The Private Sector

 Yesterday turned out to be very nice. The weather was quite summer-like with the temps sitting in the mid 80s (F).  Much was done.  And then last evening lightening and thunder roared into the area bringing with them torrential downpours.  We got possible and inch of rain.  We need the rain.  While it would be nice if we didn't get it all in a single hour, every drop helps.

Yardwork was done yesterday.  My raised container garden is complete... almost.  I have a few tomato plants still wanting a container.  Not counting them, I have 13 tomato plants.  If they all produce, I'll have sauce for the  winter season.  If I have too many tomatoes, I can always give them away.  Pepper, cucumber, and zucchini plants are also growing nicely. There's also dill, spearmint, and Greek oregano. This just might be a tasty summer.  

My exercise equipment has been idle for almost 3 weeks.  I've got to fix that.

And I do work today.  I'm not really excited.  I have a large carpet installation that would please everybody, but it's a big job and I really don't want to sit down with the customers for an hour or so going over the details.  There is the possibility they may have stopped in at the store and purchased it yesterday.  That would please me.

Here's an updated picture of the oregano I'm growing on my window sill.

And here's a bit of interesting news:  While the Fed said that employment stayed about the same, with over 177,000 jobs being created, the ADP report said that only 62,000 jobs had been created.  So, does this mean that the figures on the Federal Jobs report were fudged?  The two reports don't always correlate, however the variance is usually about 15% when they don't jive with each other.  When the difference between the two is 115,000, well, that's more than 15%, a lot more.  Of course, there have been times when the variance between the two has been hire, but I can't find a single report in which there was a 55% difference.  More importantly, the ADP report indicates that the private sector, the healthcare industry, retail, and service related industries are not hiring.  This is not good news, since a vast majority of Americans work in the private sector.  The recession might already be here.

We Are Not Sheep

 Well, it looks like we have an overcast, dizzily at times Saturday in store for us here in Central PA.  Nice, huh?  

Today's going to meatless for me.  Veggies sauteed in olive oil are on the menu.  By veggies, I mean cabbage, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms... though the last is really a fungus.  So, I suppose, if I wanted to be precise, I should say it will be a veggie / fungi day.

I used the 'saw on a stick' yesterday.  It worked well.  I didn't get hit by any falling branches!  The 3 I cut down were cut up and put in large paper bags to be picked up as lawn waste.  The only problem with that is residents can only put our 4 bags at a time and pick up is only once a month.  I'm definitely going to have more than 4 bags when I'm finished.

There are going to be many Pro-Choice demonstrations today across the country.  There is no doubt in my mind that turnout will be huge.  Not that it will change the Supreme Court ruling.  The fanatics running that show have already made up their minds.  the numbers today are not for them, rather they're meant to demonstrate to all the Republican legislators across the country that they are entering a no-win scenario.  The GOP still believes the economy will be the overriding factor in this November's midterms.  Of course, you have to remember, they are the party of greed.  Don't doubt for a second that their own polling proves their point, however, we all know how invalid polls can be, and Republicans have become very proficient at lying to pollsters. 

Still, keep in mind that even when the turnout today is massive, those numbers will be ignored.  The GOP desperately wants a socially conservative, authoritarian government.  They will have no problem trying to shove their agenda down the throats of the majority.  They are going to learn we are not the sheep they believe us to be

Good News for Centrists

 Slept in again on my day off.  Of course, I stayed up watching Star Trek, Discovery.  I think of it as a little treat.  While I like the Star Wars movies, I've always preferred Trekking through my science fiction.  One series grounds itself in science, the other in fantasy.  One is geared towards adults, the other towards a toy buying younger generation.

Yesterday was very busy up until around 3 PM, then things began slowing down.  That's fine with me.  One of my customers shelled out $4000 for new carpet.  She told me, her and husband have used every stimulus check for home improvements.  "It's what we're supposed to doing," she said.  I banked most of mine, but you better believe it's going to be spent eventually.

I also picked up some veggies yesterday, including an eggplant.  The selection was really rather lame.  I ended up with 2 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants (1 hot and 1 sweet) and an eggplant.  There were a hell of a lot of lettuce plants... not my thing.  I'm not a salad kind of guy.  I like them occasionally, but having one every meal is... well, a bit too green for me.

Anne Marie wanted to see my loaf.  Can I have a drum roll, please?

It has a good taste, but I'll be honest, I prefer baguettes rather then loaves, so this will probably the last time I use the maker for baking French bread.  I have the option for using the machine only for mixing, kneading, and letting the bed rise.   At that point, you can shape it into a loaf and bake it in your oven.

And I did get a chortle when I saw that Republicans are looking forward to the 2022 elections.  They see  themselves has winning back both the House and the Senate because of Immigration and the soaring deficit.  They are so delusional.  Almost 49% of the voters in this country are registered Democrat.  Because of January 6, many Republicans will sit out the next election because they're disgusted with the direction of the party.  These are facts they totally ignore.  Their fatal flaw is only believing what they want to believe.  Only a few will learn when they're proven wrong, which is good news for Centrists.

The Egg Salad Sandwich

Hello, Friday, not that I'm excited.  Monday there will be a little excitement in my words; I'm off.

When I checked my sales yesterday, I was already past my goal.  One of my customers is putting hardwood throughout their upstairs.  Smart move.  I always tell people, if you have hardwood, hold onto it.  Think of it as an asset.  And contrary to what some may think, older hardwood is more valuable then younger hardwood, as long as it ages well.

We have veggie plants at the store.  I didn't get a chance to peruse them yesterday.  Since I'm off Monday I'll give them a gander Sunday before I leave for the day.

And some might consider this blasphemy, but I've bought myself a bread maker.  A Cuisinart.  There are those who find therapeutic value in kneading.  And I find nothing wrong with kneading.  I just think I'd like to knead a little less.

I am aiming to get a little  run / jog in this morning.  What will I watch?  Dunno.  Definitely something less crash inducing.

As I was eating an egg salad sandwich for breakfast (your stomach doesn't know what time it is), I realized that the next book, The Body in Repose, will be more atmospheric.  You might want to think of it as Eli and Max meet Kolchak.  I was going to show a clip of that TV series but realized it might imply supernatural shenanigans.  There aren't any.  So instead I thought I add this clip.  As people are getting vaccinated, things are beginning to open up.  This if from the Broadway version of "Frozen," performed in Sydney on March 29.  Sometimes we could all use a little Disney.

As for politics, I find it quite amusing to watch Republicans shit their pants, and they're doing that quite frequently, almost daily.  They're beginning to realize the real problem with have Loser #45 as president, every day Biden is feeding him and his lackeys cesspool salad.  As a result, they're growing more and more extreme.  Looks like someone has finally let the Cracker Jack Crazies out of the box.

 

Charting the Way

 Well, a good Saturday morning to you all.  This is my version of Friday.  I have four (4) days off beginning around 7(PM) this evening.  To celebrate, I've already begun separating my laundry.  

I didn't receive a response from the VA yesterday, so I'll call them again this morning.  While the process is frustrating at times, I must admit applying pressure to force them into activity is not unsatisfying.  Perhaps this is a result of my years in customer service, knowing which pins and needles work for customers to get what they want provides me with an advantage.  Truly, I do believe we should all enjoy injecting responsibility into those who fail to understand their irresponsible actions can have an effect on many, many people.  I will jab them a little more in an hour or so with another voice mail; they're closed on weekends.

We've begun selling a new hardwood product:  Malibu Wide Planks.  It's very grainy with a matte finish.  I wouldn't put it in my house because I have dogs.  The graininess, you know?  There are so many little pores waiting to trap dirt.  Kids have the same problem, except kids don't run through shit... well, sometimes they do.

As I leave work this evening, I'll see if they've gotten any of the veggie plants in I'm looking for.  Scores of lawn tractors and gas grills are waiting to be sold, a beefsteak tomato plant?  Nope.  No pepper plants, either.  And I thought this year I might do eggplant as well.  Of course, there is the possibility I may a bit over anxious to put things in the ground.  Perhaps I should demonstrate a little restraint and follow this chart.

And of course, to the slight consternation of Social Conservatives, Biden announced the formation of a committee to study the effects of expanding the Supreme Court yesterday.  Consternation... I like that word.  I do wonder if this is a serious endeavor on the part of the administration, or just a way to apply pressure on those conservative justices the Republicans tried to shove down America's throat.  I do like the idea of term limits.  That would be a way of eliminating the choke put on the country by a minority group, of course, it would take time.  I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to adding three more seats to the bench.  Given the opportunity, the Cracker Jack Crazies will ruin this country.  Look at the damage they die with Loser #45.

Chipping Away

 Well, I'm getting a little frustrated with my personal care provider at the VA.  She's new.  I've never met her.  That may never happen.  I've been trying to make an appointment to get my shoulder checked out and all I get is her assistant's voice mail.  Her assistant returns my calls but... I'm working.  Her message is the same:  provide explicit details so a decision will be made whether I need to have X-rays taken before I can set up an appointment for a consultation.  Rather then make an appointment to actually talk to someone, it seems to me as though they want to diagnose me through voice mail.  My new doctor may be one of those doctors who never actually sees a patient.  I do believe a complaint might be in order.

I had purchased a Surface tablet a few years back... Microsoft.   I was not impressed.  I like their apps, their internet?  Bing, or what ever it's called is never used in my house.  Clunky.  That being said, I used it for research on my first book.  Right now it's downstairs updating, since I'm thinking of using for a similar purpose on the next.  I paid for it.  I might as well put it to good use.  We'll see.

And it's raining outside.  I did check at the store on veggie plants... we have a meager supply.  They are not shipping in on a timely manner.  Last year, during the pandemic, all we got were tomato plants and herbs.   Lots of herbs and cherry tomato plants.  Not much of anything else.  I'm suspecting this year might be a replay of last year.  Perhaps their trying to grow computer chips rather veggies in those greenhouses.

I haven't been paying attention to the Mattie Gaetz story recently, but I vaguely recall hearing yesterday that Loser #45 said something in his defense.  If that's true... well, can you hear me laughing?  Oh, and his associate is going to strike a plea bargain.  Just think, if Mattie goes to jail, he might have to shave his head.  Can't wait for those pictures.