Thoughts For Thursday...
Are we closing in on another weekend already?
This week sure seemed to fly by fast enough. Seems I just finished last Thursday's post.
It has to be a timey-wimey thing, because I've no idea where it's all going.
And yes, we're back into the swelter-zone (just for today), thanks to some marvelous southwest winds driving the heat up into the Midwest (like we really wanted that).
Our Hoosierland weather will bring us a hot one, with temps reaching up to 90 degrees. Skies will be mostly cloudy as the day progresses, with a good chance of a "spotty" shower throughout the day.

Later on, that chance will become more of a certainty, as rain moves in to hang about into the overnight hours.
Oh, and don't forget that damn humidity making it feel even more craptastic.

"Fancy a scalpel mine OR acid with that?"

So, how's about we take a minute to get ourselves a nice refreshing drink to start the day, as we take a gander at what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the dehumidifier is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.".

This was spoken by someone we were taught a lot about back in Philly, another "newbie" here, one William Penn (14 October 1644 – 30 July 1718) who was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
And, as could be expected, here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn

I can see for miles and miles...

Billy Penn is easy to spot in Philly - a statue of him stands atop the City Hall there.
((He was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful treaties with the Lenape Native Americans. Under his direction, the city of Philadelphia was planned and developed.))
See? There 'ya go.
((As one of the earlier supporters of colonial unification, Penn wrote and urged for a union of all the English colonies in what was to become the United States of America. The democratic principles that he set forth in the Pennsylvania Frame of Government served as an inspiration for the United States Constitution.

As a pacifist Quaker, Penn considered the problems of war and peace deeply.
A man of extreme religious convictions, Penn wrote numerous works in which he exhorted believers to adhere to the spirit of Primitive Christianity. He was imprisoned several times in the Tower of London due to his faith, and his book No Cross, No Crown (1669), which he wrote while in prison, has become a Christian classic.))
The WIKI is a very good read, and lends a lot of insight to one of the earliest proponents of freedom for "the colonies" and serves as a reminder that such things were the seeds of liberty, planted all those years before the Revolutionary War took place in what would become the United States Of America.
If you want a decent backstory to those events, this is a good place to start.

And if you are wondering, that IS the likeness of Billy Penn who has adorned the QUAKER OATS packages for all these years.
Just tossed that trivia in for kicks.
*** Next up, it's time again for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 22 -
---It's National Chocolate Eclair Day

(I LOVE these buggers! Haven't found any in Fort Wayne yet, but I keep hoping.)
---It's National HVAC Tech Day

(I used to be one in another lifetime...residential, not industrial.)
---It's National Onion Rings Day

(Penguin Point has some GREAT ones, trust me)
*** Next, one of the many project juggernauts that have been running slipshod over the general public in fort Wayne gets a million bucks. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170622/riverfront-pavilion-gets-1-million

So, What in the name of all that is holy IS that monstrosity? It's supposed to be a "pavilion"?
You coulda fooled the hell outta me. Takes GARISH to a whole new level.
Naturally, the Park Foundation is behind this, AND gets to put it's OWN name of this piece of crap.
This is becoming the "thing to do" - get one's NAME attached to something downtown or in this riverfront gig.
It's not REALLY about the citizens...it's about BRANDING and name recognition.
But, as our reigning monarch would remind us "Fort Wayne is a point of destination". Please, don't make me puke.

Maybe (it is) for a shitload of refugees, but for those who have lived here a much longer time and who are AMERICAN from birth, it's becoming many other things, few (if any) of which pertain to Midwest charm...or traditional values.
*** Next up, the fallout from the house of cards, otherwise known as the ACA (or Obamacare) claims more healthcare providers. Here's that story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170622/mdwiseanthemdrop-state-exchange

Anthem and MDcare are the latest to jump from an obviously sinking ship.
What this whole ACA fiasco was based upon was being able to "sign up" all these millions upon millions of people FIRST, and bullshitting them all into thinking it would SAVE them a load of money by doing so.
Problem with that, is people began to do some homework here, and found out something that doomed this pyramid scheme.
We call that THE TRUTH.
And, truth be told, we were being hornswoggled, bamboozled, flim-flammed, sold a bill of goods, and otherwise lied to.
A lot of people got what they didn't want...skyrocketing premiums, outlandish deductibles, and no REAL solution to a growing healthcare problem. Where this will end has got to be better than the current state of affairs, that's for sure.
*** Next, and speaking of truth, there was some dubious news floating about regarding children and guns. Could even be considered "fake news" (imho).

Pew...pew...pew...gotcha.

Here's the story link:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2017/06/robert-farago/shootings-now-3rd-leading-cause-death-children/

Don't put your eye out...

Guns are now the THIRD leading cause of death for "children"? Gimme a damn break.
(For starters, I wouldn't call anyone over the age of 13 a "child").

Now THESE were REAL toy guns!

This story debunks the drive-by media's attempt to pull "facts" out of their asses, and then trying to make reasoning people BELIEVE such tripe. Sorry, this oldster wouldn't buy any line of that PC-BS for any amount of money.

Like father, like son. How kids "play" in da hood.

But, all you need do is read for yourselves, and see the brain-pablum the anti-gun jerks are trying to force feed everyone...AGAIN.
*** Next...Yesterday, Wifey and I celebrated our 20th anniversary by having lunch up at Red Lobster. 

Can't think of a tastier way to blow some bucks (we had a gift card, too).
The drive up wasn't bad, except for one numbnut who pulled out into OUR lane from the opposite side of Lafayette, and, had I been going a tad faster, we would have gotten t-boned, but, since we were entering a construction area not too far from Rudisill, I WAS taking my time, and avoided a potential problem.
Yes, it does help to have GOD as your co-pilot (sorry, Hon...heh).
We made it there with little trouble (even at Coldwater and Coliseum...amazing), and were seated in Bruce's station. Yes, he still works there, and has done so for (get this)...THIRTY-THREE YEARS! That is simply amazing.
Anyway, Wifey and I ordered up, and had a really good midday feast, and one which allowed us to bring some food back home. That is also good.

Wifey got her lobster (I had to crack the claws for her, and got "splashed" in the process. He was a juicy bugger, and I didn't have a bib...
I opted for the entrée combo - grilled garlic shrimp and sea scallops (with rice pilaf, coleslaw and fries).

For dessert, Wifey got her chocolate wave cake w/ ice cream and I got vanilla bean cheesecake with strawberries. Fantastic!
The drive back became a little more "tedious", and construction near downtown (where else?) slowed things to a crawl (had flashbacks of Philly traffic) for several lights.
I noticed over in the park that some guys were banging out some kind of beat on RECYCLE BINS (???).

I found out it was "Make Music Day" in Freiman Park. Sounded more like make NOISE day to me.(but I hear they did have some actual and good MUSICIANS there)

I have to say...The Wifeymobile 2.0 performed in an exemplary manner.

That's NOT a secret society thing...it's XX as in 20 (years)

And that was about it as far as "festivities" go...we like things simple, and that's why Wifey married me.
I'm a simple man, and she never forgets to tell me that (an awful lot).
*** Next up, let's check out "Kitten Corner"...

"I haz job of holding scratching post."

Well, the kids were well-behaved while we were gone. The house was still standing...lol.
And everything was where we had left it. That was pleasing.

"I iz all tired out from napping."

They did make up for that with some late afternoon and evening runs through the house, but soon tired themselves out.
(I got tired just watching them)
*** Next up, lets see to our "Tales of Midnight"...

Yep, he was right there in the morning...waiting for his grub. And when we got back, he was nearby and came to "greet us" (and to get some MORE grub). Got a feeling that with the heat, he likes the concrete patio (the shady parts anyway). Plus, he gets the water changed when it gets warm (we can handle that).
I like when he looks as though he's guarding the "Fortress".
All he needs is some sort of watchtower or parapet.
*** Last back to the sauna...a change of pace is a good thing every now and then.

Variety is the spice of life, as they used to say, and that's all well and good, as long as it doesn't get TOO "spicy",
I mean, who wants to go through life with a case of moral or ethical "indigestion" anyway?
I certainly don't.
Like I say, there's something to be said about that "comfort of the familiar", but even too much of that can become a place where we get more complacent than anything else.
In today's world, such a state can not always be good for one's health (or life).
That's why mixing things up, just a wee bit, is a good practice to get into.
Hell, even I enjoy doing that, if for no other reason, than to keep the "barbarians" off guard and guessing.
It's not making our lives more complex by doing simple things like this. If anything, it's making life better.
It challenges us, causes us pay attention, and allows us a better freedom of thought (and action), so long as we continue to temper it with reason and wisdom. That's the fun part.
And there are times when life is meant to be just that...fun.

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