Listen UP

Wednesday.  I work... and this isn't even my hump day.  Shit.
So, when I got home from work yesterday we had about 3/4 inch to an inch of icy slush, mostly slush with a crust of ice.  Grabbing my handy dandy shovel, I cleared off the back porch, steps, and the veranda for the dogs.  They love snow when it's soft and fluffy - hate it when it's crunchy slippery.  I then took care of the front sidewalks - didn't take me long at all.  I just put the shovel down and used it like a plow.  The prediction is for us to warm up over the next couple of days.  Good.
Okay, the the mailman drops off this letter from the E. Cumberland Road Neighbors last evening and when I opened it I found an invite to join a 'public website' specifically for my neighborhood at nextdoor.com... well, kinda... and probably not.  It was written by someone named Corinda Traina - I Googled the name... nada.  Nextdoor.com is a social network started in California about 12 years ago and neighborhoods are groups of people who live in the same region.  Sorry, this isn't for me, so it's going in the trash.
And, how's this for stupid?  Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at the flooring desk and I received a call form our Measurements Services regarding a customer.  They had just sold her a carpet installation, around $2000, and after she gave them her credit card number asked them when she was going to be able to pick out her carpet...  🙄🙄🤣😂🤣  Let me explain...  After having their rooms measured, customers normally choose the carpet and the color and the padding.  The minute they pay for it, that carpet gets ordered.  Sometimes, if a customer can't make up their mind, a generic carpet and color is keyed into the order.  All this is explained to the customer.  Most customers will have decided on a specific carpet and color before they are actually measured.  When Measurements Services sells an install, they verify all of this information since the last thing they want to do is sell you a style and color carpet you do not want.  This customer evidently wasn't listening and blindly gave them her credit card number.  End result:  I had to cancel the purchase order and process a refund. 

And finally, I saw where the Idiot Jerk in the White House is 'unhappy' with the joint legislation which will keep the government open, but gives him nothing for his WALL.  I guess the American Freedom Caucus, that crazy bunch of hate mongers, is telling him to sign it.  They're telling him to go around Congress in order to have his WALL built.  In fact, I do believe Lindsey Graham is advocating the declaration of a National Emergency.  For those who don't know, the American Freedom Caucus is an all white, Evangelical boys club.  Do you know what's going to happen if he declares a National Emergency?  Well, I'm going to quote Dirty Harry.  "Make my day."

Undeliverable

Well it's Thursday in the AM and according to Accuweather the temperature outside is -2 (F), of course that didn't stop Big Seig from going outside 3 times - once for morning functions and twice to try and get an after breakfast biscuit.  He thinks he's being sneaky.  He isn't.
I was supposed to have a small package delivered from Amazon yesterday and got the message "Undeliverable."  Polar Vortex, you know?  The USPS couldn't deliver it.  I'm not blaming them.  We had high winds and 'white outs' from snow squalls.  Now I have to call them (the USPS) and tell them how I want them to handle the package.  To me, this seems stupid.  The logical answer is "deliver it the next day."
Holy Crap!  I looked at my schedule.  I'm scheduled for two 40 hour work weeks in a row.  Will I survive?
And evidently just about everybody in the Idiot Jerk's administration turns out to be shy, especially when it comes to testifying before the House, at least that's what I've read in the Washington Post this morning.  Seems like Wibur Ross is the only one who's agreed to voluntarily answer questions while the presence of anybody else is a lot like that small package from Amazon... undeliverable, unless, of course, they get subpoenaed.  These people, like the Idiot Jerk, prefer to keep things cloudy and lacking transparency.  What did you expect?  These are billionaires who rarely, if ever, have had to deal with accountability.
Another funny comment which keeps popping up all over the place is the Idiot Jerk's inability to strike a deal.  Oh, sure he talks a lot, brags a lot, and lies a lot, but when it comes to actually hammering home a deal he fails to deliver... and then he blames someone else.

I gather that this is the real reason the Idiot Jerk is so gung-ho on his racist wall, his ego requires him to do so in order to prove he isn't a complete failure.  His party no longer talks about that failed tax rewrite which gave away the store to corporations and rich people, you know, the one which failed the average American.  He did manage to get two judges on the Supreme Court but both have flip-flopped on Conservative decisions... or chosen not to deal with hot button issues at all.
If you think he's bad now, wait until the Democrats get a hold of his Tax Returns, then we'll get to see the real shrieking baby in the shitty diaper.

Winners and Losers

Okay, so was anyone foolish enough to watch the Idiot Jerk on TV last night?  Show of hands, maybe?  I didn't.  He's a little bit like Humpty Dumpty, isn't he?  Sitting on his wall and just waiting to fall... or perhaps I should say fail.  While not watching, I did peruse some of his his comments.  I find it interesting how deceptive he is spitting out lies aimed directly at white, middle-aged Republicans, the sames ones who voted for him.  Of course by now so much fact checking has been done they've begun archiving all of his deceits.  No longer does it take an hour or so of research.  Nope.  Now it takes about 20 seconds before they stamp his falsehoods as lies.  You know what I'm talking about, like Chris Wallace throwing Sarah Sanders' lie back in her face on Fox News.  The Idiot Jerk knows if you repeat a lie often enough, people will begin to believe it...  especially if they are white, middle-aged Republicans who will never understand the 1950's are gone forever.
I called and left a message for Justin at Greenfield (Graysonview) yesterday... no response, of course.  I will call again this morning.  I do not doubt it will be like pulling dragon's teeth to get them to refund that money.
And I worked a little more on the archway yesterday.  The front and the left side just need to be sanded.  The right side is going to need a bit more spackle.  Hopefully I will be able to paint it on Friday.
Right now they are telling me my desk should be delivered on 1/31... or there about.  Except for the archway, everything is ready... well, almost.  I have a silver candelabra that still needs to be shined.  If it weren't for tarnish, silver would be my favorite metal.  Gold is a bit too gaudy.  Copper is nice but only in small quantities.  Steel is great for its tensile strength but lacks as a decorative metal, unless, of course, you like horse shoes and chains.  And true, brass can be ever so bold, but silver is... very snazzy. Silver has elegance.  It's just a pain in the ass having to shine up it's sheen on a regular basis.
And in case anyone is wondering what I was doing last evening well... I was at the Olympics.  And while there were a few moments when I felt as though my back my be up against the wall, I was never in trouble the way the Idiot Jerk is in trouble.  Not me.  I won!  They even gave me a winner's crown, something the Idiot Jerk will never get.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I won wearing a loincloth.  This game is not that progressive.

Republican White Elephant

So, it's Sunday morning and some of you are sleeping late.  I'm not.  Nope.  Got up at the usual time.  The holidays, in addition to having that nasty pharyngitis, have screwed up my schedule and finally I'm easing my way back into what I like to think of as normal.
Our store is having it's Holiday Party this evening.  Of course there are that small number who complain that it isn't called a Christmas Party.  I don't doubt most of them voted for the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  These are the same people who criticize the commercialization of the holiday but have no problem going out and buying themselves their own 'special' Christmas present.  For them, their religious beliefs seem to be directly linked to the purchase of an expensive gift.  As they mount that flat screen TV or proudly show off their new Apple watch they will call it a Blessing.  They will say "The real Blessing is that I got it on sale!"
I saw that a few hours ago another ranking Pentagon official handed in his resignation.  This is frightening because the Idiot Jerk is going to try and promote some like-minded moral degenerate.  Of course there is the good possibility that will never happen.  Legal issues, you see.  And there's the wall.  That White Elephant...

is only popular with his base, and in spite of their number chicanery, they are a minority group.  And just like the elephant, they too are white.  The funny thing is just like those phonies who count flat screen TV's and watches as Blessings, he thought he'd gift himself this wall for Christmas and say "oh, what a deal."  The longer the shutdown continues, the stronger the sentiment grows against his 'wall,' and the deeper he sinks in his shit hole.  Does his base care how bad or how selfish they look?  Absolutely not.  They don't understand a White Elephant is not something to cherish.  No one ever said they were smart, greedy and selfish yes, but smart?  Never.

Size matters

Well, here it is Monday - I get to go to work today - and then I'm off for 2 days. this is going to be a 32 hour work week for me so I don't care.  We're also supposed to be getting 3 - 6 inches of snow overnight.  That doesn't bother me either.
I had my 'bonus' meeting last evening.  The check was nice - not what I'm used to getting, but still it's money that I hadn't had before, however I did decide that it was probably my last.  I don't see any purpose in my going to the store for just an hour and a half every 6 months.
And yesterday I also had to deal with one of those customers who must have gotten a day pass from the asylum.  She had questions about tile.  Well, that's wrong, mostly she had observations.  Like are 12 inch tiles are not quite 12 inches, they're 11 3/4 inches.  We shouldn't claim that it's 12 x 12 when it wasn't.  Oh, and she had a tape measure.  That's right, she was measuring our tiles.  I informed her that sizing takes into account the fact that there will be grout, usually around 1/8" on all sides.  She didn't like that answer.
Then she asked where our 16 inch tiles were, stating "you say online that you carry 16" tiles."  We do, one style.  When I showed it to her she exclaimed "well, why wouldn't you carry more styles?  Just one style doesn't make sense!"  So.... I explained.  Contractors and customers prefer to work with square footage, it makes things much easier, not only with buying tile, but with arranging them on the wall or floor.  We sell 3", 4", 6", 9", 12", 18" and 24" tile because it's easier to calculate square feet.  A 16" tile is 1.77 square feet and that number complicates things.  She didn't like that answer either, and evidently she'd been in 2 other departments, asking the same type of questions, before she got to flooring.  Taking her tape measure, she left in a huff, no doubt planning an online expose' on how are signage is deceitful.  It isn't.  There's a reason.  You just need to think.

And speaking of size, there's a sizable number of Americans who want the Democrats to control Congress - they understand that's the only way to deal with the Idiot Jerk in the White House until he is legally removed from that position.  Of course this infuriates his base.  They don't care about democracy.  Nor do the care about America.  They only want to dictate.  The time has come to Take America back from the assholes.

How is this for Stupid?

So, it's Friday.  A lot of people post all kinds of stuff on Facebook to celebrate the end of their work week...  but not for me, mine does end until next Wednesday.  This... is the hell of working in retail.  At least I'm no longer in management and now have a fixed shift.  One of these days I might even get a fixed schedule... now, wouldn't that be nice.
I see Harvey is supposed to hit Texas sometime today.  I have no idea why a 6' 3" pooka rabbit would want to attack Texas, perhaps because he's a Liberal Bunny?  Or maybe it's just a little Karma heading towards those 'crazy in the head' Long Horns.  I did see that it's been 15 years since the last hurricane hit Texas.  That would have been when 'W' was in the White House.  Maybe there's some connection between Republican Presidents and hurricanes hitting that crazy state.
After my cardio this AM I whipped up some egg bites; egg white, garlic, hot pepper with a tad of cheddar for a tasty, protein snack.

I figure they have about 40 calories each, which is equivalent to going up and down the stairs 2 or 3 times, not that I worry that much about calories (holy shit, I can't believe I just wrote that!).
And I did read something funny about the Idiot Jerk this AM:  Why does he have to threaten a government shut-down if Mexico is going to pay for the wall?  Just think about that?  In the beginning it was those "very, very bad hombres" who were going to pay for the wall, and then, after the Idiot Jerk managed to get himself elected it was "well, we might have to pay for it, but those very, very bad hombres," were going to reimburse us, and then we got to read the transcript of his call the with Mexican President, in which the Idiot Jerk whined.  Now, you don't hear about those "very, very bad hombres."  He wants your tax dollars to pay for a crappy wall that only he and his fan bases believe we need.  How's that for stupid?

The turbulence has started

Remember when I said it's going to be a bumpy flight?  Well, the turbulence has started, mostly with stupid shit, like crowd size.  But then you have to remember that DT is all about size.  The bigger the better.  And now there's the bit about the illegal voters.  He can not correlate facts.  In his mind, if he's won the presidency then logically he had to have the most popular votes (being popular is essential), and if he didn't, well than it had to have been illegals.
And it's going to get worse.
I can't even begin to imagine what things must be like behind backstage, and I'm purposely using the word backstage, because every time DT gets in front of the camera he's putting on a performance.  Like an actor with little talent, however, he only has 2 or three faces:  the grimace, the growl, and the guffaw.  Is it any wonder Kellyanne wore her circus outfit to the inauguration?  I mean, I wonder how many rings are going on simultaneously behind the closed doors.  And we haven't even got a glimpse of the side shows yet.

Today, from what I've read, the idiot is going to issue some sort of Executive Order about The Wall.  He likes grandiose schemes.  Size, remember?  The big wall?  The wall Mexico was supposed to pay for?  The Wall which is going to add to our national debt?  The Wall which is taxpayer funded?  But that's okay.  His fans are happy.  Until taxes have to be raised.  Then we'll hear a different story.

Other things and... the plug

At this point around 74% of Americans are accepting the fact that Donald Trump is our 45th president - that doesn't mean they like that fact, just that they are accepting it.  As time has passed since that fateful night more information has been made apparent.  This is a good article from the Chicago Tribune.  She won the popular vote, but by less than 1/10th of a percent, if you look at all votes cast.  The Clintons like to do what they want, even if it might be questionable, and they don't seem to understand that if it's questionable their opposition can easily hammer it into a negative perception.  Her private server is a perfect example.
And then there's Trump who played his hand well.  Millions believed every word he said... except....
Now the "Wall" may not be built.  We may get something that has a similar effect, which is probably going to be more boarder patrols.  Evangelicals voted for him a big way.  He got more white Evangelical votes than George W. Bush.  On the campaign trail he was the most socially conservative candidate in history... except... he wants Rudy Giuliani as his AG and Giuliani is... Pro Choice.  Oops.  And Trump has never been as stringently anti-gay, what were they thinking?  They needed to look at the way he's treated contractors, signed contracts and then reneged, and filed for bankruptcy to get out of paying just about anything he didn't want to pay.  He told them what they wanted to hear.  They haven't hit their WTF moment yet... but it's approaching.
And then there's the plug.  That new lamp I bought?  Well, it has a rubber plug on it.  Not plastic, rubber and Big Seig thinks he has to chew it.  Twice so far.  Last night I got home from work and he had pushed the table and my Morris chair out of the way to get to it.  The cord was still attached to the lamp, however I found the plug on the sofa.  He got yelled at, and a swat on his butt, which, when you're a 108 pound Boxer is nothing.

And he looked at me with the big brown eyes and even though he can't talk I knew he was saying "oh I am so so sorry and I promise never ever ever to do it again," all the while his little stub of a tail wagged back and forth ever so slowly.  So, of course, I had to forgive him.  Am I easy or what?

Why aren't companies hiring?

The Democratic Convention is in full swing and I'm not watching it.  Even though I'm a registered Democrat when casting my ballot I'm Independent, you know, those people Republicans try cater to but really don't like.  Both parties say they know how to create jobs.  Here's a little tidbit about why companies aren't hiring.  Of course this isn't news.  Any American with average intelligence should have figured this out a long time ago.  What we have is an employers economy, one in which employers make all of the rules.  If your productivity dips they'll can you and hire someone who keep up with the pace they demand.  As long as the money keeps piling up in their bank accounts nothing is going to change.  If they can get twice the work out of two employees why should they hire a third?  Jobs aren't being created because they aren't worth the expense.  All tax breaks do is put more money to their bottom line.  Oh, sure, at some point down the line they will hire that third employee, but not until it is absolutely necessary, not until they've worked their employees to the bone.  When that will be is anyone's guess.  One thing is certain, Wall Street is doing just fine with the unemployment rate as high as it is.  Recovery is going to continue to be slow and nothing is going to speed it up.