Mellow Yellow Monday - Flowers

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YELLOW FLOWERS

A table of yellow flowers at Block's Nursery, Romulus, MI.

Evening Update:  We placed flowers on my wife's father's grave today.  They weren't yellow, but I spotted these yellow ones at another grave, and thought I'd add them to the post.   He served in the Navy during WW II.  His grave (not shown) and all those of veterans had flags at the headstones.  Many, many veterans in this cemetery.

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Shadow Shot Sunday - Black Lake

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A view of the south-west shore line of Black Lake, Cheboygan Co. MI, taken on April 7th, 2011.

The lake was still partly frozen.

This is a view to the east across the lake, from the same spot.

Oh, frigid water:

Will you be thawed and warm when

I come this Summer?

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Six Word Saturday

Nate and Em spending the night.

Very first overnighter for Em ever.

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Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Anniversary

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ANNIVERSARY

I

Remembering a

Certain day, a certain way

To say, "Yes, I'll stay."

II

So much time passing,

Bringing seasons of change, but

Something stays the same.

III

Passing a mile stone

This great day in history

Do you remember?

IV

Many years gone by

Since that first time together,

And I still want more.

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Mellow Yellow Monday - On Tap

Here is granddaughter Amanda (far right) with her competition dance team, all decked out for their tap number, HEY PACHUCO!

This picture was taken last month.  They competed again this week, and swept the top three spots with their tap, point and lyrical group numbers.  Amanda also took top overall, among 21 teen dancers, for her point solo, ESMERALDA.  Some stills from the earlier comp  can be found here.  This time, she totally nailed it, and made audible contact with the tambourine on each of her back kicks.

Back to HEY PACHUCO!  Doesn't it make YOU want to dance?

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Shadow Shot Sunday - On Deck

Actually, on the stage at Chicago's Navy Pier, preparing for our 30 minutes of fame anonymity.

The setting is nautical, but nice.

The passers-by did seem to appreciate our rendition of Oya Como Va.

 Let us play for you

A shuffle or Latin tune,

And feel free to Dance!

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Six Word Saturday

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Will you still love me tomorrow?

Dunno.  Will there be a tomorrow?

Will the rapture rupture your relationships?



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Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Spontaneity

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SPONTANEITY

I

I plan a solo

But what comes out is -- Who knows?

That's what makes it JAZZ!

II

Spur of the moment,

A simple touch or gesture

That says, "I love you!"

III

Some people take drugs

So they can be ready for

The Bathtub moment 
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Sensational Haiku Wednesday is powered by Jenn.

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L..A. Times Crossword Puzzle Blogging - Wenesday, May 18, 2011

Bill Thompson

Cross-posted at The Corner.

Theme:  RIGHT AS RAIN.  The theme entries start with a word that can describe a kind of SHOWER.  OK - they aren't all the RAIN kind of SHOWER, or even the kind that get you wet, but I'm going to run with it.  It's a great expression meaning "all is well and things are as they should be," dating back to the time when an agrarian society depended on spring and summer rains to get good crop yields.  Then, all was right with the world.

17. 1958 Robert Mitchum drama : THUNDER ROAD The story of a Korean War vet who comes home to take over the family moonshine business.  A THUNDER SHOWER is a brief rain storm with a natural light show and sound effects.

26. Dorm room snack : COLD PIZZA.  I was a townie, not a dormie, so I never developed this awful-sounding culinary habit.  A COLD SHOWER is simply a self-inflicted deluge of cold water.  It is reported to have numerous health benefits.  You be the judge.

40. '70s-'80s Haitian president, familiarly : BABY  DOC DUVALIER.  Jean-Claude was the son (hence "Bébé Doc") of the previous president, François "Papa Doc" DUVALIER.  He continued the family tradition of torture, tyranny and lavish personal life-style, while his subjects languished in bone-crushing poverty.   Odd, odd juxtaposition with BABY SHOWER, a joyful party where an expectant mother is SHOWERED with gifts by her friends.

52. Early spring shout : "APRIL FOOL."  The origin of APRIL FOOLERY is lost in the mists of time, but is believed to have started with the change to the Gregorian Calendar, around 1582.  News traveled slowly in those days, so some people didn't catch up with the change and didn't know the proper date.  Others resisted the change.  Both became the butt of practical jokes.  It's believable, I guess.  APRIL SHOWERS are springtime episodes of rain that bring May flowers, and kids cooped up in the house for hours.

Plus the unifier:  65. Bath fixtures, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 26-, 40- and 52-Across : SHOWER HEADS.  This is a device that sprays you with water (of any desired temperature.)  And HEAD indicates that the beginning theme words can precede SHOWER.  Pretty clever.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here.  In this tidy theme we have two meteorological events, get all cleaned up, and have a party.  Let's join the fun

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My mother and her twin sister are 90 today.

Here's mom, with her great-grands Nate and Emily, taken on thanksgiving, 2009.

A year and a half later, she's still spry and wrinkle free.

You go, girl!

Mellow Yellow Monday - Dandelions

I try to have a decent looking front yard.  Curb appeal, you know - not that we have any actual curbs.  But my neighbor's yard looks like a commercial dandelion farm.  Somehow, a couple of vagrants made it all the way across the property line and the driveway to the middle of my lot.  Yes, I am suggesting that dandelions migrate!

Of course, I had to pluck them before the yellow flowers turned into seedy puff-balls.

But, first, I snapped this pic. 

DANDELIONS

These cute little blonds

Stand out against the green grass,

So  --  OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

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Shadow Shot Sunday - PIRATES!

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PIRATES!

Avast, me Hearties!

Now appear -- in Chicago,

At the Navy Pier.

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Six Word Saturday

Great Concert Last night - All French

Update:

Just to be clear -- I played!

Here is part of the program.

Cortège de Bacchus from "Sylvia" by Leo Delibes

And here is another fun part.

Saint-Saëns - Samson and Delilah 'Danse Bacchanale'

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Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Addiction

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ADDICTION

I

Can't do without her.

Might as well admit it: I'm

Addicted to love.

II

A deep craving from

Within - what is that thing that

You can't do without?

III

Minor seventh chords,

Tritones, altered fifths and ninths:

Addicted to JAZZ

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Mellow Yellow Monday

Senior Citizens Crossing -- I've found my spot.

Corner of S. Plymouth Ct. and W. Polk in Chicago

Near the Jazz Showcase

On the road of life

There are many crossings. Be

Sure to find your own.

Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Fog

FOG

Early morning mist

Rises from the meadow to

Be chased by the sun

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