Thoughts For Thursday...

We're closing in on the weekend and there are times when it can't come soon enough.
(and here I am griping about how years are flying by...you can't seem to win with that).
Let's not dwell...
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings mostly cloudy skies (once again) with temps barely climbing above the freezing mark (not much of a warmup, is it?) and some snow flurries coming through sometime this afternoon. No real accumulation but there could be less than an inch south of the city (we'll probably notice that), so take care out there. Drive carefully and dress accordingly.

Now, I do believe it's time for a nice comforting cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of the front steps is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
This was spoken by none other than Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) but You know him as George Orwell.
He was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic whose work is marked by lucid prose, awareness of social injustice, opposition to totalitarianism and outspoken support of democratic socialism (as I said before, nobody's perfect)..
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell

OR, you can cheat a little and peruse my archive post from 16 November 2017.
Either way, it's a pretty good read, and allows us to "peak behind the curtain".
I just wonder if he knew how that democratic socialism would evolve over time...perhaps not.
*** Next, it's time for the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 6 -
---It's National Gazpacho Day

(well, it's LOOKS seasonally festive)
---It's National Microwave Oven Day

(to think that a by-product of RADAR would save the lives of men everywhere)
---It's National Miner's Day

(they weren't ALL nice guys...read your history)
---It's National Pawnbrokers Day

(yes, they do help recover stolen goods)
---It's St. Nicholas Day

(the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students)
*** Next, another case of never having obtained a driver's license leads to a car chase, a foot chase and finally...an impromptu "bath". Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20181206/car-foot-pursuit-ends-in-maumee

Elijah Soto-Pitts, 23 was the perp, and (as usual) it appears he's not a stranger to the judicial system (are any of them these days?). Here's that link:
https://bustednewspaper.com/in-laporte-elijah-soto-pitts-2018-01-18-192300/
He was also arrested back in January this year in La Porte County for (guess what?)...the SAME thing...driving w/o a license.
Guess SOME idiots NEVER learn, do they? They'll turn him back out and he'll do it AGAIN.
*** Next up, it's a season for charity, and here's a way  to do something special for the holidays...and for a WW2 vet:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2018/12/05/wwii-veteran-wants-birthday-cards-from-anyone-as-he-prepares-to-turn-96/

It's not gonna cost you much (the price of a stamp and the time to write out a card),
Considering the fact that we are loosing the WW2 vets every day, and that many are well into their 90s, there's not much time left to those still around, and it would be a good gesture to acknowledge them while we still can.
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

The kids are definitely on a roll with angelic behavior.
And, I will say that when THEY know it's time to get fed, I am followed around until they get their food...like they're going to starve of something (never gonna happen).

Who needs a clock when you have these two around, right?
*** Next up, let's do our check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...
Our community cat twosome were once again close by for most all the day (well, at least whenever I went out).

A light dusting of snow early on...

He seems to prefer staying right under (and next to) the ;patio door, which is fine...there's a shrub there he can hunker down alongside of, so that's okay.

Things cleared up by late afternoon...

She still takes turns with the shelters. She'll spend time in the smaller one and the next time I go out, she comes out of the larger one (she must be keeping it wrm for him, should he EVER go inside ato get out of the cold weather).
*** Last back to the living room...the holiday season can be one filled with various emotions.

I spent some time yesterday watching the National Cathedral service for our 41st president, and I have to say that was a marvelous service, and in a most celebratory manner.

The tenor they had singing was phenomenal, as was the choir, and the eulogies (especially the one delivered by George W. Bush, the eldest son) were such that I couldn't help but get quite misty-eyed a few times.
Now, as time passes and life goes on for the rest of us, we also take stock in all those each of us have lost along the way.

The service for George H.W. Bush brought back memories of my parents, and various other relatives and yes, some others I came to know.

Now, none of those funeral services would come close to being on par with that of the National Cathedral, but it's not the SIZE of the service, but the quality of those in attendance, showing their respect for the departed.
Would any of us be AS fortunate to have a service coming close to that which has been on television...
Probably not, not consider those who would speak well of YOU, when the times comes.
What we've done and what we do today  (and tomorrow) counts and there will be those that remember.
Let their remembrances be good ones...and strive to never let them (or yourself) down in that regard.

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