@$&#%*

 Yesterday’s post was canned. I did not want to bump it for today’s tantrum.

Saturday the wife made a quick trip to the store to grab a last-minute item. Some friends were coming over to go to dinner then play some cards. She arrived home and ran into the house. “Joe,” she shouted, “Come out here.We have a problem.”

I ran onto the garage to see a river of water flowing across the floor and out into the driveway. The water heater was dumping its contents through the bottom. @$&#%*.

I grabbed a stool and shut off the water to the appliance. After our friends headed home I pulled out my paperwork. The water heater could have either a six year or nine year warranty. I checked my receipt. I bought that water heater in June of 2019. Counting on my fingers that would be six years and three months. 

I grab a flashlight and head to the garage. Whew, it is the nine year warranty model. 

I went to Lowe’s yesterday. As I expected, not their problem. I have to call the manufacturer, which  is only open during the week. I’m taking bets on how long I’ll need to be on hold this morning. 

Looks like another cold shower today. 

Happy Day

 Today is my little girl’s birthday. My first born, I had never even held a baby before the nurse plopped her into my arms. 

Now she is a mother with daughters of her own. 

The granddaughters came over yesterday to make her a cake. 

Not bad for  10 and 6 year-olds. The wife will cut and add strawberries between the white icing before it is served. At least the cake is devoid of sprinkles!

On Human Rights

I believe the people who posted and reacted with glee over the murder of Charlie Kirk are total pieces of human dross with no sense of empathy or moral decency.

They have every right to state their opinion. 

As I said before, the First Amendment exists to protect the speech we find most offensive. 

Here author JK Rowling says it best:

“If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you're illiberal. If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you're a fundamentalist. If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you're a totalitarian. If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you're a terrorist.”  here

I can see into the future

It is my least favorite time of year. I am not talking about pumpkin everything, nor cool nights and mornings, nor even Halloween. Nope, it is business planning time for next year. Forecasts are set, budgets are planned, goals are cemented. 

I don’t want to “sandbag” if estimated sales are too low then it reflects badly on my efforts. If I forecast too high I will spend next year explaining why I missed my numbers.  I have to “Goldilocks” it. 

There are two issues. First , the customer does not know what he will do next year. Some goofy sales guy is going through this same guessing game at his company, driving their forecasts to their suppliers (me).  Second, , after I go through all of this calculation and spreadsheet mayhem, some accountant somewhere will rule on high and my boss will (at the direction of his boss, etc.) tell me “No, here is what your forecast should be” (always higher), and I am back to massage the numbers in my spreadsheet. And next year I get to explain each month why I missed the forecast I never agreed to in the first place. 

It has been this way at every company I ever worked. 

I will work and calculate, and rub my crystal ball anyway to try and give it my best guesstimate. I have all but my really big customer finished. I should wrap it up today. 

September 11

 On this anniversary, coupled with the events of yesterday I am reminded there is evil in this world. 

On the news of the day

 I disagree with a lot of people and a lot of opinions some individuals choose to harbor. 

Not once has it occurred to me to shoot one of those people. Mostly because I’m not insane. 

When you spend all day, every day calling your political opponents fascists, Nazis, and racists you don’t get to be shocked when someone acts on it.

That old ennui

It appears I haven’t posted in a few days. I wish I had a good reason. I do not.

I suppose I could tell you about the weather. It is schizophrenic- cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. I might tell you about last night’s supper. It was breaded pork tenderloin with green beans and Mac and cheese. I could regale you with my sports ball teams- both won their latest contests. 

All of that would be boring. It would fill up the electronic blank page. And it has. 

Right, Right

 

Rick Davies of Supertramp has passed away.  The greats of classic rock are dying off. 

I saw Supertramp in maybe ‘82 on the last tour before Rodger Hudson left the band.

Update: the concert was September 13, 1983 at MSA in Indianapolis. You can find anything on the internet.