* So sorry to hear of Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was a go-getter and took her title seriously.

* I have put my order in for a lovely, and long, fall season with the leaves turning into beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red. If it goes the way I would like it to, fall will have some cool rainy days when needed and will stay around until the end of November.

THIS AND THAT * I have decided to be the Roma Smith of my generation who went to the Stockton swimming pool whenever she could! She is my inspiration with her “plain old vanilla” walk. And I will add that I met my water spirit at the Hays Aquatic Park this summer. This 80-something lady goes to the pool whenever she can to work on her tan! That is so me.

THIS AND THAT * “Leave it to Beaver” TV star Tony Dow recently passed away. I loved watching that show when I was growing up. My favorite episode was the one where the Beaver climbs up on a gigantic billboard to see if there is really coffee being poured into a cup from a giant coffee pot.

THIS AND THAT * The cool people will get this….George Jetson was born on July 31st, 2022. * Did you know it is 75 days until Halloween?! (August 18th) * I am proud to announce that I have completed the first item on my bucket list.

ELVISWith the movie “ELVIS” airing throughout the country this summer with some “Oscar Buzz” for the actor Austin Butler portraying the King as well as in observance of Elvis’ passing on August 16th, 1977, here is some information about him that you may or may not know….

* Some of my favorite fair memories over the years include riding over and over again on the Octopus and the Tilt ‘o Whirl with my friend Tessy Korb; eating a funnel cake with my mom every year and now eating one in memory of her since I KNOW she would want me to do that; motorcycle races; harness horse races; concerts and grandstand events including Montgomery Gentry, Blackhawk, Ronnie Milsap, the Swenson Thrillcade, the Grand Old Opry with Pee Wee King and Minnie Pearl, the Lawrence Welk Show featuring Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle; and Chris LeDoux. And we can’t forget the carnival rides with Ottaway Amusements or the Heart of America Carnival!

THIS AND THAT * I watched a segment of a TV reality show, “Claim to Fame,” where the people participating are somehow related to an actor, singer, professional athlete, etc. The premise of the show is that each of the guests has to guess who the other people are related to with the last one standing winning $100,000.00.

* Just so you know, I am still recuperating from standing, screaming, jumping and singing by the stage when the band “Hairball” performed during the Wild West Fest in Hays. They were awesome and I loved every minute of it. I also saw Lonestar the night before. I very much appreciated that they came out on stage when scheduled even though there was a weather watch for that evening. They said they came to perform, and that is just what they did! Actually, it did rain a little during one or two of their songs, but that just made it all the more memorable.

* Ah, Summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it! Russel Baker * In summer, the song sings itself. William Carlos Williams * Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose.