I checked with the staff at Trailer Joe’s down on Hwy 273 to see if they felt threatened by the upcoming opening of competitor Trader Joe’s up in Redding. There was much laughter and derision when it was pointed out that Trader Joe’s probably didn’t even carry cigarettes or lottery tickets. “How do they even expect to stay in business?”, said one incredulous customer. There was, however, much agreement with having the outhouses in front of the store instead of out back, which might be an innovation worth copying. See below:
Flat Stanley visits the Sundial Bridge
I met these folks while out for a walk. They were at the bridge to take a photo of Flat Stanley, with our famous bridge in the background. Turns out Flat Stanley has been on a journey around the world, and this was his latest stop. I’m told that kids all over the world keep an eye on Flat Stanley and where he’ll turn up next. Fun stuff.
Our bridge is a big draw. Not shown, I also overheard couple of gentlemen from Israel touring our bridge, here on a visit, marveling at our river. There is no equivalent river in their country, they said, indicating Sulphur Creek would probably be labeled a river in their region. Here we take great expanses of fresh water for granted.
Sulphur Creek before and after yesterday’s big rain
Seen above, Sulphur creek from the bridge on the north side of the Sundial from Friday. Seen below, the same creek yesterday, Monday, after a big storm blew through.
Also seen, this Rainbow over Redding. No sign of the rumored Irish guy at the end of it with a pot ‘o gold for you, though. A pot o’ debt perhaps. Luck of the Irish. Have a fun and safe St Patrick’s Day!
Odd lifeform spotted on Sacramento River shoreline
Apology for yesterday’s Record Searchlight expose’
Sorry readers. Turns out my “discovery” yesterday that RS has been running and re-running the comic strip of the long dead Charles Schulz for years was not any kind of scoop at all. Several of you informed me that it was a well known fact, and is done intentionally. Of course, that’s even sadder. Like the movie Groundhog Day, except it’s neither funny nor poignant. Maybe surrealist. Anyway the good news is that while researching the post, I discovered a couple of interesting comics by actual living artists. One actually plays on the comic in question:
Done more in the style of the underground comix I remember from my misspent youth, they imagine a post apocalypse Chuck Brown, exploring the classic male adolescent themes of revenge and heavy weaponry.
Folks, you can’t make this stuff up.
I also discovered Garfield minus Garfield:
Finally, a reason to read Garfield. And a new way to see the strip as an art project. Brilliant really. Click on either image to go the the artist website. Warning, you will never view a Garfield strip the same again. OK, maybe that’s a good thing.
Five years in the future, will we see the RS still running dead artist work, over and over, caught in a deathspiral timewarp? Look how easy it is to find better material. Meanwhile, vibrant living art and culture move on, sadly leaving the RS behind….
(Edit) Well I guess we know the answer to that question. 5 years and beyond…
Record Searchlight apparent victims of elaborate hoax
Check it out! I’m not making this up. I was lining my birdcage when I noticed this on the top of the March 1 2009 RS Comics section. It triggered a faint memory from 9 years ago, that this comic artist had died! Seriously, he’s deader than the Rocky Mountain News. I confirmed it here in Wikipedia. I wonder who they’ve been paying for these recycled strips, and how much? Somebody should tell them. If only they could stand actually reading the strip, those intrepid news-hounds would have surely been tipped off. Look, those kids are watching television instead of surfing the web, and when the little girl wants to adjust the picture on the old tube TV, she gets up and does it at the front panel. Who does that? You’d think a newspaper would have heard that he was dead. Wow, they’re being totally scammed.
Variety City offers alternative shopping and fun
The appropriately named Variety City at 1281 Lake Boulevard carries grocery items that may have been slightly damaged, or are blemished in some way. Dented cans are a good example. They also have regular grocery items along with various and sundry hardware and gift items. The store has been owned and operated by Joyce and Gene for 9 years, in a property that had started out as a hardware/lumber yard. Over the years, I’ve always enjoyed shopping there for the interesting and unusual food items you can randomly find. There’s always something to be found you might never buy at a big box store, like some odd soup or sauce, but which you can find here priced attractively enough that you end up taking it home. You can find brand names you won’t see in the chain stores around here. Joyce works to keep the atmosphere really friendly and fun. I still remember the first time I walked in there 9 years ago, and Joyce saw me walking around looking at items, and said with her big smile, “Hey you, get a cart. You’re going to need it.” I did, She was right.
Of course, in these economic times, access to these bargains is more than just a a luxury indulgence. Highly recommended.
Amusing sign spotted on Mistletoe Avenue
Harleys in the Mall
Amphibian affection
One of the big (secret)bonuses of being a real estate agent is going into so many houses, and seeing how people really live. I’ve seen some unusual pets, but I hadn’t seen a frog in somebody’s livingroom before. She said it was two years old, and had arrived as a tadpole you could see right through.
I moved up close for a better look.
“Kiss me” it said, “I am a frog prince.”
“Uh, sorry,” I whispered. “Not today.” A talking frog.
“Lick me then.” the frog continued, “I send colors you can hear, and sounds you can see.”
“Hmmmm,” with wrinkled brow as I looked it in the eye, “Gonna have to pass on that. Hey, isn’t that whole licking thing about toads, not frogs?”
The frog spoke no further.