Friday Follies: Pre-Christmas Edition...

Many of us might be dreaming of a "White Christmas", but we may have to settle for a WET one. And this Friday seems to be right in step. Even Sgt. Joe Friday managed to stop on by. Long time, no see, Joe. Love the hat.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us some light rain to start things off. Cloudy skies and breezy conditions follow right along
Temps will drop during the day as a cool down rolls through, so that 42 degrees outside might well be the high.

Now, let's steel ourselves with a heaping helping of Friday Fortitude, as we see what else has been transpiring ...
*** First  off of the window sill is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 21 -
---It's Anne and Samantha Day

(it's worth a look up)
---It's Crossword Puzzle Day

(mom and dad were so good at those)
---It's Humbug Day

(well, we won't let that stop us, right?)
---It's National Flashlight Day

(always helps to have a few around)
---It's National French Fried Shrimp Day

(that can be ANY day with me)
------It's National Homeless Persons' Remembrance Day

(not all of them are crazy or otherwise mentally deficient)
---It's Phineas Fogg Win A Wager Day

(I only bet on sure things)
---It's the Winter Solstice

(shortest day of the year,as far as daylight goes - time remains the same)
---It's also the day of Yule

(as in yule like having Christmas day off?)
*** Next, sine we have arrived at week's end, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
DECEMBER 22 -
---Saturday is Forefathers' Day

(and I'd wager they're all rolling in their graves these days)
---It's National Date Nut Bread Day

(sounds like a keeper)
DECEMBER 23 -
---Sunday is Festivus

(sorry, not a follower of that or Seinfeld)
---ot's National Pfeffernusse Day

(they're cookies...and they're good)
So there we have it...plenty of things to take not of. Just amke sure you ALWAYS observe responsibly.
*** Next up, Tis the season to say "WTF???" Here's the story:
https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/bakers-upset-with-missing-tips-on-hershey-s-kisses-candy/1669051963

Missing TIPS? What IS the world coming to anyway?
(not to mention those kisses look smaller to me)
I didn't hear anything about any "austerity plan" coming from Hershey's.
We want our tips back!
*** Next, Tis the season to be "Digging Deeper". Here's the lowdown from WPTA:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2018/12/20/digging-deeper-taking-a-look-into-bank-robberies-over-the-past-4-years/

It seems that more banks up NORTH are being targeted as opposed to ones down SOUTH.
Must be time to spread the crime around town. Our city "leaders" have done a great job doing this down SOUTH over the decades. Time to "share the wealth"?
*** Next up, Tis the season to remove the death penalty. Here's that story:
https://wpta21.com/news/crime/2018/12/20/attornies-in-2016-quadruple-murder-case-asking-to-remove-death-penalty-option/

How about saying Merry Christmas and a hearty HO HO...NO!
(sounds like a plan to me - we ALL get a stocking stuffer with this perp out of our lives and city)
BTW, if an ADOLESCENT brain acts on IMPULSE (as the "prof" states), that would mean that all the other black male (thugs), who are well in their 20s killing others at the drop of a hat, have NEVER fully developed THEIR brains either...right?
(must be all the pot and crack they're smoking)
They ALSO acted on IMPULSE, didn't they?

And where are the PARENTS when all this impulsiveness was (and is) taking place?
Let  the death penalty stand...the way the (flawed) judicial system works, he'll be on death row for DECADES with the multitude of appeals that will follow along this case, right?
Besides, don't we ALL act on impulse once in a while?
*** Next, Tis the season for crime updates. Here's the *411*:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2018/12/21/police-arrest-suspect-in-kroger-shooting/

Police got the Kroger shooter - one Marr Brown. 31 years old,
He was arrested after a traffic stop in the 800 block of Dolphin Drive. That's the SOUTHBRIDGE APTS down on the SW side (lots of subsidized housing and crime there).
Kudos to the FWPD and the arresting officer.
Nice job, people.
Now, let's charge this perp with attempted murder and we'll have a more festive holiday all around.
And here is an update to the Brownlee Market armed robbery:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2018/12/21/police-identify-suspect-in-grocery-store-armed-robbery/
THIS perp (Donald Profit, 33)  is still on the loose.
Hey, wait...maybe these guys were "just acting IMPULSIVELY"...with their "adolescent" brains???
Just a thought, right "prof"?...heh.
*** Next up, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

Visions of sugarplums?

The kids have their stockings hung up, and they haven't bothered with them (yet). Had to chase them away from the tree a couple of time, but nothing broken, so that's a good thing.
Actually, other than that, they were both very good and quite content to leave things along, although there was a bout of running late ion the afternoon.

Nah, just cat treats

Luckily, they tire themselves out soon enough and then...nap time.
*** Next, let's do our check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

That crust was supposed to be for the birds.

Our furry twosome pulled another "eat and run" kind of day. They made all the meals, but between feedings, they wandered about.

Someone's hungry.

She did go back in the shelter and she must really get to snoozing, as it took a while to get her to come out, and when she did, she had straw on her (hat told me she was fast asleep).
We did get in some treats time on the patio AND on the back step.

Where will I go today?

At this rate, we may have to get the larger size treats for them.
Well cared for does mean well fed...doesn't it?
*** Last back to the nativity scene...yes, Christmas is fast approaching, and with it, all the joy the season brings.

There are the traditional carols, the aromas and scents of the holiday season, the get-togethers, as well as the related movies (the GOOD ones, that is) and television events.
But aside from all that is the real meaning of Christmas, which seems to always take more of a back seat.

And, as we can expect, comes the furor raised when we even seem to mention GOD in the mix.
Personally, I'm really getting sick of all that. If the heathen among us wish to NOT observe the holiday..FINE...DON'T.
Just leave those of us who DO want to...ALONE...kapeesh?
Try practicing that "live and let live" tolerance you're always trying to shove down everyone's throat, and knock off the bashing of Christianity. That's what this holiday is about, anyway...not some sales, or drunken raucous behaviors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
It may have had pagan roots, but it evolved into one of the holier days of the rolling year.

I guess we can thank Charlemagne for some for that, as well as the later protestant reformation.
The pilgrims initially opposed Christmas and it even fell out of favor after the American Revolution (it was a British thing), but thanks to people like Dickens, Irving, and Clement Clarke Moore, Christmas was transitioning into a more joyful family-centered holiday.
(yes, it pays to read about it)

So, let us in our best spirit enjoy the holiday and WHY we have it, as well as what it means to all who believe in a much higher authority than mankind. Let us all keep the holiday traditional and with the reverence it deserves.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.
See 'ya next week.