Humpday Happenings...

Welcome to the final Wednesday of this month...seemed to kinda fly past.
Still awaiting that promised rain (for the last 2 days), but I hear that tonight is the night. Tomorrow will also be a "soft" day in our neck o' the woods.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will have us with mostly cloudy skies and highs only into the lower 60s.
(plenty comfy enough for me)
Really wouldn't bother me at all if we didn't see 80+ degrees again for the rest of the year. I like temps that don't cost us as much (neither A/C nor furnace on during the day), and none of us are feeling uncomfortable due to excessive heat OR cold. Gimme a light jacket any day.
Now, why don't we all take it slow for a bit, get ourselves a nice morning drink, and see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the outhouse is our "Who said that?" quote of the week:

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of."
Wouldn't it be wonderful if MORE people actually believed this and took it to heart.
I know much of Fort Wayne's SOUTH side could CERTAINLY use such sage advice. (as could some offices downtown) There's no supposing as to how well the world might become.
So, WHO said that?
The answer at the top to tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back in the Sears stock room...
*** Next up, we have our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
April 27 -
---Today is NATIONAL BABE RUTH DAY

(a certain candy bar would be nice to enjoy)
---It's also NATIONAL PRIME RIB DAY

(is there any other type of rib that tastes as good?)
---And, it's NATIONAL TELL A STORY DAY

(and it better have a happy ending)
---It's also NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL'S DAY

(for all those doing the job their bosses can't figure out)
*** Next up, Fort Wayne has notched HOMICIDE NUMBER NINE.

We can still make 25 total for the year at this rate.

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Homicide-declared-in-death-of-woman--33-12768052

Ileea D. Davis, age 33, has the dubious distinction of being our latest homicide victim, which again demonstrates the propensity of black on BLACK violence. So where's the outcry from black community leaders? (nothing but crickets do I hear)
Why does Lillie St seem to be one of several "hotspots" for shootings, and WHY isn't our FWPD chief doing something about any of this? If I knew those answers, I'd be running the damn department.
The coroner has not said where or how many times Davis had been shot.
Seems that people aren't even safe IN THEIR OWN HOUSE down here.
How's that figure into your city's "quality-of-life" plan, mister mayor???
What quality? What life?

---Also included in this story was another dead woman found in an apartment in the 7900 block of Decatur Rd, and although it is believed that this death is unrelated to the Lillie St. one, this body was found about an hour before that of Davis. Jacqueline Vanduyn, age 52, was found dead around 1215 hrs Monday. Could be homicide number 10.
*** Next up, The city council meeting last evening, which addressed the proposed North 4 Annexation did not disappoint, in that we heard both the presentation and the questions asked by council. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Councilmen-hear--join-annexation-opponents-12770630

The saga continues...

Pam Holocher (city planning director) and Paul Spoelhof (senior city planner) brought their power-point to the meeting...and I could tell that both of them were "sweating bullets".
The residents in attendance could be heard "razzing" these two during certain points in the presentation, and especially during the Q&A that followed from council members.
One point made by the city "reps" was that OTHER areas for annexation were ALSO considered, and they were the NORTH,  WEST and SOUTHWEST. Not one damn word about anything SOUTHEAST...
Gee, I wonder WHY???
Pam was doing more "damage control" (she's originally from "Joisey") than Paul, whose voice was noticeably "shaky". But, whenever a question IS asked, and your answer is something along the lines of "I don't know", you can conclude that your "A" game wasn't packed along with that presentation.

I knew I liked him.

And there were some DAMN GOOD questions asked by many at council, not the least of which was Michael Barranda (at left), who received several rounds of applause from the (affected) residents there.
Going around the table, the general consensus is that council is listening to the people and not leaning in favor of the annexation (at this point).
The FISCAL PLAN is this "first step" towards honest debate, consideration and potential passage, but I'm not holding MY breath on this one for it to get the old "rubber stamp".
I envision a very steep UPHILL battle for the city and our "king", and I also think the CITIZENS involved in this fiasco have the impetus (and right) to win this one hands down.
As it stands now, Council would vote this down in a heartbeat.
*** Next up, TEN schools in the FWCS are slated for renovations. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/schools/FWCS-building-work-put-to-vote-12739978

If approved, about $130 MILLION will be allocated to take care of needed rapairs such as air conditioning, roof repair and window replacement.
This renovation is the next phase after the 2012 approval of phase one, which cost $119 MIL.
You know, this could be mostly avoided IF someone took the time to build some of these schools a lot BETTER, or as we used to day - MADE TO LAST.

And, it's for sale...again.

Cripes, my first elementary school (G.L. Horn - Philly) was a bloody "castle". It had 3 floors (and basement), 15 foot high ceilings, jalousie windows, wood floors, pocket doors to enlarge or combine classroom areas and NO AIR CONDITIONING.
Mrs Lydia Burnside (1st grade) had a large pedestal fan that was used (and you better hold onto papers on your desk...lol)
I mean, we never had A/C when WE went to school (many of us didn't even have it at HOME), and for some unknown reason...WE SURVIVED...and graduated more kids back then. How the hell did we manage THAT one?
*** Last back to the wooded glade...why is it, that in this day and age, where we seem to have SO much, do we appear to be accomplishing SO LITTLE? It sure seems that way to me.

Not REALLY happening.

We keep adding technology to society, which, in many cases, can be construed to mean "conveniences" to make our lives better, and yet, our lives have seemingly become even MORE complicated.
Now, we have to add "laws" to keep all that tech at bay, like PSA warnings about texting while driving. The list gets longer every week.
Our technologies are far outpacing society's ability to keep up with it, and properly apply the tech in the manner for which it was created.

But let's not get carried away, right?

Instead, it's all being bastardized to circumvent our current laws, and, when all is said and done, make all of us a lot more DEPENDENT upon the technology, rather than ourselves.
I suppose one might think that a "pioneer spirit" these days means you get by with basic cable (like those funny-ass commercials with those "settlers"). I see more than the advertisers are selling there.
We might better be served as a society and as a nation, if we were to back ourselves up a tad, and look back to how those before us survived life with so much less than we have at our disposal.

It becomes the old "NEEDS VS. WANTS" scenario.
What do we WANT? What do we NEED?
Too often, people supplant wants FOR needs, and therein lies the trap.

This should NOT apply to YOU.

We can all do with less of a lot of things, but our desire to "feed the beast" usually wins out.
When people are held more accountable and responsible for their actions, THEY are the first winners in this rat race we call life. Everyone else ALSO does better as a subsequent result.
I believe that a "win-win" is always preferred in matters such as this, agreed?

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