Ahh!!! First cup of coffee enjoying the new deck furniture!

Had I have gotten a good enough photo, you would have noticed the coffee was steaming.

It was steaming because it was 36° out! Now that really sucked some of the joy out of coffee on the back deck!

Out with the old....

I can't complain. The chairs have lasted 20 years, and the cooler almost as long. But they lacked the panache I was hoping for.

So, my new back porch furniture arrived today. I think I am in love.

(I should have swept the deck before I took the picture, don't you think?)

I can't wait to have coffee tomorrow morning!

My new Adirondacks have arrived!

Aren't they beautiful!

Some assembly may be required!

The Ducks are in the WCWS!

Women's College World Series that is!

GO DUCKS!

Auntie Bea's irises are making an early show!

I know in the past it has been closer to Father's Day when they have bloomed!

Overall, the garden doesn't look as bad as it could!

Sunday matinee with the Gorge Sinfonietta

They performed Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

I had to go!

It was amazing.  Such talent in this little valley!

Damn, I may have created an international crisis

I really meant to go to Meghan and Harry’s wedding. I really did. I had my invitation in my hand then I spilled coffee on myself. What a surprise! By the time I ran to the store and bought new clothes, I was too late. The doors were closed.

First, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to Meghan and Harry. I know that you thought it imperative that I attend you wedding. I tried, I really tried. And to the American ambassador to Britain and to UK’s ambassador to the USA; I am sorry. I know I have put you in a hard spot. Please do all you can to avoid a nuclear war. Your job was tough enough without me adding additional stress on the UK/USA relationship.

Okay, I’m going to wrap myself in tin foil and go to the basement. Just in case the ambassadors can’t keep the peace.

I am exhausted!

One might think that I actually did something today. One would be wrong. But I was surrounded by people who were working their behinds off! I had to stay sober until way after noon!

Let me start off by announcing that I did have to say good-bye to an old friend. Yes, for the first time in 30+ years, I don’t have a little red pick-up to take advantage of and abuse. Ricardo drove him away!

Fare thee well, little buddy.

But the big news! The house is painted

Ricardo and the fantastic crew of Ricky's Painting got the entire house painted in two days! They are an amazing group!

Okay, it cost a little more than I had planned, but thankfully I have enough money left over to file for bankruptcy! (I'm kidding... sort of!)

Some excitement at the homestead!

Paint!!! Yes paint.

A crew of 5 arrived at 10AM, after finishing another job and left at 4PM. In that short time they got the house scraped and caulked and ready to paint, the got all of the main color (gray) on (2coats), got the majority of the dark red trim color with at least one coat and got a little bit of the white trim color.

I am in awe!

This is a good thing!

I like this kind of awe!

Billie Jean loves her sunbeams!

She is making herself comfortable through out the house: no longer restricted to the bedroom and bathroom. But I did have to carry her upstairs before she knew it was okay!

She is settling in quite nicely. Empress Billie Jean is already planning her coronation!

Second post: the bad news

The US opened its embassy in Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza and the West Bank.

I have read reports that say over 100 are dead and over 2000 injured. And although most reports seem to agree with the almost 2000 injured, many state that it is more in the neighborhood of 50 dead.

President 45’s son-in-law and main envoy to the Middle East peace initiative, Jared Kushner stated at the ceremony opening the embassy, and I quote:

"As we have seen from the protest of the last month and even today, those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution."

Let's see. The United States moves it embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem knowing it would provoke violence betwee Israel and the Palestinians. And those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

We have blood on our hands.

First post: the good news

Oregon Ducks take the overall #1 seed in the NCAA Softball Tournament!!!

QUACK!!!

QUACK!!!

QUACK!!!

For the 5th time in the last 6 years!!!

The University of Oregon Ducks have won the Pac 12 Conference softball championship!

GO DUCKS!

It’s Mother’s Day!

And a happy day to all you mothers!

I miss you, Mom!

Okay, for the first time in my life I am going to re-post a tweet

Okay, I won't really, as I am not on twitter. But I saw this on LGBTQ News. And I don't really care if it is true or not. The message is there. This is supposedly from an 88 year old granny (Minovsky).

"Dad ranted about how LGBTQIA+ identities were getting too confusing to keep up with, my 88 year old grandma shut him down. “The way things are now is better than when people had to hide away or killed themselves because nobody understood who they were. Respect costs you nothing.”

Truer words couldn't have been spoken!

Imagine my horror

When I woke up this morning and realized I forgot to wish The Enforcer a happy birthday!

So, Happy Day-After-Your-Birthday, Peggy Jane!

Disaster in Poland

A semi overturned on a major freeway in western Poland, spilling its cargo. The freeway needed to close.

The tragedy was the cargo. Chocolate.

I am on my way to Poland with a spoon!!!

Anything to help!!!

The lilacs are popping!

And the aroma is heavenly!

If only they would bloom year round!

Someone is getting spoiled

And it isn't even her birthday! At least I don't think it is!

Yes, I do like my new bed!

And thank you, Auntie Karla. I love the down comforter most!

Oh, and...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Into everyone’s life some fur must fall.

Meet Billie Jean.

Fresh from the Oregon Humane Society, Billie Jean is an 8 year old cat who, in my estimation, was abused. When she came to the OHS, she was badly underweight, was infested with fleas, had little fur and had a urinary tract disease. She was at the pound for about 5 weeks before the crafty little fuzz ball stole my heart.

Damn, I hope I haven’t done something stupid, but it wouldn’t be the first idiotic thing I have done in my life!

More thoughts on the “Swedish” meatball crisis.

It’s all that I have been able to think about.

The Swede’s of all people. If they lie to us about their meatballs, what else do the lie to us about? Are they secretly trying to build a nuclear arsenal? Do they really speak Swedish, or when tourists aren’t around do they all speak Turkish? Is the Stockholm Syndrome real, or did they make it up?

If we just sit back and tolerate the abhorrent behavior, we are as culpable as the Swedes. Let’s all think of ways we can put pressure on Sweden to come clean on all their alternative facts!

ACTION!!!

NOW!!!

Lies, lies, lies.

I read the news today, just to find out that I have been lied to.

I’m not talking about Trump or Cohen or Stormy.

But those damn Swedes! Turns out Swedish meatballs aren’t really Swedish. They’re Turkish. I am devastated.

I’m going back to bed!

May Day!!! May Day!!!

I missed May Day!

And understand there were some great protests in Paris and Yerevan.

Oh well, next year!