Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for July 13, 2013

This is a different guy named Brian, not me.

Though I also have a fertile imagination.

Oh my!

I’m glad that’s not you, Bri…. it would be hard to get in your driver’s seat with tall foliage on your head…..besides being creepy.

Ballard Street isn’t usually quite so supernatural….

Do you think this Brian clicked on some spam message and ordered weird stuff from the internet?

“See growth in just 9 days!” They didn’t actually use the word “hair.”

Bev! Did you save me a seat?

I see I missed Shika buying rounds….

But I have a pretty healthy credit on my tab, what with the Monkey being away so much…can I buy you two a drink?

I’ve tried to tell Betty … red hair, and soft grey eye shadow….

she’d look so much better…. But no…. she insists on keeping her grey hair and using that lurid red shadow.

A little compact of my extra-glow soft-touch shadow in “MoonCloud”… a pale, silvery metallic grey…. is only $4.67, and would last her 6 months…

But she goes to the Ballard Five and Dime and Doughnut Store, and pays $1.99 for that.

.

Brian… that’s a good attitude.People get so hung up on stupid stuff.

Even though I’m a hairstylist in real life, unless clients insist, I don’t do complicated styles that people can’t maintain….

Hair shouldn’t rule your life.

I wear my own hair very long and wash ‘n wear…. I like it that way and hate short hair on me…. but if I had to blow it dry every day or fuss with sprays and gels I’d want to shave my head!

I think Betty’s planning to commit herbicide.

Hey…. um…. Brian…. whoa…. I’m a liberal hippie …um…. well something….but…. sniffle…. surely not a douchebag….

That’s one reason I don’t get started with politics here… We’re all different, on Ballard Street….Liberal, Conservative, Radical…dog, cat, rabbit, monkey….

But we’re all neighbors, and we all get along!

Um…. Bev….I…. um…. (Is it warm in here?)

I don’t think it’s in the budget…. I mean…. er… the Monkey would have to say…and he’d want…. well, you know… girls or something.

He did let me hire the Fireman for one night a week….But I think….

wow….

Maybe some interviews might not be amiss……I didn’t realise this jacket was so war….. phew…..

For better or Worse is another place where the meanies meet up.

LOL… I’ve never been to a drum circle in my life.

I’ve always worked hard, never “dropped out” .. Didn’t call myself a hippie back in the day….But I do now, cos you’re right that people tend to classify people at first glance….

I have long hair, long skirts (sometimes) and left-wing politics… “Hippie” is shorthand for that.

And don’t get me started about all the meanies at Non Sequitur.

Bev!You’re a genius.

I mean…. we don’t have to promise anything…. right?

G’night Bev… take a red cupcake home…they’re all left cos I asked everybody not to eat them till the Veteran saw them….

But at this point I don’t think he’d mind.I took a picture so if some are missing I can show him what they looked like…..sigh…

Vet…. hope you take a look at the birthday stuff on Friday’s strip…..

OK, I need to scroll back up to see what the strip was all about again.

If Brian’s imagination gets any more fertile, he’ll need Scott’s Weed and Feed.

I think an idea is beginning to sprout.

My ends start to split as I approach shoulder length and it’s easiest to keep just wash n wear (setting with bobbypins every night). My hair is fine and thin and the color it has decided to be is fine with me (but when it was dark blond I used to bleach it – later just had it “frosted” so I didn’t need touchups every 3 weeks) when it WAS dark blond some photos look brunette while others are blond depending on light. This grey is easier. My lover uses “Just for men” which I dislike because it stains the bedding. His natural is a sparkling white now (shown here in 2002) We were both heavier then (and just friends).

Batten down the hatches! His next book is Moby Dick!!

It runs in the family.

Have you noticed, as you get older, the “wild” hairs get wilder? And sprout in strange places? I’ve always had cats and now I have a cat whisker in my eyebrow! Brian’s wild hair really is wild!

Yes, that’s why I like hanging out here (and DS). We are all different and have fun here. I NEED that now. I am WAY to the right of . . . whoever you care to name, but politics does no one any good except the pols.

Cuddles birthday yesterday and I noticed last night that my lover has vanished from my Skype contacts (and the last I heard from him was 6/7/13 email, 6/5/13 Skype). I guess I’ll go back to accepting that we are just friends (no benefits) so I’m SAD. I don’t care for anyone else. After I discuss with him (if that’s so) I will adopt another bird. This time I want an albino cockatiel.

It’s just that a white one would remind me of Cuddles and I think that I can bring out the personality in any bird. I love the touch of feathers and a clean bird does not have any bad smells (I’m fussy about smells, even though I can happily eat mostly raw garlic in my omelet).

I’ll check with him first (before deciding to get the bird) because if he’ll still let me visit him, boarding a pet (or providing for travel) is problematical.

I heard that Bat Pug was in trouble and I came to offer assistance…bail bond, beggin strips, whatevers necessary…

Boy, I miss everyones birthday…

Happy Birthday! Shika and Veteran

Cute! Cute! I love the look on her face – I can read a lot into that look!!

I was going to try to make a joke about overfertalized brains and breinfarts, and I found this image.Kinda says it all…

I was going to try to make a joke about overfertalized brains and breinfarts, and I found this image.Kinda says it all…

He is truly a blooming idiot.

Brain fertilizer!

I NEED some!

Thanks, Happy.

I am trying very hard not to comment on boneless bananas cos…well…. you know….

Sounds good, Shika but mine has always been thin – and when it was bleached it was difficult because I had a lot of red (the Irish part of my roots). I’m fine with the natural color now and at least it’s not thinning (just never thick or full). I guess that’s one reason I don’t have it done but I often colored it myself when I was married- if I went to have it done, my MIL “watched” the kids (watched them wreck the house because she did not let them go outside).

Sorry I ran off …. what did I miss?

Oh Bev…. you are so right about the bartenders…..

We must get right to the bottom of…. things…. yeah…. …um….. what was I saying?

Of course, that fact that there are only 9 customers right now…and Sid’s here with Fenton….PLUS I’m here…..

That doesn’t mean we don’t need to at least interview bartenders, does it?

Fenton…. should I power up the big grinder?

Bev…. don’t suppose you want banana daiquiris tonight?

Shika… how about you? Are you still here?

Bev, here’s a couple interviewees.First groupFor an alternate sound track Let it run for about 1 min then play the first group clip on a different tab.

Some of Munky’s friends send an Audition Vid

And Shika…. let’s not get too natural with this hair thing…..

(cough)

I said I don’t fuss with mine on a daily basis…. and I don’t.It’s thick and long and wavy….and wash and wear….

But it’s cut in long bangs and some layers, and shaggy bits….and while it used to be almost black…and when I was 20 it started acquiring some silver….

somehow… in the last 20 years or so…. it has started to…. well… sort of…. rust….till I hardly ever see any silver any more.And it’s grown pretty dark, though not as dark as it once was, cos that would look silly.

kinda this color only darker…. but not this dark

Tee hee….

Odd how that happens.Especially if you’re a hairstylist.

And some shots from training camp

I won’t bother you with ones who didn’t make the cut

No reason.Just a random photo of a redhead hair stylist…: )

X! Those apes are multi-talented!

I saw them once in Riverdance!

I don’t know whether we could afford such high-price entertainment…..

Gosh…. to be perfectly honest…. all those guys are a bit beefy for my taste.

And so young…. looking at all the bartenders, and the red-headed hairstylist….I suddenly feel old!LOL

If it’s the Monkey racing back here…. I see it!

Here’s Edward showing how to mix a couple of holiday cocktails.

Yes…. meant to say…X … I thought your musical substitution was perfect!

The Fireman IS perfect….. as eye candy.

Darn nice of you X, anyway…..

A little change up for the turn…Johnny B Good

I always act natural, Bev…..I don’t know how not to…..which is sometimes unfortunate….sigh…..

And yeah, thanks for piping us over the turn, X….makes it seem almost like we had one….

Ballard St. is deprived!

G’night Bev!I’ll hold the fort…. for a little while, anyway.

Got any more cool music, X?

Okay, Susan let’s have aDance PartySplish SplashNo, girls didn’t wear makeup back then.Cathy’s ClownChantilly LaceSleepwalkGreat Balls of Fire

Hey cool X — I walked down the street for a bit…..

Didn’t think you’d be back.

Wanna dance?

Just like in the gym. LOL

Now let’s BoogieThe Jumpin JiveAnd for the cat peopleStray Cat Strut

Now I going to sign off with these…Dream Lover All I Have To Do Is Dream

LOL!

“Fraid I can’t quite match that Boogie dancing clip.

Ok…. thanks X… it’s been fun…I’m gonna sign off too…. Nice music.

Well, I see that I went to bed too early for the party (again) but that’s OK because I had lovely dreams. One of X Tech’s links had one that you guys might like. I’d need a little Nip-Tuck or sumpin’ to wear this outfit , even with my current weight.

@X, they did a good job of coordinating the photos with that Stray Cat Strut – and it reminded me of the animated movie with Goulet and Garland “Gay Puree” There was even a link to a song from that movie Everybody Wants to be a CAT but the film has many good songs and GREAT animation.

I recommend to anyone who hasn’t seen it. I have a copy in my collection.

Pilot on my water heater went out.Must have gotten windy last night.

@Brian, hope it was no trouble to light (and quick recovery). Back in the days when you had to use matches for pilots, my X took me around to do all his family at start of heating season (long before I thought of doing mechanical design). I also painted murals for family and friends – and countertop motors (in the days of Nutone). I installed THIS

It’s funny- I even had those canisters and paper dispenser as shown (just never the solid top range back then). My X once bought a whole 1/4 hind of beef and we cut up on kitchen table (you’d never believe how much that little home grinder went through) ;-D The mixer and blender got more use – but all on that little counter plate. The X preferred me to cook challenging things like pigs feet and ox tail (and the whole pigs in back yard oven). I really learned to like eating the tongue (very tender meat and good if properly seasoned), but don’t ask my children about that (I don’t think they’ve had it since- but I have, just not often).

Wow… this incident with Brian is weird, even for Ballard Street!

I was only able to see the comics on my phone until I got a new router & the modem began to work again, so now I’m frantically scanning through the comments everyone made for the last several weeks to see what else has been going on!

My word! New Fonts…colors,…B-Day Parties!A Belated Happy Birthday to Shikamoo, and Veteran, and all the other July celebrants!Oh, not sorry to have missed that NASTY TROLL a few weeks back! ugh!)

bev you spoke too soon. Shika has been spotted in the house. She just might stop by the Tiki for a quickie.

Many years after Brian saw that Mr. Rogers show, he can finally say, “Why, yes….yes, I have grown something in the garden of my mind!”

Hey, Shika! A little accordian music ALWAYS makes me feel better!….

click on the accordian

(Seriously…feel better soon!)

Bev, if you could send a “purrmedic” asap, I’d appreciate it. I’ll have to rest up to read all the comments here, so I’ll be back after the medics take care of me.

At the moment, Shika, right here, if she stays long enough to read this comment.

Time to turn in.

Thanks Grog. I’m trying to stay as long as I can. My leg is cramping up again though, so I’ll be crawling up stairs for a hot bath and then crawling back down to the couch for the night. My bed is on the third floor- too much for me.

See my comment @ CD

Stel, That accordian player picked up my spirits, but I thought that the Kitten was going to play! lolAnyway, I’d better say good night for now before I can’t move from my chair.See you all later. Good Night Groggy and Ballardeers.

Stel, watched Mr. Rogers with my sons as they were growing up, what a simply sweet program for children. Ah, back in the day. THANKS FOR THAT BLAST FROM THE PAST!

Quick drive by, sleep well Ballardeers.

I just returned from Baronial Court (a monthly thing) where many awards were given and everyone is required to wear medieval garb. There were also announcements and they served sorbets of many flavors that were part of a competition for the occaision. I volunteered for one project that we will be painting walls for our Barony (to enclose the shade pavilion for various events). Tents which have only a roof are not really of use in our AZ heat. Decorative walls are preferred and I have experience in painting sheets. having done this one for a celebration of the Danelaw wedding.

Hope to hear that Shika is on her way to recovery with the Fireman’s attention and I loved all the photos (just caught up). I had to drive home very carefully 20 mi on freeway and missed my turn on my main cutoff street (wish we had a streetlight near our entrance -which has no sign since someone crashed it). So instead of entering my subdivision from the west, did from the south but no prob.

G’night all! see you in the morning (7ish).

Jack and the Beanstalk?

Here’s another slippery fairytale:

https://cleoandcompany.net/july-13-2023/

Good morning Balladeers and Tigressy!