SNOWMAGEDDON 2022, Part 2

The Chicagoland Area is under another Winter Storm Watch, this time running from Tuesday evening through Thursday evening.

The last storm hit right at morning rush hour, so I played it safe and stayed home.

The question is: Can I do that for a second week in a row? Or will I have to soldier on through the storm?

We shall see.

RIP Bill Jackson

Sorry I'm getting to this late, but it's been busy on this end. And there have been far too many COVID-related deaths to keep up with.

But Bill Jackson deserves at least a brief mention here.

Bill Jackson was the creative force behind several children's shows here in Chicago, most notably BJ & Dirty Dragon and Gigglesnort Hotel.

I had the chance to correspond with Mr. Jackson briefly a couple of decades ago. He was as warm and funny in his letters as he was on his shows--and he included a sketch of one of his characters with each letter.

Thanks for all the smiles, BJ.

FYI

So far this month, I've posted 14 updates to this blog.

That's just one less the last three Januarys combined.

Not a bad start to the year, really.

RIP Meat Loaf

This one hurts.

About three decades ago, I discovered Meat Loaf's best-selling album, "Bat Out of Hell." (Yes. I know. I was late to the party. Shut up.)

Once I found it, though, I played it to pieces. Seriously. Once or twice a week for weeks--months--on end. Then my interest spidered out to some of his other albums--"Bat Out of Hell 2: Back into Hell" and "Dead Ringer," mostly.

But my attraction to his music was the same: Love lost and won on an operatic scale, yet his voice and the arrangements by Jim Steinman made it all seem so intimate, immediate.

I tried turning friends on to Meat Loaf's music, with little success. That was okay. I understood. His music wasn't for everyone. No one's music is, really. But Meat Loaf's music? Was definitely for me.

No cause of death has been released. Marvin Lee Aday was 74 years old.

Every (Kitty) Picture Tells a Story 1/21/22

It may be Friday, but Bumpy still wants to know what you think you're doing.

Every Picture Tells a Story 1/19/22

The package label of the food item bought at Rich's Deli clearly stated that this was a "burrito."

But it's not.

Instead, it was a rather tasty sandwich made with various chopped meats and a savory sauce.

Note that I said "was." It didn't last long in La Casa de Mama.

Every (Kitty) Picture Tells a Story 1/17/22

Bumpy would like to know what you think you're doing.

Every Picture Tells a Story 1/14/22

Brutal beauty.

Every Picture Tells a Story 1/13/22

New glasses, same old face.

That Day of the Year

I know I've mentioned this before, but today is my dad's birthday.

He died nearly three decades ago, but not a day goes by that I don't miss him. He wasn't the greatest dad in the world--a lot of years were lost to us due to his alcoholism--but he tried to make it up to me and my brother in his later years, and the effort was appreciated.

He was only 60 years old when he died. I'll be 60 in two years. I'm not looking forward to it.

FYI

I did manage to get Bumpy the Ceramic Reindeer home in one piece.

I took all of the other Holidaze decorations at work home earlier this week, but hesitated at bring Bumpy home, most because I didn't want to wind up rebreaking his busted appendages.

Yesterday, though, I wrapped him very carefully in plastic bags, placed him in one of the forward pouches of the backpack, and tried really hard not to slap the backpack against train or bus seats on the way home.

And now? For the moment, he stands proudly with his sister atop the mirror in Mom's living room. They'll both have to be packed away soon--even Orthodox Christmas is coming to an end--but at least Bumpy the Reindeer survived the holiday season--just barely, but survive he did.

Dear CTA

I'd like to thank you for making me wait 45 minutes in the near-zero cold last night at rush hour for a 49 Western Avenue bus. Plenty of 49B North Western buses rolled through the Brown Line station, as did a few 11 Lincoln Avenue buses. I even saw 7 or 8 Western Buses going north to the Berwyn terminal. But coming south? Nada.

I'd further like to thank you for making me wait nearly half an hour for a Purple Line train headed north this morning. The scedule posted at the Chicago Avenue Brown Line station says that four Purple Line trains should have rolled through by the time one came lumbering into the station by the time one finally turned the corner at the Merchandise Mart.

If I don't have frostbite, it's just dumb luck.

Now excuse me--I have some hot coffee waiting to be consumed.

For Those Wondering...

The tree in front of Mom's house not only survived Snowmageddon 2022, it was waving frantically in the strong breezes this morning, slapping the front of the house hard enough to disturb the cats, who are generally not distrurbed by anything but one another.

(Seriously. I have to break up at least one cat fight a night, usually between Bumpy and Moose--two boys who want to rule the roost solo, but have to live together.)

I think that tree might be there long after the house itself is gone.

Happy New Year 2022

Just wanted to wish all you cool cats and kittens who drop by this bloggity from time to time a Happy New Year. Last year was hardly a treat, what with COVID spreading here, there and everywhere. But this year? Will be better. It has to be, OMICRON or not.

Happy New 2022!

Creature Features Happy New Year

This was the ad for what was shown on Creature Features on New Year's Day 1972.

The Way to Start 2022 Right

What better way to kick 2021 to the curb and usher in 2022 than to watch one of my all-time favorite movies--Plan 9 from Outer Space--on Off Beat Cinema on Retro TV? Throw in some tasty food and refreshing beverages and I'd say the party has started.