Friday Follies...

We finally made it (again)...end of another week.

And, we also got out of this "rut" we were in here in the Heartland with our weather.
Gonna be a whole new (and nice) ballgame today, kids.
(now, if only the local aborigines and assorted mooks will behave - yeah, I can dream).
Our Hoosierland weather for today will see us with something that's a bit on the stingy side for most of the week - SUNSHINE. Got a nice sunny day ahead of us, with temps reaching up to around 70 degrees.
Can't get much nicer than that. Not that cool, not that hot, and not that soggy.
Now, what say we all get our Friday Fortitude poured and parked close-at-hand, as we see what's going on elsewhere, shall we?
*** First out of the cereal box is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
May 6 -
---Today is NATIONAL BEVERAGE DAY

(something we ALL can take part in)
---It's also NATIONAL CREPE SUZETTE DAY

(not really into crepes, but to each his/her own)
---It's NATIONAL NURSES DAY

(even doctors need some help)
---It's NATIONAL SPACE DAY

(you KNOW this isn't celebrating the area between a moron's ears...lol)
---And, it's NATIONAL MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY

(sorry, none at our house)
---It's NATIONAL PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY

(don't we all provide something for someone?)
*** Since we're also ending our week, let's take a look at what's going on over the following 48 hours:
May 7 -
---Saturday is NATIONAL BARRIER AWARENESS DAY

(if only people paid more attention, right?)
---It's also NATIONAL PACKAGING DESIGN DAY

(can't really say this is a biggie for me)
---And, it's NATIONAL PASTE UP DAY

(maybe we should "adhere" to this one?)
---It's also NATIONAL ROAST LEG OF LAMB DAY

(finally, something with FOOD in it)
---It's JOIN HANDS DAY

(a tree-hugger's event, no doubt)
---And, it's NATIONAL BOMBSHELLS DAY
(try not to drop any of those - it's a Victoria Secret thing)
---It's also NATIONAL HOMEBREW DAY

(Chris has got this one covered, I think)
---And, it's NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY

(works well with that paste up day gig)
---It's NATIONAL START SEEING MONARCHS DAY

(the butterfly and NOT the ruler of kingdoms)
---It's NATIONAL BABYSITTERS DAY

(no babies - no sitters. Simple, huh?)
---It's NATIONAL BIRTH MOTHERS DAY

(right on the eve of...)
---And last for Saturday, it's NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

(aside from museum pieces, not much to look at these days)
May 8 -
---Sunday is NATIONAL COCONUT CREAM PIE DAY

(I'll take several, please)
---It's also NATIONAL HAVE A COKE DAY

(what...no SMILE to go along with that? Gimme a Dr. Pepper)
---And, it's MOTHER'S DAY

(more on that in a bit)
There you go then. Plenty of things to keep you occupied and out of the local jails.
Moving on...
*** There was another good "letter to the editor" in today's paper about this annexation, and from another city councilman. Here's the link to the page:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/Discussion--details-are-essential-on-annexation-12896966

Michael Barranda lends his voice to that of Jason Arp (and others) about this "land grab".
And while some may think this move by the city a worthy venture, the faces behind such voices are part of that "good old boy" network.
Barranda permits us to see the other side to that coin, which paints a very different story.
More truth in this than can be found in a lot of other offices downtown, that's for sure.
It's a really good read.
*** Next, places like Eagle Lake (development) are seeing THEIR roads deteriorating. Who'da thunk that?
His royal highness, King Henry did a presser to address it. Here's the link:
http://wane.com/2016/05/05/city-announces-neighborhood-improvements-projects/

Court of the Crimson King?

A third year for a  "record investment" in city streets...well, if the streets were BUILT a lot better, we wouldn't be going down this road (pun intended) AS often, would we?
Meanwhile, we don't even have proper berms along OUR streets down here, nor do we have sidewalks on ALL the streets. Sure is nice to get ignored for decades, but nice areas don't have to suffer such things, do they?

That's gonna leave a lot of marks.

Maybe if more streets were TAR instead of CONCRETE, they wouldn't erode near as fast as they currently do.
*** Next up, had some issues yesterday around our "Fortress" that we usually have to attend to this time every year.
We started to have kids (from baby-mama's crib across the street) hanging out on OUR corner.

When they're NOT in the damn street milling about.

That's always a portent to MORE activity on our property (sucks having a corner one sometimes). I politely asked them to "hang out someplace else, like over there" (their corner). One kid was trying to give me some sass back (not gonna work, kid. You will know what respect is when we're finished). No reasoning with the educationally-impaired. You learn that quickly down here.

The second item was this incessant LOUD MUSIC emanating from the other end of the block (location undetermined). After TWO calls into FWPD to have an officer address it, it still persisted...for about FOUR HOURS. Now, it wasn't (c)rap music, but something akin to what Hispanics play, so I was thinking some lame-ass "Cinco de Mayo" garbage. In any event, it's not respectful when you're trying to watch a movie and can still hear the thumping INSIDE your house with the windows closed, right?
No fun having to live in "Mookville", and certainly no fun to see problems never getting the attention they truly deserve. We need some problem-oriented policing around here, plain and simple.
*** Next, today is the opening across the states of the newest film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: CAPTAIN AMERICA - CIVIL WAR.

I'm betting the DVD comes out before Christmas - another "must have" for me.
And, I'm wagering that opening weekend might well see a $200 million dollar box office. If it makes over $207 MIL, it will top the first Avengers movie, and secure it's place as the LARGEST opening in the USA.
So far, the reviews have been very good all around, and that usually tells the tale when it comes to receipts.
I know that people like myself will find this movie to be a damn fine way to spend a couple hours. My only "beef" with this, is that there is this push to "choose a side".
I really can't, but I understand the basis for the division in the ranks of these superheroes.
And, naturally, you have "big government" and over-regulations to blame for this "break-up".

Could it be that art is imitating life? Sure seems that way.
But at least, THIS time around, it's a nice ride.
*** Last back to the fridge...Sunday is Mother's Day, and let's face it, without THEM none of us would be here, right?

And THIS is pretty much EVERY day.

That's a given.
There's not a day goes by where I don;t think of my Mom (and my Dad for that matter), but I can recall with clarity a LOT of what my mother had to offer me in the way of advice. She set a good example, and I really could not ask for a better mom for all the tea in China. And, I hope I have managed to live up to her expectations.
See, my generation thought about things such as that, because we had this sense of family.
You still have that around, just not in as much abundance as we did say, forty or fifty years ago.
Mothers today have a whole new set of "dynamics" they must deal with, although the core values for their children have not changed that much. Mom still sets the pace, quickly admonishes bad behaviors, and yet, is equally as quick to reward good behaviors. She "rules the roost" as it were, even if Dad isn't there.

But in my day, mothers took on more than they do today. They cooked (all meals, EVERY DAY, even on Sundays, unless Dad took us out to a proper restaurant). She cleaned the house, prepared lunches for Dad and myself, did laundry, bought groceries, took care of any pets, mended clothing and STILL kept on ticking (like that proverbial Timex watch). You could simply not ask for more from any person, and that's why Dad and I always took Mom out for Mother's Day, bought her flowers and just celebrated WHO SHE WAS in our lives.
Maybe the dissolution of the traditional family unit has a lot to do with how Mother's Day has changed. Perhaps WE have changed as well, and maybe the manner that mothers operate today have also changed.
Whatever the case, and whatever the reason, there is no excuse to NOT celebrate our Moms. Even if they were not the "model" we hoped for, they still gave us life, and that alone should be worth the journey we find ourselves taking.

Perhaps we should take a moment to say some simple things like: "Here's to you, Mom. Thanks for everything. Always love you". Such words carry importance and will always go a very long way.
DO have yourselves a great weekend.

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

Thoughts For Thursday...

The weekend looms ever closer, and that's a good thing, isn't it?
That feeling of deja vu will continue again, so be prepared.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will have us with some scattered showers early on, partly cloudy skies and temps rising to around 63 degrees.  We will see the sun today. And there is a slight breeze outside.
Now, let's put things aside for a bit, as we get our morning drink poured and take a peek at some of the other things that have been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the coat closet is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
This was attributed to JOHN CALVIN (10 July 1509 - 27 May 1564) who was a FRENCH (oh, yes...not English) theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin

He was originally trained as a humanist lawyer (of all things), but broke from the Roman Catholic church around 1530. After a violent uprising against Protestantism in France, he fled to Switzerland.
It was in Geneva where the real reform started.
There was mutual respect between Calvin and Martin Luther, but there were doctrinal differences between them. The article is rather long, and I will only say that if you're interested in HOW the reformation took place and what it entailed, then bone up on this.
Let's say we owe much (if not all) of the Protestant movement to him.
The good news is that it doesn't detract from the realm of Christianity...just adds to it.
Moving on...
*** Next up is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
May 5 -
---Today is NATIONAL ASTRONAUT DAY

(we still have those, right? I'm not sure these days)

---It's also NATIONAL CARTOONIST DAY
(Jim Davis still gets my vote)
---It's CINCO DE MAYO

Not a good day for the French.

(not an AMERICAN holiday, just another day to screw off and get plastered)
---And, it's NATIONAL TOTALLY CHIPOLTE DAY

(Has to be a tie-in with the cinco deal)
---It's also NATIONAL HOAGIE DAY

Blimpies - where for art thou?

(okay, NOW we're talking REAL food here...also known as "subs" to the non-east-coasters)
And, it's the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

(Would be nice if the prayers were directed to the reclamation of our nation)
It's also the NATIONAL DAY OF REASON.

(reason AND prayer - two great things that go great together, right?)
I could also toss in here WORLD PASSWORD DAY, but we already know the importance of having a good one, so why belabor the point, hmm?
*** Next up, an excellent entry on today's OP-ED page from the J-G.

Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/Annexation--Exploitation-12860603
This is a very well thought out explanation behind much of the reasoning of such annexations.
(and today IS the National Day of Reason after all)

"Most annexation is theft", states the writer...and he's correct.
Blind people can see this one easily enough.
And a quote in the article from none other than Mark Twain (pertaining to 19th century South Pacific islanders) hits the mark wonderfully. The writer did his homework in this regard.
Talk about some truth-telling...I love it.
*** Next up, there is a little more information about the dead woman found in her Southbridge apartment earlier this week. here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Body-found-in-apartment-ID-d--cause-not-known-12905708

All that's being said at this time is the ID of the victim. She was 49 year old Robin R. Nevarez.
Still no word as to the cause of death (tight-lipped as usual).
I wonder of the apartment complex issued any notice to the other residents?
It's not like there's NO crime there...there is, and it would serve law-abiding residents well to let them know to be on-guard...just in case.
***  Next, our election process IS a curious animal, and just to prove that point, here's THIS story:
http://wane.com/2016/05/04/the-unconventional-congressional-candidate-1-on-1-with-tommy-schrader/
Okay, so this guy is an "unconventional" candidate for congress?
Can you say UNDERSTATEMENT?
He DOES have the Constitutional right to run for office...and that's about it (imho).
You have to wonder about someone who refers to himself in the THIRD person (on camera, at that).
For starters, he IS a "conservative" democrat. That in and of itself should be reason to question things, as I've never really come across ANY of those in my life.
He states that "political ambition" is in his blood. That might be the alcohol talking...lol.
Hey, I wanted to be Master of the Universe, but HE-MAN beat me to that one. And then I grew up.

Tommy Schrader is a Snider dropout (sophomore year), but did get a GED (and studied politics) from Anthis. Currently living at the Coliseum Inn, he is looking for an apartment (without a job, that's gonna be a might difficult). He will face Jim Banks in November.
Don't think looking for an apartment in D.C might be the best use of his "off-time".
And, I wouldn't go spending that $189K per year salary as congressman JUST yet, either.
*** Next, the FWCS is reviewing their policy when it comes to "gang-activity". Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/schools/FWCS--board-review-gang--transfer-policies-12903106

Now, the school system HAS had in place (for decades) anti-bullying policies, but (to me) there is a HUGE difference between bullying and GANG-related activities.
And to think that such activity has managed to filter down from the adult arena to our schools is deplorable.
The student transfer policy is also under scrutiny - been some accusations of "cherry-picking" students.
It's either "all or nothing at all" (as the song goes).
FWCS has policies that can ban a child's transfer, and the system is under NO obligation to accept any or all transfer students.
I think Dr. Robinson (FWCS superintendent) is on the right track here in having exceptions to say "no"  when it comes to transfer students.
*** Last back to the medicine cabinet...as I mentioned earlier in today's post, today is both the national day of PRAYER and REASON, and I would be remiss to say that this country doesn't need EITHER one. We (as a nation) do, and in such great need as to make one's head swim.

What this nation's majority of people settle for (these days) is nothing short of asinine.
This is all over the charts, too. In our schools, our workplaces, our streets, our stores and homes...there's no getting away from this. Mediocre has become the new "exceptional", and to what end?
Didn't we all used to strive to DO better...BE better...and WANT better, not only for ourselves, but for our children, as well as others?

When did all this get tossed out with the bath water?
My Dad used to say something to the effect that "A job not worth doing well, is not worth doing at all". Where the hell he got all these maxims beats me. He did read a lot.

And, he impressed upon me that I should attempt to do MY best whenever I had to, which I have.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but that should not mean we give up TRYING.
Well, these days, it does. People give up BEFORE they even try. Helluva path of success, isn't it?
And yet these same people EXPECT the same rewards as those who HAVE tried (and especially succeeded). Yeah, that old "entitlement" monster again.
It's easy enough to see the cycle repeat itself, and why we, as a people have even allowed this to start baffles me.
No boundaries, no respect, no consequences, no achievement, no success...THAT is what gets the reward.
And that is simply BASS-ACKWARDS THINKING!
This country needs to wake the hell up from it's slumber and smell the brains being fried with this dangerous rhetoric, before it's too late.
It's too easy to settle for less, but allowing oneself the opportunity to achieve more grants a level of accomplishment greater than one can imagine. Real happiness comes from being someone and doing something.
Anything less does more harm than can be realized.

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