17 September 2014

Humpday Happenings...
Here we are...middle of the week, so it's either all UPhill  or all DOWNhill from here, depending on you particular mood.
The Hoosierland weather will see us with no rain today (that I heard about), and a nice sunrise coming over the hoveltops, with temps again reaching into the mid to upper 60s...very fall-like and I'm sure that will confuse the leaves on the trees sufficiently to start them falling...oh, well.
So, while the rest of the world decides how best to extricate it's head from it's collective anus, let's grab ourselves a nice warm cup of whatever is today's morning beverage of choice and get this bad boy up and running...
*** First off of the bookshelves this morning is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week.
"It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
Now, I'm sure we can all benefit from such words of wisdom, so WHO said that?
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back in the nation's capital...
*** Just when you "think" you have the newspaper delivery problem resolved....it's NOT.
As I type this, it's 0735 hrs, and we're still awaiting the delivery of the MORNING paper (J-G).
It's "supposed" to arrive by 0600, but, since we're in a state of flux when it comes to carriers in OUR part of the ghettohood, it becomes more like a crapshoot - WHEN will it arrive?
I already called to register a complaint, and instead of the automated button pushing crap, I get handed off to a warm body, and she tells me that the paper is not late if delivered by 0900...
All right, this has just become a "WTF???" moment in my book.
The paper was coming around 4AM (remember the jerk that woke us up the other week who did get canned?), so I KNOW the paper can arrive in a TIMELY fashion...it just isn't, and why remains the big issue.
Granted, we are probably one of a DOZEN people that can functionally READ a newspaper down here, so the route is simple enough, but SERIOUSLY, how can delivering a simple-ass thing like a newspaper become SUCH a problem?
(Wifey likes to gloss over the paper before heading out.)
There was a time when the paper came EVERY day (even with  6 inches of snow on the ground) by a carrier we had for years, until he retired, and he was a go-getter...you could damn near set your clock by his delivery time (between 0500 and 0530)
 If he was ever late, I can't recall such a day.
But that was when people still had some sort of work-ethic, I suppose.
And the times are changing...just not for the better, right?
Well, we shall see when the hell the damn paper decides to show up (maybe time to change to the News-Sentinel,...at last THAT paper isn't a morning edition...lol)
((BTW - It finally arrived at 0754 hrs))
Moving on...
*** We have had a VACANT Target store along S. Anthony Blvd. for what seems like AGES (since 2005, anyway - a good NINE YEARS), and FINALLY, someone has decided to buy the building and do something with it.
We USED to shop there, before crime closed it down.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140917/LOCAL/309179922
Now, before any of you tout this as a "revival" down here...hold the phone...
It's NOT going to be any sort of RETAIL venue...it's going to be a DATA_STORAGE facility, employing a whopping TEN people!
(they better install a ten-foot high fence with concertina wire on it...for security - they're gonna need it.)
Lifeline Data Center is the buyer, and will invest $15 MILLION into the former store's conversion.
They're based in Indianapolis and provide a location of companies' computer servers to various entities like health care, utilities, government and life sciences...sounds like a decent gig so far.
The company was founded in 2001, and says that the services it provides to businesses will generate even more jobs.
We shall see.
Construction will start by the middle of NEXT year.
*** And now a couple news briefs (no boxers)...
-- Shooter from last year gets 20 years in the hoosegow - here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140917/LOCAL03/309179977
(all starting from a Facebook taunt...seriously?)
-- Eby Ave. thugs get day in court and are formally charged - here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140916/LOCAL07/140919670/1043/LOCAL07
( I smell some plea-dealing here...smells like BS, too)
--  Spouse wanted in stabbing n Kosciusko County - here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140917/LOCAL07/309179973/1043
(cripes, if you wanted Beefaroni instead of Ravioli, you should have just SAID so)
-- Five people charged in thefts from Lowe's - here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140917/LOCAL07/309179975/1043
(yeah, I'd call the police after seeing a cart full of items not paid for rolling out the door, too)
What the hell kind of world have we created, and why did we even allow it in the FIRST place?
*** Last back to the garage today...there is simply no other way to put it...this old world is royally F$CKED THE HELL UP!
And I know that I had nothing to do with it....and neither did any of YOU.
So, what the hell has gone so wrong in our lifetimes?
The list of issues and problems we face daily seems to grow exponentially, and we're not sitting about making the list longer, are we?
Remember a time when you might have only a few things to fret about...every other week?
I miss THOSE days...!
Usually, it's something EXTERNAL in nature that causes concern, that meaning outside our four walls (sometimes it's inside...like a basement flooding, but that's a rarity, hopefully...lol).
And what we try to do is keep the outside crap where it belongs, and it's not to invite in into our homes for a meal and place to crash for the night.
But my God, look at ALL the crap that IS external and problematic these days
You have to wonder if your credit card info will be hacked at the store where you just purchased something, because carrying cash makes you an easy mark for pickpockets, or if your car will be in the damn lot where you parked it, or whether someone will run some light and mess up your afternoon or evening.
You also have to consider rising prices for damn near everything...all the time, be it groceries (which we're being told that prices have dropped 11% - sorry, NOT seeing that), or utilities like water, gas, and electric.
And then there is always insurance costs, medical costs (when they arise, hopefully infrequently), and perhaps a car payment or mortgage payment or rent payment.
Every consumable item has also risen in cost (to us), and naturally, we can add fast food into that mix (thanks to raising minimum wages for no reason, except to promote liberalism).
Life USED to be a helluva lot simpler, and we survived damn well (actually thrived). It's just a shame we didn't appreciate it as MUCH as we should have.
I know I could use a good, healthy dose of "good old days"...how about you?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

6 comments:

Momma Fargo said...

Great post, Bob G. Hope the new biz taking over is prosperous. No morning paper? Travesty. I do online newspapers. However, they are not perfect and do not have everything either. They want to get us with both, but I only pay for one. It's the cheap in me. I am not seeing a decline in food prices at all. Stay safe out there.

Bob G. said...

Momma Fargo:
If we get ANYTHING in the way of a "business" to stay down here, I will be flabbergasted!!!

Yeah, the "online" editions remind me of CLIFFS NOTES...lol
I like to HOLD a REAL newspaper with my coffee...
BTW...NONE of us are really "cheap"...we're either FRUGAL...or THRIFTY.
(some are both...lol)

No drop in food prices I can see, but gas is lower...so they want us to DRIVE FARTHER for low food prices?
A vicious circle, ain't it?

Thanks for rolling up today to comment.

Stay safe down there, dear.

John DuMond said...

We had something similar happen to an abandoned store in my town. Some company called CSC wound up taking over the building. Unlike the people taking over your former Target, CSC actually employs people. In fact, they wound up expanding until the took up the entire strip mall, displacing the other tenants. From the looks of the parking lot, they must have upwards of 100 employees. Better than a vacant building, I guess. Now if only we could find someone to move into our vacant Kmart...

Bob G. said...

John D.:
I hear 'ya...
Our Target is a spit & a slide from PUBLIC HOUSING, so the safety of however many employees who DO eventually work there will be on the line...
It's not like the MOOKS will be lining up to be hired there.

That store USED to employ DOZENS of people, and had a Long John Silver's next door to it, and a liquor store adjacent to it.
They ALL went bye-bye, thanks to rising crime.

BTW, we ALSO have ourselves a VACANT K-MART down here...you SURE you don't live in SE Fort Wayne?
(j/k)

Thanks for stopping by to comment today.

Stay safe out there.

CWMartin said...

1- I think its pretty sad when the morning paper thinks it's acceptable to deliver as late as 9AM. Frankly, the morning paper for me became like a cigarette- a totally unnecessary comfort- and eventually they priced themselves out of the game.

2- "I just stabbed my wife. I think I'll walk to Cleveland." There HAS to be a punch line for that!

3- The rest of the post can be covered with my reply to your comment on MWN. Frankly, I'm ready to find another planet and let the idiots have it all.

Bob G. said...

Chris:
I feel much the same way regarding the MORNING paper.
After all, I NEVER have my MORNING coffee later than 7AM...breakfast - ditto!
(unless Wifey and I go to Azar's breakfast buffet...good exception).

Of all the places TO walk after a stabbing...seriously...CLEVELAND?
(that's like admitting you're from JERSEY...lol)

I really don;t want ANOTHER Planet...I just want the one I was BORN ON back.

Hey, thanks for topping by to comment today.

Stay safe up there.