Monday Musings...

This is a fine way to start the week...with crappy weather.
But, just be thankful we're not anywhere between Nebraska to Chicago. They've got blizzard conditions and interstate highways had been shut down.
We will not get anything close to than, but upstate New York and New England will. Seems we missed the bulk of "winter storm Bruce".
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us cloudy skies and rain for starters. The high today is probably whatever it it outside now (44 degrees @ 0600 hrs). After that, we transition from rain to snow as temps fall into the 30s and down to the 20s at night.
Take the proper precautions, dress accordingly and drive likewise.

Now, let's steel ourselves to the day with a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the fridge is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
NOVEMBER 26 -
---It's National Cake Day

(say...no...more)
---It's National Cookie Day

(this is becoming too good to be true)
---It's Cyber Monday

(Bet the hackers and ID thieves will love this)
*** Next up,  we have a woman found dead in a house in the Spy Run area:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/fort-wayne-woman-shot-and-killed-on-riverside-avenue/1615113945

This could well be homicide #44 (and counting)
The coroner has to working overtime these days.
*** Next, an update on the Thanksgiving shootings:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2018/11/25/coroner-releases-identities-of-three-people-killed-in-thanksgiving-shooting/

The Allen County Coroner has identified the recently deceased as Joevonn M. Johnson, 23, of Fort Wayne, Colton D. Messmer, 20, of Fort Wayne, and Tracey A. Andrews, 21, of Fort Wayne. One of these people "sounds" black
But the question remains...WHAT was the motive? What was so "inviting" with that house that two black males found interesting enough to commit a home invasion and mass shooting?
*** Next up, there's a REALLY good Kevin Leininger column from this weekend that takes to task those who criticize (because others happen to be right).

Here's the link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/11/24/kevin-leininger-critics-rail-against-trumps-obama-judges-comment-because-they-know-hes-right/
And there's some good history in this piece.
*** Next, we have Wifey's Saturday Evening Adventure...
Finding downtown parking CAN be a pain in the butt...

Or, can cause parts to fall (be pulled) off cars, as Wifey found out when she was looking to get OUT of a parking garage she legally parked in when visiting with one of her clients. Thjis was the City-Center garage near the Embassy theater, that  had NO attendant after 6 P.M. and NO way to get the hell out of the place EXCEPT to BACK OUT of the access lane.

So far, so good.

That's when Wifey caught the mirror housing on the card reader machine (that APPARENTLY is only for people with reserved parking privileges) and it fell off.
Fortunately, I was able to snap in back into place after she got home and (crosses fingers) it will stay where it belongs.
And people WANT to live downtown??? I'm NOT one of them (and never will be).
I can see why many (regular folks) complain about the LACK of (true) PUBLIC parking. Finding street parking is bac enough, but when the supposed to be public garages don;t allow THE PUBLIC to park there...that's a problem that needs to be addressed.
*** Next up, is Bobby G's Sunday Morning Adventure...

Yesterday, I decided to blow the dust off of the "Batmobile" and get it fueled up. The indicator showed I was around 3/8 full, so why not? The weather was accommodating.

Differences are like night and day.

The first thing I noticed was that the "dynamics" of driving MY car are quite different that driving the Wifeymobile 2.0!
Having had my Firebird for 35 years (like me, a classic...lol), you'd think I'd find it easier to drive that Wifey's Impala. Not so.
Whole different set of "muscle memory".
The brake pedal is higher in my car, and it felt like I was sitting "higher" in MY car (which it lower to the road than Wifey's).
And you CAN feel the difference between RWD and FWD...being PUSHED along the roads rather than being PULLED...
But all that aside, imagine my surprise when at the pump filling the tank, the nozzle didn't automatically shut off when full!

Yes, for some reason, it didn't trip off as it always does.  The problem lies in the gas hose nozzle.
Beware pump #2 at the Shell station along Winchester near Bluffton.
Luckily I was on top of this and didn't spill more than 25 cents worth. I will say my tank WAS certainly FULL (to the fill cap, in fact, which I had to remember to UNLOCK before I began pumping). Must have looked hilarious standing there with the pump nozzle BETWEEN my legs while digging the gas cap key out of my pocket.
Otherwise, it was a wonderfully unremarkable drive, with barely ANY traffic. Can't say as much during the week, can we?
*** Next. let's take some time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

The kids had a good weekend, but then again, they didn't have parking issues or gas pumps that didn't shut off.
Sometimes, it really pays to be a family pet.

And knowing our cats, they are highly spoiled, so there's no need to even learn to drive...lol.
It's hard not to envy them once in a while.
*** Next up, time once again to check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

Our furry twosome spent the whole weekend near the house, and to that, I got out some more hay and added it to the shelters, (which she enjoyed) and added some along the patio side of the house were the cats like to nap (which he enjoyed).
When we returned from shopping, I had a "supervisor" making sure I brought all the food inside.

He sat on the step and just watched me...lol.
Later on, he was right near the basement window that faces the patio most , obviously liking the straw I put down, but with the rain soaking everything, I've no idea where he'll go to stay dry.

That bothers me, because I wish he'd use the larger shelter (she takes turns with both of them).
Hopefully, he won't be far away.
*** Last back to the kitchen sink...have you noticed how this whole Black Friday and Cyber Monday gig seems to be running together in recent years?

It's like one big, long week of "stuff" meant to separate you from your money.
Now, I'm not against capitalism because it works and makes things better for everyone. I online shop throughout the year, and that works well enough for me.

Then again, all this online stuff REALLY is, is the logical progression of what we used to call CATALOG SHOPPING.
Like the old Sears, Montgomery Ward, Spiegel days/ You search the catalog, call in an order and there you go...your order arrives at your door in days.

That was the "analog" way of doing things. Since then, we have gone "digital" with the advent of the Internet...still pretty much the same, only NOW, we can shop worldwide, right?

Still, there is something to be said for shopping in STORES...the whole "tactile" nature of items we're looking for, or even being able to try clothes on to make sure the size is right. That will never change (at least, I hope not).
I will say the one thing that has changed greatly is the way people act, but we knew that had to happen.
Being shot in a mall is something we never used to think about...same with vehicle break-ins.
And the whole identity theft deal is something we ALL have to guard against today.
So, does that make things better for us? You're not going to convince me easily that it really is.
Shopping can be tedious enough, without all this added modern day drama, right?

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