Welcome to the pond

As usual, here's Friday's Feast:

Appetizer - Name 3 things that you think are strange.

Joan Rivers. The trailers for that new move "Slither." People with a lot of facial plastic surgery (it looks like you have a fake face! Just stop, please! I can't even stand to look at you!)

Soup - What was the last ceremony you attended?

My brother's wedding ceremony last summer is the last one I've attended. It was just a family thing in the backyard. I was the best man.

Salad - What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?

Try not to blow things out of proportion, because you'll regret it when the situation settles down again.

Main Course - Tell us about one of your childhood memories.

I remember just plain having fun being a kid. One memory that stands out, though, is the time when it rained a bit and my brother and I were playing outside. Mom told us to try not to get dirty, but you can't say that to two boys and get away with it. Once she figured out it was useless, she just let us go crazy and get as muddy and dirty as we liked.

Dessert - If you could extend any of the four seasons to be twice as long as normal, which season would you want to lengthen?

I'd want to lengthen early fall. It's not too hot like summer, but not yet cold like winter. I'd specifically like to lengthen the part of fall that happens before we start getting rain. It's nice and fresh then, comfortably warm with gentle breezes and colorful leaves.