Brainless

 Happy Heat Dome Week to everybody on the Eastern Seaboard!  For those who are about to Cook, I salute you!  That's a paraphrase of an old A/C / DC hit, for those who don't know.  The temp this morning was an mild 71 (F) when I rolled out of bed.  We're in for a stretch of 90 (F) days.  I'm prepped for the heat wave.  For those working outside this week, remember to hydrate.  Oh, wait, let me amend that since the moronic Governor of Florida, Ronnie D., signed legislation removing legally required water breaks for those working in the summer heat.  So, except for those laborers in Florida, please remember to hydrate responsibly.  

And I did work yesterday.  Father's Day.  All those who identify as male got a Father's Day snack.  I ate mine when I worked on Saturday.  It was a nice gesture.  Business, as expected, was terrible.  From about 2 pm on the store was a ghost town.  Sadly, this is how most of the Sundays have been for the past few weeks.  The faux holiday created by Hallmark was no different from the rest.  As a result, I got in over 11,000 steps and wrote a full page for the new book.  

Here's a bit on how I write.  I'm not one of those writers who sits in front of his laptop constantly thinking of the story and what words are needed to move it forward.  Nope.  I'll write a sentence or two, and then go do something, like put a couple dishes in the dishwasher, or, if they're already washed, take a few out.  After a few minutes, I'll go back and write another few sentences, maybe a paragraph.  Some days I'll 3 or 4 pages written, somedays only 2 or 3 paragraphs, and everything is subject to revision, that's a constant.

I saw this yesterday and thought it so appropriate.

And we're getting closer and closer to the first debate between the Orange Anus and Democracy... wait, that's supposed to say Biden.  Honestly, that is what's at stake.  Do we want cultists running the country, or do we want to participate in that decision making process.  Republicans do not want our opinions, so putting them in charge will make our voices mute.  They are the party that desperately wants to say "shut up, we're in charge," and they want to dictate every little aspect of our lives.  They want everybody to be indoctrinated into the cult.  If we're Republican zombies, we're not going to argue, we will see everything that hasn't been zombified as prey waiting to be killed and eaten.  All you need to do is look at the cultists to see how brainless they have become, just like their leader.

Trump Tormented

 Well, can we say "hello" to Friday?  The weather's a bit dismal.  We had rain yesterday, and rain is again in the forecast for today and tomorrow.  Central PA is sitting in the middle of a band of rain that stretches for hundreds of miles to the west and that band is moving eastward.  Like all stormy weather, it will pass.  

I worked for 5 hours yesterday.  Got one measure for a backsplash.  A young guy, I explained to him how expensive it was.  He called his wife to get her approval and she told him to go ahead.  Knowing that installing a backsplash isn't that difficult, I suggested that if the quote came back higher than they were expecting he could always do it himself.  He did not seem to excited about my suggestion. 

The 3rd editor has given his copy of The Body Under Ice back to me with his corrections.  He seems to think that I use semi-colons too often; they are necessary at times.

I zipped out in the drizzle this morning to snap another picture of my nectarine buds.  The peach tree is doesn't haven't as many, but then I cut it back severely last fall.  I'll be interested in seeing if the new growth is more vertical.

Of course, we're going to have to wait until next week for Trump to be indicted.  Until that happens, and even afterwards, his MAGA base is going to continue giving him money.  They have the same mindset as the people who continually send money to Joel Osteen, or any other quack Evangelical minister; blood suckers to the end.  Or I should say greenback suckers.  I used to feel sorry for those people who believe their donations are going to buy them a ticket to heaven, not so any more.  I wish someone with access to the information would find out just how much of the terrible credit card debt Americans have is due to these phony religious men who charge a fee for their prayers.  

Probably the only good thing about the delay in Trump's indictment is frenzied posts on Truth Social, which do get copied and pasted onto Twitter.  I find it rather joyful to see him tormented so.

The Buck Stops at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Well, here it is, the first day of my weekend, which starts on Tuesday this week.  Surprisingly, most of my laundry is already done - I left work early yesterday.  I'm only working 5 hour days this week and next week.  What happens after that?  Hell, it's anybody's guess.
The store was steady yesterday, slow in the morning, but then business picked up in the afternoon as bored people, forced to stay home from work, decided to take advantage of our 'life sustaining' status.  They are all dumb shits who say things like "well, not everybody's going to get it," and "it's a hoax," and "this whole thing's been blown out of proportion by the media."  Keep in mind I live in a very Conservative area.  We have a lot of loyal, old Republicans living here... for the time being.
What are my plans for today?  Well, as I type this, I'm also clipping my fingernails.  Later on, I'm going to drive to Giant to pick up dog food, they should have started restocking by now.  Sometime this morning I'm going to one of my reader's homes to pick up "The Body in the Well."  Her initial response: really like it.  This is the reader who thought "The Body in the Tower" was a bit dry because of the cycling bits.  After that, I'm going to make a corned beef and take a ride on my bike, and the work on my Greek.  Busy day for me.
I saw where the Idiot Jerk wants everybody to go back to work after 15 days.  Because of the economy, you know?  Remember way, way back, about 4 weeks ago, when Covid-19 first raised its ugly head, he had been saying things like "it's not going to be that bad," and "you can go to work with it?"  Well, his thinking has never really changed, has it.  His base has never really comprehended the seriousness of this illness.  And you know those Evangelical advisers who lay their hands on him are whispering "don't worry, God will protect us."  You know who I'm talking about, don't you?  Human stains like Joel Osteen, who's discovering 'live streaming' can be far more lucrative than he initially imagined.  And then there's that dumb shit David Green, who owns Hobby Lobby.  I saw this on I Should be Laughing and was morbidly attracted by the sheer stupidity.  Holy Shit!  This is a first class example of Evil Greed.  I can see the headlines now "Hobby Lobby Hot Spots Spread Covid-19."  And then there's that dumb shit Lieutenant Governor from Texas, Dan Patrick who say he, and other grandparents, don't mind getting sick and possibly dying as long as it helps the economy.  I wonder how many grandparents and seniors citizens he is really speaking for... my guess is not many.  He is terribly concerned that Covid - 19 is going to change the 'American Way of Life.'  This man is a soon to be 70 year old fool.
Change is on the way, and that terrifies Conservatives.   It horrifies Evangelicals.  They want the world to be rigidly orderly.  For them blessings are big bank accounts, and they're frightened at how fast this little virus is draining their assets and leaving only liabilities.  Tough Shit.  Someone needs to pull out the passage in the Bible that says 'believers get rich.'
And in this country, the Idiot Jerk wants everybody to go back to work.  He actually said they are working on masks for those infected so they can go back to work.  That is simply insane.  He doesn't understand the buck is going to stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Finally, to end on something a little bright, here's the latest picture of my peach blossoms. 

Tomorrow, maybe a pictures of my nectarine blossoms.

Collect This

Well, today is my 2nd scheduled day off in a string of 4... of course, that might change.  As of yesterday there were 5 cases of Covid - 19 in Cumberland country.  That number is going to go up.  At some point things will be shut down to contain the virus.  Since I work for a non-essential home improvement retailer, I don't doubt at some point we will shut our doors.  The only question is 'when.'
Yesterday I did stay home, but today I might venture out.  There are certain non-essential things I want to buy... like paint for my staircase.  If I'm going to be home for 2 weeks, I might as well do something somewhat constructive, besides yard work.  I also want to stop off at my local Giant.  While I'm fairly certain most of their canned goods and frozen foods are gone, I'm feeling pretty sure their fresh fruits and vegetables haven't been touched.  People were looking for things they can stock up on and fresh food doesn't last more than a few days.
I saw where Devin Nunes (pronounced new nyez) was advocating for adults to ignore the health warnings and go out to bars.  He still thinks this is a hoax and there's nothing to worry about.  His beliefs are quite common among Republicans.  I do not doubt many of them will catch the virus and the older MAGA heads will die off.
And the Fed drop rates yesterday to between 0 and .25% in an attempt to stave off a crash of the stock market.  Almost immediately afterwards the S & P 500 dropped 4%.  Prepare yourselves, Wall Street is at the tipping point and soon it will go over the cliff.  While the average American is going to be hurt, the billionaires of the world are going to be brutally savaged.  In this country, Conservatives are going to be running around like their hair is on fire.  They put an Idiot Jerk in the White House, a man who has always too quickly jumped to bankruptcy as a way avoiding his incompetence.  Ouch.  Very shortly Betsy DeVos may not be able to afford her expensive haircuts.  If you think she's a bitch now, just wait until that happens.
Finally, because of the virus, quite a number of churches were closed up here.  I understand from Jennifer this was not the case everywhere.  For Evangelicals, Covid - 19 is stabbing them in the heart... well, maybe.  Like addicts, they need to feed on their drug over, and over, and over again.  Some will survive going 'cold turkey' and some will not.  Churches used to seeing large collection plate hauls are in for an ugly surprise.  Now, ain't that a shame.  Of course the big ones, like Joel Osteen's, will no doubt be calling members of the congregation and asking for their credit card donations.  I know Jimmy Swaggert does this.

But then he also drives a Porsche and cavorts with whores.

Will the Real Ivanka Raise Her Hand?

Well, it's Friday and it one of my 'on again days.'  Yepper, I get to go be a Flooring Specialist for 8 hours.
Evidently one of my measures 'blew up' yesterday while I was off.  A customer had called a week ago... a woman, and requested info our having commercial carpet installed.  She didn't like the fact that we charged for our measure services (fee is deducted once you purchase) and hung up.  She called up on Sunday and set up the measure, didn't have the name of the carpet with her, so I keyed in a generic.  I told her to tell the measure services she was dealing with the store.  She didn't.  She got an expensive quote emailed to her which included all the measurements.  Her boss called and started shrieking at one of the Assistant Managers about 'price matching' and how they got less expensive quote from other installers.  In the end, someone decided to refund her (him) the measure fee.  That's right, this person wanted a free measure and got a free measure.  I was not there.  It was my day off.  I would have said "no."
More cases of Covid-19 have sprung up across the US.  Four more states have tested positive.  And the Idiot Jerk, at a town hall in PA, evidently admitted it might slow down the economy.  He also said something to the effect of "Americans are traveling so much, they're staying home and spending their money here."  So, his focus is on people spending money, not on people getting sick and possibly dying.  That's so... Republican.
One thing that is going to be hurt terribly by the virus is Mega-Churches.  Oh... dear.  You know, like evil Joel Osteen's church.  That's going to hurt his pocket book.  Poor Joel, what's he gonna do when the money stops rolling in?

And Joel's not the only one.  There  are a lot of them out there using their Rock / Broadway show appeal to sell phoniness, their main goal being the collection plate.  I can't see Joel visiting hospitals to comfort the sick, or visiting their house to give them moral support. Or Frankie Graham, for that matter.  For the life of me, I cannot even begin to imagine Frankie saying "Hey, I'm going to stop at hospital today and visit a bunch of Coronavirus patients."  Maybe Melanoma should go visit a hospital... or Ivanka Danka.  There was a time when politicians and their wives did that sort of thing, to help calm American's fears and worries.  Wouldn't that be a hoot, seeing either of them gussied up in their protective gear?

Can you spot her?  She's the fourth one from the left.  

Get over it

Well, it looks as though we had a Blue Surge rather than a Blue Wave... but that's good.  Democrats now control the House of Representatives!  That's a very good thing!  And there are now 7 more Democratic Governors and 7 less Republican Governors, which is another Very Good Thing!  Beto lost... sadly.  On the other hand, Jared Pollis, a Gay Democrat, is now the Governor of Colorado!  Ain't that something to celebrate!  Here in Pennsylvania, our boy Brian Sims was re-elected!!  In very white Republican run Georgia, the race is too close to call.  One of the predictions I liked about that very Republican race was that this would happen, and Abrams would win in a run-off election in December.  Georgia is something the GOP never, ever thought would happen.  So, will they finally understand how America is evolving and change?  Hell no.  To do so would be to admit they have made a mistake.  They are still in the denial stage of their own demise.
And then what about the Crazy Christians?  You know, the ones who have been selling their souls to the Morally Degenerate Idiot Jerk in the White House faster than Joel Osteen can snatch a penny from the hands of the poor.  Either the deity they worship is not as powerful and they think, or else this was supposed to happen.  What if the Idiot Jerk's election to the presidency through a technicality called the Electoral College was really nothing more than a test for them?  He offers them power in exchange for acceptance of his degeneracy.  If so, they have failed.  Their corruption mirrors his.  Now they will have to pay the price.
Anyway, enough of my political ramblings for today.  The midterms are over.  Remember what the Republicans said after the Idiot Jerk's technical win? "Get over it."  Well, that needs to be our response to them when they start whining.  Believe me, they've already started pointing fingers at somebody else, and blaming somebody else, and shrieking 'voter fraud.'  Just tell them to "get over it!"  Or a simple "shut up" will work wonders, too.

OH, and I forgot to mention... Kim Davis was fired.

A Brighter Note?

Well, it's Saturday (I think) and neither am I in a park, nor is it the fourth of July.  I do have to work, however.
Looks like the Kavanaugh nomination is on hold.  I suspect for a very long time.  Oh, sure, the Idiot Jerk says he's going to give the FBI a week, but what type of an investigation will that garner?  Not much.  Their best hope was to quickly ram this vote down the people's throats - Republicans are good at that.  Look at their not so great tax cut which gives the Idiot Jerk, and Steve Mnunchin, and Betsy DeVos a permanent tax break.  Most Americans now realize that while they were promised velvet, what they were actually sold was cheap velour.
As for Brett's stalled nomination?  Well, in case you haven't noticed, Evangelical Christians are showing their hateful, ugly side.  Holy Shit! (Literally) They are flipping out!  Their hatred for America and Americans is immense.  They shriek about evil Democrats without understanding they, themselves are a small minority group.  We need to remove these people from politics and give the country back to the people.
Once we take back control, I think a pretty good start would be to take away the tax exempt status we give to churches.  I mean, take Joel Osteen.  He's a business man down in Houston, in case you didn't know.  He runs a Megachurch that nets him tons'o cash.  That heartless sack of shit kept the doors to an arena locked during Hurricane Harvey.  Since Evangelicals did nothing, I think the government should step in and take away his tax exempt status.  Oh, sure, he may talk about God, and tell people how to get on the right path, but in reality his main focus is on those offering plates. He needs to start paying taxes on all of his revenue.  He needs to begin paying real estate taxes.  If he runs it like a business, he has to be treated like a business.
On a brighter note, the little project I've been working on is complete, for the most part.  Right now, all I'm waiting for is to hear how some of the voices I've talked to will sing, or maybe I should say I'm waiting to see how well some will dance.  Ah, music and dance.

With maybe a little... tango on the side.

My Succulent is Blooming

How do I know?  Well, let me tell you, if you don't know when your succulent blooms there's a problem...  because little things shoot out the end, little flowers, you know?  This is how they make little succulents.

To be honest, some people my think me special because I have more than one succulent, in fact I have a lot... and an orchid which just started to bloom, as well.  One thing most people don't know about succulents is that they are poisonous to dogs, so if you have one, keep your dog away from it.
And for those who don't know "God's Own Country" won some top awards at the British Independent Film Awards ceremony. Congrats to all the winners for working on such a great film!
Of course in the US those wins set all Social Conservative's teeth on edge, just like the marriage equality bill in Australia.  This is not the world they want.  This is why Roy Moore is their Prince, their Storybook Hero; he represents an America where Biblical Law rules.  You can bet many of them are going to be tuned into the election results this evening without even understanding the outcome means nothing.  You see millions of Americans, a vast majority, have already passed judgement on Roy Moore in much the same way he passed judgement in his years as a judge, by what they deem to be fair and decent and right.  If Roy Moore wins, then the Social Conservatives lose in much the same way they lost when Joel Osteen demonstrated his total lack of compassion, of concern for Humanity when Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, and in much the same way they lose when ever they lay their hands upon the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  And, of course, they also lose if he fails to win Jeff Session's seat in the Senate.
Do they care?  Hell No!  They are not concerned with Caring Compassion, with Humanity; all they want is total control, the ability to pass judgement freely, and to take away your human rights.  Do they understand?  Hell No!  Will they lose?  Hell Yes!

"Joel Osteen is bad for Christianity"

That's a quote from my brother, a retired Methodist minister, an White Evangelical, and a Social Conservative.  He said that this morning at breakfast.  He also said JO was an embarrassment.  Notice, I used his initials?  They could also stand for Jerk Off.  Am I saying Joel is one?  No, that would be way too kind.  The fact that he is both 'bad' and an 'embarrassment' is symptomatic of much larger problems for people of his faith.  Their inability to recognize the evil of the Idiot Jerk in the White House is extremely problematic.  They don't understand he gives them what they want because they praise him with the adoration he craves.  Their blessings only feed the cancer.
And what about the crazy Texan Conservatives?  You know who I'm talking about, the ones who want to secede from the United States.  They're special, you know?  They don't need the United States of America... until Harvey hit.  Now they're singing about 'disaster relief.'  Now they're singing about needing help from the Federal Government.   I'm not talking about all Texans, a lot of them are very good people, they can't help they live in a state that is governed by selfish Conservatives.
I talk a lot about Karma and how the Universe fixes mistakes, and I've also said that the Idiot Jerk in the White House, and the Republican Party have stacked up a lot of bad Karma.  Karma might just smack both into oblivion.  Right now Karma is surrounding both in the form of North Korea, in the devastation of Harvey, in a debt ceiling that needs to be raised, and a budget that needs to be passed... and along comes Irma, who may smack the shit out of the Gulf Coast or the Eastern Seaboard.
I'm reminded of Mrs. Lovett's line from Sweeney Todd "Have all the demons of hell been sent to torment me?"

I suspect that's what Joel is thinking right now, totally incapable of knowing the "evil of his ways."  And the Idiot Jerk?  I wouldn't be surprised if he's ready to throw himself down on the ground, pounding his fists and kicking his feet like a wee child suffering apoplexy.  This is how the Universe works.

Karma smacks Joel Osteen & the Texas Legislators

So, I'm skimming through headlines this AM and I see one regarding that horse's ass Ted Cruz.  He's now saying he was totally for disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, but... he still voted against it.  Even though this moron is putting some spin on it, the truth is that not only did we have a Democrat in the White House, he happened to be black.  In fact, it wasn't only Ted Cruz who shit in his pants on that vote, so did every one of the Legislators from Texas.  For those of you who don't know, this is called Karma.  He claims there was too much 'pork.'  If you don't think those hateful Conservatives will attempt to pop as much 'pork' into disaster relief for Harvey, you don't know Conservatives.  I can see the Idiot Jerk in the White House trying to tack on funding for his 'wall.'
And how about that Christianist horse's ass Joel Osteen and his non-denominational Lakewood Church?  The key words here are 'non-denominational.'  That means he has no accountability.  He and his believers are their own entity.  And evidently, a Higher Order wasn't speaking to Joel, who totally ignored weather forecasting that Harvey was going to create floods of Biblical proportions, cancelled Sunday Services and... get this... kept the doors of his church closed.  Oh, and in case you didn't know, his Lakewood Church is in what used to be called The Compaq Center, the arena where the Houston Rockets used to play... where that team won 2 NBA Championships.  Yeah, you read that right, he kept the doors to an arena closed!

Now they're saying that even though his phony house of worship is high and dry, the flood waters are too deep to get to it, making it inaccessible.  Am I the only one who sees a parable here?  About the empty house on the hill and a sea of slowly drowning humanity surrounding it?
And finally, my hat goes off to Anne Marie of Philly who has 18" biceps!  That makes them almost as big as my thighs!  You Go Girl!