Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for July 12, 2014

He really had his heart set on that toaster oven. But Theda hollered “Bingo!” first.

@Bev,Jeeze you go to bed before I can say Hi! I’m so sorry you were laid up, I understand it was a cramp, something to do with a crystal ball?

…and she was late for Bingo.

Good morning Doh

Bunny bingo. Who knew?

Bobby’s becoming begrudging. Becalm, Bobby!

“Something vexes thee?”

My aunt is in a rest home. When you pass by the dining room where they play Bingo be very quite……they growl…….

Another pocket full of dreams…

B-I-N-G-O!B-I-N-G-O!B-I-N-G-O-!And BINGO was his name, Oh!Pardon me. That’s NOT his name? Cary on then….

I mean, CARRY on.BOBBY vents well, I think, don’t you?

@HAPPY‘Bunny Bingo’, where everyone jumps up and yells, “BUNNY!” when they win. Then they hop up to get their carrot.

I’m not a bunny BEV. HAPPY is. I am a lynx. I LEAP up and take whatever prize I want, lol

Here are the links to the glittered and unglittered birthday announcement, should they “disappear”.

Shika’s Glittered Birthday Announcement

Shika’s UNGlittered Birthday Announcement

Dear Shika,

I hope you have the most wonderful birthday and party. Unfortunately, I can’t stay up tonight to celebrate because I’m really not feeling well right now. I hope to rejoin the party in progress during the day. Have fun tonight!!!

♥♥♥Stel

;Happy Birthday ShikaMoo

For Me?

But we can try

Everybody dance now

Just place some catnip on the white spot…

What the ! ???

@Bev

Happy Birthday Shikamoo!!

Happy Birthday, Shika!

I’ll be right back!

Shika, I got a button for you to wear on your big day!

Happy Birthday, Shika!!!

Some snacks for all the night owls..

I think I’ll have a Blue, or Bleu before crawling back to bed.

We have lots of strawberries, Enjoy, and night all…

Cake on the way!

Bev…. wow!

What a spread!

I was born and raised in Montreal and my favorite foods were menu items such as pig’s knuckles & sauerkraut from Krausman’s on Beaver Hall Hill, The Reubin’s (On St. Catherine’s Street) smoked meat sandwich, hot dogs and fries from Victory Hot Dog (also on Beaver Hall Hill) and Kojax burgers and Jiros with hot sauce from Kojax (also on St. Catherine Street) or anything on the menu from the Baguette d’Ivoire, an Asian restaurant on Bishop Street. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any of those things.

Victory Hot Dog was the only greasy spoon I knew that could get a long line up to get in on the first warm day of spring.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIKA-MOO!!

Thanks, bev. Pork hocks can be a reasonable substitute down here in Texas, but there is no substitute for the smoked meat sandwich – not even the pastrami sandwiches from Jason’s deli.

Thanks, Bev..

Sure, help yourself.

Not a strawberry cake, …but some layers of chocolate, some of vanilla pound cake…but whipped cream, custard, and fresh strawberries in between.And blueberries and bananas.

Well, I’ve finished my Bleu, so I think I will turn in too.

Thanks, 2Old!And of course you can have some!

I loved your strawberry cake, BTW.

Shikamoo this looks like you at the Tiki and it has a wonderful feline sense of celebration. Happy Birthday!

Linda has a favorite comic carachter, Betty Boob and she told me to send this to you.

Nighthawks…. er…you may have to explain that…er…. that…I mean…. what IS that?

not sure, but sure does look tasty!

and speaking of shameless plugs:CLICK HERE FOR CLEO AND COMPANY

Yikes.Are you Canadian, Nighthawks?

Cos only people who can eat THIS stuff would say that stuff looks tasty!

I have to admit, though, in spite of poutine being a national treasure,Canadians can be forgiven..cos nobody can really say no to Nanaimo bars….

Wow…. sign of a good party….I ate too much, danced too much…. and fell asleep…

Actually, it was those yakskin rugs by the fireplace again….cozy.

Anyway…. hope Shika gets here soon to see all the nice work everybody did for her…..Beeoootiful invitation, Stel, to start it off…

So much FOOD, Bev…. and what I ate was great…. and music… wow…Wonderful job, x_Tech…. your own work and the things you round up never fail to amaze me.

I can’t get over that cat leaping through the birthday greeting.

That comic is a lovely tribute, Nighthawks… I’m sure Shika will be thrilled.

2Old brought great stuff, Ruth chimed in for Linda…Now all we need is… Shika!

Happy Birthday, Miss Moo!

Wow! Sorry I just showed up, I fell asleep early. What a beautiful card STEL! And the food! I am off to church- two services. I am serving, so I had best hold off on imbibing until I return.

Let the party go on all day! I’ll see you when I get home!

Thank you all!! I will be back!

Good morning everyone.

Wish I could stay for the party. I’ve got two clients today.I may be able to peek in during the day, otherwise I’ll see you all this afternoon.

And this is the address of the birthday card, should all the images vanish.http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg550/ohallford/imagejpg1_zps3bee7241.jpg

See Ten Cats please! Or Citizen Dog.

B9, I17, B2 where are you. I can’t stand it any more, won’t take this abuse, I’ve had enough, it’s not fun any more, I won’t go, won’t play, I’ll never smile again. I hate everything. I done it right, I’m a good person, I pay my dues, why is this happening to me. I hate everything. I try hard, I do, ask anyone. I can’t stand it; its not luck, its something else; a dark force, like a disease, always there dragging me down. Next time I’m wearing my lucky socks and taking an umbrella, I’ll have doughnuts for dinner and everything will be perfect.

to Shika :

Celebrity Guest Table

(Click on the picture to open a different window with a larger version of the picture.)

Left to right: on the floor: Cleo and LouieLeft to right: around the table: Raymond, Cat In The Hat, Fergus, Arlo, Scooter and CuddlesAt the very end on the table, closest to the viewer: FlyKittyFly

Shika Shika Moo Shik

Shika Moo Shika Moo, Doncha Juss luv it….

Shika…

happy birthday, Shikamoo!

Thanks, Bev! I’m still munching on some of the dishes left over from last night….and, I can’t tell you the last time I had pancakes.

BTW, Shika sent a telegram saying that she’s having a lot of difficulty getting onto Ballard St., but she’ll continue trying!

I MADE IT! Sorry it took so long. Problems with my browser I guess. Thank you for all the Canadian pics and the cats pics!! I love where I live, although I have to confess that ….I have not tried poutine yet, although I keep meaning too…after all, I am CANADIAN!

lol

Okay, I can see all the comments, but the rest of my screen is black. Is it already night on Ballard Street??

STEL, your card and everything is fabulous. I will save as much of these as I can, but especially your card.

BEV, X_TECH, 2OLD, SUSAN, BRI, NIGHTHAWKS, GROG and many more when I read all the comments, thank you for your wishes and great cat pics.X_TECH, the cat on your card and the one with the banjo look like Stormy, the cat I grew up with- she lived 20 years!

Those Nanaimo bars look good. I’ll have some of BEV’s cake , and a bar after I tyr the poutine and other goodies. A Molsen’s Canadian too please! I hope I don’t get tipsy. I sipped a lot of my champagne scrolling through here….

Wet and Soggy

Thank you so much for passing Betty Boop along via Linda. She is one of my favorites too!Boop Boop de Boop!

Nighthawks, that platter looks like Canadian back bacon, sausage and er, baked figs? Blackberries? Something seedy, pardon the pun. ;-)-————

I love the card from CLEO AND COMPANY! Thank you. I thought they sang well.

Shikamoo! GoComics PRO Member said, less than a minute ago

I love all the celebrity guests you invited, STEL!! My favorite friends of the canine and feline variety, next to my friends here on Ballard Street.

WET AND SOGGY

Thank you so much for passing Betty Boop along via Linda. She is one of my favorites too!Boop Boop de Boop!

(((RUTH))) Very much appreciated.

I thought poutine was a Quebec thing. I don’t recall seeing it anywhere else, though I’ve seen smoked meat in Alberta. In the latter case, I wish I hadn’t. It was thoroughly disgusting.

Thanks for the Dr. Suess poem BEV. I love that.And STEL, GRUPLESTILTSKIN?? Purrrfect!

Shika boom, Shika boom Shik! Carmen says it like only she can BOOM BOOM!

Chic-a-boom- blush! Doncha jes luv it?

GROG?

That explains it, Shika. I will never set foot in a McD’s.

I loved Harvey’s though. A double burger with mustard, plckles and banana peppers with a side of onion rings were my standard order.

Me neither GROG. I think they just started to advertise it on the subway or the buses. If I try it, it will be in a restaurant or a pub, where I know it will taste more authentic.

How was your weekend GROG?

Mmmm. Yes, a Harvey’s hamburger is great. I usually had it with mustard, pickles and tomato, although the peppers sound good.

It was fatty asnd gristly and lacking in the flavor of a true Montreal old fashioned made at Reuben’s. The locacatio in Edmonton was a Dunn’s which was not a favorite in Montreal, but still was 10 times better than the Edmonton location.

Sometimes, the management makes all the difference in a chain, GROG.

Have a beer? I think the bar is still open. Or do you work early tomorrow?

My weekend was very short compared to next weekend, Shika. Next week will be a 5-day weekend starting around 3PM Thursday afternoon.

Have you seen all the food and pictures here? As a dog person, I imagine all these cats aren’t your cup of tea, lol.But everyone knows how much I love cats. AND dogs. And birds….any animal practically.

At least Harvey’s was consistent across provincial borders.

Vacation?

Did you watch a movie or the game tonight?

A mini-vacation with a make-up day tacked on.

Yes, I’ve seen the pictures. They were great, but last week I had a pork hock with sauerkraut and a boiled tater, which almost tasted as good as the knuckes back home. Yesterday, I made a split pea soup which I can freeze. I think I may do corned beef and cabbage next weekend.

It looks like we are closing up the Tiki tonight. I am sorry I missed the action. Sunday’s are busy for me. I got home late afternoon and fell asleep for an hour. I am still feeling the effects of surgery.I see my surgeon tomorrow. I wonder if he will take the stitches out?

Steaming soup outside in snow is wonderful.

Gosh, I think you are the only (former) Canadian here on Ballard Street, lol You understand what I am saying.

I do TV shows on the weekend, Shika. Today was The Beverly Hillbillies and Star Trek. Tomorrow night will be Soylent Green, which I believe was Edward G. Robinson’s last film.

I think I will be turning in soon though. I do work tomorrow, and start early. I will be up 4:15 AM CT.

I hope the doctor visit goes well. I have an appointment Tuesday afternoon with my gastroenterologist.

I will watch movies on TV if there’s anything of interest on TCM. I saw a Nancy Drew mystery yesterday morning and caught the end of a Shirly Temple movie that I recently bought on DVD.

That is one movie I haven’t seen of his.I saw War and Glory with Kirk Douglas on the weekend, and another WWI movie, which name escapes me.

The nice thing about visiting my mom is that she has cable and the movie channel. I gave my TV away a few years ago, as cable is expensive.

Are you still here?

it was Ellie May Clampett, played by Donna Douglass

I wish I had the recipe for Habitant pea-soup. It beats the heck out of the Campbell’s version. It was great on those winter nights with French bread.

I am still here but turning in soon. It takes a while to refresh the page with all the pictures.

My drink is about half empty.

Did you see my comment to X_TECH about the cat that looks like a cat I grew up with? 20 years. Name of Stormy.

You had a busy week. did it go well? You must be tired.

No, I love Habitant. Campbell’s is completely different and not nearly as good. But you can’t get Habitant here.

Oh. I don’t like any of the Campbell’s soups, although I grew up with them.

It was a very busy and hectic week. I think I managed to get some rest. I even napped this afternoon before getting ready for dinner.

This week shouldn’t be too bad though, even if my boss is on vacation.

Time for me to turn in Shika. Have a great rest of the day.

I should get going soon myself. I’m almost done my drink.Did you see the movie with Kirk Douglas? I need to see it again to understand the ending. Why were his men singing in German? Did he go to the other side or something? It is based on a true story about the Anthill.

You too Grog. Good Night, and sleep well. I hope we synchronize again soon.

X_TECHStel learned from the master. She is a quick study. I still miss those short cuts which GC did away with.

Today’s party was fantastic. I love you all, and thank all of you for making it a special day. I will need another day to take in all the videos and creative energy here.

I had best get ready for bed. Good Night, BALLARD DEARS!This has been an eventful day. The food and libations have lulled me into a slight stupor. Slightly more than usual, that is…Good night STEL, BEV and SUSAN and all my friends.

@ THREE

Thank you as well for the card and your presence here.

STEL and SUSAN, Having gone through again slowly, I want to say the you made Prince Mua proud. May I keep the cake topper, SUSAN, if it is still there. He is so handsome. And I expects STEL’s version of Mua to roar like MGM, lol

Great!

BEV, Daks on me next time, okay?

This Shika has been brought to you by Shikamoo pulling a Shika.

I almost missed WET and SOGGY’s Cat Dancing Card. I can’t decide which one looks more like me, but I could be either the calico or the white cat with the lavender dress, depending on which one of my nine lives I am living at the moment.

Or African? After all, Shikamoo is Kiswahili, and Shika is Japanese.

Your research is perfect BEV. Thank you for doing up my country proud.

We Canadians apparently don’t know how to be patriotic, lol We seem to have an identity crisis, if you believe what you read.Not me though. I love being Canadian, and having grown up in a French Canadian town in Ontario.

I will enjoy the video BEV. Right now, and then the rest tomorrow.

Nighty night to you too. Thanks for the night cap.

looks like i just missed you.im iut. early day tomorrow again.long day today…once again. i hope yo had a happy day today Shikamoo.

I wish I’d been back to catch Shika’s B-day! In any case I’ll wish a happy one here at the Tiki – and speaking of such . . .Here is an acknowledgement and I just want to wish a

VERYHAPPY

BIRTHDAY

SHIKAMOO!

Shika….

Of course the cake topper is yours…and actually…. there’s lots of cake left.

I hid it to make sure you got some.Shhh…don’t tell anyone….drop by the salon tomorrow.

Gotta go pick up a friend at a bus stop….I’ll be back a while after the turn.