The Price Dam is About to Break

Apparently our outside temp of 28 (F) is very close to being our daily high.  Overnight, our low is expected to be in the upper teens.  This means it's wooly blanket time.  And maybe a cup of hot tea while I'm killing aliens and scrappers in Outer Worlds 2.  Things will be warming up.  After this pinch of cold, temps are expected to begin warming up.  That's fine with me.  I don't mind the cold.  But moderate temps are better for my heating bill.

Being that yesterday was Sunday, no workout or rides were planned.  I did work however, and surprisingly managed to sell 2 installs.  That should keep management happy.  I also had to deal with a customer who wanted to pay for a carpet measure and wanted us to give him the measurements.  That's a no.  Room dimensions and square footage are considered proprietary until the customer actually purchases the measure.  I am being paid to sell installations, not the measurements.  There are people, if given the measure documents, who will seek out a cheaper contractor for the installation.  This customer was one of those people and, as a result, he was sorely disappointed.

I had already decided on a picture to post in today's blog and then this popped up in my Facebook feed.  A long time ago, in a land oh... about 30 miles away, I spent some time involved in theater.  Yes, at one point in my life I was a song and dance man.  Thinking about those days makes me laugh, they were a lot of fun.  Anyway, here I am center stage in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Being that we did have a weekend, political news was a bit lite.  Rumors are circulating that a number of Republicans from safe are not going to be running for re-election.  While this might seem to imply something, keep in mind that these are so-called Safe Districts, meaning no matter which Republican runs, he or she is most like going to be elected.  Now, if the districts were considered Purple, where a swing either way could happen, then I'd say this is big news.

A rumor also went through social media the John Fetterman was going to be quitting.  Again, this is just a rumor.  Evidently big John wrote a book in which, in one sentence, he said something to the effect that if he'd known what the stroke was going to to do his brain he'd have quit.  Of course, desperate people will always take things out of context.  This is something that the Republicans count on.

And finally, the WaPo had a headline this morning about how Orangie was heading into Biden territory when it came public dissatisfaction with the economy.  Adding to that was another one of their headlines telling people that tariff price increases were about to come home to roost.  This is because leading up to Orangie's tariff war, many retailers bought extra thinking that by this time our trading partners would be ready to throw in the towel.  Well, that isn't happening.  I suspect that a number of them want to break us in two.  Others, like China, have only seen their trade improve greatly.  Get ready for the price dam to break.

Fetterman vs Perry

Today's temps are predicted to climb into the mid 80s (F) and only a few clouds will scuttle across the sky to hid the sun making the day rather summer like.  Tomorrow temps are supposed to drop back into the mid 70s (F), which is still fine by me.

Yesterday was fairly productive with some yardwork being done, but mostly in my arrangement of a bucket garden for veggies.  I have a puppy who loves his peat pots, everything will need to be raised higher than his head.  To do this, I'll be using cinder blocks to lift up what had been the base of my treadmill.  The buckets, which I picked up at the store, will be sitting on the running platform. Because the platform is made of OSB, I'll probably replace it with tile.  I will post a picture when it's complete.

Scheduling was lite yesterday in the Flooring Dept.  I was the only specialist scheduled, so when I left at 7 there was no one at the desk for the rest of the night.  A couple came in around 10 minutes before I was set to leave and I helped them, staying later than I had been scheduled.  They could alleviate this issue by hiring a part-time specialist to work evenings, but that would mean additional payroll expense and corporate would prefer inferior customer service rather than take on additional payroll cost.

And, as I said, Cori gave me the cover art for The Body in History yesterday.  And, as usual, here is a pic of the back.  

I use a credit union rather than a bank, and the House of Representatives is looking at legislation which will impose certain fees on credit unions, fees which would be passed on to customers since the Federal Government desperately needs to find revenue to pay for the Billionaire Tax Cut.  Because of this, I sent letters urging both my congressmen and senators to vote against this legislation.  I received a nice response on Senate letterhead from Fetterman, and even though he's been somewhat of a joke here lately, his official response was positive.  Scott Perry, on the other hand, replied with a generic email that was not on House letterhead, an unofficial response telling me to fuck off, in somewhat more polite language.  I filed Fetterman's response, however I replied to Perry: 

"What, no letterhead?  This is one of the many reasons I didn't vote for you.  I suspect that in an attempt to avoid getting arrested for treason, you will end up relocating to Russia, where you will buy a beet farm so you can eat your own borscht."

Since his response did not originate from an official email account, I'm certain my response will be circular filed, as we used to say in accounting.

Sammy and Elena

 A soggy weekend has begun.  Outside, the rain is steady, not heavy; what we like to call a soaker, where there is just enough time for the rain drops to soak into the ground.  They're forecasting 1 - 2 inches, which is basically a drop in the bucket to the 2 feet Ian dropped on Florida.  Temps today are predicted to hover in the upper 50s (F).  Sadly, that temperature is one at which grass will continue to grow, so I'm expecting to be mowing my front lawn next Friday.

Tuesday, the plumber will be here to give me an estimate on the water hook-up on the 2nd floor.  I could almost envision $$$ adding up in the receptionists head when I told her where the new washer was going to be located.  As I told her there was both a sink and a shower on the other side of the wall, I could hear those $$$ draining out of her voice as she said, "oh, that'll be easy."

Also, I'm going with a ventless dryer, (yes there is such a thing.)  I can't see spending $500 to have some contractor lean a ladder up against the backside of my house just to chop a whole in the wall for a vent.

I do get to work today, so I'll probably post a pic or 2 tomorrow of the updated Flooring Department.  They did transfer a full time associate into our department as a specialist.  I can see him spending a lot of time back in the employee lunch room to avoid having to design blinds, and work with quotes on floors.

Here's a pic I took of the dogs this morning.  I call it Rainy Day Dogs.

I got a notice from the USPS that my mail-in ballot should be arriving either today or Monday.  I'm betting most of you can already guess who I'm voting for.  This my part of trying to save Democracy in America.

There are... rumors... Sammy Alito is not too happy with fellow judge Elena Kagen.  I'm sure there are a number of reasons this could be true:  she is female, for one.  It's understandable that a man who referenced a 17th century jurist in his decision to overturn Roe might question the superiority of women's voices.  He doesn't understand, history will not be looking kindly on him.

For those outside of the state, the attack ads on Fetterman are everywhere.  Oz has narrowed the gap, at least according to polls.  This was done with endorsements from the Fraternal Organization of Police, and the State Police.  They're trying to paint Fetterman soft on crime.  It's the only thing  they have.  That, and his tats, which Tucker Carlson wasted a 20 minute rant on, at least that's what I've heard.  Republicans aren't even going near the abortion issue, which means they're writing off a majority of the voting base.  One of the many reasons I'm voting blue is to send Ozzie back over to New Jersey, where he belongs.

Kansas tells Republicans to go to Hell

We're have a mini heatwave here in Central PA.  The temps, predicted to reach the mid 80s (F) yesterday, actually topped off in the 90s (F).  And I mowed my lawn.  There's not a lot of humidity, though, as my friend Tami likes to say, I was 'glowing' with a nice sheen of perspiration by the time I finished.  

Yesterday was busy.  Besides the mowing, I picked up Seig's gabapentin, stopped by the store to buy a container for mixing thin set, prepped the wall behind the stove for tiling, did laundry, wrote almost 1000 words (wow), and beat a boss in Elden Ring.

Today might be just as busy.  I'm going to see if I can squeeze a ride in on the bicycle later this afternoon.

My new clock will be arriving later this morning, or early afternoon.  I can't wait.  I didn't realize, until after the old one broke, how often I relied upon it.  The last one chimed on the half hour and hour, the new one does quarter hours, too.

I don't know if any of you are following the Fetterman / Oz race to replace that scumbag Pat Toomey in the Senate, but it is fascinating to see how easily a strong Democrat can dismantle his Republican opponent... use honesty.  This is why Republicans are scared shitless they're going to lose PA

And, of course, there were primaries yesterday in several states.  In some states, Trump back Republicans won, however, not one of them had a landslide win.  They won by getting 46% of the vote (Kari Lake in Arizona), or 41% (Tudor Dixon in Michigan).  Compare these wins to 100% of the vote (Mark Kelly in Arizona), and 100% of the vote (Gretchen Witmer in Michigan).  This is not the face Republicans want to show the American people, a party that is splintering with about half of their voters still loyal to Trump.

Perhaps the greatest indicator of the problems facing the Republicans comes from Kansas, a state where they believed everyone would jump on board the idea of amending their constitution to outlaw abortion.  A whopping 68% of the voters told the Republican party to go to Hell.  I saw one comment noting that Republicans evidently didn't spend enough time on their knees praying for victory.  The reality is that this party, for so many years, rather than try to read and understand Americans, was far too interested in saying "shut up!  We're in charge!"  This party is in serious trouble and, like the horse that runs back into the burning barn, they are going to push ahead.  To do otherwise would be to admit they were wrong.

 

Breaking the Mold

 Can we have a happy hello for Friday?  I know some of you five-day-weekers will be heading into your office, or shop, or cube for the final day of the week.  I did that too, for oh so many, many years, which is why I can say there is a part-time light at the end of that tunnel.

I did work yesterday, and it was very slow.  I did manage to get a measure, which will please the higher up, but it's only for a staircase.  Not a lot of revenue there.  The store, itself, has been popping off daily fireworks when it comes to business.  Ironic, isn't it, how a certain group of individuals can't stop their taught little whisperings about inflation and then go out and a $3000 gas powered lawn tractor.  Perhaps it's because the price of gas has begun to finally go down.  Has anybody else noticed how that group of people who have been complaining about the prices at the gas pump are suddenly quiet?  

There are 5 of the super-sized cookies I baked still left to be eaten.

Lyrics from Alice Merton's 'Same Team' have made it into The Body Under Ice.  Even though there is snow, and wilderness, and possibly a hint of a bloody murder in the video, there's none of that in the story.... well, there is a bit of bloody murder, otherwise there'd never be a body under the ice.

I've been hearing a lot of chit chat regarding Dr. Oz's candidacy for Pat Toomey's soon to be vacant Senate seat.  Mostly, people are wondering where in Hell the charlatan has been for the past... oh, two months or so.  Except for dropping the occasional commercial filmed in New Jersey, he hasn't been spending much time out stomping for votes.  Fetterman, however, running as an outsider Democrat is constantly releasing snarky commentary about the bad doctor.  For those who don't know Big John, here he is breaking the mold.

Finally, many are wondering if the IRS audits of McCabe and Comey were in actuality attacks by Trump.  I don't know about you, but that's the first thought that popped into my mind.  The former 'I wannabe the first Orange Anus dictator in American history' has so far in his life demonstrated little if any respect for the law.  Perhaps this is why so many conservatives are enamored with him.  he does have that... je ne sais quoi... appeal to those who so desperately want to say "shut up!  I'm in charge!"

Leaf Curl

 After a number of days of being very productive, I have to admit that yesterday was not.  There were a number of things on my agenda, but few were completed.  Mostly, I blame the candy.  I never buy candy, however yesterday morning, while at the store, I picked up 2 bags to take to the store.  Big mistake.  I was fine for about hour after getting home, but then temptation reared its ugly head and I ripped open the bag of Payday candy bars.  It was all downhill from there.  I ended up chowing down on candy bars, watching the news, and taking naps. I have not stepped on the scale this morning as I am certain it will break.  

I did discover what's wrong with my nectarine tree.  I have leaf curl. And it's not only on my nectarine tree, my peach tree is infected, too.  Leaf curl is a fungus.  Normally, it's dormant until you have long, drizzly days when the rain lasts for more than 10 hours.  Well, we've had that.  We had that last year, as well.  The only treatment is a copper spray which needs to be applied in late winter, before spring rains arrive.  Well...it's a bit too late for that one.  I did mark my calendar to buy some in late February.

And, of course, a number of states held their primaries.  A lot of people are cheering that Madison Cawthorn lost is primary.  Me?  I'm thinking maybe he should have squeaked out victory and then let a Democrat take him out in the General Election.  Now the Democrats of North Carolina will have to deal with a candidate who comes across as more normal.

In Pennsylvania?  We have big John Fetterman as the Democratic candidate to replace Pat Twomey.  The Republicans race is too close to call, and there is a good possibility it may force a recount, which is never good for a candidate since breeds hostility.  Barnette, who lost, has already told the press she will not support another candidate, so the bloodletting continues.  This is what happens when you build a party of selfish individuals who refuse to compromise.

For Governor, the Democrats have Shapiro, who has handily won every campaign he has waged.  He'll be running against the Cracker Jack Crazy Doug Mastriano.  Doug is a radical MAGA, to say the least.  He was in Washington on January 6 and has pushed The Big Lie extensively.  Many in the GOP are of the opinion is too much of an extremist to win.  An example:  Last evening he claimed that Jesus was behind his victory.  No separation of Church and State in his playbook.