The Lighter Side of JzB

Here you will find photos, poetry, and possibly some light-hearted foolishness. For the Heavier Side
of JzB
see my other blog,
Retirement Blues. (There be dragons!)

I claim copyright and reserve all rights for my original material of every type and genre.


Every day visits*
From Moose, Goose, and Orb Weaver
All seized by Haiku


"Why moose and goose?" you may ask. Back on 2/04/13 Pirate wrote a haiku with an elk in it, and I responded with
one with a moose and then included him every day. A few days later in comments Mystic asked "Where's the goose?"
So I started including her with this post on 2/07. A week later on the 14th, Mark Readfern
asked for and received a spider. The rest is history.

*Well, most days, anyway. Grant me a bit of poetic license.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

L.A. Times Crossword Blogging

Thursday, September 29, 2011  Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel 

Cross-posted at The Corner.



Theme:  MADE IN CHINA.  Nine items that were invented in CHINA - the unifier - over the course of millenia are arranged in perfect symmetry.

1. *Rock conqueror? : PAPER.  Rock-PAPER- scissors game.  Oh - and that stuff you write letters on.

10. *Soy milk brand : SILK.   I'll pass on the soy milk, thank you.  But high quality fabric made from the cocoon fiber of silk worms is OK by me

17. *Dental checkup freebie : TOOTHBRUSH.   I always take a red one.

28. *Wile E. Coyote buy : GUNPOWDER. Ka-Boom stuff.

35. *Gets creative : NOODLES.  I usually think of NOODLING as thinking deeply on a challenging subject, but OK.

39. *Extent : COMPASS.  Not the most obvious sense of this word.  Is it within the COMPASS of your vocabulary?

45. *Flashy display : FIREWORKS.  Clever clue, and a carefully NOODLED use for GUNPOWDER.

59. *Beginner's piano piece : CHOPSTICKS.  The eating utensils used in Chinese restaurants that can be tricky to use if you don't know how to hold them.

64. *Forged check : KITE.  We had a discussion of check-kiting recently.  I will defer to the resident legal staff.  But the other meaning is a cloth or paper form that flies in the wind on the end of a string.

And the unifier -- 66. It celebrates National Day on October 1 (and it's where the answers to starred clues were invented) : CHINA

Wow - this is some dense themage in another virtuoso technical masterpiece by our dynamic duo.  Note that only some of the theme answers have double meanings.  Symmetrical pairings GUN POWDER - FIREWORKS and TOOTHPICK - CHPSTICKS add to the impressive fun.  Would you make a KITE out of SILK?  If so, add that one in, too.  And PAPER plates for CHINA?!?

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here.  C. C. is rightfully very proud of the rich heritage and culture of her original homeland, and shows them off here to good effect.   Let's explore the rest of this puzzle.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Six Word Saturday

Lost my last uncle this week.

My dad's youngest and last surviving step brother passed away Tuesday night at age 82.  He was almost 20 years younger than dad.  All the other brothers were WW II Vets.  Al served in the AF during the Korean War. 

When I was a little kid, he was my favorite adult relative.  I feel fortunate that I was able to see him occasionally over the last few years, and spend a little bit of time with him. 

Life is precious, and even a long life seems somehow too short. Cherish every moment with the ones you love.



The Old Guard is gone
We remember their lives, love,
And loyal service



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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Haiku Wednesday - Anticipation

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ANTICIPATION

Could it be? Yes it
Could! Something's coming - Something --
I can hardly wait . . .






Join the fun! 
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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday

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The shadow of a tall light post points to the action in the Falcons game.



Final score:  Falcons 20, Stallions 6.


My pic from last week is featured in this week's shadow shot collage.

It can been seen here,  First group, top center






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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Six Word Saturday

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Tigers beat A's, clinch Division title!

We stayed up too late watching.


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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Freestyle

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FREESTYLE

Two long low-leg bones:
Fibula and tibia;
Grandson Nate broke both.

He misplayed a ball
And stepped on it, rolling his
Ankle.  Down he went.

Now he's in a cast.
Recovery is certain
His style: Not so Free.


Join the fun!

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L.A. Times Crossword Puzzle Blogging

Cross-posted at The Corner.

Wed, Sept 14, 2011 Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel 

Theme.  Lettering in Wheel.   Of.   Fortune.   Or: And sometimes Y -- but not this time.  The final letter of the final word of each asterisked theme answer is a vowel, the item bought on that TV Game Show that I never watched.  And, at no extra charge, they're presented in alphabetical order!

17. *"The Music Man" number : GARY INDIANA.   Gary -  Gimme an A!

21. *Sweet stocking stuffer : CANDY CANEAll I want for Christmas is an E!

34. *Lead singer in No Doubt's hit "Don't Speak" : GWEN STEFANIDon't speak - just gimme an I!

42. *Instrument using rolls : PLAYER PIANORoll me an O!

52. *Seven-time Grammy-winning jazz singer : AL JARREAUYou, Al - gimme a U!


And the unifier -- 62. Words in a classic game show that can be followed by the ends of the answers to starred clues : I'D LIKE TO BUY . . .  all of the above.

Hi, gang - JazzBumpa here.  Quite a technical tour de force by our prolific and dynamic duo.  Six theme entries, with the unifier, all of 10 or 11 letters.   Lots of music to link, too.

Let's have AT IT!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday - 9/11/11

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The Midway at Bayfront Park, Petoskey, MI
Half past noon, Saturday, August 30





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Saturday, September 10, 2011