A good Saturday morning all — the time check above will let you know its morning. My week has been a little ‘peak-ed’, partially due to the fact that the song “MacArthur Park” has been running around in my head the whole time and totally without reason. So, while enjoying my morning coffee I can safely say that this didn’t happen to me:

“Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don’t think that I can take it
‘Cause it took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
Oh no!” ~ Sir Richard John Harris, AKA Albus Dumbledore

Now it’s your turn to uncouple it from your brain. Good luck!

Juneteenth – Last evening was an amazing time. At dusk the parties began. The closest to us was immediately across the street. Next block over was another. On her scanner, Marcia kept up with the happenings across the city. Life in the city was ‘a-hoppin’. As soon as it was dark the fireworks began – all over the place and from as far away as we could hear. These continued for a couple of hours. By then enough ‘beverage’ had been consumed and this, coupled with outdoor sound systems, had yards full of folk dancing and singing till well after midnight (that’s when I fell asleep, but Marcia woke up around 3:00 and it was still cranking); and let it be known that I totally hate Rap.

A short history lesson: First African-Americans elected to Congress were Republicans.

Lockdown peccadillos – have created scenes, sayings, and stupidity which will find their way into posterity. We’ll never outrun nonsensicals such as: “we’re in this all together” what exactly does this refer to? I don’t think so! How about the ‘clever’ line: “this is the new normal”. Does this refer to the sixty-year old driving by HIMSELF with a mask on in such a way so that his eyes barely peek out over his mask’s top? This is the “new normal”?

The ‘lockdown’ has Marcia almost going bonkers – definitely into a funk. Luckily we got a $50.00 check from our Insurance Co. as a ‘gift’ for not driving much during Covid-19. And so we both hopped in the car to deposit it at the bank’s drive-through – anything to escape. Once there I hit the little button to open the door; only then to watch the canister disappear (empty) down the vacuum tube. While waiting for it to get returned I noticed that my face as displayed on the system’s TV screen looked awfully pale and pointed this out to Marcia. “Maybe”, I thought, “they’ll send me a little make-up kit back”. They did not.

In the meantime an older pickup with its windows open, a Skoal-chewing tobacco type guy driving, pulled into the neighboring drive-through. I thought it completely appropriate to yell over to him; “you look pale too?” That’s about the same time Marcia began to react negatively.

I am looking forward to the OLD normal; days of going to Costco complete with all of their ‘food’ ladies. I just want to be walking down an aisle trying to balance a small paper ‘pill’ cup with three hot green beans in it and me trying hard not to bounce them out; while at the same time trying not to forget why I was in the aisle in the first place.

An Icon falls – In the latter part of the 1800s a printing company evolved into what became the United States Playing Card Co. They became known for various brands; Bicycle, Bee, Tally-Ho, Congress, Hoyle, and Aviator. It operated next door in Norwood until a recent move into adjacent Northern Kentucky. In Norwood for over 100 years the place could be found via its iconic tower. This week it came down – all except the tower, it’s a fixture which is staying.

In 2003 they released a deck under the name of “Most-Wanted Iraqi Playing Cards“. The deck contained the most-wanted members of President Saddam Hussein’s government. I still have one unopened deck. Looking up how history dealt with these characters, all but 6 of the 52 have been killed or captured.

Fini – Last evening the party across the street was still going full bore when I heard sirens. A block away fire equipment, EMT, and Police roared in. So, a little past midnight, I walked over to catch the goings on. Net result? Nothing. Lots of equipment, hoses running to and fro, but no fire to be seen.

However, earlier in the week a trailer-load of massive ‘bouncy’ houses were dropped off; six in all. Of course a few had to be tested. You can imagine my consternation upon returning from my walk one morning and being confronted by this scene from Easter Island.

I thought you’d want to know that on this date in 1893, after a murder trial which captured the nation, Lizzie Borden of Massachusetts was cleared of the charges. The murders were memorialized in a children’s rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.

And if you aren’t scared enough these days, remember that on this day in 1975 the movie Jaws was released. Many a sleepless night ensued.

It’s almost with a tinge of pride that Marcia proclaims that with the Lockdown our little condo has taken on the appearance of a Frat house. Your thoughts? She couldn’t possibly be correct, could she?

Make it great week, keep the peace, stay safe, and be healthy!
Dirk