Happy 91st Birthday for Mel Brooks.

Birthday Dinner

Last year Kurt and Lyssa and I went on a "Pub Crawl" for his birthday and sat outside and really enjoyed the nice spring weather. Today it was raining and so we went to the Macaroni Grill. It is hard to get a good picture of Kurt because 1) he has a very expressive face that is seldom static and 2) he makes goofy faces but this is a good one.

The Lovely Lyssa never takes a bad picture and I got a nice one of her tonight.

Here is another one of Kurt goofing around. I don't know what he was describing.

They even got a fairly decent one of me.

I had lobster ravioli and it was delicious. Afterwards we went to the new Half Price Book store where I got a copy of "Blow" with Johnny Depp only because Kurt told me that our friend and Brother Severn is in it. I will watch and see if I can spot him.

The store recently moved and it is nice and clean with wider aisles and lots of books for sale but they had the heat way too high so we went outside and talked.

Then we went to the Home Depot and I got a new hose for my shower. The one on there is about to break. The I fell asleep in the recliner. and now -- I think I shall go to bed. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Birthday Kurt, Thanks for letting me help celebrate it with you and Lyssa.

AA Evening

AA stands for Appetizer and Alcohol (or Alcohol and Appetizers whatever you want.) Today was Kurt's 30th birthday and we had made plans to go out to do something for it. I suggested it when he said something about not having a party. Now I knew that L had a party planned and had actually been invited to it but wanted to divert him from knowing about that so I suggested this. And nothing else would do but Kurt got to pick what he wanted to do. When I got thee he and the Prince and Princess were out planting carrots. The Princess saw me and came running over yelling Jaaaaay. We high fived about four times. Needless to say I am nuts about her. (Heck I am nuts about all of them)

This is the flowering bush in front of their door. I tried to do a "Bob" and take picture of it but I don't think they are as good as his. But they aren't bad.

Kurt wanted to do a "Pub Crawl" in the Court Avenue District so we stopped first at the Hessian Hous. Got a Bread, Meat and Cheese plate.

Second stop was Dos Rios. We sat outside and it was really nice. We got some appetizers.

Then we decided to eat and this is what we got. Lyssa's is above and Kurt and I a seafood dish.He could tell you the name, I just ate it. It was scrumptious. The Calamari that Lyssa had was wonderful.

And they topped it off with a dessert for Kurt. (He shared)

Des Moines is a photographer's Dream. Kurt and I took some "Artsy" pictures. Samples below.

Kurt was enameled of the (Yes, I know it was enamored but I am tired and loopy) sinks in the restroom so I went in and took this picture for him

This is their party room. It would be a good place to hold SPUD sometme. I took this from outside and I am pleased with the reflections in the glass.

I really am pleased with these two pictures. I love the reflection in the car window above and the Court house always takes a good picture. She is a grand old lady.

The Renaissace Savery was the place for coffee and we shared a bread pudding. The newly remodelled restaurant was called Bos and was very nice. I think we will try it sometime just to eat.

We went back to their house and guess who fell asleep in the back seat on the way home. He was really worn out. All in all though I think he had a great birthday. At least I had a great time celebrating Kurt. And you also need to know that we did not talk a lot about Masonry. We figured it would bore Lyssa and we can talk about it at other times, I think she appreciated it.

You can see all of the pictures at the Web Album Here,
Thanks for stopping by. ARTYAL, Hugs, j

Happy 200th Birthday Mr. Lincoln

Cassie

Ginny tells me that today is Miss Cassie's Tenth Birthday. I am glad that someone keeps track of important dates.

Birthday Boy

Today is Bailey's Birthday!

I THINK HE IS 13.

Happy Birthday Doug

Today is the anniversary of Doug Petty's Birthday. That is him in the middle. Happy Birthday Dug! You can visit his blog by clicking on the picture.










You can e-mail him greetings at: deltapa98@yahoo.com

For Kurt

Send him Birthday Greetings at: kurt@explodinglightbulb.com

And I was just reading Spo and he tells me

Today is William Shakespeare’s birthday. He is 444 years old.

Hey nonny, nonny.

Greetings

Happy Birthday to Maryjane! From Jay, Bailey, Max and Cassie

Maryjane is one of my oldest and dearest friends. We have not seen each other for ages but years ago we vacationed next door to each other at Leech Lake.

Her parents, Joe and Esther, Husband Morrie, Dogs Mitzi and Mojo (St. Bernard who thought he was a lapdog) and my mother and sister and I "bonded" - Mj and Morrie were both teachers and we all loved to be together. We used to go up to their house in Ellsworth Minnesota for Labor Day and Thanksgiving. They came down here once in awhile. They came to Sioux City when I was installed as Grand High Priest of Iowa Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons and that made the day even more special for me.

Lots of good food, fellowship, card playing and just good times. One of the times I remember the most was staying up late at night baking Challa Bread.

Anyway it has been too long since we have seen each other. Life has separated us but the Internets have brought us back together. She reads my Blog, you see so I know she will get this message. Once again Happy Birthday Maryjane We love you! ARTYAL, j-bear

Happy Birthday Mr. Rossini

My resident (Didn't know you resided here did you John?) Music Expert John Klaus sent me an e-mail yesterday that today (February 29th) would be Gioachino Rossini's 55th birthday. He was born in 1792.

As a kid I used to listen to a radio show which used his William Tell Overture as theme music. As an adult I have enjoyed his Barber of Seville. As you may wish to read more about him go here, here and here. As an interesting (to me) side note he died on November 13, 1868. I was born on November 13. Do I feel a psychic connection? Nah, not really.

So I got an e-mail from John: He writes:

Happy birthday to all those folks who can only celebrate every four years--if that! Poor ol' Rossini lost out in 1800.

BTW, you should listen to "Italian in Algiers" sometime. It's so much funnier than any sitcom on TV that it's not even in the same class. Embarrassingly Eurocentric by today's standards, but funny nonetheless.

If you can find it, listen to Respighi's "Suite Rossiniana" as well. It's based on themes from Rossini's later works, pieces he called "Sins of My Old Age."

Ya gotta admire a guy who worked his butt off for about 20 years, made tons of money, got famous, and then retired to Paris where (as a widower) he married a trophy wife and held salon for the last 30 years of his life.

I still like the two stories I told you in Iowa City about Rossini and turkeys:

1. "I only cried twice in my life: once when my mother died, and the other when I was on a picnic on Lake Como and a truffled turkey fell overboard."

2. "The turkey is a very disappointing bird. It's too bog for one and not big enough for two."

Rossini was a famous gourmand--certainly WAY beyond a gourmet, even if Turnedos Rossini is named for him. He was also a genuinely funny man. Bach could be a practical joker, and at other times was too dour for his own good, but Rossini could've been a stand-up comic. Problem is for some that many of his best jokes are written in music.

Stendahl wrote a brilliant biography of him.

But that brings up Leap Day. Once every 4 years February 29 is problematic for those born on that day.

An English law of 1256 decreed that in leap years, the leap day and the day before are to be reckoned as one day for the purpose of calculating when a full year has passed. Thus, in England and Wales a person born on February 29 legally reaches the age of 18 or 21 on February 28 of the relevant year.

There is a tradition that women may make a proposal of marriage to men only in leap years, further restricted in some cases to only February 29. There is a tradition that in 1288 the Scottish parliament under Queen Margaret legislated that any woman could propose in Leap Year; few parliament records of that time exist, and none concern February 29.

Another component of this tradition was that if the man rejects the proposal, he should soften the blow by providing a kiss, one pound currency, and a pair of gloves (some later sources say a silk gown). There were similar notions in France and Switzerland.

1904 - Jimmy Dorsey
1916 - Dinah Shore
1972 - Antonio Sabàto, Jr.,
1976 - Emma Barton,

Are among those born on February 29. Happy Birthday to all of you. By the way it is Feb RU ary....not Feb U ary. One of those little things that bothers my OCD. Hugs, ARTYAL, j

Another Birthday Anniversary

This is my friend Dallas, Tomorrow is the anniversary of her birthday. She is (just a little ) younger than I am.

Tonight I took her to Des Moines for dinner. We ate at my favorite restaurant, Sam and Gabes. It was wonderful and I have enough left for supper tomorrow night. Dallas and I worked together in the Ames Schools and she became a great friend. In fact I consider her my best friend.

When Dallas was the principal of Roosevelt School she was placed on the Plaza of Heroines by her school. It is easy to see why. I stole the picture from there.

Dallas has always been there for me (and for everyone else) When I was in the hospital (twice) she would stop up every morning and bring me the paper and brighten my morning. She would help me out with my dogs and even saw to it that Bailey got to visit me when I was in the hospital. No small feat. Believe me that helped me to get better more than anything else. She got him groomed and brought him up (with my doctors permission) and made sure that I got to spend time with him.

Dallas exemplifies this quote:

Actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
–George Washington, 1732 - 1799

I can never repay her for all that she has done. Her actions make her the friend of everyone.

Dallas recently became a grandmother. Her granddaughter lives in Macedonia. But she was born here in Ames and Dallas got to spend from October until January before she went back. So Happy Birthday Dallas. And many more. Hugs, j

Happy Birthday Max

Today is the 7th anniversary of Max's birth.

He got an extra piece of steak at supper time.

Happy Birthday Jon

25 today. I will never forget the wonder of your birth or the joy we all felt when you were born and were brought home from the hospital. You have enriched our lives and brought much happiness over the past years. May the next 25 years and beyond be successful ones in which you attain all your dreams. Uncle j

Addendum:
And I just found out that 50 years ago today Ford introduced a new car
Just think what one in good shape would be worth today!

Happy Birthday

Today is my sister's (Ginny) 55th Birthday. She has reached the speed limit and my now start going slower and backing down. Happy Birthday Ginny

Others who wish to tell her Happy Birthday may do so at MxJack@AOL.com.