Friday Follies...

Holy crap...another weekend already?
(not that you'll hear any complaining from yours truly)
It just seems this past week flew on by.
A shame such perceived rapidity doesn't do away with the problems in the world as quickly.
Our Hooiserland weather for today brings us mostly sunny skies, temps climbing to around 76 degrees (keep the A/C on standby), and a mild breeze added in. Now, I think that'll get our weekend started off nicely.

So, what say we take time to grab a cup of coffee (got a fresh pot made here), tea, or hot chocolate, and then we can get this show on the road...fair enough?
*** First off of the driveway is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
OCTOBER 20 -
---It's National Brandied Fruit Day

(which has nothing to do with a drunken gay person)
---It's National Mammography Day

(an effective preventive measure)
*** Next, and because we are at week's end, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours:
OCTOBER 21 -
---Saturday is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

(sounds like a two-fer winner to me)
---It's National Reptile Awareness Day

(and we need to be aware of them...WHY?)
---It's National Sweetest Day

(and I thought this came around in June?)
OCTOBER 22 -
---Sunday is National Color Day

(is this another sneaky-ass LGBTQ thing?)
---It's National Mother-In-Law Day

(sorry, I'm fresh out of those)
---It's National Nut Day

(Bet this will be fun on both California as well as Washington D.C.)
And there we go...plenty of items worth observing...or not.
Don't forget to always observe responsibly.
*** Next up, looks like we notched homicide #28 in the Summit City. Here's the story (so far):
http://wane.com/2017/10/20/man-shot-dead-outside-oxford-street-home-police-looking-for-suspects/

This took place outside a house located at 2413 Oxford Street around 2307 hrs. when police were called for a report of a person down in a yard. This isn't far from McMillen Park.
And YES, this is another SE side killing.
((Police discovered shell casings near the victim and other evidence of a possible shooting, but said there was no weapon near the victim.
Crime scene technicians photographed and collected possible evidence. 
Detectives worked to find potential witnesses or anyone who might know what happened.
Investigators don’t know what led to the shooting or how many suspects there might be.

Police have not released the name of the victim.))
And there we have it...another shooting with no motive, no suspects, and (apparently) no witnesses. Oh, yeah...we'll make 30 this year.
Just another night down in the crotch of our fair city, aka the SOUTHEAST side.
Thank you SO much, Mr. mayor (your highness) for producing that "quality-of-life" you always speak about and creating a "point of destination" for the city. In this case, it was a FINAL destination for 28 people so far, wasn't it?
*** Next, a case of stupid IS as stupid DOES. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171020/north-side-students-hospitalized

Three Northside High Students were hospitalized when they took an "unknown" yellow pill and became ill at the same time after ingesting the pills.
A letter sent home to parents said the following:
“Because of student privacy laws, I cannot disclose any additional information; however, this is a good opportunity to talk with your student(s) about the dangers of ingesting unknown pills or other substances,” 
Gee...'YA THINK?

No one said anything about the YELLOW pill?

Who the hell in their right mind blindly takes something that they don't know what it it, sticks it in their piehole, and thinks that's fine and dandy? Answer: Today's youth...(and one-year olds).

I'm teething...that's my reason.

This is the kind of society we're raising, and it's not looking all that good.
We can excuse the behavior of the 1-yr olds (and prevent such things from happening much better), but by their teens, they SHOULD know better, yet don't care anyway.
*** Next up, a freight train managed to derail along a section of track at a SE side overpass. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171020/train-carrying-cornmeal-fuel-derails-on-south-side

Luckily it was only cornmeal and diesel fuel...neither of which spilled, but it makes you wonder about WHY a derailment THERE? Any guesses if anyone had been on those tracks earlier (or the night before) and placed something on the tracks? We know kids (as well as government-sponsored adults) on the SE side LOVE to get into shit they're not supposed to - it's the whole free-roaming anywhere on anyone's property for no reason thing to them.
*** Next, let's drop this (previous) crap at the curb, and instead visit "Kitten Corner"...

She's busy following Daddy.

Our kids did quite well yesterday, in spite of my feeling a bit "off-key" (1 year since Rassie passed), so I wasn't on my (emotional) A-game. And Wifey's been fighting a cold, so neither of us were hitting on all cylinders.

He's busy following Daddy.

Still, our indoor cats were not that bad, and spent a lot of the day following me, hanging around Wifey and basically being model felines. We'll see how long THAT lasts...LOL.
*** Next up, let's stop in on "Midnight and Company"...

Someone's gotta hold up this flower pot.

Both of the community cats were nearby most all day, and although I had to call them (shaking my keys or food dish always works if they are in earshot) a couple times, they both showed up at every feeding.
I do try to wait until the sky gets light before feeding them early on. I know they're patiently waiting at the patio door anyway.
And, as soon as I go near the door, they're up on the screen, and I have to shoo them away so I can go out and feed them. Talk about a captive audience...lol.

Oh, goodness...she's funny.

Still, it's worth having them around, and not elsewhere being busy dodging cars. and avoiding rocks being tossed by little morons.
*** Last back to the garage...there are days when you just want all the damn insanity to END...period.

And for me, such days are becoming more frequent. I'm just tired of all the bullshit flying about.
I'm BORED with it...alright?
It bothers me a lot when I constantly hear or read about people not just content to "stir the pot", but tip it the hell over when it's boiling (metaphorically-speaking) for no reason other than they can do it and seemingly get away with it - like that black congresswoman who tried to call out Trump regarding a fallen soldier's family and the condolence he made...like it's any of HER business in the first place.

If she (and others of her ilk) spent more time (and our money that they love to waste) making an EARNEST attempt to UNF*CK our nation from the last administration and set it back ON COURSE, we'd all be a lot better off,

I'm troubled when I see people denying our history, by changing it to suit THEIR agenda (renaming schools, taking down monuments, etc).
I get pissed when I see protests where none are warranted, and young people who don't even know WHY they protest, other than they can create some headlines and make the youtube scene by grabbing a Warhol moment..
I'm tired to hearing how bad GUNS are, when it's the PEOPLE who misuse them who are bad.
Face it, anything can be misused (and often is) when it comes to committing crime and creating chaos.
And, I'm sick and damn tired with the politicization of every single friggin' thing under the sun.

If I wish to be entertained, I EXPECT entertainment. If I want political discourse, I EXPECT such. And when I want NEITHER, I should be able to get away from the din of stupidity that wants to permeate every facet of our society.
Yeah, it seems I'm asking for the impossible, as I'm sure a lot of you are as well.
Civility, truth, reason, integrity, and ethics should not become foreign concepts to us OR our country.
But, when people become SO distracted, it's easy enough to forget about them in the shuffle, isn't it?
DO have yourselves a good weekend.

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