Humpday Happenings...

Here we are...at the final "mid-week crisis" (for the month of September), otherwise known as Wednesday.
And, I hear we're finally getting a bit of a cool-down (about bloody time, too).
Our trees have been busy dropping their leaves (we like to get it done and out of the way early...lol).
So that means we dust off the rakes and leaf blower (oh...joy).
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching around 76 degrees, and any rain will be coming later in the week.
Now...what say we all get that morning drink to rid us of those mental cobwebs, as we see what else has been going on, hmm?
*** First out of the tool shed is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power."
Maybe if more folks followed this basic premise, we'd have ourselves a lot LESS strife to go around.
And these days, such notions seem to be M.I.A.
So, who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile back in Piedmont, California...
*** Next up, time to look to our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
SEPTEMBER 27 -
---It's National Chocolate Milk Day

(I got this one SO covered)
---It's National Corned Beef Hash Day

(that's also doable)
---It's National Crush a Can Day

(make that a trifecta)
---It's National Women's Health and Fitness Day

(damn...knew I couldn't have a clean sweep)
*** Next, our city has begun work on our very own "big dig". Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170927/Crews-excavating-shaft-for-sewer-overflow-tunnel

Hey, it's ONLY costing $188 MIL (rounding up)...and that's more than the city's ENTIRE BUDGET for next year.
(( Located about 250 feet below the city, the tunnel is a major component of a sewer improvement ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A consent decree agreed to by the city requires Fort Wayne to reduce the average annual number of combined sewer overflows into the city’s rivers from 76 to four.

The tunnel, which will take about 41/2 years to complete, will be able to store nearly 37 million gallons during a high-water event, city officials said.))
Yes, this was "ordered" by the EPA (under the Obummer admin...spendaholic jerks)
Personally, I think other means could have been found to achieve similar results, but then again, I'm not fleecing the taxpayers either...am I?
*** Next up, and speaking of tossing money around like it's going out of style, we have THIS:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170927/budget-cut-proposals-coming-in-october

Yes, the aforementioned city budget (of ONLY $165 MIL) was floated past our city council last evening.
And yes again, this represents a $9 MIL INCREASE from last year.
(that's what dems love to do...spend MORE)
But, there are reasons WHY we're seeing this increase.
((“Eighty percent of our increase in revenues is being pumped back into public safety,” City Controller Len Poehler said.)) Well, there you go,then. I feel SO much "safer" (not).

The leaves are falling now

((About $600,000 is planned for increased health insurance costs as well.))
Gee, wonder if that has ANYTHING to do with the ACA (Obummercare)? You know it does.
((Councilman Geoff Paddock, D-6th, said he would prefer to begin discussions about proposed cuts as early as possible. Paddock's reasoning stemmed from a desire to avoid a repeat of the 2017 discussion, which lasted several hours.))
What's the matter Geoff...why the rush?
You got a (proposed) high-speed TRAIN to catch? LOL!
*** Next, time to take a visit to "Kitten Corner"...

"I'm not acting spazmo (now)..."

A bit of spazmo behavior broke up an otherwise calm day Tuesday. And here I thought we'd have peaceful repose across our little realm. Maybe today?

"And neither am I (at the moment)..."

After all, there are always those nap times that dispel the craziness.
That's not a bad thing...is it?
*** Next up, let's take a little peek at what's going on with "Midnight and Company"...

The homeless "kids" were right where they should be in the morning...on our patio, awaiting breakfast.

A shame you can't get decent pics of them that early...still kinda dark out.
The mid-morning snackfest almost always has both of them around, as does lunch and dinner.

The last call is a time to enjoy the lawn, and have some "us" time, before those damn mosquitoes start "bugging" us and Wifey and I retreat back indoors.
Be glad when cooler weather comes and the bugs all disappear.
*** Last back to the leaf pile...what happened to our ability to enjoy the simple things in life?

Sure, there are those of us who actively seek (and often find) those things, and that's a godsend to us in this hectic world. Other people can't seem to find simple things as well as they can't find their ass with both hands.
They're obviously not looking in the right places, are they?
Simple things, like playing with a family pet, or a wooded hike serve to get us back to what really matters, and allows us to more easily focus (when needed) on important things in life.
Some folks treat everything they encounter as being SO important, that they get lost in the mess they create.

That doesn't get a person far, does it? It's that nasty "distracted" thing, and our media sources have turned distraction into an art form.
They bombard us with trivialities, and foist it upon us as THE thing to take notice to, which, in reality, is meaningless. Our attention is diverted from what we SHOULD be taking as being important.

Sorry, but if I have to choose between the Norkos having nukes and wanting to USE them, or some overpaid, race-baiting "athletes" ignoring the National Anthem...I'd worry about those damn nukes.
If I have to choose between the rise in violent crime, or some civil war statue...I'd worry about the damn crime.
There is a distinct correlation between respect, ignorance, boundaries, and priorities. They all tend to work together, either for good OR for evil.
Our choice should be a simple one when it comes to such things.
What you put into that choice is what you will get out of it...doesn't get any easier, but does require work.
Better to work together than work against one another, right?
(thought you'd feel that way)

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