Monday Musings...

Okay, who's gonna say it first?
Anyone?
Allow me, then: "WOW", that was some snowfall we had here in Fort Wayne, huh?.
Total accumulation - FOUR inches, and we had some COLD temps over the weekend (lower teens).
That kept the furnace busy. Fortunately. reflective melting took care of some of this.
Things will change for the better, however.
Our Hoosierland weather today sees us with WARMER temps (already 27 outside) with an expected high of around 35 degrees. It will get warmer through the week, too.
Might even get to see a sunrise today through those mostly cloudy skies.
So, let's all get a nice HOT cup of comfort poured as we see what has been going on elsewhere.
*** First off the snow-covered lanscape is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
November 23 -
---Today is NATIONAL CASHEW DAY

(cashew? Gesundheit!)
---It's also NATIONAL EAT A CRANBERRY DAY

(just one?)
---And, it's NATIONAL ESPRESSO DAY

(might need that extra jolt on this chilly morning, hmm?)
---There is also this date in TV history - 1963 – The BBC broadcasts "An Unearthly Child" (starring William Hartnell), the first episode of the science-fiction television serial of the same name and the first episode of Doctor Who, which is now the world's longest running science fiction drama.

Happy Anniversary to "The Doctor".
*** Next up, another weekend in Fort Wayne, AND another homicide, which by my count looks to be NUMBER TWENTY-NINE, although some sources are claiming it is "only 28" (like the Journal-Gazette).

Check my archive post from 12 November, when we HAD homicide #28, and I even cite the WANE story that says the same thing. We ALL can't be wrong.
Here's the story FROM the J-G:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Shooting-victim-missing-daughter-s-birthday--his-mother-says-10076501

Scene of the shooting

The victim, one Harold von Harrington, 26 of Fort Wayne was found by police shot to death in his bullet-ridden car on the 3200 block of Central Drive (on the SE side, where else?) around 1830 hrs this past Saturday.
The police were responding to a "shots fired" call.

What is most interesting about THIS story, is that is was his FAMILY that came forward to tell the tale while STILL no word from the FWPD as to the victim's ID...that'a amazing, and should call for some reasons WHY.
NO other news source has provided any information, and basically parrot one another from the FWPD spokescop.
Kinda odd, Wifey heard ONE shot last evening (around 1930 hrs) and it sounded CLOSE, but we didn't see ONE single police cruiser in OUR area...now why is that? Didn't see any damage to our house. Guess the local morons are gearing up for New Years Eve already.
As to the story - it's pretty sad when the FAMILY has to come forward to a media source BEFORE any "official" information comes from the police. Is the FWPD practicing to keep even more from us for NEXT year? Hope not. They NEED our help.
*** Next up, Remember when I mentioned that our "king" was looking at the possibility of (more) annexation in the coming term?

Well, here's a letter to the editor that backs up EXACTLY what I stated about how "well" those in Aboite have been dealing with the city and WHY the city sees such a "need" to annex in the first place:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/letters/Letters-9835401
This letter tells a story that you won't really hear about...and yet SHOULD.
Doesn't paint as "rosy" a picture as our mayor (the SAME one, along with 61 others who SUPPORTS bringing all those Syrian refugees HERE to our shores) would have us believe, does it?

Still good to be "king".

COERCION...what a GOOD way to describe how this city operates. What the city proposes to residents (there) and what the city does are the same thing...and the citizens have little to no input as to what THEY want or need.
We used to call that a STEAMROLLER over the populace. Slow, but inevitable and permanent.
Welcome to Fort Wayne, where dems rule and you have no say in damn near anything.
Pam Fischer (author of that letter) is someone who "gets it", and apparently is NOT the only one who feels that way she does. Unfortunately, she also "got it" from the city when forced into being annexed (to shore up that tax base).
Not really a win-win here.
*** Next up, that snowfall damn near killed off any plant life we have that was still "alive".

Big Purple is under there someplace.

That means we probably lost our "big purple" out by the side gate. Damn shame.
And the tall grass near the patio door was bent over like an old man. The fountain grass out front has been all but mashed to the ground.

The snow was one of those "heavy" ones - LOTS of moisture in it, and that's why it stuck to most everything NOT in the streets. Not the best way to welcome our first snow (to me).
*** Next up, THE most photographed squirrel in Fort Wayne,  Mr Wrinkles came by late Friday for his afternoon repast, and he was still not moving as sprightly as he used to.

He was even a bit slower than the day before.
In fact, he could not even climb up onto my knee for peanuts.
He tried, though, bless his heart. His little paw was reaching up to my knee, but he didn't seem to have enough strength to haul himself up, so I knelt down to feed him.

He did try a few times.

He managed to eat some peanuts (that I shelled for him) and a little bread, some sunflower seeds and a few raisins. Watching him kinda broke my heart.
And then, he set off, and I went inside, but I didn't stay inside. I had to see where he was going.
When I went out to look over the patio gate, there he was sitting near our maple tree...with a CAT staring him down not more than two feet away. I made some loud noises that scared that cat off (across the street) before he could have some "take out", and after a few minutes, Wrinkles went around the front of the house, with a few little hops across the lawn, and continued on across the street.
From there, I have no idea where he went.

Into the sunset...?

I have this feeling I may never see him again, especially after the cold weather (and snow) this weekend, but, I think he knows that at least one person gave a damn about him, and will never forget him.
If he does manage to come by again, that'll be nice, but no thanks were ever necessary.
He made my life better just by showing up, and "I" am the thankful one.
*** Last back to the not-yet-winter wonderland...it's hard to let go of a lot of things in life, especially those with whom we develop a sort of bond or attachment.

This is most true with family members, and I should know, as I've lost everyone in my immediate family.
But, even the smallest of God's creatures deserve their due as well.
They come into our life, ask for nothing, and provide us with some level of contentment.
Isn't that what loved ones do?
They have their special way of taking care of such things in our life, and here, these critters do something similar (to a smaller degree, mind you) when it comes to providing contentment.
And yes, we come to expect them, and they make us happy (to see them) and give us a few smiles and laughs with their antics.
Why they come into our lives baffles me, unless "they" think we need it - a little contentment or happiness, to remind us that we're never really alone in the world.
That's not a bad thing (to me) Hell, it keeps a lot of "the lonelys" away well enough.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.