Rittenhouse Rain

 Happy Veteran's Day.  I'll be celebrating... sort of.  I work today and they're bringing in lunch for all of the Veterans, and that includes me.  Mission Barbecue.  A paid day off would be preferred, but we can't have everything, can we?

While I was off, a husband and wife bought one of my hardwood jobs sold, over $15,000.  She decided she was going to apply for a credit card to get the $100.  That's understandable.  Just to let you know, the max limit I've ever seen for new credit cards has been $8000.  For her, however, her max limit was over the 15 grand.  So, what kind of money do you need to be raking in to apply for a credit card and get that kind of limit?  That is way above my paygrade.

The discomfort in my back is now a lot like a pinched nerve, but not all of the time.  I can go hours with no problems, but then I just happen to turn the wrong way.  I do think switching to my old running shoes has helped in that regard.  That and the core exercises I learned at PT the last time this happened.

I'm off tomorrow and we are going to get rain.  So, what's new about that?

Oh, and in case you didn't  hear, it rained yesterday at the Rittenhouse trial... oh, wait, that wasn't rain, those were crocodile tears from a sobbing 17 year old who claims he was terrified he was going to die.  I keep waiting to see a headline where this kid is asked "why were you there?  In another state, with a rifle you got illegally?"  Of course, that may be one of the many things this white judge, the one with Trump's campaign song as a ringtone on his phone, has made taboo.  This man, who is stunningly racists, has no idea of the firestorm he may be creating.  He's doing what white racists judges have always done, look out for his own.  As for Kyle?  This kid is stupid and his life is ruined because of that.  I suspect that his tear clouds will be hanging over his head for most of his life.

Gibberish

 Okay, so today's a holiday.  Memorial Day.  Think of it as a Veteran's Day on steroids.  Burgers, fireworks, and at a lot of parties, beer, or some other form of alcoholic beverage is on the menu.  Many people have 3 day weekends.  I work today.  They are bringing in an ice cream truck so we can all have a free Sundae.  They also provide patriotic beads, and glittery little patriotic hats, and sequined antennae, all in very patriotic red, white, and blue.  I don't wear beads, or hats, or antennae.  This is my 6th day of work and right now all I want is my 2 consecutive days off.  I may stop off on the way home and pick up a bottle wine to celebrate those 2 days.  Maybe.

The thermometer's supposed to climb to 74 (F).  Everybody is ready and waiting.  The recent fall-like temperatures have not been appreciated.  My heat has been turned back on and for the past 2 nights my wool blanked as once again found a home on my bed.  Hopefully, it will not get folded and placed in the cedar chest until September or October.

There are tomatoes on my plants.  They are the size of marbles.  And there are tons of peaches on the tree, and nectarines, hopefully this year the squirrels won't eat those.  The garlic is coming along, as is the eggplant and pepper plants.  I'm hoping for a better harvest this year then last.

a blurry, little eggplant blossom

And what about those Democrats down in Texas, walking out so there was no quorum?  And the Republicans down there who desperately want an authoritarian government?  They hate this shit.  They're trying to say this is only a speed-bump, of course their heads hit the roof so hard when they hit that speed-bump they almost bit their tongues off.  Now their lies are going to sound even more like gibberish, not that that bothers the Republican base.  They've been swallowing the same shit for years.

Whine and Cheese

 The weather yesterday started off... well... okay, but then the sun came out.  However, for those who didn't know, it was Friday... the 13th.  The nuts were out shopping.  Well, let me correct myself, the nuts were out.  They were calling the Flooring Desk.  One of them had set up a measure over the phone.  This person has never been in the store.  Never looked at flooring.  This person wants hardwood.  He only wants it on his staircases (slip, trip, and fall hazard).  He wants Brazilian Cherry.  Sorry, it's unavailable, probably because there's a dictator in Brazil who's burning down the rain forests.  The only thing that resembles Brazilian Cherry is a Pergo laminate... in no way being close to hardwood.  And I, had the joy of explaining this to him... over the phone because he has never been in the store. Oh, and his staircases are going to cost him over $4000.  Boo!

Management gave me a cute little red bag with a blue ribbon on it - my Veterans Goody Bag.  Lots of little snacky things and a card signed 'Mgmt.'  The gesture was nice, but I had to chuckle at the 'Mgmt.'

Also, beginning Monday, we need to do our Health Check on either a computer or smart phone before we get to the store, otherwise the timeclock will not let us punch in.   I'm certain there are a number of associates who feel this is an attack on their constitutional rights to do what ever they want.  Many still do not believe the seriousness of the situation simply because of our Failed President.

I find it interesting that Biden's total Electoral College votes are a mirror image of what the Idiot Jerk received 4 years ago.  This is a sign, you know.  We are escaping from the ugly, fascist wonderland of the Idiot Jerk, back through the mirror before it breaks.  

Evidently the White Supremacists are going to protest the Idiot Jerk's loss today.  I'm betting they bring their guns.   In case you didn't know it, they are the cheese to his whine.  What whine you ask?  This whine.

At the Bend in the River

Monday... another week begins.  Repetition is not the joy of my life.  Consistency is not necessarily a good thing.  Sometimes things need to be shaken up.  And underdog progressive has won the DA race in San Francisco.  This is just one more example of how the country is turning away from the rigid, conservative politics of the Idiot Jerk in the White House and his party of phonies.  One thing they have never learned and never will: you can't force your unpopular agenda down the throats of the American people and expect them to accept it.  They will repeat and fail, repeat and fail, until they no longer have a loud enough voice for anyone to hear.
Anyway... I'm changing up my cycling routine, aiming for shorter more intense rides.  This means more hills.... can you hear the joy in my words?
One of my little routines is to always make 4 taquitos when I get home from work and snack on them as read through the day's blog entries.  Last evening I didn't throw that paper towel away soon enough and Big Seig ate it.  Son of a bitch!  He has eaten them before.  They always come out in the end.  They are, however, not the type of roughage I want him chowing down on.
Oh, and today's Veteran's Day.  My personal opinion, not that it counts too much, is that as a Veteran for a Foreign War I should not have to work.  I should get the day off with pay.  Corporate America hates that idea.  Doing that would eat just the tiniest bit of their Profit Pie.  It's all about the money, you know?  Corporate America loves Conservatives - a group consistently trying to give them tax breaks.  Corporate America is not very patriotic.  They prefer banking assets rather than chipping in to help those less fortunate.  They do not care if the middle class is falling into destitution. That word does not describe their definition of the bottom line.  Unfortunately, about 88% of Corporate America is owned by foreign nationals.  That sucks.
Anyway... #2.  As I was walking to my car last week to go to work, before the temperature drop to 25 (F) I spied a little toad stool grown in my grass.

Since I thought it looks poisonous as hell, I left it be.
Finally, I began Chapter 29 last evening:  The Bend in the River.  The Bend has not always been kind to people.  In Chapter 1 there's mention of a body washing up on the rocks at the Bend in the River.  One can only wonder what our intrepid investigators find washed up on the rocks in The Body in the Well.  Hint:  It's not a Conservative.

Pain in the Neck

Well, yesterday was Veteran's Day so, being a Veteran, I took the day off to... try to put reality into focus... and failed.  There are bright spots out there.  This I found interesting.  Another bright spot is that because those millions of white, rural, racist voters elected Trump the GOP can no longer say they are all encompassing.  Of course we've always known they've been white racists.
And even though I could have gotten 10% off all of my purchases at the store yesterday, I did not go shopping.  And it's not because I got a write-up for that cash bag I left in my apron, which is what the end result was, but more because I don't like going to my work place on my days off.  If I want to buy something, I'll buy when I'm there, not make a special trip.  The discount isn't worth it.
I also had a doctor's appointment yesterday, with my specialist.  My neck.  When even I turn my head to the left or right there's cracking and popping, and sometimes pain.  It's not like I didn't know what he was going to tell me, I just needed it to be official, if you know what I mean.  Arthritis.  He gave me a list of exercises to do so I can strengthen the muscles.  If that doesn't work there will be Physical Therapy ahead.

Right now I'm just going to sit back and watch Trump's approval ratings slowly decline.  Remember when he stupidly said "this will be our Brexit?" totally clueless about what the consequences of that vote would be?  Well, prices are going up in the UK because the Pound keeps deflating.  Get ready, it's going to happen here.  How do I know?  Because I'm a pain in the neck!