I have never been big on the end-of-the-year recaps. I have mentioned this has been a bad year. But that does not mean I do not have plenty of good in my life.
I fully expect to begin 2018 the same way I have celebrated the previous 38 New Years - with a kiss from the love of my life.
Best wishes for the Happiest of New Years
If you drink, don't drive. Be careful out there tonight.
December 31, 2017
December 30, 2017
a world I never knew
Speech was a required course in my high school and the “look at me” aspect of my personality adapted well to speechifying. I found the class an easy ‘A’. So my senior year I found I had just about enough credits to graduate if I took four classes a day. Besides the required Government/Social Studies class I took stuff I enjoyed: band, English, French, and though I did not need another class I took advanced Speech.
We covered a range of subjects in the class from debate to Roberts Rules of Order to various types of speech to acting. The class was small, maybe a dozen kids and sometimes we just discussed the events of the day. We learned to communicate. I probably enjoyed that class as much as any in my public school days and that speech class forced me to break me out of my anonymous shy boy shell.
One day the teacher brought in a box set of albums. It was recordings of Lenny Bruce. The teacher tried to give the historic background to Bruce’s comedy. But in the spring of 1980 the comedy was too cerebral, to East Coast, too dated, and had lost the edge it had in the late 1950’s. It wasn’t crude nor risqué compared to contemporary SNL or comedy of National Lampoon. I just didn't find it funny. The school administration also likely would have even less than amused had they known Mr. Henderson was playing records with curse words to 17 and 18 year-olds at school. Still, it exposed kids in a hick farm town in the middle of nowhere Indiana to a wider world. Isn’t that the point of education?
We covered a range of subjects in the class from debate to Roberts Rules of Order to various types of speech to acting. The class was small, maybe a dozen kids and sometimes we just discussed the events of the day. We learned to communicate. I probably enjoyed that class as much as any in my public school days and that speech class forced me to break me out of my anonymous shy boy shell.
One day the teacher brought in a box set of albums. It was recordings of Lenny Bruce. The teacher tried to give the historic background to Bruce’s comedy. But in the spring of 1980 the comedy was too cerebral, to East Coast, too dated, and had lost the edge it had in the late 1950’s. It wasn’t crude nor risqué compared to contemporary SNL or comedy of National Lampoon. I just didn't find it funny. The school administration also likely would have even less than amused had they known Mr. Henderson was playing records with curse words to 17 and 18 year-olds at school. Still, it exposed kids in a hick farm town in the middle of nowhere Indiana to a wider world. Isn’t that the point of education?
December 29, 2017
Get over it
A pathetic guy started screaming at the animatronic Trumpster at the Disney World Hall of Presidents as part of the “resistance “. I wish this was the setup for a joke. He proudly tweeted about it. I’m not sure if I would brag about this epic level of stupidity. Over 800 people liked his tweet.
The Grouchy Old Cripple has often said liberalism is a mental disease. I’m beginning to think he is right.
The Grouchy Old Cripple has often said liberalism is a mental disease. I’m beginning to think he is right.
December 28, 2017
I thought that was March’s thing
Remember when December started unusually mild? We had temperatures pushing 70 at the beginning of the month. Mother Nature likes to bat for average, so now we are seeing a spate of very cold weather to even things out. It is not just the month of March presenting us with the lamb/lion motif. Looking ahead at the forecast, the new year is slated to start off with bone chilling cold: highs around here will barely inch above zero. Guess what? It is winter, it gets cold like this every year.
In other news, there is no other news. The Colts will wind down their dismal season Sunday. The politicians are home, doing no harm. Serious electioneering a few weeks away for the 2018 primary season.
Here at the homestead I am ready to strip the house of the Christmas decorations. We normally go from Thanksgiving to New Years. This year, I was ready to be done with it on the 26th. We have two invitations to hang out on New Years. I don’t really want to go anywhere. I’m ready to put this year in the past. I’m trying to moderate my language these days, but I can only say good fucking riddance to 2017.
Why yes, I have a bad attitude about everything these days — work, weather, the holidays, politics, life in general. You may be shocked at this clear departure from my usual sunny disposition and positive outlook on things. Maybe more coffee will help improve my attitude.
I doubt it.
In other news, there is no other news. The Colts will wind down their dismal season Sunday. The politicians are home, doing no harm. Serious electioneering a few weeks away for the 2018 primary season.
Here at the homestead I am ready to strip the house of the Christmas decorations. We normally go from Thanksgiving to New Years. This year, I was ready to be done with it on the 26th. We have two invitations to hang out on New Years. I don’t really want to go anywhere. I’m ready to put this year in the past. I’m trying to moderate my language these days, but I can only say good fucking riddance to 2017.
Why yes, I have a bad attitude about everything these days — work, weather, the holidays, politics, life in general. You may be shocked at this clear departure from my usual sunny disposition and positive outlook on things. Maybe more coffee will help improve my attitude.
I doubt it.
December 27, 2017
Five below zero
...is what the weather app describes the outdoor temperature this morning. The wind chill is -17. Fahrenheit is the scale. In other words, it is darned cold. To put things in perspective, it would be warmer to crawl into my freezer than to go outside. It is that cold. While I am back to work today, I am glad I don’t have to hit the road this morning.
December 26, 2017
Sparring with my inner demons on Boxing Day
Good morning, readers. I hope you had a great Christmas, Festivus, holiday, or long weekend. We had a great Christmas here at the old homestead. On Christmas Eve we celebrated with extended families and on Christmas Day we went to my daughter’s for dinner. I raked in some nice gifts. Apparently, I was a much nicer boy this year than I thought.
I ordered my wife some Ugg slippers from Amazon. It is the only thing she requested specifically. Either I ordered the wrong size (I don’t think so) or they sent the wrong size. My fair spouse does not have large feet, but these slippers were obviously made for someone who practiced the ancient Chinese art of footbinding. They are tiny. We will have to figure out how to return and exchange them this week.
It is a chilly ten degrees outside this morning with a subzero windchill. I have no intention of going outside, so it does not matter to me. Inside, the thermostat is set to a comfortable 69. (Hah! He said 69). I will admit it is cool here in the recliner next to blogging room window. We still have the original windows from when the house was built in the early ‘90s. All it takes is money to have them upgraded to more energy efficient models.
I have the day off work, so goofing off is on the schedule today. Maybe I can get the wife to go see Star Wars with me. Probably not.
Have a great Tuesday
I ordered my wife some Ugg slippers from Amazon. It is the only thing she requested specifically. Either I ordered the wrong size (I don’t think so) or they sent the wrong size. My fair spouse does not have large feet, but these slippers were obviously made for someone who practiced the ancient Chinese art of footbinding. They are tiny. We will have to figure out how to return and exchange them this week.
It is a chilly ten degrees outside this morning with a subzero windchill. I have no intention of going outside, so it does not matter to me. Inside, the thermostat is set to a comfortable 69. (Hah! He said 69). I will admit it is cool here in the recliner next to blogging room window. We still have the original windows from when the house was built in the early ‘90s. All it takes is money to have them upgraded to more energy efficient models.
I have the day off work, so goofing off is on the schedule today. Maybe I can get the wife to go see Star Wars with me. Probably not.
Have a great Tuesday
I spent Christmas in the hospital
I asked the wife what she wanted for Christmas. She said to get something that would make her look sexy.
I went out and bought a case of beer.
I went out and bought a case of beer.
December 25, 2017
December 24, 2017
December 23, 2017
Ding dong ding dooong
New day, same story. It seems I am destined to get up at 4:30 or so every day. Whatever. I’m not gonna cry about it.
The fairly heavy rain that is now falling is slated to turn to snow in the next hour or so. The ground is soggy and warm, so we shall see if it sticks. Heavier snow is in the forecast for tomorrow. We might get a couple of inches. I can live with that. A white Christmas would be nice. Vermont should be beautiful this time of year with all of that snow. If you don’t get that reference you outta spend a little more time watching old movies. Sheesh.
I have all of my shopping done. The wife has a couple of things to get for the family gift exchange. I get gifts for one, she gets the rest. That seems like a fair division of labor to me! I have to wrap my gifts still. I might go drop in the DVD of Ed’s favorite Christmas movie and reflect upon my wonderful life when I’m done writing this riveting post. I’ll let you know when I make up my mind.
Or not.
Have a great Saturday. Oh, and for the record, a canned post will follow this live one later today. Sunday and Monday’s efforts are also canned*. No fresh Christmas content for you. I don’t feel bad about it. You should spend your time with someone besides me on Christmas, as crazy as that seems. So let me offer up a live and hearty Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to every one of you.
Update:
*edit. For reasons I won’t divulge I was perusing my writings from a December 2016 and discovered that my holiday posts for 2017 are the same as last year. Whoops. I guess my memory really is getting bad. Sorry about those repeats. Well, sorta, I don’t feel bad enough to redo my lame efforts. You will get over it. Mostly.
The fairly heavy rain that is now falling is slated to turn to snow in the next hour or so. The ground is soggy and warm, so we shall see if it sticks. Heavier snow is in the forecast for tomorrow. We might get a couple of inches. I can live with that. A white Christmas would be nice. Vermont should be beautiful this time of year with all of that snow. If you don’t get that reference you outta spend a little more time watching old movies. Sheesh.
I have all of my shopping done. The wife has a couple of things to get for the family gift exchange. I get gifts for one, she gets the rest. That seems like a fair division of labor to me! I have to wrap my gifts still. I might go drop in the DVD of Ed’s favorite Christmas movie and reflect upon my wonderful life when I’m done writing this riveting post. I’ll let you know when I make up my mind.
Or not.
Have a great Saturday. Oh, and for the record, a canned post will follow this live one later today. Sunday and Monday’s efforts are also canned*. No fresh Christmas content for you. I don’t feel bad about it. You should spend your time with someone besides me on Christmas, as crazy as that seems. So let me offer up a live and hearty Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to every one of you.
Update:
*edit. For reasons I won’t divulge I was perusing my writings from a December 2016 and discovered that my holiday posts for 2017 are the same as last year. Whoops. I guess my memory really is getting bad. Sorry about those repeats. Well, sorta, I don’t feel bad enough to redo my lame efforts. You will get over it. Mostly.
December 22, 2017
Focus is more than a model of car
I have been playing the Elevate brain training app for a while now. It helps improve your memory and focus, with games centering on reading, writing, speaking, math, and listening. The games are quick and fun and it only takes a few minutes each morning to play the three random daily games you get with the free version. Some of the games I like better than others. I find the “Visualization” game in the reading module incredibly easy (I’m in the 99.99 percentile on that one) and some of the math games incredibly hard (I hate you fractions).
I do very well in Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Math and Listening; not so well. I told my wife my scores the other day and she was in no way surprised that my listening scores were even lower than my math scores. Then she said something else, but I confess I wasn’t paying attention.
I noticed a trend the other day in the game’s scorekeeping methodology. I am close to reaching the next level in Writing. If I have a good game score (excellent or great) I inch one or two points closer to the next level. If I have a bad score, I slip 10 points further away. The rewards are small, the punishments large.
Mostly I started this training app because hypochondriac me was worried my memory was going. I was granted one gift at birth, an extraordinary memory. In the last decade or so I found my ability to recall slipping. I knew the Jeopardy answers, I just couldn’t get them out fast enough. My Elevate memory scores are very high. I guess it is just age. The synapses don’t fire with the same alacrity. Perhaps the file cabinets in my brain are so full of “stuff” it just takes longer to find the right fact in the right file. Maybe my memory is failing. It could be I’m just sliding from “excellent” to “above average”. I had another point, but I cannot remember what it was.
I’m not going to share my scores. It is embarrassing.
I do very well in Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Math and Listening; not so well. I told my wife my scores the other day and she was in no way surprised that my listening scores were even lower than my math scores. Then she said something else, but I confess I wasn’t paying attention.
I noticed a trend the other day in the game’s scorekeeping methodology. I am close to reaching the next level in Writing. If I have a good game score (excellent or great) I inch one or two points closer to the next level. If I have a bad score, I slip 10 points further away. The rewards are small, the punishments large.
Mostly I started this training app because hypochondriac me was worried my memory was going. I was granted one gift at birth, an extraordinary memory. In the last decade or so I found my ability to recall slipping. I knew the Jeopardy answers, I just couldn’t get them out fast enough. My Elevate memory scores are very high. I guess it is just age. The synapses don’t fire with the same alacrity. Perhaps the file cabinets in my brain are so full of “stuff” it just takes longer to find the right fact in the right file. Maybe my memory is failing. It could be I’m just sliding from “excellent” to “above average”. I had another point, but I cannot remember what it was.
I’m not going to share my scores. It is embarrassing.
December 21, 2017
Try, try again
That other post is gone. The Nazis at the NFL will not let me post videos that tout their product. Now there is a valid reason to kneel in protest. Not during the Anthem, though.
Instead, since I’m feeling chatty, here is some more classic Christmas music. You will listen — unless you hate puppies and kittens and gentle butterflies. Do it for the children.
Instead, since I’m feeling chatty, here is some more classic Christmas music. You will listen — unless you hate puppies and kittens and gentle butterflies. Do it for the children.
Shortest or longest?
Today marks the solstice. The weather reader told me today will be the shortest day. In fact, today will be some nanoseconds over 24 hours, just like yesterday.
Yes, you in the back? Uh hum. Yes. Oh, the hours of daylight are the shortest of the year. I see. The almanac indicates we will have 9 hours and 21 minutes of sun today at the old homestead, cloud cover not withstanding. So for me, today does make the “shortest day” of sun and the first day of winter.
Like most things, this is all a matter of perspective.
If you lived at 40 degrees of latitude south instead of north, today would be the first day of summer and the longest in terms of the hours between sunrise and sunset. Of course, most of the 40th degree latitude south crosses ocean, except for a couple of islands of Tasmania and the tip of South America, so not many folks get to enjoy the height of summer in those regions. By most mariner accounts, the oceans are fierce and rough in the “roaring forties”.
What does all of this mean? Not much. This big blue ball we call home continues to spin on its tilted axis as it rotates around the sun. The weather will be seasonably warm today and cold over the weekend. It may snow. Winter is not coming, it is here. Tomorrow we can look forward to more minutes of sunlight as the days march forward to another spring.
Yes, you in the back? Uh hum. Yes. Oh, the hours of daylight are the shortest of the year. I see. The almanac indicates we will have 9 hours and 21 minutes of sun today at the old homestead, cloud cover not withstanding. So for me, today does make the “shortest day” of sun and the first day of winter.
Like most things, this is all a matter of perspective.
If you lived at 40 degrees of latitude south instead of north, today would be the first day of summer and the longest in terms of the hours between sunrise and sunset. Of course, most of the 40th degree latitude south crosses ocean, except for a couple of islands of Tasmania and the tip of South America, so not many folks get to enjoy the height of summer in those regions. By most mariner accounts, the oceans are fierce and rough in the “roaring forties”.
What does all of this mean? Not much. This big blue ball we call home continues to spin on its tilted axis as it rotates around the sun. The weather will be seasonably warm today and cold over the weekend. It may snow. Winter is not coming, it is here. Tomorrow we can look forward to more minutes of sunlight as the days march forward to another spring.
December 20, 2017
Wednesday Wanders
I fried up some chicken for supper last night. Mashed spuds, gravy, biscuits, and corn rounded out the meal. I’m not sure why you’d care what I ate.
I am slouching towards the weekend and Christmas holiday. I think I might take a few days of vacation to get the whole next week off. It is not like any customer is going to talk to me. I usually use that dead period to clean up my files and such. I’m in pretty good shape this year. I could use the time to prospect; finding info on potential customers through the interwebz. I could save my vacation days and work.
I am not sure if we have ever been less prepared for Christmas. The good news is my daughter is hosting Christmas dinner, so I don’t have that to worry about. We just have to make some stuff for the pitch-ins at the extended family Christmas Eve functions.
We went to the granddaughters’s Christmas pageant at preschool yesterday. There is nothing more entertaining than watching the teachers try to get groups of 2, 3, and 4 year-olds to line up and sing. It is like trying to herd guinea pigs. The kids are cute and hilarious. The church had big video screens on the sides of the stage. My granddaughter spent most of the time watching herself not sing.
The wife is heading over to my daughter’s today to make cookies, candy, and treats. It will be an all day affair. Three generations of girls cooking and baking. They will have a blast. Keeping my granddaughter from dumping whole bottles of sprinkles or colored sugar on every sugar cookie will be a challenge. Like every kid, she loves sprinkles.
I have a tune from an old musical floating on the edge of my consciousness that sums up my mood today: coasting along. I just can’t dredge it up. I don’t know if the song fragment is Desi singing in “The long, long trailer” or a Martin/Lewis flick, or a Crosby and Hope road adventure. It is just an undefined snippet about “cruisn’ along, singin’ a song”. Hah! The internet knows all and sees all. The song is “Side by Side”. Martin and Lewis covered it. So did Bing. That explains why both were rolling around in my brain pan.
I hope you have a great Wednesday.
I am slouching towards the weekend and Christmas holiday. I think I might take a few days of vacation to get the whole next week off. It is not like any customer is going to talk to me. I usually use that dead period to clean up my files and such. I’m in pretty good shape this year. I could use the time to prospect; finding info on potential customers through the interwebz. I could save my vacation days and work.
I am not sure if we have ever been less prepared for Christmas. The good news is my daughter is hosting Christmas dinner, so I don’t have that to worry about. We just have to make some stuff for the pitch-ins at the extended family Christmas Eve functions.
We went to the granddaughters’s Christmas pageant at preschool yesterday. There is nothing more entertaining than watching the teachers try to get groups of 2, 3, and 4 year-olds to line up and sing. It is like trying to herd guinea pigs. The kids are cute and hilarious. The church had big video screens on the sides of the stage. My granddaughter spent most of the time watching herself not sing.
The wife is heading over to my daughter’s today to make cookies, candy, and treats. It will be an all day affair. Three generations of girls cooking and baking. They will have a blast. Keeping my granddaughter from dumping whole bottles of sprinkles or colored sugar on every sugar cookie will be a challenge. Like every kid, she loves sprinkles.
I have a tune from an old musical floating on the edge of my consciousness that sums up my mood today: coasting along. I just can’t dredge it up. I don’t know if the song fragment is Desi singing in “The long, long trailer” or a Martin/Lewis flick, or a Crosby and Hope road adventure. It is just an undefined snippet about “cruisn’ along, singin’ a song”. Hah! The internet knows all and sees all. The song is “Side by Side”. Martin and Lewis covered it. So did Bing. That explains why both were rolling around in my brain pan.
I hope you have a great Wednesday.
December 18, 2017
Sigh
If you are here today expecting the normal fare — pithy commentary, juvenile humor, personal anecdotes, complaining, weather reports that are irrelevant unless you live here, political rants and such — you are going to be seriously disappointed. To quote Willie Wonka, “you get nothing”.
December 16, 2017
Really, it is
I knew you were wishing I would post some Christmas music. Search your feelings. You know I am right. The Force told me so.
Really, it is OK if you quit me
3:30 rolled around this morning and I felt a figurative tap on my shoulder as my old buddy insomnia decided to stop by for a visit. Last month I fought a battle with an inability to sleep, but in recent weeks I was back to semi-regular sleep patterns. Not today! I wouldn’t mind if Mr. Insomnia decided to hang out with someone else for a while. We have been intimate acquaintances for most of my life. I’m ready to move on. So here I am catching up on Interweby-type stuff. My Echo is softly playing Christmas music in an effort to force me into the mood of the season.
I spent the end of the week in the general environs of the Windy City. The drive up Thursday and back last night were uneventful. I soldiered through the normal late afternoon/early evening creeping traffic at the 290 to 294 bottleneck and along I-80 to the perpetually-under-construction interchange with I-65. The History on Fire podcast kept me entertained up and back with the four Crazy Horse episodes.
My granddaughter turns 3 today. She is the lone bright spot in an otherwise gloomy holiday season. For the first time in my life I just want Christmas to be done. I normally love this time of year. This year I just cannot get in the spirit. 2017 has been such a miserable year. Death, finances, and general malaise have combined to rob the holidays of their magic.
Ah, you didn’t come here to hear me whine. I hope not. If you did, I seriously wonder about you. I have managed to kill almost two hours goofing on the internet. Two cups of coffee and a half of a peanut butter sandwich broke up the time. This pathetic post took far longer than my usual ten minutes to compose and peck out on the keyboard. Too bad the effort is not reflected in the results. I’ve said it before, you get what you pay for around here.
Enjoy your Saturday, I’m going to try and read myself back to sleep here in my old comfy recliner.
I spent the end of the week in the general environs of the Windy City. The drive up Thursday and back last night were uneventful. I soldiered through the normal late afternoon/early evening creeping traffic at the 290 to 294 bottleneck and along I-80 to the perpetually-under-construction interchange with I-65. The History on Fire podcast kept me entertained up and back with the four Crazy Horse episodes.
My granddaughter turns 3 today. She is the lone bright spot in an otherwise gloomy holiday season. For the first time in my life I just want Christmas to be done. I normally love this time of year. This year I just cannot get in the spirit. 2017 has been such a miserable year. Death, finances, and general malaise have combined to rob the holidays of their magic.
Ah, you didn’t come here to hear me whine. I hope not. If you did, I seriously wonder about you. I have managed to kill almost two hours goofing on the internet. Two cups of coffee and a half of a peanut butter sandwich broke up the time. This pathetic post took far longer than my usual ten minutes to compose and peck out on the keyboard. Too bad the effort is not reflected in the results. I’ve said it before, you get what you pay for around here.
Enjoy your Saturday, I’m going to try and read myself back to sleep here in my old comfy recliner.
December 14, 2017
Office Christmas Party
The raging winds have finally died down here at the old homestead. The whole house was groaning and creaking last night as old Boreas did his thing. It is still seasonably cold, but the big willow out back has ceased to imitate the Whomping Willow of Harry Potter fame. The sun is rising in dull pink and gray hues out my office window. Unfortunately, the privacy fence that surround my back yard prevented all of that wind from dispersing the layer of damp, soggy leaves that still carpets the ground.
I’m off to the corporate office later today. The big office Christmas Luncheon is scheduled for the morrow and a failure to make an appearance would be noticed when I am one of 15 employees.
The local remote location will probably hold its own Holiday Extravaganza next Friday afternoon. Heck, those festivities may last all day. Since I am the sole employee at this sales office and that location is a spare bedroom in my house, I can just play it by ear. If I have a few drinks and pinch the office cleaning girl on the rear and make a few lewd comments, she won’t mind. She’s my wife. She will probably give me ‘that’ look though. I’m used to her mild disapproval.
I’m off to the corporate office later today. The big office Christmas Luncheon is scheduled for the morrow and a failure to make an appearance would be noticed when I am one of 15 employees.
The local remote location will probably hold its own Holiday Extravaganza next Friday afternoon. Heck, those festivities may last all day. Since I am the sole employee at this sales office and that location is a spare bedroom in my house, I can just play it by ear. If I have a few drinks and pinch the office cleaning girl on the rear and make a few lewd comments, she won’t mind. She’s my wife. She will probably give me ‘that’ look though. I’m used to her mild disapproval.
December 13, 2017
Out of excuses
Now what is Al “I will resign maybe, someday” Franken going to do? He was counting on Roy Moore to provide cover so he could stay in office. His “I’m not as bad as that guy” position is now moot. I have this image of Franken staring at a mirror last night mumbling “I’m valuable, people love me, I’m funny” repeatedly.
In all honesty, I am sure Franken is not even close to being the biggest turd in Congress. In fact, his antics are probably pretty mild in comparison. Grabbing a woman’s tush while taking a picture is juvenile, crude and certainly slap-worthy. I’d bet if one of those women had slapped him or their man punched him in the nose, Al “Fast hands” Franken would have stopped. I’m sure he thought he was being funny. That in no way excuses or condones his gropes, gooses, and grabs. Even an eight year-old knows better.
The whole situation brings to mind a sentiment I have long held regarding the political class; namely, is this really the best we can do? My disgust with everything Washington and both political parties increases every day.
In all honesty, I am sure Franken is not even close to being the biggest turd in Congress. In fact, his antics are probably pretty mild in comparison. Grabbing a woman’s tush while taking a picture is juvenile, crude and certainly slap-worthy. I’d bet if one of those women had slapped him or their man punched him in the nose, Al “Fast hands” Franken would have stopped. I’m sure he thought he was being funny. That in no way excuses or condones his gropes, gooses, and grabs. Even an eight year-old knows better.
The whole situation brings to mind a sentiment I have long held regarding the political class; namely, is this really the best we can do? My disgust with everything Washington and both political parties increases every day.
December 12, 2017
My side hurts
I received this spam email today:
I bet if I send him my bank info several million bucks will appear just in time for a Christmas.
Dear Sir/Madam,Unlike other spammers, he is not criminally minded.
I am indeed glad to be in contact with you even though this medium of
communication (internet) has been grossly abused by criminal minded
people making it difficult for people with genuine intention struggle
to correspond and exchange views without skepticism. I got your
contact from the deceased disc-file record, then i decided to contact
you.
I have a business proposition for you Please get back to me if you are
willing to help please get back to me and I will send you a detail
mail.
Barrister Eedris Mohammed.
I bet if I send him my bank info several million bucks will appear just in time for a Christmas.
December 11, 2017
Dear Democrats, Gimme a break
The Democrats and media (redundancy alert) are on their moral high horse talking how Al I didn’t really resign yet Franken “sacrificed” himself even though he didn’t really do anything that wrong. He is held up as the example of why the Democrats are pure and wonderful and red and blue sprinkles on a birthday cake. They respect women. Republicans don’t because some dude who hit on teenagers 40 years ago is running for office or something.
Again, just like with Hillary, the Democrats and media cannot grasp that a piece of crap human is still preferable to their candidate. Sorry to burst that bubble, but most Americans still find the idea that you can abort a baby right up to the time it is born repugnant. Many Americans don’t like Bernie Bro leftist economics.
More to the point, I refuse to be lectured by the very people who told me to shut up about Bill Clinton and excused and lionized and honored Ted Kennedy. Sorry, your sudden morality has the crackle of Confederate money.
Besides, what the voters in Alabama decide is not a reflection of the nation as a whole. John McCain certainly doesn’t represent me as a conservative, and Roy Moore won’t represent me either.
I’m sick of the whole resistance nonsense. Your candidate lost. Get over it. I know you are disappointed. I felt the same way in ‘08 and ‘12. Trust me — exactly the same way. Trump is not my dream President, but he is doing what I want done. He is appointing conservatives to the court. The economy is growing. The borders are becoming more secure. Check, check, and check. If he can find a way to cut my taxes and gut ObamaCare, I give him bonus points.
In the meantime, Democrats lecturing anyone on morality is the height of hypocrisy. I guess if you forego any moral standards you don’t have to worry about it. I fart in your general direction.
Again, just like with Hillary, the Democrats and media cannot grasp that a piece of crap human is still preferable to their candidate. Sorry to burst that bubble, but most Americans still find the idea that you can abort a baby right up to the time it is born repugnant. Many Americans don’t like Bernie Bro leftist economics.
More to the point, I refuse to be lectured by the very people who told me to shut up about Bill Clinton and excused and lionized and honored Ted Kennedy. Sorry, your sudden morality has the crackle of Confederate money.
Besides, what the voters in Alabama decide is not a reflection of the nation as a whole. John McCain certainly doesn’t represent me as a conservative, and Roy Moore won’t represent me either.
I’m sick of the whole resistance nonsense. Your candidate lost. Get over it. I know you are disappointed. I felt the same way in ‘08 and ‘12. Trust me — exactly the same way. Trump is not my dream President, but he is doing what I want done. He is appointing conservatives to the court. The economy is growing. The borders are becoming more secure. Check, check, and check. If he can find a way to cut my taxes and gut ObamaCare, I give him bonus points.
In the meantime, Democrats lecturing anyone on morality is the height of hypocrisy. I guess if you forego any moral standards you don’t have to worry about it. I fart in your general direction.
i miss those old commercials where Santa rode over the snow on an electric razor
Here we are, another Monday. I’m less than motivated this morning. Yesterday was a tough day. I don’t know where I am on the grieving chart, but it is what it is. Today I just don’t feel like working. That is rare, I cannot remember the last time I woke up and said “I don’t want to go to work today”.
Until today.
Worry not, I’ll suck it up. This time of year is hard. People don’t want to talk to a darn salesman anyway, and especially not at the end of the year when they are trying to work next year’s budget, get projects finished, and are looking to the holidays. I’d like to kick the guy who invented caller ID right in the rear. Except for on my phone, I hate those sales calls. I, on the other hand, have a valuable product my potential customers need. My situation is way different.
In other news, the Colts/Bills football game yesterday was a hoot. Total blizzard conditions left the players sliding and falling in the snow. Coaches needed to pull out the old 1920s playbook, the forward pass was an impossibility; especially in the first half. Of course the Colts managed to blow the game in true Colts inept fashion. The Indianapolis soon-to-be-HOF kicker told them he needed the ball on the right side of the field for a FG attempt. The Colts waste 40 seconds. They never try for a score. They don’t try to get closer. They do not even move the ball to the right hash. They do nothing, they never even run a play! So yeah, the kicker had no time to clean the half foot of snow in the kicking area and the horizontal winds were blowing from right to left, thus, he had to kick from the left. Missed. The defense rolled over in OT. Game Over. Another head-scratching coaching botch job. I’m not sure how they have managed to win 3 games.
A couple of weeks ago we were shopping for Thanksgiving groceries and found some nice Porterhouse steaks on sale for 50% off. I thawed them out yesterday and threw them on the grill. Steak, baked spuds and salad made for a nice Sunday dinner.
Have a great Monday. If I call you, pick up the phone. My boss is riding me and I need some new business. You need a few thousand spherical plain bearings don’t you?
Until today.
Worry not, I’ll suck it up. This time of year is hard. People don’t want to talk to a darn salesman anyway, and especially not at the end of the year when they are trying to work next year’s budget, get projects finished, and are looking to the holidays. I’d like to kick the guy who invented caller ID right in the rear. Except for on my phone, I hate those sales calls. I, on the other hand, have a valuable product my potential customers need. My situation is way different.
In other news, the Colts/Bills football game yesterday was a hoot. Total blizzard conditions left the players sliding and falling in the snow. Coaches needed to pull out the old 1920s playbook, the forward pass was an impossibility; especially in the first half. Of course the Colts managed to blow the game in true Colts inept fashion. The Indianapolis soon-to-be-HOF kicker told them he needed the ball on the right side of the field for a FG attempt. The Colts waste 40 seconds. They never try for a score. They don’t try to get closer. They do not even move the ball to the right hash. They do nothing, they never even run a play! So yeah, the kicker had no time to clean the half foot of snow in the kicking area and the horizontal winds were blowing from right to left, thus, he had to kick from the left. Missed. The defense rolled over in OT. Game Over. Another head-scratching coaching botch job. I’m not sure how they have managed to win 3 games.
A couple of weeks ago we were shopping for Thanksgiving groceries and found some nice Porterhouse steaks on sale for 50% off. I thawed them out yesterday and threw them on the grill. Steak, baked spuds and salad made for a nice Sunday dinner.
Have a great Monday. If I call you, pick up the phone. My boss is riding me and I need some new business. You need a few thousand spherical plain bearings don’t you?
December 10, 2017
Revisiting Old Swayback
I have always liked to re-watch favorite movies and re-read favorite books. There are some movies I have seen 20 or 30 times. A few books I have read multiple times. By “multiple” I mean at least five times or more. Occasionally, one of my favorite multi-read books turns into a muti-view movie. The old adage that mediocre books make great movies is often true. The book and the movie I’m about to watch may be a case in point. I was maybe 11 or so when I came across an old hardback version of In Harms Way by James Bassett. I had already formed a love of history at that point and the book fit right into my groove. I read it straight through. Only much later did I see the John Wayne movie version. Although there are some changes to the plot, I dig the movie too.
For the past several years, due to my frequently chronicled eye problems I was unable to read my old copy of the book. In fact, when we moved here in 2013 I sold and donated just about every one of my physical books since I couldn’t read the print. Instead, I relied completely on my Kindle and it’s adjustable font. I have some of my favorites, ones I just couldn’t bear to part with*, in a plastic tub in the back of a closet. I think Bassett’s book is in there. Now I don’t have to go dig it out, because when looking up links for this post I discovered the old book is now available pretty cheap in electric format! I can read real books now, but it is far more comfortable reading on my e-reader. I just scored one of my favorite stories!
The point of this post was to discuss watching the movie this morning. I like to watch it this time of year. Now I may reread the book instead. Choices, sometimes they are a win-win.
*like my 30+ year-old copy of The Washing of the Spears.
For the past several years, due to my frequently chronicled eye problems I was unable to read my old copy of the book. In fact, when we moved here in 2013 I sold and donated just about every one of my physical books since I couldn’t read the print. Instead, I relied completely on my Kindle and it’s adjustable font. I have some of my favorites, ones I just couldn’t bear to part with*, in a plastic tub in the back of a closet. I think Bassett’s book is in there. Now I don’t have to go dig it out, because when looking up links for this post I discovered the old book is now available pretty cheap in electric format! I can read real books now, but it is far more comfortable reading on my e-reader. I just scored one of my favorite stories!
The point of this post was to discuss watching the movie this morning. I like to watch it this time of year. Now I may reread the book instead. Choices, sometimes they are a win-win.
*like my 30+ year-old copy of The Washing of the Spears.
December 9, 2017
Hear the snow crunch
Panic! The weather maven says we will get one to two inches of snow today. So far they have avoided complete SnowTeamScareTeam coverage: “so far” being the operative phrase. It is certainly cold enough. We shall see. I ain’t mad about getting snow. It is December and a little white stuff will offset the Christmas lights perfectly. Should we get a bunch of snow, my old sled is leaning on the porch as a Christmas decoration. I’ll have to take off the wreath tied to it and wax up the runners, but it is ready. All I’ll need is a decent hill and a body that is 25 35 40 years younger. Both are hard to find around here.
My boss sent a flurry of emails starting at 4:45 PM yesterday, all requiring a response. I know I ostensively work until 5, but WTH, it is a Friday. I know, I know, most of the working world doesn’t work from home and does not have that kind of flexibility to their schedule. I was still at it at 5:30. This was like getting called into a meeting 15 minutes before the end of the day to discuss stuff that could just as well been addressed Monday morning. Oh well, it is not like I had a hot date, or any plans at all. The wife was gone, so I just read until time to cook supper anyway.
I don’t think we have any plans for the weekend. The social director does not usually check in with me though until it is time to go, so it is quite possible I am just out of the loop.
A quick glance out the window shows — let me check — darkness. I do not see any snow yet. The old sled is safe for now.
Have a great Saturday.
My boss sent a flurry of emails starting at 4:45 PM yesterday, all requiring a response. I know I ostensively work until 5, but WTH, it is a Friday. I know, I know, most of the working world doesn’t work from home and does not have that kind of flexibility to their schedule. I was still at it at 5:30. This was like getting called into a meeting 15 minutes before the end of the day to discuss stuff that could just as well been addressed Monday morning. Oh well, it is not like I had a hot date, or any plans at all. The wife was gone, so I just read until time to cook supper anyway.
I don’t think we have any plans for the weekend. The social director does not usually check in with me though until it is time to go, so it is quite possible I am just out of the loop.
A quick glance out the window shows — let me check — darkness. I do not see any snow yet. The old sled is safe for now.
Have a great Saturday.
December 8, 2017
You do know Al “ Fast Hands” Franken did not actually resign, right?
I suspect that If you are sleazy enough to grope strange women who just want a picture or to fondle a sleeping fellow entertainer, it is not much of a stretch to imagine Franken will fail to actually “resign” in a few weeks. After all, he grabbed his seat after mysterious votes kept showing up in the recount. Embarrassment has never been a character trait of any politician. Hypocrisy is the motto of the Democrat Party.
Heck, in a year or two everyone, especially his colleagues, will forget this sordid moment, as long as he votes right. Kennedy killed a woman and was a Democrat icon. Byrd was a honcho in the KKK. Sleazeballs from both parties were in on the S&L fiasco. Remember the Keating Five? Say, didn’t one of those scuzzes go on to run for President?
The air in the Capital is so fetid, so corrupt, so lacking in honor, that nothing would surprise me.
Heck, in a year or two everyone, especially his colleagues, will forget this sordid moment, as long as he votes right. Kennedy killed a woman and was a Democrat icon. Byrd was a honcho in the KKK. Sleazeballs from both parties were in on the S&L fiasco. Remember the Keating Five? Say, didn’t one of those scuzzes go on to run for President?
The air in the Capital is so fetid, so corrupt, so lacking in honor, that nothing would surprise me.
December 7, 2017
December 6, 2017
Three hundred and twenty
Unless I start cranking out meaningless posts* several times a day for the rest of the month, it appears I will fall short of 400 posts in a year for the first time in a more than a century. OK, since I started inflicting my worldview upon the interwebz in general back in ‘05. That inaugural year saw 481 posts in just nine months of blogging. That would equate to more than 600 posts in a year! I must have had a lot to say in those days. Maybe I just had more time?
As a point of order, it looks unlikely I will even manage to write the average of one post a day for 2017. Considering I was unemployed for a while, that’s pretty sad. Or not. It depends on your point of view.
My record of 544 posts in 2006, when blogging was at its height, seems more than safe. I have neither the time nor the desire to inflict myself on you that often.
Haha, this makesfour six posts in two three days. I may make 365 yet!
*like this one
As a point of order, it looks unlikely I will even manage to write the average of one post a day for 2017. Considering I was unemployed for a while, that’s pretty sad. Or not. It depends on your point of view.
My record of 544 posts in 2006, when blogging was at its height, seems more than safe. I have neither the time nor the desire to inflict myself on you that often.
Haha, this makes
*like this one
I’m sorry, so sorry
I often dwell on stuff in the past that cannot be changed: old actions, conversations, or decisions I did, said, or took. I don’t know why. There are certainly a slew of mistakes in my past. I have plenty of regrets. Is it strange to worry about things already in the past? I spend little effort worrying about the here and now, less on next week, month, and year. But I worry about the coulda, woulda, and especially the shoulda. Am I unique in this?
While not a planner per se, I am not overly impulsive either. In my youth I was more likely to do stuff on the spur of the moment, sometimes regrettable stuff, but no more than any other immature kid. For some reason I still waste time replaying that old movie about my past in my head, hoping for a different script this time.
Since the discussion has been a bit obtuse to this point, let me share a couple of examples.
I was walking along over the weekend, music droning in my headphones. Suddenly my brain replayed an argument I had with a parent back in my youth football coaching days. He didn’t think his kid was playing enough, blah, blah. I should have walked away. Why didn’t I walk away? Why am I worrying about it now, a decade or more later?
I have always been good a reading out loud. It is harder than you think, and listening to someone who is not good at it is painful. I honed the skill reading to the kids during story hour back when I was a librarian (a tale for another day). Last week, my daughter asked me to read a poem at the funeral. I mumbled over some words, paused when I shouldn’t have. I know I have excuses. The poem was emotional, the situation unbearable. I still read it through fine, but it sounded like I was reading it, if that makes sense. The personal emotions I was feeling doesn’t change the fact I wanted to do it right and didn’t. I redo that reading in my head every day. To what point?
My life is filled with regrets, great and small. The mistakes I have made are legion. I don’t know why I rehash them. Maybe God is sending a message that I need to really repent. Maybe there is something wired wrong in my brain, that I would prefer to live in the past. Maybe this post will be evidence in my future commitment hearing. Maybe I will delete it in a few hours.
I’ll likely regret that too.
While not a planner per se, I am not overly impulsive either. In my youth I was more likely to do stuff on the spur of the moment, sometimes regrettable stuff, but no more than any other immature kid. For some reason I still waste time replaying that old movie about my past in my head, hoping for a different script this time.
Since the discussion has been a bit obtuse to this point, let me share a couple of examples.
I was walking along over the weekend, music droning in my headphones. Suddenly my brain replayed an argument I had with a parent back in my youth football coaching days. He didn’t think his kid was playing enough, blah, blah. I should have walked away. Why didn’t I walk away? Why am I worrying about it now, a decade or more later?
I have always been good a reading out loud. It is harder than you think, and listening to someone who is not good at it is painful. I honed the skill reading to the kids during story hour back when I was a librarian (a tale for another day). Last week, my daughter asked me to read a poem at the funeral. I mumbled over some words, paused when I shouldn’t have. I know I have excuses. The poem was emotional, the situation unbearable. I still read it through fine, but it sounded like I was reading it, if that makes sense. The personal emotions I was feeling doesn’t change the fact I wanted to do it right and didn’t. I redo that reading in my head every day. To what point?
My life is filled with regrets, great and small. The mistakes I have made are legion. I don’t know why I rehash them. Maybe God is sending a message that I need to really repent. Maybe there is something wired wrong in my brain, that I would prefer to live in the past. Maybe this post will be evidence in my future commitment hearing. Maybe I will delete it in a few hours.
I’ll likely regret that too.
December 5, 2017
I have questions
If Hillary had won the election, does anyone doubt Comey would have been the first guy shown the door? Seriously, is there any scenario where the FBI Director keeps his job?
Would Democrats be howling for impeachment over the Chief Executive firing the previous guy’s staff?
Would Democrats be howling for impeachment over the Chief Executive firing the previous guy’s staff?
Shoulda coulda
Yesterday it was in the mid-sixties. In December. As could be expected with a warm front like that there was a high wind. Leaves were blowing from the pear trees like snowflakes. I looked at the backyard and knew I should have gone out and used the mower to chop them up and bag them. I looked at the trees and saw a large percentage of the leaves were hanging on to the limbs with a tenacious energy. Then a few phone calls for work, blah, blah and I did nothing. In all honesty, I didn’t really want to go out and do the work.
This morning the backyard is ankle deep in leaves — literally, not figuratively. Sigh. I console myself with the knowledge that had I mowed up the detritus yesterday the yard would still be covered fresh this morning. The trees are mostly bare today. Thanks wind.
Yesterday was shirtsleeve weather. Today it is in the 30s. It is not going to get warmer anytime soon. In fact, it is supposed to snow this weekend. Besides, I emptied my gas can and drained the mower for winter. Feeble excuses that in no way prevent me from using a rake. The front yard filled two large garbage cans and five bags. The backyard will take at least triple that. The bottom line is I’m in a lazy mood and don’t want to do it.
The wife reminds me I wanted all of these trees. Just because she is right doesn’t mean I have to acknowledge the fact. I’m trying to convince myself that all those rotting leaves over the winter will be good for the grass. Besides, one shouldn’t have to rake leaves around Christmas decorations.
I know, I know. If you are looking for me this afternoon, I’ll be out back, bundled against the cold, getting rid of the leaves. Boy, I miss the days when you could push leaves into a pile and burn them up. That’s the smell of fall to me.
This morning the backyard is ankle deep in leaves — literally, not figuratively. Sigh. I console myself with the knowledge that had I mowed up the detritus yesterday the yard would still be covered fresh this morning. The trees are mostly bare today. Thanks wind.
Yesterday was shirtsleeve weather. Today it is in the 30s. It is not going to get warmer anytime soon. In fact, it is supposed to snow this weekend. Besides, I emptied my gas can and drained the mower for winter. Feeble excuses that in no way prevent me from using a rake. The front yard filled two large garbage cans and five bags. The backyard will take at least triple that. The bottom line is I’m in a lazy mood and don’t want to do it.
The wife reminds me I wanted all of these trees. Just because she is right doesn’t mean I have to acknowledge the fact. I’m trying to convince myself that all those rotting leaves over the winter will be good for the grass. Besides, one shouldn’t have to rake leaves around Christmas decorations.
I know, I know. If you are looking for me this afternoon, I’ll be out back, bundled against the cold, getting rid of the leaves. Boy, I miss the days when you could push leaves into a pile and burn them up. That’s the smell of fall to me.
December 4, 2017
Addendum
Will any of you hysterical leftist Democrat types please explain how cutting your taxes takes money from me or the poor or anyone else?
How is letting anyone keep more of their own money related in any way whatsoever to how much money you do or do not have?
Since no spending cuts or reductions are included in the tax bill (see below), no one is losing out on anything, not welfare, not healthcare, not spending of any kind.
This bill is not killing anyone who was not dying under the current system.
If you state otherwise you are not just being untruthful, you are a damned liar.
I know chirp chirp chirp.
How is letting anyone keep more of their own money related in any way whatsoever to how much money you do or do not have?
Since no spending cuts or reductions are included in the tax bill (see below), no one is losing out on anything, not welfare, not healthcare, not spending of any kind.
This bill is not killing anyone who was not dying under the current system.
If you state otherwise you are not just being untruthful, you are a damned liar.
I know chirp chirp chirp.
It is the spending, stupid
Look, I’m no genius. I’m as smart as the next guy, perhaps more intelligent than some. Certainly, when it comes to math, my practical knowledge is confined to algebra. A calculator or spreadsheet is my best friend when doing computations.
But even I know that as a nation we cannot keep spending like this. Tax cuts are great. I want one. You want one. But without spending cuts all we have done is ensure someone else will pay higher taxes in their future.
It is time Congress looks at spending. All spending, and that includes the military. The automatic spending increases have to go. Reducing a planned increases of 5% to an increase of 2% is not a “cut”.
Say you spent $100 on electricity last December and budgeted $130 for electricity this December. At the end of the month your bill was $115. You did not save $15. You spent $15 more than last year. You know it. I know it. Only someone in the fetid swamp of Washington would think they saved money on the electric bill, see it as an excuse to go to the casino and bet not only that $15 on red, but the $15 for each month they “probably” will save in January, February, and March and wonder what happened to that $60 they were going to use to buy little Jimmie that Paw Patrol set he wanted for his birthday.
And yes, that was a run on sentence and you should read it as an indication of my pissed rantings. I’m channeling my inner Lewis Black.
I don’t care if it elects 100 Trumps. I am never voting for an incumbent again.
But even I know that as a nation we cannot keep spending like this. Tax cuts are great. I want one. You want one. But without spending cuts all we have done is ensure someone else will pay higher taxes in their future.
It is time Congress looks at spending. All spending, and that includes the military. The automatic spending increases have to go. Reducing a planned increases of 5% to an increase of 2% is not a “cut”.
Say you spent $100 on electricity last December and budgeted $130 for electricity this December. At the end of the month your bill was $115. You did not save $15. You spent $15 more than last year. You know it. I know it. Only someone in the fetid swamp of Washington would think they saved money on the electric bill, see it as an excuse to go to the casino and bet not only that $15 on red, but the $15 for each month they “probably” will save in January, February, and March and wonder what happened to that $60 they were going to use to buy little Jimmie that Paw Patrol set he wanted for his birthday.
And yes, that was a run on sentence and you should read it as an indication of my pissed rantings. I’m channeling my inner Lewis Black.
I don’t care if it elects 100 Trumps. I am never voting for an incumbent again.
December 3, 2017
this boring life
Here we are on a cold Sunday morning.
I didn’t accomplish much yesterday. I finished a good book. Try it, it don’t cost nuthin’. I went for a walk. I took a short nap. I watched a Bruce Lee movie. I watched a couple of cooking shows. We went to dinner, came home and watched some shows we had DVRed. I went to bed. Ho hum, ho hum.
I would like to describe some big Sunday plans. I cannot. I have the empty Christmas decoration boxes to put back in the attic. I will probably go for a walk — I need that exercise! I will tune in to see the Colts choke away another game. Maybe I’ll fry up some chicken or make a pot of chili for supper. I don’t know.
Anyway enjoy your Sunday.
I didn’t accomplish much yesterday. I finished a good book. Try it, it don’t cost nuthin’. I went for a walk. I took a short nap. I watched a Bruce Lee movie. I watched a couple of cooking shows. We went to dinner, came home and watched some shows we had DVRed. I went to bed. Ho hum, ho hum.
I would like to describe some big Sunday plans. I cannot. I have the empty Christmas decoration boxes to put back in the attic. I will probably go for a walk — I need that exercise! I will tune in to see the Colts choke away another game. Maybe I’ll fry up some chicken or make a pot of chili for supper. I don’t know.
Anyway enjoy your Sunday.
December 2, 2017
Once more
Seeing that little boy in that tiny casket is an image that will be seared into my memory forever. The grief of my daughter and son-in-law was palpable. After an immediate-family-only viewing at the funeral home there was a graveside service. There were so many people there.
I was honored, along with the other grandfather, to be a pallbearer. The little casket weighed hardly anything and still felt like I was carrying ten thousand pounds.
I was honored, along with the other grandfather, to be a pallbearer. The little casket weighed hardly anything and still felt like I was carrying ten thousand pounds.
December 1, 2017
The Hardest Day of my Life
Today is going to suck.
I’ve been to funerals. Never for a baby.
I won’t bore you with my personal woes after this. I just need a place to vent.
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