You know what they say……without pics, it didn’t happen. So here you go.

To be honest, I was stunned when I earned that last star in the Mirror Mode Special Cup. Especially after I fell off the track in the last lap of Rainbow Road.

Now, for those of you that haven’t unlocked Rosalina yet, cover your eyes. I’m about to bad mouth her.

After racing her a couple of times, I discovered that the anticipation of unlocking her was far more exciting than the reality. She’s seriously overrated. Okay, maybe it’s because I race automatic instead of manual, I will give you that. But I don’t care which bike I put her on, she didn’t handle nearly as well as some of the other heavy weights. And her laugh grates on my ears like fingernails on a chalk board.

I do prefer racing the heavy weights though……mostly because I got sick of being thrown off the track by the WFC bullies when I took a light weight. My all-time favorite combo is Dry Bowser on Flame Runner. Not the best combination for off-road tracks, but he did score that final star.

Tags: Mario Kart Wii, Rosalina

I’ve already announced to the world that I heart Kenny Wayne Shepherd. What I didn’t announce is that since seeing him perform this summer, I’ve spent more than one afternoon cyber-stalking him.

And those cyber-stalking activities led me to a restraining order one of Kenny’s favorite bands……Gov’t Mule.

This blues-rock jam band’s fall tour will consist of a quartet that includes Warren Haynes of Allman Bros fame, former Dickey Betts drummer Matt Abts, Danny Louis of Phish and a new bassist, Jorgen Carlson.

Okay, so maybe they’re not as pretty as Kenny, but with credentials like that, you just know these guys have some mad musical skills.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend one of their performances this fall, you should know that I’m green with envy.

If not, give their CD a listen; starting with Thorazine Shuffle.

Tags: blues rock, Gov't Mule, southern rock

There’s always something kewl happening in my yard. I thought I’d share a few pictures with you before I purge them from my PC.

Actually, I should have taken this picture a week ago, when the tree still had most of it’s leaves, and you could have seen it at its peak. But, I’m a procrastinator. I finally shot it this morning because there are high winds predicted for this afternoon and it will most likely be bare by tomorrow.

To the left of that maple tree is the stump of a long-gone Catalpa tree. Being a lazy landscaper, I just tossed a bag of potting soil into it and planted hens and chickens.

A pair of chipmunks soon took up residence inside the stump.

I like to think that they have little matchbox beds and thread spool nightstands in there.

As an added bonus, I get to watch their antics every morning while I have my coffee.

This is a baby mockingbird we found under that same maple tree in late summer. He’s smiling in this picture because he’s fairly certain that his mother is about to swoop down on my head. She did find him soon after we did and she fed him for a couple of days before he flew off……

Speaking of birds, I discovered this nest of House Finches smack dab in the middle of one of my Boston Ferns while watering it one day. Fortunately for them, I’m just short enough to have to water from the side because I can’t reach the center, so none of them took a bath.

And just three-feet away from that fern…..a nest of Eastern Phoebes atop the porch pillar. Believe it or not, there were five of them packed in there…..

Tags: chipmunks, Eastern Phoebes, fall colors, House Finches, mockingbirds

Okay, okay, I know I missed the t.g.i.f. post last week (and the week before.)

This week I’m sending you to Fail Blog.

Hope you get a chuckle or two out of it over the weekend. Here’s a sample……

Tags: Fail Blog, t.g.i.f.

I’m not going to mention any names, but, as you’ve probably noticed, one of our presidential candidates is sporting a fairly obvious comb-over in an attempt to deceive us into believing he has hair. FYI – Fairly obvious deception in a presidential candidate is not a good quality.

Remember that recent TV ad campaign featuring the talking spot on the interviewee’s shirt? Guess what?  I haven’t heard a single word this candidate has uttered. His voice simply cannot rise above the blah-blah-blahs of that comb-over. Seriously. It. Is. Distracting.

Think of the precedence this could set if he actually gets elected. There could be comb-overs sprouting up all over this country. Eventually the multitude of comb-over voices and their nonsensical blah-blah-blahs will drive the rest of us utterly and totally insane.

Ya know, if his running mate had any leadership potential at all, she’d pull him aside and whisper, “If your wife won’t tell you, I will; Dude, you’re bald.” Perhaps he really should have chosen Tina Fey. I’ll bet she’d tell him.

And don’t even get me started on the barber that’s actually inflicting this look upon the rest of us. A do-no-harm oath should be a requirement before they are even allowed to touch a pair of scissors. It’s hard to believe any self-respecting barber would ever consider crafting these eyesores.

Pssssttt……Guys, for the record, women do not find comb-overs attractive. Not even in the slightest. Not by any stretch of your imagination. We would rather see your head shaved clean.

Here’s a tip. If you part your hair just above your right ear, and the hair is actually long enough to reach your left ear….do us all a favor and shave it.

Tags: John McCain's Comb-Over