The Beauty of Roses

 Outside the temp is 63 (F) and inside the house it's 71 (F), and it's going to get warmer both inside and out.  Our expected high for this afternoon is 87 (F).  The actual heat doesn't arrive until tomorrow and Tuesday when our daily highs will be in the upper 90s(F).  While my ground floor will stay comfortable in this type of heat, my second floor, which is usually about 8 - 10 degrees warmer, will be cooking.  I don't doubt that at some point in the next 2 days I'll be turning on the Central Air.  Beginning Wednesday, the temps are going to fall back down to what's considered more seasonable.

I worked yesterday.  It was slow.  Our garden department was still hopping.  Memorial Day is next week and customers are still dipping deep into their credit to enhance the curb appeal.  Patio sets are flying off the floor.  Unless I had mucho grande cash to burn, I'd never invest in one.  I don't spend that much time sitting out on the veranda, so I wouldn't get much use out of it.  

Since temps are going to be so warm tomorrow, I'm thinking that I might take a personal day.  I do need to have at least one reason to use that personal time.  And there are outside chores that need to get done.  I don't really mind the heat.  Can you tell I'm trying to convince myself that taking off is a good idea.

While Howie was out this morning, I took a pick of one of my rose bushes.  

I like roses.  So do the Chinese.  They also know how to insult with panache.  Putting Orangie on a lower chair so he'd have to look up to Xi was cute.  Having him walk up a super long staircase so he'd have to pause to catch his breath?  Priceless, especially for someone who likes to brag about how fit he is.  I do believe, however, their best insult was to give him rose seeds as a parting gift.  The White House rose garden was formally established in 1913.  A place of beauty, the garden was renowned for it's roses.  Orange dug it up and put in a patio.  Orangie also put in patio sets, chairs and round tables with umbrellas leaving no space to plant rose seeds.  And that's all Xi gave Orangie, no deals to grift from, no commitments for... well, anything.  All Xi offered were insults on the world stage and the words that the world sees America as a country in decline.

Howie's got a new toy!

 Well, we got a warm day in store for us here n Central PA.  Our high this afternoon is predicted to cross that 80 (F) border.  Over the next few days, temps are expected to climb into the 90s (F).  That will mean good business on window A/C units.  I have a small one I put in my workout room since there is no working vent in that room (old, old house), so it may be installed tomorrow.

Yesterday was sort of a meh day.  I did chores, but only the essential ones, like loading the dishwasher.  Of course, there are those who might not classify that as an essential chore, letting the dishes pile up in the sink.  I had a friend named Jack who did that, waiting until all of his dishes were dirty before cleaning them.  That was until one evening, while several of us were gathered around the kitchen table chatting, a mouse ran out from the pile of dishes and dashed across his kitchen counter.  I do believe he was a bit mortified.  

Otherwise yesterday was quiet.  I did do 2 of my Norwegian lessons last evening.  I should put more time into it.

Oh, and Howie got a brand new toy yesterday.  It's a 2 foot long fuzzy ferret with squeakers at both ends.  He loves it so much he took it to bed last night.

And not only was Orangie's business trip to China a failure, something being noted by so very many news outlets, he's doubling down on his comment of not caring about American citizen's finances.  He's now saying it was a "perfect statement."  Because in his mind he never makes a mistake, he will never, ever admit his comment was terrible.  The CEO is always right.  I would not be surprised if the administration, at some point, doesn't begin blaming the media, saying that they misquoted him, even though it's on video.  

We will be a nation in decline as long as Republicans and conservatives are running the country.  They have proved time and time again that they simply do not know how to govern.  The policies that satisfy a few will affect a majority in so horribly on so many different levels.  And, proving that they have no souls, Republicans and conservatives could care less.