Two Three-Legged Things

On a cold winter's day, Sue had me out for a photoshoot with me as her subject.

Actually, we had been out two days earlier when she grabbed this photo. The idea was to use negative space in a photo, but Sue found another that worked better for her prompt, so she didn't use it.

Yesterday, she wanted some that included my cane for her project of the day. At the pond around the corner, she took these photos, along with others, taken both here and in other spots. But I figure these two are enough for you as a little of me goes a very long way. The cane is especially visible in the second photo, and it occurs to me that both I and the tripod have three legs.

We were out for more than an hour, but I had to beg for mercy after awhile because my ancient fingers were fair unto frozen. I did try a few photos of my own. This one of a patch of ice stuck on a branch on the river is close to what I wanted to get.

After a warmish spell, we've had a few nippy days. Now, we are scheduled for a significant snowfall overnight and into tomorrow.

Map Views

Today, with very little comment, we present a few maps about Canada and the USA.

However, we begin with a chart that reveals the duration of the months in Canada. Sad but true, it has been scientifically verified by assiduous peer review.

Fifty per cent of Canadians dwell under the red line. I, in point of fact, have lived all of my life in this tiny zone.

Along with the northern states, we require more snow before we cancel school. Of course we do. Otherwise, we'd all have a maximum grade 2 education.

Now for the USA. Consider population density ↓ when you see those election maps. Each of the states in blue have a population that is less than Los Angeles County.

In another view, the two orange regions have the same number of people as all of the red region.

Finally, a map of the states ranked by healthiness where blue is best and red is worst.

Sleepover

If it wasn't the final sleepover, we must be getting close.

Last Christmas season, both Danica and Jonathan claimed a sleepover, but Danica is growing up. She is a student, has a job, AND! has a boyfriend. Sheesh!

We were somewhat surprised when JJ requested a sleepover. My guess is that he was encouraged by Mom, but that's okay.

I picked him up mid-afternoon, Friday, and he left for hockey at 10am Saturday morning.

Lacey had to have a visit first thing. She likes JJ, but she now has competition, for they have just adopted a new rescue. I am sure that there will come a point when we shall Caturday the new puss, so that is all that I shall say for now.

Jonathan is pretty easy to please. He likes playing games with us, and we began with backgammon. I was going to say that I didn't win any games all weekend, but now I recall that I triumphed in both games of backgammon.

Next came Wizard where Sue left both of us boys in the dust.

Next on the beard, so to speak, was Sorry. The two rounds were split between JJ and Sue.

Finally, before Jonathan left for hockey on Saturday morning, we were able to squeeze in a quick round of Monopoly, in which JJ was victorious.

Dad picked him up for a out-of-town game, and Sha picked us up a half hour later. We sat under the heaters in the cold arena, but the heaters nearest to us remained off. Such is life.

The boys won. They are having a very good year. After two not-so-great years that is ... um ... great. 😎

Caturday 45: Tuxedo Cats Rock

Sue has always liked to play pretend fireplace during winter. At Christmastime, she would add music while the fire roared. She used to do via a DVD that she purchased more than 20 years go. In more recent years, she has been able to use an even better fireplace screensaver (let's call it that), but they have really taken off this year with all sorts of quite wonderful screensavers.

Some have music, especially some of the Christmas ones, but many don't. Most have a fireplace and snow falling outside the window. Christmas ones, of course, have a tree. Many of them have a cat. Usually, the cat is stationary, but one video popped up where the cat does cat things, like washing and sniffing about.

If you play the video below and listen carefully, you will hear a little meow after a few seconds. But do listen carefully, for the meow is brief and not loud. The video is set to begin at 1:58:40, and the meow happens just seven seconds later. You can scrub backward if you miss it. (Note: you don't have to play it for long to get the idea.)

The cat in the video is a b&w tuxedo cat and reminds my of Rocky, our bestest cat, who left us for the Catnip Fields of Glory way back in 2010.

Naturally, I can't find the photo that I really want right now, but this one will do. Our longest living cat, Scutter. Or he was at least the cat that we had for the longest time, is in the background.

It's okay, Lacey. You are also loved, even though your are a a mere Harlequin Tabby and not a Tuxdeo Cat.

  

Happy Caturday, All

My Elvis Vibe

I came across some old photos. This was me in 1962. I was 15 and, apparently, had a bit of an Elvis vibe going on, which is why I am bothering to post this photo. Perhaps I am just seeing that because we watched the Elvis movie over Christmas.

Time flies, and sixteen or so years later, I had a daughter to whom I read books. She had ear problems (both our girls did) and you can see white in her ear, presumably from a cotton ball. The photo stood out to me because I like the shape of my beard. If I could shape it like that way today, I would, but I am currently letting it grow into a fuller beard that I don't have to shape at all because I seem to have lost whatever eye and dexterity that I once possessed. Which wasn't much.

Curiously, the book I was reading was Robin Hood, which for a long time was the movie that JJ would pick to watch on his sleepovers.

Ordinary Times

Not much going on here in Anvilcloudia. We usually do a family supper on Mondays, but we are totally unprepared today. A pizza party has been suggested, but I don't know. On one hand the kids probably get plenty of pizza. On the other hand, it is something that they will eat, especially the very picky JJ.

The exhaust system in our 2010 Honda CRV, Hermione the Honda, is on its last legs. But our ex SiL is in need of borrowing it tomorrow because his auto requires an even more crucial repair.  He starts a new job tomorrow and needs to attend a meeting about an hour away. I hope Hermione holds up. I would try to get it fixed today, but staff will be in short supply since Monday becomes a day off for most workers in lieu of New Years which landed on a Sunday. This is why he can't get his own vehicle fixed today. He helps us out a lot, especially with computer woes, so we must return he favour. Fingers crossed.

I saw a FB post claiming that the sun would set at 7pm in 39 days. It seemed early, so I googled. I am not going to look again, but I think that it isn't going to happen until March 12, the first day of Daylight Savings time. Too bad. Meanwhile, it looks rather March-like out with the somewhat mild, above freezing temperatures and with the snow accumulation greatly diminished after the rain.

A Comic for Grammar Nerds: not that I qualify, but I try.

2023

It's just a little after 5am, New Years Day. I've been sleeping well [for me] for the past week or more, but not last night.

The fireworks that I was not going to bother to attend last night did not happen anyway due to fog and rain. Indeed, there has been so much rain that our snow has diminished by a lot. Where the snow has not been piled, as in the backyard, there are bare patches. There is still plenty of snow in the front yard where the snow blowers keep blowing it from the driveway. Once we get a good December snow, it has never left us completely until March and sometimes April, no matter how much of a thaw occurs in the meantime.

One good thing about the unnatural rain and warmth was that I got the driveway de-iced. It took a lot of chipping along with the help of the weather, but I did  get it done. It ices when the heavy plow keeps going over it to clear the snow, but the plow doesn't get it down to the pavement. Then, more snow falls, and the plow compacts it even more. I call it a plow, but it is a heavy duty blower. Also, when I call it ice, it is like glacial ice made up of layers of  heavily compacted snow: not frozen water as in a skating rink.

Getting back to the cancelled fireworks, they will try again on the 7th, and I will probably turn chicken again and remain in my comfy home. 

There's not much else to write on this first day of 2023, but I thought that I should post something. Sue went to bed at her usual time last night – about 9 o'clock. I followed at my usual time – about 10:30. Then I was up ~4 this morning and hadn't slept well for about an hour before that. Shauna did go out, and I see that she texted us shortly after 12. She has always wished us well at New Years. Once upon a time it would be a phone call. Those were the days in which we oldsters weren't so old and would stay up until the magic hour.

Oh . . . we did observe another tradition. It's a more recent one – of watching White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and so on. It's a corny old flick, but Sue likes the costumes and dancing, and I like Sue. We don't necessarily watch it on the Eve but at some time near New Years. Traditions, eh?

I will leave you with a photo. It's a slightly modified version of one that you have seen before of fireworks over the junction. I superimposed the fireworks, probably from last New Years Eve, but I don't remember for sure.

The Junction is a modern re-creation of the historical railway junction in our town where north-south and east-west lines converged. It has been installed in an area that the town hopes will be a new kind of junction – a gathering place for people at special community events.

I will cease my prattling now, but I wanted to write something on this day. I hope you all get a good start to a new year that will go on to be a good one for you and yours.