Thoughts For Thursday...

Yesterday tossed a bit of a curve at us...the high was "supposed" to be 80 degrees, and wound up getting a few degrees warmer (especially in the sun). We topped out at 84 degrees.
So much for accurate predictions.
Let's hope today is more "on the mark".
Our Hoosierland weather for today (cross your fingers) brings us partly to mostly sunny skies, temps rising to around 85 degrees (yeah, that's warmer) and increasing clouds by evening when we might get some scattered showers (possibly into the overnight hours).

What say we get that refreshing drink poured and parked close by, as we see what else has been happening, shall we?
*** First off of the keyboard is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome’s decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars."
This was spoken by someone we have featured here ONCE before, one Will Durant (November 5, 1885 – November 7, 1981) who was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant

With wife Ariel

(( He became best known for his work The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, Ariel Durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy (1926), described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".))
Funny, I never thought of philosophy as being something "popular".
(( Durant  saw the decline of a civilization as a culmination of strife between religion and secular intellectualism, thus toppling the precarious institutions of convention and morality:))

Durant also said that "the story of the Jews as unfolded in the Old Testament has stood the test of criticism and archaeology; every year adds corroboration from documents, monuments, or excavations.... We must accept the Biblical account provisionally until it is disproved."
It's a good read and worth the time if you missed it the forst time around. I'd like to get me a copy of that Story of Civilization.
*** Next time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JULY 19 -
---It's Get to Know Your Customers Day

(no customers - no problem for me)
---It's National Daiquiri Day

(I could go for one about now)
*** Next up, Wifey is nursing a bruised shin and some scrapes on her knee when she took a tumble downtown with one of her clients on Tuesday.

Of all things, the sidewalk was UNEVEN (thanks Mr. Mayor).
Luckily nothing was broken, or sprained...just a nice big bruise that changes colors daily.
Another one of life's lessons - always expect the weird crap to happen when you're not expecting it.
We're just glad  it's not anything worse.
*** Next, a house fire sends 4 to hospital. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20180719/WEB/180719860

This took place around 0600 hrs this morning in the 4400 block of Smith St at Senate Av.
Eight people were inside (at least 4 children). I heard the sirens, so it's not that far from us.
Two children were listed in critical condition.
Now, an observation...the house is a ONE-story bungalow, and that means it's probably LESS than 1000 sq. ft. That alone is really pushing the envelope for LEGAL occupancy.
Too many people in too small a house.
That's a very common occurrence down on the SE side with smaller dwellings.

No one ever checks to make sure such ordinances are followed, obviously. otherwise we would not have these conditions (and risk of life).
This also means (all) the people will need ANOTHER place to live, and hopefully, they won't find THAT one on fire at 6 A.M.
That's why I get very concerned with the mooks that live near us. Don't want to have OUR place damaged by THEIR carelessness.
*** Next up, from our "Sticky Fingers" Department comes this story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180719/police-seek-help-with-purse-theft
Seems we have a purse snatcher on our hands...and he's BLACK (who would have thought THAT?).
This took place at the Kroger store on North Clinton St about 2205 hrs. Saturday.
((A woman was walking to her car pushing a cart with her groceries, police said. They said a man followed her out of the store, shoved her aside, grabbed her purse from the cart and fled.))
This is what you get when society is in decline.
I hope the woman manages to get her purse (and life) back soon.
It's not going to be easy, that's for sure.
*** Next up, another drive-by shooting leaves 1 injured.

Here's the story:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/police-investigate-possible-shooting/1309026974

This took place at the intersection of S. Anthony and Creighton Av around 0345 hrs Wednesday morning.
A dark colored vehicle shot at two men leaving a night club (?) when someone in the vehicle started shooting. One man was struck in the leg and taken to hospital in serious condition.
Lesson to be learned...DON'T WALK THE STREETS on the SE side after dark...
Thanks for such a GREAT "QUALITY-OF-LIFE" down here, your highness (the mayor).
*** Next, time to drop by "Kitten Corner"...
A less crazy day with the cats, which means a less stressful day for myself.

Bet'cha can't find me...

Fortunately,  whatever trips their trigger isn't anything constant. They just get into "chasing" mode and have at it.
When they do wind down, it's blissful as all get out. I have to look to see where they are and how much they're napping.

Not bothering to look for you...

At least we're not having crazy spurts at 3 AM. That would not be amusing in the least...lol.
*** Next up, let's check back in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

Will you get back here?

Our furry twosome were around most of the day.

Why, yes...I am cute.

As usual, Midnight did his patrol and showed up late for lunch (netter late than never), while Whiskers hung around, close to the house and as a result, got a lot more attention.
They both were there for "treats time", and got a good share of them.

Why, yes...I am sleepy...

After that, Midnight did his "guard the back door" deal on our top step.
*** Last back to the mousepad...you know, things have changed a LOT since Wifey and I first moved into this house.

From 2013

It was her parent's house before they turned it over to us. Back in 1997, our area used to be a NEIGHBORHOOD - one which I likened to my grandma's house in NE Philly. We had great neighbors, clean streets, well-kept properties, and a LOT more businesses all around.
Time went on, the neighbors moved or passed away, businesses left (Southtown Mall closed and was torn down after 7 years of sitting idle), and even the nearby Scotts closed (on Decatur Rd).
Southgate Plaza lost it's share of stores and a BMV branch (along with a FWPD sub-station).
At first, the changes were subtle,. but, it wasn't long before things got very noticeable.

The people who were moving into the area had nothing our former neighbors had, which was civility, respect, and a sense of taking pride in what they have. That's gets real old real fast (to me).
Of the twenty or so years we've lived here, the last TEN have been the worst, and I see no end of this decline in sight.
I've always been a bit stubborn when it comes down to PRINCIPLES.
People would say "just move away"...to WHERE? Wifey and I have invested 20 years of our lives into this place and we're not about to give it up because others around us are the cause of the area problems.

We've always been the "good guys" and as far as I;m concerned, the BAD guys (and gals) are the problem.
THEY should be the ones moving away...not us.

We do have one thing in our favor...and that is HOPE.
You can never have too much of that, can you?

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