Monday Musings...
Wasn't a bad 4th of July...as holidays go.
The missus and I had our small cookout, just the two of us.
We put our new, LARGER nylon American flag out...and it took to the breeze rather well...TOO well, in fact.
It promptly wrapped itself around the flagpole...about 20 TIMES!
Okay, here's plan "B" - have to get something they call an "unfurler" (kit) for a 3/4 inch pole...never used to need one before.
Amazing how the breeze between our house and garage ALWAYS blows in ONE DIRECTION ONLY (south to north...go figure). That explains the physics of the matter. Never had this problem with ANY other flag anywhere I've ever been.
Dad would have been amused.
As they say...ONLY in Fort Wayne, eh?
I spent some of the day watching TV and taking in the PBS "Capitol 4th" show they have on every year.
(didn't seem quite as good...must have been the local ordinance being deployed outside)
Still, it's damn nice to see SOME people know how to embrace the holiday.
This morning Mr. Bunnyrabbit came by for morning treats (after having the crap scared out of him last evening...) and was well-received.
Nice to know he didn't die from fright, or become injured after last night's "mortar barrage".
But yesterday, across our street, the house THERE had a freaking mini "block party".
Now, I'm all for a proper celebration of ANY holiday...within reason and with moderation.
Sure, there are things to do, places to go, and people to meet...usually.
Not with THIS crowd.
At least it didn't sound like KABUL...was more like KANDAHAR.
They were the ONLY house on the block that took up close to TEN parking spots and most of our corner.
Typical ghetto behavior.
Hooray for us, the hell with everyone else.
One house with too many people at it...see it ALL the time in areas like this.
We are talking about a house with less that 1100 sq. ft. to work with. Guess these locals should have paid better attention math class, instead of cutting it.
And there is always the baby-mamas sash-shaying around with at least one kid "on the hip", other toddlers running all over like ants on a mound of sugar, the prerequisite liquor...and young black males passing around, I mean "sharing" a "cigarette" or something similar...times ARE tough, after all. And just ONE Newport goes a LONG way when you take real short drags and then suck in a LOT of air right behind, hmm?
Well, with such amenities as THESE at a party, if they become boisterous (try and stop them - it's in their nature), or even homicidal (as some of these ghetto-fests become), trying to REASON with them or TALK to them in a CIVIL manner will be next to impossible.
It all smacks back to that article I read (and posted about) the other day regarding CORTISOL (a human hormone) and it's causing males to act like apes. (who knew?)
You know, I remember a time when "I" used to attend holiday parties at other friends houses in PA, NJ, and elsewhere...and NOT ONCE were we EVER approached by neighbors OR police for being TOO LOUD...or TOO DRUNK...or TOO DAMN HIGH.
We never made it a point to see who could be "most stupid" at any place we went to for a party.
We had swimming parties, holiday events, birthday parties, parties for new homes, new jobs...you name it.
And we ALWAYS behaved ourselves.
That's not to say we didn't have FUN...we had LOADS of fun.
But we also knew our "limitations", and how to conduct ourselves in public.
Must have been that whole "when you go somewhere else, you DO represent your FAMILY...and your UPBRINGING".
Yeah, we didn't want a bad rep on us OR our parents.
We were SO Victorian in that regard (rolls eyes).
But, we must have done something right, because we DID enjoy ourselves, talked about the parties for days, and couldn't wait to do it again.
Oh, and these were parties that were NOT exclusive to WHITES.
We had blacks, Asians and even Hispanics there...we were "diverse", and YET we were lawful...amazing sh*t, huh?
Goes to show what society USED to be like...and how FAR we've strayed since those days only 30-40 years ago.
People say "times change"...no it really doesn't, but PEOPLE certainly do.
And THAT affects how we will perceive "the (our) times".
My perception happens to be born out of what I actually SEE & HEAR, with no preconceived notion as to what I "believe" things to be...they just ARE, simple as that. How you VIEW things can be very similar to how you SEE things, and the contrary is just as true.
How you SEE things can be quite a world apart from how you VIEW things.
For example, when I SEE people setting off fireworks for SEVERAL HOURS (longer than most professional shows, I might add), sending up aerial rocket after aerial rocket (which aren't all that cheap to begin with, even if you "buy in bulk"...some go for $5 A PIECE - I checked the prices), you can only make one conclusion...
This crap costs some serious money!
That's God's honest truth (unless you work for a fireworks place and got a lot on discount, or just broke into a place and stole them outright).
So WHERE can people who DO NOT WORK get that much moolah to blow on something as "here and gone" as FIREWORKS anyway?
Do they get "fireworks stamps" from the gub'ment?
Are fireworks now part of WIC?
Toss me a bone here...SOMEONE's footing the bill for all these celebratory ordinance, 'cause I didn't see Pelosi's goons handing them out on street corners around here, did you?
I will maintain that there just HAS to be something illicit going on.
I've known people with REAL JOBS that don't blow as much for fireworks, and they have more than a few bucks to burn.
My guess is that these ghetto-fleas must be dealing in some sort of street corner pharmaceuticals at some level.
There's no other explanation.
THAT is a sign of our times, unfortunately.
Sure, it may only be once or twice a year with this stuff, but it does make a normal person wonder.
As a homeowner, I KNOW there are a lot "bigger fish to fry" when it comes to responsibilities around this house.
Plenty to do, as they say, to keep me out of trouble.
If it's not something directly concerned with the house, it's the garden...or the cars, or something else, but there is ALWAYS something.
And if we ever tire of all THAT "fun", we can always read the papers or watch the news, and find out our RESPONSIBILITIES have taken on a greater aspect.
When we decide that the immediate problems around our house have been satisfied, we can always look to the problems of our NEIGHBORHOOD...or our CITY, or STATE...or the NATION...or even the WORLD.
God knows there is plenty to do and lots to accomplish...for responsible people with a sense of priorities.
You fix what needs fixin', and then move on to the next task at hand.
Well, that's the way it's supposed to go.
Not with the "locals".
They HAVE no sense of priorities, and that's so evident.
They can never seem to see past the immediate in their lives. No "look to the future" for them. In essence, they must feel they HAVE no future, for that would explain the problems infesting their community, which invariably spills into other communities.
I mean who, in their right mind winds up committing a domestic battery at 6-frigging AM?
People in MY part of town do...almost daily.
Same goes for runaways...even the kids don't want to be with these things passing themselves off as "parents".
Others have the need to make a few burglaries before lunch..or steal a car to drive to the liquor store.
Some are perverted enough to molest a child or rape a woman before the sun gets too high in the sky.
You see, it's all about IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION...don't bother to wait for something.
That's what happens when the government GIVES all this stuff to people...they want MORE.
They will use any and all means at their disposal to get this "fix".
And at the cost of innocent victims.
Now, you have to admit that such behavior CAN (and often does) take away from the meaning of a holiday like yesterday's Independence Day.
But, it's all about THEM...you have to remember that.
It's NOT about their house...or bills (taxpayer's pay most of that FOR them anyway), or the kids (free breakfast anyone?), or anyone else in their family (elderly abuse by the younger crowd). It IS about satisfying that craving...that desire...that "want" than ANY addict has to have.
Trouble, is, these "people" are addicted to things that have serious and permanent ramifications on us ALL...they never just "hurt" themselves (unfortunately).
And we call this inner city "poverty"...
Well, I say we do what Ben Franklin once said, and make them SO damn uncomfortable IN that "poverty" that they no longer wish to revel in it.
Tough love is always preferred over tough sh*t...in any person's handbook.
Time for more to EARN their way in life.
Geez, and to think it's ONLY Monday...amazing, isn't it?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.