There is nothing like a new pair
of jeans and it was that time again.

Speaking of bugs. Look what I found outside today. This is

an ironclad beetle, also known as Phloeodes diabolicus. This

is the world's most indestructible bug.

Good fortune should now come my way.

When I opened up my bedroom window to let some

fresh warm air in I noticed a spider on the screen.

This goes with my post from yesterday about the

Frankenstein's Monster figure. This is my "Universal Studios

Classic Monsters!" Dracula figure. These guys were kind of

expensive, but I thought with the clothes that were actually

made of cloth, they were worth having. These days I think

they sell for quite a bit more than I paid for them.

I like Frankenstein's monster more than Dracula, but

I like this Dracula figure more than the

Frankenstein's monster figure.

I have had this figure for about 12 years... I think. The

"Universal Studios Classic Monsters!" Frankenstein. He

is not the Boris Karloff version of Frankenstein's monster.

This is the Glenn Strange version. He is 8 inches tall and

his clothing is made from actual cloth. Diamond
Select Toys made this one.

I also have Dracula.
I will have to take a picture of that guy.

Glenn Strange

1899 - 1973

Regarding my Friday, January 27th entry:
As it turns out, the folks leasing the property to the Regal Theater

we go to do NOT want this place to close up shop. They are doing
everything they can to see that it stays open for business. So it looks
as though we may still have a theater yet. This is great news. So...

...my son and I went there to see John Wick: Chapter 4!
And what a movie. What a G-R-E-A-T fun movie. 10 out of 10
Dueling Pistols to be certain. As almost always I can't wait
for this movie to come out on Blu-ray so I will
be able to watch it again.

We love our Regal Theater.

I have not had my just about all time favorite food for I think

about 10 months now. I've been trying to lose a little weight.

I actually hit my goal weight a month or so ago, so I think it

is getting close to the time that I can indulge on occasion.

Soon, soon. Everything in moderation.... Right?

You are right, Lizzy Tex!

Pizza! Pizza!

When I was cleaning out my dresser drawers a few
weeks back I came across this pumpkin candle.
He reminds me a little of...

...Charlie Brown.

A little.

Wonder Wafers!

~ Happy Burt Gummer Day, 2023 ~
Forever a hero.

It's Knife Day at El Rancho De La Tex!

I love knife days. But today's knife is another stinker. I feel slightly

bad saying that as it was a gift to me. But, a stinker it is. I received

it for Christmas back when I thought that this "Matterhorn" knife was
the real deal, meaning, an official Swiss Army Knife. I didn't know
from Victorinox or Wenger. A Wenger or Vic it is not.

It was given to me not too long after it was

manufactured, sometime in 1979. I did get a quite a bit of
use out of it... before it started falling apart!

Man oh man this hawkbill blade saw a LOT of cardboard
action! (Even though the blade had no edge whatsoever.)

This saw NO use (even though I enjoyed a drink or twenty
back in the day). There are things that corkscrews on knives
are good for other than opening wine bottles, but so far I have
proven to be less then that skillful. I pass on
knives with corkscrews.

~ Imperial US PROV R.I.A. Matterhorn ~
I've seen this knife in good shape sell for 10 to 30 dollars
on the Internet to which I say, "Don't do it!"

See that hole there? That is where the bail was that
fell off. Falling apart, yeah.

But as always, I still treasure this knife

for the memories it holds and I am glad to have it.

Knife Day! Hoo-ray!

!!! BONUS PHOTO !!!
That little bird that I wrote about on Tuesday, March 21st?
For over three weeks now he has been attacking his own

image in ANYTHING that reflects it here at The Ranch.

We have had to cover up every single mirror on our
vehicles because he is all over those and he makes a
MESS, if'n ya know what I mean. Kind of a pain in
the butt.

I am totally surprised that his beak hasn't fallen off.

I was walking around The Ranch today and noticed this rock.

It looks like it is bent or melted over the boards of our deck.

Naw, that can't be....

As I walked closer to it I realized that when the lines of the rock

and the deck boards line up just right, it kind of gives that illusion.
The rock is in the same position/location in both photos.

I don't know if my pictures capture the illusion or not,
but in real life it looks kind of cool. It reminds
me of that "The Persistence of Memory"
painting by Salvador Dalí.

It looks like WALL-E and EVE are hanging
out with the Breyer livestock today.

That's cool.

~ Happy Easter 2023 from Lizzy Tex Borden ~

I went to a little store at a campground not too too far from

The Ranch to buy a lottery ticket. When I returned to the
car I spotted this little bug on the door. I had never seen
a bug like this before. Pretty interesting
pattern going on there.

Turns out it is a European Firebug, also known as

Pyrrhocoris apterus. They are harmless to humans
and like to hang out in large groups so this guy
is probably looking for the party.
He was not real shy.

A bobcat stopped in our

driveway to wiggle his tail.

This is a little figure that is actually a small puzzle which

has to be assembled. It is from the Itchy and Scratchy

Show. The cartoon within a cartoon on The Simpsons
television show. Everybody knows who
The Simpsons are, right?

It appears here that Itchy (the mouse) has gotten one
over on Scratchy (the cat), in a big way.

The back of the figure for
your viewing pleasure.

Bart and Lisa Simpson love The Itchy and Scratchy
Show and laugh like CRAZEE when watching it
(much to the dismay of their mom, Marge).