The Art of the Surrender

Okay, so our outside temp is purportedly 67 (F).  I haven't been outside yet, so I'll take that with a grain of salt.  We had some showers yesterday, and then a lot of wind.  For the foreseeable future, our daily highs are supposed to be in the low to mid 80s (F).  This is fine.  It keeps me from spending too much money on the A/C.

So, yesterday's workout was short and I'm blaming Howie.  When I was changing up the weight machine, he walked into the room and asked, "hey, wanna take a 5 minutes nap?"  And since I'm always up for a nap, I agreed.  Well, 5 minutes turned into an hour and 15 minutes.  That meant the workout had to be done in quick time in order for me to leave for work on time.  At least I was well rested when I pulled into the parking lot.

And work was meh.  I did have a $3000 sale go through.  And... as I should have expected, the customers who I sold that tile flooring installation to showed up with questions.  They only want to talk to me... shit.  Anyway, I had to explain that the glaze on their matte finished porcelain tile was not going to make the floor slippery.  There's also an issue with their sink and their toilet.  They want to replace their old toilet with the new toilet, that's not going to be a problem.  The bathroom sink is another issue.  Putting the tile floor under their vanity will raise the level of the sink, so a plumber will need correct the length of the drain.  It's an easy fix, but they will still have to pay for the plumber, our installers don't do that.

I understand that the Orange Anus is coming out with a new book.

I suppose someone finally got through to his dementiated brain as to what he really did when he signed that document in Versailles, because the "peace talks" between the US and Iran in Switerland have suddenly been canceled.  Of course, reality may not have set in and the talks might have been canceled because Israel is still bombing Lebanon, and ending the bombing is a provision.  That's right, Orangie signed a surrender agreement without getting the Israelis approval.  Let's be fair, no one should be surprised by this, as a demi-god he should be able to do whatever he wants. 

In fact, I understand he's been walking around telling people he's the most powerful man who's ever lived, comparing himself to Mao, and Stalin, and Hitler.  Well, this is how insanity works.

And finally, did  everybody get a chance to the pictures of Moscow burning yesterday?  I'm thinking that very shortly Orangie's blow bro Vlad is going to be staring straight into the eyes of a revolution.  Good for him!

Potential

 It's Saturday, and it's raining.  We will have soaking rains all day.  Temps will hover in the mid 40s (F).  Tomorrow's high will be in the mid 50s (F) and according to the long range forecast they will continue this high as we get deeper into spring.

Yesterday was another one of those ho-hum days.  I cleaned the tank in the living room. I finally seem to have managed to get the black algae under control.  The answer was rather simple.  I only turn the tank light on for a certain amount of hours each day.  Algae, like live plants, needs a certain amount of light to grow.  It's not completely dark, and the light is on for a few hours each day, but not for 17 hours, like it used to be.

So, the trip to Greece has been booked.  So have my flights.  Wow.  When I went to France I got on a plane at Dulles and flew straight to Paris.  Well, that ain't happening.  The only direct flight is from Chicago, so I'd have to fly west and then east, and boy was it pricey.  This time I'm flying from Harrisburg, to Philadelphia, to London, to Athens.  The return flight (s) will take me from Athens, to Madrid (for a 13 hour layover), to Boston, and then finally to Harrisburg.  I checked on flights from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington (Dulles), and they all had a least one stop.  The same was true on returning flights.  So, does anybody live in Madrid?

And, don't believe this headline.

Or, better yet, focus on the word potential.  You see, DWAC, the company merging with Truth Social, saw their stock value drop by 14% Friday.  Not good.  True, for the short term he will be about $3 billion richer, however he can't sell any of that stock for at least 6 months.  Oops.  This means he's not going to be able to use that money to cover his $464 million bond.  There are rules to keep this from happening.  He could get special approval, but selling so much of his newly acquired stock would crash GWAC, leaving it and the Orange Anus open to legal challenges by the investors.  Of course, we all know that Donnie's been sued often enough for being an asshole.

And the pathetic thing about the terrorist attack in Moscow is that the US warned Putin 2 weeks ago, his ego, however, pooh poohed that information.  This means that the US knows more about what's happening in Russia, than Russia.  And the fact that ISIS shouted out that there were responsible within 2 hours of their attack kept Putin from blaming the Ukraine.  Poor Puty.  And while the Kremlin is claiming they've arrested 4 for the attack, ISIS is not that stupid.  And Vlad's claim that the terrorists were arrest heading towards Ukraine is laughable since and road heading out of Moscow, be it east, west, or south can be headed towards Ukraine.

Just Deserts

 Well, I hope everybody had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.  Mine was quiet.  Just me cooking and napping.  Relaxation with out any concerns is a very good thing.  It was sort of like being on solo auto pilot, if you get my drift.  Not having to cook for more then myself, my celebration of peace and quiet was accomplished in waves.  Even though I hadn't planned on a desert, that tasty treat came first.  More than a pumpkin pie than a cheesecake, I didn't know if it would turn out well or not... it did.  There's a buttery, flakey crust on the bottom and the sides caramelized in the pan.  And it turned out to be quite tasty.

Of course, the turkey, and the stuffing, and the side veggie were also cooked, but sometimes it's the deserts we look forward to most.

Today is Black Friday.  We have none of the extraneous bullshit products we normally proffer to our customers; no pink or blue rocking horses, no child size motor scooters, no glow in the dark art kits are on sale.  Our Black Friday display has been set for almost 2 weeks.  There will be some significant price drops on some items, that's the lure.  And no, just in case you thought of asking, there are no sales in flooring.  People need to stop equating 'special deals' with 'just deserts,' they're totally different.

Last evening there was the flashing headline that the Idiot Jerk would leave the White House if the Electoral College gave the election to Joe Biden.  Someone should tell that dumbshit he doesn't have a choice.  I find it amusing that Republicans are beginning to whisper how this little voter scam he's trying to pull are going to ruin his legacy.  Someone should tell them his legacy will be immortalized in his inability to deal with Covid 19.  He also implied he may not go to Biden's inauguration.  That will be rather difficult since he's most likely going to be having brunch with his blow bro Vlad.  You do know that in his mind, that alone will be his 'just desert.'

The Power of Cake!

Yesterday was some sort of appreciation day at work, one of those things in which cake and donuts are brought in to thank us for working well with the team which does our price increases.  Let me make this perfectly clear, I am a walking carb catastrophe.  When there is a spread of cakes and donuts spread out before me I graze.  Of course, this morning when I stepped onto the scale I saw I had gained half a pound.  Damn those maple glazed donuts!  Not that I'm really worried.  Those pounds will be gone soon enough.
I saw a picture of fat Gaetz from Florida yesterday, smiling from ear to ear, and thought 'this guy's a freaking moron.'  You can tell by his jowls he's taken cake grazing to a whole new level.Then I had to laugh.  He believes himself to be one of the best his party has to offer.  He is so out of touch with the real world.
There was an article in Reuters this morning on how the US continues to fail in what they describe as 'soft power.'  What they're talking about is the scale of respect the rest of the world has for us, and it's sinking fast.  We are no longer seen as a world leader but rather a world greeder (I just made up that word, I know because spell check tells me it doesn't exist).  I guess I should say the world's greediest.  This is all because of the Moral Degenerate in the White House.  Selfishly self-interested, that's what people are beginning to think when the United States comes up in conversation.  Where as before we used to freely offer our cake, now we hoard it, sometimes going so far as to steal it from the mouths of immigrant babes.
And just think, in a little over a year we'll be heading for the polls.  When I told my brother that when the Idiot Jerk loses he will relocate to Moscow.  Of  course my brother made a face.  In his mind, that could never happen.  You see, he likes the cake the Idiot Jerk promises.  He craves that cake, moistly delicious so much so, he overlooks the problems, the lies, and makes excuses.  He can't come to terms with the fact that the Idiot Jerk loves only himself, that he will promise anything to his base in order to be re-elected.  When he loses, they will learn how stale and moldy the cakes he was sell really are... and it will be late, because they've already eaten most of them.

Spring Harvest

Late post today because... I have a cold, of sorts.  It started yesterday with pressure on both sides of my throat, not really tender, and as the day wore on I could feel that steady drip, drip, drip.  Around 2 in the morning I got up and gargled, that helped a little.  When I called off sick the manager didn't know who I was, he said "Dave in flooring?"  This is how it goes sometimes.  Anyway, I went back to bed, waking up around 0830 - which means I slept for almost 12 hours....  Now, my throat doesn't bother me so much, though I can tell my voice still sounds like something from a horror movie.  Oh, and there's still a lot of pressure still building in my sinus cavities.  Sometime, probably this morning, that log jam will bust open and I will experience 3 or 4 days of some serious drainage.  What's irritating is that I had one of these things 8 or 9 months ago.  Damn!
Somehow I managed to buy an extra pound of almonds, so I make bake cookies today.  Since I might still be contagious I might have to eat all of them... myself.  I don't really know if that's such a bad thing.
I saw where Flynn's sentencing was delayed after the judge called his actions treasonous... he said something like for all intents and purposes, Flynn was a "traitor to his country."  Pay close attention to his words.  They are gearing up for the spawn of the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  I suspect the boys are going to get a little bit more than a good spanking.
Oh, and the Idiot Jerk back off his demand for money to pay for his racist border wall.  Just like a spoiled loser he whined something like "there's other ways I can get that $5 billion."  No doubt he means through some illegal money laundering scam, or maybe he's talking about getting a high interest loan from his friends in Moscow.
And finally a bit about seeds.  I have this habit of saving seeds.  Anytime I cut up a fruit or a vegetable I usually end up setting a few seeds aside.  Last year I grew and harvested acorn squash because of this habit.  Well, the other day I stuck two seeds in a planter and voila!

I think they might be butternut squash, but I can't be sure.  I've moved them to a place where they get  full sun most of the day.  Wouldn't that be awesome?  Harvesting butternut squash in my kitchen!

Feeling a bit like Dorothy

I got a call yesterday from World Cup Cycle and Ski just as I was walking into my local Giant.  My shoes had arrived.  This meant my 'to do' list ended getting altered.  I did get the giant holly bush at the end of the front sidewalk chopped down to size, but I didn't get to the trim in the dining room.  Today will be a better day for the trim anyway.  Weather is supposed to be overcast and rainy.  Knowing I'd be itching to actually go for a ride with my new shoes made this a rather easy decision.
And they look spectacular.  I must say, when I put them on at home I did feel a little bit like Dorothy... without the lacy socks.  Sweat socks will do just fine.

You'll notice there is patent leather on the toes.  Guys in kilts?  Watch out.
As I said, cycling shoes have clips on the soles that fit into pedals.  My whole life I've been avoiding them because they're more expensive and require special pedals.  The investment was worthwhile.  In fact it took about 4 seconds before I slapped myself up side the head and said "I should have done this years ago."  End result:  I cut 10 minutes off a 5 mile ride and that makes a world of difference.

The clip is are at the balls of your feet

Think of them as super, duper tap shoes.
Twice the Idiot Jerk in the White House has denied spending a single night in Moscow during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant.  Surprise, surprise, they appear to be lies.  For those who don't know, that is when he was supposedly filmed in a Golden Shower video.  And it seems as though he spent at least one complete night, and flew out in the early morning hours of the 2nd night.  There is, of course, no comment from either the White House or the Idiot Jerk's team.  You can bet that when they do say something, the first two words you'll see will be "Fake Media."
I'll leave you with one amazing fact, for those who didn't know.  Everybody has balls on their feet... even women.

Putin and flight MH370

I suspect some of Vladimir Putin's neural transmitters are misfiring.  Just like the pilot( and or maybe co-pilot) of the missing MH370, he doesn't seem to be maneuvering logically, except in his own head.  This whole bit about the Ukraine and Crimea splitting?  Weird.  I'd read one columnist who suggest ol' Vlad was trying to reunited Russia, return it to it's stature during the Tsar, perhaps even name himself Tsar.  Weird, you know what I mean.  There was a reason the Russian Empire failed - size.  That has always been the case of with Empires, they get too damn big, then they start to lose control and eventually begin spinning out of control.  Centuries ago it took a long time for this to happen but with the Internet years have been chopped down to hours and days.

I also suspect that in his chuckle head brain he thinks troops and time are the answer to any problems which may arise.  If you send enough troops and keep them there for a long enough period of time any and all opposition will fade away.  Doesn't work, never has.  How long were the Romans in Germany?  Centuries?  And there was constant opposition.  The people there did not adapt, they did not acquiesce, no they remained steadfastly hateful of the Romans and their Empire and, eventually, handed Rome a plate of shit.

And then there's the homophobic stuff about there being no gays, or lesbians (except for Pussy Riot) in Russia.  That sounds like the kind of crap you hear from the Crazy Christians in this Country, except I'm pretty sure he is not now, nor ever was a Christian.  I read in Wikipedia he attends the Russian Orthodox Church on high holidays, you know, to make himself look.  For all you know he's sitting in the pew playing Flappy Bird on his Iphone.  Anyway, this homophobic stuff doesn't make sense, especially when you consider all those photos of him shirtless wrestling tigers, or what ever.  My first thought when I saw one of those photos was "damn, that's queer."  I guess in his mind it's a demonstration of his virility.  Actually, all it really proves is that he doesn't have tits, nor much hair on his chest.

After years of reportedly womanizing, he divorced his wife one or two years ago.  And, of course, the rumor mills started and he was purportedly linked to several different woman.  One of those is  pictured above, her name is Alina.  I chose that picture to post because it reminded me so much of the locker room talk I heard when I was in high school.  You know what I'm talking about.  Guys saying "I'd bang that chick," and "she could sit on my face."  Well, it's obvious she does wonders with balls so who knows what else she's good at.

Putin is 61 years old and, again I suspect, those neural transmitters have been misfiring for quite some time.  It wouldn't really surprise me if he was secretly waiting for a telegram from Teddy Roosevelt inviting him to go bear hunting in Alaska.  That ain't going to happen.  He's going to keep on doing what ever he wants to do because he's very powerful.  This means Russians should probably be anticipating at least one more civil war.  The only thing which may stop him might be Malaysian flight MH370 flying into the Kremlin and, for all we know, that may be where it's headed.