Humpday Happenings...

Welcome to the mid-week crisis we call Wednesday once again.
And this old world keeps getting crazier by the day, it seems.
But, let's not dwell (for now).
Our Hooiserland weather brings us mostly sunny skies, temps reaching to around 82 degrees and no rain to speak of. I think we can handle that easily enough.
Now, I think it's time we all got that refreshing drink to start our day, as we take a look at what else has been going on...
*** First off of the patio table is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"There are some who invoke separation of church and state - to try to get the government out of the business of morality - but this is antithetical to what the founders wanted. The founders wanted to keep theology out of government so that government could focus on the proper business of morality."
I think this speaks to what America should be standing for, rather than what it seems to be settling for these days.
And, the fact that morality has to be part of the societal equation makes so much sense.
So WHO said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at  Jesuit St. Stanislaus High School...
*** Next up, a country and pop star legend has left us.
Glen Campbell has passed away at the age of 81.

Here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell
Now his music takes me back to my early high school days, and many of the songs we sang from that era have become classics. There's no doubting that.
The WIKI is a lengthy one, and well-deserved, considering he had been in show business for FIFTY years.

And while his life was one of much success, it was not without it's problems.
You'll find his discography is pretty extensive, along with all the awards he received over the decades.
I'm sure others will no doubt have much more to say about Glen, and do it in a much better way that I ever could.

Let's just say that my teenage venture into relationships were marked by more than a few of his songs. And that brings back some fond memories.
Thanks, Glen...I don't think my formative years would have meant as much without your music.
*** Next, it looks like another armed robbery at Southgate Plaza.

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2017/08/08/police-investigate-armed-robbery-2/

A man (most likely black) with a KNIFE held up the SHOW SHOW mega-store, located in the 300 block of Pettit Ave around 1925 hrs last evening.
((Witnesses said the man walked into the store with a knife and demanded cash then took off. He wasn’t able to steal anything.)) Yeah  but the employees hand over any CASH? That's what I'd like to know.
At THIS rate, Southgate might become the next "victim" in the ever-growing vacancies there.
The Walgreens is STILL unoccupied, and who cna blame anyone business for NOT wanting to lease property there with all the CRIME going on?
*** Next,  the SOUTH side of Fort Wayne strikes out once again. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170809/bid-to-redevelop-kmart-site-ends

Yes, the old K-Mart site (that Wifey and I used to frequent) will STILL remain vacant.
((Amerco Real Estate of Phoenix sought rezoning for the property at 7530 S. Anthony Blvd. from shopping center to general commercial to convert the site to a U-Haul rental and self-storage facility.))
And that was the BEST anyone could come up with?
Let's just say this was totally expected by myself, and should come as no surprise to those at City Hall.

As long as the crime continues (and rises) in our part of town, you'll not see any sort of resurgence in businesses.
That's a given.
*** Next up,  a somewhat related story up along Maplecrest. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170809/rezoning-okd-for-vacant-grocery

Remember that vacant Scotts's Grocery that was near a Kroger ? Well, someone came along with a solution for that.
((The former grocery store at 4522 Maplecrest Road, where Maplecrest intersects Stellhorn Road, will be transformed into an indoor self-storage facility, Michelle Wood of Planning Services told the council. Tuesday's change will take the parcel from limited commercial to general commercial zoning.))

The "best" the city can do?

So, Fort Wayne WILL get another storage facility...how "unexpected"...lol.
This will be an INDOOR one (big whoop). Hope any crime there won't affect it's operation.
The rest of the story mentions other city council "decisions", not the least of which is (you can guess) ANOTHER dollar store in the 4100 block of S. Anthony (that means another place to rob). That's pretty close to McKinnie, and that's been a crime hot-spot for YEARS. Good luck keeping that store viable.
*** Next up, Fellow blogger and good friend, Chris Martin had the opportunity to visit a place that is as close to Kismet for me as I can imagine.

It's called the Hall of Heroes Museum, located in Elkhart, IN, and if you like comic book heroes (of EITHER gender - no bending allowed) then this is your place. Stop over to his blog (Tilting At Windmills - link in column at left) and se for yourself.
The place has been featured on several TV shows and they ahve a website HERE:
https://www.hallofheroesmuseum.com/

Owned and run by local realtor, Allen Stewart, it's a collection of some of the wildest superhero-related memorabilia I've ever seen (and I haven't even been there).
Now THAT'S what I call a hobby.
*** Next up, let's see what's going on at "Kitten Corner"...

Our kids were back in normal mode, after playing "hide and seek" on Monday.

They played and ate and napped like they didn't have a care in the world (which they don't).
They were watching the patio door screen for a bit, and I was wondering why...

Not one, but TWO praying mantis were walking along the screen.
First the green one, and not long after that, the brown one.

I hope there's no "mating" involved. That would not bode well for the male of the species.
The females act like human women - they tend to rip your head off, only with a mantis, it's done LITERALLY!
Glad OUR ladies don't follow suit.
*** Next, let's look in on "Midnight and Company"...

The twosome spent much of the day right near the old "Fortress", lounging in the shade near the garden or garage door.
That's fine by me. I know they're not getting into trouble, or causing problems for people who are not as tolerant of neighborhood cats as we are.

I can handle critters fine, it's the "locals" I have a lot of trouble tolerating, simply because they're SUCH an annoyance most of the time...wonder why that is? Must be a "cultural thang"...lol.
*** Last back to the shrubbery maze...today's world seems to get more complex by the day.

And, for many of us, that's not exactly what we signed up for, when it come to living our lives.
Life for each of us is "busy" enough, without having to deal with global issues, such as petty dictators who just so happen to have nuclear arms and wanting to use them against the USA (just because they can)...!

People like that make life difficult not only for the citizens of OUR country, but also for many other nations.
Let's face it...nuclear weapons in this day and age are not the stuff of 1945, and we need not play these games of brinkmanship in order to flex such muscle.
We have the resources to deal with the NorKos, and it doesn't have to involve irradiating the entire Korean peninsula...or anyplace else.

If China and Russia ante up and kick in with us (as they seem to be doing), this can be defused without the intervention of an unwanted Armageddon-esque scenario.

Cooler heads must prevail and reason has to be the first best weapon in our arsenal.
And dictators like the one on North Korea have to be made to see that...one way or another.
He is hurting HIS people more than anyone else at this point.
Maybe he should have taken up a better hobby...like comic book collecting?

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