Monday Musings...

If this past weekend's weather didn't convince you we're in the throes of WINTER...check your pulse.
Not only did we get the promised snowfall, but some pretty low temps to go with it.
Yeah, walk out early and it WILL wake you up!
I hear we may be getting another dose with even lower temps this coming weekend (...oh, joy).
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us cold conditions, partly sunny skies with the high today barely reaching 30 degrees.
And where the hell are the plow trucks, anyway? Haven't seen or heard a single one come trhough down here.

Anyway, let's get that nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa (because we will need it), as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of the glacier is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 14 -
---It's National Clean Off Your Desk Day

("Do I have a desk?" "No." "And I want a desk.")
---It's National Dress Up Your Pet Day

(better dress 'em warm if you're going OUTSIDE)
---It's National Hot Pastrami Day

(man, I could go with one of those for breakfast today)
---It's Ratification Day

(look it up. You'll be glad you did)
*** Next, another robbery at the same bank? Here's what's known so far:
https://www.wowo.com/police-seek-person-of-interest-in-friday-afternoon-flagstar-bank-robbery/

This happened at the Flagstar (formerly Wells Fargo)  Bank in the 900 block of West State Blvd. around 1600 hrs on Friday.
The suspect is described as a BLACK MALE (big surprise there)

This bank was robbed twice last year. They must have GOOD service.
Witnesses say the robber got into a "full-size" vehicle, which leads me to believe it was most likely an SUV...maybe a Tahoe , Escalade, Yukon or Suburban. Could even be an Expedition.
Try checking out the SE side...you might get lucky. We have LOTS of full size vehciles around here.
*** Next up, Dwayne Johnson layeth the smackdown on the snowflake generation):
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rock-generational-snowflake-putting-us-backwards-2019-1

"Say wbat?"

Or DID he?
https://comicbook.com/wwe/2019/01/11/the-rock-dwyane-johnson-snowflake-generation-/

We now hear the interview never took place?
Curiouser and curiouser...
*** Next...Why I quit Forge of Empires after less than a month...

I saw the commercials and it looked interesting, so I finally gave in and signed up.
Initially, it wasn't a bad game...building a city through a tech tree (a bit slow-moving), gathering various items to expand your city. Made a few friends along the way, too They visit your tavern and thereby produce some silver coin. And you can do likewise for them.
You can even make an small army to take over provinces (computer controlled - no live player).

And that was working out fine...until I started to get PLUNDERED...
This took place when I wasn't even online (sneaky bastards) and by other players with a yen for annoying regular folks like myself).
Now, usually, this wouldn't be that big a deal, but when a MEDIEVAL AGE storms an IRON AGE city...you can predict the results...defeat.
And this was happening daily (sometimes a couple times per day).
The MAIN problem with this is that this is all done without the consent of the player being attacked. And the game designers are fine and dandy with this.

I got a tip...DON'T PLAY!

At least with a game like SUPERMECHS, any combat is CONSENSUAL (as is most every other game around).
If you WANT to fight...you CAN.
If you want to be left alone...no problem there.
So, after having my stuff taken more than a few times, I deleted every item and building in my two cities, then clicked on the "delete city" tab and sent a brief message to the last attacker:
"Here. Plunder THIS, you F__K!
A shame to bow out of a decent game (with some decent people) but when something meant to be entertaining loses that ability, it's no longer worth bothering with.
Lesson learned for me.
*** Next up, time to stop by "Kitten Corner"...

It's not laundry day, Violet.

Well, the kids were not bothered by the cold (being an INDOOR cat has it's advantages, especially in winter).

Wake me when it's dinnertime.

And, they spent the weekend as one could imagine - sleeping, eating, playing (repeated as necessary).

The birds only come when daddy fills the feeder.

They did have a little bird-watching, but other than that, a quiet time all around.
*** Next, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

Not snowing yet, but it's STILL cold.

Our furry twosome spent their weekend hanging close by the "Fortress".

It felt colder after it snowed.

Whiskers was in the shelter most of the time (smart girl), and came out when it was feeding time, or when I came out to see how she was doing.

NO snow yet...but it's coming.

Midnight on the other hand preferred to play "Missing In Action", as it were.
He was gone most of Friday, but came back for a late lunch and dinner.

I'm gonna get a leg rub...

Saturday, he got breakfast, but missed lunch, and yesterday, when I went out to clean off the driveway, he came around from a neighboring house, meowing to let me know he was here. He supervised my shoveling from near the gate and did a walk around to make sure I did a good job.

That wet food was good and warm, too.

He stayed for the remainder of the day and got his back step treats by himself. Whiskers had gotten her treats after dinner when Midnight took off again.
Sometimes, I think they like making me worry about them in this cold weather.
*** Last back to the snow fort...Wifey and I made it back from grocery (Saturday) before the snow began in earnest, and during that event, I shoveled twice out front (and did the back steps and patio for the cats).

The ruler does NOT lie.

We recorded a solid FOUR inches of snow where  we live.

A "sign of the cross?"

Our paper carrier saw fit to ignore the sidewalk and came up the side hill (footprints are a perfect giveaway) to toss the paper on our step. Idiot!
It seems whenever bad weather comes along, many people out there abandon common sense, and why that is, I have NO idea at all.
Used to be a time on our block when everyone cleared their sidewalks, and early on to boot.
Now, I'm usually the first one with a clear sidewalk and steps, followed by the Latinos a couple houses down, and maybe one other across the street down the block.
I believe in getting things like this done early. That's how we did it back in Philly.
And that's IT! nobody else can seem to bothered with doing what should be second nature when we get some snow.
Naturally, the city won't cite ANY of these lazy-ass idiots (typical), so they will keep doing it, because whenever people are not ALL held to the same standards, those standards fall by the wayside.
The same applies to most anything in life, and in today's world. more than ever.
Accountability, personal responsibility and a little of civility go a very long way, and maybe those that lack these traits need to be made aware and persuaded to do the RIGHT thing (for a change). They might even like it.

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