Jimio caught by Surprise

Jimio relaxing during the Early 80s

The reason I'm looking like that is because someone yelled "Hey" and when I turned my head, they snapped my picture. It actually doesn't look quite that bad. I don't look terribly shocked, I was just wondering who yelled "Hey". That's my swede winter coat draped over the armrest. You can see we didn't have cellphones yet but that was a chordless phone and it could probably go 200 or 300 feet before fading out. :-] Plus there is no way you can stumble into these chairs, they are too bright to miss, even when I am totally schnockered. I  probably just got done playing chess with my friend Gario and we were going to watch a movie. You don't see a chess set on that table behind me because we usually played in the kitchen where the beers and the radio are. We did use that table occasionally when the kitchen was being used for meal preparation or haircuts.

The Carnival is in Town!



Carnival in Westwood Mall Parking Lot



Time to Chow



A Beautiful Early May Day 67F

 What a day for a Carnival. Sunny, warm and just a slight breeze. These pictures were captured with my new Canon Power Shot A490 just bought 1 hour before.  The guy at Sears said he's been working there about 15 years. I told him I was in this store before he was born, which my first time was 6 so that makes it 50 years ago. In fact this Sears was built before they even had a long mall that is now attatched to it. They sure make computers User Friendly now. If they didn't, I'd be in a whole lot of trouble. It would take 3 weeks to get these on here instead of 1 hour. But its groovy, just plop the CD in the drive and the darn thing takes over. I had to click my mouse here n there and in 3 minutes all this garbage is loaded up for everybodys viewing pleasure. So the next time you see a computer Geek walking around, give him/her a big hug! [Or at least shake his/her hand]

Why does Spring drive us Crazy?

Jimio wearing protective Spring 3D Glasses

There is something about Spring that makes us go wild. I think it has something to do with the warmer temperatures, the new fragrances in the air and the longer daylight savings time. More people outside gives me the impression that there is more life brewing than I actually thought possible. All these people outside doing fun frolicky things[think trampoline] switches my body into "Groovy Mode", a kinda of feeling you get from drinking 20 cups of coffee [or 12 beers,or 10 cups of coffee and 6 beers] I am so overwhelmed by this fantastic sight, that I must wear 3D Glasses to acclimate myself until all my "Groove Neurons" settle down to their proper levels.
The only thing I hate about this new refreshing season is, all the birds tend to wake up at a very early hour and for some reason like to "chirp" their heads off. At first I thought the birds were also so thrilled by this Groovy Spring Weather, but I read that they are actually warning everyone about their territory. A so called "swear song" like an old curmudgeon yelling at WhipperSnappers to stay off his lawn. I thought "How can bird songs so beautiful be such a warlike manifesto?" Oh well, I still like the chirping even tho it has a new meaning for me, but please birds, dont start chirping till 10 am!Also I try to insert jump breaks to make a new paragraph, but they never seem to work. Anyone who can tell me how it works is welcomed to comment. I'll prob be embarrased but it certainly wont be the first time and definately not the last.

Mindy's Cats

Sid Vicious - Beatrice - Peebs

Why do people Love cats? Because they Love you back [Especially in cold weather and at feeding time]. They also are fun to watch when they chase Mindy's 2 dogs all over the place. Being able to climb to lofty heights has its advantages.  Up high they can survey the best tactical spot to attack.Who needs a blanket when you can have a nice warm cat curled up in your lap, puring away with the vibrations helping to jump start the heating process. The only downsides are watching for the claws digging into your legs or the tail in your face, blocking the view of the TV.

Three "Royal" Weddings I will never Forget



 

Michelle dancing with her Father Gary - 2004



Melissa dancing with her Father Grant - 1978

Liz dancing with her father Steve - 2010

 The great thing about cameras is they can freeze a wonderful moment in time and keep them for our eyes to gaze upon and for minds to remember and for hearts to savor. I dont think you can ever forget a wedding. It remains etched in ones mind forever. The food, the guests and even the drinks I can still remember like it was yesterday. These 3 weddings were all beautiful sunny days so even the Big Man upstairs wanted everything to go as planned. At Michell's wedding I sat next to a man who was a regular customer at the place where I worked. In all our talks at work he never mentioned he knew Michelle, but I never told him I knew her either so I guess we were even. Certain paths never cross till one day **BAM!** they meet. Saw many friends I have not seen in a long time at all the weddings and met a few new faces. So if you get a wedding invitation and happen to go, be sure to take a camera and lock those memories in forever.

Peabody

Peabody at Gilletts Lake

This is Peabody, my sister Mindy and her husband Steve's Basset Hound.They named him after Peabody on the Bullwinkle and Rocky Cartoon TV series. He died about 20 years ago and was the nicest dog to kids ever. Kids could pull on his ears or his tail and Peabody just didn't care. I don't think I ever saw him get upset or angry. Peabody was extremely shy. Whever some one besides my sister her husband or her kids came inside the house, Peabody would hide behind the couch and not come out untill they were gone. With one exception, I was the only non-immediate family member Peabody was not afraid of. The first time I met Peabody , he was just a puppy and was outside in the yard. I came up to him slowly and sat down and talked to him. I said"You sure are a nice puppy" I gave him a few reassuring strokes on his back and a few ear rubs, he seemed to enjoy that. For some reason he liked me right there on the spot. I was able to be inside the house and have Peabody sit next to me and was there to witness his shyness first hand when a stranger came inside.
I would go on walks with my sister Mindy with the kids in a wagon and Peabody on a leash and we would walk around the block a few times. As we first started out Peabody's tail would be strait up in the air, but with each successive lap his tail would droop further and further lower. Mindy called it Peabody's "tailometer" indicating his ability to go on. Once Peabody got "hit" by a skunk and Mindy soon learned the special bath sauce to "De-Stink" Peabody. Something to do with tomatoes I think.

Momio was in Style

That great Spring of 1967

Momio is what I called my mother. She always wore stylish clothes, fixed us the greatest meals and bought a 1967 Camaro. Everybody looked at this car when she brought it home. It was the first year the Camaro came out. What was even groovier was, in a few short years I would learn how to drive with this wonderful sports machine. I excelled at appreciating good road handeling and power. Thank You Mom!
My Mom taught me other things like good music. The Electric Prunes psychedelic chants opened my eyes to a new level of late 60s music. She had wide tastes in music which was instilled in me. She liked Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn, Glenn Campell and Roger Miller. She also liked Musicals: Sound of Music, Hair,Camelot and Jesus Christ Superstar. She let me borrow JC Superstar and I would learn to play every song on my trombone. I could hear her downstairs in the kitchen singing to it. She loved "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison and "Saturday Night Fever" which I was not to fond of. I just could not get into the Disco sound. She loved classical music also. I got from my Momio, the love of Bach [she even bought Switched on Bach, a moog synthesized version of Bach] Bethoven, Handel, Mozart, Wagner's Ride of the Valkuries and Resphegis Pines of Rome, were regular favorites of mine not to mention Vivaldi's 4 Seasons and Pergulisi's Flute concerto's.In the realm of television, I would watch a wide array of shows with Momio. Sunday was the best day. We'd watch 60 Minutes and Nova and a special with Carl Sagan. Then came the "Piece de Resistance", Masterpiece Theater. Momio would bring the Earl Grey tea in a silver teapot on top of a small antique wood cart and we would watch "Upstairs Downstairs". What a series. Superb acting, and a great look into english high society in the 1920s and 1930s.As far as meals were concerned they were astounding. Chicken Casserole, Meatloaf to die for, baked Cod in mushrooms and wine sauce, amazing homemade soups and the Desserts! Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Mincemeat Pie, Apple crisp, Fig and Plum pudding and xmas cookies, rum cookies, oatmeal fruit cookies, chocolate maple chip with walnuts. Summer delights of Tuna Salad, Ham Salad, Chicken Salad, chilled to perfection.