Monday Musings...

Just because it's (another) rainy day...AND a Monday, there's no reason to be "down"...
We're all still alive and kicking, and that alone should provide impetus enough for our continuance.
Set aside some time to be thankful for all those little things you often take for granted.
It's not like all the crap in the world happened to find YOUR fan this morning, right?
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us clearing skies (yes, the rain from hurricane Nate is moving OUT), temps reaching to about 77 degrees, and maybe a breeze or two added in for good measure.

So, let's get that refreshing beverage in our hands, as we attempt to tackle this day and all it has in store for us...
*** First out of the umbrella stand is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
OCTOBER 9 -
---It's Columbus Day

(which means some folks have off for a guy that only made landfall in he Caribbean and not America per se)
---It's National Kick Butt Day

(just tell whoever is involved to take a number and read a magazine)
---It's National Leif Erikson Day

(now he DID reach North America...more like parts of Newfoundland, actually)
---It's National Moldy Cheese Day

(seriously? Not on MY menu)
---It's National Online Banking Day

(we're all but being forced to do this...and at personal risk to ID theft)
---It's National Pro-life Cupcake Day

(not to be confused with the liberal cupcakes who are pro-abortion)
---It's Native American Day

(about time we got to people who are FROM here)
*** Next up, the News-Sentinel is no more...after 180+ years...well at least not in a formal printed format, anyway.

The J-G included a nice retrospect of the history of it's conservative sister paper. It's worth hanging onto, just for the fact that it chronicles the publication;'s history - something we all need to know and to hang onto, lest we forget and wind up in that old "repetitive" mode of societal evolution.
The online version of the N-S isn't really like the old version,
Personally, I don't like it...should have kept hte old format for the digital version.
If there's one bright spot, it's that all the leftards that regularly bash anyone who doesn't ascribe to their particular POV, are pretty much gone, unless they post comments via Facebook. No more Disqus there.
Today's J-G had a ONE-page inclusion of some N-S items...hardly a true merger there.
I was expecting more of a proper insert, like the "mind and body" section, or the "living" section.
Maybe after some feedback from subscribers, this may change.
I mean, it's not like the liquor stores in Fort Wayne get more print than the N-S...oh, wait...they DO...heh.
*** Next, from our "Please Scratch the Surface to Find the Truth" Department, we have a story about a (new) hotline to "help immigrants" (if that is what it really is). Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20171009/group-started-to-help-immigrants

Now, I have to ask if this to help IMMIGRANTS who came here LEGALLY...OR, is this to avoid the whole DACA crap and help ILLEGALS who came here?
THAT, my friends is the $64,000 question, is it not?
If this is REALLY being created to deal with intimidation of legal immigrants, then okay...I can work with that.
It's it a ploy to otherwise keep people off the backs of the "wetbacks" in the city (and state), then we have to question the real motivations here.
*** Next up, in a likely related story, we have this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/us/20171009/new-planthreatensdreamers

((The administration's wish-list includes the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to sanctuary cities.))
Doesn't sound like a BAD plan to me, even if it IS about 40 years too late.
(trivia time - we had about 300,000 illegals come across our borders back in 1952 - the year I was born. Project that number forward about 65 years to get an idea of the REAL numbers of illegals here)
If they're here on a work program, that's okay, but sooner or later, that green card will expire and then what?

We either take measures to ensure less illegal entry into the USA, or we turn a blind eye and set our sights on creating third-world pockets of influence within our nation's cities.
Seems like an easy choice to make here.
*** Next, our "locals" were in fine form, as far as dumbassery goes.
The ones cribbing next door to us, pulled out their foldable furniture and we initially thought they were going to have another cookout, but NO...it was something else.

Who set the timer?

They used all the chairs and such for DRYING CLOTHES (sure beats using OUR fence)...LOL.
I mean, HOW damn ghetto is THAT, huh?

Pele he's NOT!

And the Latinos across the street decided to hold soccer practice...in the damn MIDDLE OF OUR STREET.
Yeah, nothing like kicking the hell out of a ball with traffic interrupting you every minute or so...right?
Not to mention, house windows can be placed at risk when an errant ball sails off the foot of someone not expert enough to control that ball.
It's not like this city has a deficit when it comes to PARKS, for God's sake. Brewer Park is only a couple blocks away...take the kids THERE to a REAL field you can kick the snot out of that ball with no repercussions...or property damage. Maybe they play soccer in the streets of some Central or South American nation's cities...not HERE on a busy residential street, you morons!

Helluva mess THERE.

Another group of Latinos at the house up the side street (where a homicide took palce last year) decided it was  "dump the house contents along the curb on the street day". Well, that's going to give me a chance to notify Neighborhood Code Enforcement, and Sold Waste to get the stuff removed. It's been out in the rain all night. Don't think we;ll have any takers for the items, which include furniture. People around here are like vultures, circling and waiting to drop down and take something for free (that they toss out later on).
*** Next up, time to stop by "Kitten Corner"...

I see other cats out there.

The "kids" were fairly good all weekend.
Sure, they had their time of craziness, chasing one another (how that can be fun inside a house is anyone's guess), and Wifey had the laser pointer out to help them use up all that excess energy.

Me too...and they're staring back.

That always works, and gives me time to get some pictures of them, as they tend to stand still a lot longer when they're tuckered out...lol.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Company"...

It's dry out now...where's the food?

Our furry twosome were also doing quite well, in spite of the rain showers over the wekend.
Feeding wasn't too bad...managed to get them food when it wasn't raining too hard.
When I mowed out front yesterday, my supervisors were among the missing...that was odd.,

Time for the synchronized grooming event.

But, they were just taking it easy in between the rain and sunshine.
And of course, they were grateful to get fed. We take good care of the four-footed homeless around here.
*** Last back to the rain gutters...as I mentioned at the open, there is much we take for granted,

And in times like these, where many have plenty, that's a very truthful claim.
How many of our poor (here) have so much more than the REALLY poor in other nations?
Yet, they take it for granted, because THEY want exactly what everyone else has,,,hardly an equitable solution.
People today (more than in generations past) have this expectation mindset, which often becomes an entitlement mindset. Most entitlements used to have certain caveats attached to them...
For example, if you felt entitled to a decent pay check...you WORKED for it, simple as that.
Nowadays, people feel entitled to everything that other HAVE worked for.
This is probably the best example of counter-productive behavior in this country.
Everyone has the same OPPORTUNITY...THAT is a given, but how one chooses to work with or exploit that opportunity determines success or failure.

Those opportunities are also taken for granted, when they should be chased after and obtained.
It's often been said that you never know what you have until it's gone. And that's the gospel truth.
We, the people, should make ourselves aware of this every single day, and attempt to hold to that which is right and just...and is never tossed aside to be taken for granted.

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