Tuesday Tidbits...

Yesterday was certainly a welcome relief. Didn't see any rain (that was forecast), and that suits me fine. Seen plenty and why wasn't it all back in APRIL when we're supposed to get it?
In any event, today promises to be a bit better, even if the temps rise a bit.
Our Hoosierland weather for our area will bring us partly cloudy skies, temps climbing to around 80 degrees, and yes, a "chance" of showers during the day (when is anyone's guess).

So let's get ourselves a nice drink to start the hydration process, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the rafters is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JULY 24 -
---It's National Amelia Earhart Day

(now she's worth reading about)
---It's National Cousins Day

(and we all have them, don't we?)
---It's National Drive-Thru Day

(remember, not ALL buildings fit that criteria)
---It's National Tequila Day

(never developed a taste for that)
---It's National Thermal Engineer Day

(someone's got to do it)
*** Next, since it is another Tuesday, let's take a look at all the FWPD calls that we should be aware of, because these impact us all.
JUL 16 - JUL 22:
SHOTS FIRED ((113)) - ARMED ROBBERY((53)) -  VANDALISM BY GUNFIRE  ((23,113))
=======================================
18F083983 07/16/2018 10:30pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 WEST DR
18F084009 07/16/2018 11:09pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3900 E MAPLE GROVE AV
18F084008 07/16/2018 11:15pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 SHERATAN DR
18F084487 07/17/2018 11:54pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3700 E WASHINGTON BLVD
18F084529 07/18/2018 03:50am 113 SHOTS FIRED S ANTHONY BLVD & E CREIGHTON AV
18F084916 07/18/2018 11:20pm 113 SHOTS FIRED OXFORD ST & EUCLID AVE
18F084920 07/18/2018 11:38pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 KOONS ST
18F084947 07/19/2018 12:47am 113 SHOTS FIRED ELMWOOD AV & ONEIDA St
18F084950 07/19/2018 01:06am 113 SHOTS FIRED 5600 OLD DOVER BLVD
18F085031 07/19/2018 09:43am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4800 IVY BROOK DR
18F085372 07/20/2018 01:39am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3000 WINTER ST OXFORD
18F085682 07/20/2018 07:06pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 ELMWOOD AV NORTHSIDE
18F085722 07/20/2018 09:23pm 113 SHOTS FIRED E PETTIT AV & S CALHOUN ST
18F085797 07/21/2018 01:03am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2100 EBY AV
18F085818 07/21/2018 02:53am 113 SHOTS FIRED W COLUMBIA ST & S HARRISON ST
18F086129 07/21/2018 10:29pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2100 SENIOR DR
18F086204 07/22/2018 03:15am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 E RUDISILL BLVD
18F086489 07/22/2018 10:43pm 113 SHOTS FIRED ARCHER AV & MERIDIAN ST
18F086493 07/22/2018 11:05pm 113 SHOTS FIRED NEW HAVEN AV & EDSALL AV
================================================================
18F086411 07/22/2018 07:17pm 23,113 7700 DIANE DR
================================================================
18F084092 07/17/2018 05:59am 53 ARMED ROB 1200 THIRD ST
18F084141 07/17/2018 09:33am 53 ARMED ROB 1500 SPY RUN AV
18F084228 07/17/2018 01:35pm 53 ARMED ROB 700 CANDLELITE CT
18F084817 07/18/2018 06:28pm 53 ARMED ROB 6700 BLUFFTON RD
18F085893 07/21/2018 11:42am 53 ARMED ROB 4400 WARSAW ST
================================================================
18F086253 07/22/2018 10:09am 56 MOLESTING 3900 E STATE BLVD
================================================================
18F084077 07/17/2018 04:25am 58 SHOOTING W FOURTH ST & N HARRISON ST
18F084528 07/18/2018 03:42am 58 SHOOTING S ANTHONY BLVD & E CREIGHTON AV
18F085192 07/19/2018 05:12pm 58 SHOOTING 4000 HOAGLAND AV
18F085819 07/21/2018 03:00am 58 SHOOTING 700 BROADWAY
================================================================
18F083637 07/16/2018 05:10am 59 CUTTING/STAB 2200 RANDALLIA DR
================================================================
18F083627 07/16/2018 03:46am 61JO 2700 W COLISEUM BLVD
18F083809 07/16/2018 03:07pm 61 RAPE 2200 LAKE AV
18F084464 07/17/2018 10:43pm 61 RAPE 3000 HARVESTER AV
18F085103 07/19/2018 02:14pm 61 RAPE 2200 RANDALLIA DR
18F085113 07/19/2018 02:22pm 61 RAPE 2800 DUPONT COMMERCE CT
18F085496 07/20/2018 11:17am 61 RAPE 00 E MAIN ST
=================================================================
18F084860 07/18/2018 08:31pm 75 PURSUIT FLORENCE AV & SHORT ST
18F086448 07/22/2018 08:33pm 75 PURSUIT 1700 SPRING ST
=================================================================
Plus 7 narcotics calls (WOW!)
=================================================================
Fireworks calls JUL 16 - JUL 22:
18F083603 07/16/2018 01:27am 44FW 1100 FRANKLIN AV
18F083885 07/16/2018 05:52pm 44FW 800 W PACKARD AV
18F083949 07/16/2018 08:32pm 44FW 900 NUTTMAN AV
18F083973 07/16/2018 09:17pm 44FW HIGH ST & RUNNION AV
18F083984 07/16/2018 10:32pm 44FW 1400 HIGH ST
18F084457 07/17/2018 09:23pm 44FW 100 E DEWALD ST
18F084450 07/17/2018 09:33pm 44FW 3100 THOMPSON AV
18F084452 07/17/2018 10:01pm 44FW HILLSIDE AV & SALLIE AV
18F084486 07/17/2018 11:58pm 44FW HIGH ST & RUNNION AV
18F084922 07/18/2018 11:42pm 44FW BROADWAY & TAYLOR ST
18F084926 07/18/2018 11:53pm 44FW 300 S CORNELL CIR
18F085260 07/19/2018 08:01pm 44FW BLUM DR & ALBERT DR
18F085292 07/19/2018 09:35pm 44FW ANTEBELLUM BLVD & WAKASHAN PL
18F085330 07/19/2018 11:00pm 44FW 3500 S ANTHONY BLVD
18F085723 07/20/2018 09:31pm 44FW BUELL DR & W BELMONT ST
18F085754 07/20/2018 11:19pm 44FW NEWPORT AV & RIDGEWOOD DR
18F085801 07/21/2018 01:19am 44FW N HARRISON ST & PUTNAM ST
18F086107 07/21/2018 09:48pm 44FW 2500 SPY RUN AV
18F086126 07/21/2018 10:04pm 44FW 6600 MILLWRIGHTS CT
18F086122 07/21/2018 10:18pm 44FW 2400 S HARRISON ST
18F086136 07/21/2018 10:54pm 44FW 7200 KAREN CT
18F086361 07/22/2018 04:38pm 44FW 4500 S COLONIAL AV
18F086470 07/22/2018 09:37pm 44FW MARAVILLA DR & VIDA DR
18F086471 07/22/2018 09:43pm 44FW 5300 WHEELOCK RD
18F086476 07/22/2018 10:01pm 44FW W PACKARD AV & INDIANA AV
==========================================================
(some folks have too much time and fireworks on their primate paws, don;'t they?
*** Next, I'm one of those people who knows the value of statistics (as long as no one skews them, which is something ELSE I look for), so here we bring you a compilation of various stats pertaining to our fair state of INDIANA and how it ranks in certain areas...enjoy:
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana

There are some very revealing numbers (not all good), especially that "quality-of-life"  and "natural environment" aspects.
Hey, at least we're fiscally stable and have lots of opportunity.
Personally, we can always do better, but there are factions at work, always trying to undermine whatever real progress we attempt.
Maybe that's why Iowa is doing much better than we are.
*** Next up, a recent faith forum has left me with more questions than answers. Read for yourself and decide:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20180723/faith-forum-demands-end-to-ice-detainments

((Along with calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainments, speakers advocated for investments in early childhood education, jail diversion programs and strategies to reduce homicide rates.
The Families First platform is an initiative of Faith in Indiana and Act Indiana.))
So, there IS an underlying purpose to get rid of ICE...doesn't smack that much of "faith" as I have come to know it.
I thought it would have had more to do with preserving AMERICAN families, because, Lord knows what USED to be a traditional family is fast falling by the wayside, causing many of today's problems in our society.
*** Next, time to take it easy with a visit to "Kitten Corner"...

Well, my chair's taken...

The kids had a good day, as did we humans. Violet is getting more affectionate as she matures. She will see me watching television on the couch and come up and lay down between my legs more often. Gallifrey just jumps up, startles me, and tilts his head for a rub.

And, so is the other chair...

He's still got that "clumsy affection" thing going on...lol.
But, he hasn't got the "we like to hold you and cuddle you" gig  down pat. Sooner or later he will give in and come to like it...
They all do eventually.
*** Next up, let's do our daily check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Hey, I'm just the gatekeeper here.

Our furry twosome were nearby all day, which is a good thing for all of us.
While Midnight still has to do his "rounds" in the area, Whiskers just likes staying close to the (food) action.

"Iz my twisty back a yoga?"

And there is always the feline yoga thing happening.
How they can contort their bodes in such a fashion is amazing.
*** Last back to the cellar...Overall, I think Indiana is not a "bad" state.

The Wabash down in Vincennes

In fact, it's a pretty good state, and that comes from a person who hailed from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where there is a LOT of natural beauty (as long as you go from any major city to find it).
I suppose that's the thing these days.,.,.finding that elusive beauty.
When I was young, you could walk to a neighborhood park and (other than playing on the swing set) you could see a bit of nature.
Pennypack Park (for me) was a favorite haunt...great to hike, or later on, bicycle through (about 10 miles in fact).

One of several falls in Pennypack.

Here in Indiana, you have your share of natural beauty, but it seems to becoming harder to find, unless you travel on the state roads.

That's gonna leave a mark.

Progress at good for any city (or state), but when you encroach on that which is intended to be viewed and enjoyed, you have to think "where will it end?"  It's like he old Joni Mitchell song (Big Yellow Taxi) - "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot".
Fellow blogger Chris Martin can tell you how the area adjacent to the river up north has been made smaller over the past several years...for the "sake" of more soccer fields...(?).
It also applies to how I feel about our area down south here...
In too many ways, we are finding out that you really DON'T know what you've got 'til it's gone.

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