He says, "So what's bothering you, dear?"
Mary says, "Oh, Father, I've got terrible news. My husband passed away last night."
The priest says, "Oh, Mary, that's terrible. Tell me, Mary, did he have any last requests?"
She says, "That he did, Father..."
The priest says, "What did he ask, Mary?"
She says, "He said, 'Please, Mary, put down that damned gun!'"
A-h-h-h, Sunday morning pre-dawn walks are my favorites. It was so cool and damp and the birds were making a ridiculous amount of noise in the trees. It rained again last evening ... caught Hilda and Devin and I in the jacuzzi. The lightning was far away and the thunder was quiet, so we got in the jacuzzi and were enjoying it when .... cold rain drops started dropping on us through the palm trees. We came back in the apartment and watched "A Day Without Mexicans" on the TV. Abel (Devin's brother) came by with his dad, and he decided to spend the night. We didn't go to Mt Lemmon yesterday, we are going this morning. Hilda had to take us to a 3rd birthday party for the nieto of a lady she works with. Her whole life, at times, centers around the kids and ladies at Mini Skool. But we didn't have to stay there for long. I bought Devin some new jeans and had the inseam taken up 4 inches. He is really short for his chubby build. But his brother Abel was also, but grew 4-8 inches after he became 13 or so.
Our "official" monsoon season started last Wednesday. When the dew point reaches 54 on three consecutive days, then the first of those three days is the official start of the monsoons. We have had rain at least 5 out of the last 7 days at my place. Some days, when we got loads of precip on the east side of town, the airport (official rain gauge) gets none, or 'a trace'. Go figure. We seem to be, in my mind, getting more EARLY monsoonal moisture than has been the case in the last few (drought type) years. Maybe we'll actually have a NORMAL monsoon for a change. It has been a few years since we had a decent season.
Today is the birthday of Dan Rowan (Rowan and Martin, Laugh-In), Cheryl Ladd, Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's) and Richard Petty ... but in my list of favorites, it is also the birthday of KEN CURTIS. Most folks just remember Curtis as "Fetsus" on Gunsmoke. But, he was also a big band singer with Tommy Dorsey, sang with The Sons of The Pioneers, was a B western star, a leading man, had his own TV series (Ripcord) in the 50's, and he was a member of the 'John Ford Stock Company' (at the time he was married to Ford's daughter Barbara). He worked in about a dozen of the Ford-directed films, many of which starred John Wayne. He was in RIO GRANDE (1950), THE QUIET MAN (1952), THE LONG GRAY LINE (1955), MISTER ROBERTS (1955), THE SEARCHERS (1956), THE WINGS OF EAGLES (1957), THE LAST HURRAH (1958), THE HORSE SOLDIERS (1959), TWO RODE TOGETHER (1961), HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962), and CHEYENNE AUTUMN (1964) among other movies and TV shows. He also had a role in John Wayne's THE ALAMO (1960). And he composed many songs, at least two dozen. I have always admired his work, and his voice. He was the one who introduced "Tumbling Tumbleweed" to movie audiences.
Curtis with his horse Zane and a buddy, Shug Fisher.
Well, I must shower and start fixing breakfast for everyone. I have the clothes in the dryer and last night's dishes in the dishwasher. Going to be a great day. I have to work tomorrow, off the 4th and back in to work on Wednesday at 0400. That means no fireworks viewing for me again this year. I have to work every year on the 5th it seems, and never can stay up late enough for the festivities. The largest display in Tucson (there are several) is on 'A' Mountain (Sentinel Peak). Hilda's backyard is two blocks from there, facing 'A' Mountain, and the fireworks literally explode over your head. Excellent viewing area. Maybe when the 4th falls on a Friday or a Saturday I'll be able to stay up that late.
Everyone have a safe and sane Fourth. Love from the desert.
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