Yesterday was the first day of summer. In New Orleans, celebrating the Summer Solstice is an academic exercise: the heat usually kicks in May. I wish we could kick it out earlier, but it will last until October. I take comfort in reminding myself that everyone would want to live here if it weren’t so damn hot in the summertime.

I’m still a bit stiff and sore from the road trip. Here’s my new mantra: Road Warrior no more. I’ve taken many car trips in my life, this is likely to be the last multi-day car trip I’ll take. I don’t love flying but it’s a faster way to travel. The leg room, however, is even worse than the car.

The cats were well cared for in our absence, but were stand-offish upon our return. Perry Mason forgave us on the first day. Claire Trevor, however, is made of sterner stuff: It took her over 50 hours to absolve me of my sins. She is one tough calico cookie.

I remain obsessed with Max Ernst. The green in today’s featured image is the same as in Le Main Vert. We saw a Max Ernst bedroom suite at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. How weird is that? Make that surreal: Max Ernst is involved, after all.

On the way home, we played the three Under The Covers albums by Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs consecutively. It was, well, sweet. Their cover of this week’s theme song inspired its selection.

George Harrison wrote Beware Of Darkness for his 1970 album All Things Must Pass.

We have three versions of this week’s theme song for your listening pleasure: George’s studio OG, Leon Russell, and the aforementioned Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs.

I’m feeling wary enough to post two tunes with beware in the title:

Our usual three act format feels constraining today. Before skipping our second act, I want to pay a brief tribute to a fallen chef. Dr. A and I watch a lot of food competition shows. It’s our happy place.

One of the chefs we were always glad to see was the spunky and sassy Anne Burrell. She was as famous for her hair and wit as her food. She died suddenly this week at the age of 55.

This is my favorite online tribute to Chef Anne from her friend and colleague Bobby Flay:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: Anne Burrell always cited Julia Child as one of the reasons she became a chef. She was played by the great British actress Sarah Lancashire in the HBO/Max series Julia:

Your Weekly Oscar: We’re keeping things dark with this OP doubleheader.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

The Best Of Anne Burrell: One of things Anne Burrell was known for was hosting Worst Cooks In America for 14 years and 27 series.

Saturday GIF Horse: We have two GIFs in which Stan Laurel annoys the living shit out of Oliver Hardy.

I thought fat men were supposed to be jolly. Antoine Domino always came off as jolly:

Your Weekly Political Cartoon: Few in the MSM are covering Trump’s obvious cognitive decline. Mike Luckovich, however, is on the job with this toon entitled Weekend At Donnie’s:

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Closer: In addition to our Sweet/Hoffs extravaganza, we also played Live At The Fillmore 1997 by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in its entirety on our road trip. This video doesn’t come from their Fillmore residency but it’s pretty great.

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to legendary chefs and cat people Bobby Flay and Anne Burrell.