Where Were You on 9/11?

Today's weather looks to be a repeat of what we had yesterday, though the forecasters were wrong, thunderstorms did not strike.  Around 10:15 PM, I left Howie out for his final pee and there did seem to be a slight drizzle falling... possibly.  The very light rain, if that what was falling, was evaporating before hitting the ground.  Anyway, today's going to be much of the same thing.

Work was really slow yesterday.  Customers were buying, but not in the flooring department.  I'm fairly certain that I lost a sale because our installers took too long to get back to us on a simple question.  To be honest, the installers weren't the only ones to blame.  My customers wanted to put our top of the line vinyl plank flooring over a ceramic tile floor.  The flooring they chose has no problem with this, however, when the quote was built an expensive charge was added to rip up and haul away the tile.  This is not what the customer wanted.  Instead of getting back to us in a timely manner, waited... and waited, until finally sending us an email officially telling us there was no need to rip up that tile.

Today, is the anniversary of 9/11, 2001.  Hundreds of millions of Americans can pinpoint the exact moment when the tragic news broke.  I was working in the accounting department for International Paper, and I found out when my mom called me at the office.  The first thing she said when I answered the phone was "David, a plane just flew into the World Trade Center."  International Paper had a distribution center directly across the river from the World Trade Center and many of the associates working there were out on the loading dock watching the tragedy unfold.  Since we were the accounting hub, someone was always on the phone with us.  Shortly after the 2nd plane hit, our trucks were told to return to the distribution center.  Drivers were stuck in traffic.  People on the phone to us were crying.  Someone had a small black and white TV in their car and brought it in, and over 50 associates stood silently watching the horror unfold.  That's where I was on 9/11.

And Trumpaloozza's over.  While a vast majority of Americans are remembering 9/11, the Washington Post's headline was not about that horrific moment, rather their lead story was about JD Vance taking over the mantle of the GOP.  This should come as no surprise.  Bezo's propaganda rag will always bend in the direction of another possible tax cut.  How badly did Trumpaloozza fail?  Only the super, hardcore cultists showed up and many of them were surprised at how empty arena was.  Their lack of numbers is a message they will never understand.

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.