We're A Week Away...

...from the big event...and preparations are underway:

fresh off an extended tour in the arboreal nether regions and here for an exclusive one week engagement at the Castle Frankenstein, it's the Tree Creature

the St. James Infirmary duo return to blow their horns sans lungs.
hey, no one said it had to make sense; think of it as an all hallows e'en miracle.

It's probably worth noting the creative process is not an exact science...

each treat bag is meticulously quality checked, thoroughly tested and meets all standards set by the FDA.  we guarantee it!¹ 

...and can be messy.

Just remember it's the end result that matters.

In other words, no judging!

And those "Bueno" candy bars are aptly named...they are dee-lish.

¹ not a guarantee

Weatherwise, we're wrapping up the best week of this year's fall season: morning temps in the 40's, 60's in the afternoon, and wall to wall sunshine all week long.

Naturally Karen corralled me into doing various and sundry outside tasks, about which I could not legitimately complain...would've been a crime to be indoors...

don't let the smug smile fool you...he's crying on the inside since he just found out he's been replaced by <Claude>

...sitting in front of a computer screen.

Besides the usual outdoor maintenance stuff, I also snuck in a couple of rounds of hickory golf.

The first was a 6-3 win, but there was a surprise waiting for me on Friday.

They informed me at check in "my course" was closing.

They kindly kept it open since I'd made my tee time a week ago -

"The course is all yours today," she smiled.

- but after that it would be done and dusted for another year.

Feeling a touch of melancholy, I walked a little slower than usual and made every effort to truly enjoy this last stroll through the countryside on these links.

Lingered over each shot, studied the beautiful greens and drank in the glorious autumn colors in the trees.

However, if I was hoping my sudden descent into maudlin sentimentality would spawn something mystical on the links -

The music swells in the background as I miraculously par every hole from 1 to 8 and then - yes!  a birdie on 9 for my first ever sub par round!

- sorry; nothing doin'.

Fact is, I didn't score very well.

my birdie putt on #4 that I foozled into a bogey

All square after 6, but booted a 3 foot putt on 7 to go down 1.

With only 8 and 9 left to play, I had to take them both for the win.

Happily/surprisingly, I did just that.

Sank a 5 foot putt for bogey on 8, then parred 9 on the way out for an unimpressive (but very satisfying) 5-4 win.

I did stop as I was making the trek from the 9th green back to the clubhouse...

...and cast a longing glance at the Vale Of Everlasting Sorrows.

But weep not for yours truly; there's at least 1 more week of decent weather in the forecast, so I'm switching to the nasty little par 3 I (in)frequent:

Look at all that sand and water...put them altogether and you could have a decent lakeside beach.

I plan to switch to my featheries...

...and hit around/alongside the water, playing them as par 4's and 5's.

More to come.

I know you're tingling¹ with excitement for what comes next, so let's 23 Skidoo:

from the Larry files and his cottage up north:

a little color in the trees

a beautiful lakeside vista

ditto

gotta love moonlight on the water

meanwhile, back at the ranch:

while sitting out here one day...

...these guys floated by...

...reminding me to eat mor chikin'

loki on the lookout

¹ if you're still tingling even after reveling in 23 Skidoo you might need to contact a neurologist

It's just a little more than a week until the election, and as much as I'd rather just shut up and vote, conscience constrains me.

If we give D's power again, that gravestone list of evils is what we'll get in return.

Gone are the days when the two major parties had shared goals for the good of the country, but differed on policies to achieve them.

Today's D's are all in on socialism, which every historian will tell you is the gateway drug to communism.

And if socialism/communism is so great, why is no one clamoring to get into Cuba?

Why are they fleeing oppressive regimes, desperate to live in America?

D's have no plans on how to improve your life; only to seize power and imprison their enemies.

Vote like your freedom depends on the outcome because it surely does.

² When the righteous are in power, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

    - Proverbs 29

later, mcm fans...

Meet Jimmy John...

...#1 grandson's handsome bantam rooster...so named because if he doesn't do his job he'll end up on their menu.

Apparently he's in no danger of becoming a chicken sub, since all the hens are being serviced and laying eggs to everyone's satisfaction.

Ok, I admit it, it's a slow news day here at the bustling headquarters...

...of the Atomic Monster Cafe, and mainly because I've been working hard at avoiding this...

...and this...

...and this and this:

In other words, politics.

Can't wait for the election to be over, but woe to us if the mental defectives...

...actually win.

There's an astounding number of people who don't realize their freedoms - preserved in our constitution for the past 250 years and protected by those sworn to defend it - are on the ballot November 3rd.

As long as they have a cell phone and internet connection...

...they think they're fine.

They're wrong.

I used to tell people jokingly, "Vote your conscience.  If you don't have one, you can always vote democrat."

No more.

The D's have run so far off the rails I've amended that to:

"Vote your conscience.  If you don't have one, stay home and keep smoking whatever hallucinogenic you use to achieve your vegetative state."

For the rest of us normies, consider this truth courtesy of Gary Varvel:

Vote responsibly!

I mentioned in a previous post Karen and I have joined a senior center:

Evergreen Commons.

It's a gorgeous facility and we were surprised to learn it has 5,000 members.

Thankfully they don't all show up on the same day, because Karen uses their pool to exercise, while I take advantage of their fitness equipment:

They also have many other activities and classes, along with a coffee shop and cafeteria where lunch is served daily.

Neither Karen nor I are thrilled at having arrived at this stage of life - I'd much rather be 45 than pushing 70 - but by the grace of God we're here, and having a beautiful center available for very reasonable $$'s is a true blessing.

Plus I found an old guy selling steroids from his car outside the gym...

I asked, why the orange jump suit? he said he loves fall colors.

...so maybe I can lose the stringy old man look and bulk up again.

Had an extraordinary round of hickory golf this weekend.

Wait...did I say extraordinary?

Silly me.

I meant "wretched".

Since I've been playing this course I've never had a round where I was double bogey or worse for every hole.

Thankfully, that is still true - but just barely.

This weekend was, hands down, my worst round ever.

If not for a back handed bogey on the 9th hole (terrible tee shot, decent recovery to the green, 2 putt for bogey), I would have been skunked, 9 - 0.

Almost felt bad for Mr. Links...he was like a pitcher on the verge of a no hitter that slips away in the 9th inning on a bloop single.

you know what happens next

The worst part of it was I had a witness.

Though he'll probably deny it, Justin came with me, and I fear he caught whatever I had, as he did only slightly better (2 bogeys against 7 doubles / triples).

I'm sure both of us agree...

Ever.

Let's 23 Skidoo out the back door:

got all 3 of the fireplaces going this weekend...it was 35°saturday morning

Karen is #1 of course; since you're reading this, that makes you #2; #3 is sort of a rotating slot filled by whoever's done something nice for me recently

beautiful lake vista courtesy of Larry up at his cottage

don't know how many more times I'll get to sit out here and enjoy the view...winter's knock knock knocking on autumn's door

leaves are falling, autumn's calling...

...but there are still a few holdouts...

...that haven't given up the ghost yet

Ever had your confidence shaken?

If you're young and super talented, it's possible your answer is "no".  (What you really mean is "not yet", but you'll learn that eventually.)

A former friend¹ once told me most people get slapped around by life by age 40; for many of us, that's a true statement.

It's definitely happened to me.

I was pretty good at my job for a lot of years, but getting fired was a gut punch I didn't expect.

In the face of a humbling setback - professionally, relationally, financially, physically, spiritually - what do you do?

I'll tell you what you don't do; you don't quit:

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

    - Philippians 3

Press on!

And as you do, trust God for the results:

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

    - Proverbs 3

later, mcm fans...

¹ as the political climate became more strident he chose to part ways with moi.