Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for May 28, 2012

Poultry Monday. Now there’s a reason to celebrate!

Stew appears to be checking Sally’s tail.Well, that’s our Stew. Just wait til he gets to the parade.

What with the canine competitions and the poultry rally there will be So Much tail I don’t if Stew’s heart can take it.

EMTs are standing by.

Oh gosh, it seems a brunch of turkeys tried to crash the poultry rally and had be to escorted off.

My, don’t Sally and Stew look resplendent in full regalia.

They certainly have the legs for it.

Wow, x_tech…. so glad you were early with your camera….

Bev! Was that already a lapse on BatPug’s part?He promised.

Attention all BS Memorial Day Parade Committee members… Final team safety meeting and checklist review in the Red White & Blue yurt behind the review stand… Bring your checklist, walkie-talkies and get your staff security badges (I’ll hand them out after your checklist is initialed by me)…

Oh, and x_tech, please make sure FKF got his FFA inspection and clearance from the Ballard County Municipal International Airport to fly that… that… contraption…!!! That thing doesn’t look right…

After everyone checks in Stel will give the ok to get the party started…!!!!

Good to see ya so “Bright eyed and bushy tailed” Sunshine…!!(thought you were gonna be sleepin’ in this mornin’?? How’s those majik hands of yers doin’…??)

Somebody stop that kitty!I swear I am NOT cleaning up that mess!It was quite enough cleaning up after the yaks!!

Monkey, after all those people woke…well, never mind…Anyway, how could I sleep late on Parade Day?

In my next post I’m passing out the lyrics to the song I wrote for the Ballard St Men’s Chorale.I don’t expect any of you have memorised them yet.There should be enough copies there for the spectators too…. but let the men shine first…please don’t sing along till the last chorus…. Let me know if that will do, Monkey.Next time hopefully a blues or a barbershop number…But inspiration is a slippery muse…or something….Bev! Mmm…. what a great idea!Turkey pot pies would sell GREAT…at the Esssex60 Search mission table.BTW I really need a balloon pump, if anyone has one lying around.

       “Men of Ballard Street”       

Oh we are the men of Ballard Street…Where nothing is quite what it seems…We may not have rhythm in our feet.. But look how we dance in our dreams…

And here’s to our Ballard Street ladies,All of them pretty and sweet…They’re wearing lotsof polka dots..Sweeping us off of our feet.

Oh we’d rather live on Ballard StreetWhere EVERY idea is a winner…Where roses are red, and life is sweet,And explorers can get home for dinner.

Here’s to our blue-haired sweethearts,All of them loyal and true…They love our dreamsAnd heroic schemes,And they know we love them too…

Yes we are the men of Ballard Street…Where nothing is quite what it seems…We may not have rhythm in our feet.. But look how we dance in our dreams…

I am sleepy….going home for a nap….

Oh Susan that will DEFINITELY do…!!! Such talent..!! Ya know I’m lookin for a new member of my blues band…!!! Later with that… Yum..!! Turkey Pot pies..!!!

Susan, as you sleep this morning, look how we dance in our dreams….

Great line by the way. I’ve always enjoyed your combinations of words…

No one’s asked the important question? You’re missing the obvious here folks.Chicken Stew?

Stew and Sally are thieves, pure and simple! Undercover Monkeyblues, can’t you arrest them? I am so upset! What will I wear to the parade???? And, I’m running late!

Oh, m’gosh! All out of breath! Just made a mad dash to the Ballard St.Savings Bank (BSSB — not to be confused with BSSSBS, or the Ballard St. Susan Sunshine Beviek Salon) and gained access to my very large safe deposit box (thank you, **x_Tech_, for opening the bank on a holiday!). Got my extra-special bird suit that I had put away for the June Ballard St. Cotillion, but when in crisis, you do what you gotta do…!I’ll have to start work on the Cotillion outfit first thing tomorrow morning!

Okay, let’s get ready to start the parade……

a few turkeys came prepared with a parade permit…

BatPug swears he’s been on constant patrol. Lt. Horatio Canine runs a tight ship, as it were…

Gotta run back home quick… water geyser in da irrigation… keep an eye open for a special guest Parade Marshall..!!!!Who could it be…?!!!!

Ballard Street circa 1970…The first performance of

Rufus Thomas’ “The Funky Chicken.”.

♪ I… love a ♪ ♫parade…♪

StelBel! You look great!!

Thanks… to you, and to the Monkey, and Linguist and my old pal Varnes….and anybody who mentioned liking my little effort.

Still a couple of lines I’m not crazy about, but I’m sure the guys will smooth it over, with their grea …. their talen … OK, their earnest voices….Heartfelt thanks to my fellow parade committee members for their hard work and devotion!x_Tech, you’ve been amazing….And Stel, my goodness!Linguist, you came late but you’ve worked so hard.Beviek has done so much she’s still napping…. can’t start the official festivities without her!In fact she’s presenting some awards.And Monkey…. um.. well… thanks, Monkey.One special announcement:The Essex60 Search Mission table is open, right there at he corner of Ballard and Larch, staffed by your neighbors and good friends.We’ve got balloons, T-shirts, soft drinks, cookies, Bev’s special brownies, and asparagus (we couldn’t get any good corn on the cob yet.)And um…. dozens of turkey sandwiches, at a very good price, and the most delicious home made turkey pot pies.Please support the search mission!Essex come home!

They shouldn’t have opened the Ballard Street Beer Booth so early. I’m afraid that the BS Irregulars may be exactly that tomorrow morning. Also, I noticed Roo and his Australian mates looked a bit hopped up. I sent Alvin Aard home, as soon as possible. It was the yeast I could do.

Actually this particular Monday is called Memorial Day. You know, the one where we remember our fallen warriors. But hey, we served so you could draw your comics about chickens. That’s what freedom’s about, right?

They never do, Beviek, they never do.He’ll probably never come back… just sit and gloat cos he was so gosh darn clever.That’s why I didn’t bother reminding him that YES, freedom is exactly that!In totalitarian regimes, artists and writers are compelled to produce patriotic and military works for holidays.Didn’t he supposedly fight against that? Hurrah for our right to choose!

Meanwhile…. it’s great to see you back!

Hey. don’t be too taken in by BatPug…. he knows exactly how to use that cute face….There are just certain fellows that know how to get away with…um… let’s just say monkey business… and still make us smile.

Speaking of which…. hope I didn’t miss the cowbell presentation? I’ve had so much to keep my eye on!

Just between you and me…. that was a great idea about the turkeys…. (sshh)…we sold 62 pot pies, plus feeding the parade committee, and there are still enough to fill your freezer…except it’s already full of whole turkeys.I’m not sure HOW many sandwiches, but we went through 16 loaves of bread, including the sandwiches for the crew… and, OK, I ate one….

I think every parade ought t have a… well… a surprise influx of turkeys!We’ll be even more glad come Thanksgiving, even at the Ballard St. Food Bank.

Special guest arriving via yak caravan from far away.. Just in time for the post parade party…!!!!

Oooh Monkey — is this the one who was supposed to make it here in time to be the Grand Marshall?

I’ve got an errand to run but I’ll be back…

First off, I would like to spa er… THANK all the first ladies of BS… in no particular oder, they are each sppecial and hold a dear spot in my monkey heart… Bev… Stel… Marge and of course Suzy….!!! You women are what makes mah favorite neighborhood the ONLY place for a ol’ munkey like me to call home… you all did such a GREAT job for todays festivities….!!

Not to mention the guys that are always at the ready to follow yer orders… x_tech…, #6… new guy on the block Linguist… of course BIG “dog”…… Lafn Larry, and of course the “ever rad” Radish, more or less….

Now…. after spending the week traveling abroad and following cold leads and posting want ads on telephone poles and trees around the world, I’m sorry to say I have failed in locating our good friend Ess… I would like to hope that he is reading this and maybe someday drop in at least for a snickerdoodle, some yak jerky…. or just to say “HIGH” or at least send a postcard from Fiji… I wish I could deliver our close friend….

And now for the special guest I promised… of course, I found nonwe other than the queen of blue hair… more than happy to stop by for a chat and toast a few in memory to all the brave souls that have served our fair country as well as others, in preserving peace from tyranny…

None other than…DAME EDNA…!!!!!

And here I thought the old dear was still Down Under. No wonder Roo and Andy Aard were tippin’ back the pints this afternoon. God Save The Queen!

and now for some entertainment (I promised…!!!

:(I)

During the chaos following FKF aborted bombing run on the awards ceremony for the Canine Parade some of the turkeys made good their escape. I suspect a certain person who shall remain unnamed may have been responsible for driving off FKF with his .45 auto super soaker.

Wow, Monkey! Great to hear you play again.

And I’m honored to meet Dame Edna — I note her hair is red. white and blue, albeit mixed together.

x_Tech…. your secret is safe with me…As for the turkeys…. well, some of them didn’t get far….if ya know what I mean… wink …

And X — glad you liked my song…. sorry the boys got so carried away with it…I think they did like the sentiment.. but of course, the beer was the biggest factor.I can see you were hittin’ the beer tent too….by this: “@StelBelYou welcome Mrs B, "

They are like poultry in motion…

Now when you REALLY want to see the Chicken Dance, you must not forget to invite Stew and Sally! There’s just nobody like them (some say Thank God, but then again, some don’t appreciate the Ballard Street Mens Chorale and Marchi…uh…shufflin…uh…stumbling Drill Team).

Well – those dogs are no chicken, man!

https://cleoandcompany.net/may-27-2022/

At least they’ve got the legs for it.

Animation Friday with the dynamic duo! @cleoandcompany.net

TGIF Cleo phans! Hope you’ve had a good week.

Y’all grab a cooler full of grape popsicles and take a day trip to your favorite place. (((((HuGz!)))))

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

The “human” version would be fast French food on wheels?

https://cleoandcompany.net/may-28-2022/

Same as what I said yestetday. :-D. :-D

Turbo What’s the diff Saturday! @cleoandcompany.net

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wEWSUUsUc

Good morning Cleo Sports phans!

Grilling and BBQ ing all day. Burgers and brisket. (((((HuGz!)))))

Hi Plods!!