Humpday Happenings...

I think we've about run the course for all this crappy, rainy weather...almost.
I know my sinuses could use the rest. As could my joints.
Ahh, the wonderful highlights of growing older...gotta love it.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us a chance of showers for the first half of the day, and then (we're told) the skies will aprt and something called THE SUN will appear and start drying everything out. Temps will be rising to about 82 degrees (with lots of humidity in tow),
Well, there's something to look forward to, I guess.

In the meantime, let's get a nice refreshing drink for ourselves as we se what else has been going on...
*** First out of the mudroom is our "WHO SAID THAT?"quote for the week:
"Quietness is the beginning of virtue. To be silent is to be beautiful. Stars do not make a noise." 

This addresses the issue of our society's noise issues pretty well, doesn't it?
I'd have to say that virtues (these days) is also in shorter supplies than in generations past.
So, who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the Meath Protestant Industrial School for Boys in Ireland...
*** Next, time once again for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 13 -
---It's National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

(doesn't apply here at the "Fortress".)
---It's National Random Acts of Light Day

(What the hell is this all about? Is there a concert I'm missing?)
---It's National Sewing Machine Day

(thank Elias Howe and the Beatles movie "Help!")
---It's National Weed Your Garden Day

(that's been damn near EVERY day since late April here)
*** Next up, a robbery at a familiar place (for us). Here's the story:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/06/13/get2go-subway-robber-settles-for-coins-according-to-fort-wayne-police-report/

The Subway shop located at the Bluffton rd Get2Go was robbed Monday night around 2030 hrs.
Seems some "beggars" were asked people for money at the gas pumps (where we get our gas) and one of them came into the Subway.

One male had a small black handgun and demanded money. When the employee ducked down and ran toward the Get2Go store, the robber took some change out of the coin register. He and another male left in a silver Dodge  van with a missing front wheel cover.
Some beggars we have in this city (they have guns). There's a big difference between panhandling and armed robbery, right?
Wish the suspect description was better. Maybe they'll release the surveillance video, so we can see what they looked like.
*** Next, an update on the Red River situation. Here's the link:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38403425/city-garbage-contractor-replaces-regional-manager-fined-65000-for-missing-benchmarks

Okay, so it's hard to find drivers...that's a national problem, and firing the regional manager might be a good start.
I wonder if anyone knows how things went when the city changed over from Serv-All to Republic?
I'm sure there were problems connected with that as well. I know I don't remember having to call Serv-All, but I DID have to call Republic more than a couple times for more than one missed pickup. We'll see how thsi shakes out.
*** Next up, Kevin Leininger has a decent column regarding the cost of government and newspapers.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/06/12/kevin-leininger-study-suggests-the-cost-of-government-goes-up-when-the-number-of-newspapers-goes-down/
First of all, I didn't know he Philadelphia Inquirer had filed for bankruptcy. We used to ahve THREE papers there (Inquirer, Bulletin and Daily News. The Bulletin folded when I still lived there - damn shame, too. It was better than the Inquirer in some ways, like the N/S here.
Some very interesting facts found in this column, like the DEBT of both Allen County ($63.76 million - 2017) and Ft. Wayne ($387 million  bond debt - 2016).
And I agree that the closure of a newspaper creates an "information vacuum". Since the advent of the Internet, journalism HAS indeed become less investigative and more reactive....again, no argument from me on that.
It does seem that a reporter’s duty to fulfill the public’s “need to know" takes a back seat to whatever is considered "sensational".

So, it would seem (as Kevin says) that stories about bond costs or public finance wouldn't get that many "clicks".
And that becomes the real crime here...losing newspapers will cost more than people realize.
*** Next, A famous restaurant changes up it's "brand"? Say it ain;t so. Here's the link:
http://www.businessinsider.com/ihop-ihob-name-change-burgers-2018-6

Lemme get this straight...IHOP is wanting people to know that it has BURGERS...and is swapping the logo for IHOB?

Are you people serious?
This has GOT to be the "WTF???" moment for the bloody week!

Anyone who has EVER been to an IHOP already KNOWS the menu. Sure, you can get a breakfast any time of day, but they DO have lots more than just that. Cripes people, open your damn eyes for a change.
Hey, here's an idea, since they're wanting to market themselves to the (obviously) under-educated and politically-correct leftard millennials...
Let's try a moniker such as: American House Of Liberalism?

AHOL...sounds about right to me, too...LMAO!
*** Next up, time to stop on by our "Kitten Corner"...

What the heck iz he doing now?

The children were nicely behaved an spent their usual 16 hours a day napping.
Well, that IS what cats do, right?
When they are awake, you have to make sure they';re doing something worth taking a picture of...naturally, this occurs when THEY choose, and not you.

I think she's looking at me...again.

Following them around does no good at all (believe me on this one), so you have to play the game and wait...and wait...and wait (kinds like getting a travel visa in CASABLANCA from Bogey)...lol.
*** Next, let's do our check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Well, we had an additional "visitor" yesterday. We call this one "Spot" for the obvious reason. This cat is skittish, and runs away easily (which no doubt makes our furry twosome feel more at ease).

Love the 4-star service.

Aside from that, we played the "where will we eat today?" game. Breakfast was under the patio table,

Glad it's not raining for a change.

Lunch was out from under the table, and dinner was more al fresco, and gave the cats time to stretch out.
Midnight didn't miss a meal for a change.

You can't see me in here.

Whiskers was playing "find me if you can" in that "Nam grass" we have alongside the house on the patio.

That was a great dinner.

After all that, it was time to kick back, and watch the sky grow dark...and then begin again on the morrow.
*** Last back to the vestibule...there are those oh so brief moments when you're sitting outside and the ONLY thing you hear are the birds...or even nothing at all.

I WISH I had THIS kind of vista out back.

Unfortunately, that never lasts long enough.
I recall times hiking through Pennypack Park back in Philly with my buddy Hank, and we would spend the day at it. Amazing all you see there, that you never see anyplace else, and the cost if free.
When I'm on the patio, and the cats are nearby, and the birds are off chirping around the area, I look at the plants and flowers and just take it all in with a reverence to God's creation.
Funny thing about that, every one of US are included in that creation, and should take time to acknowledge that.
Anyone can make noise and be a loud-ass annoyance to everyone else...and we all know the results of such boisterous behavior.

That's more like it.

But, when you stop...and "turn it all off", you find an awareness of being part of a much larger picture.
Some people out there might want to try that...they could learn a lot and start to appreciate a lot more things in this world.
Idealistic? Perhaps, but being that way sure is better than being a nuisance.

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