NOT bad… 42 new minutes so far in 2025. We’ll be living on the back porch again before you know it.
I’m determined to get out for another night ride or two before I’m sitting in a chair with a tube in my arm. I’m told that’ll start anytime after February 1. I have to think there’s a decent chance of dry roads between now and then.
Mike Manley alleges this background scenery from a recent Phantom strip is not the bride and me, circa 1972. Uncanny if it isn’t. He does have access to her FB photos…
The image appeared on January 4, where a villain from a 2011-12 Phantom adventure, head of the Ten Tigers Gang, turns up at a London pub in drag. He’s hiding from both the Phantom and police agencies around the world. The character speaking is working an angle on a reality TV deal.
Back on the sun thing, you may find this weirdly interesting: With the sun so low in the southern sky this time of year, our neighbor’s living room windows are perfectly positioned to reflect light into our driveway, melting the trim on the kids’ travel van.
That was a new one on me.
The van’s parked in our driveway because it would mostly sit all winter in the equipment yard at Jonny’s company. Little did I know the neighbor’s windows would act as a lens, focusing sunlight like a magnifying glass; focusing light to a point hot enough to melt plastic even on a bitterly cold day.
It made a mess of the trim all along the vehicle. On a 19-degree day I took digital temperature readings of 190 degrees off the trim. It must have been quite a bit hotter when the worst of the damage was done. The van never gets parked in exactly the same spot every time I take it out to run it up to operating temp. Park it a few inches closer to or farther from the neighbor’s windows, that has to affect both the focal point and temperature.
Jonny knew what it was immediately when I sent him a few photos. Solar flare, he said.
It happens all the time to vinyl siding. When he subcontracts siding jobs, his estimator always notes whether the customer’s neighbor has south-facing windows uncovered by full screens.
Spike buck walking by my writing window before the sun was up one recent morning.
I should set out the motion-activated game camera on the other side of the fence. This is a cellphone snapshot through window screen and wire.
A few minutes later, an eight-pointer…
How good it would be, I found myself thinking, to have for breakfast this morning a big slice of Aunt Gloria’s mincemeat pie.
Tony DePaul, January 26, 2025, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
I hope there’s more about the Skull & Jaw one day.
It could happen! Neville Stokes may be a shameless self-promoter but I can’t see him blabbing the events of the closing week. That was personal, for him alone to know: The hand on his shoulder, the mention of the illicit business that once occupied his time. A skullmarked man the Phantom is interested in tracking down might well turn up at the Skull & Jaw, unaware of the risk he’s taking.
The hand on the shoulder moment was a great one, and the “talk show” was brilliantly handled.
Tony! We got light snow here this morning so if the weather doesn’t cooperate before Feb. 1, I know you’ll be back on the bike as soon as possible afterwards. Love to you and Pam.
Thank you, beautiful Jen Jordan. Please come see us soon.
Pam’s sleeping in. I was up early splitting firewood. Just banged out a blog post, now about to put the coffee on.
On cold days I stand in the window reflections to warm up. I hope I don’t melt! Ride that piggy. Hoping for the best on your treatments.
Steve! A pleasure to hear from you! It’s been a long time. Here’s hoping all’s well in Oregon, if you still call Oregon home.
Thanks for the good word on the knee of fate about to be smartly inserted into my groin.
I thought the latest daily was really fun. I loved how you both landed on Graham Norton as the TV host. Good luck in the coming weeks.
Mike pulled that off beautifully. I’m sure you saw the inside joke in the December 7 strip, the Phantom having some fun with Diana by wondering out loud whether the TV host’s name might be Graham Norton.
https://comicskingdom.com/phantom/2024-12-07
Nicely done.
That’s not you and Pam in ’72 – closer to ’82. We’re heading to Dubai on Wednesday to see Ingrid, Hani and the grandkids. And to celebrate my birthday. Can you believe I’ll be 75?
Jeez… if my math is correct, by next year you’ll match up nicely with how many trombones there are in the big parade.
Travel safe, my friend. Love to the family.
Hi Tony, I hope you get out for a ride. That would be cool.
Good luck with your treatments my friend.
Thank you, Bob. It’s dawning on me that I probably should have done this sooner and been done with it, but here we are in the now & proceeding apace.
I know the sun is powerful, but would not have predicted the results you shared.
I also know the great taste of Aunt Gloria’s mince pie. (I made her recipe once using venison from my daughter’s hunting success.)
Hope you get a chance to ride this week.
Hi, Cynthia. One of my favorite memories of life in Maine, Uncle Johnny ever on the lookout for pie deer to bring home to Gloria. I don’t think we saw Aunt Gloria on Flanders Bay this summer. Will hope to see her in August. The girls are planning our family vacation to coincide with the reunion at Aunt Roberta’s. I think we have a house somewhere nearer Bar Harbor.
I never know what’s going on, I just show up where & when they tell me to.
Here’s to some great rides in the Piggy in the weeks ahead and I hope your therapy goes fast and well. You’re in my thoughts.
Thank you, Ellie. I thought I’d be riding to the Pacific again this summer but life so often has plans of its own. All part of the adventure.
I hope you’ll keep me and your other blog reader friends informed of your progress as your treatment begins, because I know we’re with you with each step. So sorry about your riding plans for this summer, but there’s next summer to look forward to.
Will send you some positive vibes first week of Feb.
I’m currently back in Houston where we are switching exhibits in the gallery, but the bigger reason our caravan is here is for Nicole’s mom’s ovarian cancer surgery. She’s done the 6 rounds of chemo and her 84 yo farm girl’s stamina and strength has kept her well. We all hope the best ovarian cancer surgeon in the Med Center can remove all the remnants on Wednesday. Fuck cancer.
Stamina, indeed. All best wishes to her on Wednesday, Brad.