Barnes & Noble, finally

So, yesterday the store manager called and politely asked if I'd come in early.  I, just as politely, said yes since it meant I'd get to leave earlier.  However, I didn't get in my speed walk on the treadmill.  Rats.  Because my shift for today is scheduled to start at 10:30, I'll need to type this fast to try and get a couple miles in.  We'll see how fast that happens.

And work was busy in the morning.  I have more than enough measures for the week, and my sales are fine, too.

I did finally get an email yesterday from Barnes & Noble that my account has been approved and is ready to publish.  They seemed slow out of the starting gate right from the beginning.  The first problem was that they didn't accept digitally signed W9s and there was nothing in their instructions that noted this.  The sentence regarding signatures just said that my W9 needed to be signed.  It took almost a month of arguing emails between the two of us before someone told me that.  Interestingly enough, they now accept digital signatures.  And then the approval process to activate my account took forever, literally months.  Son of a bitch!

For those wondering, my daffodils are just about ready to burst into bloom.

Whether it was because I was too busy to pay attention or not, yesterday seemed to be politically on the quiet side.  The same conservative buffoons and blowhards were spouting out the same drivel.  People are still chattering about Dominion's release of the Fox emails.  That's one story that's going to have legs.  

The silence surround Mark Meadows is leading some to believe he's cooperating with the DOJ.  That wouldn't surprise me.  Like many Republicans, his loyalty has always been decided upon what's best for his ass and he's not about to let that ass fry.

And finally, if you think Republicans have decided to target Pete Buttigieg you're right.  He's far more intelligent than most of them and puts them in their place as frequently as possible.  They do see him as a serious threat.  His response so far seems to imply that he enjoys attacking their charges no matter how simplistic they may be.

Fifteen White Guys Fail

I start my 'off a day, on a day' week with drizzly weather outside.  I am not excited.
For a number of years, I've hung a Warwick Rowers calendar on my wall.  This year will be the last.  The days of rowers coyly hiding their privates behind oars, and soft drink cans, and tea pots are gone'; there's nothing cutesy in this year's calendar.  Their strength was always in their humorous visuals, rather than in simple nudity.  This is not the case anymore.
Both Mayor Pete and Amy Klobuchar have endorsed Joe Biden.  I suspected this was going to happen.  The party is finally uniting.  Now we need Warren to do the same thing.  Bernie needs to be taught a lesson.
Interestingly enough, the Idiot Jerk in the White House has begun stepping up his attacks on Biden.  This is why he tried to blackmail the Ukrainian President.  Dirt on Biden was essential.  He can only survive on dirt.  He needs to feed his base an angry little chant, like 'lock her up.'  The dumb shit tried it with the Coronavirus.  At first it was the 'next great Democrat hoax,' but he dropped that line as cases and deaths continued to mount.  The he put that Crazy Christian Pence in charge of a task force.  And then again yesterday the Idiot Jerk said something like "I have really, really good doctors who are working on a vaccine, maybe even a cure."  He doesn't want anybody challenging what he says, so nobody around him has a brain.
And speaking of that silly little task force, a number of Crazy Christians published pics of that group praying yesterday.  Instead of relying on men of science, that fool Pence is going to pray for guidance.  He did this in his approach to HIV while Governor of Indiana which resulted in a mini-epidemic.  This man is just like the Idiot Jerk in the White House... dumb as a brick.  The first thing that went through my head when I saw that photo was "what the hell is going on here."

This is a pictures of fifteen white guys (and 1 woman) praying.  That's right, Pence has assembled a white task force made of of middle-aged and aging white men.  Were there no Asians, no Latinos, no People of Color smart enough to make the cut, or he just more comfortable surrounding himself with white Christians?  This train wreck is not even going to leave the station.

Good People

So, it's Monday.  My schedule looks like it was written by a monkey on crack. Yeah, this is the week I get to work every other day... for the entire week.  I do have 4 days in a row coming up, but that's not for another 2 weeks.
By now everybody has heard the news that Mayor Pete is out of the running.  I was impressed by how much press coverage his departure received.  This gay man has achieved so much more, gone so much farther in American Politics then any other gay man in history.  I do not doubt his life in public service is just beginning.  I know the Republicans are frightened he might decided to run for governor.  One loud thought shoots through my head when I think of that:  Run, Pete, Run!  Take them down and take them out.
Overnight there was another death from the Coronavirus.  More cases were diagnosed in more states as the virus spreads.  And you know Sister Mary Pence is on her knees praying this thing acts like the flu and disappears in April...  In fact, from what I've heard, that is the foundation of this administrations policies.   Yep, the Idiot Jerk has surrounded himself with henchies who are telling him exactly what he wants to hear, that spring will end the coronavirus.  Except this isn't like the flu.  Warmer weather is not going to bring about the demise of this new disease.  This is obvious since new cases are cropping up in countries with moderate to warm climates.
If you read any of the financials, you've seen a number of opinions on the corporate prospects of 2020.  They're not going to be good.  CEO's are hoping their corporations will be able to report slim profits... though it's becoming more apparent daily that is not going to happen.  This is the terrible Karma the Republicans have wrought upon the world... and believe me, it is the world.  Such is the ruination brought by greed.  In Brazil, deforestation  is happening so farmers can grow soybeans to export to China because... of the Idiot Jerk's Trade Wars.  In America, billions are borrowed to aid farmers hurt by the Idiot Jerk's trade policies.  What goes around, comes around.  The End of the Republican Party is nigh.
And who's going to help bring them down?  People like Mayor Pete. Good people.  Honest people.  Diverse people.

Do not doubt, he will play a major part in the reshaping of America.

Roll this

Oh my gosh... it's sooooo early.  I  got my creaking, old but out of bed at around 0415.  No, no, no, I wasn't anticipating the New Hampshire primary results, I went just went to bed a little earlier than usual.  I have a bit of a sore throat, well mostly a swollen gland on the left side, so there's some sort of infection.  Or maybe it was just the fact that I've got to go back to work today (cue my favorite words).
My schedule has been posted for 3 weeks out and again I've been given split days off.  That doesn't make me happy in the least.  I have a plumbing issue which will need to be taken care of, so that will fix the scheduling issue.
I've been focusing on finishing the book.  Cycling has been put on the back burner.  I have 80 pages to go and I'm ready to put this baby to bed.
I made egg rolls yesterday.  Scrumptious.

I'm taking some to work for lunch.

Oh, and Bernie pulled one out of his ass last night in New Hampshire, in case you didn't know.  I'm sure that old man ran around shrieking "we're on a roll!  we're on a roll!"  That old fool is not in the least bit scrumptious.  Buttigieg picked up more delegates and is still in the lead.  Two more candidates dropped out, Yang and Martin.  I saw where Tulsi Gabbard (sp) held some sort of election night fete where they gave her a lei. She wants to  be a spoiler, you can tell by her arrogance.  Personally, I think she's a little to brittle to roll with the punches.

And then, of course, there's Roger Stone.  The Idiot Jerk in the White House wants to cut down his toadie's jail as much as possible.  And Billy Barr's doing everything in his power to make it happen.  Isn't Billy and Evangelical?  You know?  That sect which believes you can do whatever you want as long as you believe and ask for forgiveness?  

And finally... Hello Italy!  Here's a big shout out to all of you wonderful Italians for reading my blog!

Intolerance

Oh my gosh, it's Friday, my Hump Day.  I can't say I find it exciting in the least.  It's just another day. 
I rode 10.5 miles last evening on a ride called Applegate lake.  I've ridden a little over 44 miles in February so far, which is better than I was doing last month.  I've changed my tactics.  Rather than go for the long rides (20 miles or so) I'm only covering between 10 - 11 miles per ride.  Instead of spending easily over an hour on the bike when I get home from work, I'm only putting in between 40 & 45 minutes.
I'm still waiting for my W-2 from the government in order to do my taxes.  You know?  If you work, and get your full Social Security benefits, you need to treat those benefits as a job.  That's right, they take out taxes.  I have no problem with this since I get them back when I file.  However, I do like that refund deposit going into my bank account.  For those interested, here's the return schedule.

I guess the Idiot Jerk went on some sort of shrieking rampage yesterday about his ugly ass getting impeached.  Wow, now we know what happens when we rip the scab off that chancre he calls and ego.  He says he went through Hell.  Aaahhh.  Think about all of those contractors he and his attorneys forced into bankruptcy because he refused to pay them.  Was he sorry for putting them through Hell?  Gimme a break. 
And Bernie desperately wants to do a victory lap after Iowa.  We're talking about his old man ego here and it desperately wants to be fed.  Ain't happening.  Buttigieg and he ended in a dead heat.  You'll notice the difference between the two:  Buttigieg shows decorum, Bernie's on the verge of pounding his fist angrily on the desk.  He's inciting his supporters the same way the Idiot Jerk incites his base.
Anyway, I understand the administration is girding it's shield of lies in preparation for the publication of John Bolton's book.  They know this is not going to be a good thing.  America will find out why the gutless Republicans refused to have any witnesses at the impeachment trial.  Once again Americans are going to see how much evil they not only tolerate, but excuse as well, in order to stay in power.  This is expected from a party which demonstrates terrible intolerance for everything they despise.