Tuesday Tidbits...

Before we get out of the gate, I want to welcome my newest followers (and you know who you are). I happened to glance over at the sidebar yesterday and I had 30! Surprised me.
(Oops, make that 31!)
I hope I am up to the task of not letting any of you down, and that goes for everyone else who happens to stop by.
Welcome to November, and all it has to offer us.
Our Hoosierland weather today will find us with anything BUT fall conditions outside (except for the foliage).
Temps are expected to reach record-breaking numbers, as we rise to the upper 70s.
So, let's get this show on the road and get that morning drink poured, as we see what else has been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the breakfast table is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
Since there's a lot of crap going on this month, here's a link to the monthly items:
http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/november-monthly-observations/
And, if you want to know what is observed this month by WEEK, there's THIS:
http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/november-weekly-observations/
Now, on to this day:
NOVEMBER 1 -
---Today is National Calzone Day (sounds good), National Author's Day, and National Family Literacy Day ( no excuse to NOT be literate, unless you choose to be stupid).

It's also National Cook For Your Pets Day (they just HAD to have this for me now?).

It's National Vinegar Day (hold the piss), National Deep Fried Clams Day (the only way for me to enjoy them), and National Brush Day.
*** Next up, we bring you all those local police calls the media NEVER lets us in on becasue they're not sensational enough:

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 10/24 - 10/30
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
OCT 24 -
16F146181 10/24/2016 03:40am 113 SHOTS FIRED 200 DEWALD ST W HOAGLAND 
16F146470 10/24/2016 06:25pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3400 COURTWOOD DR
16F146244 10/24/2016 09:12am 23,113 800 LAFAYETTE ST S
16F146256 10/24/2016 09:52am 23,113 900 FOREST AVE
16F146377 10/24/2016 02:45pm 23,113 300 BERRY ST W
((NO armed robberies))
OCT 25 -
16F146598 10/25/2016 02:24am 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 PONTIAC ST W & HOAGLAND AVE
((NO armed robberies))
OCT 26 -
16F147342 10/26/2016 06:47pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 700 ECKART ST
16F147345 10/26/2016 06:49pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 NORTHHIGHLANDS BLVD
16F147406 10/26/2016 09:33pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3100 PITTSBURG ST
16F147140 10/26/2016 10:33am 53 ARMED ROB 6400 STATE BLVD E
16F147397 10/26/2016 09:02pm 53 ARMED ROB 6000 STELLHORN RD
16F147371 10/26/2016 08:02pm 58 SHOOTING 2900 GOSHEN RD
OCT 27 -
16F147810 10/27/2016 10:06pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 EUCLID AVE
16F147715 10/27/2016 04:58pm 23,113 3100 HANNA ST S
16F147765 10/27/2016 07:20pm 53 ARMED ROB 2100 HARRISON ST
OCT 28 -
16F147881 10/28/2016 03:08am 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 RUDISILL BLVD W & FAIRFIELD AV
16F148256 10/28/2016 08:50pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 THOMPSON AVE & HUESTIS AVE R
16F148294 10/28/2016 10:52pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 DELLVIEW DR
16F148289 10/28/2016 10:40pm 53 ARMED ROB 2200 FAIRFIELD AVE
16F148270 10/28/2016 10:03pm 58 SHOOTING 3800 OLIVER ST & RUDISILL BLVD E
OCT 29 -
16F148328 10/29/2016 12:12am 113 SHOTS FIRED 5400 LOIS LN  
16F148364 10/29/2016 02:04am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3600 HARRIS RD
16F148367 10/29/2016 02:21am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 OLIVER ST
16F148405 10/29/2016 06:12am 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 CREIGHTON AVE W  
16F148636 10/29/2016 05:37pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 7200 MAPLECREST RD
16F148723 10/29/2016 08:10pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 500 CHARLOTTE AVE
16F148815 10/29/2016 11:47pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 PURDUE DR
16F148819 10/29/2016 11:51pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 RUNNION AVE & FOURTH ST W
16F148821 10/29/2016 11:53pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 STATE BLVD E & FLORIDA DR
16F148397 10/29/2016 04:49am 53 ARMED ROB 1200 STATE BLVD E
OCT 30 -
16F148840 10/30/2016 12:31am 113 SHOTS FIRED 700 FOREST AVE & ST JOSEPH BLVD
16F148865 10/30/2016 01:28am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2500 MAPLE PL
16F148883 10/30/2016 02:29am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 HOBSON RD
16F148895 10/30/2016 03:11am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4200 WELLS ST
((NO armed robberies))
=============================
And, believe it or else, there were NO FIREWORKS CALLS last week.
That's a-freaking-mazing!
*** Next, we couldn't have Halloween pass by on the SE side of Fort Wayne WITHOUT some of the local aboriginies (read holiday spooks) acting up.

Here's the proof:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/2-hurt-in-shooting--crash-follows-16068569

The shooting of two people took place yesterday around 1730 hrs in the 4500 block of Reed St (SE side ghettohood). Both victims have NON-life threatening injuries (for a change).
There was also a police pursuit in that story.
Yeah, I'd have to say that considering where the pursuit and crash took place (Colerick and Reed), that vehicle and it's occupants were most likely involved in the double shooting on Reed. St.

And, since a firearm was tossed from that vehicle (and subsequently recovered), it should be easy enough to do the forensics and find a match.
Maybe we should start calling such idiots "slug-chuckers"...heh.
*** Next, we also had an armed robbery that made the news.

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2016/11/01/gas-station-robbed-third-time-in-2-months/
Yep, this gas station has been targeted THREE times in the last two months.

This took place around 0300 hrs this morning at the Crescent’s Corner Express located at the intersection of E. State Blvd. and Crescent Ave.
Police say that cash was taken...I'd check to see if any cartons of Newports were taken (or not), as that should narrow down the ethnicity of the robber easily enough.
*** Next, I can honestly say that NOT ONE trick-or-treater came by the "Fortress" yesterday evening.
(good for them and good for me)

Yeah, it's THIS loudass mo-fo.

But, we had our local loudass,  old "Trikey-boy" roll through after dark BLASTING Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on his LED-laden mode of transport (velocipede), complete with mounted speakers, so you can hear HIS music even over the Return of the Jedi battle of Endor scenes I was watching.

I could REALLY use an AT-ST in MY neighborhood!

He lives one block over and his music resonates through a 2-block radius...and the police NEVER really get this shithead to turn the music down (for long). Talk about IGNORANT.
This guy is one "blissful" sonuvabitch!
*** Next, starting tomorrow, Wifey starts her parent/teacher nights at her school.

Whereas, in MY day, this was meant to acquaint teachers with parents and show actual student progress.
Back then, most all parents showed up, too.
These days, it means the educators have the opportunity (if the parents even bother to show the hell up) to highlight their "diplomatic skills" as they describe to parents how STUPID their kids are in such a nice manner, so as to encourage parental intervention (before the police haul their teenage asses off to jail).
Talk about a real CHORE...lol. At least the schools are closed Friday (to give teachers a rest from all the BS they had to put up with when it comes to those parents).
*** Next, and shifting gears...a dear friend (and he knows who he is) told me one of the better ways of dealing with grief is to busy oneself, and having gone through my share in times past, that's very sage advice. I've done it, and it works.

But, with this particular "one-two" emotional sucker punch of late, I'm finding it most difficult to practice his advice.
That's because the objects of my grief (first Penelope, then Rassie and Hobo) WERE what kept me busy almost every day. And now, without them around, it's like a ship with no sails and a broken rudder.
Our cats were such an integral part of my daily life that not having either of them around leaves me with a profound sense of "loss of purpose". With Hobo, it was a little different. I eagerly attended to his needs, and he attended to mine during Rassie's decline in health.
Like I said, this community cat was a source of focus for me in the brief time he was around here.

There are times, like in between ticks of the clock when the silence around here is deafening.
I will confess that the lack of four furry feet about the house is taxing to my psyche after all these years of enjoying their company and knowing they were here and having them around.
Each episode of grief that we all have had to, or will endure operates on it's OWN time schedule, and that's something we cannot (nor should not) attempt to change.

No matter how small a step we take...

It can take weeks, months, or even years to allow it to run it's course, and if we choose to hold back or try to keep it inside us, the ramifications when it does come out can be worse than the initial loss.
Believe me, I know this to be true. It's not pretty, but it is reality.
*** Last back to the wigwam...all people are motivated by their emotions, plain and simple.

How we act or react to a situation is based on how we learn to interpret what we "feel", and as we get older, we can usually temper it with knowledge, and logic, and reason (and yes, even wisdom).
It's not easy some times, but it is what's needed.

Leave it to Cpt. Kirk.

It's a continual balancing act for humanity, and many times, the results of a failure to maintain that equilibrium can be seen in acts of war, criminal activity, or any other form of unsubstantiated violence one to another.
That's not to say we're destined to become a species of "peaceniks", because there are (and always will be) times when immediate action is warranted, and such action will entail some level of violence, but it can be justified in order to preserve the greater good. It's like a LEO who has to draw his/her service pistol and neutralize a threat.
Or, it's like a soldier that is trained to take down an enemy, and does so without hesitation in a combat environment.
What we all have to realize, is that ALL of us have the power to take life. We also have a responsibility to save it.
The choices we make leading up to such a situation will determine which direction we take when we come to that crossroad.

If we allow only our emotions to make the choice, we are destined to failure, but if we employ as much of what we learn beforehand, any choice we make will be a better one than if we acted purely out of emotion.
As always...the choice is ours. Let's make it a good one, even in a bad situation.

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