The Icing on the Cake

 Let's see... it's Saturday, the sun is shining brightly through the window and there isn't a cloud in the sky... and, as is the case on all Saturdays, I have to work.  Yesterday the sun didn't come out to play until after 6 PM and the temperatures hung around in the mid 60s (F), meaning the weather forecast was way off.

The ground here was wet, the grass had dew drops hanging on the blades most of the day, and so it didn't get mowed.  And, even though I felt I should be napping constantly, I did manage to get things done.  The tank in the living room was cleaned, the bathroom cleaned, and I cut down the rest of my peach tree.  I didn't plant the tree to feed the squirrels, and that's precisely what happened.  My neighbor across the street had the same problem, no peaches because of the squirrels.  With the tree gone, my yard suddenly got much larger and I realized how much I like it that way.  

When I remodeled my kitchen, I had a range hood put in over the stove, LED lights, really nice.  Well, yesterday one of the lights died and needs to be replaced.  So, what did I discover?  They sent me the wrong hood.  When it arrived, I never really looked at it, I just gave it to the contractor.  Big mistake.  Checking, it looks as though they sent me a more expensive model, which isn't a bad thing.  However, changing the lightbulbs is going to present problems, as it seems as though I actually have to replace the entire fixture.  Not a good thing.

And I received an email from Cumberland County notifying me that my mail-in ballot was on the way.  Yippee!  It will be filled out and mailed the day it arrives.  The only probably with mail in ballots in Pennsylvania is that the Republican party and decreed that they can not be counted until November 5.  You see, it's all about delaying the process, making it take as much time as possible to find out the results.  It's my understanding that there were around 199,000 ballots requested for Bucks County (Philadelphia).  I tried to get an accurate figure for my country, Cumberland, and found it extremely difficult.  Needless to say, not of them will be counted until November 5.  The alternative would be to stand in line and vote, and believe me, lines might be long.  Long lines are a discouragement for seniors and people who might have disabilities, and even though senior citizens tend to vote Republican, the GOP doesn't care.  I suspect that in the end, Harris will have enough of a lead in Pennsylvania, the mail-in ballots will just be the icing on the cake.

The Kitchen

 So, it's Thursday and the clouds are still here, it's not raining, however, so I guess that's a dim bright spot.  Tomorrow, things will be a little brighter.  Partial sunshine will do that, however as we move into the weekend rain showers and possibly a soaker or two will move back into the region.  Temps will spring into what are consider normal highs and lows for the season. 

One of the things that's bothered me about my trip to Greece was the return flight.  Having to wait in Madrid for 13 hours before my return flight to the states was irking.  I'm not a sitter, or waiter, and having to do so weighs heavily upon my impatience.  Doing nothing.  Ugh.  And since the layover was from 11 PM until 12 the next day, it wasn't as if I could leave the airport and take in a single, solitary sight.  So, I revisited the return flights and discovered that if I left Athens at 0830, I could be back in the states on the same day.  Realizing this, I had no problem in changing my return itinerary.  Now, I'm leaving Athens at 0830, and flying to Heathrow, where I'll have a 4 hour wait, until flying to Philadelphia.  Believe me, cutting out that 13 hour layover turned out to be such a relief.

Here are two pictures of my new, old kitchen.  I still need to put the quarter round down, and there are a few touch-ups I need to get the paint brush out for, but otherwise it's finished.  I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  The flooring is Lifeproof, Chelsea Pond and, as I might have expected, it's a color that is no longer sold.  Good thing I bought 2 extra boxes.

John Eastman was disbarred yesterday, or at least a judge ruled that he should be disbarred.  He's a Trump zealot, who was once a law clerk for Clarence Thomas.  Now tell me, doesn't that make perfect sense?  

And even though there's a gag order on the Orange Anus, he's still spouting out his hatred, aiming his attacks at those involved in his porno trial whom he thinks the most vulnerable.  He will continue to do this until he's actually punished.  That's the only way his attorney's might convince him to shut his mouth.  In my opinion, that would be outstanding.  He's always believed his words and actions are above consequence.  Wouldn't that be a delight, having him handcuffed  and taken to spend a night in jail?

Dense Fog

 We are under a dense fog warning!  Good thing the sun has risen, otherwise we'd be stuck in one of those good, old pea soup fogs, the type where you can't see the pavement beneath your feet.  I'm not planning on going anywhere, so my car will be one less that's not on the road.

Yesterday was fairly quiet around here.  There are two more small places sections of tile in the kitchen that still need to be grouted, one of them was done yesterday.  This morning I want to seal everything that's been done so far.  The curtain rod over the sink needs to be hung, that shouldn't take long.  I have to order the valance that's going to get hung there.  Really, these are nothing more than the finishing touches.  I like the end result.  It's a new kitchen, most of which I did myself.  As I tell people in the store, save money and do it yourself if possible.  Not only will you be rewarded with the buckos you didn't spend, but also the pride of you accomplishment.

I hit the treadmill yesterday.  1.67 miles.  Today I'll either be rowing or riding.  

The big fish tank was also cleaned yesterday, and the new Greek statuary added.  This is what it looks like now.  Oh, and there is sad note, the last of those Koi angel fish passed.  I really liked those angels.

And our 2024 presidential election is going to be a rematch between Joe Biden and the Spawn of Satan.  I don't know about you, but I find that rather amusing.  Personally, I think both candidates are too old to sit in the white house, unfortunately that is now a moot point.  There is not going to be a sudden entry in either party that going to dazzle America.  I'm not worried about the election, though I am concerned about what might happen after Trump loses a 2nd time; he's a terrible spoilsport and is a complete failure when it comes to handling losses.  Believe me, he would have no problem attempting to start a civil war just to save his orange ass.  In fact, one of the things we can count on is him growing more erratic as time passes.  You see in his addled brain the key to success is extremism, that's what his cult loves.  Unfortunately for Trump, America is very Centrist and his extremist shrieks and shouts will hurt him.  As someone said, he was extremely lucky back in 2016, people still believed polls.  In 2020, his cult was a full force and he lost.  Heading into 2024 he's lost about 30% of the Republican vote (something he desperately needs) because of the Insurrection, and because of his activist Supreme Court (think Roe v Wade).  Independent voters are not going to make up that difference, in fact that last point, Roe v Wade still has American women seething.  All Trump is going to end up doing is wander around in a dense fog of his own creation as his mind slowly slips away.

Too Good to be True

 So, Friday ended with a drizzle that continued through the night.  We were under a high wind warning that never blew in, there wasn't so much as a brisk breeze.  Temperatures are set to drop today, though their fall will be sort of a slomo decent into the colder temps more fitting for winter.  Over the next few days, nightly temps will bottom out in the low to mid teens (F), with daily highs climbing into the low to mid 30s (F).  We will have to wait and see if I keep my thermostat set at 69 (F), or if I turn up the heat.

Painting in the kitchen is complete.  Well, as always, there will be a few touch-ups, mostly on the cabinets and on a section of the baseboard where I went a little too light with the brush.  Next week the tiling will be finished, and possibly, if my knees are feeling up to it, the floor will be laid.  I was thinking of putting decorative teapots along the top of the cabinets, but decided not to, preferring a crisper look over something that might seem like colorful clutter.

My neighbors had a new water heater installed yesterday, right after they had moved in, she told me the old one was leaking.  They evidently didn't pay for a home inspection.  My nephew told me that the real estate is so hot in this area, most potential home buyers will skip it out of fear someone else will snap up the property.  Translation:  you're buying the house as is.  They bought that house because it was staged to look like it was worth a lot more than the asking price.  I did a search of the houses on the local market and they paid a fair price, they did get new appliances and their backsplash is top notch tiling.  Something I learned a long time ago: if it looks to good to be true, it usually is too good to be true.

For those of you who have been to an AMC theater lately, or who go as frequently as I do, you know about the Nicole Kidman ad for the theater group.  They play it relentlessly.  I hope she's getting paid residuals!  Anyway, her suit is going on the auction block at Sotheby's if you care to put in a bid. 

And since it's the weekend, nothing really important is happening in domestic politics other than the usual sniping from Republicans.  I don't know if you've noticed, but it always seems to be the Republicans who are complaining and pointing fingers and imaginary evils.  Their base lives for the mis-information. Their truth is never as good as they claim, in fact, over the past decade of so they've proven themselves time and time again to be nothing more than expert shysters.  Their political staginess, however, is growing stale.  They are becoming more and more extreme because they need to in order to hold on to their base, and while they do this many Americans are shaking their heads and saying, "what the hell is wrong with you people?"

Terrormorphs

 So, here we go, it's Thursday.  Outside overcast skies are giving way to partial sun, which is almost as good as a sunny day, but not quite.  Temps are again predicted to linger in the mid 40s (F).  That doesn't bother me in the least bit.  Sadly, it looks as though Canada is going to shoo some of it's cold air in the form of an artic blast down to us.  If the forecasters are correct, our temps will be struggling to climb up into the low 30s (F) next week.  That means I might have to turn the thermostat back up to 70 (F).

Yesterday was a so, so day.  I did get some tiling done, but I avoided the paint.  It's these cloudy days.  I did manage to get in a free weight workout.  My legs are a bit sore today because I've incorporated a series of weighted lunges attempt to prep them for when I'll be spending time on my knees installing the new floor.

My new neighbors were arguing this morning.  If they are shouting loudly, I can hear what they're yelling, and at one point he brought up "this house."  She's already told me they believe they were cheated and lied to, and while in all honesty I'd have to say that the real estate agent was a bit deceitful, they are the ones who made the decision to purchase because of how it was staged.  If you're investing that much money, do you homework.  It's a little late in the game for them to have buyer's remorse.

Here's an updated pic of the far end of the kitchen.  The cookbook shelf has been put back.  I am going to need to repot the snake plant and move it.  I do like that lemony yellow color on the walls.  There are also going to be valances hung, but they're going to be the "finishing touches."

There was a Republican debate last night.  I was too busy killing Terrormorphs in Starfield to pay any attention, and I know I chose the way better option.  I mean, did anyone other than Republicans watch?  And I doubt if any of those who did were Trumpers, they've already sold their souls to the Spawn of Satan.

And, speaking of the devil, I understand he had some sort of Townhall where he fielded softball questions.

Oh, and lest I forget, Hunter Biden showed up at his contempt hearing, and Republicans flipped out.  And Democrats embarrassed a number of Republicans, those who have also ignored their subpoenas, including Jimmie Jordan, who has ignored his own subpoena for 608 days.  Even though those Republican congressmen weren't playing Starfield, they came face to face with a Terrormorph of their on creation and figuratively speaking, publicly died.

Fluries

 The temps were 30 (F) when I got up and there was snow in the forecast... well, not snow precisely, flurries is what they were predicting.  It's a good thing I don't crave the white stuff; sitting by the window for the past 45 minutes nary a flake has drifted by.  What a shame this winter thing is going to drag itself out until at least March.  Then, warm temps will be upon and they'll race by until once again we're left with the winter dark.

I thought of putting up my Christmas (all season) tree.  That's about as far as it went.  There was a time when I did decorate, but not anymore, and not for any holiday, it's not just Christmas.  Decorations need to be appreciated by many eyes, and, as I told Jon (the PT), I just don't invite people over anymore.  I prefer going out.  The invitations I get are nice and I usually attend, but over the past few years I've decided I really don't want people coming into my house.  Being a host requires extra time and effort that I'm no willing to give up.  Maybe, as I grow older, I'm simply getting selfish with my time.  I figure I may have what?  Possibly 30 years left, and I want to spend it with me.

Still no flurries.

All of the cabinet doors have been hung in my kitchen renovation.  There's a bit more painting that needs to be done, a bit of caulking, some backsplash added to the sink, and then I get to the floor, meaning I'll be spending a lot of time on my knees.

I understand the Orange Anus had some sort of one on one with one of his favorite ass kissers, Sean Hannity.  For those who don't know, Hannity is one of the Moral Degenerates billionaire admirers.  At this point, no one should be surprised what comes out of his mouth, his seething anger is spewing in all directions.  

Evidently the Moms for Liberty hate group has begun to splinter.  That's not a surprise, they're a political branch of the Republican party and look how badly that's cracking apart.  They ugly is oozing out from every possible seam.

And that dolt Tuberville changed his anti-American military plan.  He's now letting promotions take place up to the 3 start level.  No 4 star promotions yet.  I'm suspecting that he might finally be understanding Trump may be the Republican nominee for president, but there's no way he's going to win, meaning there's no way Trump allies can be promoted into powerful military positions.  Many think that was the true reason for Tuberville's plan, not that he was upset by the Armed Forces view on abortion.

Laughable

 So, here it is Tuesday, though I thought it was Wednesday until I looked at my work calendar on the refrigerator.  This week is out of sync because I didn't work Monday, so in my mind Sunday would have been my Monday.  It seems as though it's not the days of the week I remember as much as the days days that I either work or don't work.

There's a steady breeze shaking the branches of the river birch outside my window, and you'd think the leaves would be ripping themselves off since we've had some cold mornings, but nope.  Temps are predicted to climb up into the mid to upper 50s (F) again today.  While our overnight temps can drop down into the low 30s (F), our daily highs are always in the mid 50s (F).  This is a nice autumn.

The cabinet doors got their first coat of paint yesterday.  One more before they get hung, and then a 3rd around the top and on the front just to add a bit of toughness.  Remember, paint is a finish and needs to be treated like one.  The more coats, the more durable it is.  That's a problem with those "one coat" paints people use because they're too lazy to do 2 coats.  One coat is easier to scratch off.  

Nestled in among the leaves, here's another rose from my garden.

And yesterday something laughable happened; the Supreme Court decided they were going to follow a code of ethics followed by lower courts.  While many applauded this, there is one tiny little fly in the ointment:  they're going to police themselves.  We know how well that's gone so far, what with Clarence Thomas accepting every bribe tax free donation and grift gift his Sugar Daddy teases him with, only a fool would think he's going to stop or even try to change.  I'm not alone in thinking that this Band-Aid is going to be ripped off the first time Clarence gets an offer. 

It's also rather laughable that the news media is attempting to make something newsworthy about Halley and DeSantis are probably going to be the last 2 candidates standing, other than the Spawn of Satan, Donald Trump.  I really do with they'd begin putting Democracy first, rather than clicks on the internet.  I also find it laughable that they're treating the Orange Anus as a legitimate candidate.  You'd think they'd realize that by doing so enables his cult.

The Bendy Ankle

 Sunday!  And I don't work!  And the weather is nice, cool, but that's okay.  This is autumn; cool days and cooler nights.  The sunshine is so bright I had to pull the curtains shut to keep it from blinding me while I type.

I got many hours of sleep last night.  When the alarm went off, I let Lily out and the fed her, and then the two of us went back to bed for another hour.  This always happens when my schedule gets changed.  Normally I'd be going in to work this morning, but I'm off, I worked Thursday instead.  I like have my 4 days off in a row, I get more things done around the house which is important with my kitchen renovation.  Not that I don't get things done.  All of the new cabinets have their first coat of paint, next up, a bit of light sanding and then on to coat number 2.  I will probably do 3 coats since paint is a finish, and being in a kitchen where dings and dangs happen, the stronger the better.

Work was exceedingly boring yesterday.  Not that I didn't talk to customers, it's just that the all though our pricing was too expensive.  The new software they've saddled us with is still twitchy as hell.  This is piss poor planning.  They should have rolled this out in mid-January when business is a lot slower and associates would have the time to learn how it work.  Now they're going to be dealing with costly complaints.

I check Facebook every morning to see if everybody I know is still alive.  This morning this pic popped up from 5 years ago.  Isn't it amazing how bendy my ankle is?

And, of course, the Republican shit show in Congress continues.  Now that the little fascist Jimmy Jordan got rejected it seems as though the floodgates of wannabe Speakers has opened up.  The last time I checked I believe there were 10 Republicans vying for the position.   Because there is no obvious choice, the chaos will continue.  Three or four will probably get nominated, however the rules the Republicans themselves set up will require the victor will need to have some Democratic support, and the GOP has decided they don't want to work with Democrats.  Having to compromise means they can't go around shouting "shut up, we're in charge," and that's a stake for every MAGA who bought into the cult.

Kitchen

 Yesterday was warm, the temps climbing to 86 (F), heating the house to point where the Central Air kicked in.  That's okay.  It was only for a few hours.  This early into autumn, I can live with that.  Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow bringing cooler temps to the area; highs in the upper 50s (F) are expected.  Time to break out sweat shirts and pants and pack away the shorts and Ts.  

My new neighbors are not happy with their house.  The first time I met her she talked about the new appliances, so I think for her and her husband that was the main selling point.  Do Not Buy a house simply because it has new appliances.  Now her complaint concerns the lack of wall outlets.  "Only 2 in the living room," she's griped about every time I've talked to her.  She also voiced her opinion that they weren't told about things like that, and I thought she should have realized that was her responsibility.  When most people buy a house, they walk through the rooms and picture where their furniture is going to be, so if they decide their TV is going to be on one wall they usually check to make sure there's an outlet.  They are going through what may be a very expensive learning experience.

And the kitchen is proceeding nicely.  All the cupboards and cabinets are in place, all the drywall has been hung and every hole covered.  Late yesterday afternoon I installed the drain pipes and this afternoon I will install the fixtures.  Tomorrow?  Probably the dishwasher.  Once that's done, I can begin painting.  There's some tile work I need to do around the stove.  And, of course, there's the floor; that will make these creaking bones ache.

The disarray and chaos in the House of Representatives continues.  Republicans are upset that they forced McCarthy to add a rule which allowed one sole congressman to have him fired.  Sorry, bobo brains, you are the ones who voted for that rule and no one was holding a gun to the head of their first born.  A number of them are saying that they'd like to expel Matty Gaetz, but we know that's not going to happen, that would cost them a vote.  Remember, these people are Republicans, for them it's not about corruption, it's about being in charge.  They accept any evil as long as it gives them the power they crave.

Sink

 So, I slept in this morning.  Not because I stayed up binging some series, either.  I went to bed fairly early, woke up several times during the night, and when the alarm went off at 0530 I shut it off, rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour and a half.

Temps are only supposed to climb into the low 90s (F) today, that is until the storms arrive.  For the next 4 days we're supposed to be getting rain, which means I need to mow my front lawn sooner rather than later.  Temps are also supposed to chill, meaning they will only climb into the low 80s (F)

Yesterday was odd.  I was expecting several deliveries and that crimped any plans for a decent workout, the last thing I wanted to do was stand in the doorway signing for a cabinet, or a sink, dripping with sweat.  And since not everybody rings the doorbell, riding the bike on the second floor was not really a good option.  Hopefully, I'll make up for it today.

And, of the things I signed for yesterday was this.

And yesterday a judge ruled that 2 of the Georgia 19... (it is nineteen, isn't it?  or is it 18?) cannot sever their trials.  That's right, Powell and Chesebro are going to be tried with the rest of the defendants.  This is not good news for those wanting to separate themselves.  Also, for those really interested, you could watch the proceedings live on YouTube.  Since neither Syd nor Jimmy were in the courtroom, I didn't really pay it too much attention.  

A good laugh was had by all this morning over the Orange Anus's comment about taking the witness stand during the trial.  That will never happen because that would mean he'd have to answer questions, and using the 5th on televised TV would make him look like the loser he truly is.  Prepare yourselves, he's going to sink even lower.

Finally, I saw that DeSantis' supporters are beginning to see the writing on the wall.  Did they really believe America was going to accept a shrill, little man who doesn't have a problem with Nazis?  I wonder if Social Conservatives realize that Nazis believe in the Arian Nation and Jesus is not going to get an invitation to that party.

workstation

 The weather yesterday was nice, comfortable temperatures, a light breeze and sun that was on and off.  Today looks to be a replay of the same, though the chance of showers increases to 40%.  Either way it will be nice.

I got the estimate for the electrical work and it's around what I was expecting.  I must have become more astute to contractors and their pricing.  I emailed Radle with 2 small changes.  I also sent an email to Lindsey, the woman who drywalled the holes in my ceiling.  I have work for her, some drywalling, the installation of cabinets and prepping for the new sink  and dishwasher.  Ibn fact, Lindsey just returned my email - we'll be talking this evening.  For the sink, I'm going to go with a double sink work station.  Nice, eh?  Though mine will be a drop-in, not an undermount.

And Ronnie DeSantis went down to Jacksonville to try and make some political points regarding the hate crime, 3 black people getting shot by a white man wearing a mask, and Ronnie got booed badly.  For those who don't know, Ronnie signed legislation allowing residents of Florida to carry a concealed gun without needing a permit to do so.  Ronnie is also the moron who said "Florida is the state where Woke goes to die."  Ronnie also let the good people of Florida know that he will pause his campaign while Hurricane Idalia tears through the middle of the state.  Someone should tell Ronnie he will never be president.

Also, today's the day when a judge will set the date for one of Trump's first trial for the Atlanta charges.  Prepare yourselves!  He and the MAGA  Republicans will be shrieking from here to high heaven.

In the Light they can be defeated

 And my mid-week weekend began with some chest congestion and a slight sniffle.  I'm debating whether I want to waste another one of my free Covid tests.  I will probably wait and see if things progress.  These days it's too easy to slip into panic mode.  Nope, wrong word.  I don't panic. It's more of a son of a bitch mode, you know what I mean, more of a pain in the ass than anything else.  There's things needing to be done.  The washer and dryer arrive tomorrow.

My kitchen ceiling is patched and ready to be painted.  I checked with the Paint desk to see if Behr was going to be going on sale soon and was told 'no.'  Of course, having managed the paint department for a number of years, I can tell you more than likely a paint sale is coming up.  Over all, paint is not making its plan, so corporate will want to increase sales and to do that they'll run a sale.  The mark-up in paint, as with so many of the things we sell, is high, so a $5 or $10 off coupon is not really going to make a dint in the profit margin.

Biggie was supposed to go for bloodwork late this afternoon.  They called and postponed it; the vet had to take his father to an appointment.  No problem here.  While Biggie does lay around a lot, he's also going to be 8 years old on 12/25, which, given his size, means he's most likely considered nearing the age of a geriatric dog.  Not that he doesn't still have a lot of bounce, he just seems happier to be doing this, napping against my leg while we were waiting for the drywall contractor to finish.

Time to moisturize his nose again

So, the Defense of Marriage Act is going to get a vote today.  As it stands now, it will not codify same sex marriage into law because... wait for it... 3 of the Republicans who originally voted for it have reneged.  Mike Lee, a Trump ass-licker, added a religious amendment to the bill, to satisfy the GOP's every shrinking Christian minority.  Given the chance, Republicans will desperately try to force their mutating social conservatism onto America.

The Washington Post had an interesting take on the festering sore in the GOP.   Of course, this is something most of us knew a long time ago.  Trump's election loss, and the Big Lie, just tore away the bandages.  Their hatred for minorities, and I'm including everyone who isn't white, male, Christian, and straight, has always been there, masked by their deceit of really caring for all Americans.  It was Trump who openly began acknowledging this lie.  There were good people on both sides, he said, knowing white nationalists and supremacists would feel welcomed.  It didn't make a difference how deep your aniti-American hatred ran, as long as you were loyal to Trump and the GOP you were accepted.  There is a good side to this dark side of the Republican party.  Thanks to Trump, we now know their names, Fuentes being one of them.  They are no longer scurrying around in the shadows.  In the light, they can be fought and defeated.

The Death of the Republican Party

 Saturday.  As usual, I will be working this afternoon.  Only for 6 hours, however, I will be taking leftovers for a mini-meal.  Eating when I get home, around 7:15 PM, is a little late for me..  The orange retailer I work for gives me a 15 minute break, so I 'break bread' so to speak.

Work is continuing on my kitchen ceiling.  The contractor is doing a really great job.  She is young, mid-20s.  If I'm satisfied, I will have her back to do other work.  As we age, it's best to have either or handyman or contractor to take care of the upkeep.  I don't mind paying.  Here's a shot I took yesterday.  The wall to the left is going to be drywalled over in the spring and probably a cabinet or two will be hung.  You can never have enough storage in a kitchen.

I was going to put a cabinet in the new laundry room, but am now beginning to think along the lines of a rolling cart with possibly wire baskets.

Evidently The Former Guy ruffled some feather by hosting a dinner with Kanye the Anti-Semite, who, supposedly, just happened to bring Nick, the pro-Nazi white supremacist as a guest.  Now tell me, why would anyone be surprised?  Does anyone think trouble might be brewing?  Is Trump foreshadowing in plain sight?  Wouldn't surprise me in the least.  Trump is not stupid.  He wants to be a huge player in world politics.  The Republicans thought he was their savior, Reagan reincarnated as a grifting conman, uniting America.  He isn't, and was never going to be another Reagan.

I noted previously Billy Barr saying Trump would destroy the Republican party if he didn't get the nomination.  Well, this should come as no surprise, but he's going to be destroying it a lot sooner.  Like... oh, say, after he gets his first indictment.  On Thanksgiving he posted "give me freedom, or give me death" on Truth Social.  That was his first salvo.  He is prepping all of those MAGA and Qanon loyalists.  His comment was in a similar vein to what he was Tweeting before January 6.  The instant he makes his first perp walk, he wants them to rise up.  In his eyes, Kanye and Fuentes are allies.  Remember Portland, OR during the BLM protests?  Well, that's what the Orange Anus envisions, lots of Portlands  springing up across America defending him.  When that happens, the Republican party will be dead.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  He believes Civil Unrest will save his ass and carry him forward.  It won't.  We had a Civil War in which leniency reigned, the leaders went free.  That will not happen this time.  America will have had enough of this shit.

The First 3

 Yesterday was pretty much a kitchen clean-up day.  A lot of attention is being paid to the floor which is vinyl planks over a subfloor of lauan (fiberboard).  Lauan doesn't handle water well.  For those who don't know, this is the same stuff they use in making laminate flooring which handles water quite poorly.  So far, there is no sign of swelling or warping.  Replacing it would be another pain in the ass, added expense.

Since the kitchen is already somewhat torn up, I'm going to ask the electrician how much it would cost to add a couple of outlets.  With coffee makers, and mixers, and toasters, and microwaves, a kitchen needs convenient outlets.  Mine has 2 and only one of those is counter level.

So, I watched the last episode of the Rings of Power last evening.  I was not really surprised by the revelations, but then a long time ago I read through the Silmarillion  upon which much of this series is based.  Things to keep in mind:  these first 8 episodes were only about the Elvan rings, the 5 for the Dwarven kings, and the 9 for man have yet to be forged as does the one to rule them all.  Also, Isildur has not been seen since episode 6 and Durin  was not seen in episode 8; both have major parts to play (that isn't really a spoiler).  Supposedly, season 2 will be out sooner rather than later.

The temps dropped down to 37 (F) last night, not freezing yet.  I managed to snap another pic of my dahlias. 

One of the things I find intriguing about the midterms is the large number of election deniers running for office.  Some of them, like Kari Lake, are relying on The Big Lie to get them as many votes as possible.  Even though it's been proven false over and over again, I wonder if these deniers truly believe it, or are merely using it as a tool to leverage MAGA voters.  The lengths to which some are going make me wonder if they have any idea of what might happen should they push it too far.  Take Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania with his 40 days of prayer.  This man sees nothing wrong with people dying for God, in fact his doctorate which has been deeply criticized for being based on falsehoods, states this is a good thing.  Does this guy really want a religious war in Pennsylvania?  There are so many out there who are fanning the flames without even considering what the terrible consequences would be if people start taking up arms.