Thoughts For Thursday...

That was a pretty decent rain event we had late yesterday and overnight. Had some thunder and lightning and windy conditions, too.
Sure helps to drown out the boom cars that drive by to all hours. Plus, it helps water the plants we just bought. Good to see Mother Nature lending a hand now and then.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us decreasing clouds as the day progresses. Temps will top out at a more moderate high of around 72 degrees (comfy). Hopefully, we'll see more sunshine as the day wears on.

It's nice when Stark grabs the tab.

Now, how's about we all go get that morning drink prepared, as we see what else has been going on, okay?
*** First off of the really wet lawn is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"I profoundly believe it takes a lot of practice to become a moral slob."

This attributed to none other than William F. Buckley, Jr (November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008) who (aside from being featured here back in 2015) was an American conservative author and commentator. And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_F._Buckley_Jr.
((He founded National Review magazine in 1955, which had a major impact in stimulating the conservative movement; hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line (1966–1999), where he became known for his transatlantic accent and wide vocabulary and wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column along with numerous spy novels.))
It's a good read, and (to me) he's someone this nation could (still) benefit from, as did a generation that grew up knowing about him.
You'd be hard pressed to find such a person these days.
*** Next up, it's time once again for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
MAY 10 -
---It's National Clean Up Your Room Day

(obviously applies to kids and teen, right?)
---It's National  Lipid Day

(we certainly need THOSE)
---It's National Shrimp Day

(Wifey took care of this a couple days ago, thanks to Long John Silvers)
*** Next, an update to the 17th homicide this year. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180509/coroner-ids-latest-homicide-victim
Oh, before you throw a pity party for the recently-deceased, you might want to take a look at the victim's RAP SHEET: (Warning - it IS lengthy)
ALISTAIR CORDELL STEPHENS
02D04-9703-CM-001956
03/24/1997
Allen Superior Court 6
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
FAILURE TO USE LIGHTS
12/22/1997
Allen Superior Court 4
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
05/26/1998
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
02/01/1999
Allen Superior Court 4
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
BATTERY (A)
03/09/2000
Allen Superior Court 4
CF - Criminal Felony Decided
ATTEMPT ROBBERY (Attempt to Commit)
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
03/15/2000
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
FALSE INFORMING (B)
VIOL NOISE ORDINANCE (FW)
10/29/2001
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
DOMESTIC BATTERY
01/25/2002
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
04/01/2002
Allen Superior Court 6
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal Decided
P.C. POINT LOADED FIREARM
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
04/19/2002
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
12/04/2003
Allen Superior Court 4
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal Decided
P.C. HABITUAL TRAFF. OFF.
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
IMPROPER HEADLIGHT
12/08/2003
Allen Circuit Court
FD - Class D Felony Decided
HABITUAL TRAFFIC VIOLATOR
06/02/2006
Allen Superior Court 5
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal Decided
P.C.HABITUAL TRA OFF(LIFE)
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
06/07/2006
Allen Circuit Court
FC - Class C Felony Decided
OPERATING VEHICLE AFTER LIFETIME SUSPENSION
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA HASH OIL OR HASHISH
04/09/2007
Allen Superior Court 5
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
FALSE INFORMING (B)
04/24/2008
Allen Superior Court 4
CM - Criminal Misdemeanor Decided
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
05/04/2009
Allen Superior Court 6
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal Decided
P.C.HABITUAL TRA OFF(LIFE)
P.C. RESISTING LAW ENFORC
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
FAILURE TO USE LIGHTS
05/07/2009
Allen Circuit Court
FC - Class C Felony Decided
OPERATING A VEHICLE AFTER LIFETIME SUSPENSION
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
06/18/2009
Allen Superior Court 6
FC - Class C Felony Decided
BATTERY
STRANGULATION
RESIDENTIAL ENTRY
INTERFERENCE WITH THE REPORTING OF A CRIME
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
126163
03/08/2011
Allen Superior Court 4
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal (Citation) Decided
9-30-10-17/FC: Oper Motor Vehi After Lifetime Forfeiture of Driving Privileges
03/10/2011
Allen Circuit Court
FC - Class C Felony Pending
9-30-10-17/FC: Oper Motor Vehi After Lifetime Forfeiture of Driving Privileges
08/25/2015
Allen Superior Court 4
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal (Citation) Decided
35-48-4-6(a)/F6: Possession of a Narcotic Drug
35-48-4-7(a)/MA: Possession of a Controlled Substance
08/28/2015
Allen Superior Court 6
F6 - Felony 6 Decided
35-48-4-6(a)/F6: Possession of a Narcotic Drug
35-48-4-7(a)/MA: Possession of a Controlled Substance
000074400831
08/31/2015
Allen Superior Court 6
IF - Infraction Decided
35-48-4-11.5/IFB: Possession of a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Look Alike Substance
04/12/2018
Allen Superior Court 4
MC - Miscellaneous Criminal (Citation) Decided
35-43-2-1/F2: Burglary with a deadly weapon.
35-47-2-1/F5: Carrying a Handgun w/o a License Carrying w/o a license on or w/in 500 ft of school o
35-43-2-2(a)(4)/MA: Criminal Trespass
35-43-1-2(a)/MB:Criminal Mischief
04/17/2018
Allen Superior Court 6
F2 - Felony 2 Pending
35-43-2-1/F2: Burglary with a deadly weapon.
35-47-2-1/F5:Felon Carrying a Handgun Def has a prior felony conviction w/in last 15 years.
35-43-1-2(a)/MB:Criminal Mischief
=====ADDRESSES====most recent first=========
  3409 Robinwood Dr Fort Wayne, IN 46806
  320 E ButlerSt Fort Wayne, IN 46803
  Allen County Jail 417 S Calhoun St Fort Wayne, IN 46802
  2716 Marcy Ln Fort Wayne, IN 46806
  1314 Capitol Av Fort Wayne, IN 46806
  6311 Chaddsford DrFort Wayne, IN 46816
  3318 Oliver St Fort Wayne, IN 46806
============================================
A pretty "busy" individual...been in the court system as long as I've been married.
And obviously did NOT learn a single thing from ALL those arrests (and convictions).
Many times, the way that you LIVE...is the way you will DIE.
*** Next up, and speaking of those who NEVER learn a damn thing, our "neighbors" seemed to be at it again.

The first of 3 cars - this is a K-9 unit

Yesterday, the FWPD made another visit to the "Battling Bickersons" house.

Got his trashbag of "stuff".

This time, they did take away an older black male (wonder if he's the one I heard shout "I'll kill you" the other day?
He has trouble walking and looks to be impaired, but you never can tell.

The officers did a good job helping him in.

Now, all we need is for anyone ELSE living there to move away...that would be a VERY good start.
*** Next, The Allen County Sheriff, Dave Gladieux has come up with a tried and true method to kill two birds with one stone. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20180509/WEB/180509776

Inmate Road Crews...to pick up trash along roads...proof that there IS a GOD.
I've always been a proponent of such tactics. It cleans the roads, makes things look nicer, and the inmates get to see what they're missing by being incarcerated, like fresh air, sunshine...and something we call FREEDOM. Maybe they can sing some spirituals to pass the time, too.
Yeah, I'm liking this...a lot.
How's about sending a crew down HERE to clean up our STREETS (that could become a daily job for the perps)
*** Next up, we've all heard about the WHERE'S WALDO? thing, but what abiout the WHERE'S BOB? gig?

Wonder no longer. Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38155769/where-is-bob
Yeah, FWCS bus drivers would LOVE to know where Bob Rinearson is these days, because he is apparently STILL NEEDED.
I guess the school system doesn't have quite the security presence it used to have when Rinearson was employed BY the school system...a shame (for the kids).
It's not the first time that FWCS screwed up, and you can bet the farm it WON'T be the last.
Rinearson is suing FWCS for wrongful termination.
At this point, I would doubt it's about money (except for pay missed during this time)...it's about principle.
They need to hire the man back and issue a public apology.
*** Next, looks like it's time for another session of:
"What on God's green earth has (this) Bob bought on eBay now?"

Let's just say I scored a coup recently with the purchase of some DVDs.
I got Thor: Ragnarok AND Spiderman: Homecoming...brand new and still in shrink wrap.

Now THAT'S a "two-fer".

As usual, the PRICE was the clincher here.
Got BOTH of them for LESS than the price of either one (retail)...about $12 and change for both (including shipping)/ Take THAT, Amazon!

Just pick the size.

I'm feeling there's a double-feature movie night at the "Fortress" coming soon..to a living room near us.
Time to fire up the microwave and make some serious popcorn!
*** Next up, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...
Although the kids did get a bit "shy" when the thunder started late last evening, they were well behaved for the majority of the day.

I see clouds coming outside.

They spend the day looking outside, She just spends a little time at a window, while he always has to go from window to window...and then back again to another window.

Violet sees things a bit "differently".

Sometimes, I wonder WHERE he gets all that energy. It tires me out just watching him.
But, you can't keep them away when it's time to eat...that much is certain.
*** Next, let's check in with "Midnight and Company"...

I'm just happy to be here.

Our furry twosome were nearby for part of the day. Whiskers took off across the street at warp speed when I was out front with the string trimmer. Midnight was watching me on the sidewalk until he saw her, and then HE followed. She missed lunch again, but he was here. By dinner, both were back on the patio.

I'm here when I HAVE to be.

She scares me the way she dashes across the street, and I try to "tell" her it's not a good thing to do in this area.
Kids...what can you do, right? LOL.
*** Last back to the tool shed...there are people out there who choose the wrong path in life.

And it's easy to spot them.
Hell, we ALL wander off the right path once in a while (that's what a "moral compass" is for), but some like that (wrong) path.
Thing is, these people don't seem to care HOW such a trek will affect them or their families, friends, or whoever cares about them.
Everything begins with SELF, but it's a balancing act...a form of "moderation" has to be employed. lest a person comes to serve and love him/her self. Self-serving people are the takers of the world, and again, are easy to spot.
Those who live to serve others in any capacity know a lot more about themselves that those who do not.

A sense of self is necessary for all of us. Being SELF-sufficient, SELF-reliant, an SELF-aware is a darn good start.
It allows us to be better attuned to others and by that, able to help, to share, and to love.
Life is way to short to go about serving yourself to the exclusion of everyone else.
And maybe if those who practice that mantra were to turn away from it, their lives might become a lot more fulfilling.
A pretty good old fashioned thought, right?

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