Empty Threat

Thanks to Jerry of Idaho for sending this joke.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 28, 2026

Hot Hot August Week

Please move on to the jokes if you’re not interested in my week.

This has been a super busy, physically-draining week and the heat here in Los Angeles didn’t help any. I spend most of my time indoors so last Saturday I got my first taste of the heat. I helped represent the La Habra Art Gallery and rode an SUV “float” at the weekend-long Corn Festival (which was sponsored by the local Lion’s Club). There was a good crowd all throughout the mile-long route. It waved like a King at the happy faces although I would have enjoyed watching the parade instead. I wasn’t able to enjoy the actual parade. All I saw were the backs of the Boy Scouts and the Marching Band in front of us. If you ever rode a horse-driven buggy, you know what I mean.

Sunday, I decided to help some friends who were selling barbecue in one of the food booths. The deal was, if you purchased food from them, I would make you a free caricature. Even in the shade it felt like I was baking in a sauna. Due to the heat, even though we were there early, the crowd didn’t start to come until much later. Still, I was able to do some 35 portraits. I did so many of these sketches that I ran out of ink and had to use pencil at the end of my stint. Got to converse with a lot of nice people. I had fun, they had fun and the sun had fun displaying its energy. Boy was I thirsty! In mid-drawing I needed to take a drink.

Maybe it was the heat or maybe I’m just gettin’ old, but my brain got fried and I still have not fully recovered as I write this article. Dead tired when I got home. Flopped unto the bed. Morning came. Dragged myself out of bed, printed and laminated parking signs for our community because I promised I would. Plastered them around the area and again the heat sucked out energy like a vampire.

I was in the middle of work when I realized it was time to pick up my grandson from school. Didn’t shut down my computer correctly … simply pulled the plug. When I got back, the dark screen of death was laughing at me. My backup didn’t work. Spent the most of two days putting my computer back in shape. Even now, still tweaking the settings to function the way I want. It’s true: almost every program is designed to track your habits. I guess, in this day and age, Big Brother looking over your shoulder is unavoidable. They also want me to upgrade and spend money … not if I can help it!

Wife asks me why I’m so lethargic. Told her I’ve got the Steam Roller Blues. Now she’s got me started on some wholeness program to shoot me full of rhythm and blues.

This morning, I took a deep breath. I looked outside of my lazy situation and prayed. A good friend died of cancer, another friend trips and smashes his face during his vacation in London, thousands died in Nepal from a muddy flood, and Dolly Parton passed away. The world moves on. Who am I to complain? Putting things in perspective helps a lot.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“Iced coffee on a hot day can perform miracles.”
— Anonymous

“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.”
— Jane Austen

“Thank goodness it’s finally hot enough to justify my laziness.”
— Anonymous

“Dear summer, stop showing off. We get it. You’re hot!”
— Anonymous

“Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.”
— Steve Wozniac

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33

“It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”
— Isaiah 4:6

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
— Matthew 8:26

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Jerry of Idaho, Brian of San Francisco, Natalie of Miami and John of Connecticut.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

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