Humpday Happenings...

Okay, so we're being told we have ONE more day of this lake-effect snow shower crap, and I'm already bored with it. I don't mind snow at CHRISTMAS time, but weeks before just mucks up whatever plans you have going on before then, doesn't it? Still...we soldier on.
Our Hoosierland weather for today finds us with a frigid start to the day (single digit mornings are a real bitch), mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching to around the 32 degree mark, lighter winds and yes, scattered snow showers (expect an inch or less in Ft. Wayne and all parts south - more up north).

So, with that dispensed with, let's get ourselves  a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we take a look at what else has been going on...
*** First out of the igloo is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:
"You don't teach morals and ethics and empathy and kindness in the schools. You teach that at home, and children learn by example. "

I firmly believe this to be God's honest truth, and anyone who would deem otherwise has not been brought to understand such a wonderful and proper concept.
So, WHO said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back  at James Madison high school in Brooklyn...
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 13 -
---It's National Cocoa Day

(now if THAT isn't great timing...what is?)
---It's the National Day of the Horse

(seems like a "stable" form of transportation...lol)
---It's the National Guard Birthday

(blow out the candles)
---It's National Violin Day

(Somewhere, Sarah Chang is smiling)
---It's Pick a Pathologist Day

(doesn't it help to know WHICH ONE you might need first?)
*** Next, it might seem as if we have notched homicides number 38 and 39 for the year.

Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171213/2-found-dead-in-south-calhoun-home

This took place yesterday around 0947 hrs at a house located  at 2423 S. Calhoun St. when officers responded to a report of a suspicious person.
((The property owner called police after he heard noise coming from the upstairs of the property where he had gone to work, Officers heard what they believed to be a single gunshot from inside the home, so the department’s Emergency Services Team and Crisis Response Team were called to the scene. They sent a robot into the building that showed an unresponsive male victim inside. As the EST cleared the building a second dead male body was found.))

Interesting that it appears to be a rental that has been subdivided into TWO units (2423 A) rather than leaving it as a single family house that it once was. The house next door (2419) is ALSO a rental.
((The property is owned by Continuum Enterprises LLC, which is in the 6600 block of Sweet Wood Court, according to the Allen County assessor's office.))
Sure would seem like a double homicide, considering the police came out wearing those blue gloves (avoiding blood contact or a disturbance of a crime scene). It is being investigated AS a homicide.
*** Next up, one could use the colloquialism that it's "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey", and with that in mind, city council brought some brass balls to their meeting last evening by rejecting the king's...I mean mayor's pocket veto on the "pay to play" ordinance.

Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/12/12/ordinance-addressing-pay-to-play-survives-after-mayor-sent-it-back-unsigned/

((Veto overrides require approval of two-thirds of City Council, or six votes, to pass. Arp and Crawford were joined by Councilmen Russ Jehl, R-2nd, Tom Didier, R-3rd, Paul Ensley, R-4th, and Tom Freistroffer, R-4th, in overriding Henry's veto. Councilmen Michael Barranda, R-at large, Glynn Hines, D-6th, and Geoff Paddock, D-5th, voted against the override. The vote was identical to a Nov. 21 preliminary vote on the proposal.))
*** Next, the city touts it's "improvements". Here's that story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20171213/infrastructure-upgrades-lauded
((About $25 million was invested into 41.5 miles of asphalt resurfacing; 5.7 miles of concrete reconstruction; 9.2 miles of concrete sidewalks; 14 miles of concrete curbs; 11 miles of trails; 768 concrete ramps; and 3,000 replaced traffic signs and other work.))

One of only TWO that work in 2 blocks.

Now, any evidence I can see from our "Fortress" regarding improvements down here is a curb-strip that's been torn to hell, and a lot of street lights that are NON-functioning.
(luckily, the one near OUR house is one of two that still works).
Now, forgive me for being a bit slow on the uptake here, but I'm NOT seeing any improvements...just wholesale de-construction and apathy. I should not have to call into city hall to have street lights operational when whoever is supposed to be working on them is M.I.A.
Oh, and that former Walgreens at Southgate is STILL vacant (close to two years now)...can't seem to get a business in there, can we?
*** Next, time to back off from all the crap and instead visit "Kitten Corner"...

"Lookithebird, lookithebird, lookithebird..."

Our kids are still nice and relatively well-behaved, which pleases me to no end.
Both of them took turns bird-watching, which is nice as long as Gallifrey doesn't jump 3 feet off the floor to try and scare them off (you're not gonna catch 'em...it's double-pane glass, doofus!).

"Iseeit, Iseeit, Iseeit."

Violet is quite content to sit and watch without any acrobatics tossed in.
I can't wait to get the Christmas tree up...(actually, yes I can). That should be "fun".
*** Next up, let's take some time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

We are the Guardians of the Patio.

Our furry twosome were not the worse for wear considering the frigid conditions outside over the last 24 hours.
Neither of them missed a step when it came to eats. Have to stay well-fed to build up some "insulation" against teh cold. And, I also have to thaw the water dish several times a day so they have a decent drink.
Naturally, when the cat's were elsewhere (or napping in a shelter), the birds cam by, and we had a good crew.

The blue jays stop by for a bite. 

Bluejays and cardinals and sparrows and juncos (oh, my...heh).

Hello, your eminence.

The cats left the birds eat their fill, which was nice, but our indoor cats were very occupied at the patio door.
Let's say everyone concerned had a good time.
*** Last back to the ice cube tray...Christmas is coming like a runaway freight train down a mountain.

Funny, when I was a child, it never seemed to get here fast ENOUGH.
(has to be a "timey-wimey" thing)
And, not long after that, we'll be into another new year, and start the whole thing over again.
I have to wonder what progress will we be making as a society.
For example, with all the sexual harassment going on in most every venue known to man, I'm kinda feeling a bit left out, not that I've ever done that kinda stuff (because I haven't), but it seems to be the fad du jour.

I don't mean to minimize ACTUAL harassment by pervs...it's just that I believe much of what is being told by seemingly SO many is inherently erroneous (the law of averages would bear as much out), and meant to sensationalize, as most anything in the media seems to want to do today. This is something that bothers me about modern society.

The lack of boundaries that we've allowed comes with a price, as does most anything we do in life.
When you mix in tolerance with those lack of boundaries, it's no surprise we hear about people acting in a wrong manner, as compared to times past.
Ethical behavior and civil discourse seems to have taken an extended holiday, and we need to get those two back into our society, for the lofty precipice we face as a result of such immoral behaviors looms ever closer.
And the fall from such a height will not be without serious injury...to everyone and our nation.
Just something to think about.

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