Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for March 21, 2019

Esther is in the kitchen having a celebratory glass of wine. Stew has forgotten what day this is because of Sparky’s intoxicating performance.

Uncle Stew is easily entertained.

Actually, Uncle Stew looks stewed.

Shoot a plain light purple ball into the chair and make him think it disappeared.

Sparky’s just celebrating the end of winter. Uncle Stew’s just celebrating. We won’t ask what’s in that coffee cup, but you can be sure it’s not coffee.

Heck, Stew’s not the only one. That’s a pretty good dog trick!

Now if the dog could only say ‘Joe DiMaggio’.

Spit that goes up must come down…

Preferably not in one’s eye.

Balls hurt…also in one’s eye.

So this trick, while admittedly clever, carries a good deal of risk.

There had better be a biscuit waiting or Stew there will be limping.

Nice Mme D on the wall. Dark walls always enhance fine art.

Our third and last day of high 70s in Seattle, following six cruel weeks. Back to cloudy skies tomorrow, they say. These little gems of weather must be appreciated when they happen.

Stew goes to the dogs.

Next, I’ll juggle the three balls….

For my next trick I’ll need a volunteer from the audience.

Patooie.

What’s in that cup?

Nothing up his sleeve, that trick always works!

A one trick dog is about as much fun as a one trick pony.. Uncle Stew will soon tire of this.. drink his.. coffee and fall asleep.

Stewie’s gonna get quite a surprise when Sparky shows him the Hidden Balls Trick…

For the next trick he bounces the ball off of Uncle Stew’s forehead. Much to the delight of the cat

Everyone knows it doesn’t take much to amuse Uncle Stew. He is a gleeful proponent of liquid sunshine. No matter how surreptitious he tries to be about it, we know what potent potables he’s sipping from his teacup or coffee mug.

To slightly misquote Dickens, Uncle Stew is a bit like Durdles, the drunken stonemason in The Mystery of Edwin Drood:

“_No man is better known on Ballard Street. He is the chartered libertine of the place. Fame trumpets him a wonderful workman – which, for aught that anybody knows, he may be (as he never works); and a wonderful sot – which everybody knows he is._”

I’m just glad someone is happy!!!!!!!!!! :)

Is it a sudden jet of dog breath? A saliva geyser? Or just a canine going, “Ptooie!”?

Ahm BooKin hiM fur teh FryDay Night InnerTainmint at teh TIKI… (knot uNcel StewiE….SpiKe)HappY Owur Spe$huLs… YakBall Sammiches anna Nanner Dak $6.77)

Spitball! Uncle Stew reminisces about baseball, getting a bit muddled about the concept in the process.