Hasan Piker's Hotter than UGI

Today's probably going to be a hot one.  Our outside temp is already at 73 (F).  We have a 55% + chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon, and then the temps begin to fall.  We are, after all, less than 2 weeks from the start of Autumn.  

Cooler temps will help with the utility bills... somewhat, but not much.  I heat with natural gas, and was always under the impression that they were lower than the national average because of the extensive fracking in Pennsylvania.  Well, I did some research yesterday.  I was terribly mistaken.  Heating by natural gas is actually higher here than the average cost.  Some states, like Wyoming and Nebraska, where you'd think natural gas bills would be higher, are more than a bit lower.  Why do we pay so much more here in PA?  Because the distributors, like UGI, tack on so many extraneous charges onto your bill.   For August, I'm paying $3.45 for the commodity, that's the natural gas, I'm also paying $3.61 for them to distribute the gas.  Those 2 charges aren't bad.  However, I'm also paying a $16.31 Customer Charge.  That's right, I'm paying to be a customer.  And that $16.31 is not a fixed rate.  The more gas I use, the higher my Customer Charge is, which is why, while being on the budget program, my average bill is $103 per month. The real problem is corporate greed.

I'll be working this afternoon.  I'm betting the store will be slow.  

And the GOP is having a midterm convention in Da Las.   Don't believe me?  All you have to do is look at their podium.

That's right, one of the Ls fell off, so the midterm election is no loner taking place in Dallas, it's been moved to Da Las.

And boy is that arena empty.  When Orangie talks about it being packed, he's talking about the first 27 rows on the floor.  Anyone who got a free ticket was moved to the floor.  I find it amusing that none of the "official" cameras are moving back past that 27th row.  There are thousands of empty seats.  So many loyal Republicans are staying home, just like they will in the midterms.

You know they're getting desperate when the put a picture of Hasan Piker wearing only a Speedo on the Jumbotron, though they didn't want too much definition, so they pixilated the Speedo.

And Orangie's going to send us all a $5000 check if Republicans win in November.  That's called bribery, and election interference, and I'm sure we'll get that check right after we get the Doge check for $5000.

Get another Job

 Good Morning.  While it is still cold outside, the temps are predicted to start climbing.  By Tuesday, we're supposed to be in the upper 50s (F).  That's right, we will be closing in on 60.  I don't mind those temps.  I'm saving money on my natural gas bill.  According to UGI, I used 47% less gas last month then I did in 2022.  I'm fine with that.

The charges from my new electric supplier Clear Sky Energy, will begin on Wednesday.  We shall see how that goes.  One of the reasons I chose that company is that there is no cancellation fee.  If it turns out to not be the deal it's supposed to be, I'll just cancel.

They were working on the house next door most of yesterday, putting in the new windows and door.  I haven't seen the quality of the product they're installing, so I don't know how good it is.  I did see the flooring they purchased and it's mid-range.  It will look good on the floor, but durability has nothing to do with how appearance.  A lot of house flippers do this, put in a lesser value product knowing that brand new it will show well.

I made chicken marsala for dinner last night.  And pasta.  I made enough to take to work today for lunch.

The balloon is down.   The Chinese are upset because they were caught doing something stupid.  The media, conservative, liberal, and everything outlet in between, set this blaze afire.  Rest assured, however, that no matter which way this story drifted, the conservatives were going to fan the flames, anything less would be totally unexpected.

Marjorie Taylor Greene made grew some small headlines when she complained about her salary.  That measly $174,000 is wrecking havoc with her finances.  The old HR rep in me says if you don't like the job, or what it pays, then get another job.  I'm sure she realizes she could probably make a lot more money as a lobbyist, and we all know she's not in Congress to serve her constituents.

Me being Serious

 Rain is in the forecast for today.  The temps are predicted to climb into the mid  to upper 40s (F).  Nice.  You would think that this warm winter would mean I was using less natural gas.  Like my electrical usage, I track how much UGI is saying I use on a monthly basis.   Imagine how surprised I was when I saw I was actually using 30% more this year than last.  How can that be?  The average daily temperature is 2 degrees warmer than last year.  And then it struck me.  The house next door is vacant, and while workmen are rehabbing it, I'm fairly certain they're not cranking the heat up.  I'm using 30% more natural gas because they're leaching off of my heat.  Damn!  Of course, next winter, when there are occupants living next door, I should be using less than this year.

Last night I watched The Pale Blue Eye on Netflix.  Christian Bale stars.  It a meh mystery with an ending that's suppose to be a shocker.  Well, I was surprised.  It's a mystery, so I won't give the ending away should you decide to watch it.  I found most of the film boring.  Bale wants to be an Actor's actor, often choosing parts in films which let his skills shine; the films themselves are not always good.  If you have Netflix, give it a whirl, I'd like to know what others think.

My Christmas Cactus is still blooming.

For those of you who didn't see, nobody's favorite little Margie (taylor green) sponsored a piece of legislation.  That's right.  This horse's ass actually proposed a piece of legislation limiting Biden's ability to sell national oil reserves to China.  She evidently doesn't know that China has a rather lucrative arrangement with the Russians when it comes to importing oil.  Obviously reality has very little influence in her comprehension of the facts.  It never has, it never will.  And Margie's stunning attempt at writing a bill got all of 14 votes.  That means over 200 members of her own party voted against it.  That bit of a loss is beyond humiliation.  In fact, nobody's favorite little Margie has only co-sponsored 4 pieces of legislation that have actually passed.  Not surprising, this bottled bimbolina wants to be Donald Trump's running mate in 2024.  I'm serious.  You can not make this shit up.

The Big Stick, and how to use it

 And... we... have... snow!  Just flurries at present.  We might get as much as 2 inches!  The dogs will love that.  Looking at the weather map, I doubt very much if we're going to be in the 'your screwed' region, and I didn't get to the liquor store yesterday, so I failed to take that advice.  Honestly, the precipitation event doesn't seem to be entering into the picture.  The temperature drop is.  Our high on Christmas day is forecast to be a balmy 17 (F).  That's the predicted high.  I'll just crank up the heat a bit.  According to UGI, I've used 19% less natural gas this year than I did last year.  The temps have been about the same, so I that's interesting.

Speaking of UGI, one of their guys was next door yesterday for around a half hour.  I suspect he was assessing the furnace, which is very old.  I sent a text to my neighbor across the street who so desperately wants to rummage through the rubbish the previous owner left behind.  She told me she saw a crockpot sitting on kitchen shelf and I asked to myself, why would you want a used crockpot?   I do not understand this need some people have for acquiring things for free; that doesn't make it better.  Free does not equal quality, durability, or long life.  Having a lot of junk does not make you important.

The snow's coming down much heavier now

Only 88 of the 213 Republican members of the House were there for Zelenskyy's speech and 7 of those present refused to stand:  Boebert, Gaetz, Jordan among them.  The Republican party is worse than pathetic.  The authoritarian government they dream of would lead to civil unrest and chaos.  They will never understand until they are taught to respect Democracy.  Taking the high road has only emboldened them.  The time has come for us to speak softly, but use a big stick.  This is the only way they will learn.  

 And what about Trump's taxers.  All those times he said he was being audited?  He lied.  No one should be surprised by this.  Legally, hanging him out to dry will be a good start to swinging that big stick.  Every will be a strike for Democracy, every charge a blow against the authoritarianism too many Republicans endear.  Some will never learn.  To do so would mean they've been wrong, that's a mountain too high to climb for many conservatives climb.

Finally, testifying in court, Sean Hannity has said he never believed The Big Lie even though every night he was pushing that deceit as an authority on Fox News.  I'm betting Sean is scared shitless he's going to be taken to the woodshed.  What a coward, so terrified of the big stick.  

Way Less Sad

 The temps this morning were a brisk 48 (F), so I did what comes naturally, turned on the heat.  There was a time when I would wait as long as  possible.  That stopped a few years back.  Living in Central PA, where we have boodles of natural gas, and using that same fossil fuel to heat and cook with, my expenses are fairly... well, inexpensive, around $600 a year for cooking, hot water, and heating.

And, speaking of gas, the UK's having problems getting petrol to their stations.  Truck (and or lorry, which ever you prefer) drivers are needed.  This is partially, or mostly, a Brexit problem, depending upon whom your listening to or reading.  Evidently many of the drivers were foreign nationals and they either went home, or don't have the correct paperwork, to continue driving.  

China's having problems, too.  Good for Xi.  The country's still mostly dependent upon coal and there are problems getting it to the factories that need it... and... well, things are beginning to shut down.  Of course, they're also experiencing this little credit issue with one of their largest companies defaulting on their $120 million loan payments.  And Xi is not having an okay day.  Maybe he should listen to a little AJR.  Maybe he should set the bar a little lower and then maybe he'd be a lot less sad.

And in case no one has heard this yet, the Orange Anus and his racist MAGA Pac have fired Corey Lewandowski for groping and sexually harassing a woman in Vegas.  Gee, he must have really believed that 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.'  Of course, there are also the rumors running rampant on social media that ol' Corey has been coring Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota.  She's been denying everything, though now that Corey's freed up from his duties with the MAGA Pac he's going to have some extra time on his hands.  Maybe Kristi needs some help with her re-election campaign.  Or, maybe, if Kristi wants to feel way less sad, she should sing a little AJR.

Crime Scene

Well, it's Friday and I get to go to work.  I can only wonder at what surprises the day is going to bring.  Two things happened yesterday
1.  When I got to work I found out that the store had gone to Stage 2.  This means customers can only enter through the main entrance and they have to exit at the cash registers.  Only so many customers are allowed in the store at one time.  Ropes have been set up to funnel them into the building.  Of course, this did not stop the dumbshits, like the gentleman who threw a shit fit because he could use the garden entrance.  He had parked down by garden so he wouldn't have to push his cart of mulch so far.  And then there was the middle aged woman who spent at least 25 minutes perusing flooring samples, picking them up and putting them back.  Until this effects them personally, they are not going to care... and you can bet they're going to whine like hell when they get sick.
2.  I got home from work to discover the dogs had eaten the 2nd load of Italian bread I had baked.  Yep, those sneaky buggers pulled it from the kitchen table and had a chow down picnic in the writing room and.  Crumbs all over the floor and on the sofa.  I didn't yell at them because I shouldn't have left it lying there, and they are dogs.  The only downside was all those little yeasty things in the bread gave them gas... really, really bad gas.  The kind that brings tears to your eyes.  I will never, ever leave bread where they can get it... ever again.

Crime Scene

Oh, and in case you didn't happen to see it, the House is going to begin an investigation into this administration's handling of the Coronavirus.  It didn't take long for the Idiot Jerk to start shrieking "witch hunt."  All I could do was sit back and sadly chuckle.  He has a problem. So much of what he said has been recorded for posterity on video and in those Tweets for which he is so infamous.    There is no way he can take those back.  And all those sycophants at Fox News who bow their heads in fealty to him?  They will pay, too.  As the death toll mounts, blame will be placed on the shoulders of those most responsible.

The Heat is On!

I took yesterday off.  I went into full relax mode.  Only one load of laundry.  I didn't write a single word.  However, I did put the Red Synapse on the new Tacx trainer.  Interestingly enough, I don't need  to plug this trainer in, simply pedaling generates all the power needed.  Now, isn't that Green of Tacx?

I'm sending out wishes for a speedy recovery to AM's spouse - hip replacement.  May all of his physical therapists be attractive and wise.  That way he'll appreciate those hot therapy sessions.
And, of course, yesterday I did spend some time playing Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.  Character creation is one of the most important things you do.  You want to make yourself look good... right?  Well, what I can I say besides "oh... my God... I'm a Blonde!"  With a little blonde mustache.

Just call me "one hot blonde"

And Mitt Romney slammed the Idiot Jerk in the White House, his asking foreign governments... like the Chinese, for dirt in order to get himself re-elected.  And the Idiot Jerk flipped out.  He and his henchies know it's just a matter of time until there are enough Republican Senators lined up to vote for impeachment.  The idea that America is going to point it's steely finger at him and say "you're fired" is driving him over the edge.  This president is really nothing more than one hot mess.

Oh, and I just saw where talks between North Korea and the United States have just collapsed.  Yeah, I think that's the word they used.  Well, what were you expecting?  We have a blowhard, lying sack of shit in the White House.  My money says he and his spawn are already setting up safe house outside the country.

Finally, I did switch my thermostat from Central Air to Heat.  No, I don't use one of those fancy Nest thermostats, or something similar.  I set the temperature at 71 (F) and leave it alone.  I'm on the UGI budget plan.  I pay $57 a month.  For this past year, UGI owed my $5.27.  In the summer I'm cool and in the winter I'm warm. 

Missing Link

Well, it's Wednesday.  I get to go back to work.  Yippee....
UGI was here yesterday to change out a section of my gas meter, a metal disc about eight inches in diameter and two inches thick.  Mercury, they said.  It took 3 of them:  one to sit on my basement steps and text, one to stand by the water heater and talk on his phone, and a third to do the work.  After they had finished, a 4th probed the ground outside my house for gas leaks.  Believe me, it wasn't that complicated of a job.
I was supposed to go see "Hellboy" last night, but yesterday forenoon, as my grandmother used to say, I started shifting towards another film:  "Missing Link."  It got good reviews while "Hellboy?"  Well, a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is not something to brag about.  Even the fanboys didn't seem to like it.  So, instead of blood and violence, I went to see light drama with the occasional belly laugh and some really amazing stop motion animation.  There is a scene in a ship tossed about by giant waves during a terrible storm that is simply jaw dropping.

Anyway, I saw something yesterday where the Idiot Jerk and his satanic henchies want to change the rules so illegal immigrants can be incarcerated eternally.  There was also an interesting article in the NYT how he's racing full speed to the ultra-right, believing there are enough votes in his base to get him re-elected.  Neither he, nor they, understand.  No one has yet to successfully challenge the idea that Conservatives are stupid.  They have always failed... and always will.
Finally, I got a text yesterday.  The cover art for The Body in the Tower is complete.  I will be picking it up on Thursday.  I'm excited.  I've been told it's really, really good.... and I won't be able to get it until tomorrow.  Shit!

As far as Super Heroes Go

It's Monday.  Someone from UGI is going to come check out my gas line, not because there's a leak, rather this has more to do with making sure no leaks occur which is why it happens every 4 or 5 years.  I've already told them I have big dogs.  Not everybody likes 180 lbs of dogs.  Some might feel threatened.  I do not doubt that, if someone behaved aggressively towards me, Lily would bite.  Seig?  He'd just punch them out.  He's a Boxer, remember?  A really... big... Boxer.
I went to see "Captain Marvel" last night.  It was good.  Not great.  Different from the other super hero movies the Marvel Studios put out in that, like "Captain America," there were fewer big, action set pieces.   Another thing which made it different was the time period - early 90's - well before Chris Evans, as Steve Rogers, unfurled his naked torso to the world to become my most favoritest super hero of all time.  "Captain Marvel" should have been the lead off film rather than "Iron Man."  Instead, they waited until just before "Endgame," the final film in the 'Infinity War Trilogy.'  Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but you don't wait until this late in the game to bring in the game changer.  Oh, and if you're a Jude Law fan, you do get to see him with his shirt unbuttoned.  Brie keeps her clothes on.

And the Idiot Jerk is handing over his budget to congress today.  Ooohhh.  In addition to the monies he wants for his racist Wall, I understand his administration is also asking for a 5% cut in domestic spending.  I didn't see any details concerning which programs the Republicans want to slash, but they, themselves don't mean that much.  What really needs to shock people is that 5%.  That's a very high percentage.  Oh, I did see, they are going to increase spending for military health benefits... that's to give the Army, Navy & Marines a vested interest in keeping him in power.  I suspect these figures are merely a smokescreen to keep people from talking about the fact that North Korea is preparing to launch a rocket.  Ooops.   Wonder how that's going to effect the stock market.

Cook This

No work today!  Not scheduled.  I feel odd about that because today is Inventory Day.  All of the management team was at the store bright and early, some at 0500 and some at 0530.  I don't know, perhaps out of sympathy for them, but for some reason I woke up around 0330 - which would have been when I would have gotten up for Inventory.  That's right, I got up early, had some coffee, threw a load of laundry in the washer, and then went back to bed where I slept until 0630 - a sleep in for me.  This is how it goes.
Yesterday I got to hear a stupid customer complaining about how a mistake she made was our fault.  That's right, she was blaming us for her own stupidity.  You see, this woman went online and purchased a Natural Gas range.  She doesn't have Natural Gas, she heats her house with Propane.  She seemed to think they were pretty much the same thing - they're not.  To use a Natural Gas appliance with propane it needs to be converted.  Warnings are fairly prominent in the instruction manual.  Guess what she didn't read?  In fact, she didn't do any research what so ever, just ordered the range online, had it delivered, and had someone who didn't know what they were doing install it for her.  This was 2 months ago.  Since no conversion had been done, and propane burns hotter, her pots and pans began to melt when she used them.  When was the last time you put a pot on your stove and it started to melt?  She had soot in her oven....  I have no idea what she tried to roast, or bake, but finding soot in your oven after wards is not a good sign.  And this was our fault because we sold her a stove that didn't cook with propane.  Remember, this all started 2 months ago.  She turned rather nasty when they told her that this was her responsibility, and as such, we were not going to take back the range she bought and credit her account.  This is a nice definition of stupidity, don't you think?
Oh, and how about the Idiot Jerk in the White House saying he would have run into Parkland?  I guess his comments were once again fodder for the late night comedians.  His approval rating had actually climbed a microscopic bit, but... once again it's begun to go down the shitter.  This is all to be expected, of course.  There was an interesting bit in Bloomberg by John Dean, (the Watergate John Dean for those who are either too young to know).  Dean was the one who pleaded guilty and pretty much ended Nixon's presidency.  He said the Rick Gates' pleading guilty is going to do the same thing to the Idiot Jerk.  I believe most people this to be a foregone conclusion.

Toasty, huh?

Gassed!!!

So, for the past couple of days our store has been having a new generator installed, something used only in case of emergencies.  Installation is being done by people who work specifically for the home office out of Atlanta.
Yesterday morning, I'm sitting at the Flooring desk with a fellow associate, and I see one of the installers walking down the aisle in his orange shirt emblazoned with 'Generator Crew' and I ask him how it's going.
And he says "Terrible, we hit a gas line.  I need to speak to a manager right away."  As I picked up the phone, he continued, "I called 911 and UGI and they're all on their way."  When the Manager answered, I handed off the phone and listened to the installer repeat himself - by this time you could smell natural gas as it began to ooze around the showroom.  If you've never smelled natural gas, it has a sickly sweet smell, the scent of poison since it can easily kill you.
A few seconds later all associates were told to evacuate the customers and themselves from the building.  Most people were very compliant you could smell the fumes in Electrical, and Paint.  The back aisle of the building was quickly turning into no man's land.
But then there were the assholes.  The morons like the guy who said, "well, can't you get that sink down out of the overhead since I don't want to come back later."  Or the woman who was standing by the paint wall, fanning her nose with a paint chip, as though that was going to keep the gas away.  Most customers understood the seriousness of the situation, got in their cars, and left.  But there were also the dawdlers who failed to understand that a stray spark could blow up the building, and they... moved... slowly.  Maybe they were just inherently stupid, I don't know.  There was a woman who became rather adamant that we ring her up, and her cart was rather full.  Of course, we shut her down and told her she needed to leave the building immediately.
In the end, UGI turned off the gas and we were all allowed back in the building - 2 hours later.  The man who wanted the sink, the woman with the paint chip, and the aggravated woman at the registers?  They never returned.  I don't think those people will ever understand that their inconvenience could very well have turned out to be fatal for them.  Imagine, dying because you can't decide on a paint color.