Friday Follies...

Welcome to the end of the week (at last), and, it's also the end of the month of September.
With October looming before us, we can definitely call it autumn.
It will feel like it outside this morning.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly cloudy skies, temps reaching into the upper 60s, and the only precipitation is slated to stay north of our vicinity. That's not a bad deal for a Friday, is it?

So, let's grab a nice cup of coffee, tea,or hot chocolate to get ourselves revved up and ready to go, as we see what has been (and will be) going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the driveway is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
SEPTEMBER 28 -
---It's National BRAVE Day

(guess we are when we have to be)
---It's National Drink Beer Day

(the way the world is these days, I'm surprised we're not all alcoholics)
---It's National Gay Men's HIV-AIDS Awareness Day

(something for them not to take "pride" in?)
---It's National Good Neighbor Day

(we USED to have them...a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away)
---It's National North Carolina Day

(keep saying prayers for them there...they're not out of the woods yet)
---It's National Strawberry Cream Pie Day

(I see the strawberries, but where's the cream?)
*** Next, and since week's end has arrived, let's take a look at what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
SEPTEMBER 29 -
---Saturday is National Coffee Day

(every morning's godsend in my book)
---It's National Family Health and Fitness Day USA Day

(not worth the time to comment on this for me)
---It's National Ghost Hunting Day

(leaving this to those who call themselves professionals)
---It's National VFW Day

(our Veterans of Foreign Wars, and aren't they all foreign in nature?)
---It's Save Your Photos Day

(if it's worth taking, it's worth saving)
SEPTEMBER 30 -
---Sunday is Gold Star Mother's Day

(God bless them for the sacrifice they've made)
---It's National Chewing Gum Day

(excuse me, but that is BUBBLE gum - big difference)
---It's National Hot Mulled Cider Day

(a bit early in the season for this, isn't it?)
---It's National Love People Day

(like Nick Fury's granddad - I love people...I just don't trust them much)
---It's National Mud Pack Day

(sorry, not a fan)
And there we go then...plenty of things to keep yourself busy and out of jail.
Just remember to always observe responsibly.
*** Next up, I saw a story last night about a house near the area of Wayne Trace and McKinnie that was hit with gunfire.

Two police calls went in for the location, and police noticed the back of the house had multiple bullet holes. The really odd thing, is other than FB (Wifey said) there is NO other mention of this at ANY local news source...at all.
But, I did find THIS today:
https://www.wowo.com/fwpd-seizes-guns-drugs-after-shooting/
And now everyone seems to have discovered the story and there's more to this:
https://wpta21.com/news/crime/2018/09/27/bullet-holes-riddle-fort-wayne-house/

3800 block of Trace Way.

Seems police didn't come away EMPTY-HANDED...they seized guns and drugs at the house.
((Detectives found cocaine, marijuana, pills, narcotics paraphernalia, ammunition of multiple calibers, a .357 magnum revolver, four 9mm pistols, one 5.556 AR15 rifle, and a number of magazines. Two of the guns had been reported stolen, and the rifle’s serial number had been destroyed.))

Dem be BUSTED.

Briandre Howard, 24,  was arrested for possession of cocaine, visiting a common nuisance, false informing and warrants.
Leroy Trice, 20, was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of a narcotic drug and visiting a common nuisance.
Calais Jackson was arrested for false informing, visiting a common nuisance and warrants.
Jessie Waller were arrested for possession of a handgun without a license and visiting a common nuisance.

Someone HAD some SERIOUS firepower

Oh, that's SURE to attract the attention of the FEDS.
Nice haul, people.
*** Next, the month of September was a craptastic one for us when it came to having our trash and recycle picked up.

We had ONE week where trash came by and  did NOT miss us. The other three weeks...well, let's say one week was a day late, and the other two were TWO days later.
When Red River first came to town, they were pretty damn good, but within the last few months, they have gotten quite lax with pickups where we live.

Yo, moron...you missed OURS!

Yesterday (normal pickup day), they got everyone in our alley (except US), turned onto Maple Grove, picked their trash up...and LEFT. I stood by the door to watch, and yes, I contacted solid waste right afterwards.
I kept the bins out until sunset, then brought them in. Today, we;ll try this clsuterf*ck once again.
It was only OUR house that trash missed, but I didn't see ANY recycle trucks come by, so I have to conclude that no one got a recycle pickup.
UPDATE - recycle came by today around 0655 hrs.
This is taking the confidence I once had in Red River and driving to the nearest landfill...where our trash should be on the day we're supposed to get a pickup.
*** Next up, it's that FORT 4 FITNESS time once again (...joy...).
And that means our trip to and from grocery tomorrow will be interrupted by ALL those runners who only come down here ONCE a year to muck the streets up.

I have an alternate route planned in case police block off the streets we need to get home.
Calhoun St. is the only street the FWPD shuts down and that is the ONE street we need to get across.
Sure, we could go to the Kroger at Southgate, but I see enough of the (government-sponsored) "locals" meandering about the neighborhood the other 6 days,. I don't want to shop with or near them (and I want our car to be where we left it and not get accosted along the way).
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

Our kids did fairly well yesterday with only a couple brief bouts of chasing each other around.
A good part of the day is taken up with following me around (no chasing), getting them fed, and of course...NAP TIME.
Sometimes they hear me trying to quietly creep up on them to get a picture and they wake up.

Other times, they seem able to sleep through anything.
Studying their behavior patterns is always interesting, and many time, funny as hell.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

Our furry twosome didn't do that bad either yesterday. They were there for all the meals, but as could be expected, Midnight was tardy for lunch. Whiskers is always around, so when she misses any meal, I get more concerned than I do with him.
She likes to greet me on the back steps when I go to unlock the garage.

They're both affectionate, but she is the most of the two.
He has his moments, but he's a bit more stoic than she is.
*** Last back to the garage...since my very first post back in August of 2006, I've talked about the changing face of our neighborhood.

And, I've compared it to neighborhoods I have lived in back in Philly.
When I first moved here in 1997, I looked upon Indiana as a respite from what I saw back east (and in Columbus, OH).
Initially, my thoughts were of a better locale to grow older and retire, but between 1997 and 2006, much had changed.
Our area was getting worse each year, and with neighbors we had once known either moving away or passing away, it didn't take long for the "gaps" in our neighborhood to become filled, and NOT with the type of people we used to know (or would even wish to know).

Crime got it's foot in the door, and it's been too damn drafty down here ever since.
Now, the only reason we have laws is for the lawless...you folks know that.
So, it comes as no surprise to me that our neighborhood is now full of lawless individuals.
And while the people to blame for this are too numerous to mention, I need more fingers to point at those responsible for allowing the decline of our area to thrive as it has.
I'm not asking for a neighborhood of saints. Lord knows that none of us are perfect, but I sure as anything don't wish to be up to my armpits in sinners like THESE, either.

I mentioned those traits of a sociopath, and with very few exceptions, everyone around us fits the descriptions all too well.
Yes, there used to be a time when we ALL got along a helluva lot better...live and let live, and few (if any) wantonly broke the laws in such a cavalier fashion as I see today.

I really MISS having this...

We used to be much better individuals, and a better society in general.
I want to believe we can get back to that, and together build a much better future, because, like it or not, that's where all of us are going to be spending a WHOLE lot of time...isn't it?
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.
See all of you next month.