On my mind

 Seriously, it’s been three days. Sure, it might be desert, but dry heat is no excuse. How hard is it to think up a name for a horse? Blackie, Red, Trigger, Silver, Man O’War, Secretariat — how about something mundane like Bob or even Joe?

You are probably bored too

It seems like it happens this time every year. That old ennui sets in. I am bored. The cold short days are often cloudy. Football is pretty much over and my team once again missed the playoffs. Real baseball is a couple of months away. 

I’m bored by work. I’m bored with TV. I’m bored by this blog. I have a proof of my second novel on the corner of my desk. I’m sick of it too. You can only read something a few dozen times before it becomes a blob of familiar words. I find I’m even bored by music. While I love reading, I’m kinda bored by that too. 

I know, boo freakin’ boo. 

Friday Music

 

Head Scratchin’ Here, Boss

 I see lots of Democrats, elected and voters, protesting the enforcement of immigration laws. 

I have yet to see a single bill introduced to overturn those laws. 

Maybe it’s all just theater. 

Complain, complain

 

Stolen SOTI

RIP

 Scott Adams has passed. The world of office humor is diminished.

His Dilbert cartoon entertained me to no end. 

I’m not one of the twelve angry men

The good news is I was excused from jury duty after voir dire. That’s when the attorneys for either side can ask for your dismissal after questioning. I suspect the defense in this drug case were not keen on me after learning I voted to convict in two previous drug trials. Maybe collectively the State and Defense thought someone else should get a chance. 

It might have been my response when asked about my opinion on automatic license plate readers. I said “I’m not crazy about the amount of surveillance you see everywhere. That said, I willingly put a cell phone in my pocket. I have an Amazon Alexa in every room and a video doorbell. So welcome to 2026.”   The prosecutor may not have liked that answer.

I am pleased I don’t have to serve, but a tiny bit of me is miffed at the rejection. My objectivity was called into question. 

I think I’m up to eight times now

This is a pre-recorded post. I’m off to jury duty this morning. Yes, it is my civic duty . Here’s the thing, I’ve done my part. 

In the late 1980’s I served on a Federal Grand jury. That was 3-4 days every other week for about three months, then 1-2 days every other week for another month or two, then 1-2 days a month for another six months. It was 12 months of jury duty. 

In the late 1990’s I served on a trial jury.  In 2011  I served on another trial jury. 

In between I was called at least four additional times but did not have to serve. I believe I’ve done my share, but I’ll buck up and do it again if called to serve. 

But hey, I’ll make $30. 

The Blues Fall Down Like Rain

 

The whole thing might have been a comedy act, but that band was real musicians and they could really play. 

How about that?

 Indiana sure put a beatdown on Oregon in the football game last night. 

I never thought I’d see the day when IU became a football powerhouse. 

Political Darwinism

 If you show up with the intent to interfere with police, whether at the local, state , or federal level, it is not going to end well. You will not come out unscathed. You do so to elicit a response, because there will not be a favorable outcome. 

If you choose to interfere with police you are either a fool or a tool of others, or both. This is true of the stupid, foolish woman in Minneapolis. 

Let me say, I believe the ICE officers were overly aggressive. No one needed to be in front of the vehicle, she wasn't going anywhere. The street was blocked.

That out of the way, the stupid and foolish woman made three choices that determined her fate. 1.She showed up with the intent of interfering with law officers. Of that there is no doubt. People "visiting relatives" do not block the street with their SUV and they move when told by police. 2. She refused to exit the vehicle when ordered so by officers of the law. 3. She stepped on the gas.

I don't know if she intended to run down the officer or try and make a run for it. Either way, she compounded her foolish actions and wound up dead. Did she try to run down the agent? I don't know, but he clearly felt in danger of his life or he would not have shot his gun. I will go with that until someone presents evidence the ICE Agent is a murderous psychopath. 

If you want to give your hard-earned money to nearly two million dollars to the family of a stupid fool and tool, that is up to you. No one should be rewarded for criminal acts.

I think if you donated, it makes you a fool and a tool also. 

The Perp Walk I Want to See

 ICE is out rounding up illegals. Ok, we can discuss tactics and goals in a later discussion. 

Here is my question; when are we going to see arrests of the employers who hire and pay those people under the table? They are stealing (by omission) tax dollars on the same scale as the illegals collecting benefits. They are criminals as much or more than poor illegals who are trying to better their lives. 

Pithy Post Label Needed

 Sheesh, is it Thursday already? We’ve had a spate of mild weather this week and yesterday I thought I might shrug on a jacket and have a rare winter stogie out on the patio. Alas the boss gave me a project so I worked instead of playing hooky. The Company puts money into my bank account. Cigar manufacturers take my money, so my priorities are clear. 

Just do it already

 If we have wherewithal and ability to go to Venezuela and arrest a commie dirtbag, surly we can arrest some of the criminals who frequented Epstein Island for wild orgies with teenagers. 

Stolen SOTI

 

Back at it

 It is the first Monday of the New Year. I’m back at it after  being off pretty much the past two weeks. 

I love my job. Let me be clear about that. I also could retire if my personal financial situation would allow it. I started working at 14. At this point I’ll have to work until I die or win the lottery. So I’m back at it. 

I want to see it now

Okay, we’ve seen the report by the independent reporters. We have seen the fraud. When are we going to see cops knocking on the same doors? When are we going to see people perp walked? When are we going to see bureaucrats fired and arrested ? 

This is my money and your money. Why are we voting for anyone who thinks $20K a year is acceptable for child care?  I want to see elected reps defend this nonsense.

And when ANY politician claims that fraud is just part of going business  then he should be impeached and run out of town on a rail after a good dose of tar and feathers. And I’m not joking. 

Happy New Year

 

Annual recap and retrospective

 Yeah, not doing that this year either. 

Never have and I’m not starting this year 

If you drink tonight don’t drive. 

Happy New Year 🎉 

Refusing to melt into the pot

 Maybe if you want to feel welcomed as an immigrant, you should look in a mirror. If you identify first as a Somalian, an Indian, a Mexican, a Sikh, you are that ethnic or nationality. 

If you have been in this country for any amount of time you should try to think of yourself as American. 

People don’t give you the side eye because you are from Shitholustan, they resent you are doing your best to turn our country into the place you left. 

That kind of blog post

 What do you call a rude cow?

Beef jerky.

Challenge Accepted

 Apparently Mother Nature was sitting around after the Holidays thinking “I’ve been pretty lazy lately. I need some exercise, perhaps a personal challenge. “ She rubbed her chin and had a wicked thought. “I wonder if I can make all four season appear in a single day?”

So yesterday we saw temperatures fall just short of 70F, thunder, lightening, thunderstorms, tornado watches, wind, snow, and temperatures of 16F with a windchill of -5F. 

All in 24 hours. 

Well done Ms Nature, bravo. 

If you are looking for something to fo

 We splurged last night and went to see the new movie Song Sung Blue. It was one of the best movies I have seen in recent years. Hugh Jackman and  Kate Hudson give electric performances. Hudson is especially great. 

👍  👍 

Saturday music

 

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.

 I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and enjoyable holiday (for non-Jesus types). Ours was great. 

2/3 of my kids* and their families came over for dinner and presents. It was a grand day overall. 

The ‘fridge is filled with leftovers, the counter is stacked with containers of cookies and candy. My blood sugar is up, my belly full, and my wallet empty. It was a great Christmas. 

Technically I am working today, but honestly that means I’m present, not actively sitting at the desk. I will go through emails this morning but little else. 

Before you throw out accusations of slacking, I worked about five hours Monday and I was on vacation! 

*the middle child lives in Colorado and wasn’t t able to make it. 

Merry Christmas

 

The Reason For the Season

 

 

 

What else do you have to do?

 

Sunrise over Mudsock

 

You gotta dig it

 

Getting with the Program

We have a busy day before us. The granddaughters have a dance recital this afternoon. We are off right after to celebrate Christmas with the wife’s family. 

This morning I have to make a salad and desert to take with us tonight. 

So that insightful, well reasoned, occasionally humorous blog entry you have come to rely on will be absent this morning. 

Well, okay, every morning. But less so today. 

Here’s a little Bing to cheer you up (and not that despicable duet with David Bowie). At this point it looks like the chances of a white Christmas are about zero, so we will have to dream:

Getting close

 Events are ramping up for the holiday season. Wrapped gifts are appearing under the tree. 

We have Christmas with the wife’s family Saturday evening. Monday the wife is heading to the daughter’s to make cookies. Tuesday night we will do our traditional viewing of the Christmas lights. 

Christmas Day everyone will be at my house for dinner. 

I’m putting in a half day at work and then I’m off next week. 

Don’t Know Where I Read This

 “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”

         -Oscar Wilde

Maybe I got it from Mr. B in his Wednesday Words of Wisdom? Maybe from some book. In any case I think it is great advice. 

Future Landmark

 

I offer up a rare double post today. Here is a view of the old homestead all dressed up for the holiday taken before the big snow melt today .  

For those of a curious bent, this time waster  blog and my literary efforts in general, are created up there behind the darkened windows on the upstairs left. I am certain you will be able to tour it in the future when my genius is recognized and the entire house is preserved as a museum. Be advised parking is limited. 

Perhaps future curators will purchase the property next door and erect a gift shop and additional parking space to handle the crowds. 

I’m pretty sure that is the plan. 

Humping it on hump day

 I have been remarkably busy at work this week. Hopefully that ends starting today and I can begin coasting towards the holiday. Friday afternoon is the company office Christmas party and if they aren’t working, neither am I. I’m on vacation next week. 

The weather is also on a weird ride. From heavy snow and sub-zero temps we will hit the 50sF tomorrow and might even push 60F by Christmas! All depends on the weather predictions being accurate, a tall task indeed. 

One of my favorite Christmas tunes. 

Do Better

 Sorry, Trump dissing on Rob Reiner’s murder - almost gloating that a man with whom he disagreed politically was dead — seems not a lot different than the lefties crowing over the murder of Charlie Kirk. 

As President we should expect more. 

Weekend Recap

It won’t sound like much, but we sure were busy this weekend. Friday night we watched the youngest granddaughter for a few hours. As usual she kicked our butts in Candyland. Then we played some Uno, where I fared a bit better, winning one of the games. We had a great time. 

Saturday we went to watch the oldest granddaughter compete in a robotics competition. After, the wife and I grabbed a late lunch then motored around the area doing Christmas shopping in the be blowing snow. We finally got home around 8:00 PM. I then shoveled the 6” of snow out the driveway and front walk. Tired, I plopped on the couch and fell asleep before we could even turn on a movie. 

Sunday we went to dinner for the oldest granddaughter’s birthday (Tuesday). After, I read, channel surfed and perused some work emails. 

I thought I would be able to coast through this work week, but it looks like everyone wants to get stuff wrapped up before the holidays. I have four conference calls/on-line meetings today, two more tomorrow, and the monthly sales meeting on Thursday. 

Stay warm my friends

 

Sublime. 

We got about 6” of fluffy snow yesterday. Today a cold front has dropped the frigid hammer. It is a chilly 1F as I hunt and peck these letters. Not wind chill, real outside temperature. 

I’m glad I went out late and shoveled the drive before it got really cold. 

I’m trying to believe it

 

Going Postal

 Before Thanksgiving my work told me they were sending a Walmart gift card. Great, I’ll take it. 

It never arrived. I did not speak up, it wasn’t a big deal and I was good. I am not going to insist somebody go out and get me a replacement card. 

The card finally arrived yesterday. It was postmarked November 20. Ponder that. Twenty-plus days to travel 210 miles. I could have literally (and I am using that word correctly) walked there and back in that same time frame. 

Well I could if I was in better shape. And if it wasn’t winter. Shuddup, you get my point. 

The Pony Express took about 10 days to travel between St Joseph, MO and Sacramento - about 1,900 miles. Compare and contrast. 

It is okay, I’ll buy a Christmas turkey instead. 

Just a thought

If gun manufacturers can be sued because some criminal shoots down a bunch of innocent people, why can’t victim’s families sue the lenient judges and prosecutors who let criminals off with a slap on the wrist time after time? 

I’m looking at that woman in Rhode Island who had been arrested 100 times before she drove over a poor guy walking his dogs or the guy in Chicago who had 70+ arrests or the murderer in Charlotte who was arrested dozens of times. 

Sue them and make them pay for the crimes they allowed to happen. 

I’m glad I have a desk job today

 Today the weather may try even the most intrepid of mail carriers. The forecast calls for wind and rain and sleet and snow. I like winter, but yech. And more snow and very cold air are set to follow over the weekend. I don’t blame my SUV nor the natural gas furnace that keeps my house warm.  Put me squarely in the climate denier box. If I relied on solar to provide electricity I’d be screwed, it’s been cloudy all week. *

* seems like it anyway. 

Free falling

Maybe I told this story previously. 

Never mind, I did — back in 2005.  It was the tale of how I came to jump out of an airplane the first time I was ever in one. 

I suppose I have nothing left to write about around here.  You know all the stories I choose to reveal. What topic interests you? 

So what else is new? Not much. A customer set up an online meeting for yesterday and then failed to show up. 

He has done this multiple times so I wasn’t surprised. 

Sixty-three days until spring training. ⚾️ 

And this made me laugh:

Probably not politically correct. Get over it. 

There is no argument

 

One of the greatest Christmas songs ever. 

December 7

 

Let's take the road before us and sing a chorus or two

 

Way back in the last century I play a trombone in the high school band. The top couple of chairs also played with the orchestra. I enjoyed that far more than the marching band or pep band. The best part was every year the orchestra went to each elementary school (5) in town to put on a Christmas concert convocation.

The kids loved it and it made the whole thing fun. One of the most enjoyable songs to play was this one   Every time I hear it I have to smile. 

Friday Freebies

 

Friday morning came early today. I limped down to the kitchen to make a Yeti of coffee around 4:30 aye-em. Outside the snow glowed a faint blue from the full moon. The air, according to my phone, was a frigid 10F. I am glad I was inside. 

I don’t know why I’m up early. If you do, please let me know. 

That image is the tree in the family room. The big nine-footer is in the living room by the front window. The wife always makes the house beautiful and elegant. I dig it. Your mileage may vary. That’s okay, we don’t have to like the same stuff. 

Me? I’d be that guy with so many tacky decorations outside you need to follow a path to the front door. I suppose that is a metaphor for our lives. The wife always is polite and classy. I’m a tacky, uncouth, redneck at heart. 

RIP Mr Cropper

 

Curious Courtesy

Culture is a funny thing. The first time I was in China comes to mind. My Chinese colleague and I were riding the subway in Shanghai, returning from a late dinner. Like everywhere in China, the car was crowded, but somehow we managed to get seats. At each stop more and more people pushed their way in. A little old wizened Chinese lady boarded carrying a couple of shopping bags. She stood near me and I instinctively stood and offered her my seat. I rode the next 25 minutes or so standing in the crowded car. 

As we finally disembarked at the stop for my hotel, my friend asked me why in the world I gave up my seat? I tried to explain, but he was so confused. “You had to stand the whole trip when you had a good seat!”

Never was I more aware that what passes for politeness and courtesy in my culture may not be true everywhere. 

I thought he was dead

Huh, I thought Robert Blake died years ago. Apparently he passed over the weekend. 

Ma Nature dumped another 4” or so of snow last night. I will head out when it gets light to shovel it away. It looks beautiful right now. 

I noticed some rabbit tracks in the snow on the patio. I have a bag of old stale peanuts, maybe I’ll throw them out there for him and his buddy the squirrel to munch on later. Or maybe not. 

Ba-boomp

I’ve been married 41 years and I don’t regret a single day of it.

And that single day was August 23, 1985 — she was visiting her mother that day…

In the air, there's a feelin' of Christmas

 

It’s a Small World.

 September 3, 1942- Sinatra sings his last show with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Where?

Indianapolis, Indiana at the Circle Theater. A venue still open. It is the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. 

How Sinatra got out of that contract is the stuff of legends, and perhaps even great gangster movies. 

Funny enough, the next great singer who was a cultural phenomenon was Elvis Presley. He too played his last concert in Indianapolis. 

Here we go

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Thanks from the bottom of my heart to each of you for taking time to read my drivel over the years. I appreciate it more than I can say.

Wednesday check in

 

The big Thanksgiving holiday will be upon us tomorrow. If you are traveling, stay safe. 

The wife is in the middle of changing the house into a winter wonderland. As always the place is beautiful, classy, and elegant. We crossed paths this morning as I stumbled downstairs to get my morning coffee and she was heading to bed, content after a night of decorating. 

The weather has made a big change. It is windy and cold. Temps are not expected rise above the thirties for the next several days. 

I am determined not to work at all today. So far I have put on over six hours of work this week. “So what?” you mutter. I’m supposed to be on vacation. 

Yesterday was my grandson’s birthday. He would have been eight. 

My Wife

 

I could put up some more Momas and Papas but I wont.

Monday. 

Like I care, I’m on vacation all week. I hoped to sleep in, but sometimes life moves at its own pace. 

I may be on holiday, but I will work a few hours today anyway. I have stuff that cannot wait a week. So it goes. 

Besides, I don’t want anyone at the government to decide I’m not a professional. 

All the leaves are brown

 

If the summer change to winter, yours is no disgrace.

 I guess it was sometime in 1975 when I started working. I made a whopping $2.10 per hour. I got s raise to $2.30 the next year.  I saved up every penny plus the money I got for mowing my grandmother’s lawn and went out and bought a brand new Pioneer receiver. I hooked up a pair of big Utah speakers I purchased on credit from my brother. I was able to listen in on the distant rock stations from Indy, first the locally famous WNAP and later WFBQ. 

Several months later I was able to add a Pioneer turntable. I soon started buying albums. I borrowed from my brother’s extensive collection, always taking care to use the “discwasher” system every time to keep the sound clean and clear. 

At some point I acquired a copy of the Yes live album Yessongs. My life was changed. I discovered the virtuosity and complex world of progressive rock. I have loved the band since. I’ve seen them live several times and I own almost every album (not tho the last few). 

I’m listening to the Yessongs album as I type this. I suspect I have listened to all or parts of this album at least once a week since 1975. I still listen to Yes most nights as I drift to sleep. 

You do the math. If I have listened to this album every week for 50 years; that means I have listened to it about 2500 times. I would guess that figure is low. 

Is there any music you have listened to for fifty years?

Ahhoooga, ahhoooga

 Sound the foghorn! 

A thick blanket of fog lies heavy on the neighborhood this morning. The neighbor’s front lights are fuzzy bright spots in the distance. 

I don’t know why you would care. I only mention it as a means to a post. Yes, that is where we are now on our mostly daily conversation around here. I initiate things and my words disappear into the ether. It’s the same way when I contact potential prospects for work. 

Tap, tap. Is anyone there? 

I know you are.  My visitor logs prove it. You have to admit this strange hobby where I throw up words and sentences about random stuff in some vain hope someone somewhere reads it is a bit weird. 

Enjoy your Friday. 

Holiday musings

 I have looked everywhere for this ornament. 

<rimshot>

Le sigh

Sure, I am going to complain. I’m good at it. Friday afternoon I raked up all of the leaves on the front lawn. So it goes. As the wife reminds me I wanted all of those trees. 

After a windy weekend the yard was covered again on Monday. I fired up the mower, chopped and bagged them. The lawn looked great. 

I woke yesterday morning to rain and wind - and a carpet of fallen leaves. This batch was double what I removed just 12 hours prior!  @&$?!%#. 

If it dries out this afternoon I’ll do the mower thing, providing the layer is not too thick. Otherwise it is back to the old rake. 

Political logic

 Let me see if I have this straight. Tariffs are great and wonderful and in no way increase prices for Americans. 

We have to reduce the tariffs on select goods to make them more affordable for Americans. 

Got it. 

Sunday Music

 

DePauw Sucks

It looks as if today will be another great “September”day, with temperatures reaching near 70F. I’m certainly not complaining. 

In other news, after way too long, the first draft of my second novel is complete. Now comes the editing, rewriting, and the rewrite of the rewrites. 

In any case it is a very different novel from my first. This one is more action and adventure.  

Perspective

I remember distinctly the wife’s reaction when we looked at this house.

Her: I love this house. Let’s get it. 

Me: Me too and it is in our price range. 

Every fall the discussion changes.

Me: There sure are a lot of leaves.

Her: Hey, you wanted all of those trees. 

But I do

 

Where was this girl when I was in high school?

I think a day in the stocks is appropriate punishment

I was pushing my cart out of Walmart and saw the aisle between the cars that led to my vehicle was blocked by an abandoned cart. I shook my head at the jerks in life. Then I noticed the car next to the shopping cart was backing out. 

A quick glance at the buggy and behold, the entitled driver had left her purse in the cart. Surprising even myself I positioned my cart to the side and waved at the driver. When I got her attention I pointed at the abandoned cart. She gave me a dirty look, you know, the “mind your own business “ frown. I gestured one last time at her cart and went around the long way to my car. Screw it. 

I saw the lady pull her car back in the parking slot. She rolled down her window, grabbed her purse and drove off. 

After I loaded my groceries I walked over and grabbed her cart and pushed both carts into the cart coral. 

I have a lot of faults, but I never leave my cart loose in the parking lot. 

If you do, rethink your life choices. Be aware there is absolutely no argument you can make that will change my mind. If you abandon your shopping cart you are an unmitigated self-centered jerk. EOS. 

Eleventh hour, eleventh day, eleventh month

 

The bells rang 29 times

 

Le Sigh

 

The smell of burning leaves is indelibly printed on my brain as the enduring memory of fall. As a kid you had to be careful about riding your bike through the piles of leaves beside the curb, lest the bottom of the pile was smoldering. Alas, for decades  burning leaves has been outlawed everywhere I’ve lived. It’s probably a good thing. But I can still smell it in my brain. 

This is my front lawn this morning. It was 100% clear if leaves yesterday. I spent the afternoon raking and bagging.  Now I have a new carpet of leaves. 

Most of the tree is still covered, so this exercise will be repeated. Besides neither of my adjoining neighbors ever rakes their leaves so I often think clearing the leaves at all is a waste. 

In the back yard it is the same story, but the three Bradford Pears won’t drop their leaves for a month. 

Saturday music

 How about some more by The Romantics?

Yeah? You don’t get to vote. My blog, my rules. 

Enjoy it anyway.

The post is done. I have no title

It looks like we will have a wet weekend. A bit of rain is supposed to pass through this morning. If it dries out this afternoon I might run the mower over the lawn to chop up the early leaves. That is fewer leaves to rake later. 

The weather forecast calls for cold to start the week. We might even see a few flakes of snow. 

Christmas decorations have sprung up on a few houses in the neighborhood. The wife mentioned we could put up our tree Sunday. Rain will keep me from doing the outside lights. I have long experience translating wife speak. “Maybe” means definitely (unless it relates to nekkid wrestling, then it means ‘nope’) and “we” means I will do it. The current tree is not hard to put up, it is pre-lit and pops open in three sections. If she wants to jump into Christmas season I don’t care. The house is beautiful when she gets it decorated. 

In any case, go forth and survive your Friday. 

When you close your eyes and go to sleep

I’ve had somniloquy most of my life. Don’t worry, it is neither contagious nor fatal. It simply means I talk in my sleep. Apparently I mumble gibberish for the most part. I remember my college  roommates jarring me awake by trying to engage the sleeping me in a conversation to discover what I was talking about. My wife has done the same thing over the years. Apparently it is great fun. 

The wife was downstairs Tuesday night watching TV (she goes to bed late) when she says she heard me shouting something. She could not tell if I was angry or scared, just excited about something since she could hear me over the TV clear from the bedroom. 

I don’t even remember dreaming Tuesday night. 

I have always told the wife I remain on the straight and narrow out of fear I will confess in my sleep. 

Bread and Circuses Indeed

 Has everyone in New York gone nuts? Are there stupid pills in the drinking water? Are history and economics not studied in school? 

What the heck is wrong with you people?

Oh noes

 People are showing up on the news crying they are starving after one day without SNAP benefits. 

The government has warned for weeks that if the Democrats do not vote to reopen the government then this would happen. Did any of those people set aside money or food to get through the temporary shut off?

Look, a few years ago I found myself out of work. Unemployment was a fraction of my previous salary. My mortgage and car payments and other bills were at a level to match my previous take home pay. Things were tough. 

What did we do? We ate pancakes. We ate biscuits and gravy. We ate frozen pizza. We ate grilled cheese or peanut butter. Is that what I wanted for dinner? Nope, but it is what we could afford. We cancelled every streaming subscription we cancelled cable. No more beer. No movies. No more visits to the expensive hair salon. 

If you need food then sell your designer purse. Pawn your tools. Sell your cell phone. Do what I did, go get a job, even a crappy one in retail. 

Loss of your SNAP benefits doesn’t mean you are starving. It means you need to change your taxpayer supported life style. 

Can we just stop with the clock changes already?

 Here we are on a Sunday morning. I don't know what time it is. I haven't finished the stupid change the clocks routine (I deleted a 500 word rant on that subject here).

You are welcome.

I stayed up on watched last night's MLB game seven. What an epic baseball game. I did not care if Toronto won, but I sure was rooting against the Dodgers. The pitcher Yamamoto was the man. He went out there after pitching the day before and threw another couple of innings to close out the game. His arm had to feel like a painful wet rag but he got the job done. The dude truly was the MVP.

Saturday Musings

A glance out the window shows the neighborhood trees awash in russets and golds. It is a little late, but leaf raking season is upon us. As my wife frequently reminds me, I wanted all of those trees. 

In other news, I am recovered from my long road trip this week. All went well. I even managed to catch up on my work emails yesterday and my sleep last night. 

Our attention will now shift to Thanksgiving then Christmas. As the Starks frequently told us, winter is coming.

A Halloween Joke

 An old couple who hadn't celebrated Halloween in a long time decided to dress up and go out.

The old woman went into her bedroom, stripped naked and tied a lemon between her legs.

When she came out, the old man cried, "You can't go out like that!"

She said, "I can go anyway I like and so can you."

Whereupon he retired to the bedroom and came out stark raving naked with a potato tied to his tallywhacker.

The old woman says, you're going out like that?"

And he replies, "Yep, if you can go as a sour-puss, I can go as a dick-tator.

Ahhh-ooo

 

Fears are nothing more than a State of mind ``

 

Nevermore

 

Seeing America through a cracked windshield

 I’m off today to do my Willy Loman thing. I have a long road trip in front of me as I travel east, east into the sun. Columbus, Cleveland (hola Cappy), Akron (hey Jean), Scranton, and Hartford will all be waypoints on the omnipresent GPS as early morning turns to afternoon to night with me behind the wheel. I get to spend all day tomorrow with Corporate bigwigs in interminable meetings along with other important suppliers as we are exhorted to lower costs and give them more, more. 

A short meeting with my main contact follows Thursday morning then I’m back on the road to repeat the long, long hiway back home. 

I have music and audiobooks and podcasts to accompany me. I’ll be fine, but my butt and bad foot will scream for relief hours before the trip is complete in either direction. 

So it goes. It’s a couple of days and such trips are why I get the big bucks (ha!). I look at the bright side. My boss is off to China in a few weeks and I get to skip that trip this year. I went twice in 2024, and I’m fine spending a few days in Connecticut as opposed to China. 

Worth thinking on

 

Palate Cleanser

 

Tell me, how long you gonna stay here, Joe?

 

Old Man River, indeed

 It has been a while since I read either (both this century for sure) , but for me, I prefer Huck over Tom. 

Make sure you bank that fire when you go to bed, Charlotte

 We finally broke down and turned on the heat last night. With outside temps dipping into the thirties it was getting cold inside the old homestead. The thermostat showed a chilly inside temperature of 63 when I said enough. Time to get ready for the season of big gas bills.

Outside I covered the wife’s hibiscus, which continues to bloom, but I’m not sure for much longer. I am skeptical it will survive the winter.

This picture was from last week. 

My mom died on this date in 2018. I miss you Mom. I have on my phone a voice mail she left me a month or so before she died. It is nothing important, a message telling me if I want some tomatoes I could have some. I must have been coming back from a business trip. I cannot remember if I stopped by or not. I hope I did. 

This thing is going to rust if I don’t use it.

 Huh, it seems I’ve not posted. It’s the old cliche - it is not you, it’s me. I still love you. The blog, not so much. 

I have writers block on a monumental scale. I can’t write here. I’ve done nothing on my novel for months. It took me thirty minutes to compose an email to customer yesterday, for goodness sake. 

I’m off to the EquipExpo in Louisville today. I doubt I will find bloggy inspiration among the outdoor power tools and mowers. I might find a new customer and that is a good thing. Say “Hey” if you see me. 

About that

 I thought we settled our position on kings and royalty back in 1775.

More:

Does anyone else find it ironic that tons of people gathered together to protest tyranny, fascism, pseudo-kings, etc., all claiming freedom is abridged? Yet not one single person was thrown in jail for speaking out? 

I guess they protest the very freedom they enjoy?

Can anyone explain it to me? 

Even more:

It appears the protests were successful. We have no king today. 

Of course we have not had a king for 250 years. But let’s not let facts get in the way of Leftist TDS.

Why Not?

 

Choices

A minister was seated next to a hillbilly on a flight across the country. After the plane was airborne, drink orders were taken. The hillbilly asked for a whiskey and soda, which was brought and placed before him.

The flight attendant then asked the minister if he would like a drink. He replied in disgust, "I'd rather be savagely raped by brazen whores than let liquor touch these lips."

The hillbilly then handed his drink back to the flight attendant and said, "Me too! I didn't know we had a choice." 

Is it Friday yet?

Jumping over to the old blog I see I failed to toss up a post yesterday. Mea culpa.

Don't get your hopes up for something interesting, controversial, or entertaining today. 

I will say this, it is starting to look those "nonessential" government jobs really are nonessential. Your experience may vary.

Half-Cannonball Run

 Never one to shy from a road trip the wife and I motored out to the greater Denver area last week to visit my son. We had a great time. Outbound we took I-70 -America’s most boring hi way. On the return trip we cut NE to pick up I-80 across Nebraska and Iowa. While the route was only about 30-40 minutes longer, it sure seemed to take far more than that. It didn’t help that I pulled over to take what I thought would be a short catnap in the wee hours of the night and actually slept in the reclined driver’s seat for three hours. Thus we didn’t hit the driveway until mid-morning Sunday. 

Back when my job took me on the road much of the time 8, 10, or 12 hour drives were the norm. Now, as I get older and out of distance driving shape these long overnight drives are getting harder. 

Why don’t you fly, you ask. It’s not the air fare. It is rental car fees that are so expensive. When renting a car costs as much as a flight, there is a problem. Besides, despite a bit of whining, I like to drive. It may be that in a few years a 1,000 mile trip may necessitate a hotel instead of an all-nighter. Not yet though.

Lettuce Know

The wife and I moseyed down to Chipotle for a cheap supper last night. They were out of lettuce. The wife likes lettuce on her build your own taco, me, I usually forego the stuff on my burrito bowl. The real question was why they had no lettuce. This particular store is literally (and I am literally using the word correctly) is in the parking lot of a grocery store. One could walk less than 100 yards and grab a couple of heads of iceburg.. 

I’m sure it is company sourcing policy or something. More likely, it is easier to tell customers too bad than to try and reconcile the cash register if the manager took cash to buy lettuce. 

Where you been, Joe?

 

Not bad for a cell phone pic 

I gave you a weeks worth of clues

Get out of Denver