 2 hours Tuesday to get through the line, get recorded on the books/county computer…and vote. But…afterward, we were happy to have it finished!!

Weather update

At last, hurricane season is coming to a close for us here on the Texas coast. The Gulf waters are quite a lot cooler now, much less chance of any storms coming in…at least BIG destructive storms. Altho hurricane season doesn’t officially end until November 30th, as long as the waters stay cool and begin to get a lot colder as the nighttime temps continue to drop lower and lower, so does the chance of storms coming in from the Caribbean.

It’s been the most beautiful few days around here. Cool nights, crisp Autumn mornings, then the sun rises—but, the inferno has subsided! Long gone are the days of 100+ degrees in temps. Highs are now in the low 80s to mid 80s. Nearly perfect for me and Bud. It was such a wonderful day yesterday that we grabbed our books, hopped in the car and drove over the JFK causeway to the island and went to the beach to just laze the day away! [a sloppy lookin' ol' lady dressed in her misshapened tank top...but hey, what'dya expect being on the beach and all? ---a princess? roflmao!] I sat and soaked up the rays, listening to the surf and gulls as I read my book…Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Yep, folks, I’m STILL reading this book. It’s taken me all summer, trust me. I’m on page 800 and something, and yet over three hundred pages remain unread! I’m determined to finish this book! It’s VERY good.

Of course, in time, the beach calls me…I always have the urge to walk along the shore and look for shells, and watch the water fowl. This photo is quite a distance from where we parked the car. Bud stayed and read his book [he's reading something on the famed Jack the Ripper saga], while I strolled…I came upon one lone ‘adult’ sea gull and a brood of babies! I didn’t want to disturb them, the photo is a long shot! They were all soaking up the warm sun too! So cute, and sooooo fat! I gave them wide berth and detoured clear around them so they wouldn’t have to fly off with their mistrust of a human.

As I continued making footprints in the sand, I kept my eye out for ‘the perfect’ shell. Granted this area of beach, called Luby Park, always has a lot of remnants of sand dollars. I am always hoping to find a ‘whole’ one without any breakage. They’re so fragile, and break easily. Then, again, there is foot traffic AND vehicles traversing the beach here…so, you’re lucky to find any unbroken ones. Yesterday was a great day when we arrived. Low tide! Lots of shells. And about a mile out from where we parked, there was one. A very tiny one…but it was whole! Unbroken. Yay, me. They’re good luck you know. [the sand dollar here that I found is only about the size of a U.S. quarter] I treated it like a precious stone as I continued walking. And it did make it home in the afternoon…all completely whole!

Back to the car after about an hour walking and combing the beach. I dropped all my goodies that I found. I also picked up a nice-sized piece of driftwood. And more shells. The wood was heavy and soaked with water…but once it dries out, of course I have my mind in high gear, figuring out what ‘art’ project I can come up with to make use of it. This photo is of a heron just a few feet from our beach chair. I love the sparkling water beyond the bird.

Ahhhhhhhh, it was a perfect day. A lazy, wonderful, relaxing day.

- – -

Note: Since this is such a LONG Thursday issue today, I’ll forgo the Halloween treat hand outs and double it tomorrow.

{ September 25, 2008 @ 3:01 am } · { BIRDS, Home, Hurricane, P J, Photography, Politics, Ship, Thursday, YARD }
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NOTE: My friend P J? Who lives near Galveston Island…the one that evacuated from Ike to return —and the Prayer Circle I started here, remember? Well she has added some photos of what they found when they returned to their home last week. Go and say hi to her….Tell her Anni sent you! She’d appreciate it, I’m sure!!!!!!

LIFE after IKE
[this link should open in a new window]


Edition 76

Just cleaning out my drawers ummmm, err, photo file. So, thought instead of just deletin’ ‘em, I’d make a Thursday Thirteen from them for this week, then to file 13 they go [hmmmmm, coinky-dink don't you think? File 13 being 'trashing' them ---and Thursday THIRTEEN?]……

It’s a conglomeration of stuff! All with mouseover captions.










…~End Thursday Thirteen
[click HERE for comment link if you want to skip my Constitutional Thoughts below]

I saw this on the Yah** News headlines today –• Laura Bush: “Palin lacks foreign policy experience”.

- – -

Also, I read another blog yesterday [I will not link the blog since it's not my intent to debate the issue - but I will say it was a blog of one of my commentors yesterday] about McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden tickets. The two aforementioned [McCain and Palin] –American. Then, below that, and photos of Obama and Biden, there was “Kenyan”…Obama is NOT Kenyan. He was born in Hawaii…two years AFTER it became the 50th state! Now this got me to thinking that somewhere I had read that McCain, to some, is NOT ‘natural born American’ either. Which got me up to doing more research on the Constitution’s Presidential Qualifications. Of course, no where in the Constitution does it actually specify what ‘natural born’ means. And there have been a few amendments made since 1868. Perhaps there are qualms on both men! Being that Obama’s father was not American, but yet McCain’s birth certificate states Panama Canal Zone. But see, to me, that he has TWO American parents, and being no doubt a Navy base, would at least entitle John to be declared American by birth. Obama, born in Hawaii, with one parent as an American…would also be American by birth…but neither ‘natural born’ as in Continental USA. —Your guess is as good as mine. This is confusing. But, back to the blog that I visited, Obama is definitely NOT Kenyan, nor is he Muslim. After I read this, and another at Snopes, I think I became MORE confused than before I did a search. I always considered “Natural Born Citizen” to be a birth within the 50 USA states.

- – -

From Wikipedia:

    “The constitutional wording has left doubts about whether those born on foreign soil are on an equal footing with those whose birth occurred inside the country’s borders, and whether they have the same rights.”[2] Though every president and vice president to date (as of 2008) has either been a citizen at the adoption of the Constitution, or else born in a U.S. state or Washington D.C.,[3] a number of presidential candidates have been born elsewhere.[4]

    Barry Goldwater, who ran as the Republican party nominee in 1964, was born in Arizona while it was still a U.S. territory. Although Arizona was not a state, it was a fully organized and incorporated territory of the United States.[5]

    George Romney, who ran for the Republican party nomination in 1968, was born in Mexico to U.S. parents. Romney’s grandfather emigrated to Mexico in 1886 with his three wives and children after Utah outlawed polygamy. Romney’s parents retained their U.S. citizenship and returned to the United States in 1912. Romney was 32 years old when he arrived in Michigan.

    Al Gore served as Vice President (which has the same constitutional qualifications as President), and was the Democratic party nominee for President in 2000, whilst having nonetheless been born in the District of Columbia.

    John McCain, who ran for the Republican party nomination in 2000 and is the Republican nominee in 2008, was born at the Coco Solo U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone to U.S. parents. Although the Panama Canal Zone was not considered to be part of the United States,[6] federal law states: “Any person born in the Canal Zone on or after February 26, 1904, and whether before or after the effective date of this chapter, whose father or mother or both at the time of the birth of such person was or is a citizen of the United States, is declared to be a citizen of the United States.”[7] The law that conferred this status took effect on August 4, 1937, one year after John McCain was born — albeit with retroactive effect, resulting in McCain being declared a U.S. citizen.[8] However, the question as to whether or not he is a citizen from birth cannot be answered by this law because (1) it took effect after his birth and (2) it does not state that the person’s citizenship was acquired at birth, only that they are a citizen by means of the law’s establishment (and, hence, at the time the law takes effect). Indeed, the law in 1936 stated that all persons born to two US citizen parents outside the “limits and jurisdictions of the United States” are citizens at birth. The status of Mr. McCain’s citizenship at birth nonetheless remains questiond by some.[9

{ September 24, 2008 @ 3:00 am } · { BIRDS, HUMOR, Vista, W W. }
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…~end Wordless
[comment HERE if you'd like to skip 2nd section of my Wednesday Blog]

There are times I could just eat my words. I have said a few times that I really like Windows Vista. Well, yesterday I was ready to ‘hang Mr. Gates’!! Y’all know I love to work with graphics and graphic design. I was hooked on it since the beginning when a friend of mine gave me a software program. Of course I still continue to learn more things as I go through the days, but when I lost my computer last year, and I got the new Windows Vista, I never ever thought of downloading and installing new fonts to my font file. After several months now of doing my own blog header and template background, I decided the other day “I’m getting tired, bored, with my font files. I need some new stuff.” Out on the ‘net I go in search of what’s new and perhaps find some of my old favorites that was on the old computer. Trust me when I say “I went overboard”. I downloaded 38 font files in zipped files. Saved ‘em. And then, one morning I decided to open the zipped files and install the fonts.

OMG! Vista is a pain. Literally! LOL —my wrists began to hurt from having to click ‘okay’ this, and ‘okay’ that and clicking on virus scan for each and every file that was zipped. Then, with Vista…you as the administrator have to ‘allow’ this to open, and then ‘allow’ it to be placed in its own separate file. Next you have to open each and every new file with the .ttf font and click on it and intall it, then while you’re doing all this —you have to ‘allow’ it all over again!!

Why can’t you just open the file after scanning for viruses and click install? I sat on the butt for a couple of hours getting them all set in the font file. Afterwards, I then had to go and delete the zipped files…then, go down the entire OS [C:] file and delete the individual files!! Lordy!!!

Okay, so I got my new fonts to play with. Need Graphics? rofl

{ September 13, 2008 @ 10:02 am } · { Beach, BIRDS, Home, Hurricane, PHOTO HUNT }
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CATEGORY: “Wild”

This series of photos is what it looked like around Whitecap Beach on our Padre Island [about twenty miles from us] the morning BEFORE Hurricane Ike hit landfall about 200 miles north of us near Galveston and Houston. I’m thinking that Ike is the SIZE of Texas to be sure. On any given ‘normal’ day there are miles and miles of beach –probably about 1/2 city block wide from seawall to the gentle ripple of the waves of the Gulf. Not Friday morning! I’m posting this while we still have power and the computer is operable, so my guesstimation is this activity is probably about 12 to 18 hours BEFORE the hurricane hits the Galveston/Houston area.

As I tried to catch up on those who have visited me within the last couple of days, I’ve just not been online much, preparing for the worst, and Bud and I brought in everything from the yard ,stored them all in the garage…many many indoor preparations also in case of flooding and such. Now, the hurricane warning has been lifted from our area, and we are under Tropical Storm Watch. Still we could get winds at 60-70 miles an hour and heavy rains. But not of hurricane strength. Keep all who live in the Galveston Houston area in your thoughts as this rages through.

The 1st photo was media coverage…when we got to the shoreline they were taping the sea as it churned and whipped abnormally high surf. The remaining photos are taken as Bud and I walked the sea wall. At one time, as I was leaning close to get a shot looking down, I got drenched! The seas churning wild…

So wild and untamed is nature….
[mouseover captions and can be enlarged]

Also, Bud being a Navy guy from long ago, and on ship on seas rougher than what we witnessed taught me a couple of words. Wild concept! LOL No not those two words, but while we were walking and I was dazzled by the rough seas…looking out to the horizon I saw tall, TALL waves shoot up into the sky, and hammer back down. But I kept saying “ooooo, look at that, awesome…you wonder if there is a word for that?” Well, he told me. The high waves jutting up with spray is “SPUME”…and the fine mist that shoots across your face from the wave is “spoondrift”. Hmmmmm. I was impressed. And of course, me being me the competitor, I had to look it up when I got home on the ‘net….

spume

    foam or froth on the sea

Spoondrift

    spray blown up from the surface of the sea
    Spray blown from the tops waves during a gale at sea; also, snow driven in the wind at sea

{ August 24, 2008 @ 2:40 pm } · { Beach, BIRDS, Home, Mutterings, SUN. SNIPPET }
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My mutterings are below the weekend photos I posted for my Sunday Snippet Section.

Taken from our driveway -
August 22st about 7 a.m.

As Shakespeare states in his play “Venus and Adonis” -Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.-

Or found in the Bible Matthew 16 chapters 2-3 Jesus says: -When in evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.-

I then when I witness a beautiful red sunrise or a gloriously crimson sunset, I think of the adage “Red sky in the morning, sailors’ warning. Red sky at night, sailors’ delight”.

And the ‘scientist in me’ wants to have that explained. During sunrise and sunset the sun is low in the sky, and it transmits light through the thickest part of the atmosphere. When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

At night, with the red sky we see what means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will be heading our way. A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is probable.

Saturday morning, early, we decided to drive about 30 miles or so due south from the city, over the JFK causeway and onto Padre Island all the way to the end of the two wheel drive access highway. The road continues southward, but it’s cautionary to be driving 4 wheel from the Malaquite Point. At the Federal Park Toll Gate, about four miles inland is a visitor’s center. This is world famous for it’s annual release of the endangered species hatchlings…the Kemp Ripley Turtles. People from all over the world come here in the months of June and July to watch the National Seashore Park‘s scientists release hundreds to the sea.

On any normal given morning, it’s quiet, and it’s beautiful! Not too many want to spend the park entrance fee when there are so many other beach roads with free access. So, when we do go there, it’s normally quiet. This day, we were the only ones there for a while. By the time we were getting ready to leave there were a few showing up.

After we parked the car, we need to walk up the super area where there are covered picnic tables, a little souvenir shop with snack foods, and to the opposite side there is a small visitor’s center. Which we planned on stopping in after we walked the beach and sat and watched the waterfowl for a while in the peacefulness of the morning.

After we stayed there a couple of hours we headed for another area where the birding is heavy most always. [but this Saturday there wasn't much activity since there were a lot of boaters out already!]

What follows are some photos I took from the cellphone camera with ‘mouseover’ titles for each photo….






Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

  1. Cry :: in the Dark [movie starring Meryl Streep]
  2. Stretch :: fabric
  3. Efficient :: competent
  4. Brunch :: Sunday [for the two of us!]
  5. Afro :: hairdo
  6. Preheat :: oven to 375°
  7. Delicious :: yummy!
  8. Global warming :: I take the 5th on this one.*
  9. Actions :: reactions [for every action there is an equal/opposite reaction]
  10. Ride :: Ferris Wheel

*I took the 5th only ’cause I couldn’t think of a gosh darned thing. Other than getting into a huge political speil about the whole subject.

{ June 24, 2008 @ 3:11 am } · { BIRDS, Home, HUMOR, MOVIES, Quotes, TUESDAY }
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This week the prompt is “Line”. Now y’all know I like movies. It’s almost an obsession. If there aren’t any good movies listed being aired on TV, I’m lost. I panic. No, not really, but I will slip in a DVD or even a VHS once in a while [I'm considered the lazy ones who don't like to stop the movie when done, and have to rewind it, so mostly it's DVDs in our house. LOL]

Anyway, some of my favorite quotes…LINE[S] from movies[not necessarily a favorite movie tho]:

From-

As Good As It Gets [starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt]

    “People who talk in metaphors oughta shampoo my crotch.”
Beverly Hills Cop [starring Eddie Murphy]
    “I ain’t fallin’ for no banana in my tail pipe!”
Few Good Men [starring Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson]
    Col. Nathan R. Jessup: “You want answers?”
    Daniel Kaffee: “I think I’m entitled.”
    Col. Nathan R. Jessup: “You want answers?”
    Daniel Kaffee: “I want the truth!”
    Col. Nathan R. Jessup: “You can’t handle the truth!”

Jurrasic Park [starring Jeff Goldblum as Ian]

    Ian Malcolm: “God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs…”
    Dr. Ellie Sattler: “Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth…”

Casablanca [starring Ingrid Bergman & Humphrey Bogart]

    “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”

Lethal Weapon [starring Mel Gibson & Danny Glover]

    Roger Murtaugh: “I’m too old for this sh!t!”

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid [starring Paul Newman-Robert Redford]

    Butch Cassidy: “I couldn’t do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?”
and
    Butch Cassidy: “If he’d just pay me what he’s spending to make me stop robbing him, I’d stop robbing him.”
and
    Butch Cassidy: “I have vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals.”

National Treasure [starring Nicholas Cage]

    [going through floor plans @ Library of Congress/&/Declaration of Independence]
    Ben Gates: “The preservation room. Enjoy. Go ahead. Do you know what the preservation room is for?”
    Riley Poole: “Delicious jams and jellies?”

Top Gun [starring Tom Cruise]

    “I feel the need – the need for speed!”

Jaws [starring Roy Scheider]

    [after seeing the size of the shark]
    “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

- – -

And last but not least, catch the ‘punchLINE’ that makes this funny…

An old sea captain with a wooden leg, a hook for a hand and a black patrch over one eye is telling a kid how he got his injuries: “It was a big sea battle, lad. A cannonball flew across the deck and took off me leg. Later a doctor friend fixed me up with this wooden one.” “How did you lose your hand?” asks the kid. “The same battle, lad. The pirates, they boarded me ship and their captain, he whacked off me hand with his cutlass. Later, the doctor friend gave me this hook.” The kid says. “I guess you lost your eye in the same battle.” “No”. says the captain. “I was looking up one day, and a crane crapped right in me eye.” “Gee” says the kid “You mean the crane crap blinded you?.” “No” the captain replies,”First day with me new hook.”

The above image of a crane [heron] was taken a few weeks ago along Shoreline ['nother LINE!!] Drive here in Corpus Christi, just feet from the Ships’ Channel and Harbor Bridge.

Before you leave, today is International Fairy Day [thanks to Pea!]. Drop by her magical blog today and pick up your own personal Fairy name. Just for the fun of it! Tell her I, Yarrow Rainbowweb, sent you!

Your fairy is called Yarrow Rainbowweb
She is a fortune bringer.
She lives close to vixen and badger sets.
She is only seen in the mist of an early morning.
She dresses in black and white like a badger. She has multicoloured wings like a butterfly.

{ June 9, 2008 @ 3:00 am } · { AWARD, BIRDS, Home, MON. MOMENT }
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My ‘childhood memory’ Fun Monday is found below this. I thought I’d share our walk on Sunday morning before our traditional brunch/breakfast out. This past week, the coastline/shoreline in our city’s Gulf Bays had disappeared completely. We’ve had high winds and coastal flooding which made the beaches vanish!! The water’s edge came clear to the dunes on the shore and everyone was given warnings to stay away because of dangerous currents. There is a promise that all will be back to ‘normal’ before this weekend’s over. Hopefully.

Anyway, instead of our usual beach walk, we took a jaunt around a local lake. They call it a lake, I guess maybe it is…but to me it’s more a pond. But it’s a pretty area, with a lot of twisty, winding-trunk mesquite trees at the water’s edge. And a bit of waterfowl that you don’t see along the beaches. Ducks and geese! And tons of turtles. Sometimes I see people fishing from the bird watch platform, but I don’t think I’d want to eat any of the catch of the day out of the ‘skanky’ water. LOL

But, again, it’s a pretty area…tranquil on a Sunday morning. Here are the photos I have to share [all photos have mouseover captions!]—





Molly is our hostess this week. She asks of us to recall a childhood memory…

When I was growing up, my brothers had bicycles. My sister wasn’t interested in that kinda thing [she was already into boys by the time I was old enough to ride a bike!] So, I didn’t even have a chance to get a ‘hand me down’ from her.

I begged my dad [he was the bread winner of our family -every time we wanted something we had to 'go to him' to speak our piece and ask.] to get me a bike. You know the plea! “But dad, everyone on the block has a bike but me!” When his response was “Ride one of your brothers’ bikes”. Mine was: “I can’t ride a boy’s bike!” [Just for the fact it would be embarrassing to me, not for the fact I couldn't --- I learned on a boy's bike; from my brothers' tutelage.]

I was even selected by class mates to compete in a Saturday ‘bike-a-thon’ that was sponsored by the city’s police department. The prize was a new bike!! I remember her name and her looks still today. She was Kathy. From a rich family, but you’d never know it from her demeanor…she was a very sweet girl, and our friendship grew through the years as we lived close enough to go to the same school and lucky enough to get the same grade-school teachers each year! She was a ‘toe head’ like me…so blond our hair was platinum. She wore black rimmed glasses and about my height but a shade taller than I was back then!

She offered HER brand new bicycle for my use in the competition. The competition was held in the school’s parking lot and extended back into the playground. With an obstacle course. The best score won a bike of their choice [well, kinda...either girls or boys --the two bikes were on display!]

Now, you think I’m gonna tell you I won?!! Well, I didn’t. I came in third [seems I always came in third when it came to contests! I still do. LOL] I had a terrible time controlling it because it was the ‘new improved’ bikes of the era…and had the brakes on the handlebars…I was used to the pump backward on the bike’s pedals to stop or slow down. Okay…

Weeks passed by. Back in those days, when crime wasn’t so terrifying and you felt safe to walk from home to school and back again, I left the school grounds and walked the distance of about 8 city blocks [now a days measurement...we lived in the foothills so it was just a road I walked along] to reach home. Our house had a huge covered porch! As I walked around the corner of the road to get to the house a bit farther down the lane…there on the porch was a brand new shiny blue girl’s Schwinn bicycle! All mine!!!

My dad came through for me. He got me my bike! There was ONE stipulation with the bike tho…I still had to work for it! My parents never gave us anything on a whim. They both believed that you ‘get nothing in life for free, it had to be earned!’ All summer that summer, I had to get up early with the sun, and weed the garden. And it wasn’t just a suburbia type garden!!! We’re talking nearly an acre!!! I grew up learning all kinds of things about gardening and what to do to eliminate a lot of the hard labor in the ‘job’!!! But boy howdy!!———-the neighborhood knew Anni had a spiffy new bike in no time!!! [Before the first day was over with my new 'gift'...my dad, when he came home, had to lower the seat some!]

Thank you, kind hearted Mary!!!

{ May 28, 2008 @ 3:05 am } · { Beach, BIRDS, Home, W W. }
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* *Be SURE to READ the 1st COMMENT!

{ May 23, 2008 @ 3:27 am } · { BIRDS, Home, MOVIES, Show-N-Tell }
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SHOW N TELL below this news article!!

NEWS: A small farming/agriculture area about 40+ miles north and east of where I grew up in the foothills of Colorado was ripped by a devastating tornado yesterday afternoon! I have a nephew and niece living there!! It’s Windsor Colorado. I have yet to be able to get any connection with them. I got ahold of another nephew who lives about 15-20 miles from there, in Greeley Colorado. He, his wife and kids are okay. They got some damaging hail last night. But all’s okay. I will continue trying to get in touch with the one who lives IN Windsor all day today. Hopefully, they’re okay too.




[photos courtesy of KUSA and KMGH tv in Denver]


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Now, for the Show N Tell for the week – - -

I have a few of the bone china cardinals…which are my favorite ‘song birds’. Here is what is sitting atop my dresser in the master bedroom:

[pardon the dust, I didn't realize it was time for company coming by!]


- – -

The one in the background to the center right back side of the above photo is one I particularly love. First off, it was given to me as a Christmas present years ago – from Bud! Secondly, it’s a music box. When wound and set back down, the song playing is “I’d like to teach the world to sing….in perfect harmony!” As I love to sing myself, and the song is appropriate for the birds AND the season of winter and the theme for COKE during Christmas…I just love it. Here are some ‘close-up photos’ of this special one.


Music Box ‘stand – alone’


A ‘bird’s eye view’!


Bottom. The key to wind…


“pull out the stopper on the wooden base…”


Mama Cardinal with food for the baby!!

~…end Show n Tell
[follow below the movie 'review' for commenting]

We went to see Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull –

It was pretty good! Not as good as the first or the 3rd of the series [in my opinion]……but much better than the 2nd. I liked it. The skull itself is quite recognizable as to where it’s origins are…the shape, and the area where the movie begins, and the time frame. But, of course, you have to view the whole movie to make sure. And yes, it’s from where you think!! [The part where they were sinking in sand...and his son [yes, we now know he has a son from the girl in the 1st one, Marion]…when his son goes off in the jungles to find something to help pull them out of the sand….it was a huge snake, and Indy doesn’t like snakes if you’ve seen the other movies…it was funny….] I can sooooooo associate with his hatred/fear of snakes!! Enjoyable movie. It was really good to hear the theme song throughout the movie too. In a way, I guess I’m an “Indy follower” so it was like being with family? Dunno how to express that tho. OHHHHHHH, and beware, HUGE giant red ants!! How can I forget that? Creepy!!

{ May 7, 2008 @ 10:01 am } · { ART, Beach, BIRDS, Home, W W. }
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~…end Wordless Wednesday
[scroll below for commenting]

As some of my visitors requested – Y’all wanted to see my painting framed. Well, here it is. Bud found an already made, free frame [by that I mean no backing or glass yet] at a frame shop the other day that was just like we had in mind for framing my watercolor pelican I finished a couple of weeks ago. And since barnwood [which we had in mind] is scarce in our town and expensive to get, this was cheaper in the long run to purchase the already made frame and buy the glass for it. I got it all put together, and I’m waiting for Bud to get the frame wire and hooks on the backside so I can hang it. I thought, while I’m waiting for Mr. Pokie to get his duff in gear and move —I’ll snap a picture of it to show y’all the finished painting. I’ve titled it “Afternoon Repose”.

And I started sketching another one. This time it’s Japanese –I don’t know whether it’ll be any good tho, as I have trouble doing hands. My hands always turn out looking deformed. LOL And this sketch I started is a Japanese Samurai. I’ve already started over twice since my shoulders and arms were out of proportion to his head. — If this doesn’t work after a few more attempts I’ll go back to painting ‘nature’ ROFL

But, I’m happy to say my pelican is done. Hopefully it’ll be hanging by the end of the day. If Bud’ll get to it! “Oh Bu-u-ud? Where are you?”


Afternoon Repose
by
Hootin’ Anni
Watermarked/Thumbprinted
Finished April 2008

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