The Warmth of The Sun

Enjoying a brew outside before the shave

Here in the good ole USA The Beach Boys were exploding on the scene as early as 1962, similarly to The Beatles in the U.K.   Brian Wilson and Mike Love, cousins and band mates wrote a lot of the early Beach Boys songs like The Warmth of The Sun.   Brian was the quiet genius who came up with melodies and as the group progressed he became the producer and innovator who shied away from touring and playing.   All the while the group came up with several hits and became America's Band.   My first foray into the Beach Boys was as a result of my Uncle Michael in 1972.   I remember visiting Michael and seeing a bunch of albums featuring clean cut young men wearing stripped shirts.   The shirts made the difference!   After acrimonious relationships, a lot of drug use, Brian Wilson's mental health issues being over medicated or ??? and more band member changes than you can shake a stick at The Beach Boys are officially still around minus Brian.   There is a rumor that the original members still alive might perform at a 50th anniversary reunion still continue, but to date has not occurred.   I am hopeful...

Had a good visit with Dr. Senecal yesterday, he is decreasing my visits to every three weeks for now.   I still have some Graft Vs. Host Disease, mouth sores and decreasing skin rashes. My "spots" seem to be fading, but are still noticeable.   My fatigue and weakness issues are also improving- not as fast as I'd like but allowing me to walk more and ride a real bicycle in this nice weather.   So all in all things are looking up.   Unusually for us, the weather is near perfect 75-80 for the next week, and the forecast for the rest of the summer is about the same.   Our niece Alicia is getting married in two weeks in what should be a beautiful outdoor Oregon setting.   We will visit with family, then venture to Bend Oregon for a mini vacation in Central Oregon's outdoor mecca.   (Even bought some new Specialized Crosstrail Bikes.)   I have been busy getting things done in my early retirement days, Dad and Alice were here last week and we were able to see the Atlanta Braves (2X) complete the sweep of the still surprising Mariners.   Our Suburu is now outfitted with a hitch to carry our bike rack, and we might be able to go camping this coming weekend.   Live happy, get out there and enjoy the summer if you can!

Shaved for summer