"The Alchemist" by N.C. Wyeth - 1937

http://breezingby.tumblr.com/page/2

I stayed up and watched the 2014 Grammy Awards show last night.  This duet by Carol King and Sara Bareilles of Sara's "Brave" was the best performance in my mind.  A lot was made about Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney being reunited, but it wasn't much really.  They played some goofy song together and Ringo sang "Photographs" by himself.  Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon were in the audience and Yoko helped present an award.

A little Sinead Marie Bernadette O'Conner

How 'bout a little Annie Lennox

Top 37 things dying people say they regret

http://www.themysteryworld.com/2014/01/the-top-37-things-dying-people-say-they.html

I certainly hope this is never me some day!!!

Last week I rode my bike from Fairmont Park in Riverside to where the bike trail along the Santa Ana River ends in Norco and back. The end of the bike trail is at a nursery with lots of trees and plants. I stopped there to get a drink of my Gatorade and take a short breather. Looking east I saw a large cat and two smaller cats about 50 yards away exit the nursery thru an open gate that leads onto the bike trail. They stopped at the gate and the larger of the three cats stood there looking around. I didn't have my glasses on but the largest cat looked too large to be a domestic cat. After about 30 seconds the three crossed the bike trail and went into a small ravine on the other side. I have to say it scared the crap out of me.

 I stood there awhile wondering if it was safe to go back. I saw a rider approaching from the east and decided to wait to see if he was able to pass safely, which he did. (I know - real brave of me.) I took off east and went as fast as I could in that brief 50 yard stretch. Looking down I saw one of the small cats standing just off the bike path in the bushes.  I kept pedaling for all I was worth for the next couple of hundred yards before turning to look back.  I was safe.

bobcat

So today I did that ride again and didn't see the cats.  I stopped at the Nature Center there in Norco for a break and today there were employees there.  I asked them if they had seen any big cats in the area.  Three of the employees confirmed that they had seen a mother bobcat and two kittens in the area.  They assured me that bobcats don't usually attack humans.  Mountain lions yes.  Bobcats no.

So I can add bobcat to my list of wild life that I've seen in this area.  The list already contains squirrels, rabbits, snakes, a road runner, several coyotes, and two teenage gang members spray painting a wall.  Ah the joys of mountain bike riding.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to actor Richard Dean Anderson who turns 64 years old today. Anderson was born in Minneapolis, Minn. and grew up in Roseville, Minn.  Anderson was a big hockey player and wanted to play professionally until he broke both arms when he was 16 years old in separate games three weeks apart.  The second break landed him in the hospital for three months.

Anderson has never been married but has a 15 year old daughter named Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson with former partner and actress Apryl A. Prose. He has dated actresses Teri Hatcher, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sela Ward, and former German ice skater Katerina Witt.

Anderson once formed a rock band in college called "Rick Dean and the Dante" with his friend Carl Dante. Anderson played guitar and sang.

Anderson got his start in 1976 playing Dr. Jeff Webber in the daytime soap "General Hospital." Anderson made guest appearances in "The Love Boat" "The Facts of Life" and starred in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Emerald Point N.A.S."  

Anderson starred in MacGyver for seven years and 139 episodes.  I always enjoyed MacGyver. He never used a gun and always got himself out of tight situations with nothing more than his Swiss Army knife. 

I just watched an episode of Stargate SG-1 last night with Corey who has several of the series on blue ray. Anderson plays Col. Jack O'Neill and travels around to different planets thru the stargate.  Anderson received an award and was made an honorary Brigadier General in the U.S. Air force for portraying the air force in a positive light. 

Anderson was considered for the part of Sonny Crockett on the television series "Miami Vice" and the part of John McLane in the movie "Die Hard." 

Sad commentary on our current state of affairs. 

Funny 80's video of the Genesis song "Land of Confusion."  I remember when I used to watch VH-1 and all the old videos.  

Happy Birthday to Arte Johnson who turns 85 years old today.  Arte is best known for his many funny charactors on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."