Yes, OldDude. I often wonder, when did our society get so earnest?

Instead of comedy shows on TV, we have crime shows. There are no more funny songs on the radio. Kids never play in sprinklers. And if you want to buy a planter for your philodendron that's shaped like something else, you have to scour the antique shops.

I've been paying attention to kitchen re-dos lately. Everything is so expensive and so impressive. Two friends recently bought a refrigerator that looks like it came from the palace at Versailles. But remember when Woolworth's sold plaster items in sets of two which ladies bought for the kitchen? (you may be too young) Two plaster kittens, two tropical fish, two mermaids, two Japaneses ladies?

If you hung plaster decorations like that in one of today's expensive kitchens, they'd take you out and shoot you. Or else the architect would commit harakiri.

(joke!)

Music report - this weekend we are going to the opera to watch a funny one - Don Pasquale. Also I'm trying to learn the flute.