Friday Follies...

It must have been me, because THIS week seemed "longer" than LAST week.
Perhaps it was the nice weather?
That has changed a bit, as were back to seeing our breath in the morning, aren't we?
This roller-coaster condition is the type that will easily have people catching colds (or flu). But, it's not all bad news, people.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will see us with lots of sunshine with a high of around 56 degrees.
And that's about it.

Well, that went well enough.

Nothing else to say there. Nice to see the rain take a holiday, isn't it?
It's taking a bit longer to post today as Frontier would not allow me to access the Internet.
It had to do with updating the "modem" (router) security credentials (be nice to get some advance notification on this kinda crap), and I had to call in to make sure this was legit (which it was), so we're good to go for the time being.
Now, with that done, let's get that morning drink, take this show on the road, and see what lies ahead of us as we check out what's going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the barnyard is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
March 11 -
---Today is NATIONAL WORSHIP OF TOOLS DAY

(handymen of the nation unite!)
---It's also NATIONAL JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY

(they coulda moved this closer to when we REALLY celebrate him in Indiana)
---It's also NATIONAL OATMEAL NUT WAFFLES DAY

(that's a bit on the complex side for me..gimme the PLAIN waffles)
---And, it's NATIONAL PROMPOSAL DAY

(the day you ask the girl to the prom? That's a new one on me)
*** And since it's the end of the week, let's see what kind oif stuff we can get into over the next 72 hours.
March 12 -
---Saturday is NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT DAY

(I'm thinking cookies here...if they still are selling them)
---It's also NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY

(won't be long before we plant a MESS of them...AGAIN!)
---And, it's NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY

(I' love 'em, but the SEA scallops are SO damn expensive anymore)
March 13 -
---Sunday is NATIONAL GOOD SAMARITAN DAY

(again, we need ONE day for that one? Should be every day)
---It's also NATIONAL EAR MUFF DAY

(only ones I wear are those on the gun range for hearing protection)
---And, it's NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA DAY INDOORS DAY

(as long as you don't put it over your head - that's considered bad luck)
---It's also NATIONAL COCONUT TORTE DAY

(anything w/ coconut gets my vote)
---And, it's NATIONAL K-9 VETERANS DAY

(he's a goooood boy)
---It's NATIONAL JEWEL DAY

(a gem of a celebration in store)
---And lastly, it's DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

(we really don't "save" the daylight, and it's not SAVINGS time, either)
So there you have it...lots of things that hopefully will keep you well-occupied and out of the news or local jail. Moving on...
*** I was following that story about the people shot at and killed in that suburb of Pittsburgh late Wednesday night, and I can't help but think that there is MORE to that story.

Here's the link in our local paper:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/us/6-slain-in--calculated--attack-at-cookout-11962569
Now, living where "we" do here in the crotch of Fort Wayne (by design from the city, and not by our choice), I can conclude some specifics about what was going on at that house.
First of all, it was a "house party" AND a cookout...on a WEDNESDAY NIGHT. How often have YOU attended such an event in the MIDDLE of a working week? (I thought so)
That's what the "locals" do around here when the weather gets nice - they have PARTIES at the house, and on ANY day of the week, because none of them WORK...pretty simple to figure out, right? And considering that very often, someone at those parties might "get their nose out of joint" and want to reclaim some vestige of man (or woman) hood. That can lead to fatal results (at such party houses).

Trying to enter the police perimeter.

Next, this type of impromptu get-together is a BLACK THING...sorry, that's just they way their "culture" shakes. They will party at the drop of a hat (or pants, blunts or anything else they can drop). Sometimes, they "drop" each other.

An unborn fetus was also killed.

In this case, the shooters would appear to have PLANNED the attack, as rounds were sent into the yard from TWO directions (crossfire IS a real bitch to be caught in). There were both .40 caliber pistol rounds as well as 7.62mm rounds (that's AK ammo, folks).

Must have been one crowded cookout/party.

Next, the (narrow) back yard of the crime scene house is definitely something I would call "a fatal funnel".
Perfect for an ambush with little room to maneuver.
Next, the majority of black crime (and black homicides) are perpetrated BY blacks AGAINST blacks (see my little stats chart from back on 7 March. That tells it all.
I would be very surprised if the shooters were white, as the law of averages stacks the cards against that.
So, hopefully, since drugs MAY have been involved in this shooting (to some degree as mentioned in the story) the police are looking for two black males (with illegally-obtained weapons).
Next time, trying having a cookout on the WEEKEND (and get a damn job to pay for it, because taxpayers never get invited to these parties).
*** Let's take a brief diversion into the comedy arena with THIS story which pertains exclusively to the area of Fort Wayne that contains our "Fortress":
http://news-sentinel.com/news/local/-State-of-6th-District--address-March-19

This is often more laughable that ANY episode of South Park or Family Guy...trust me.
The "State of the 6th District" event is in it's 17th year (hich was 16 years TOO long, and hosted by our own councilhack, Glynn Hines (elected for life it would seem). You wanna hear BS at it's finest - tune in.
*** Next up, some pictures of the wonderfully photogenic squirrels who stop by for eats and to make my life a little bit better: God love 'em.

"Tell the guys I'm bustin' out tonight, Ma!"

"Okay, here's a close-up. You HAPPY Bob?"

"Now, I can go back to my DINNER...sheesh!"

*** Last back to the hen-house...it was once (and often) said that "Nothing succeeds like success".
When you boil this done to it's rudimentary elements, one question should rise to the top:
"How do YOU define success?"

For example, if you think that when you start a job and then believe that in a week, you're going to become Mark Cuban...you're in for some major disappointment.

Success (personal or otherwise) must never be measured in "leaps and bounds" (that gig is reserved for SUPERMAN, along with the whole "faster than a speeding bullet" thing...lol).
Success comes through increments - baby steps...one day (or hour) at a time.

And since time (to most all of us) is linear, we can't circumvent the direction we have to take.
Whatever you choose to pursue in life depends on YOUR willingness to perform in a specific manner.
That means you do the best you can as often as you can.
And when ot comes to working, you show up on time every day, speak up if you have something to contribute that can help on the job, and stay the course.
In most all scenarios, THIS will allow you to obtain a measure of succeed (unless you work for an asshole or the company doesn't give a wit to thinking people). In those instances, you move on to something better. You LEARN from the experience.

Life does, so make the best of your time.

The old axiom "slow and steady wins the race" doesn't just apply to the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare.
It applies to ALL of us, regardless of race, creed. religion, or anything else that would seek to segregate one part of the population from another.
This is such a novel (yet ancient) concept that a lot of folks can't get behind it (including most millennials).
But to "veterans" of life such as ourselves, this is so simple, it's like blinking our eyes -  an involuntary movement, right?
Each of us has to measure our own success by the way we manage our lives, prioritize what we need to, learn what we have to, and apply some wisdom to discern our choices and possible results OF those choices.
Therein lies the lesson for the day. Practice it, and you won't go wrong.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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

((Don't forget to turn those clocks AHEAD 1 hour Sunday 0200 hrs...or before.))