Thoughts For Thursday...

Yes, the cold snap continues (although yesterday tossed us a curve and the temps rose to 37 degrees. That helped melt some of this stuff. Still, you want to practice caution early on, because what melted is refrozen (again).
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us a good chance of a little snow (maybe up to an inch over what we have not had plowed since the last snowfall.

Temps will rise once again slightly above freezing (the 35 degree range) and skies will be mostly cloudy with light winds.
Not a banner day, but we're stuck with it, so make the best of it...right?
Meanwhile, let's get a warm, soothing drink inside us, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of the slick streets is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

I do not know this Chris fellow.

"The dark side of social media is that, within seconds, anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context. And it's very difficult not to get swept up in it all"

Curiously enough, this was NOT spoken by fellow blogger Chris Martin (sorry, buddy) but by one Nicola Formichetti (born 31 May 1977)  who is an Italian Japanese fashion director and fashion editor.
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Formichetti
Now, as a rule, I'm not into fashion designers, but it's not a bad read, considering how much influence such people have in today's world via fashion.
I did not know how much he was associated with Lady Gaga. You learn something new every day.
*** Next, time for the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 17 -
---It's Get to Know Your Customer Day

(yeah, they do this deal every quarter)
---It's National Bootlegger's Day

(now THAT hooch will warm you up inside)
---It's National Hot Buttered Rum Day

(make that LIGHT on the butter, please)
*** Next up...Seems the FWPD are making some  "house calls"  these days.

Here's the story:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/01/16/search-results-in-arrest-of-fort-wayne-man/

Police served a search warrant at a house located at 3302 McKinnie Av. around 2015 hrs. Tuesday. (yeah, that's the ghettohood)
Police say the home is a known criminal street gang home, and that the search came after an investigation based on tips, complaints, traffic stops, surveillance, shots fired at the home, and a recent shooting across the street at a service station.

That's a nice haul.

After making entry, police found THIRTEEN people inside (WTF???) including several children, who were within reach of a loaded semi-auto handgun (one of three found and with extended mags).
Deshannon Shelton, 33, was arrested (as was his development, no doubt). Enjoy your orange jumpsuit and flip-flops, loser.
Police also found 500 grams (about a pound) of pot, dealing paraphernalia and ammo.
On the up side, Shelton won't have to worry about driving in bad weather anytime soon...lol.
*** Next...and then there was THIS:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20190117/plaza-drive-raid-leads-to-4-arrests

Police raided another SE side crib located at 4216 Plaza Drive, a hangout for narcotics dealing and the "C's", a criminal street gang around 1745 hrs yesterday. Police found three handguns, including a stolen one, 25 grams of cocaine; five grams of marijuana; and drug paraphernalia.
Arrested was Kevieun Lewis, 30, when he attempted to avoid police by jumping out of a window. That's called felony resisting.
Three men, ages 33, 25 and 24, were all charged with misdemeanor visiting a common nuisance.
---Here's an update to the story:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/guns-and-drugs-found-during-raid-at-known-gang-house-4-arrested/1707778364

V. Lewis     St. Clair       White     K.Lewis

Yes folks...losers ALL.
*** Next up...Here's a potential good step in the right direction:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/01/16/proposed-bill-would-place-in-god-we-trust-poster-in-classrooms-libraries/

IN GOD WE TRUST...in classrooms and libraries...about damn time.
And when did they take such things OUT of classrooms?
I figure if it's good enough to be placed on all our CURRENCY, than by God, it's good enough to be in our SCHOOLS and libraries.
This is part of Auburn senator Dennis Kruse's "Education Matters" bill and includes charter schools.
(can't wait to see what happens next - good luck with this.)
*** Next, time to stop by "Kitten Corner"...

"Looks like I iz the winner."

I can say that the WFWF is alive and well (that's the World Feline Wrestling federation). The kids were doing their own smackdown on each other, and that's funny as hell to watch.

"I iz all smackdowned out!"

Forget getting any photos...all you get is blurred fur.
Maybe a video in the future? We'll have to wait and see on that.
*** Next up, time for our daily check-in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

"I think I haz to go on another patrol."

Our furry duo were somewhat close by the house yesterday. And, although they did make each meal (and treats) Midnight went MIA a couple times. Whiskers (God bless her heart) came from the shelter whenever I went out to check on them.

"Why does he roam out in the cold?"

The good news is that we got a fairly good melting yesterday, which cleared the patio up plenty.
The bad news is that we're due for more snow, so we'll have to clear he patio all over again.
*** Last back to the igloo...I'm one of those people who likes to wake up in a  GOOD mood.
(seriously, I really TRY)

But, as things would have it, that rarely works out these days.
If it's not the classical music station being off-air (a common occurrence anymore), it's getting a late (or missed) newspaper delivery. Or, it's the idiot across the street, who warms her PT Cruiser up for over 20 minutes with the HEADLIGHTS ON and shining into our house. You CAN warm a vehicle up with NO lights or the running lights on...honestly...you can.
I suppose that TWO-car garage you have isn't meant for VEHICLES?
And of course, the boom car morons are coming out again (takes them a day to adjust to weather conditions), so we have THAT noise driving past.
It does not take long to erode whatever calm you had when you awoke, and piss you the hell off.
Try as I might, it's always something (or someone).
Now, l'm a pretty easy-going person...or I used to be before the neighborhood chose to DEVOLVE around us.
That will change a person, believe me. Makes you long for the person you used to be.

Still, we take each day as it comes, with the hope that things WILL get somewhat better.
When everything fails, you always have HOPE, right?

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