Friday Follies...

Well what do you know about that...we made it to the weekend!
Will wonders never cease?
And, it looks to be a rather nice weekend, as far as the weather goes (we can never discount the locals and their penchant for gun-play in the Summit City, can we?).
Our Hoosierland forecast for today finds us enjoying mostly sunny skies, temps topping out around the low 70s (after a wonderfully brisk night - good for sleeping), and perhaps a mild breeze or two.
All in all, a pretty decent beginning to our weekend.

Now, let's get things off and running with a nice cup of coffee, tea, or maybe even some hot chocolate, as we see what else is going on in all those old familiar places...
*** First off, let's look to our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
AUGUST 25 -
---It's National Banana Split Day

(and no, we're not talking about the old kids show from Saturdays)
---It's National Kiss and Make Up Day

(make up from what?)
---It's National Park Service Day

(one of the few federal agencies that actually does some GOOD...once in a while)
---It's National  Secondhand Wardrobe Day

(hey, whatever works to keep one clothed, right?)
---It's National Whiskey Sour Day

( now THIS is a way to start a weekend)
*** Next up, and since we have arrived at week's end, let's take a look at what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
AUGUST 26 -
---It's National Cherry Popsicle Day

(still turning tongues bright red, too)
---It's National Dog Day

(Got a feeling Chris Martin & Momma Fargo are gonna love this one)
---It's National Webmistress Day

(as long as there's no virtual BDSM involved)
---It's National Women's Equality Day

(guess there is no MEN'S equality day...right?)
AUGUST 27 -
---It's National Just Because Day

(why observe it? Just because, I guess)
---It's National Pots De Creme Day

(it's a French custard thing )
And there you are...plenty of stuff tpo keep on occupied (and not JUST on Wall St...lol)
Please remember to observe responsibly.
*** Next, Wifey and I called this one right - Elmhurst HS will be torn down. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/schools/20170825/quarry-plans-to-raze-elmhurst-building

Yeah, when an aggregate business buys a closed building, you can bet they want the limestone under the property.
*** Next up, another Fort Wayne piece of history falls by the wayside...of sorts. Here's that story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20170825/news-sentinel-is-going-digital

Yes, the News Sentinel will cease their printed edition for a more "digital" domain, but because of a prior agreement, the content will be included in the partner (and liberal) paper, the Journal Gazette.
My ONLY gripe with the N-S is that they didn't have GARFIELD on the cartoon page.
Philly used to have two major papers, until the Evening Bulletin closed, leaving only the Philadelphia Inquirer (and the tabloid Daily News). Looks like FTW is following suit there, too. There goes 184 years of printed journalism history here.
*** Next, an OP-ED about gun-carrying and the regs involved. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/editorials/20170825/reasonable-restriction

You pretty much know how I feel about this...it's our (Constitutional) RIGHT (to carry a firearm), and, as long as we're not mentally-inhibited, and have no record of felonious behavior or arrest record along those lines, we should BE permitted to carry a gun without any "restriction".
How many criminals undergo background checks? They are fingerprinted, though...many of them quite often (depending on the regularity of their criminal behavior).
Give the GOOD guys (and gals) a break here for a change.
*** Next up, Wifey and I decided to do something a bit "different" yesterday.

Had to park near the playground!

We had all this bread (loaf heels) that we used to give to the birds on the patio. With the advent of the two homeless cats, that's a non-issue these days, so we thought "Let's go to Foster Park and feed the DUCKS AND GEESE". Now that sounded like a plan to me.
So, we set out and arrived a bit after 10 A.M. and started walking to the shoreline of the river there.

Sure looks NICE and peaceful.

Where 'ya hiding the feathered friends?

Well, after following the river bank trail for about a quarter mile...NO ducks...and NO geese.
WTH is going on here? Where the hell are they? Not a single one around AT ALL?
We did see a woman with a beagle...and a squirrel, and I heard a cardinal and saw a few sparrows flying by, but that was it.

A lovely trail, though.

Didn't see any ducks or geese, and didn't even hear any...now that was just plain creepy.
Maybe it was the overabundance of CONSTRUCTION WORKERS all over the place (like ants on sugar). Never saw that many in one place before, resurfacing the road, revamping the pavilion, and basically causing a nice clusterf*ck...as usual.

A "stairway to heaven"?

Well, after more walking UP river, we came across a set of stairs...which led up to a bridge across the river.

Well-constructed bridge.

(I do believe this would take us to "Pawster Park", near Winchester Rd).
Good view both up and down the river from there...but not a single duck or goose to be found.

Don't see any ducks or geese from HERE, either.

We decided to call it a day after that.
All in all, we walked about a half mile, saw absolutely no geese or ducks, and pretty much wasted the trip (...and we still have the bread).
It was kinda tranquil, though. That never gets old to me.
*** Next, let's drop in on "Kitten Corner"...

The kids were starting to calm themselves down after a couple days of craziness (thank God).
I "de-belled" Gallifrey and Violet this morning, as their collars were getting a bit on the frayed side (kinda like my nerves when they get "spazmo"...lol.

We'll look for some new collars this weekend. It's weird to NOT hear them "jingle" around the house, and I'm sure their silence will provide it's own bit of angst, as we try to avoid stepping on them when they're under our feet.
*** Next up, time to see how things are going with "Midnight and Company"...

In a flower bed near the garage

Midnight was around most ALL day yesterday and Whiskers was the one who took a bit of a leave last in the morning.
In fact, Midnight saw us off to the park and was there waiting for us when we got back...LOL.
That was funny to see him sitting there watching us...like a doting parent.

Someone likes the great weather

Whiskers came back and stayed until dark, while her male counterpart set off for a walk by himself.
*** Last back to the garage...there was a time when this city (Ft. Wayne) impressed me.

It had a lot of what Philly didn't...like charm and hospitality.
It did lack a lot of what Philly had as far as food goes...that still sucks.
And, it had none of the historical value that Philly had. No Liberty Bell here.
Over time, FTW has changed (for me), and I suppose it started when our apartment was robbed. That kind of thing NEVER happened to us in Philly, and it's something you don't get over that easily. It was (and still is) a personal violation to have something that's YOURS become THEIRS (whoever they might be).

People in general have changed, and with that. comes change to one's environment. That's inevitable.
Today, we see more violence, less discussion, and no resolution to any of these modern day problems. Helluva mess we're in, isn't it?
The real solution is simple, and yet as elusive as a decent job or power ball win.
We need to embrace things that matter, and dismiss things that are trivial, because right now, the opposite happens to be running (and ruining) our society.
Let's get back to civil behavior, and moral behavior, and ethical behavior. These are the foundations of a GOOD society.
And without a good foundation, ANYTHING you choose to "build" will not stand the test of time...will it?
Therein lies the lesson for the week.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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