March 9, 2021

Purple Octopus


Cutest Bath Toy!

Purple Octopus (that looks a lot like Barney the dinosaur).

Silly face with big eyes and tongue.

Catches toy rings on his legs. 

Floats and shares the tub with you!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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March 8, 2021

This Fish Can Swim

Wow, this fish apparently can swim in or out of water. 

Wherever it swims, it makes you look. 

Handsome little fish!

That spike in its bottom looks like it must hurt a little. 

But this fish is not for catching and eating, but for looking at only.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy blumenthal)


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March 7, 2021

The Beauty of Women

Great artistic depiction of the beauty of women. 

Simple yet elegant. 

Mysterious yet familiar. 

Intense yet tender and caring. 

Thoughtful yet expressive. 

Dark yet full of light. 

Natural yet sensual. 

Fantasy yet reality. 

A best friend, a partner, a lover.

Together a home.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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March 6, 2021

Royalty On An Elephant

Wow, this is so regal. 

This princess in a beautiful overflowing pink gown. 

Riding on a golden throne on the back of an huge elephant. 

The elephant with white tusks is covered in royal red robes with a blue, green, and orange emblem of a serpent. 

Fairy tale maybe, but this seems so real to me. 

I want to wave and jump up and down and say, "your majesty!"  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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March 5, 2021

The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called "The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel."

From Palestinian riots to revolts, from Palestinians engaging in a civil war against Jews to the Arab League nation-states waging an all-out war against Israel, from Palestinian organized terrorism to raging intifadas, from the Palestinians driving United Nations resolutions to International Criminal Court investigations of Israel, the Palestinians are waging an endless war against Israel, rejecting numerous offers of peace for their people’s autonomy and self-determination.
Through never-ending Palestinian rejection of one peace proposal after another, and instead choosing to have “all or nothing” of Palestine, the Palestinians have embraced armed and violent struggle as well as economic, political, and judicial warfare against Israel. Unfortunately, the Jewish people will need to continue in their ultimate struggle for survival. After 2,000 years of Jewish exile, and suffering under incessant persecution, inquisitions, expulsions, pogroms, the Holocaust, even now with the State of Israel, the one Jewish homeland and our refuge, the attacks continue against us from Palestinians choosing to wage an endless, bitter war instead of looking to make a lasting, beautiful peace.

(Credit Photo: Pixabay Free Images)

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March 3, 2021

Artful Window


This is a special window.

Blue and white flowers around it. 

Surprised no one thought of that before. 

A window isn't just to look out of from inside, but also decor to marvel at from the outside. 

Windows work two-ways!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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March 2, 2021

Cycling In Multicolor


Something about this drawing at a local kosher restaurant really stood out. 

The weird cycle with the exaggerated extra big wheel in front.

The crazy looking skinny bodied person with long arms and legs and wild hair sitting on top.

The bright green, blue, orange, and yellow colors. 

It just made me laugh at the whole thing. 

It's not exactly art, but it sort of is.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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March 1, 2021

Lots of Lenses

Wow, each of these are different eyeglass lenses. 

So many prescription strengths. 

Trial and error to figure out what is the right one. 

Hold it up to your eye or flip it into the machine. 

How's things looking now?

A little stronger, no a little weaker. 

Wait, stronger.

No, weaker.

Ah this is nuts. 

How can I even see what the heck I am choosing. 

Seeing is believing.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 28, 2021

Incredible Horses and Wagon


Wow, thought this was an incredible horses and wagon. 

I love how the artist raised the path, so you could see the difficulty of traveling like this. 

And the sculpture is so intricate and detailed. 

Truly lifelike and makes you feel the times. 

In the Wild West, like in the "Old Country" people kept chugging along, even when life was difficult and often miserable. 

Not sure how they did it. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 26, 2021

It’s Never About Luck

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "It’s Never About Luck."

Today is Purim, when we celebrate the Jewish victory over the evil Haman and his conspiracy to annihilate the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman drew a lottery to determine what he thought was a fortuitous day, the 13th of Adar, to murder the Jewish people and pursued this plot through a decree by King Achashverosh. But as we know, G-d made miracles through Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, and Haman and his ten sons ended hanging by the noose that he built for Mordechai. 

This has been my personal experience as well, as I can see both now and in 20/20 hindsight that there is a definite Divine method and not just a world of random chance and madness.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 25, 2021

Teach Me To Fish


This photo is perfect with the quote: 

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. 

Please G-d, we should all learn to fish and pay it forward to others to teach them as well.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 24, 2021

Silly Pink Rabbit

You've got to really love rabbits to purchase this from the gallery and display it in your home.

Maybe it's good luck for procreating, since rabbits are known to be specialists at it.

Also people like to carry a rabbit's foot for good luck--where did that practice come from?

If the rabbit lost his foot and it's in your pocket then it doesn't seem like it was very good luck to the rabbit to begin with!

Who knows maybe it's the Easter Bunny?

Honestly, aside from Bugs Bunny 

What's up Doc?

And the cereal commercial about:

Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids!

I'm not sure who needs a six foot pink rabbit anyway. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 23, 2021

Meatballs Piled High

Lots of little meatballs piled high. 

Probably goes well with some nice long spaghetti and saucy sauce. 

Mix it up and serve it steamy hot.

Around the table, everyone dig in. 

Oops, don't spill the sauce on your shirt.

Keep some Tums around for any after effects. 

It's hearty meatball and spaghetti night. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 22, 2021

Happy Living Room


I like this painting by Deb Yager.

I call it, Happy Living Room!

Love the blues and pinks and green and other images (starfish, shells, and seahorse) of the big, beautiful ocean.

Definitely, ready to take off my shoes, lay down on that couch, and close my eyes. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 21, 2021

Better Covid Mask


Now that's a better Covid mask.

Full coverage. 

Nice golden shine. 

No need to brush your hair or put on makeup. 

And no one can tell your sleeping in meetings. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 20, 2021

The Power of Love

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "The Power of Love."

When we act up and fight with each other, then in the end, we will really only end up hurting ourselves.
Tomorrow can be better than today and yesterday, if we learn to live in peace and brotherhood with each other, and understand that hurting another is really only hurting ourselves in the end. G-d’s holiness dwells among us only when we stop the silly bickering and infighting, and love each other, and Him, with all our heart and soul.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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February 19, 2021

Trashy Advertising


Great advertising by this garbage company.

On the back of the truck, it says:

Let's Talk Trash 

And there is a garbage can afterwards for emphasis!

I like this trashy trash company brand because it works.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 18, 2021

Stretching Cat

This cat crawled between 2 pillars and up to this tree. 

The cat extended its paws and started to stretch. 

Reminded me of fitness guru, Richard Simmons, but with a far better hairdo!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 16, 2021

Amazing Honey Chicken

Check out this amazing honey chicken from China Bistro (Kosher) in Hollywood, Florida. 

Crispy noodles underneath the delicious, sweet, succulent, and crispy chicken. 

This was, as they say, "to die for" - so, so delicious. 

As my father used to say, "It tastes like more!"  :-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 15, 2021

Hanging Out with Jefe Dinero and Sweetkayy

 


Awesome photo in Fort Lauderdale today with rapper, Jefe Dinero and model, Sweetkayy

Great meeting these cool folks in hot Florida!

We're rocking the day away. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)


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February 14, 2021

Give A Bear A Ride



Wow, tennis star, Angelina Dimova is so cool with this awesome car and bear!

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

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February 13, 2021

A Reason For Everything

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "A Reason For Everything."

Reincarnation actually makes so much sense, especially when you see that G-d can and does bring people back to the world when they still have life lessons to learn and growth to be achieved. It’s part of our preparation and our soul’s purification process to go back to Hashem.
Obviously, we are not G-d, and don’t have the time and event perspective of Hashem who was, is, and will be. However, if we understand that G-d has a plan, everything is connected, and there is a reason for everything, then we can go through life inspired to do the right thing ourselves even when we are challenged by our circumstances.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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February 12, 2021

Forecast 2021 By Andy Blumenthal




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February 11, 2021

Hmm, Different Is Necessary

So in my more mature years, I've come to terms with some important life lessons. 

One of these is that it's okay for us to be different; in fact, it's necessary! 

We each have our own personality, experiences, and journey in life.

What works or is right for me in my life, may not work for you or be right in yours, and vice versa. 

Celebrate the differences, because we are all here to learn and grow.

Let us each follow his/her own path as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. 

Now that makes a lot more sense then everyone do it my way!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 10, 2021

Without a Brain or Soul

Wow, so this is us without a brain or soul. 

A real skull, all hollowed out.

Sockets for the eyes, and a big hole where the nose goes. 

The ears are gone too. 

The skull is sawed open at the top, where the brain goes. 

Not much left of the rotting teeth. 

The soul is departed and is somewhere in the afterlife. 

This should go a long way to humbling any human being. 

What's outside really doesn't count for much, and what's inside is everything.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 9, 2021

Heart Over Head


While many people may occasionally feel head over heels for something or someone, I liked this saying by Miska Ben-David:

The head will make its plans, but the heart will choose its own path.

In other words, we are often driven by our hearts over our heads!

Passion is a powerful motivator, indeed. 

When passion calls, do you go running too? 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 8, 2021

Eye-Catching Slippers

Wow, these are some colorful, fluffy slippers from Steve Madden. 

Doesn't even look like a slipper or footwear!

Reminds me of the Tribbles, fluffy, gentle alien creatures from Star Trek. 

Is it alive or should I put my foot in it? 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 7, 2021

Did You Sell Your GameStop?


Well, I couldn't resist. 

Around midday today, I peaked my head into the local GameStop.

There wasn't 1 single customer in the store. 

Not 1!

There were two workers.

When I asked if they had any GameStop stock. 

The manager said he had been offered some when he got promoted, but unfortunately turned it down. 

Well the stock was a manic bubble for a short time these last few weeks, and it could've made him a bundle. 

Based on what you see today, do you think you should own GameStop?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 5, 2021

Success, Israeli Cuisine Style


Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, Success, "Israeli Cuisine Style."
This notion of success and failure in life makes you think about not only the imperative to be successful in our lives, but also to question what does that success even mean and look like? Is success really the goal or is the journey with its growing pains and lesson learned the real goal towards purifying our souls?

When we read the Ten Commandments, we are reminded of what the foundational elements of success in life actually are all about: How did we treat others (were we compassionate and giving)? Did we behave as Mensch’s in our lives? Did we try our best to do the “right thing” by our fellow man and by G-d? If you can answer in the positive to these latter questions then maybe you have achieved real success, regardless of what any culinary chef or life maven would tell you!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 4, 2021

Children (and Fruit) of G-d


Interesting quote I heard on diversity:

It might be apples and oranges, but it's all fruit!

The way towards mutual respect, teamwork, brotherhood, and peace:

- Recognize that our similarities are much greater than our differences. 

And ultimately, we are all children (and fruit) of G-d.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 3, 2021

The Sniffer Isn't Working


Someone really had a premonition posting this sign before Covid!

The sign says simply:

Smell Me!!

The response to this now-a-days would be the person with Covid yelling back:

I can't smell (or taste) anything!

Now frustrated, the other person replies:

But please, please smell me. 

Second person, tries and tries again:

Sniff, sniff--darn, the sniffer just isn't working. 

Get out the smelling salts!

Six months later, I still can't smell a skunk in the same room. 

What type of crazy pandemic is this!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 2, 2021

Little Stinker


Wow, that's a little stinker of a gun. 

Looks like someone carved the small-stock wood themselves and attached the barrel, hammer, and trigger. 

Now, that's a concealed weapon opportunity. 

Leaving the royal red pillow out of it.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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February 1, 2021

Ship in a Bottle


How do they get that ship in a bottle?

Build the ship inside the bottle or blow the glass and shape it around the ship.

Sort of like the chicken and the egg dilemma.

What came first? I dunno! 

Someone get me out of these circular, mind-numbing Catch-22s!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 


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January 31, 2021

GameStop Is What I Call A Sh*t Store

For those of you who have been in GameStop, you know what I mean. 

Let's face it, it's a sh*t store!

They have videogames (some that I like) that you can buy online for half the price and crappy toys and collectables (i.e. "made in China" trinkets)!

Hey, I think you can get some action hero socks on sale for $5. 

The company makes nothing!

Their intellectual property is virtually nill!

Their assets are some leases in strip malls and shopping centers that have less and less traffic due to e-Commerce and Covid!

For those who drove the stock up from a year-low of $2.57 to a high this week of $483.98, congrats on showing that the market can be completely irrational and manipulated by the social media masses. 

Like right before the dot.com bubble of 2000, showoff your brokerage statements and brag about your beefy balances, I remember the local yocals from the barber shop doing the same back then--when everyone was a stock maven and becoming a multimillion from the likes of Pets.com.

But GameStop and AMC (another almost dead company unable to face Netflix, Amazon Prime movies, and all the other streaming plus Covid) are probably worth in concept less than good 'ol Pets.com or the Tulip Mania of the 17th century (at least flowers are beautiful). 

This will end in tears for the ever "greater fool" who's following the herd.  

Let's hope they and the spiraling, out of control national debt don't take down all of us with them!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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January 30, 2021

Faith and Fight in Defense of Israel


 Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called "Faith and Fight in Defense of Israel."

From Amalek to Iran, Israel can never be caught off-guard again and this means both operationally as well as from mistaken assumptions and thinking. Operationally, we need to always have the best technology, intelligence, planning, and training, as well as continually test those with Red Teaming to simulate enemy attacks and our readiness to counter with winning defensive and offensive operations. Moreover, we need to be on our guard in our thinking, as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak says in his book, My Country, My Life, that when he became head of Aman (Defense Intelligence), he sought to address the problem of misperceptions, overconfidence, and groupthink by strengthening “a unit whose sole function was to play devil’s advocate.” They would begin “with the opposite conclusion, and through a competing analysis of data and logical argument, try to prove it.”

Just as when we left Egyptian servitude, we defeated Amalek through a combination of our faith and fight, so too we will be successful in defeating those that threaten the modern State of Israel. Like Moses we all must turn to Hashem, and like Joshua, the Israel Defense Forces must stand ready to defeat all our enemies, as many times as it takes, to achieve a secure and lasting peace.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 29, 2021

Shabbat Shalom - Starbucks Style!

 (Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 28, 2021

Missing My Dear Mom

I had the Yartzeit (memorial anniversary) for my mom this last week. 

Can't believe it's been 7 years already!

Came across this picture where I'm sneaking up behind her at the veggie restaurant. 

My mom was always so full of life!

And while she went regularly to work, she also made sure to took care of us and the home. 

Whatever time I found myself coming home from school or work, there was a wonderful home-cooked meal waiting for me, and the salad always came first!

After I met my wife, Dossy, my mom and dad welcomed her to the family with open arms and hearts, and then together with our own children (their grandchildren), we were one (extended) family. 

Mom, hope you and Dad are doing well and G-d bless you both in Heaven!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)


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January 27, 2021

Oodles of Noodles

Big cooking wok!

Fry it up in the pan. 

Oodles of noodles. 

Sautéed with soy sauce.

Wrapped around the large spoons. 

Looks filling, gut-busting perhaps.

But ooh so satisfying.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 26, 2021

Flintstones Car(-Like)


Why do all the mechanic shops seem to have a car, like in this photo, lying around. 

Sort of reminds me of The Flintstones Car (from the TV Show originally aired in 60s).

No motor or anything; you would just stick your feet out the bottom and you would run while in the car. 

Stone Age answer to the need for an automobile. 

Hey whatever works and no need to recreate the wheel either.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 25, 2021

An Amazing Piano of the Arts


Wow, what a piano this is!

It combines beautiful music with incredible art, including woman dancing in a circle.  

Music + Art + Dance!

It is a great instrument bar none. 

To look at, to listen to, to feel alive with. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 24, 2021

Evils of Sex Trafficking


 USA Today article on Sex Trafficking:

- 4.8 million people: 3.8 Million adults + 1 million children! (and another 20 million people trafficked for slave labor)

- 99% female

- 70% Asia and Pacific, 4% in America

- $99 Billion in profits 

National Human Trafficking Hotline

- Call: 1-888-373-7888

-Text: “BeFree” (233733)

- Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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January 22, 2021

Let Go of the Ego and Follow G-d


Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Let Go of the Ego and Follow G-d."

As we know, Pharaoh refused to let the Jews go from Egypt, whether because G-d hardened his heart for some of the plagues or he just couldn’t bear to see his Jewish slaves free through the final knock-out rounds. Through ten plagues that destroyed Egypt and much of their people, including their first born males in the tenth plague, Pharaoh is intransigent and suffers the terrible consequences....Aside from Pharaoh, perhaps the second most stubborn individual in the Torah is Bilam, who was asked by Balak, the king of Moav, to curse the Jews....even though each and every time, G-d instead blessed them.

In both cases, it is clear that no individual, whether a king or a prophet, can go against that which G-d has decreed!

The lesson is clear: it is best to try to see what direction G-d is leading us forward in and to follow Him all the way, not only because that is the path of least resistance, but because that is what we are meant to do and where we are meant to go in our lives.

(Credit Photo: Minna Meles)


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January 21, 2021

Going In Circles


One administration comes and another goes. 

The new executive orders and legislations reverse the old ones. 

- Keystone Pipeline

- Travel Ban from potential Terrorist Countries

- Paris Climate Accord

- Membership in World Health Organization

- Deregulation 

- Taxes

As a country, we are (borderline) bipolar!

And like a pendulum, we swing back and forth getting nowhere and driving the rest of the world crazy.

Can't we actually move forward without the perennial one step forward, one step back nauseating dance we keep doing. 

Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are moving forward and they are not waiting for us to figure out what we actually want and get our national act together to move decisively and definitively forward.  ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 20, 2021

Walking Dead: Can't Wait

A lot of us can't wait for Walking Dead Season 11 coming in 2021!

24 more episodes of killing the crazy zombies. 

Everyone's got to hold on and survive in a world that is in full apocalypse mode. 

It doesn't take much for society to revert to biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where the wheels come completely off the proverbial bus. 

We should know because aside from advances in technology and medicine, a lot of the world is well on the way there!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 19, 2021

Ah, German Chocolate Cake


Ah, that's not a bad looking German Chocolate Cake. 

Pecan, coconut, and chocolate frosting. 

Wouldn't mind some gooey fudge filing on the inside, a little more icing all around the outside, and some cherries on top.

 How can this be bad? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 18, 2021

@Lake Frank
















(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)


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