Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 31, 2012

" No, I ate New Jersey Ave ! "

Rusty, do not pass go, do not collect $200! Bad dog!

I was just playing Monopoly with friends the other day, and they must have been taking lessons from Rusty with the “Dog Eat Dog” attitude!

Rusty just mad because they don’t have a fire hydrant as a token !

Number 6 must be psychic, he was just instructing me in Monopoly at A.C. for my New Years Eve pajama party….hmmm, he is at least prescient, if not psychic…

Hey there Ballardeers ! I’ll probably be seeing you all later at the Tiki Bar but in case I miss any of you, I want to wish you all a healthy, safe, prosperous and of course HAPPY NEW YEAR.The old Captain doesn’t usually go out drinking on New Years Eve, since he considers it Amateur Hour when a good professional drinker stays home, However, since the the festivities on Ballard Street are all within walking distance of his home and a short taxi ride to his galleon, The Irish Rover, he will be in full sail tonight !On a somewhat somber but not sober note, an old friend of mine, an Irish folksinger and one of the best native fiddle and banjo players I knew, the great Pecker Dunne, passed away this month. Pecker was one of the “Traveling People” . He was a great musician, songwriter, raconteur, and all round great fella !Google him or go up on You Tube to hear his songs and experience a part of the real Ireland.RIP ole mate !

Maybe we should buy a new game.

I vote with Lady Lavender…. unless you’re volunteering, Essex…. nah…. I still say “new game.”

Yes, the Ballard street time warp had happened to me several times lately…I refresh and still don’t see comments that magically insert themselves much later…People answer posts I still can’t see.

Whether it was that, or my own haste…. I somehow missed Briatollah’s post saying he was sick.

Hope you feel better, Bri — I’ll go make you some magic soup too.

BTW I gave up on my humidifier cos of that condensation….

felt like a mild form of water torture.

OK, here we go….Sip it slowly…..

Essex…. from last night….So happy to hear I won that auction.

In answer to your question…I don’t know yet exactly where I’ll put it.

It …um… well, you know, I’m a creative person, so I’m sure I’ll find an interesting position …. Rest assured… ..Wherever it goes it will be well hu …. displayed. Displayed. Yes.

Laissez les bon temps rouleswishing us all a better 2013

Oh… Bev…. I meant to thank you for your kind offer…

Stel has offered, too, o send help from SCHAABS when I get here after the last Saturday bus and have to walk so far….

But the problem is, it’s usually one or two in the morning…I didn’t think you OR Sally really wanted to be saddled up so late.

BTW…. the Monkey didn’t ask for socks….he hates socks…I was just feeling sorry for his long fingers….er… toes… when he tries to wear his Sheriff boots all day.

Hi Red, hi Bri ….I guess it’s time for my nightcap…

Last one of 2012 … by the time I go to bed next time, it’ll be the wee hours of 2013.

(waves back….)

Scotch?

BTW, I got some Glenfiddich shortbread for Christmas.(small print…. it’s Walker’s shortbread with a microscopic amount of whisky in it.)

Me too. It’s a knight.

Cheers!

I can’t figure out just what 2% of Glenfiddich is going to do for a shortbread biscuit….

But I will say that for every 100 pounds of it they make, they waste two pounds of good Scotch whisky.

That’s a whole quart!

Can I pour you one too, Bri?Whisky, not shortbread.

Thank you Red!

Hey I found a picture:

Looks just like what I got…. only 5 ounces but If I could, I’d open them now and share them with you guys….

Oh…. wanted to warn you….and Miss E, and all the animals on Ballard Street….

when Dusty here wants to get in on the game…watch very carefully.

She has been known to have very sticky claws…. and her own dice….

Don’t trust her.

Of course our Sheriff would tell you not to trust ANY cat. LOL

I LOVE Walker’s shortbread…

Very healthy, of course.Flour, butter, sugar…a well-rounded diet.

Maybe that’s why I’m rather well rounded….

G’night Red!

Sweet dreams.

Oh… and hi Pacopuddy….morning in your corner of the planet, no?

The nightowls are just off to bed, here…. though I’m three hours behind RedKaycei…. and an hour behind Briatollah.

To me the most disturbing thing is, it looks to me like Rusty is winning…

that’s ’cause Monopoly is a dog eat dog world

HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yeah I know they lost. Jerry has to decide if he needs to FIRE himself first. Maybe if he would hire PLAYERS and not CRIMINALS they could be good.Oh well. I am a Redskin fan too so win win both ways.Last day of 2012. Welcome in 2013. I cant wait till 11-12-13 I love numbers and junctions. There are two Friday the 13 this year. September and December. Never a bad number for me. It is my lucky number. Well you all party safe and be good. We want to see you alive and well next year.I did notice the dog was winning. I never got into that game. I am terrible at board games and if it involves money forget it.

SusanS, you put this song in my head.

OKAY. Now lets find mile markers!!!!Ummmmmmm. But I want to go NORTH.

And they say we have confusing signs in Texas.

I volunteer to cut a piece of card stock and hand make a new Park Place. I used to think Monopoly was as boring as a game could get; then we played Life at my daughter’s last week.

Happy New Year Ballard St playersIt’s just time about for New Years in Paris. I headed over to Earthcam.com to watch the Eiffel Tower light show (3 pm PST).

Now it’s off to the Temple bar in Dublin for pint or two of the dark.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, neighbors!

Hey Essex and Larry…. thanks a LOT!(sniffle)

Do I remind men of Cole Porter? No.Romantic ballads….. no.Moonlight and roses?Hmmmm …. double no.

So instead of THISI get … well.. you know….

What can I say?Sigh…..

Six — be careful of popping balloons that can pop you one back!

And X … thanks for the reminder….

They do Times Square too….which I’ll probably be watching….And raising a glass at the Tiki…. that’s about as far as I usually feel like traveling on New Year’s Eve….I live right off the main North South street through town…. where all the drunks and cops play chase on drinking holidays… There are usually sobriety checkpoints and idiots who try to run them.I hear sirens every year out there….

No thanks!

Linguist…..

X amháin?

(sniffle)

Actually, Fergus is in a trash can orbiting the earth at this moment.(See Citizen Dog.)

Happy New Year, Happy!

Been meaning to congratulate you on apparently learning to spell! LOL…

[I mean cos your name doesn’t say you can’t any more   ;)   ]

I know that there are a couple of Heavenly Nostrils fans here.Dana’s strip finely loaded.

That reminds me, I need to change my razor blade tomorrow to honor the New Year.I’ll be talking at you later Red, before the turn, but right now I have extremely important business to take care of -- watching LSU crush Clemson !We do have our priorities, you know.GO TIGERS !! ( the real ones not those fake Clemson impostors with the kitty litter paw print on their helmets. )

On my way to a real live party. If I don’t check in by 2:00am MST, I’ve been arrested, killed by a drunk driver, or gotten lucky. ;]

Bummer, Bummer, Bummer ! I can’t believe LSU snatched Defeat right out of the jaws of Victory ! I do have to admit the Clemson played a great game !One incredible game but not the way I wanted 2012 to end.Re: North Carolina and Michigan … Go North Carolina !

Absolutely ! I’m bypassing the Scotch and going straight for the Irish. Fenton, pour me a Redbreast – neat ! I’m in mourning for the demise of LSU but celebrating the end of a crummy year !Red, my friend, here’s to a better year for everyone !

This year in retrospective has had its ups and downs. Too many old friends lost, but some new ones made. Finances precarious but health stable. Age advancing but enthusiasm for life never waning. On balance, we shall all (hopefully) look forward to the upcoming year with optimism .All the Best to you and yours.

Happy New Year East Coasters!

You beat me to it, Bev!

Thanks for the song, Red!

I have to say that I’m so grateful the dog is deaf ! For the last few hours, it’s sounded like a war zone around here, what with everyone shooting off fireworks. It’s quieted down now, with only sporadic bursts of pyrotechnic enthusiasm.At least they are only shooting off fireworks. Some places I have lived, it was guns, with live ammunition !Talk to ya’ll on the turn.HAPPY 2013 !

I’m here Bev!Yes, please break out the champagne…. and the pizzas don’t look bad either!

Cheers!

Happy New Year, everybody!!

You gotta strart out the New Year with the three Cajun dishes, Pork, Black Eyed Peas and Cabbage = Black Eyed Peas for Health, Pork for Luck and Cabbage for Wealth !

The Monopoly board I know looks different.

Beam me up…

https://cleoandcompany.net/december-30-2022/

Happy New Year! from Cleo and Company:

https://cleoandcompany.net/december-31-2022/

Dry and Dusty I hope you’re OK?

Happy and healthy New Year!!!

Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.

Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.