Monday Musings...

Start of a new week...start of a new month. I kinda like that.
And, it looks like we finally broke that nasty streak of craptastic weather days...I think.
I'm not seeing any rain for the immediate forecast, for a change.
Our Hoosierland weather sees us with early morning patchy fog, with limited sunshine today.
Temps with top out around the 70-degree mark. Good, we need to dry out a bit.
So, what say we get ourselves a nice cup of glass of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate to get us all going, a we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the back yard is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature.
And, since I didn't do the month and week stuff, let's start with that.
Be warned, as there's a LOT of observances.
OCTOBER is:
National Dropout Prevention Month*
National Learning and Development Month*
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month (President Reagan)

American Cheese Month
Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
(World) Blindness Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Celebrating The Bilingual Child Month
Children’s Magazine Month
Christmas Seal Campaign (10/1-12/31)
Church Library Month
Church Safety and Security Month
Class Reunion Month
Co-op Awareness Month
Cut Out Dissection Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month

Emotional Wellness Month
Employee Ownership Month
Energy Management is a Family Affair-Improve Your Home Month
Financial Planning Month
Feral Hog Month or Hog Out Month
German-American Heritage Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Home Eye Safety Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBT History Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
Month of Free Thought
National Animal Safety and Protection Month

National Apple Month
National Applejack Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Book Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Cookbook Month
National Cookie Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Critical Illness Awareness Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month

National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Depression Education & Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Fair Trade Month
National Family Sexuality Education Month
National “Gain The Inside Advantage” Month
National Go On A Field Trip Month
National Kitchen & Bath Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarian Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Pasta Month

National Physical Therapy Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
National Pork Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Reading Group Month
National Roller Skating Month
National RSV Awareness Month
National Sarcastic Awareness Month
National Sausage Month

National Seafood Month
National Sensory Awareness Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Stamp Collecting Month
National Toilet Tank Repair Month
National Window Covering Safety Month
National Work and Family Month
National SIDS Awareness Month
Organize Your Medical Information Month
Pear and Pineapple Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Positive Attitude Month
Raptor Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Rhizomes & Persimmons Month
Rhubarb Month
Right Brainers Rule! Month
Self-Promotion Month
Spinach Lovers Month

Squirrel Awareness Month (Different Than Squirrel Appreciation Day in January)
Tackling Hunger Month
Talk About Prescriptions Month
Vegetarian Month
Wishbones for Pets Month (10/15 – 11/30)
Workplace Politics Awareness Month
World Menopause Month
Told you there was a lot...LOL.
And here are the weekly observances (again, there's a lot of them):
No Salt Week – October 3-10, 2016
Mental Illness Awareness Week – October 2-8, 2016
Mystery Series Week – October 2-8, 2016 (First Full Week of October)
National Carry a Tune Week – 2-8, 2016
International Post Card Week – October 2-8, 2016 (First Full Week)
National Midwifery Week – October 2-8, 2016 (Sunday to Saturday During the First Full Week)

National Chili Week – First Week of October
National Chimney Safety Week – October 2-8, 2016 (Week before Fire Prevention Week)
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend – October 8-9, 2016
Customer Service Week – October 3-7, 2016
Kid’s Goal Setting Week – October 3-7, 2016
National Heimlich Heroes Week – October 3-7, 2016 (First Full Monday through Friday Week)
Spinning & Weaving Week – October 3-9, 2016 (First Full Week, Monday through Sunday)
National Healthcare Food Service Workers Week – October 3-9, 2016
Financial Planning Week – October 3-9, 2016 (First Mon-Sun Week in October)
World Space Week – October 4-10
World Dairy Expo – October 4-8, 2016 (First Tuesday – Sunday)
National Physician Assistants Week – October 6-12
Healthcare Security & Safety Week – October 9-15, 2016

Veterinary Technicians Week – October 9-15, 2016 (Second Week)
National Wold Awareness Week – October 9-15, 2016 (Second Full Week)
National Metric Week – October 9-15, 2016 (Week of October 10th)
National Chestnut Week – October 9-15, 2016 (Second full week)
World Rainforest Week – October 10-16, 2016
Death Penalty Focus Week – October 9-15, 2016 (Week of October 10th)
National School Lunch Week – October 10-14, 2016 (Starts 2nd Monday)
Take Your Medicine Americans Week – October 10-17
National Newspaper Week – Second Week
American Beer Week – Second Week of October
Teen Read Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Third Week)
Hepatitis Awareness Week – Third Week
Infection Control Week – Third Week
National Business Women’s Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Third Full Week)
National Friends of Libraries Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Third Full Week)
National Forest Products Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Begins Third Sunday)
National Food Bank Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Week of October 16th)
Freedom of Speech Week – October 16-22, 2016 ( Third Full Week)
National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week – October 16-22, 2016
National Kraut Sandwich Week – (Third Week)
National Save for Retirement Week – October 16-22, 2016 (Third Full Week)
YMCA Week without Violence – October 17-21, 2016 (Third Week)
National School Bus Safety Week – October 17-21, 2016
Astronomy Week – October 16-22, 2016
Right-Care Action Week – October 16-22, 2016
National Deen Driver Safety Week – October 16-22, 2016

Get Organized Week – October 23-29, 2016
Rodent Awareness Week – October 23-29, 2016
Respiratory Care Week – October 23-29, 2016
Pastoral Care Week – October 23-29, 2016
National Massage Therapy Awareness Week – October 23-29, 2016 (Last Full Week)
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week – October 23-29, 2016 (Last Week)
Nuclear Science Week – October 24-28, 2016
Chicken Soup for the Soul Week – Fourth Week
Disarmament Week – October 24-30
National Red Ribbon Week – 23-31
Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week – October 24-31
(WHEW!) And finally, here is today's daily gig:
October 4:
---It's NATIONAL TACO DAY

(maybe we'll have tacos for dinner)
---It's also NATIONAL GOLF LOVER'S DAY

(how about I admire the lady golfers and forego the sport?)
---And, it's NATIONAL VODKA DAY

(might need a drink after posting ALL those observances)
Now THAT should keep you busy for a few minutes...LOL.
*** Next up, well we made it through the weekend in Fort Wayne WITHOUT a shooting...how the hell did THAT happen?

There were NONE...amazing, huh?

I'm just happy to not hear about any for a change.
I'm also sure the "natives" will get back into the swing of things soon enough...they are fairly predictable in that way.
But, there was a late Sunday night armed robbery up north . Here's the details:
http://wane.com/2016/10/03/pizza-place-robbers-get-away-with-cash/

This took place at Happy's Pizza at E. State and Hobson around 2345 hrs last night.
Two men got away with cash, and that's about all that was said. Nothing about descriptions, getaway car...nothing.
People can't help the police if the police don't help the people with information.
*** Next, our adventure in grocery shopping this past weekend went okay.

I will say that going TO the store was much easier than the return. There were police cars along Calhoun St, and very few runners on the street by 0800 hrs. Coming back presented an exercise in patience.
Calhoun was shut down E-W, but open N-S, and by 0900 hrs there were PLENTY of runners along the route.

Paulding was backed up like a cheap toilet.

An officer at Calhoun and Paulding was doing traffic "control", which meant he pretty much stood there doing nothing.
After sitting in line (we were less than 100 ft from the light, inching forward), and watching a LOT of people pulling out of line and turning around behind us in the rearview mirror, the officer DID let a couple cars through, and after what seemed like a good 20 minutes, we got our turn to proceed at last. Some of the runners weren't even running...they were walking, and they were strung out like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave.
I will say it's the ONLY time of year when you see SO damn many WHITE PEOPLE down here...a nice change of pace...LOL!
Took us longer to get from Tillman to Calhoun, than the rest of the grocery trip itself, and that included a stop at a Shell station to tank up Wifey's Silver Streak. Thank God it's ONLY once a year.
*** Next up, let's turn another page in "The Hobo Chronicles"...

"Lemme see...What can I get into TODAY?"

Our furry buddy was in fine form over the weekend, in spite of all the damnable off and on rain showers. He never got all that wet.
He even took some time to show off some of his latest "antics", most notably on our patio door screen.

Our Friendly Neighborhood SPIDERCAT

Not to worry, though. I replaced the old screening with a pet-proof mesh a few years back.
No way he was going to tear the hell out of it.

Then, it was time for some food...and rest.
Sunday, I tried to get him to jump on my back again, but he would just mosey up alongside and rub against me.

"Why's that camo guy bent over like that anyway?"

This had Wifey laughing to no end. Amazing when you WANT animals to do something, they won't.
And when you LEAST expect it...they will do the craziest stuff.

"I hereby claim this yard in the name of Hobo the First."

Never a dull moment...and I mean that in a good way.
*** Last back to the front yard...it's nice to have a "break" in the mayhem that seems to situate itself all around us these days.

It becomes very easy to get comfortable with some of that solace I mentioned not that long ago.

Oh, if it were only THAT simple...

Maybe, it's because it allows us to commune with God easier. I'd like to think so.
I do know it's pretty difficult to concentrate on God  (and offering prayers) when it seems that much of hell is breaking loose about us.
But, that doesn't mean we let our guard down during those all-too-brief times of peace and relative quiet.
We still have to be aware and vigilant, for evil never takes a real day off. It just seems to back away for a time, allowing us to catch our breath (another reason to be thankful to the Almighty).
Life is funny that way...allowing us a respite from the commotion, and then coming at us time and again, testing us and our resolve to do what is right, as well as the frequency to which we pursue it.
Yes, life is many things, and as long as we strive to keep all that life offers us in it's proper perspective, I think we'll do just fine...right?

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