Monday Musings...

The start to another week is seeing us dealing with early AM rain and thunderstorms (like someone pissed off the Norse god THOR or something...but more about that in a few). First, we've some other things to take care of and get a handle on.
So kick back and take it easy for a spell...we here at "The Fortress" know how to properly treat our "guests"...
*** I suppose I should be calling today's post "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", because that's pretty much how most of the weekend panned out for me..through no fault of my own, I might add.
My weekend began, as most weekends do, with an upbeat kinda mindset, because if there's ONE thing I have learned when your neighborhood devolves into a ghettohood, and your city (as well as it's sundry departments) is largely responsible for allowing such things to happen, is to make your stand, be as non-compromising as possible, and never allow the "locals" to take that first inch, for if they are allowed to do so, they WILL take much more, and quite often...it's the whole "entitlement mentality".
Shopping was wonderfully uneventful, except I forgot to add a 12 pack of Coca-Cola on the list and Wifey had to go out yesterday and grab one (along with smokes)., but that was the least of the problems.

Saturday was Cinco De Mayo, and although our part of the ghettohiood hasn't completely been turned over from the "Whaddup, dawg?" inhabitants to the "Se habla Espanol?" crowd yet, we are getting there, and rather rapidly to say the least.
And that means that when you see some Hispanics toting in a few 12 packs of their own, and it's NOT soda but beer, there will be "loud" involved somewhere down the pike...and safe to say, I was correct yet again.
The house across the street had seventeen vehicles that came and went until after midnight, and naturally, they ALL had to tie up the street with double-parking. At least we weren't suffering some form of Spanish (c)rap music...

That was left to the Afro-Nauseating among us, who were keeping pace with the Hispanic house with sixteen vehicles...think of it as "dueling assholes". Makes 'ya long for that developmentally-challenged boy sitting on the porch with that banjo from Deliverance...seriously (or that squirrel who also stops by).
After THAT crap was finally over for the night, all "we" had to deal with were the boomcars that ride through this area like it's the new Rudisill or McKinnie Aves...which if pretty much IS these days...too much traffic for so few houses, and that's a disturbing trend.
Wifey and I DID manage to stop by Broadview Nurseries for some garden plants...as we do every Spring.
So Saturday was a mixed bag...some good, some bad.
The "ugly" came yesterday...

It was a very nice Sunday morning...none of the locals were stirring (busy sleeping off their drunks and highs), and I was outside on the patio, breaking off some dead plants (the kind that grow 6 feet tall and look like those cornstalks you see stacked around Fall), when I felt a sharp pain in my left hand.

Looking down, I saw blood literally running down my pinky finger onto the foliage.
SOMEHOW, one of those stalks decided to slice the hell out OF my finger...couldn't have done a better job if I used a knife.

Well, since it was bleeding nicely (and profusely), I figured a minimal flush with water would work, and after running the outside tap to clean it, I held it tightly and went inside to get it patched the hell up.
It took a bit of doing, as I first had to wrap the finger in a paper towel to apply indirect pressure (slows bleeding).
Then, I dressed up two band-aids with triple antibiotic ointment and proceeded to place them TIGHTLY over the wound, and finished it off with a wrap of waterproof adhesive surgical tape...not a bad field dressing, if I do say so myself...lol.
(some things you don't forget)
Then, I had a long, healthy swig of some Hennessy cognac!
That was to sooth the pain AND my pride, mind you.
And I STILL managed to make dinner (homemade baked macaroni and cheese).
We won't get into how I turned the wrong burner on and discolored the burner cover...I was preoccupied with other things like dinner and slicing my fingers...and trying to NOT to mingle the two.
Suffice it to say dinner became the new "high-point" of the weekend for me...LOL.
Damn finger was throbbing like a migraine...in my hand.
Don't think I'm gonna need stitches..just some TLC.

And yes, the real fun comes when you have to change the dressing...without "reopening old wounds" (as poets and people tend to say regarding love affairs). How poignant is that? How IRONIC is that?
Oh, this was one helluva love affair alright.
Even our friendly, neighborhood "Mr. Bunny" was tuckered out from all the angst I had going on yesterday.
I know I had had plenty of fun for the weekend, too.
Lesson to be learned here?
Never, EVER underestimate the power of a "dead" plant...i.e. WEAR GLOVES...ALWAYS.
(duly noted)
*** Meanwhile, back at the Bobby G. "emergency ward"...
This story caught my eye today...and for the obvious reasons:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120507/LOCAL07/305079947

The Indiana SWAT officers Assoc. held their 3rd annual "junkyard shootout" at the ACSD range on Paulding near Adams Ctr. Rds.
And Sunday was only the first day of the get-together.
The conference ends tomorrow and is hosted by the Sheriff's Department and the PSA (Public Safety Academy) of N.E. Indiana, located at 7602 Patriot Crossing...the one shining light on the city's...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE ...aside from our "Fortress"...LOL.
The junkyard shootout is comprised of three stations utilizing three weapons: The AR-15 (M-4 carbine, 5.56mm), the 12 gauge shotgun (pump), and the 9mm service auto. We also used to call it the "3 gun shootout", and many times, competitions for civilians involve classic 19th century firearms such as the Colt Peacemaker single-action, Winchester lever-action rifle, and a double-barreled shotgun aka a "coach gun".
I really wish they'd open things like this up to the public, providing those attending are responsible gun owners or otherwise do NOT have a rap sheet, unlike the recently-deceased Brandon V. Pearson, who was mentioned in Friday's "comments" section of the post (and a hearty "thanks" to my buddy "D" for the heads-up).
*** Here's Pearson's rap sheet AND address list (see the patterns there?), in case you were wondering just how MUCH of a "good person" he USED to be:
**********Gonna take a while***********

02D04-9410-CM-007254 Pearson, Brandon V 10/17/1994
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
02D04-9510-IF-016683 Pearson, Brandon V 10/23/1995
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
IMPROPER HEADLIGHT
02D04-9608-CM-006988 Pearson, Brandon V 08/22/1996
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-9609-CM-007369 Pearson, Brandon V 09/04/1996
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-9609-CM-007739 Pearson, Brandon V 09/17/1996
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided BATTERY (A)
02D04-9705-CM-003477 Pearson, Brandon V 05/20/1997
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
02D04-9801-CM-000159 Pearson, Brandon V 01/07/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
INADEQUATE MUFFLER
02D04-9807-CM-005531 Pearson, Brandon V 07/29/1998
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-9809-CM-007009 Pearson, Brandon V 09/18/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided MINOR ENTERING TAVERN
02D04-9810-CM-007628 Pearson, Brandon V 10/12/1998
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-9810-IF-020097 Pearson, Brandon V 10/28/1998
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
DISREG STOP OR YIELD SIGN
02D04-9905-OE-000374 Pearson, Brandon V 05/11/1999
Allen Superior Court 6 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided HARBOR CAT/DOG W/O PERMIT
VIOL CITY ORD. (FT WAYNE)
02D04-9907-OE-000550 Pearson, Brandon V 07/08/1999
Allen Superior Court 5 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided IMPROPER ANIMAL COLLAR
FAILURE TO SHELTER ANIMAL
FAILURE TO SHELTER ANIMAL
NO KENNEL/CATTERY PERMIT
02D04-9907-OE-000582 Pearson, Brandon V 07/23/1999
Allen Superior Court 4 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided IMPROPER ANIMAL COLLAR
FAILURE TO SHELTER ANIMAL
FAILURE TO SHELTER ANIMAL
NOISY DOG

02D04-0001-OE-000080 Pearson, Brandon V 01/27/2000
Allen Superior Court 4 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided HARBOR CAT/DOG W/O PERMIT
35D01-0002-CM-00157 Pearson, Brandon V 02/17/2000
Huntington Superior Court CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED
SPEED (1-15), (16-25), (26+)
02D04-0003-CM-002434 Pearson, Brandon V 03/27/2000
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0005-CM-003750 Pearson, Brandon V 05/08/2000
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-0009-CM-007311 Pearson, Brandon 09/13/2000
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0010-CM-007901 Pearson, Brandon V 10/13/2000
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DOMESTIC BATTERY
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
FALSE INFORMING (B)
02D04-0010-CM-007988 Pearson, Brandon 10/17/2000
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DOMESTIC BATTERY
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
FALSE INFORMING (B)
02D04-0011-CM-008886 Pearson, Brandon 11/29/2000
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0101-CM-000665 Pearson, Brandon V 01/26/2001
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
FAIL STOP AT THRU-HIGHWAY
02D04-0103-CM-002299 Pearson, Brandon V 03/26/2001
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
VIOL FT WAYNE SPEED ORD
02D04-0108-OE-001086 Pearson, Brandon 08/07/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided DOG/CAT RUN AT LARGE(FW)
02D04-0110-OE-001279 Pearson, Brandon 10/13/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided HARBOR CAT/DOG W/O PERMIT
FAILURE TO APPEAR VIOL
02D04-0203-CM-002280 Pearson, Brandon V 03/27/2002
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
NO FIN RESPONSIBILITY(INF)
FAIL STOP AT THRU-HIGHWAY
FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-0205-CM-004043 Pearson, Brandon 05/30/2002
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0209-MC-001584 Pearson, Brandon V 09/12/2002
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. HABITUAL TRAFF. OFF.
02C01-0209-FD-000605 Pearson, Brandon 09/17/2002
Allen Circuit Court FD - Class D Felony
Decided HABITUAL TRAFFIC VIOLATOR
02D04-0209-OE-000698 Pearson, Brandon V 09/23/2002
Allen Superior Court 4 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided FAILURE DISPLAY PET PERMT
02D04-0211-CM-008755 Pearson, Brandon V 11/12/2002
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided FALSE INFORMING (B)
02D04-0301-MC-000154 Pearson, Brandon V 01/28/2003
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. DEALING IN COCAINE/METH
P.C. HABITUAL TRAFF. OFF.
02D04-0305-MC-000750 Pearson, Brandon V 05/08/2003
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. RESISTING LAW ENFORC
02D04-0305-FD-000279 Pearson, Brandon V 05/13/2003
Allen Superior Court 4 FD - Class D Felony
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0309-CM-007394 Pearson, Brandon V 09/08/2003
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided BATTERY (A)
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
02D04-0906-MC-001255 Pearson, Brandon V 06/22/2009
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. DOMESTIC BATTERY
P.C. DOMESTIC BATTERY
P.C. STRANGULATION
02D04-0910-CM-006081 131503
131503 Pearson, Brandon V 10/05/2009
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
UNSAFE MOVE LANE TO LANE
02D04-0911-FD-001055 Pearson, Brandon 11/10/2009
Allen Superior Court 6 FD - Class D Felony
Decided *OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
02D04-1003-IF-002563 571552 Pearson, Brandon V 03/18/2010
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-1003-CM-001676 Pearson, Brandon V 03/22/2010
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D06-1108-OV-001100 633551 PEARSON, BRANDON V 08/02/2011
Allen Superior Court 6 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided 91.107: Harbor Animal/Mand. Neuter/FWA
02D04-1110-IF-016316 665222 PEARSON, BRANDON V 10/12/2011
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided 9-19-10-2/IFD: Failure of Occupant to Use Safety Belt
02D04-1111-MC-002876 657617
657617 PEARSON, BRANDON V 11/08/2011
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal (Citation)
Decided 35-48-4-6(a)/FD: Poss Cocaine/Methamphetamine Or Sched I or II Narcotic Drug
35-48-4-11/MA: Possession Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia/Synthetic Cannabinoid
9-24-18-1/MC: Knowingly or Intentionally Operating Motor Vehicle w/o Ever Receiving a License
9-21-8-25/IFC: Failure to Signal for Turn or Lane Change
02D04-1111-FD-001538 PEARSON, BRANDON V 11/14/2011
Allen Superior Court 4 FD - Class D Felony
Pending 35-48-4-6(a)/FD: Poss Cocaine/Methamphetamine Or Sched I or II Narcotic Drug
35-48-4-11/MA: Possession Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia/Synthetic Cannabinoid
9-24-18-1/MC: Knowingly or Intentionally Operating Motor Vehicle w/o Ever Receiving a License
02D05-1204-IF-004423 671343 PEARSON, BRANDON V 04/19/2012
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction Pending
***********************************8 

Addresses:
1994
1210 Oak St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
1996
1419 W Wildwood
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
119 W Leith
Ft Wayne IN
1210 Oak St
Ft Wayne IN
1419 W Wildwood/1210 Oak St
Ft Wayne IN
1997
1210 Oak St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
1998
2327 S Harrison St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
3809 Barr
Ft Wayne IN
1210 Oak
Ft Wayne IN
2301 Florida Dr
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
1999
3500 Warsaw 9B
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
4915 Gaywood
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
2000
4915 Gaywood
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
1210 Oak Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
4915 Gaywood Dr
Ft Wayne IN 46806
2001
4915 Gaywood Dr
Fort Wayne, IN 46803(?)
1210 Oak St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
1239 Vance
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
2002
1210 Oak St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
5844 Turtle Creek
Apartment 4
Fort Wayne, IN 46816
1207 Roosevelt
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
2003
1210 Oak Street
Fort Wayne IN 46803
5844 Turtle Creek Apt 4
Fort Wayne, IN 46816
4818 S Hanna St
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
2009
720 Wilt St
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
1225 Fairfield Ave Apt 4
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
2010
1225 Fairfield #2
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
1326 W WILDWOOD
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
1326 W WILDWOOD AVE
FORT WAYNE, IN 46807


*****************WHEW!!!****************
Moving on to better things...
*** Being the comic geek that I am and have been over time (and loving the superhero genre in general since my youth), I predicted this would happen...and THAT never gets old! (unlike ME...lol)

The (Joss Whedon directed) movie AVENGERS has seen the BIGGEST domestic grossing movie weekend...EVER!
It handily beat out the last of the Harry Potter flicks from last year.
Do NOT be surprised if this becomes one of the ALL-TIME largest box office attractions in recent history.
(Love to see it become the ALL-TIME highest in history!)
With domestic receipts ALREADY above the $200 MILLION mark, it's on track to surpass any previous film to date.
Hell, this takes me back to the days when ONE movie would run at theaters for MONTHS (and in some cases, over a YEAR...like Funny Girl did in the late 1960s back in Philly).
Of course, that was also a time when movie-going was a lot bigger (and definitely CHEAPER) deal than it is today.

None of this small screen multiplexed-out-the-ass tiny theaters, or a movie house with seats that put you in the nosebleed section (when you didn't even go to the BALCONY area). And none of this ultra-techy sound crap (that can go wrong)...we had plain old STEREO...the type that DIDN'T make your fillings rattle in your head, and give you a headache like when you attended that Van Halen concert without earplugs (to lessen the din of 2+ hours of hard-rock).
Popcorn DID come in a real SMALL size for way under a buck, and Twizzlers were TWENTY-FIVE CENTS for a WHOLE bag (and usually fed you AND your buddies).
People in general were a lot better behaved...never had an INFANT crying either (who the hell in their right mind takes a infant to a movie that has EXPLOSIONS at 120 decibels, and expects them to SLEEP through it, anyway?)
Yes, folks...it IS still all about...CIVILITY towards your fellow man.
*** Lastly today, social experiences USED to be fun...as a rule.
They were something we LOOKED FORWARD to participating in either individually, with friends, or even with family.
These days, we're loosing touch with that, except in certain special venues.
Family gatherings should be a celebration of life and of people we love, and not some loud-ass party to see who can consume the most alcohol and still be able to stagger to the car and drive the hell home (as they often do in our ghettohood, and which goes unnoticed by the FWPD, except by sheer luck).
We need to stop trying to "keep up" with whoever we might feel compelled to compete with.
The only REAL competitor we need to look for is OURSELVES, and that can be the worst person to go toe-to-toe with.

We can be our own best friend...OR our worst enemy.

We need to learn (or re-learn) the distinction between the two, if we are to become able to understand ourselves.

And that is something to think about.

Have yourselves a great week,
Be well, make a difference to someone and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.