Showering off our Nuclear Secrets

 We did get some rain yesterday.  A nice soaking shower for about a half hour early in the evening.  Any day I don't have to stand out front watering my plants is a good day.  I don't water the lawn, however, so that's nice and brown.  There is little difference between the way it looks now and the way it normally looks in late July and August.  

I ordered a small weight bench because... well, I gave the one I had away because I didn't think I'd ever use it again.  Well, that proves how much I know.  I'm also planning on cancelling my membership at Planet Fitness.  I've been paying them $10 a month for almost 5 years (all through the Pandemic even though I didn't go).  As usual, every spring and summer it gets inundated with teenagers and young adults mostly as a place to hang out with their friends.  Usually, my attendance just drops, but this year I've decided to cancel.  I can restart in the fall when they go back to school and college. 

The recordings are flowing in thick and heavy for the audiobook.  I emailed David telling him that most of the changes I had were editing, shortening the pauses between words.  He's changed the phrasing in certain areas which works.  It didn't take me long to realize that reading a book aloud is a lot different than simply reading it.

And yesterday I, as well as the rest of the world, got to see this.

Now, I don't know about your but me?  I saw a crystal chandelier in a bathroom, and a crystal sconce, and lots of brown marble, but what my eye was really drawn to was that crappy shower curtain!  Holy Shit!  All that crystal and marble, and a shower curtain that looks like it was picked up in Walmart.  Oh, and of course there are the boxes of documents, some of which are evidently nuclear secrets.  I'm sure there's nothing more fun than sudsing up your loofah, while reading about Iran's nuclear capabilities.

I did read through the indictment because... oh, shall we say I was interested.  I found the bit about them finding boxes open with documents spilled out onto the floor rather telling.  I personally thought that indicates that some unauthorized person might have been hurriedly perusing and photographing them... but then that's just me.  I write mysteries, so I tend to be suspicious.

Par for the Course

 Well, Thursday has arrived.  The temps are supposed to be warmer today then they were yesterday, that'll be nice, and hopefully it won't be as windy.  Yikes, yesterday you really needed to hold on to your hat if you happened to wear a hat and went outside.  I'm not a hat person.  They make my ears stand out.

One of the things I find amusing about going to Planet Fitness is the individuals who walk around with large water bottles filled with either a protein shake or hydration drink (most likely water), especially the drinks since they're now way they're going to sweat out a quart of bodily fluid walking around looking at the exercise equipment.

I'm picking up Biggie's ashes this morning and later this evening I'm getting rid of that dog bed he never used.  People ask me how Lily's doing, if she's going through any grief.  Now and then she will stop and look around, so she knows he's gone, but I've been keeping her very busy.  Dogs do have time issues, that's why you can walk out the front door, stay outside for two minutes, and when you go back into the house they treat you as though you've been gone for years.

I do have peaches on those branches that are still on my peach tree.

Evidently Trump and his minions were told more than once about his handling of secret documents and, par for the course with him, he ignored what he as told.  This information is being sent to the DOJ and the Orange Anus has up until May 26 to file an appeal.  He will file, probably on the last day because that, too, is par for the course.  I also understand that the attorney in charge of this matter quit right after this information was made public.  People are wondering if it was because he got fed up with Trump lying to him, or just got fed up with not being paid.  Either way, he should have known this was par for the course.

Remember Riunite on Ice?

 We had spotty showers yesterday.  The same thing is predicted for today as well.  We're still not supposed to hit that 60 (F) degree mark.  I'd like to say I can't wait for summer, but that means the heat and we never know about that.  Luckily, those 100 (F) degree days have missed us here in Central Pa.  At some point our luck is going to give out and then people are going to complain.

I had my blood draw yesterday for the physical I have scheduled for next week.  They only took 3 vials, and of course the standard cup of coffee scented pee.  Usually I have milk in my coffee, but on blood draw mornings I forgo the milk because of... fasting.

And yesterday was also fitness day.  Around 10 am I drove over to Planet Fitness for the first time since the pandemic.  I have dumbbells but I can be very lax when it comes to using them regularly.  It turns out that 10 am is the perfect time, the gym was fairly empty except for older people, so there were no waiting times to use any of the equipment.  

Adding to the fitness fun, later in the afternoon I rode 14 miles in Italy.  That was good, too.  I averaged around 16 miles per hour.

There's a section in the new book were the team orders Chinese food and, of course, they need to pair their dinner with the perfect wine.  Well, it turns out that you should drink Lambrusco with Sweet and Sour Chicken, and since I can't ever remember drinking Lambrusco I thought I should at least give it a try.  Well, my local store only carried Riunite and besides having a twisty cap, it's very cheap.  I do think quality is reflected in cost, so rather than buy something inexpensive, I ordered a more expensive bottle, not so expensive that if I find it not to my liking I'll have problems pouring it away. 

And yesterday the Russians said they thwarted an assassination attempt on Putin by taking down two drones that had been sent to kill him.  Nobody believes them.  Nobody believes the Russians anymore except those who want to ally themselves with an authoritarian government.  The Russkies also told the world the drones had been sent by the Ukraine.  Nobody believes that either.  If there were drones, they were most likely sent by anti-Putin forces in Russia.  His 3 day war with the Ukraine has been going for quite some time now and many of Russians are becoming dissatisfied with what they are seeing as his failure.  There is the possibility that they're going to use this as an excuse for more intensive rocket attacks against Kiev.   Who knows with the Russians.

\

And evidently Jack Smith sat in on Mikey Pence's testimony before the Grand Jury.  Interesting.  They even talked afterwards.  While this does not make them bosom buddies I'd say it probably doesn't bode well for the Orange Despot wannabe.

 

Adaptability

 Since the infection rate is climbing again here in Central Pa, I've decided to put my visits to Planet Fitness on hiatus.  There's no reason to put myself in jeopardy when I can do a solid dumbbell workout without leaving my house.  This is how we adapt.  Adaptability is the key.

Yesterday a couple was looking at our area rugs, and she questioned our limited stock.  I explained that we were going through a reset.  All of the signage has been taken from our rug bays because everything we have is on clearance.  "I need two rugs 8 feet by 10 feet, and I like this color," she said pointing to an old sample display.  I explained again about the reset.  She refused to understand.  Sometimes Central PA is the land of entitlement.  "But you have all those are rugs in the overhead," she said, waving her hand up at all of the new area rugs waiting to be set up in the display.  So I explained again, that once the reset is complete, those rugs will be brought down and put on display.  She just did not want to understand.  Adaptability is not part of her nature.

More and more Republicans are speaking out about what they now see as the inevitable.  Their white trash in the White House, the Idiot Jerk, himself, is going to be evicted.  This means they're going to try and do as much damage to incoming administration as is humanly possible.  This is the party of 'my:' my money, my taxes, my guns, my religion.  There is not one single drop of compassion among any of them that doesn't come with strings attached.  They are rigid and unyielding.  Adapting and evolving is a word that does not exist in their lexicon.

As for the Idiot Jerk?  He has lost most of his legal team in Pennsylvania as well as most of his complaints.  He's losing the state by almost 60,000 votes.  Ouch!  I understand many attorneys hired in an attempt to force his own personal coup are... taking a second look at his complaints.  Many know lying to a judge is grounds for disbarment.   They are adapting to the notion that he doesn't care if they ruin their careers or not, as long as they do what he wants them to do.  None of them want to be the next Michael Cohn.  And the Idiot Jerk himself?  He hates a truth he cannot write, but then he too is rigid and unadaptable.

The Breakup!

Yesterday was a drizzle day.  The dogs did get their walk in, something I didn't think might happen.  Some chores were completed, but mostly I wanted to nap.  I chalk it up to the drearily overcast skies.  I was going to ride the bike but didn't.  Instead I set up a dumbbell workout on my Gym Genius.  Now I have to check my workout calendar because when I got to PF this morning I had dumbbells scheduled instead of upper body.

Oh, and there was also the news.  

This whole Amy Coney Cumquat thing is rather wretched business.  I was taken by a comment by Mitch McConnell.  He complained about Democrats claiming her being voted into the Supreme Court was illegitimate.  His comment: "we're a Republic, there's nothing illegitimate about it."  Have you ever noticed how often Mitch says things that come back to bite him in the ass.  Remember those words.  "We're a Republic, there's nothing illegitimate about it."

I don't think I'm going to cycle 2500 miles this year.  The fall doldrums have set in.  They set in last year, and the year before that.  We all tend to shut down a little in the off season.  Instead of riding 60 miles per week I'll probably pop off around 40.  That's not bad.

As far as The Body in the Loch is going, I've got over 51,000 words done.  Lots of little chapters.  It starts out with broad strokes that keep getting narrower and narrower.  I've just started the chapter called Blue.  That is not a reference for the approaching election, if any of you are wondering.

An article in the NYT advised readers to be prepared to be inundated with polls.  They're going to be flying thick and fast in the next week... disregard them.  Their margins of error are going to be all over the map.  Also, if their number of 'likely voters' is an unreliable figure.  Likely is not quantitative.  Just about anything is likely to happen.  Just look at the 2016 election.

And finally, I have some... well, sorta sad news.  The breaking up of a relationship is always difficult, usually much more for one person then the other who quite often can't wait to cut those ties that bind.  Grab your tissues.  It seems as though the Idiot Jerk in the White House has just been dumped... in a very public way by his blow bro love from Moscow.  That's right.  No more kissy, kissy.  It seems that when asked about Hunter Biden, and Burisma, and the Ukraine, Vlad said "no way, Jose.  Didn't happen."  How's that for a shit pie in the face?  Or perhaps Vlad was just in a pissy mood because after all of his nurturing and help, it looks as though the Idiot Jerk's not going to get his tinfoil dictator's ass re-elected.

Remaining Stupid

 Sunday... I'm sitting eating my breakfast.  Planet Fitness opens at 0700.  I have a new app: Gym Genius.  This will be my first day using it.  I've reset my workout schedule.  Three days at PF and 3 days on the bike and then a rest day.  Right now I'm doing 4 exercises, but that number will continually increase.  After my workout, I'm going to zip over to my local Giant (Supermarket).  I'm making roasted cauliflower for my lunch / dinner.  The recipe calls for pancetta, but I may use an alternative meat.  

I've ordered 2 more ornaments for the tree.  I've started looking at size now.  What good is an ornament if it's too heavy to hang?  One of them is a lumberjack, something in the Poke the Bear series.

I'm also on my 2nd load of laundry for the day.  Sunday has never been my day of rest.

Heading to the house this with my grocery bag, I thought my dahlias still looked nice, so I took a picture.  That's Biggie up in the window.

And I saw that the Idiot Jerk in the White House held a rally in Michigan last evening.  Remember Michigan?  That state where some Cracker Jack domestic terrorists wanted to kidnap the Democratic governor?  Well, evidently some in the audience began shouting "locker her up," and the Idiot Jerk, with his crusty chancre of a soul allowed it to go on because... he has a chancre for a soul.

And there was this great opinion by a Republican Strategist in NBC News.  I read this and thought, hell, that hits the nail on the head.  Believing the confirmation hearing of Amy Coney-Cumquat would distract America from the fact that their Idiot Jerk president perfectly defines the Republican party.  Remember when they used to talk about smoke and mirrors?  Well, it seems as though they've failed Gaslighting 101.  Suddenly trying to pass some sort of skinny pandemic relief fund as a way of saving their political souls is rather difficult when the killer clown is already out of the box.  The only thing you can rely them to do is totally fail to learn their lesson.  In fact, that's the only thing they've ever been any good at, remaining stupid.

 

The same definition

 Ah... Friday.  This is kind of my humpy day since I'm in the middle of a 6 day work week.  That's right, today's my third.  The weather's supposed to be cool, drizzly, possibly rainy, so that might keep the shoppers away.  If you are interested in stopping by, our Halloween stuff is flying out the doors.  Markdowns have begun.  Now when a customer walks into the flooring department and asks what's on sale, I can point to the front of the store and say "that big, green, inflatable monster."

I'm a little sore from yesterday's visit to Planet Fitness.  I suspect getting back into shape may take a little longer since I am now a little older.  That's fine.  There's nothing wrong with a little muscular discomfort if muscles maintain their mass.  Maintenance is everything.  

Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska up for re-election, apparently trashed the Idiot Jerk in the White House in a phone call to constituents.  This was not simple criticism. Once again, we hear the word 'bloodbath.'

And what about those New York Post stories on Hunter Biden?  Social media is in the process of shutting them down for a number of reasons.  I do believe now their source is being classified as being tampered with by the Russians.  This was, I think, supposed to be another October Surprise.  Instead, Giuliani is being investigated for possibly helping the Russians.  Could a charge of treason be in his future?

And there was a non-debate last evening.  Dueling Town Halls, is what the media was the event (s).  Evidently Biden talked for long periods of time treating the time with voters as an actual Town Hall, even going over his allotted times spot.  As for the Idiot Jerk?  He was contentious and irritable. One headlines claims he "even forgot to attack Biden."  Ouch!!  He used a throwaway line to say he rather than forcefully deny white supremacy.  Oh, and he couldn't bring himself to denounce QAnon (sp).  You have to remember, this man thrives on the underbelly of conspiracy theories.  

Oh, and there are quiet whispers coming from Rupert Murdoch, a billionaire buddy of the Idiot Jerk, who's quietly prophesizing a "landslide victory for Biden."  Notice, he didn't say bloodbath... but in this case, landslide has pretty much the same definition.

 

Herd Immunity

 While started transitioning into my new schedule yesterday, today is going to be the first day of my new / old routine.  I'm fairly adaptable, so there shouldn't be any issues.

I'm a tad sore from my first foray to Planet Fitness.  This is a good thing, proving I actually worked muscles  yesterday.  I've blocked out Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings on my calendar.  Sometimes I'm rather organized.

The Seasonal Tree arrived yesterday and I began the assembly... not difficult.  I did learn, however, that the fairy I purchased will not be hanging from any of the boughs.  He's too big and weights too much and looks too much like he's reclining uncomfortably.  I've also started looking around for decorations that are wintery, rather than Christmasy.  Getting icicles is easy, but you have no idea how difficult it is to find little snow shovels, tiny tire chains, and itsy bitsy bags of Halite.

And I did make a pan pizza yesterday, half of which will be my meal ticket at work later this afternoon.

Of course, Phony Coney is evading questions as the Republicans prepare to vote her onto the Supreme Court.  They hate everything they can't control and are doing their damndest to destroy it.  This is why they love their tinfoil dictator so much.  A day doesn't go by without my thinking of the 2016 election and all those dumb shits who stayed home.  I hope this riles the skin off their backs... and teaches them a lesson.  Their health care, their lives, their marriages are at stake because of their ho-hum shrugs, their attitude which has now become quite cavalier about voting.  Now they know, if we don't run the country, they will, and America will become again a much more miserable place.

As for the Idiot Jerk?  He's back on the trail shrieking about Biden's mental state.  He's also pushing for herd immunity.  For those who don't remember, this is what he talked about way, way back when he was first told about Covid 19.  He'd asked why we just don't let it wash over the country?  So what if hundreds of thousands might die?  He doesn't care.  And now that he's managed to survive it, he could care even less.

And now a word from Cory Booker:

 Yesterday was rainy...   Occasionally there were times of spotty drizzle, a misty dampness clinging to the lenses of your glasses you are forced to smudge away with a swipe of your forefinger.  And still, I took the dogs for a walk.  Even Biggie will go for a walk as long as it isn't a steady rain.

Otherwise, all I did was a spot of cleaning and a couple loads of laundry.  I'm in the process of switching to my new schedule: sleeping a bit later.  And I did go to the gym this morning.  Only for about 20 minutes.  It's on my schedule for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.  My only issue was that a couple had set up shop around one of the machines I like to use.  Setting up shop means they brought over several sets of dumbbells, had their towels, their beverages, and had decided they were going to do their workout in that one spot.  

The tree I ordered is 'out for delivery.'  That was faster then I had been expecting.  The fairy ornament I had ordered arrived yesterday.  He is bigger than I was expecting, at least 8 inches.  Of course, there's nothing wrong with large ornaments.

I saw where one of the Idiot Jerk's spawn, Eric, cancelled a visit to a gun shop in Michigan once it was discovered that an employee was part of that group of domestic terrorists who planned to kidnap the Governor.

And the Idiot Jerk is back on the campaign trail.  He held a maskless rally yesterday in Florida.  One thing you can count on, his attorneys will challenge every state in which Biden wins, even in a landslide victory.  He will never concede, that would make him a loser.  How do we make him pay?  Sign onto his Twitter account and every 20 seconds Tweet one word at him.  Loser!  You can bet he'll shut that account down faster than he guzzles a Diet Coke.

And finally, the sham hearing began yesterday for Coney-Barrett.  She sat there arrogantly wearing her mask believing God had put her in this position for a purpose.  Well, we all know she's wrong.  We all know she's Cracker Jack Crazy.  As for the hearing?  Cory Booker summed it up perfectly.  A minority group of people is desperately trying to shove their socially conservative beliefs down America's throat.  "This is not Normal."  He repeats that phrase several times.  We must stop them now.

Tacos, Minorities, and Gunslingers

Yesterday was relaxing to a point.  Many chores were accomplished.  One was not.  I went tp CVS for my annual flu shot.  I called first to see if I needed an appointment.  While none was necessary, they recommended one.  So, I put my name on their calendar and showed up at 10 AM, waited for the pharmacist to finished with the customer she was working with, only to be told they had run out of vaccine the prior evening.  When I informed her there was nothing on the store's website indicating they were out she just stood there... looking stupid.  And then she looked at another pharmacist, who looked at another who said "we're getting more in today."  I have a sneaking suspicion that when I show up this morning they will tell me that they've 'run out' again.

I also got a new ID card for Planet Fitness, my last one broke off my key chain.  I'm actually getting excited about... they gym.

And this evening, I'm having Tacos for dinner, though I prefer a dollop of sour cream rather than shredded cheddar.

I tried to pre-order my Xbox Series X yesterday and the pre-orders were sold out... everywhere.  Amazon's going to send me an email when they will be ready to order.  Their release date is November 10, 2 days after my birthday.  That would be a nice present to myself.

I read an interesting opinion in the NYT about the special Hell of the Idiot Jerks ability to name a third seat on the Supreme Court.  I find it amusing that Republicans are hoping this is going to rev up their Conservative Base and get them out to vote.  It's even more amusing when the author talks about how they are the party of the minority.  The line about Biden might need to win by more than 5 million votes is almost naive.  Of course, Republicans have never been too smart when it comes to numbers.  They are the minority party.  As I've said before, the time has come to treat them as such.

And, finally, since people seem to be somewhat enamored of my voice, I recorded this last evening.  The clock belonged to my grandparents... it's very, very old, no doubt made back in the days of gunslingers.

 

The passing of days

So, here it is Sunday and for us here in Central PA the warm-up starts here and now!  Temp is going up to 19 (F) here!  Tomorrow up to 30 (F), which is still below freezing, but is much, much better than 5 (F) or 3 (F).
I'm going to refrain from commenting about the Idiot Jerk and his self- praising Tweets regarding his own Intelligence since almost everybody on this entire planet is still laughing.  Remember the Clown Parade?  As if every Executive Order, every Cabinet Member, every public speech, even his historically horrendous Tax legislation, didn't revel in his lacking intellect.  We already knew he was like.... really smart.  Oh, sorry, I wasn't going to do that.
Let me be honest here... I'm like.... not really sorry.
Anyway, I did an hour of cardio yesterday morning so this morning I'm going to do some strength training - here at the house, not at the gym.  Too cold yet, you know?  I'm looking at 1/15 for a return to Planet Fitness.  By then, according to the forecasters, temps will have moderated upwards, and also all of those New Years Resolution people will have broken their resolutions.  This doesn't mean I'm looking forward to seeing Fat and Skinny again, but who's to say they're still putting in an appearance.  Cardio is great for your heart, but it's the strength training which gets your metabolism fired up.
I am off tomorrow, and I have a number of things planned, including a visit to my Mom.  My brother went to see her yesterday and texted me about her deteriorating memory.  Nothing is going to stop her circulatory dementia, so every time you see her it's a little bit worse.  I used to stay for an hour, now I'm might stay for half that time.  Her conversation is fine as long as she's doing the talking and even then she might just forget you're there, pick up the remote, and turn on the TV.  This is how it goes.  At least she's no longer talking about her imaginary boyfriend, John.
Anyway, I do get to work today.  I've got a shitty schedule.  Off tomorrow, work Tuesday, off Wednesday, then I work 3 days and have 3 days off.

Splatter mark

Well, here it is January 2, 2018, and any second now people are going to start breaking their New Year's resolutions.  Not me.  I don't make resolutions.  The changes I've done in my life have never happened over the New Year.  When I began going to the gym?  It was in February, and I didn't plan a specific day, didn't aim for a certain time, I just heaved a bit of a sigh and muttered to myself, "I should hit Planet Fitness tomorrow."  And I did.  And then 2 days later I hit it again, which is when I started setting up a schedule.
Yesterday I worked, so there was no pork and sauerkraut for me.  They brought in Domino's instead.  I ate 7 slices altogether.  This morning I jumped on the scales and they said I'd gained 3.7 pounds in one day.  Well, we know that's wrong.  Just in case, I have a 45 minute ride planned for later this morning, and after I post this I'll be playing around with the dumbbells a bit.  I can't wait for these short days and long nights to be over.... and the temperatures to warm up.  Yesterday it got up to 16 (F), today we're supposed to hit a balmy 24 (F).  In fact, the forecasters are predicting that we won't get above freezing until sometime around January 8th or 9th. 
Politically speaking, we need to brace ourselves for a slug fest.  The Idiot Jerk, stupider than before, seems to think that since the minority party managed crap on America by giving the upper crust a tax break they continue to drop turds.  This is why he's the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  His party is headed toward a smack down of Biblical proportions and he doesn't understand, no doubt because he, and those sycophants he's surrounded himself with, do nothing except shower false praise upon his ego.  The bigger they are (at least in their minds) the harder they fall.  As you see below, this is actually true.

Keeping this in mind, stay clear because his selfish, bloatedness, is sure to make one hell of a splatter mark.

Roll This

So, yesterday I made cinnamon rolls from scratch... and they turned out pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.

And like most really good things, you need to flip them over to get to the good stuff on the bottom.
Tasty!
My sister's cooking so I'll be going over there for turkey, and filling, and what ever else she cooks.  My brother-in-law is going to pick up my Mom - she will stay about an hour, which is probably about as long as I'll stay.  We're not a big Christmas family, and as we get older we become less so.
The dogs got their new toys which meant the house was filled with squeaks and rattles - now they're napping so things are quiet.
Legally I can start lifting tomorrow.  That means I can start going back to the gym.  Of course for the next couple of weeks that's not going to be as much fun as it was, not because I'm so out of shape (which I am); rather it's going to be filled with all those nincompoops trying to keep their New Year's resolution about getting healthy.  99.9% of them will fail.  Also, the temperature is going to drop, like in "wow, we're not even going to get up to freezing!"  Which means I'm not going to be able to wear my cute, little shorts.  Nope, I'll be in baggy sweatpants 'to and from' the gym.
And while everybody seems to be tripping over themselves to say Merry Christmas just to prove they have no problem saying it, I'm going to wish everybody a Happy Holidays.  You see, I know people who are Jewish, and people who are Muslim, and Hindus, and a number who don't believe anything at all, and since my own beliefs tend to travel along more philosophical lines, I'm going to stay secular.

Happy Holidays!!

All the good gingers

So, instead of doing cardio this AM, I went to Planet Fitness instead.  Rather than rely on the wrist HRM I wore my chest strap - much better readings, more accurate, meaning I'll be wearing it more often.  In case anybody is wondering, I do my Ab workout at home on a purple yoga mat.
My brother sent me a text yesterday asking me if I could get off work on 8/30, he had a favor to ask... Right.  What he wants me and my sister to do is take our Mom over to Pine Grove (she grew up there) for some sort of impromptu family gathering at a restaurant.  Sounds like the perfect Kodak moment, doesn't it?  Except she has dementia.  She knows she's forgetting things, faces, people, and she finds that depressing.  When I pointed out that there was a very good possibility she might start to cry he said "well you can take her home, then."  Wrong.  He said "this will probably be the last time she will get to go home," well, that should have happened a year ago, not in 4 weeks.  So, I put the kabash on it.  I told him that if these people really wanted to see her, they should plan on going to Graysonview.  She's comfortable there, in familiar surroundings.  They can have their Kodak moment there.  So, I don't think he's too happy with me.  This is life.
On the Idiot scene, I saw that Cokie Roberts said that with the departure of Priebus and et al, there are no longer an 'legitimate' representatives of the Republican party in the White House.  This is just what the Idiot wants.  Even though they are a scurvy bunch, the GOP totally failed to kiss his ass the way he was expecting.  Unfortunately for them, every one of his actions reflects upon them since they were the party backing him.  As I said earlier, prepare for the shit storm.
One last thing about PF - I would expect that their attendants at least look like they spend some time using the equipment.  This morning when I flashed my ID badge, there was a rolly poly ginger guy standing behind the desk.  When he loudly proclaimed that he only had 28 more minutes before he could leave and go to church... well, I didn't quite cringe, but I came close.  And while I was doing my squats I saw him walk out the door - all I could do was wonder "where have all the good gingers gone?"

Answers for Anne Marie

So, the Three Caballaros were at PF again this AM... and the older gent actually notated something in his stenographer's pad... but only once after he did some bicep curls on a machine and I thought, "poor thing, he's not going to remember that."  Mr. Mustache was there too, though the handlebars were a bit droopy today.
And the GOP Healthcare is DEAD.  And the Idiot is blaming Democrats and a few Republicans... maybe someone should enlighten him because he evidently hasn't realized his part controls both the House and the Senate: they shouldn't need the Democrats, in fact they've been bragging about that fact for some time now, all the while accomplishing nothing.
And Anne Marie asked some questions yesterday, here are my responses.

1.  What deceased person would you like to meet and why?
Heath Ledger, and I'd like to ask him why he couldn't have been more careful.  His was the one celebrity death that broke my heart.

2.  Truth or Dare?
 Truth, always the truth.
3.  What is your creative talent?
Words, I love words.
4.  Clothing - necessary or useless?
That all depends upon whom I looking at... oh, you mean me... well, necessary, who needs growth hormones?
5.  What is the first name of your BFF?
That would be Betsy, and even though she's older than me, I'm her legal guardian since she had her stroke.
Weird/funny question - what is your fave tune that ALWAYS makes you smile?  
"So Long Dearie" from Funny Girl... "it's a little lumpy, but it rings!"


Finally, this morning while I was doing medicine ball crunches on my purple yoga mat Big Seig decided to give my face a bath and licked off my glasses, good thing I didn't have the contacts in, he'd have sucked them off my eyeballs.

Cardio Junkie / Bastille

So, I saw a headline about Beyonce posting a picture of herself and her kids and supposedly the Earth went wild... if that's the kind of thing that gives your life importance, I can only wonder if your life is truly that shallow.
I didn't mow the lawn yesterday because we were supposed to have thunderstorms... which we didn't have... which we actually got this morning while I was at PF - torrential rains, you know?  The Three Caballeros weren't there, which is par for the course.  They seem to belong to that group more interested in putting in an appearance than in developing and maintaining and in failing to understand that simply going to the gym does not improve the quality of your life.  Me?  Well, I wasn't gong to do any cardio yesterday, it was supposed to be my day off... and I ended up burning away 50 minutes on the elliptical - about 560 calories.  Increasing the ramp level increases your heart rate and as I raised it for the 4th time I wondered if I was turning in a Cardio Junkie.  Wouldn't that be a hoot, now?
And I did bake a loaf of bread.

Used a cast iron dutch oven.  It looks grand but tastes a bit bland, so I may have to look for a different recipe.
Also interesting to note:  Today is Bastille Day, a turning point in the French Revolution.  And the Idiot in the White House was invited to attend the festivities by President Macron.  I do not doubt that the relevancy of the moment will be lost on the Idiot, that he will even come close to understanding that during the French Revolution very, very many of the French 1% lost their heads.  He will totally fail to see any correlation between himself, his family, and his billionaire cabinet and the noblese of that time.  But then, what else would expect from the Idiot in the White House.

Planking at PF... and... the Master

The gent with the handlebar mustache, known now as Mr. Mustache, wasn't at Planet Fitness this morning, however Mr. Beard was... in the stretch room... doing planks.  Now, I hate planks, but I may have to start doing them... you know?

Anyone for a little medicine ball?
Fat and Skinny were there, too, not in the stretch room but rather hogging up one piece of equipment like they always do.  Let's call them F & S.  F is an older, fat, white guy and S is a skinny, much younger black guy, and they tend to gravitate to one piece of equipment where they do a lot of sets with out much weight, like maybe 20 sets, at 20 lbs, and I don't think that really does anything besides take up space.
And how about that Idiot in the White House?  Joint cyber-security with the Russkies?  Why not just let them run our elections for us?  I mean, isn't that pretty much the same sort of bullshit?  I mean, the Idiot is pretty much a delusional Fanboy when it comes to his hero, his master, Vlad.  He's not kept it a secret that he's idolized that man because Putin is the ultimate CEO - a dictator, who, for the most part, runs Russia with an Iron Fist wearing a lambskin glove.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if during their "extended meeting" the Idiot didn't ask for an autographed photo, in 3D no less.
If only Conservatives watched Dr. Who, then they'd know!  Putin is The Master, though not as cute,

And the Idiot is... well, let's just say K-9 had more intelligence in his left wheel nut then the Idiot has in his entirely empty head.

So far the day is... Squirrely

So, here it is Friday and it's actually the beginning of my weekend; of my consecutive 2 consecutive days off in a row.  And it's been raining most of the morning.
Went to Planet Fitness this AM and noticed one of the regulars sporting a 'handlebar mustache,' which I thought odd - at 0630, you know?  While I've had one for years, I've never had the slightest inclination to wax it, especially before I went to the gym.
I saw where the Washington Post published some sort of "fake news" story about the Russkies hacking into the power grid.  They need to check their sources!  You'd think they'd understand that this sort of bogus reporting delegitimizes factual investigations, as well as giving the Idiot in the White House ammunition to fire back in their faces.  Don't be stupid just for the headline.
And G20 is in progress as I type.  The Idiot gets to finally meet his idol, the man he considers to be a strong leader.  Dumb shit.  Even a half-wit would know Putin's going to play him for a fool, nodding to him, agreeing with him, laughing at his stupid inanities, all the while manipulating him into doing exactly what Putin wants him to do.  And the Idiot is going to have such a good time.
I may have to take a nap later on, not because I over exerted myself at the gym, rather the dogs woke me up in the middle of the night, 1:30 AM, to be precise.  Why?  Their purple squirrel was under the bed.

That's right.  When I turned on the light I saw that they were both laying on the floor looking under the bed.  So I got up, got down on my hands and knees to see what they wanted... and there he was, their purple squirrel.  And since it was after midnight, I'd have to say that my day, so far, has been a bit squirrely. 

The Suspensory of it all

So, I got back from Planet Fitness this AM and saw that Bill, one of my Navy buddies, had left a comment for me on Facebook.  After reading his note, I scrolled down to see if there was anything else I might find interesting until I saw and ad for Walmart.  I never shop at Walmart.  In fact I can honestly say there have only been 4 times in my life that I've been in one, and those 4 times were because someone thought I'd like a Walmart gift card for Christmas...   Anyway, not only was there an ad for Walmart my Facebook page, it was for something called a Suspensory, which looked a lot like something a male stripper might use to keep everything tucked safely away.  Since I never click on Facebook ads, I googled it and discovered I was sort of right.  A Suspensory is a testicular support... and evidently only for the testicles since there's a hole in the top / front that's meant for something other than ventilation.

And then I started wondering why I was targeted with this ad - they do that you know?  Look at your browsing history to see if there's something an online retailer can sell you?  Or maybe some sort of universal consciousness had decided I be better suited wearing a Suspensory under my shorts when I went to Planet Fitness.  But then I got to thinking about that little hole....

Anyway, it didn't take long for me to decide that this piece of sportly under apparel was not going to make it into my wardrobe.  Being the curious type, I went Amazon to see if they actually sold Suspensories... they do, with a lot of negative comments, so evidently somebody out there is buying them.  I'll leave you with one person's disillusionment.

I found this item unusable. I don't understand how it's supposed to stay put on one's "junk" without straps that go around the upper thighs like a regular jock strap.

Trump: wrestling for Lunkheads

So, here it is Monday, July 3, the day before the 4th, and as usual I am working; tomorrow as well.  This is how it goes in retail.  I figure I have 3 - 4 years before I can go from full-time to part-time and while I haven't set the date yet, I am anticipating.
I was surprised by the number of people at Planet Fitness this AM - but then it is a day before a holiday, and people do want to look all toned and pumped and toned for their parties.  Me?  I just did my regular routine, upped the weight on my squats, so I might be sore later.  That's fine.  I remember my Mom telling me that if you get sore after working out you did something wrong - not so.  Life is filled with pain, physical and emotional, and sometimes there are long stretches when we are pain free, but in the end there is pain.  It's how we deal with it that's important.
There's also humor as evidenced by some video the Idiot in the White House posted - something from his Wrestlemania days... now isn't that embarrassing as hell?  A minority group of aging, white people voted his lunkhead into office without understanding he was going to be the laughing stock of the world.  I haven't watched it because... well, to be perfectly honest, my IQ is over 70.  However, I must say that understand fully why the Idiot posted it.  You see, if he were Putin, and this was Russia, and the American people were Russkies, well, we would be like "wham, bam, thank you man!  Ain't that Idiot something special."  You see, Vlad posts shit like that, not on Wrestlemania, but score fake goals in hockey, and doing Karate, and wrestling bears... wait, maybe Vlad was on Wrestlemania.  I mean he did wrestle a bear didn't he?  Bare chested?  Anyway, the Russian people like to see their leader proving his manhood, and, well, in a perverted sort of way, that's just what the Idiot did.  He proved his manhood, how powerful he truly was, by beating up a faux CNN because... well, because he's the Idiot in the White House.

And, as well all know, he's just as phony as Wrestlemania.  Dear Lord, how low it is that America has stooped.