Would You Care for a Little Whine with that Cheese

 The temp was 36 (F) when I got up this morning.  The forecasters are saying we should climb another 20 degrees, but clouds are going to move in bringing showers with them.  Tomorrow, of course, temps are supposed to climb up into the 70s (F), but only for a day.  Then they are going to come crashing down.  We have a cold front moving through, and by next Wednesday our overnight low will be in the high 20s (F).

Tuesdays are usually meh days for me, a time for me to relax after working the weekend.  Not yesterday.  Much was accomplished.  Besides cleaning the big aquarium, I began dismantling the treadmill.  A friend asked why I didn't try and sell it.  The answer is simple.  No one wants to buy a used treadmill, and because they're heavy, they are quite difficult to move.  It's easier to just take it apart and throw it out into the trash.  And while everything is getting moved around, I'm going to replace the area rugs in that room.  They're both old, one of them went through Gertie's puppyhood, that was15 years ago.

My Amazon music was also cancelled.  I'm now using Spotify.  This is all part of my shift away from everything Bezos has a finger in, including changing the credit card which gave me points for shopping on Amazon.  The new card has a lower interest rate, not that I ever have to pay interest, so I guess the higher interest on the old Amazon card was actually paying for those Amazon points I thought I was earning.

And, of course, last evening this happened.

Can you imagine how mortifying it must be to spend over $20+ million on an election to lose by 11 points?  And this was after Cory Booker's record breaking 24+ hour speech.  And in Florida, even though the Republican candidates won, neither came close to the 30 point victory claimed by the Orange anus.  In Illinois, a MAGA cultist lost to her Democratic opponent in a mayoral contest.  In fact, it was a good day for Democrats.  The Republicans?  Not good at all.  

On top of all that was going down, Mikey Johnson dismissed the House of Representatives for the rest of the week because he lost on proxy voting by mothers who'd just given birth.  I wonder what they're going to be doing on this mini-vacation.  

And today Orangie's tariffs are supposed to kick in.  Will he cave... again?  If he does, I don't think it will be by much.  His caving would cause people to think he did so because of the elections yesterday.  That would make him look weak.  It would tell the world that he really hasn't mastered the art of the deal.

The Cone of Silence

 It's the weekend for some people, not me.  There was a time decades ago when I, too, worked a Monday thru Friday job, but, as I've said, that was decades ago.  So many people plan their lives around a 5 day, 40 hour work week, in fact, our economy depends upon it; that's when people spend most of their money.  Not me.  I can spend my hard earned pennies whenever I want to, the day of the week matters not to me.

We're supposed to have showers this afternoon.  That's fine.  We've been going through fire watches because the showers we're getting simply aren't soakers, they're basically a superficial wetting.  If Accuweather is right, we should be getting rain next week.

I did work yesterday.  One of my fellow specialists was fuming, he'd been called on the carpet about his frequent call-offs.  He's one of those individuals who desperately believes he should get his weekends off, so when his schedule says otherwise, he call out.  He was so angry, he began the process of transferring to another store.  That's fine.  Back when I was in HR I told many people that "if you don't like your job, get another," basically hoping they're go some where else and make people miserable.

When Howie was a puppy, the Vet recommend Purina Pro Plan for big dogs, and though a bit pricy, I took her advice.  Well, now that he's almost 8 months old, I decided to move him to Beneful, the dog food all of my other dogs ate.  Well, he does eat it, but it has to be on a plate instead of his food dish.  I think he's a bit spoiled.

I understand that Waltz wasn't the only one on that super secret Houthi text with an open Venmo account, there were three others.  Can we talk about amateurs?  Since Conservatives are trying to turn back the clock, I recommend begin holding their super secret talks the Smart way.  Orangie needs to force them all to utilize The Cone of Silence!

Quite a few people found the Orange Anus's decision to withdraw Elise Stefanik's nomination as ambassador to the United Nations telling.  Actually, that announcement made quite a number of us smile:  he's scared.  Republicans have a razor think majority in the House and it seems they believe that in a special election to replace her, the Democrats would win.  Stefanik's district is very red, in fact Orangie won it by 24%.  So, it looks like Elise sold her soul and got a Mar a Lago face for nothing.

Elonia gave some sort of interview and, as most egocentric narcissists frequently do, he doesn't understand why he is so... hated disliked by so many people.  He doesn't understand the protests.  He only wants as much as he can steal from America to make America great.  He's only thinking about his bank account Americans, and all of the different ways he can steal from help them.  And to prove this, he's giving 2 $1million prizes to 2 lucky individuals who vote Republican in Wisconsin next week.  For those of you who don't remember, he pulled this same shit in the National election, only it turned out that the drawings were rigged, and the winners weren't really winners, but people who worked on Orangie's campaign.  He's going to be sorely angry when he learns that the only ones who can be bought are losers. 

The Wall

 Yesterday we were supposed to have rain... well, that didn't happen so more lawn work was done.  The temps were nice, upper 70s (F).  We did get some rain overnight and more is predicted for this afternoon.  Again, temps are predicted to fall, but we'll have to wait and see on that one.

Much yardwork was completed yesterday.  A lot of work we put into the aquarium as well.  The ruins are gone and can now be found sitting in the trash.  The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to just go with plants.  While it was nice watching my big angels swimming in and out of Doric (?) columns, it's also rather relaxing just watching them traverse the full length of the tank.

I do get to work today.  Can you see the excitement in my words?  

As I rip away the ivy and clean up the fallen sticks and branches on the hill behind my house, the stone wall is once again showing his rugged face.  The wall was, in fact, one of the selling points for me.  How many people have a stone wall in their backyard.  My property extends another 30 feet beyond the wall.  Who knows, I may end up putting a garden at the top of the hill.

And after the flush of the indictment, yesterday seem rather calm with relatively few surprises.  I don't doubt that the reason Ms. Pence changed his mind about testifying before the Fed Grand Jury looking into the Jan 6 insurrection is directly related to the indictment.  Maybe he's finally seen the writing on the wall.  Or perhaps Mother told him to get into the lifeboat because the ship's going down by the bow fast.

In Wisconsin gerrymandered Wisconsin voters rejected Dan Kelly, the Conservative candidate, for the state supreme court and voted in a Liberal Janet Protasiewicz.  Kelly bitterly accepted his loss, but would not concede the election to someone he called unworthy.  I find it amusing that conservatives are being sent the same message over and over again and they refuse to listen.  Of course, that would mean they're wrong, that Americans don't want a restrictive authoritarian government.  They will never learn no matter how many lessons they lose.

Staying Safe

Once again, I managed to get a lot of chores done yesterday.  The lawn is now mowed, however the weeds have not yet been wacked, that will happen this morning.  All my roses were sprayed, as well as the fruit trees.  And in case any of you are wondering, I've got little peaches and nectarines.  I did cut some of the lower branches from the nectarine tree last fall because Biggie could stand there and eat the fruit from them.  In case you didn't know, as in humans, too many nectarines can create gastrointestinal issues in large dogs. Hey, I even got around to baking a loaf of banana nut raisin bread.

There's supposed to be another demonstration by the brain dead, ultra right in downtown Harrisburg today.   They don't understand the 'stay at home' orders are to keep the virus from spreading too fast hospitals are overwhelmed.  For these protesters, that is complex thinking.  Their argument is that the Constitution allows them the right to act like an asswipe.  I agree.  As my friend Patty says, "let them go someplace else and get sick," but make sure they sign a waiver saying they're not going to go to a hospital, but rather stay home and suffer... and maybe die.
And the Wisconsin Supreme Court said the Governor's 'stay at home' orders were unconstitutional.  Of course, 3 of the 5 judges are Conservative Republicans.  Their decision is seen as odd since the state is in the process of reopening.  I suspect that not only are they asswipes, they're asswipes desperately trying to prove their fealty to the Idiot Jerk in the White House.
I did get a bit of a laugh when the Idiot Jerk called out Wall Street's billionaire investors on taking advantage of the stock market when it was down.  Of course, this make him look good to his base, but they don't understand that 84% of the stock market is owned by billionaire investors.  Nope.  The fact that crater faced Stevie Mnuchin did this same thing in 2008 doesn't enter their consciousness.  Of course, if you're a billionaire who doesn't criticize the  future of the economy, just quietly takes advantage of the falling stock market then you're okay.
The best thing any of us can do until we vote this imbecile out of office and into jail is stay safe.  Wear you mask, practice social distancing, and decontaminate and we will outlive both these dinosaurs and the faltering economy.

Dumb as a Brick

It's Friday!  It's Friday?  wait, where are the happy dancing gifs?  it's the end of the work week!  The weekend!  If you live in Georgia you can now legally go get a massage.  Or, if the mood strikes you, get a nice 'tramp stamp' that's going to start sagging in about 7 or 8 years!  Joy of joys!
Can you all wait a sec while I stop and take my temperature?
There, that didn't take long did it?  96.8 degrees (F).  Yep, I'm a cold one.  Later in the day I'll heat up to 97 (F).  I've never taken my temperature after riding the bike, but I wouldn't doubt if I didn't happen to heat up to 98.6 (F) which would make me normal for a short time.
Yesterday was a bit odd.  I gathered shopping carts from the parking lot twice.  We spray them down before we let the customers touch them.  I had an Asian woman call about ordering flooring.  She bought enough for one room about a year ago.  Bruce Hardwood flooring no longer sells that color.  She has called numerous times and talked to everybody at the flooring desk at least 3 times.  Yesterday I gave her the Bruce Hardwood phone number, maybe they can help her.
And the Idiot Jerk asked if injecting disinfectant might be a solution to the Covid - 19 crisis.  You know, shoot a little Top Job, or Mr. Clean up into the veins?  The response he got was brilliant: "That would kill a lot of people."  The Idiot Jerk in the White House is dumb as a brick.
I think it's funny that even by not actually running a campaign, Joe Biden is kicking the Idiot Jerk's ass in the polls.  Even Rasmussen, a poll that has always had a soft spot for Conservatives, is giving Biden a 'thumbs up.'  This is really bad for the Idiot Jerk.  Having his ass fired by the American people is beyond his belief.   This is what happens when you surround yourself with 'yes men' who constantly agree with your point of view and steer you away from reality.
Biden has suggested the Idiot Jerk might try and have the November election postponed.  Sadly for the Idiot Jerk, the Constitution does not permit that.  Also, keep in mind, that a few short weeks ago the Supreme Court ruled that Wisconsin could not delay its Primary Election.  That set a precedent.  Damn!  Republicans have never ever been too smart.  They have always relied on lies and deceit.  The Idiot Jerk is going down.  So is his Party.
And now, for something lighter.  I was out taking pics yesterday of my tulips.  Lo and behold, I snapped one with an itty, bitty spider on one of the petals.

Nifty, huh?

Meet Glen

Well, it's Thursday and I go back to work.  I checked yesterday and my schedule has been adjusted all the way to May 10, no more than 5 hours a day.  This is fine with me.
I ordered one of these seamless face-mask / bandannas since I have a feeling they're going to become very stylish and necessary in the future.  Mine has a different pattern.

Tres chic, eh?
For those who didn't see, Kellyanne Conway was demonstrating her ignorance on Fox and Friends yesterday.  No one told her the '19' in Covid - 19 comes from the year the virus made its appearance, 2019.  She believes there were 18 previous iterations.  And those boom boom brains on the Idiot Jerk's favorite show nodded sagely, "oh, yes, oh yes," because the segment was focused on attacking the WHO.  Can we talk about fake news here?
Remember Tuesday when the Idiot Jerk demonstrated to the world how unhinged he truly is?  When he took us into his twisted fantasyland where he's been on top of this whole thing from the very beginning?  Despite his trying to rewrite history on that day, something else happened.  Remember that election in Wisconsin?  The one that couldn't be delayed because the Conservatives in our Supreme Court were hoping Democrats were going to go out and vote... and possibly get sick?  Well, that turned out to be a very bad decision for Conservatives.  You see, those Democratic voters were also voting for a brand, new Supreme Court Justice for the state.  The result was a landslide victory for Liberal Democrat.  The Conservative candidate, the one the Idiot Jerk had been pushing, lost badly.  Ouch.  The Liberal beat the Conservative by over 120,000 votes.  Ouchy!  Ouch!  You can bet the Idiot Jerk must have been seething at receiving such a smack in the face.
And finally, there's a mutant in my yard.  That's right.  Yesterday I was taking pics of my flowers when I spied him... her... it.  Something went genetically wrong.  Being different can be... heartbreaking.  I wanted to be sure she... it... he knew I was being supportive, so I gave.... it (?) a name.  Meet Glen.

The tulip that couldn't decide if it... he... she wanted to be a flower or a leaf.

A prickly affair

I was all set to run around the house this morning shouting "It's Saturday!  It's Saturday!  No work!" but then I realized I was a day early.  That will happen tomorrow.
Ubisoft emailed me my 'key' for Ghost Recon - Breakpoint last evening so I downloaded the game while I slept.  Nice. This is the Open Beta version, which is more of a sales promotional thing rather the closed Beta version in which a select group of players actually try and break the game. I understand that can be a lot of fun.  But, as an open Beta, it shuts down on 9/9 and may not be available to play again until it's official release.  One of the other games I ordered Greedfall, is due to be delivered on Wednesday.
I'm looking for a new cactus.  I've had a Barrel Cactus for 9 years and last Monday, while I was watering my plants... I over watered it.  This was one those... what in hell was I thinking about moments.  The next morning I emptied all the water sitting filling the base... but it was too late.  It's a cactus, after all.  The entire barrel, which was almost 7 inches high, has turned brown and collapsed.

I stuck it outside for a couple of days hoping the heat of the sun might revive the little guy... nothing.  He just keeps collapsing in upon himself.
And I thought it interesting that even Boris Johnson's brother has added his own little knife to those already in Boris' back...  The sad truth is that Boris deserves to be pricked even more.
Oh, and I saw... hold onto your hats... that the Idiot Jerk's spawn is planning on running for the White House in 2024.  This group of breeders is totally out of touch with the real world.  Someone should tell them that Wisconsin, a state with a lot of family owned farms, is leading the country in farm bankruptcies.  And yes, these are some of the people who voted to Make America Great Again.  45 family owned farms filed for bankruptcy last year.  That's not a good thing.  You see, they didn't realized that the cheese the Idiot Jerk prefers most on his Big Macs is processed.  Now, how is that for a burr in their sides?

Safer

Well, it's Wednesday, which is kind of... but not really, my hump day.  I'm off Friday, but then I have to work on Saturday... and then I'm off Sunday and Monday.  Friday I need to gather up and brown bag the sticks, twigs, and small branches, also known as 'yard clean-up' because on Saturday the township sends a truck around to pick it up.  They'll do this the first Saturday of every month until October.  Now, ain't that sweet?
I saw where China has put on their trade war gloves.  Supposedly there is a 60 day wait period before the actual fight begins.  Who will cave first?  My money says the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  The Chinese people will be forced to endure.  The American people, however, will soon start chanting "Lock Him Up!"  There will be a thunderous stampede of feet to the voting booths as the blue wave rises to immense proportions.
Evidently there was a big, blue surge in Wisconsin because whining Scott Walker is... well, whining.  Funny thing is that when you read the article he obviously is more concerned about his own political ass than anything else.  When he said "they will target me," I burst out laughing.  He's always been a selfish conservative scumbag.
This morning was free weight day. I did 28 sets of 314 reps and the total weight lifted was 6014 pounds.  My arms and shoulders are swelled.
This morning I also moved my 401K earnings to someplace safe.  I do this every year since the great recession.  I lost retirement savings then, and even though my 401K did recover, there's no getting back those dollars that disappeared.  It's much better to be safe rather than sorry.  This is especially important now that we have an Idiot Jerk in the White House.  While he might brag about the stock market going up, he won't say a damn thing when it drops.  There's no way to milk praise when the Dow goes down.  Remember, this is a fool who's filed for bankruptcy 4 times.

Dispose this

Well, here it is... Thursday.  The sun is out.  The temp is supposed to get up to 33 (F) today and get up into the 40's tomorrow.  In fact, for the rest of the month temps are supposed to range in the upper 30's to mid 40's.  Could it be that winter is nearly over?  Did I just curse North America?  We shall see.
For those who don't know, there was another surprise Democratic win on Tuesday night.  Republicans are... stunned, to say the least.  I keep wondering how can anybody be as dense as the GOP.  But then, thinking back, I realize that they have always been dumb shits, every since Reagan's landslide re-election.  Anyway, from what I hear, they're on the verge of rolling their eyes in panic, still totally incapable of understanding that the vast majority of Americans don't like either them, or their policies.
And how's this for shits and giggles?  Movie theater owners are concerned about shrinking ticket sales.  That's right, fewer people went to the movies last year... in spite of an increase in ticket costs.  Am I like the only one in the world to see a correlation there?  Cost goes up, attendance goes down?  And it's not just the cost of admission - refreshment prices are through the roof.  My friend Patty no longer hits the concession stand, refusing to pay $10 for a small popcorn and beverage.  Pricing in outrageous, especially when you consider the actual cost of the popcorn was... oh, say 20 cents... maybe it's the bag that makes it sooooo expensive.
But then everything is going to get more expensive, thanks to that great Tax Overhaul.  We're all going to have a lot more disposable income... right?  Everybody and their brother has plans to tap into that new wealth, how little it may be.  If you don't believe that every retailer in this great USA wasn't busy calculating how much this tax break would allow them to raise there costs... well, then you're probably a Republican.  That's one of the reasons the stock market is going through the roof.  Every one is anticipating how much more money they can get you to spend.  Once prices go up, they are not going to go back down.  This is American Capitalism.
I, myself, am thinking of getting a new laptop.  The Samsung I have is at least 5 years old.  The key's pop off and the left CTRL key is missing.  I'm trying to convince myself it would make a nice, downstairs computer.  True, the disposable income this stinko tax bill is going to give me will not pay for a new laptop.  So, the question is:  should I buy it now or wait until everything goes up in price?

My Nuts

Yesterday was a busy day.  I made my burritos - in fact I made way too much.  Sometime this afternoon I'll throw all of the leftovers into a big pot and make burrito chili.
And I put out my Christmas Nuts.

Nuts are a regular part of my diet, in fact, I eat them daily since each and every nut is filled with protein.  Yummy!
And yesterday was also the day I finally got fed up with my Kinetic Trainer - you know you really hate it when you spend a lot of money on something and it turns out to be a piece of shit.  The reviews, for the most part, were very good and so I ignored the few complaints...  bad decision.  The problems started shortly after I opened the box.  There were calibration issues, getting the sensor module to size my wheel at a speed of 21 mph (never happened), also the sensor module itself needed to be replaced because the Bluetooth wouldn't connect with the app.  Yesterday the app started crashing about 4 seconds after I started it on both my phone and tablet which means there's something wrong with the app (buggy as hell, if you ask me).  I shot off an email to Kinetic... a couple of hours later I received a general notification, not from a Kinetic, but from another customer who was complaining that the app had stopped working for him as well.  This is bad thing.  The app works this AM, however it's too late, I've already ordered a CycleOps Magnus.  I've used CycleOps for years so I'm going back to them. 
And for those who live somewhere other than Pennsylvania, one of three court cases begins today challenging those evil Republicans and their gerrymandering.  They and their minority party did the same thing in Wisconsin and got a big smack back.  Hopefully it's going to happen again in this state.  You would think they would realize the easiest way to stay in power is to get the majority of the voters on their side.  If they want to keep catering to minority hate groups they deserve to be stomped into the ground.
Anyway, what do you think of my nut bowl?  Made from a tree!  Personally, I think it's a little too small... my nuts just seem to overflow, which is not a good thing, and every time I turn around it seems to be empty.  Damn.