(Black) Friday Follies...

Let the chaos commence...right?
(sharpen up those shoulders so you can push and shove your way through the maelstrom)
JUST to grab some "bargain"?
People have been ignoring family (and Thanksgiving) to park their asses at some store, having to deal with cold overnight temps (yes, they camp out for DAYS)
Is some stupid "thing" worth more to these people than family? Apparently so.
We'll get into this later on...
Our Hoosierland weather brings us mostly SUNNY skies (for a change), and temps reaching all the way up to around 53 degrees (balmy), with absolutely no chance of rain today (amazing).

Now, let's get this weekend off to a good start with a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, so we can chase the last of the chill away, as we see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the fridge is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
NOVEMBER 24 -
---It's Black Friday

(more like black EYE Friday...lol)
---It's Buy Nothing Day

(now THAT is MY kind of day after Thanksgiving)
---It's Maize Day

(a kinda corny observance of you ask me)
---It's National Day of Listening

(tell that to the liberals out there...if they even pay attention)
---It's National Flossing Day

(shoulda done that after dinner YESTERDAY)
---It's National Native-American Heritage Day

(sure beats that dumbass day of mourning in Plymouth)
---It's National Sardine Day

(sorry, gonna be working on turkey and ham for the next week)
---It's You're Welcomegiving Day

(obviously a contrived observance)
*** Next, and since it IS the end of the rolling week, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours.
NOVEMBER 25 -
---Saturday is Blase Day

(wow, a day that mirrors the manner the city treats the SE side...astounding)
---It's Shopping Reminder Day

(I KNOW...one month left...geez!)
---It's Small Business Saturday

(no crowds there, thank God)
---It's National Parfait Day

(sounds like a keeper)
NOVEMBER 26 -
---Sunday is National Cake Day

(cake? Say...no...more...!)
---It's National Cookie Day

(wow...cake AND cookies...I am SO there)
There we are then...plenty to do OTHER than suffer the crowds and lack of parking, right?
Always remember to observe responsibly.
*** Next up, yes, we can't seem to have a single weekend (or holiday for that matter) pass by in Fort Wayne without someone shooting someone else.

And it's another homicide to boot.  Here's what's known so far:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171124/clerk-shot-killed-in-robbery

This took place last night around 2010 hrs at the Meijer gas station along Lima Rd (NW).
And the white piece of shit aka a "person of interest" in the photo (ID'ed as Victor Manuel Rivera)just may be the shooter, who killed a clerk working there. Police have detained him, charges pending.

(the other clerk was in the cooler doing stock work and didn't hear the shots)
Let's call this HOMICIDE NUMBER 32 for the year (our last homicide was back on 7 November - we can still reach 35 easily).

Sure makes the case about NOT wanting to work at any of these convenient stores / gas stations around town (unless you're behind several inches of BALLISTIC GLASS!).
*** Next, regarding Black Friday...

I am (still) one of the 30% of all Americans who will NOT shop today, and I'm damn proud of that accomplishment.
And since seemingly ANY "minority" gets the ear of anyone these days, I should be looking to grab some ACLU ambulance-chasing slacker and get them to sue a crapload of others who are dismissing us due to racial, religious, or gender, or shopping-related beliefs. It does have the novelty of never having been tried yet, right?

I've never shopped the day after Thanksgiving. There was plenty of time to shop LONG before the holiday season arrived, and there is always that month after Thanksgiving to work with, as well.
And, I'm sorry, but I can always find a good deal for most anything...IF I am willing to search for it (the Internet makes that SO much easier than in the past, I will admit to that).
Plus, I don't have to deal with shoppers who are SO damn distracted (as they shop) they might run into you with a cart, or drive into you while YOU search (forever) for a damn parking spot on the lot.

I figure the law of averages is like the "Force"...it is WITH ME if I take today off from shopping.
(think of as a Jedi-shopping-mind thing...lol)
The last thing I want for the holidays is a hefty hospital or car repair bill...and I'm sure you would agree.
Save the bills for the ACTUAL shopping, hmm?
*** Next, there are times when I seriously wonder WTF is wrong with some people.

Take something as SIMPLE as parking a damn vehicle.
Seems this time of year becomes the worst for performing this function, and you don't even have to drive to a parking lot to see it.

All you have to do is drive down almost ANY street on the SE side...where people LOVE to park on the FRONT LAWNS of the house they're living in (no doubt government-sponsored). That's when they're not otherwise busy parking THE WRONG WAY on the damn streets (or double-parking).

Now, they aren't blocking a street (here), so you can't really call the police, BUT, it IS in violation of city code.
If you have something called a STREET, you're supposed to park THERE. Ditto for a DRIVEWAY or in a GARAGE.
But NOT on the damn lawn...that is SO effin GHETTO!
Then again, you have to "consider the source", don't you?
*** Next up, time to see what's shaking over at "Kitten Corner"...
The kids were well behaved yesterday, but I have to admit that both of them were "curious" about what was going on with our dining room table (which we always have dinner at on Thanksgiving...and sometimes Christmas)

A nice spread for the day

I suppose they were trying to help, but I've been to this rodeo enough times - no assistance required.
While Wifey and I were eating, we did have "visitors" at tableside...just like the old days. Gallifrey even tried to get on my chair (behind me).

"Just checking for crumbs."

I told both of them that if they wait, they will get some turkey (which they both did...and loved it)
Later on, I had supervision as I cleared the table and got things back to normal.

Violet preferred to monitor from a distance, and keep watch to make sure the living room didn't go anywhere.
It's good to have them with us...very good.
*** Next, let's check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Our little furry twosome got more than they were expecting, as they both got a can of turkey and giblets cat food.
But that wasn't all. They ALSO got some turkey from our table at midday AND at late afternoon.

Now THAT they simple loved...and the proof was on their plates...they ate everything but the color pattern off the earthenware...LOL.

I can haz MORE tomorrow?

Wifey and I were truly thankful that this pair of cuties chose to have us as their place of refuge.
And the best part...these cats get to have more turkey (as long as the leftovers hold out...heh).
*** Last back to the kitchen counter...we are finally in the official holiday season.

The next step is to put up Christmas decorations, but that won't happen until after Pearl harbor Day (just a personal preference "thing" with me).
And, with our cats being more "spunky" and less cautious than last year, we'll most likely put up fewer decorations (less for them to "play" with...or break, should they get to chasing one another).
On one cable channel, they had that fireplace video program...kinda nice. The Christmas music was cool (I was playing "name that tune" with who was singing). But this year, they had kittens and puppies running around as well. That was really cute.
It's little things such as that which helps my holiday spirit awaken...and not some "sale" at some store where people camp out days prior.
It's the red-kettle brigade at store fronts, too. Always got a few bucks for them.
As I get older, the appreciation I have for the holidays seems to deepen, and not from a commercial standpoint.
I have come to cherish times past at this time of year, and feel pity for those out there who have NO idea what the holidays SHOULD mean, while they scurry about, paying as little attention to everything as they have their phones all but surgically-attached to the sides of their primate heads.

This is a great time of year, and doesn't need to be marred by the crime that we see, the morons who are oblivious to the rest of the world, or anything that detracts for the REAL meaning of the season.
When we start to remember the importance of these two holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), then we will start to remember how wonderful life is supposed to be, and how we should conduct ourselves accordingly.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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