Friday Follies...

Here we are once again...at the end of another week (and the last Friday for the first month of this year). Next Friday it'll be next month.
The deep-freezing spell we had earlier, made this month seem longer than usual (to me, anyway).
Hopefully, we're done with the latest bout of "global warming"...lol.
Our Hooiserland weather for today will bring us mostly sunny skies, temps reaching all the way up fifty-two (that's 52) degrees, but it will come with a price in the way of windy conditions (guess we'll still have a wind-chill then).
At least whatever snow has been lingering will be gone (until the next such event). We'll be stuck with rain instead.

"To peace...and weekends!"

Now, what say we start the weekend with a cup or glass of Friday Fortitude, as we venture forth and see what else has been going on...hmm?
*** First out of the coffee maker is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 26 -
---It's National Big Wig Day

(they didn't say it would necessarily be orange...)
---It's National Green Juice Day

(in our house, that means it went bad a while ago...toss it)
---It's National Peanut Brittle Day

(for me, it's only good when it's fresh)
---It's National Spouses Day

(does not apply to boyfriends oft he month though, right?)
*** Next, and since the end of the week is nigh, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
JANUARY 27 -
---Saturday is National Chocolate Cake Day

(that could be EVERY day at the "Fortress"...heh)
---It's National Seed Swap Day

(not even thinking about anything "gardening" at the moment)
JANUARY 28 -
---It's Data Privacy Day

(good luck with THAT one, folks)
---It's National Blueberry Pancake Day

(betcha IHOP will be real busy this weekend)
---It's National Fun At Work Day

(you think they'd call this one ON a stinking work day, right?)
---It's National Kazoo Day

(church hymns and kazoos...now that's different)
There you have it. Plenty to observe over the weekend.
Always be sure to have a designated observer...just in case.
*** Next up, a novel idea from our own Sheriff. Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/37353566/sheriff-people-who-repeatedly-od-on-opioids-should-pay-for-narcan-that-revives-them

What a great way to recoup the cost of the Narcan being used for people who OD...make THEM pay for it, especially if they're repeat drug abusers.
I mean, if these dopers can afford the drugs themselves, why not also be "able to afford" the cure when they choose to put all that poison in their veins...sounds reasonable to me.
Sheriff Dave Gladieux has seen what I have said for a long time:
(("When this program first started a couple years back there were government grants that paid for it 100%. And we took advantage of that along with many other agencies across this country. Well, that's no longer available, so now the bill's on us," Gladieux says.))
Yep...NEVER come to "rely" on grant money...it's never there FOREVER, is it?

Grants are meant to be one-time deals. Some can be bid upon each year...IF funding is there.
But, sooner or later, that well WILL dry up, and then someone's gotta pay the tab for any continuance of whatever program was grant-funded in the past.
*** Next, A yearly Fort Wayne tradition continues. Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/37347077/mizpah-shrine-circus-returns-to-fort-wayne

Yes, the Mizpah Shrine Circus is back in town for another run.
(the commercials on television have been on for a couple weeks).
See...and you thought the ONLY "circus" was found down at City Hall...shame on you...LOL.

This Mizpah circus is the REAL deal...accept no substitutes (no matter what political party they're from).
*** Next up, a new feature, that I will affectionately call: My Weekly Chuckle.
And once you read it, you'll understand why. Here's the story link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/01/26/fort-wayne-community-schools-will-use-federal-grant-that-could-total-nearly-50-million-to-boost-student-achievement-teacher-effectiveness/

Grant money (uh-oh, here we go again) will be available (about $50 MIL, in fact), which is supposed to improve (do swallow any drinks first) teacher effectiveness and student achievement.
I know that might cause you to spit your drink on the keyboards)

How's about this...take the education system BACK to when I was in school and we HAD better student achievement AS WELL AS teacher effectiveness?
Better yet, why not dismantle the entire Department of Education and instead let the states and local municipalities run the show (which would be a damn sight better than the feds, who have destroyed education since 1979...look it up).

 

Time to reinvent some more wheels, it would seem.
It's like Daja Vu...all over again.
*** Next, time to find out "What on God's green earth has Bob bought on eBay THIS time?"

Well, I managed to snag a loose six inch action figure of Peter Quill aka Star Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy comics and movies, and I have to say, it 's a good sculpt of Chris Pratt.
Even comes with a second head (wearing the red-eyed mask), and comes with the dual elemental blasters.
It's a very well-articulated figure and is in scale with my Captain America figure I got last year.

But, the best part was that I got the figure for LESS than half price ($8 and that includes shipping) of the retail cost ($20)!
Always get a bargain...or don't bother and wish you had...Hey, I should make that my online shopping motto.
*** Next up, time to drop by our "Kitten Corner"...

A comfy perch to watch some birds.

The kids did okay yesterday...only had to chide and not actually scold them for the usual stuff (getting up on the counter tops, chasing each other with abandon, and the like).
At least there was some bird-watching going on (pay-per-mew), and required napping several times a day.

I can't look THAT serious, can I?

Playing with their toys is becoming more common, and that's funny to watch them, as they get so "serious" when tossing about a little fuzzy jingle ball. That would make a good video, but they move way too much for a still shot.
(sorry, I don't do blurry pictures...much)
*** Next, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...
Well, there were no OTHER "visitors" yesterday...just our own furry twosome.

The snow is melting finally.

And neither of them missed a meal...or last call when we do hand-held treats.

They take turns taking it from my hand, although Midnight gets a bit demonstrative and paws at my hand. Whiskers just waits her turn, but will place both her paws on my hand to make sure that treat doesn't get away...lol.

Where's the weird guy with those treats?

Later that night (when Wifey came home) Whiskers was outside waiting to greet her, so she (and I) spent some time rubbing her soft fur (and she rubbed against our legs). I thought she'd be in the shelter.
Musta enjoyed her "night out". They're both so damn cute.
*** Last back to the toaster...I wonder if we'll start THIS weekend off with a bang (or more)?

Still finding out?

Seems every week in Fort Wayne begins with a shooting. Like last night, there was a story about ANOTHER person dropped off to Parkview, suffering a gunshot wound. All that was said was that the victim was in stable condition...nothing since.
That seems to be the "new" M.O. for the mooks in the city, especially those from our part of town (SE).
I just wish these idiots would figure some way to get their collective crap together and start acting like PEOPLE, instead of sub-human creatures spawned from the lower levels of Hades.

It doesn't take that much to turn from being a bad person, but it DOES require a little work on one's part. That appears to be the sticking point with these people..the LACK of desire to work at ANYTHING (that isn't self-serving and instantly self-gratifying).
Sorry, life's not like that, for there are ALWAYS consequences (to any action...or inaction for that matter).
They've never been brought up to understand such a basic concept, and I wonder if all that money being tossed at FWCS would even make a dent in the comprehension to students along these lines.
Well, we can always hope (and pray).
Let's trust that we don't run out of everyone else's money before such a scholastic goal is achieved.
That would be a REAL crime against everyone.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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