That old ennui

It might be because I am busy that I haven’t posted. It could be other stuff. Mostly, it is lack of motivation. 

Sorry about that.

Perhaps some music will soothe you.

How can you not dig that?

A pretty good Sunday

My daughter invited us over for dinner last night. It was meatloaf, not my favorite way of using hamburger, and it was in the middle of the Colts game. On the other hand we had no plans yet for supper and it was a free meal, so why not? 

We arrived at the appointed time and my daughter said the grandgirls had something they wanted to show us in the basement. So we went downstairs and there sat my oldest son, he had flown in from Colorado as a big surprise. We had no idea he was coming. We haven’t seen him for more than two years. It was a great and glorious surprise. 

He can’t stay the whole week, but any time is good. 

Life doesn’t always throw you curveballs, occasionally it gives you a big fat home run.

Yesterday I raked all of the leaves, today the lawn is covered

It is Sunday morning. It is also time change day.

Redacted long rant filled with curse words and hateful invective hurled upon the slimy politicians who refuse to rid us of this perfidious bi-annual nuisance.

We went to see a movie last night. I will not mention the title because it was without doubt one of the worst movies I have ever seen. How anyone Okayed the script is beyond my understanding. How anyone agreed to cough up money to produce that piece of garbage defies fiscal responsibility and logic. I don’t care who agreed to direct and star in that waste of digital celluloid, it is awful and a waste of my ticket money and it is time I’ll never get back. The popcorn was good. There, I had something nice to say about the experience, are you happy, Mom? Frankly, I was ready to leave by about six minutes in.

That says a lot. If I have anything I enjoy, it is watching movies. It is one thing my wife and I have in common. Our earliest dates, and most common ones when we were teens, were at the cinema. There is no doubt my favorite hobbies are watching movies and reading books, probably in that order. Yes, Dr. Freud, I believe escapism is the term you are searching for. I love watching a movie at the theater and I enjoy watching them on TV. Every weekend I watch at least a couple of movies on TV. I like almost any genre, but my interest skews to comedy, romcom, westerns, war, and action. I dig an old MGM musical. I am not much for sci-fi, and never horror. I do not like scary movies at all.

I guess, since you all know I ever search for the bright side of any situation, time change is a good thing today. It gives me an extra hour to watch a movie. Maybe I will see if I can find an old Esther Williams flick. She was my first crush, and all of that water will help wash that garbage last night from my mind.

Just Enough

 I’m in a great mood. It is not that. I really don’t have anything to say to you today.

I kinda, sorta, made the minimum effort though.

Forget The Holidays

Yeah, yeah, there is Thanksgiving. Then there is Christmas. Maybe you look forward to the New Year. The heck with all of that. Here is what has me excited almost beyond words:

I’ll be there. Even if the wife says “pass”, I’ll go by myself. 

Five pounds of crap in a one pound bag

I had weird dreams last night. I suppose it was the pot of chili I made for dinner. No, I won’t bore you with the details. There was no nekid involved, so why would anyone care? 

It is cold again this morning. Fall is here. I have beaucoup leaves to rake. And so right on cue, the wife wants more and different yard work done. I have two admittedly overgrown lilac bushes beside the patio. It wasn’t a problem until we rearranged the family room. I installed new blinds on the windows to replace the old shades. Now she can see those lilacs and wants them cut down. And the leaves are unsightly. 

Yes, I get it. “That rake fits your hand,” I said. 

To myself. 

The problem is I live in the burbs. If it doesn’t fit into those two trash bins it doesn’t get picked up unless I pay for a disposable dumpster or hire it hauled away. Those two lilacs are probably eight feet tall. I don’t care how small I cut up the branches I won’t get even one of the bushes in a bin.  Oh, and don’t forget the bags of leaves have to go somewhere. And we do create trash and garbage inside the house too. Mumble, mumble, no point in griping further. It is supposed to be a little warmer this weekend, so it is outside work I’ll do. I’m sure “we” will discuss the big pile of cut-down lilac bush piled out by the big willow around this time next week. 

This seems appropriate.

Onward to Thanksgiving!

 

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. 

She is my granddaughter’s favorite artist. 

Remember all of this, it will be important later.

Yesterday was cold and blustery. It spat snow all afternoon and evening. We had about 25 trick or treaters at the house: In the ten years we’ve lived here. Total. We had zero visits last night. At this point I doubt we can blame the weather, it is a pattern. That did not stop the wife from buying two bags of candy, however. She is the eternal optimist. Her response? “Oh well, at least it is the kinds we like.” Now I have to fight temptation every time I walk through the kitchen. I reminded her I’m diabetic. She smiled at me sweetly. 

Secretly, I think she wants to kill me. Not really. Maybe. 

The grandgirls were excited about a Halloween. They put on extra layers under their costumes. The youngest was a Frozen Princess — the one in blue, I can’t remember which is which, Anna or Elsa.

a little good news

If you haven’t bought my book yet, and I’m not sure why you haven’t, here is some good news. The E-book version will be offered at a reduced price this week. There is a link over there on the right that takes you direct to Amazon and the book.

If you did buy it, please throw up a review, even if it is a bad one. 

And if you have bought the book, either in paperback or electronic, thanks. I appreciate it.

And I hear it is Halloween. Here is the all-time classic:

Bitchin’

Okay, let’s cover all the complaint-worthy stuff quickly. It is cold, wet, Monday, and I have a follow-up at the eye surgeon this morning which means I will work through my lunch to make up lost time. Deep breath. And the Colts lost again. I swear the team has not had decent defense since sometime in the late 1700s. If they are going to play slow, short guys who cannot defend, they might as well let me suit up for the league minimum. Better yet, pull some random ticket holder from the stands. What better way to boost season ticket sales?

I’m not a Halloween fan. I hate scary movies. I will play you a scary Halloween-like song:

Maybe two:

Perseverance

My wife says I’m stubborn. Maybe it’s true, I’m not going to admit it in any case. 

My flowers are stubborn too. Witness this day lily. 

It might be almost November. We might have dipped below freezing. The plants might be covered in weeds and detritus. Yellow flower just doesn’t care. 

 

Pink Skies

This is my view to the west as I grilled a couple of nice ribeyes Thursday evening.

It was 75F. 

Fall will return this weekend. It was sure nice this week, though.

No words can soothe him

It is a Friday at last. I have, believe it or not, worked hard this week. And still I found time to write a few posts with actual content. That my friends, is something that hasn’t happened much around here lately. We both know it to be true.

Guess what, today ain’t gonna be one of those good content days. I’m offering fair warning, YouTube music will be involved. It will be that kind of Friday. 

The weather has been warm and nice all week and I’ve experienced it vicariously through the window next to my desk. It is my hope I can sneak out to the patio this afternoon and enjoy a short cigar before fall weather returns tomorrow. We shall see. I know emails were dropping fast and furious over night and last evening, so it depends on what level of unpleasantness I have to deal with when I fire up the computer this morning. How do I know work called all night? My phone sounds an alert with every email, WeChat, and Teams message — very handy and very annoying.

According to the neighborhood decorations and grandgirl’s excitement, Halloween is nearly here. How about some music to fit the season? Besides, it is an awesome tune.

just more climate change we are all gonna die BS

Do you see anything wrong in This article?  

...has brought water levels to unprecedented lows*

To  summarize, river levels are down. Ancient carvings are visible. If the water has never been this low — unprecedented — then how were the carvings done? 

You have to start being a little skeptical about the climate change hyperbole. 

* emphasis mine

Inconvenient Facts

Can we get a few things straight? 

Israel is not “colonizers”. There have been Jews living there for thousands of years. If you want sources beyond the Bible or Koran, the Roman historians Josephus and Livy describe it as such. If you refer to Israel as colonizers you are a moron. 

There is no apartheid in Israel. There are no required separate laws, buses, drinking fountains, hotels, schools, or restaurants for non-Jews. There are non-Jewish residents. They live, work, and vote as citizens of Israel. Gaza has been recognized as an independent territory. It elects it’s own governing body. In this case the residents of Gaza chose Hamas. Yes, they have separate ID and license plates. Indiana has separate ID and license plates from Ohio. Canada is different than the US. That doesn’t mean there is apartheid.

But there are checkpoints! Yes, we have them at the border (supposedly) also. Oh, and why you are in hysterics that Israel has a border checkpoint with the Gaza terrorists, you might note that Egypt has a border checkpoint with Gaza too. 

Why not drop the pretense and admit you hate Israel and stop with the petty excuses? The Jews are not the ones with a charter demanding the elimination of a people, that would be Hamas. Hamas continues to send rockets randomly into Israel targeting civilians, yet we are worried only about the collateral damage in Gaza. I suspect if terrorists were  dropping explosive rockets on your city and town you would have no issue retaliating. 

If you are part of the blame Israel crowd, you are no more than anti-Semitic nazis. 

As always there is rebuttal space in the comment section. More importantly, if I really offend you, there is no need for you to visit. I will be okay without bigots in my life.

Baaa

 Here we find ourselves on a beautiful fall Tuesday that feels incredibly like a Thursday. Alas, the weekend is far over the horizon in this work week. 

Yesterday was warm and clear, so I threw some burgers on the grill, made up some homemade macaroni salad and baked beans for dinner. It was a nice supper. We are expecting continued warm weather today, so I might grill some chicken or steak. I have to check the freezer. 

I am floored by the support for terrorists and proponents of ethnic cleansing in this country. Hamas has stated in no uncertain terms their goal is to eliminate Israel. BLM, the SPLC, academic groups — shame on you. And it is a unfulfilled wish that the Jews in this country will finally see the harm voting Democrat and Liberal has done to Israel and their religion. Too many of God’s Chosen really are sheep. I know, it will not happen.

mom

In writing my semi-crappy novel I wish I’d changed a few things before publishing. There are a couple of typos. I need more contractions. Cappy says so. I do too. 

I should have thanked my mom. She shared her love of reading with me. She encouraged me to read. She didn’t complain much when I spent nearly every waking moment until I left for college with my nose stuck in a book. 

Did she know I read whatever she was reading after she went to bed at night, even if it was not appropriate for a ten or twelve year old? Likely. She occasionally give me a couple of dollars she could ill-afford to buy a paperback from the rack at Hook’s drugs. She bought me books for Christmas or my birthday. She bought cheap bookshelves to store all of my books in my increasingly crowded bedroom. In short, I owe my mother a debt of gratitude. 

Mom died five years ago today. I read the post I wrote after she died. It didn’t do her justice. It made her seem a cold hard woman. My mother was a perfectionist. She expected it of others. Mostly, she expected it of herself, including being a mom. She came pretty close. I mean that in the best way possible. 

If I ever write another novel, a doubtful proposition, I will thank my mother. 

I miss you mom.

I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used

Saturday is here. Unfortunately it will not be a day of lazing around, of relaxation, of indolence. It appears we are off to visit relatives this afternoon and then later to our friends for dinner and euchre. Don’t get me wrong, it will be fun. It means any work I might have done now gets shoved into Sunday. I know the wife will drag out the picture frames and assorted honey do projects just when I think it is essential to watch a little football. Complain, complain. So what? I’m good at it. 

Deleted long whining rant

Oh well, it is a beautiful fall Saturday. We are going to spend it with loved ones and with great friends. Life is good. 

Have a great weekend. 

You know what we need? Some music.

Dear Joe Biden

Why in the world should we give money to Gaza? The elected government there (by overwhelming majority) is Hamas. Of course they will use the money to attack Israel. The stated goal of f Hamas is to eliminate the Jewish state. 

In your rambling, almost incoherent speech last night you tried to make some tenuous moral equivalence on why we should keep pouring money into Ukraine. If your logic holds true, shouldn’t we then give money to Russia for the cities hit by Ukrainian drone attacks? 

Hamas started this war, we are told they are a legitimate government. Let them take care of their people. Let the f-ing UN take care of those people. It is not up to Israel, nor the US, to provide the necessities to the people of Gaza. Let Hamas care for their loved ones. 

Maybe, just maybe, if things get bad enough, the people of Gaza will turn out the terrorists running the place and try make peace. For eighty years they have wanted to fight Israel and every time the Palestinians are met with defeat. I think Arabs need a harsh refresher course. Throughout history the people rise up when their government becomes intolerable. For the Palestinians they have a real opportunity to see what terrorism reaps. 

This is what a weak President gets us in the world. 

Before you slip into unconsciousness

I’ve had Chrystal Ship by The Doors stuck in my head for several days now. There could be worse songs, Afternoon Delight for instance. What is playing on a constant loop in my brain pan isn’t the whole song, just a bit of the last stanzas and music that comes near the end. I don’t know. I no psychologist. I barely got a C the one semester of the subject I took in college. 

I’m sipping coffee before getting ready to head back to the massive trade show here in Louisville for another day of walking the show looking for leads. I saw lots of potential yesterday. Of course my widgets were already there, built into several manufacturers who had equipment on display. If you have black and yellow tools, or red tools, or orange tools, then my company is helping make them work. Especially the black and yellow ones and the brand that was once owned by Sears. You should buy the black and yellow tools at every opportunity. I’m just saying. Help me keep food on the table. I cannot go back to routine meals of pancakes or Spam several times a week. 

Enjoy your Thursday. 

No, I’m not going to post the Doors tune. I don’t have to put up music every day.

And for the good news

Okay, I’m not dead. I’m just busy. I have a massive project due at the beginning of November and I have to travel this week. 

I hesitate to claim there is no bad news because that is a sure invitation for calamity. 

The new sectional arrived yesterday. One of the delivery guys was so malodorous his BO smell linger long after they assembled the couch and departed. I had to light a candle to cover the stink. I hooked up the TV and we were able to sit on the new furniture and watch the big screen in bliss and comfort. 

Here is some mid-week music to keep you occupied:

Kung Fu Fighting

 It is Monday, back to work. I groaned as I climbed from bed, not because it is a work day, but because my body hurts. Cleaning, moving furniture, painting, up and down the ladder, stooping, and squatting leaves my muscles sore and my back aching. I need a real work day parked in my office chair to rest up. And since I’m complaining, after a week’s vacation I have hundreds of emails to deal with. It all beats unemployment! 

The downstairs is still completely wrecked with toys and furniture piled into the dining room and living room, waiting on the new sectional to be delivered Tuesday. Then we can start on getting everything back in shape, except I’m supposed to travel this week! It hope I can get the TV hooked back up for the wife before I have to go. Otherwise, she is stuck watching the little 36” tv in my office. 

I wish I had something more interesting. That’s life on this blog. I’m not sure why you bother. 

Back in ‘68

 How about some Sunday music?

The family room and kitchen are all painted. I need to put up the switch and plug covers. We have new blinds I have to mount, replacing the crappy shades that were in the family room. Later today I will clean the carpet. The old couch and chair were hauled away Saturday and the new sectional couch will be delivered on Tuesday. The change is going to be nice. The kitchen was a dark red before, now it and the family room are a light tan or beige. The room is much brighter and since both rooms are now the same color — they are open to each other — the space looks larger. 

Then will be the task of hanging pictures and “fighting” with the wife on which is more accurate, her eyeball or my level. In the end she wins, because her satisfaction is more important than the law of gravity. 

thank you, thank you very much.

Werewolves will not eat ghosts because they taste like sheet.

Is a dream a lie if it don't come true

 Later today and continuing through the weekend I will be painting. Or at least I will once the wife decides what color she wants the walls. We are redoing the family room/ kitchen which are open and connected. I’ve been telling her all week to get the paint, that I don’t want to work all night, I’m a morning person, blah, blah, now my voice sounds just like a teacher in a Charlie Brown cartoon...

All of that is a long-winded notice you probably won’t get a post this weekend. You will be okay. 

His politics suck, but I dig this tune:

Have a great Friday.

On the Middle East

Sherman had it right. When the opposing force is hurt enough, when everything is destroyed, when men are worried about their families, then they lose the will to fight. Do you think we worried about collateral damage when we bombed every German city with a population over 20,000 or when we firebombed Tokyo? Israel should make continued fighting so horrible Hamas cries no mas, or the equivalent in Farsi. 

Israel has put up with enough. When you enemy has vowed to destroy you, there is no peace at any price. Hamas has stated they want to destroy the Jews. That isn’t apartheid, it is segregating your enemies. The living conditions of the so-called Palestinians are the equal responsibility of the surrounding Arab states. 

This current awful state of affairs lies at the feet of Joe Biden. He gave Iran SIX BILLION DOLLARS. Months later Hamas has hang gliders, rockets, and weapons to wage war. There are no political coincidences.

Is there no one in the Biden administration who noticed the havoc and death wreaked by terrorists crossing Isrseli borders and look south towards our sieve of a Mexican border and wonder just who is coming into our country? 

Musical Interlude

 

Way too early

So there we were in Gateway Arch City yesterday for reasons. The wife and I ducked into a mall for different reasons. None of that is relevant. Try to keep up.

Anyway, I’m sitting in a chair in the mall, playing with my phone and people watching when the background music seeps into my ears. 

WTH? Can it be? It is! They are playing Christmas music. 

Look, if you have read here for at least a year, you know I dig Christmas tunes. Not in early October. Sheesh, Santa better not be watching yet. 

I get the big box stores are starting to drag their stuff out, at least they aren’t playing White Christmas yet.

Are We Covered?

Monday. Weather. Whatever I did over the weekend. Busy. Post done.

Music. 

Some of you will get it.

Since I’m already worked up to righteous indignation

I had a meaningful, thought out, topical post all composed in my head for today’s entry. It was a commentary on an article I read yesterday. Alas, I thought I saved a link but now I cannot find it. I even tried an internet search to no avail. Without the original article my comments are not germane. 

So instead of ranting about a racist asshole who can’t see his position on gentrification of his neighborhood is no different than the bigots who railed against black families moving in the house next door in the mid twentieth century, I will complain about a different topic. 

The wife and I went to a fall festival yesterday. There were booths of crafts and junk and food trucks and a mass of people. It was crowded. The park surrounding Potter’s Bridge was packed. So of course a significant number of the “look at me, I need attention “ crowd thought their dogs needed to come along. In most cases the dogs were overwhelmed by the press of the crowds and over-stimulated by the event. 

Sure your dog likes a walk in the park, but not when there are thousands of people surrounding him. One self-absorbed Karen pushed her dog in a stroller. These are the same jerks that bring their dogs to Lowes and Home Depot, as if your schnauzer could help you choose just the right faucet for that half-bath remodel. 

If you are one of those people, just stop. It isn’t necessary. 

Attack of the Eighties

There was not much of a post this morning, despite rolling out of bed before 5 AM. 

What? “Why?” You ask. I wish I knew. So I moseyed downstairs, took my morning meds, and made some coffee. I then retired to the office. I read blogs, read the news, and started work. I am trying to get everything done today. 

You see, I’m on vacation next week. I have no idea what we are going to do. As of lunchtime the wife was still trying to decide. Me, I don’t care. I’m always up for a road trip. Maybe you will get posts next week. Maybe you won’t. 

I know this, it is a good thing you don’t pay for content around here. 

If you bought my book and thought “I can’t believe I paid for that,” then I say you haven’t been paying attention to this blog for the past eighteen years. You had a fair, if subtle, warning on my abilities. 

Anyway, I think I have my month end stuff done and I’m nearly caught up on emails. 

Here is some Friday music. Enjoy. 

Da Bear hisself

 One of my childhood sports heroes passed away. RIP Mr. Butkus.

Curmudgeonisms

I sat on the patio late yesterday afternoon enjoying a short cigar. Leaves fell softly as the sun warmed my face. It was 87 degrees. More than pleasant for early October. I played hooky from work for a quick hour because starting today, fall is here. 

Sure, it officially arrived a couple of weeks ago, but the thermometer still insisted it was summer. Today we will see a rainy cool day and then temperatures drop to a more appropriate sixties. 

I expect I will complain about raking leaves in the coming weeks. So it goes.

On a completely unrelated note, wouldn’t it be nice for an artist to appear on The Voice and have no tragic death, no illness, no trauma, no bullying in their life? How about a “ I had a great childhood, I love to sing!” The endless “this is for my grandpa who died eight years ago” trope gets old. 

Sure, I can put up some music. I’m glad you asked.

I know, let’s talk about me!

This post is about my little book. If you haven’t bought it, You should. If you haven’t read it, I don’t think I will give away any spoilers. I have had a couple of questions about my story, so I will answer them now, before People, or TMZ, or the Today Show get around to seeking interviews. 

My wife is alive and well. She is not dead, and I certainly do not wish she was dead.

I have both legs. They work fine. I suppose the 12 weeks I spent in a boot and on crutches had a severe impact on my psyche. I don’t know. Since the beginning chapters were written about a decade ago (and appeared in a similar form) here on the old blog, I don’t think that trauma from a couple of years ago played into the character. It did help  me describe the issues getting around one-legged. 

I stated right on this blog about a year ago I would call any book I would ever write Suburban Moon, even if it had nothing to do with the novel. I had not even started writing at that point. But I kept my word. And no, the title has nothing to do with the book. 

It is not an autobiography. It is fiction, no matter the subtitle. I will simply say “Gertrude Stein” and leave it at that. No, I am not comparing myself to MS Stein, it is merely a nod. 

There is a bunch of autobiographical filler. I’m a salesman. I’ve been to most of those places. I have never been to Mt Rushmore nor the Custer Battlefield. I have been to the Buddy Holly crash site. I was once told I should write what I know. Thus the “me” in the book is how I avoided doing a bunch of research or talking about stiff I don’t know about. 

I’ve never been to jail. I’ve never been arrested. 

I was never bullied in school. That part is made up and that story also also made an appearance here on the blog many years ago. 

I don’t drink whiskey, bourbon, nor scotch. I can’t stand the stuff. I had an unfortunate overindulgence way back in high school and developed a learned taste aversion. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I was drunk. It’s been a long time — maybe once in the last twenty years. 

If you bought the book, please leave a review at Amazon. The more stars, the better it sells. Go ahead and leave a bad review, I have no illusions, just give me stars and reviews.

I'm sorry

Someone called yesterday trying to sell me a casket. 

I told them that was the last thing I would ever need.

Monday morning you sure look fine

Monday is here. No complaints about that from me, I’m thankful for my job. I actually like my work. Sunday could have been better. Meaningful baseball is done until April, at least for the Cubs who choked away September in a manner reminiscent of 1969. The Colts staged a mighty comeback after a dismal first half only to fall in overtime. 

I went to the doctor for a routine check Friday. He concluded my handful of different meds I’ve been taking for a while isn’t working anymore. My A1c has been steady in spite of increased dosages. So starting Friday night I’m poking insulin in my belly. I guess I was able to hold off injecting insulin for eleven or twelve years. But I’m still not thrilled with it. And the alternative is kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, loss of limbs, death. I guess a little stab in the gut isn’t a big deal. 

Have a great Monday.

October Fools Day

The Cubs are ending the season in about the most Cubs way possible. Sigh. 

So, it is interesting, I had no intention of having a print version of my crappy book. I really did it so I could have one to prove to myself and future relatives I really wrote something, no matter how dubious the quality.* I never expected to sell paperback versions at a 2-1 rate over the ebook. Just so you know, my royalties are nearly identical, no matter which version you purchase. I do appreciate all of you who have purchased my book.

October is Halloween month. From the only monster movie I will watch:

*Some sales pitch, isn’t it? You would never know that is my profession.

Its Not In The Way That You Hold Me

Happy Saturday. It looks to be a great day. I have to cut the lawn today, it looks like a pasture in the back yard. I went to fire up the grill the other day and saw there was a thistle about a foot high near the patio box. So much work to do.. 

It is easy to get ambitious on a Saturday morning, flush with the prospect of $17.00 in royalties. 

Perhaps we should listen to some music and think about it.

Golf Lessons

 A blonde arrived for her first golf lesson and the pro asked her  to take a swing at a ball to see how she’d do.

The blonde did so and completely duffed the shot.

The pro said “Your swing is good but you’re gripping the club too hard. Hold the club just like you would your husband’s manhood.”

The blonde took another shot and nailed the ball 275 yards straight down the fairway.

The pro said “That was excellent!!

“Let’s try it again, only this time take the club out of your mouth.”

Probably NSW.

You shouldn’t probably read this blog at work anyway.

I give it a three, it is hard to dance to

So, it is with excitement and trepidation I present:

You can buy it here in paperback or Kindle. I priced it as low as possible. 

Look, I have no illusions. But if you do bother to read it, give me five stars. Then give an honest review. Amazon only cares about the stars. Me too. *

It is done, one item on the bucket list complete, even if it only proves that a person can read ten thousand books and completely lack the skill and ability to write one good one.

So it goes.

*I do care about the actual review. I really don’t want it to suck.

Bitten by Bidenomics

Yikes! Have you priced groceries lately? Wow, one or two little plastic bags runs $20. I often buy the generic brand of whole peeled tomatoes to make salsa. Not so long ago they cost about $0.90. A few weeks ago they were $1.19. Yesterday, they were $1.40! That is for Great Value brand. The good stuff was pushing $2. 

I won’t even discuss the rape at the gas pump. Of course the dementia in-chief just closed off more land to drill for oil., so I am not surprised. The laws of supply and demand work even when would-be commies are in charge. 

Biden is so clueless he is pushing for a UAW 40% raise. He even pretended to walk the picket line for a photo op.* Yes, I know it is so he can get the union vote. But that kind of increase will not lower the CEO pay. It will not come out of auto company profits. It will mean more expensive cars, feeding inflation more. 

And by the way, one of the concerns of the UAW is that EVs take fewer workers to assemble a vehicle so Biden’s policies are hurting who— bing, bing, bing — the Union!

But hey, no one is posting mean tweets. 

*He spent 12 whole minutes walking the picket line

Oh, and again, none of his massive motorcade has the EV he demands we all drive, then he jumps on his jet to fly off to the west coast for a fundraiser. But no worries, climate change is for the little people, we know that.

Without commentary

 

cigars were smoked and beer was consumed on Saturday

It was a good weekend. No, I did not get the lawn cut. No yard work was completed. The house went uncleaned. I did not shampoo the living room carpet. Nor did I paint the walls in the family room and kitchen. These are all projects we pondered for the weekend. Instead, went to hang out with friends on Saturday. This is likely one of the last weekends this year we will get to enjoy their pool. On Sunday the wife and I went up to Atlanta (IN) for a big festival. We walked around. She looked at stuff, I listened to music in my ear buds and watched people. After we came home the wife went shopping while I plopped on he couch and watched a recording of the Colts game. Colts won. Cubs won. It was a good day all around. 

I hope you had a great weekend too. 

On a completely unrelated note, here is a cell phone picture of a landmark from my hometown. Not the tent, the big castle-like building in the distance:

This was a school. It closed one year before I could go there.

If you have ever read the oft-posted account of my first date with my now-wife, that dance was held upstairs in that building.

I have no reason to believe you care about this at all. I haven’t even lived in that town for 35 years.

what Ned Stark said

The trees in the neighborhood were sitting Friday afternoon wrapping up the week. They looked at the day planner and gave a startled exclamation. “Oh, crap!” They said. “It is fall.”

So today, I notice the leaves are starting to turn to yellow and russet and orange hues. The nights are decidedly cool and the days are pleasantly warm. Yes, friends, fall is upon us. 

We may or may not be okay with that notion. Me, I do not mind. I’m a four seasons kind of guy. But consider this. It is about ninety days until Christmas.

Here is some music to cheer you up:

Spiders

A husband and wife are sitting on the couch watching TV.

The wife looks at the husband and he is staring at the ceiling above her head, she looks up and asks,

“What are you staring at?”

“A spider,” he replies.

“I don’t see anything,” she says.

“Oh, it must have fallen on your head,” he said calmly.

The wife jumps up screaming…

The man says,

“While you’re up, can you get me another beer?”

Middle School Blues

I had a morning appointment yesterday to get the oil changed in the company car. As I headed through the neighborhood, the kids of middle-school age were gathered on the corner waiting on the bus. They were typical almost teens, standing nonchalantly, book bags slung on their backs. 

Except one boy. He was standing off to the side, head hanging. He looked like climbing on the bus was the last thing he wanted to do. I could guess, maybe his homework was unfinished, eaten by the dog, as it  were. Perhaps he was tired. Maybe he was the frequent target of bullies. Perchance he failed to study for that history test in first period. I doubt it was any of those scenarios that brought on the air of depression to this young student on the bare edge of young adulthood. 

I’m certain the fact he was waiting at the bus stop with his mother had everything to do with his dejected attitude. 

It is time to let go mom.

If you try sometimes, you get what you need

I could bore you with a weather report that has no bearing unless you reside in central Hoosierdom. I could copy and paste a joke. I might offer select bon mots and pearls of wisdom. I am prepared to launch into a political diatribe filled with invective and reasoned punditry. I should fire up the old laptop and get to work. 

Paycheck wins, your daily entertainment loses.

So it goes here at the old blog. 

Okay, okay, I had spaghetti for dinner, then we went to Target...zzzzzzzzz. 

Yes, my life is that boring.

My wife tells me this frequently.

Just Like Tommy

For the first time since July 2, the vision in my left eye is completely unobstructed. No blood hemorrhages in my retina and the air bubble inserted by the surgeon two weeks ago was finally dissipated when I woke up this morning. That means I no longer have an internal level in my eye, but...good, it was annoying. 

Who knew I cock my head to the left when I am thinking? Probably everyone who knows me, but that is  not relevant. I can see, I can read. No more walking around like Popeye, one eye closed as I navigate the stairs. That, my friends, is worth a prayer of thanksgiving. 

History

 Stolen fromNonOriginalRants

Football doesn’t build character, it reveals character

For the first time since big hair and shoulder pads were the fashion, I attended a college football game yesterday.  The Wabash College Little Giants took on the Butler Bulldogs at Butler University. It was a family affair. My daughter and son-in-law both graduated from Butler University. 

The daughter, SIL, both granddaughters, and my wife wore Bulldog T-shirts, I pulled on my scarlet Wabash shirt and off we went. Wabash lost to  the much bigger school, but it was still a great time. The small college atmosphere is still terrific for watching football. 

I just have one burning question. When did college kids get so young? They were all just kids. 

Wabash just before a touchdown pass

Runs the all-time loser

I have to be honest, I’d like a pension, a thirty percent raise, automatic cost of living raises, and to get paid for forty hours while working thirty. I bet you would too. You would also say I’m unrealistic, unless you are a UAW worker who is already making $75K working the assembly line. The union thinks these demands are perfectly fine. 

So we will see what happens as the UAW strikes the Big Three and if cars and trucks are not available, then consumers will buy from foreign automakers who have stock. In the meantime, for every striking autoworker, six other jobs are effected.  Most of those workers are making nowhere near $75K. 

If the Union is do concerned about the long-term effects of EVs on the number of workers (an electric vehicle has far fewer components and needs fewer workers to assemble), then maybe the UAW should re-think their lockstep Democrat Party allegiances. It is the Democrats mostly pushing this WeAreAllGonnaDieClimateChange crap.

Have a great Saturday. Here is some music for your enjoyment.

In search of civility

The wife was driving the granddaughters home yesterday and stopped at a traffic light to make a left turn. The oldest looked at the car beside her window and read the bumper sticker. 

“Fuck Biden,” she asked. “What does that mean?”

You may or may not agree with the sentiment, but it is not necessary to broadcast the vulgarity where parents are put into a position to have to explain those words to little kids. 

I’m no prude. I’ve used the old eff word more times than I can count. You have read it here many times. It was right there in the joke I posted Wednesday. I do maintain there is a time and a place. It doesn’t need to be on your T-shirt. It does not need to be on your bumper. And it doesn’t need to be dropped in routine conversation when small children are present.

Your mileage may vary.

You are probably wrong.

Work Ethic

Here’s a heartwarming story about the bond formed between a little girl and some construction workers.

This will make you believe that we CAN make a difference when we give a child the gift of your time…

A young family moved into a house next door to a vacant lot.

One day, a construction crew came in and began building a house on the empty lot.

The family’s 5-year-old daughter became interested in all the activity going on next door and spent much of each day observing the workers.

Eventually, the construction crew, all of them gems-in-the-rough, more or less adopted her as a project mascot.

They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they took coffee and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important.

At the end of the first week, the men presented her with a pay envelope which contained 2.00.

The little girl took this home to her mother, who said all the appropriate words of admiration, and suggested that they take the money she received to the bank to start a savings account.

When they talked to the bank teller, she was equally impressed and” asked the little girl how she had earned her very own pay check at such a young age.

The child proudly replied: “I worked last week with the crew building the house next door to us.”

“My goodness gracious,” said the teller, “and will you be working on the house again this week, too?”

The little girl replied, “I will if those assholes at Home Depot ever deliver the fuckin sheet rock…”

Up, Up, and Away

Sunday morning I was watching some worthless crap on TV when I heard a roar and wish outside. It seems the balloon event over at Conner Prairie was kicking off and the balloons were launching from the school behind my house. Here is one flying right over my patio. 

Never forget

 I hope you do not need me to remind you.

Looking under water

It is time for some football! It is a great time of year, the NFL kicks off, baseball is in the homestretch. The heatwave has broken. 

I have plenty to be thankful for this week. My great HVAC man was able to get my AC up and running with a small - a few hundred- cost as opposed to buying a new unit. He is an honest soul. 

On Thursday I had my eye operated on. The doc says it went well. He opened it up, cleaned out the blood, scrapped away some scar tissue, and lasered the bleeders. He is holding it all back in place with an air bubble. For now, I can’t see out of that eye at all, but it will gradually clear up in a week or so. The biggest pain is having to sleep on my side with a plastic guard taped to my face lest I rub the peeper in my sleep. 

No, the biggest pain is no vision on the left side. As a semi-paranoid, it is disconcerting to not know if someone is sneaking up on me. Are they out to get you? Then don’t judge. 

Anyway, I’m doing fine. Have a great Sunday. 

Things that go bump in the night

A little boy wakes up three nights in a row when he hears a thumping sound coming from his parents’ room.

Finally one morning he goes to his mom and says, “Mommy, every night I hear you and daddy making noises and when I look in your bedroom you’re bouncing up and down on him.”

His mom is taken by surprise and says, “Oh, well I’m bouncing on his stomach because he’s fat and that makes him thin again.” And the boy says, “Well, that won’t work!”

His mom says, “Why?!?”

The boy replies, “Because the lady next door comes by after you leave each day and blows him back up!”

Like freshly canned peaches

I am off today to have my left eyeball sliced open yet again. The blood from the torn vessel on July 2 is still blurring my vision. I have never before looked forward to a procedure in my life. Ha! He said “looked.” 

I hope by early next week to have my normal shitty vision returned.

Counting the two cornea transplants (one failed), this will be the third time my left eye has been operated on. Do I count the insertion of the plastic lens for cataracts when the transplant was done? In addition, I have had at least four laser procedures done on that eye to cauterize tiny bleeders. Oh, left eye, you are a pain! 

Right eye = one transplants and a couple of lasers, one to rid scar tissue from the transplant. What a good eye!

I have some audio books and podcasts ready to go, besides, I will still have the use of the right eye. 

Anyway, this is a canned post. I’ll be under the knife by the time you read this. Assume everything went fine. 

I have a not-so-fresh entry penned for Friday already. We shall see where I am on Saturday. Don’t worry if I don’t put up anything, unless I fail to post for a week or so. Then you can assume the worst. So it goes. 

I have no intention of letting the crappy joke canned for tomorrow be my last blogging words. It would be fitting, but a pity.

We need a Rush

My City Was Gone by the Pretenders came on the radio. Like millions, as soon as I heard the opening riff my mind went straight to Rush Limbaugh. Some days I miss the radio host’s bombastic analysis. We need a unifying voice for conservative  politics these days.

In fairness, I miss the Rush from the early years, not what he became in the end. I did not listen to Rush much in the last years. 

I do remember the early days. I had started a new job. I was living in a hotel while my family prepared to move. I knew no one, so I grabbed fast food and drove to the park to eat my lunch and listened to the AM radio in my old ‘66 Chevy truck. And then that opening riff started and there was a guy who articulated exactly what I thought. It was great.

I think it is fair to say much of the polarization of today’s politics lie with the success of his show. As Rush pointed out the total bias and hypocrisy of the mainstream media, they dug in and tried to put up a unified front to counterbalance Limbaugh’s immense popularity. 

We need someone to be that guy today. 

It is getting hot in here

It was a great holiday weekend until it wasn’t. We hit a music festival on Saturday, watched the Cubs on Sunday, and the air conditioner quit yesterday. I will call the HVAC guy this morning. I hope it is a part. Not the whole unit. So it goes. 

Poof! It was gone

We were driving back from Cincinnati last evening after watching the Cubs emerge victorious over the Reds when a good post for today came to mind. 

Then I slept and now I have nuthin’. 

Have a great Holiday Monday.

 RIP Jimmy

One of my favorites 

Party On

I hope you have some fun scheduled for the holiday weekend. It appears we will have terrific weather here in god’s favorite State. For those who care, college football kicks off this weekend. I am more interested in the NFL games next week. It is okay, we don’t have to like the same stuff. 

The wife and I are meeting up with some friends to go to a music festival today. It looks like it will be a bit warm for the afternoon and evening part, but it beats overcast and cold. Old Henry Lee is the headliner. We have seen him dozens of times. There is no better entertainer in rock and roll; and that includes Springsteen.

I look forward to a great Saturday. I hope you have one too.

Some great shots of Broadripple back in the eighties in that video.

Apparently Jimmy Buffet has died. That dude entertained me too. RIP

Willy Won’t Go

You know what’s coming. Maybe you will surprised. Maybe you will say “it’s been a long time since I heard that”. Perhaps you will say “WTH is that?”. I don’t know.

I do know it is Friday and this work day cannot get over fast enough. We have a busy weekend in front of us. We are going to a concert Saturday. We are going to see the Cubs/Reds game Sunday. 

In the meantime, I have to say I never particularly liked nor disliked this tune:

You will be glad you read this one

It is a chilly 50F this morning as I hunt and peck letters and words. Today will see a high in the upper seventies before a slow warm up to hot temperatures again next week. 

I am literally counting the days to the long holiday weekend. One, Two. See? Literally. I am ready. 

I still have a bunch of vacation to use before year end. Too bad I don’t have the money to go anywhere. So it goes.

I have a 9:00 AM meeting, I better start preparing. Have a great Thursday.

Get the cops involved

A police car pulled up in front of grandma Bessie’s house, and grandpa got out.

The polite policeman explained that the elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn’t find his way home.

“Morris,” said grandma,

“you’ve been going to that park for over 30 years, how come you get lost today?”

Leaning close to grandma, so that the policeman couldn’t hear, grandpa whispered,

“I wasn’t lost. I was just too tired to walk home.”

OMG Panic

I’m a little concerned it will be hot next Wednesday here in the ‘burbs.

Of course it will not be 108. That is nonsense.

If we are at an environmental crossroads, why is no car in the Presidential motorcade an EV?

Monday. In my brain I hear that with a big TV announcer voice and a touch of echo. I have no idea what “Monday ” should get a momentous announcement. It is another workday after a good weekend. 

On Saturday we hung out with some friends. Yesterday I cut the grass, then did pretty much nothing. It was a pretty relaxing couple of days, as it should be. For the voyeur among you, there was no nookie involved so the weekend was not a total victory. So it goes.

Now it is time hook back up to the millstone and grind away. At least the weather will be less hot and humid. And there will be no music videos at the end of the post. We all win!

Dear Mr. Fantasy

I often post a music selection on Saturday simply from laziness. Since I have posted a video every day this week I shall refrain. Or not. We shall see where the muse takes us this morning. 

You do not think there is a plan when I sit in front of the cursor? Ha! You might (or might not) be surprised to find this garbage is pure extemporaneous prose 99% of the time. You get whatever from the top of my head. I have never promised quality. 

I could not do improv, I’m not funny, but I could enter some mythical contest where someone says here is a topic—talk. Would I ramble? Sure. Would I get off topic? Of course. Would I be entertaining? Doubtful. Could I fill up my allotted time with words? You betcha. 

This post is proof. When I was waiting on the Keurig I thought I might tell you of the time I nearly was included on a patent application. It was my one shot at immortality.  But I left the company and poof! It was gone. 

Now evidence of my brilliance lies in this collection of half-baked nonsense. Let’s be honest, this old blog will not survive a millennia as proof of early 21st century thought. I am no modern Tacitus, Catullus, nor Cicero. 

I take great comfort in the knowledge twelve of you stop by on a semi-regular basis and read my nonsense and say “huh?”. 

And yes. Despite claiming otherwise, here is what is bouncing around in my otherwise empty skull this morning. You can never go wrong with Traffic. Have a great Saturday.

Burns the tar on the roof

It is Friday, finally. I must confess I have worked hard this week. There was significant number crunching and presentation preparing all week. Based on my overnight email total I imagine more is in store today. 

It has been warm this week. These things happen in August. When the talking heads say the temperature may reach record levels, that implies it has been this hot previously. The record was never yesterday or last year or last month. It is from around a hundred years ago. So I am not convinced this hot spell has anything at all to do with my refusal to drive a battery car or put up a windmill. Besides, weather records in this part of the country only date back to the 1880s, so how do we know it is the “hottest day ever”? You can believe what you want, just don’t force me to participate. 

Anyway we will round out the summer music with an all-time classic. Does anything evoke summer better?

Gimme More

 

Hot night

I have my monthly on-line sales meeting this morning so blogging takes a back seat. So it goes. 

I do have time for more summertime heat wave themed music. That’s what you want anyway. I said so.

Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty

It is still hot at my house, yours too. I don’t care. I work inside at a desk in an air conditioned room. It sucks for those who toil in factories and outside jobs though. I’ve done that too, in fact not so very long ago. So, I’m thankful for my current gig. 

Look, I think most of us have been fake internet friends long enough I can honestly tell you I’m just not up to blogging today. I did not sleep well and I have a headache. How about I post some music and call it a day. Is that copacetic?

Heat Wave

Let’s get this out of the way. It is hot. It will be all week. It probably will be at your house too. It is August, not global warming we are all gonna die climate change..

Sheesh, we got whacked with a full dose of Bidenomics this weekend. First both cars needed gas at almost four bucks a gallon, then we went to the grocery. Food prices are crazy. 

A csn of store brand whole peeled tomatoes used to be around 80 cents. Yesterday, it was $1.20. Of course when the government touts inflation numbers they don’t tell you fuel and groceries are excluded. Lying bastards.

Oh well have s great Monday and keep cool.

Gonna Swallow My Tears

 I guess I’m in an eighties mood these days

7700

This will be my 7,700th published post. That is a lot of words, jokes, and nonsense. I never said it was quality. I have written over 7800 posts, not everything is published. 7806 does have that nice even ring. We will stick to 7700.

A huge thanks to everyone who has ever bothered to stop by and read, comment, or just scoff and move on. 

We shall celebrate with a music selection. I wish I could claim this tune is meaningful in some way. That it reflects the occasion, that it represents the blog in some fashion. It doesn’t. I decided I was going to put up this song several days ago and it was only when I started the post that I discovered it was post 7700. Sometimes, Dr. Freud, a cigar is just a cigar.

Starts out weak and never recovers

I swear my neighbor’s air conditioner is powered by the jet engine from an old F-14 Tomcat. It roars when it runs.  I’m not sure why you would care about that, I don’t really, it was more a comment than anything. At least I didn’t start the post with a weather report. So take that. 

The Cubs had a nice cone from behind victory last night over the evil White Sox. I think we might try and catch one of the games in the Reds-Cubs series in Cincinnati over Labor Day weekend in a few weeks. It is a great place to watch baseball and much cheaper than trying to get tix for Wrigley. If we go, I’ll be the one in Cubs gear. 

We will probably go Sunday. We have plans to go to a concert with friends on Saturday. Yes, old people do still like to rock. There is a double header on Friday we were looking at, but since my daughter or SIL are going to have to take off the following Thursday while the wife takes me to the hospital, I don’t want to have them use up vacation to watch the girls while we go to a baseball game. 

Labor Day week will be short. Monday is a holiday. I will work Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday I get my left eye cut open and Friday to recover. Yeah, probably Saturday and Sunday too. Hopefully, I’ll be back at work by Monday. Fingers crossed!

In other news, it is my hope to have my stupid book done and published by Labor Day. I’m doing final edits now. Or not, we shall see. I will say this, the effort proves that reading ten thousand books does not mean I can write one. But so it goes. 

Everybody Get Footloose

I think it is no secret to anyone who has read here for any length of time I am pretty conservative. That said, some things go too far.

Lately, the local library has found itself involved in some bad publicity and I am not talking just local, but on the national stage. The zealots on the library board passed a resolution that no book that contains violence, sex, curse words, or racism could be housed in the Young Adult section.  Currently the library has spent hundreds of hours in overtime and removed thousands of books from the teen section. Of course, there has been malicious compliance. But the library staff is following the letter of the law, so to speak. I am not sure I blame them. I would not want to get fired because I missed the word "damn" in The Outsiders.

Here is the thing, the whole exercise is ridiculous. Little Jennifer is not going to get the vapors if she accidentally reads about sex, or a curse word. That wasn't true in 1923 and is not true today. Overwrought Karens at the library board need not be concerned little Johnny is going to read a book about teenagers with terminal cancer having intercourse and becoming a raging ball of hormones who only thinks about sex every thirteen seconds.  He already is. 

I grew up in the sixties and seventies, arguably a time far less enlightened than today. Besides, we are talking teens here. By the time I was thirteen I doubt there was a curse word I had not heard and probably said, even if I did not hear it at home.  I also had a pretty good idea what was what when it came to S-E-X. Your milage may vary, but I am willing to bet the same was true for you. Today, any kid with a smart phone or computer can merely type the word Dicks and forget to add the "Sporting Goods" part or enter another word for cat and find more pictures than they can look at in a day on Google. Accessing any number of porn sites is as easy. Sure, I swear I am 18...

Here is a little-known fact. The librarian does not sit and read every book that comes into the library and determine where it should be shelved. The author, the publisher, and the Library of Congress provide that information.  The cataloger has the info on a computer and the designated category is provided based on the ISBN. Non-fiction is assigned a Dewey Decimal number, Fiction a category.  Young Adult books come already classified. 

Determining what your kids read and watch is the role of the parent, not some public or semi-public official. Those who propose they should expose your six-year-old to sex and gender are just as evil as those who would determine what your teen should not read. It is hard enough to get kids to pick up a book, why make it more difficult?

Reactionary nuts wanted to ban dancing and burn books in the eighties classic Footloose. I thought we had moved beyond that kind of nonsense here in the suburbs long, long ago. 

All about nothin’

Rain is pounding the front windows and overflowing the gutters this morning. It is a good thing I cut the lawn yesterday. 

We had a quiet weekend, not doing much of note. We ventured out for some Mexican Saturday evening. 

I threw some chicken breasts on he grill last evening and brushed them near the end with some BBQ sauce. I had put on a nice rub prior to grilling. I grilled up some corn on the cob in the husk snd made a pan of mac and cheese. I sliced up a couple of fresh garden tomatoes to round out our Sunday feast. 

In all it was a good, albeit uneventful, weekend. 

I'm your knight in shining armor

 How about a classic from the Chicken Man?

Saturday Cartoons

 

Insane Judge

The DC judge in charge of the special prosecutor has ruled that Trump is a flight risk. That is insane. He is a former president and perhaps one of the most recognizable people in the world. He is surrounded 24/7 by Secret Service agents. He is running for president. Where would he go?

Perhaps, on second thoughts, he could jet off to Epstein Island. The government can’t seem to find anyone who went there. 

Off to see the wizard

You may remember back at the onset of July I had a bleeder issue in my eye that necessitated a needle in the eyeball. No? You can look it up, I’m too lazy. 

Things are not better. It is like I am looking through a brown veil in my left eye. I’m off this morning to get some laser cauterizing done on my retina. Whoot. 

The ones before were small affairs. I think this one is gonna suck. 

I’ve been wrong before*. Perhaps I am this time.

What a world we live in where people have the skill for such delicate surgery. 

*Do not tell my wife I admitted ever being wrong. 

Edit:  no laser today.  Gonna need surgery. 😟

Hey Grandpa…

Last night I dug out the mandolin slicer and cut up a few spuds. I sprayed some foil with cooking spray snd layered the foil with sliced potatoes, cubes of Colby cheese, onion, and more potatoes. Some salt and red pepper flakes provided seasoning. I wrapped up the foil pack and tossed it on the grill for about an hour. 

Since I had the slicer out I cut up a little cucumber and put it in a bowl with onion, vinegar, salt and ice water. I sliced up a couple of fresh garden tomatoes on the cutting board. 

When the potatoes were almost done I threw some hamburger patties on the grill and heated a can of baked beans. 

We had a supper fit for a king last night. 

The depth of the White River at Noontime

It is Monday. The weekend is past. I wish I had tales of fun and adventure to relate. I wish I had a list of my many activities to make you envious. I don’t. In fact, I’m not sure what we did to occupy the time. There was certainly no sex, drugs, or rock & roll. 

I guess I mowed the lawn Saturday morning. There was that. I helped clean house a little on Sunday. 

I know; yawn. Indeed, it was that kind of weekend. 

I hope yours was more exciting. 

Too bad, so sad

I got a text inviting me to a barbecue today.  Sounds great. I love a barbecue. 

Too bad I don’t know the person who texted me and it appears they are in Nevada so I guess I’m out of luck. 

Okey Dokey

Another Eighties Saturday, you say?

Sure, why not?

Slouching Towards Banana Republic

I had a big rant in my head, ready to type up about the Biden corruption and the crickets from the so-called press, but why bother?

It looks to be a fine hot summer day. I have a conference call this morning and tons of emails to sort through. Blah, blah. You don’t care about that minutiae any more than politics. 

I know what you came for today. It is Friday.

He Has Spoken

 For the love of all that is good and right, just stop walking around talking on speaker phone. No one wants or needs to hear your conversation. 

Most ridiculous are the jerks who have the phone on speaker then hold the little speakers up to their ear to hear better. WTH?

The rude obnoxious cousin is the buttwipe who insists on watching videos on speaker in public.

Just stop.

Hot Days Cool Nights

This is certainly the first live band I ever saw. Of course the seventies were a different time; there was a live band at every bar and at most school dances. DJs were confined to discos, and there weren’t any of those in my little hick town. 

Anyway this is a good song and adequately describes the current weather pattern.