Friday Follies...

Did you know that in just ten short months, it'll be Christmas?
(thought I'd pass that along - just another service I provide...lol)
Yep, it's the weekend at long last, and the final one for this month.
Can St. Patty's Day be that close at hand?
Our Hoosierland weather for today really changes things up, with partly to mostly cloudy skies, rain moving in by afternoon, and windy conditions to boot over the next 24 hours.
We may even have a thunderstorm later on, or during the overnight hours.

Hopefully, OUR weather won't come to this.

Expect a high today of close to 70 degrees, and then (uh, oh)...we get seasonal again with much colder temps arriving by tomorrow, added to some wind-swept precipitation. Even heard the word "tornado" mentioned (let's not have any of that).
Now, if that isn't cause for a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, I don't know what is, so let's all partake, as we see what's been going elsewhere...
*** First out the front door is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 24 -
---Today is National Skip the Straw Day

(Drink it like a grown up, you snowflakes)
---It's National Tortilla Chip Day

(Thank Los Angeles for the mass-production of this snack in the USofA)
*** Next, and since this IS the end of the week, let's take a look at what we cna observe over the next 48 hours.
FEBRUARY 25 -
---Saturday is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day.

(I have got this one SO nailed down)
---It's National Clam Chowder Day

(wish I could find some Manhattan style)
FEBRUARY 26 -
---Sunday is National Pistachio Day

(they used to be a lot cheaper to buy)
---It's National Tell A Fairy Tale Day

(should we leave this up to the politicians?)
And there we go...enjoy yourselves and remember to always observe responsibly!
*** Next up, The Fort Wayne Fire Department is taking purchase of three new fire engines.
(this is primarily for my nephews, Erik, a captain w/ the Alexandria, VA FD)
Here's the official FWFD website:
http://www.fortwaynefiredepartment.org/
And, here's the story from WPTA:
((Three fire engines will be put into service this week.
The Fort Wayne Fire Department said Fire Station 9,10 and 11 are getting new engines. 
The department will host a brief ceremony at each location to celebrate the placement. 
It will conduct a traditional "wet down" and "push in" service.
Engine 9,10 and 11 are 2017 Pierce Saber Pumpers with a Cummins diesel engine. 
They contain a 750-gallon tank and 1,250-gallon per minute pump. 
Each engine holds up to 6 firefighters, extrication equipment, ladders, hose and medical supplies.

New Pierce Saber pumper.

Engine 10 will be placed into service Wednesday, February 22 at 11 am at Fire Station 10. 
Engine 9 will be placed into service Friday, February 24 at noon at Fire Station 9. 
Engine 11 will be placed into service Friday, February 24 at 1 pm at station 11.))

Current Engine 11 - 2005 Pierce Enforcer

They are putting into reserve the LaFrance and Pierce Enforcers from 2005.
Considering the use that those three engine houses get in OUR part of town, it's refreshing to know that we are getting the new units.
*** Next up...wow, not enough stupid going on to warrant a spot here, today.
I find that hard to believe, but no good stories in any of the media sources?

Still, let's turn over a few rocks, and see what slithers out, hmm?
---Another murder case and another "mistrial"...what gives?
http://wane.com/2017/02/24/mistrial-declared-in-2016-murder-case/

This is the perp they caught down in Alabama when he fled the city after murdering Edward Kiel last year.
Well, if at first you DON'T succeed, try, try, and try AGAIN, right?
I knew we could find something...heh.
*** Next, from the "Nice Work If You Can Get It" Department, there's this story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/County-Council-OKs-pay-increases-17938938

County Council approved pay raises for the jobs mentioned in the story. Some of them pay pretty good on a per-hour basis. And the increases will be retroactive from 10 Dec 2016, which was the first pay period of 2017
*** Next, and from the "I Didn't Know That, But It Sure Makes Sense" Department, comes this little gem:
http://www.journalgazette.net/business/Homes-getting-bought-to-rent-out-17935789

That explains a lot down where we live.
Small "investors" buying up houses to RENT out. While in good neighborhoods, that might work (as in times past), in other sections of other cities, it's just a way to hasten blight, and all for the almighty buck.

I can say that where we live, NOTHING GOOD has come of ANY of the houses that became rentals, simply because of the human refuse that was moved into them, without background checks.
How else can you explain being able to rent for around $500 a month (subsidized down to less than half that amount, thanks to the taxpayers), have several kids, a newer vehicle (or several), a satellite dish on the house,  and yet no one seems to hold down a job, yet can spend time smoking weed in the garage with the door open? 
THAT is what causes a neighborhood to get flushed down the crapper, trust me on this one.

The "adventure" continues...

Remember...I, like Remo Williams "live the adventure" (daily).
*** Next , let's check out "Kitten Corner"...

Time out...for a scratch.

As bad as things were the previous day, yesterday was the exact opposite. Both the cats were good as gold.
Like I said, maybe something "in the air"?

I'm just watching her...

Neither one got into anything they should not have, aside from chasing one fo them off the counter-top (a bad habit I'd like to break them of early on). And not a drop of anything was spilled.

Lounging by the front door.

Plenty of good behavior from the "kids", and time to even feed a squirrel or two. Haven't seen Patches in well over a week.
Hope nothing's happened to him (or her). Tweak, Junior, and Mangey stop by now and then.

Mangey gets some seeds.

And we haven't seen any other cats coming around.
Did see a couple mourning doves stop by.

I'm hopeful we'll have another good day at the "Fortress".
*** Last out of the back door...a lot can be said when it comes to the learning process.

And whether we know it or not, knowledge is all around us, every single day.
All we have to do is avail ourselves of it. Technology makes such a task easier by far, but it's not the end-all for education.
While formal learning at the secondary levels tends to cost, the wealth of knowledge from life experiences alone, is relatively priceless, and it never costs nearly as much as 4 years at a university.
But, it does require the same attentiveness as if you were listening to a lecture, for our lives are always telling us something.
And our job is to listen, lest we become just another "brick" in the wall of society.
To go through life and task oneself to being an observer of the human condition is quite the eye-opening experience, for you get to witness the entire spectrum of humanity, good and bad. To see and hear is to know, and to know is to learn.
Life never stops teaching, and we should never stop learning, as long as we can draw a breath.
Therein lies the lesson for the day.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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