Monday Musings - New Year Edition...

Well here we are once again...start of another week, AND a brand new year,
I like when that happens. I don't like when the classical music station (here) is OFF-AIR as the new year begins...not a good thing.
Personally, I can take these year changes or leave them - they all seem to blur one into the other.
Be nice to KNOW and not just HOPE the year will be better, wouldn't it?
(guess I'm halfway there)
Our Hoosierland weather for the start of 2018 will be (once again)...COLD with an expected high of around 15 degrees. slight winds, causing the temps to feel a LOT colder, and partly cloudy skies. Might even get us a sunrise. Oops, some snow showers this afternoon.

This weekend we'll be "warming up" to NEAR freezing temps (32 F)...can we stand the wait?
Meantime, let's get that hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa ready to go, as we see what else has been going on since last year...
*** First out of the arctic is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature
JANUARY 1 -
---It's New Year's Day

(big surprise, and rather anticlimactic)
---It's National Bloody Mary Day

(thankfully, don't need one of those)
---It's National Hangover Day

(Don't have a lick of one)
---It's National Thank God It's Monday Day

(got a lot of better things to thank God for than Monday)
*** Next up, we seemed to have "gotten off light" in the mayhem department of Fort Wayne.
Last night, the tally was TWO people shot and ONE stabbed.

It could have been another Colorado situation.
Here's the stories:
http://wane.com/2018/01/01/2-hurt-in-new-years-day-bar-shooting/
And here:
http://wane.com/2018/01/01/man-critically-hurt-in-stabbing-1-in-custody/

And neither one was in what we could consider the SE side...frigging amazing.
*** Next, but that doesn't mean the natives were NOT restless down here.
We (as always) had our share of GUNFIRE, but it didn't last AS long, although there were some CLOSE ones going off. Areas north went on for an hour.
It doesn't appear that anything caused any damage, but I'll check today.
You can't be too sure around here, since the locals never pay attention to all the PSAs tossed out there by the media and police department. Too many of the WRONG people having guns and doing the WRONG thing with them.
(welcome to urban living among minority groups)
But, I will add that the Latino population around us didn't take part in all the ghetto-esque celebration - they kept to themselves and stayed nice and quiet. The blacks around here might want to take a hint from those people.
*** Next up, we ended last year getting that new dryer, and since I tried to keep expenses to a minimum, had to install the unit MYSELF.

Hardly know it's been removed

No real big deal, but I had to remove the door jamb trim to even get the unit into the laundry room (who designs these houses, anyway?).
I reused the power cord and flexible duct from the old dryer (they were both in good shape) then hit the start button...
(and prayed)
BINGO...we have a winner, and did a celebratory load of laundry as a result. The dryer worked fine enough.

And now, a "matched set".

Guess all we have to do now is get a new range and a couple TVs...LOL
(not right away, thank you)
*** Next, Wifey and I spent last evening watching television. I opted for switching between the Stargate SG-1 marathon  and the Twilight Zone marathon.

She watched the TZ marathon during commercial breaks of the CNN New Year's Eve celebration with resident gays Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (what IS it with BRAVO channel and women, anyway?).

Gay liberalism at it's best (or worst).

I could not even tell you what channel we had on when the ball dropped...I was that "interested".
But, we toasted with some Aste and hit the sack an hour or so later.
So much for OUR celebration.
*** Next up, let's see what's shaking at "Kitten Corner"...

The kids were pretty good for the most part, and that means all weekend. Little to scold them for, and that's fine.

I iz just gonna be adorable in 2018.

The Christmas tree remains standing (a success), Ornaments still hanging (ditto).
When the noise started at 12, they got a bit antsy, and who can blame them, right?

Lord, just keep the crazy people away.

Overall, a decent end to last year, and a good beginning to this one.
*** Next up, let us stop to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Our furry twosome were weathering the frigid conditions well, and didn't miss a meal all weekend.
That was a real relief, I can tell you.

I earn my food - I guard the sidewalk!

Just to see them BOTH at the patio door each morning was cause enough for smiles.
They got warm wet food yesterday and yes, I had to thaw the stinking water dish out several times a day. I filled it with tepid water, which they seemed to like better than all the snow and ice around them.

And I will guard the patio and the food...

Honestly, if there was ANY way to bring them inside until the deep freeze abates, we would certainly do so in a heartbeat, but the practicality with our indoor cats just doesn't warrant it. I still hug Midnight and Whiskers when I go out (even if they don't really seem to enjoy it as they should...lol).
*** Last back to the Scott expedition...it never ceases to amaze me how brazen people can be.

Toss out the common sense.

Look at the celebratory gunfire in Ft. Wayne.
It's all around, even if it doesn't last as long as in years past, but to not see ANY police cars cruising the area is disturbing, and something I will probably never get used to.
Back in Philly, we had enough officers to have patrols, and our neighborhood wasn't even close to being as rough as this current one is (and has been for 20 years).

Human nature is something that apparently cannot be changed by the flip of a calendar page. Some people just will not bow to laws that were written to make everyone safe...and yet demand justice whenever they are "wronged".
As always, it will come down to a society's sense or level of MORALITY.
Those who don't have it, need it.
And for those of us who DO know right from wrong...well, we'll always (also) have HOPE.
We don't need a stupid calendar for that...right?

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