The Jewel

 Golly Gee!  I did really sleep in the morning!  An hour and a half, and I'm rather proud to say I did not wallow in the blankets.  I'm blaming the dogs.  They didn't get up.  Nope.  Just laid there snoring after the alarm went off.  I mean... what else was I to do?

My shoulder's feeling better, still hurts, but so far no popping.  I'd be willing to bet I strained it while put several cases of 12" x 24" tile up on the shelf.  They weigh about 50 lbs each, and lifting them 3 feet off the floor to slide onto the shelving is no easy task, especially when you're not 22 years old anymore.

For those interested, Lily is walking around the house with an orange and fluffy squeaky duck in her mouth.  Quite often, that seems to be a highlight of the moment for her.

And I did see this bit of the NHS (National Health Services) with Elton auditioning for a Covid vaccine spot.  This man is a jewel... so is Michael Caine.

The editing is continuing for The Body in the Loch.  The first 2 chapters were combined into 1; I threw out about 2000 words.  That's fine.  They were unnecessary.  The writer who can't cut words is more concerned about his words then he is his story.

Yesterday was the first day of Trump's 2nd impeachment.  Congress sat through a horrifying 13 minute video which was carried by the major networks as well as most cable news networks.  While I don't believe that asswipe is going to be convicted, that video continues to build on America's anger.  The number of Republicans abandoning the party is unprecedented.  His party will stay with him because without his base, they are nothing.  The ugly truth for them will be that even with his base... they are nothing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go make banana walnut pancakes and douse them with gallons of maple syrup.

Pears

Can you believe it's Thursday already?  Wait.  Let me look at my calendar.  Nope.  I'm wrong.  It's just another work day.  There, isn't that easier?  Just calling today another workday?  I work tomorrow, too, but then I have 2 days off.  Yippee!
Oh, my.  I'm getting a lot of steps in at the store.  We've got our Christmas shoppers, who are looking for deals, and that's about it.  Contractor's work load slows during the holidays because no one wants their house torn up over the holidays.  And then there is the weather.  While they're forecasting a high of around 50 (F) tomorrow, usually you can find them hanging around the upper 30's to mid 40's.  So now is the time when people begin planning their spring events.
"The Body in the Well" is moving along nicely.  The tentative title for the chapter I'm working on right now is 'In Nancy's Notch.'  I'm sure that will change.  My cover artist says that sounds too much like porn.  She's right.  What's funny is that Nancy's notch is not really what you think.  It isn't really Nancy's notch isn't really a notch at all.  It's a saloon, in a town which was once known as Bartlett... as in the pear.  Of course, that was before Jack Nancy came to town.

Anyway, I guess everybody now knows BoJo's Conservatives won.  Brexit is going to be a done deal on January 31st.  There goes the NHS.  A lot of people are going to be upset when they start gettting bills for their healthcare.  The foreigners are going to move back to the continent and take their jobs with them, but that's okay.  Lower paying jobs are going to save the day... right? As long as some believe they have their sovereign rights back things are going to be just jack dandy.

I saw that in this country consumer prices just edged up a little... well, that's not totally accurate. Food and gasoline prices climb more than a little bit.  Their increase was offset by lower priced cars and trucks.  Prices in my neighborhood Giant have gone up a lot.  But that's okay, right?  This is how you make America great.  Oh, and when January rolls around, prepare for a less than glowing jobs report.  All those temp jobs are going to go away until next Christmas.  Part-timers in my store will find their schedules cut, many will only get 5 hours a week.  Part-timers are supplementing their income, they're not working for the fun of it.  Five hours a week just doesn't cut it.  Do you really think the Idiot Jerk in the White House cares?  or Republicans?  or Conservatives?  Hell no.