Where I Stand

So, I slept in because I stayed up to watch the last 4 episodes of The Stand, hence a post a little later than usual.  What did I think for this version?  If you're like me and read the original book oh, so many years ago, you can skip the last episode since that a new, more prolonged ending of an earlier revised ending.  It's totally unnecessary.  I did not like that the main characters had their stories told in flashback, many, many things were left out.  The idea of an extended miniseries is to pack in as much of the original story as possible.  Flashbacks weakened the dramatic threads binding the characters together.  The only character who ends up having any substance is Harold Lauder who appears in 7 of the 8 episodes which tell the story, his storyline is that important.  The rest are given short shrift and so there is no heartache at the end when some don't survive and that's a shame.

My new desk arrived yesterday, and will be assembled later this morning.  I'm also using my Instant Pot to make a turkey meatball soup.  Also, because the temps are supposed to get up into the mid 50's (F) a walk is planned for the dogs.  I do believe we are turning the corner and heading into spring.

Oh, and I saw where Mike Pence declined an invitation to speak at CPAC.  The Cult of Trump is continuing to tear apart the party.  Yeah!!

Now, it's time to cook some breakfast.

Dissecting Evil

 Tuesday.  This is one of those randomly scheduled days off I've been dealing with for the past couple of weeks.  My next consecutive days off, or weekend as some like to call those two days, will not happen until January 26th.  I am not excited about having to wait.  

Since I am off today, I stayed up and watched episodes 2 and 3 of The Stand.  It's entertaining, but some changes have been made.  In episode 3 Tom Cullen, a 42 year old mentally challenge man, enters the storyline and his arrival is completely different then in the novel.  The mini-series' reliance on flashbacks to tell a majority of the story is a definite weak point.  No suspense or tension builds since the good guys are already in Boulder.  While being more detailed then the first version telecast way back when, the individual story arcs lack intensity.  Ah, well, it is a monster of a book.

Tom Cullen

As might be expected, the Fallout from the 6th is continuing to grow, or, as many are want to say "this shit's getting deeper."  I don't have cable, but when I talked to my sister yesterday, she told me you can't turn it's on every channel.  My friend Betsy said that even Court TV is dissecting this evil as though it was some scurrilous rat.  Corporations are now beginning to hold their donations from Republicans, and we all know how important money is to them.  While this will in no way be permanent, think of this as a temporary assist in getting the far right extremists out of office.  

Deutsche Bank is no longer going to deal with the Idiot Jerk, and Signature Bank has closed out 2 of his personal accounts.  New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has refused to accept the Medal of Freedom from him.  Ouch.

Supposedly, his base has other events planned for January 17, and inauguration day.  They don't understand how bad they will look if they if they do pull this shit.  This is how they write themselves out of existence.  

Stand

The dogs got me up at 0400, early morning potty calls, and instead of going back to bed for 45 minutes I turned on the coffeemaker.  I couldn't see the point in trying to get what would amount to another 35 minutes of sleep.  This is how things go sometimes.
I haven't ridden my bicycle since 1/26.  Looking back over my history, I can tell you it is that time of year.  Right now my focus is getting The Body in the Well in good enough shape so I can get copies out to the three readers who scribble and mark on the manuscripts before handing them back to me.  I'm also approaching the point where I just want to get it finished.  Since the first word was typed on 4/28/19, I spent 21,664 minutes, or 361 hours, working on the manuscript.  Last evening I finished Chapter 7 in the editing process, only 25 more chapters to go.  I'm hoping to shut the door on this stage in about two weeks.
Anyway, panic is really beginning to spread about the Coronavirus.  This morning, for the first time, I saw a comparison to the Spanish Flue of 1918.  I don't think my annual flu shot is going to help with this one.  One of the things our store has had to do is put a limit on how many dust masks customers can buy.  Asians really believe this is the way to go, though they are not the only ones buy masks.  We've also had a number of senior citizens interested as well, and not just in masks, in ventilators, too.  And there are what?  4 known cases in the US?  And evidently (this should strike fear into the bones of every hypochondriac) you can be a carrier without showing symptoms.  Keep in mind, the vast majority of those who do get sick survive.  This is not "The Stand."

And, speaking of standing, it looks as though the GOP is still desperately trying to push through an acquittal vote on the Idiot Jerk's impeachment without calling any witnesses.  That's their desperate attempt to keep him from being obliterated in the 2020 election.  They know they're going to fail, they're just trying to find the most cushy spot to crash.  And those senators voting for acquittal?  I'm sure some of them understand those votes are going to be career killers.  This is fine.  I'm waiting to see how many of them throw themselves on their swords trying to save a dead political party.  What a dishonorable way to go.