Thursday, November 30, 2017

Mercy of the Fallen

What I would have given to have lunch with Ann Curry yesterday!

I'd even have bought said lunch.  I mean, I'd probably have to, seeing that I have a job and well, you know, Ann doesn't.

Now neither does her former co-host.

I shant be buying his BLT and fries.

Not that I've talked to many people about Matt Lauer's seemingly swift fall, but not one of them was surprised in the slightest, present company included.  Besides being a fair-at-best interviewer (totally totally totally let pre-BLOTUS skate), he just seemed skeevy.

I mean, didn't his actions get some Today show news person relocated to the west coast after it was rumoured he fathered her kid....or kids?

NBC's self-coverage was quite pathetic. Savannah Guthrie (is there anyone in TV "news" more milquetoast than that chick?) was lamenting about her friend...........oh, and her colleague who had the courage to stand-up.  Oh yes, the victim came in second, at best. Make no mistake.

Guthrie tried to pull off, almost word for word, what Sarah Silverman said two weeks ago about Louis CK. Tried, as in: attempted.  Attempted, as in: failed.

But she was not the only one who failed in the broadcast. The NBC reporter and Lester Holt walked a high wire saying it was the first allegation against Lauer. But the televised report mentioned several complaints years past with which were said to fallen.

I believe that they believe an incident report to NBC News and ones NBC human resources are two different horses of two different colours, so Lester can say with a straight face: "the single occurrence".

Matt. Louis. Harvey. Charlie. Roy. Bill. Roger.

What is it with men who feel the need to expose themselves to women - in some semi-planned event............in the office?  Of course, it's the transgendered folk we have to look out for in bathrooms. To be fair - these guy just did it at the office.

All work and no play make Matt/Louis/Harvey/Charlie/Roy/Bill/Roger dull boys. It also makes them unemployed boys.

I'm thinking the soon to be ex-Mrs Lauer is breathing a sigh of relief. She probably put up with all that philandering because of the annual $20 mill. coming into the joint account. Since that gravy train won't be pulling into the station anymore, she may as well get her 50% and get out.

Of course, I love Matt interviewing Bill O and discussing how O'Reilly, even being the #1 guy a FOX would have to be let go because the allegations were true.  Rose did the same thing about everyone else's stories.  Did they really think: "oh, they don't mean me!"?

I just have to believe that Al Roker is just sweating bullets at this point. That kind of behaviour in that kind of work environment doesn't go unnoticed.....and Savannah knows it.  I bet Ann knew it too - which is why Lauer had her canned.  I bet Katie will do some talking.

My hopeful silver lining of all this exposure, such as it is, will have a trickle-up theory. Maybe, just maybe, assholes like BLOTUS will get their comeuppance for their past, current and future behaviour.

So as the blog image suggests - 'bye Matt. ....and good riddance.



Song by: Dar Williams

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Miss Atomic Bomb

I'm telling you - I don't even know where to start.  It seems like I haven't really discussed politics, mostly because I just cannot stand to even delve into anything.

But let's start with bombs - shall we?  We could say it's just about North Korea's news that they have a capability to bomb anywhere in the world.

Except it's not North Korea's news. It's BLOTUS' Defense Secretary's news. Which seemingly comes right as a time for distraction while Net Neutrality goes bye-bye. While a non-existent tax cut (unless you're über wealthy) passes the Senate Budget Committee, making way for a full Congressional vote with little to no debate or public discussion.

But the other distraction is to get Roy Moore in place in DC and a potential bomb strike has taken all the eyes off the fake story that Moore's supporters tried to get past the Washington Post.

Don't even start me on Melanoma's White House xmas decorations. They're actually fine for a corporate party center.

Everyone's all past the disparaging tweets regarding some American basketball players in Korea. But this is now considered 'normal' (read: appropriate) behaviour by the general public. And while that might be overstating it, at most it's a shrug of the shoulder and a "what can you do?".

What, indeed.

And another bone I have to pick with the Native American / BLOTUS meeting wasn't even the "Pocahontas" comment. It's that any fucking Native American would even come to visit with this douche.

Have some self respect dudes. This is not a man to logically reason with, so you're not going there to talk about pipelines or land rights. Do that in the press outside the White House after you refuse the invite - and let them know why you're declining the invite.  Sure, BLOTUS will lay a big turd on you telling anyone who'll listen how ungrateful you are, but that just comes with the territory.

So all the headlines last evening lead with North Korea. 

I call it: Distraction.


Don't let that happen.  Have you called the FCC yet?  Your representative or senator?

Get cracking.



Song by: the Killers

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Inside These Arms

Richard Kimball was guilty as fuck.

I am here to tell you that a one-armed man can't do jack shit.

There are days I can barely turn a door knob without excruciating pain, let alone load a gun or wield a knife - or however the alleged perp murdered Kimball's wife.

It was totally David Jansen.....or Harrison Ford who did it. Possibly Ashley Judd.

I should have known, going into the system that is Worker's Comp, I'd have to hope, then fight, for any kind of support. They're just not going to readily help you.

So two and one half weeks after my "fall", disability management finally, FINALLY, approved my need for occupational therapy.

If I were truly going to be "work" the system, I would have lobbied for physical therapy, as I'm already there for my shoulder. I could have tried to get BWC to pay for my shoulder as well. But I'm an upstanding guy, no matter what others say.

Truth be told, my shoulder is screaming with pain. I can't attribute the increase to the fall, but I can't not attribute it either.

So on my day off last Friday, I went into work to go to my OT appointment. You can't really tell, but I have a new brace. It's softer, but supports the thumb and its tendons more than the last - as that seems to be the point of my injury. So I have a lot of thumb exercises to do it seems.

While the hand is inconvenient at best, it's my shoulder that just screams pain. My range of motion has been greatly altered.

My first set of PT exercises only somewhat helped. And with one portion, on that pain scale they give you, I was hitting 9 consistently, if not the occasional 10. I'd say I was in tears, but I'm not the crying kind.

Yesterday therapy session went better. We are scaling back on some things that almost made me cry and I have a host of new items to try out.

And the PT lady - yes, a girl - really manipulated my shoulder for good 15 minutes. I can't call it a massage, but man it did wonders. So did the 15 minutes of wearing an ice vest, which you see in the blog image. It hit the front and back of my shoulder. I must have one of these machines in my house.

So I'm hopeful (also not like me....no matter what other say). Over the weekend I told 710 that I can't see how surgery is avoidable the way I was feeling. But after yesterday's therapy, I feel like maybe I have opportunity for improvement.

For the next few weeks, this is my life. OT and PT......sometimes back to back appointments. Or alternating days.

It's not ideal, but it is better than surgery, though I might be just as happy with cortisone shots. 



Song by: Marti Jones

Monday, November 27, 2017

My Music Monday

I'd say I'd shuffled through the liberry for this, but in fact it came on satellite radio yesterday and it stuck with me every since.

"Gimme Shelter" is far and away my favourite Rolling Stones song ever.

I was just a lad of 6 when it was released in 1969 (that's right - grab your abacuses and start figuring it out), so I wasn't really attuned to it back then, but by the late '70s I was.

I love the mix of Rock and R&B.  Clearly there is a late '60s, anti-war vibe with this. The irony of the song of course is that it would become the title for the film chronicling the Stones' concert at Altamont where there was any number of violent acts and the band's "security", the Hells Angels, would end up killing one person at said concert - and there would be additional accidental deaths. 

Altamont thus ended the "summer of love".

Still, it's a great song.


...and if you haven't seen 20 Feet from Stardom, check it out on Netflix. While it has a number of stories regarding (mostly) backing vocalists, they have great tales to tell. There is a segment on Merry Clayton and her one evening with the Rolling Stones and "Gimme Shelter".  I embedded it below.




Sunday, November 26, 2017

3 Things

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri came out right before Thanksgiving. The plan was to see it Wednesday night, but Tom's funeral kind of got in the way.

Then we were going Friday night, but 710 was exhausted after doing leaves (I can't because my lame hand). So Saturday night it was.

I mean, why wouldn't we see it. Sure I knew nothing about the movie. The trailer I saw gave away nothing as far as I could tell, but it had Frances McDormand in it. Frances McDormand can do almost no wrong.

Unlike Lady Bird - or any movie we've seen this year - the theater was packed.  Mind you, 710 said he saw no one under 40 there, but I did see one (one!) upon our exit.

I know I still have a few films to get through for 2017, but I feel fairly safe in saying that Three Billboards will stand at the top of the list.

McDormand was outstanding, which doesn't really surprise. Still, she gave an amazing performance that is totally Oscar worth (.....are you reading this Mike?).

I have to say, between Game Change and this movie, Woody Harrelson might redeem himself in my eyes. I've never thought much of his work, but he's kicked it up a notch or two in the last few years. He had a good performance too.

Sam Rockwell probably has the most range with his role. And Lucas Hedges (yes, whom we saw last week too) is decent and making all the right choices with the roles which he takes. Peter Dinklage does a nice job too.

I won't give specifics about the movie - and there are no spoilers here. I wouldn't call it an "up" movies, but it has enough lighter moments to not make it a downer.

I would suggest you make Three Billboards one of your movie choices for 2017.



2017 Movie Count / Goal:  08 of 24



Song by: Jason Mraz

Saturday, November 25, 2017

My Heaven

It was a busy picture week it seems.

Quantity does not always mean quality, but I'm hopeful some hit their marks.

Shep at pick-up from doggie day care. I'd like him to go there a few times per week. 
Right now it's just a few times per month. 

Shep watching me leave. 
As much as he likes to go there, he doesn't like to see me leave. 

Sophie marking my Calvin & Hobbes collection. 

On the chillier days, Shep is like a cat. He loves finding a place in the sun. 

He also likes exposing himself. We think he likes to stretch that long spine of his. 

Sophie never looks happy, but she is a very happy cat. 

My fave of the week. 

Daily, the golden, loves loves loves greeting me. There is not enough love in the world to sate her need for attention and pets. I'm happy to do my part.  

Grady, the Jack Russell,  is just a love. 


This might be my idea of heaven. 

I'm trying to commit all the dog's names to memory. I'd say I'm about 1/3 of the way there. Of course, it's a rotating crew of dogs, so who know how I'm doing. As I was told the last time I was there:  "we're hiring".   It is SO tempting. 



Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Friday, November 24, 2017

Time Passages

He was three days shy of turning 97, my Uncle Tom was.

According to my cousin Tim, Tom's written instructions went like this, "If I die....."

That would be Tom.

Between my mother and her two brothers, they tallied up to 285+ years of life. I'm rounding up a little as my mother will turn 89 in a month and I tacked on that 3 days for Tom. Clete, on the right, turned 99 in June. His wife is 98.

Yes. I have a long long way to go.

Still, not quite unexpectedly, Tom passed away earlier on Monday, services were Wednesday. As funerals go, it went well. As you'd expect, not many friends were left, as he was 97-ish. It was well attended by family. I certainly got to see some second cousins I don't see a lot (my first cousins are now all in their 70s. Their kids are more my age.)

As I escorted my mother out, I noticed a number of elders there. The folks from the assisted living facility made their way down to where the service was held. I don't know if they knew Tom, or if they just go to all of these things when they happen.

For the third time in my life, I was a pall bearer. It was not nearly as jarring of an experience as the first two times. With my lame hand, I had to carry on one side to put the casket in the hearse, but on the opposite side taking him out at the crypt.

Three Navy men were waiting at the cemetery. They did a nice job with Taps and the folding and presenting of the flag to my mother.

Tom's wife died about two decades ago and they had no children. Technically, Clete was closer in age, but he hasn't been notified about his brother's death. There are a lot of logical and practical reasons to this. I do have to say, I think I visibly cringed when the soldier presented the flag "from the United States Navy and from the President of the United States".

I know Tom would have cringed.

Afterwards there was lunch on Tom. He wanted nothing formal in terms of service or remembrance. Tim, did speak at lunch and told stories the younger folks might not have heard. I, however, had heard all these tales many a-time. Some WWII stories. Some of this experiences at the steel mills. How he dropped out of school at 16 and became self-made. I couldn't thank Tim enough for all he did for his uncle in terms of his estate and elder care arrangements.

While not father and son, Tim and Tom had the same initials. One of my earliest memories of Tom was seeing his ring of his initials in diamonds. Not something you see outside of Mr. T or the Sopranos. I laughed at lunch when Tim pulled it out and put it on.  I was hoping he would get it. Tim assured me it was the one and only time he would wear it.  Bling is not his style. I kind of hope he changes his mind.

I know my mother has a sad / glad thing going on. She and Tom were very close. It's been a tough year for her watching his not so slow deterioration. 710 and I saw Tom last in September. We went out to his facility and had lunch with him and spent a few hours with him. It was difficult for him to speak - and the man was a talker! He tried his best and we tried our best to listen and interpret.

To say Tom was a character would be an understatement. He was the most self-assured man I've ever met, but without being obnoxious about it. He was quick. He was funny. He was kind to all - even when he didn't like them.

He will definitely be missed.

Here's a picture of the three siblings taken 27 years ago.




Song by: Al Stewart

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thanks to You

Oooooh.  It's the annual Thanksgiving post.

We spent most of yesterday with extended family - though more on that in another post - so we get a two-fer this week.....or family for two days in a row.

I'm never a fan of the forced 'thank-yous' that sometimes go around the table. I'm sure I'm thankful for things, but it all seems so insincere when you're put on the spot. It's like the worst work-retreat ice-breaker ever.

The 2017 news has been nothing but one downer after another, so it's hard to think there has been much to be thankful for, though right now Bill Cosby has got to feel all the heat taken off him, so he's feelin' good.

Still - I've got great friends, a good job, a good home and a loving husband........and a Sophie and a Shep, so life is pretty good.  .....and you guys seem to tolerate me, so that ain't nothing.

But I hope you all enjoy the day and the weekend.


Song by: Emmylou Harris

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Denial

I couldn't decide whether or not to write about Charles Manson's death. For long time readers, the Tate-LaBianca murders fascinated me. As fucked-up as it all was, Helter Skelter is an extremely well written investigative book.  I think I mentioned a teacher took it away from me while I was reading it........in 7th grade.

They were probably right to do so.  My take on it was, "hey! I was at least reading!"

Manson, in his own way, was one-note. Let's face it the man was nuts.

....and speaking of insane men........BLOTUS.

At least Manson wasn't so hypocritical and he stuck to his convictions, no matter how messed up they were. BLOTUS?  He's a pussy.  And a hypocritical one at that.

The man denigrates Al Franken yet supported and supports Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly and yes.......now Roy Moore.

I was repulsed at this video yesterday, but couldn't look away, and not because Melanoma was striking a pose in the background.




Putin says he didn't do it, so.....all is good.    Moore claims HE didn't do it.......so please elect an alleged pedophile and sex offender to the Senate.

I mean, why not?  A pedophile and sex offender is sitting in the White House (I mean, if he's not out playing golf).

I think Manson denied any wrong-doing too. Where's his presidential endorsement?



Song by: New Order

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Cell Phone

It's here!  It's here!!!!

And three weeks early!

Of course, I was hopeful that I wouldn't have to wait until the second week of December to get the new iPhone X, but I resolved to myself that is what had to be.

That said, I started getting worried. My old fuddy duddy phone wasn't holding a charge. And not for hours, but half-hours. Well, kind of.

A fully charged phone could go to less than 10% power in 30 minutes. Yet if I plugged it into charge, it would almost automatically jump to something like 53%. So I never knew how much power I actually had.

I was also out of space because I never delete anything. Mainly because I'm too lazy, if truth be told. But there's always the 'what if'.

And there was hoop jumping to get the delivery. I'd have to be home to sign. I wasn't willing to e-sign for them to just leave it at the door. Not for this. And you can't have it delivered to a UPS store - go figure - but the UPS distribution center.

Safe to say, yesterday, I saw parts of Cleveland that I never knew existed.

Oddly, 710 got his phone the same day, though earlier, as his was delivered to his office, since it was ordered from his place of employment.

So our wild evening last night was setting up two new iPhones. We are the crazy couple.

I'm so less a tech guy than 710, and I had a way easier time of activating my phone for some reason. Photos, contacts, calendar et al came over without a hitch. I thought music would too, but I didn't. Which isn't a bad thing. I've had basically the same playlist on there for years. It's time to mix it up.

With the old 6, I was a little limited in what I could put on - technically, I could put my entire music liberry on my phone, but that isn't going to happen. Yet, physically moving songs it tedious. I think it will be a few days before I can get that going.

It's odd - my X now has 16 more gig of space than my MacBook Air.  That's crazy.

So far the changes have been ok and seem fairly intuitive, but time will tell. I haven't used the new camera yet, but you can be sure you'll be seeing images in the near future.



Song by: Roger McGuinn

Monday, November 20, 2017

My Music Monday

I'm basically playing Russian Roulette for the My Music Monday section lately.  I'll try to mix it up next month - though technically, this is pretty mixed up.

#10 in the rotation today was BT.

Technically, I think the man is a DJ - but not like Rick Dees. He remixes artists, though honestly, the only one I know he did was a Sarah McLachlan song back in the late '90s.

At some point in the 21st century, he decided he was a singer too. And with a vocoder and auto-tune, clearly anyone can be a singer these days. But BT knows his way around a beat - and as a DJ, one would hope so.

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of 'dance' music. 710 is, and that is where I hear most things dance oriented. His Sirius XM stations revolve around the words 'groove', 'bpm' and / or 'studio 54'. It's not that I don't like some of it, but it's not really my musical draw.

That said, from his album, Emotional Technology, had a handful of decent songs, and "Somnambulist"is one of them.

It's a little different for me, but that's what you get when you have a few thousand songs in your iTunes liberry.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Ladybird

So, our anniversary movie choices basically came down to Murder on the Orient Express and Lady Bird.

Sure, we could have seen Geostorm, but with a 14% Rotten Tomatoes score.....and the fact that it was a disaster movie...it wasn't on my top 143 movies to see.

Due to timing, dinner and the fact I didn't want to pay to see Johnny Depp pretend he was anywhere in the same league as Judi Dench, we opted for Lady Bird.

It was an odd night. The indie theater is usually packed with lines out the doors. There were zero people in the lobby when we got there. No one in line for tickets, sno-caps or popcorn. ....and not one person in the poopery.

As it would turn out, for some inexplicable reason, Lady Bird was showing at the two largest screens in the place. They have never shown the same movie in different rooms. I figured it must be VERY good and packed.  ....I think we had two dozen people in our theater.  19:00 on a Friday.  We were perplexed. Per cinaplexed, as it were.

On paper, Greta Gerwig's directorial debut (she wrote it too, but not her debut as a screenwriter) seemingly had all the right elements. She has the indie cred (though I think I've only seen her for two non-sequential minutes  in Jackie and one Arcade Fire video, where she looks just like "Pam" from the Office). The movie stars the always great Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf.  Lucas Hedges, the teen from Manchester by the Sea also appears.

What could not work?

With a 100% (!!!) Rotten Tomatoes score and a 94 from Metacritic, I'd assume the story would be a good one, or at least an original one. The coming of age story that has all the requisite components of many John Hughes movies: wrong side of the tracks; wanting to hang with the popular kids; wanting to be boyfriends with the cool/popular boy; abandoning your one true friend.    .....and yes, prom. 

Along with that, you get the contentious relationship between mother and daughter, all that is wrapped up in three lines of dialogue between Ronan's Lady Bird and a nun.

I will say this, I did like the performances by Hedges and Lady Bird's friend, Julie (Beanie Feldstein).

While well acted (though neither are the lead's strongest performances), and the script is fairly well written, I'm not feeling this as a 94-100% anything. It was all ok but no new ground was covered, no revolutionary performances. I'm not understanding the over the top hype of the reviews I've read since.

Of course, I thought it was just me feeling this way, but 710 had the same reaction.

It will be tough to halfway meet this year's goal, but I still want to see Three Billboards, the Last Jedi and Phantom Thread. Currently, that still leaves us two short.  ....and only six weeks to go.



2017 Movie Count / Goal:  07 of 24


Song by: Tears for Fears

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Ladies' Man

No Sophie Smut today.  That's on me, not taking the time to get pictures of her. I'll make it all up to you later. Promise.

So it's a Shep day. They all are, except for most of yesterday. The house was quiet without him, but it's good for him to doggie socialize.

But let's get to is, shall we?

Shep's first trip to Horseshoe Lake.  
I used to take Petey there. 

Spare Duck. 
Yes, we got one to keep at my mom's house. 

I love it when Shep realizes I'm on the other end of the leash and he gets excited to see me. 

Still at Horseshoe Lake. 



Shep at the new doggie daycare place - with yet ANOTHER new girlfriend, Maizey. 
I suppose one of has to have the way with the ladies....it may as well be him. 




Song by: Chaka Khan

Friday, November 17, 2017

Seven Year Ache

It's hard to believe that it was seven years ago today that 710 and I got married.

Well, 7 years, plus another 25.

It was a beautiful day back in 2010. Not so much today. It's going to be colder now than it was then.

Actually, what a difference seven years makes.

I don't know that I would want to get hitched in DC currently. I could not stand equating my happiness and a great moment in my life with the scum that is currently residing within the city limits.

Anyway - we kind of  / sort of have plans for our day. We hate leaving Shep during the weekend, which explains our movie totals sinking to the bottom of the ocean this year. And I can count on one hand how many times we have been out to dinner since he came into our lives.

I'm not complaining. Not a bit. Cooking and hanging at home with him has been great for us....and him.

However, knowing we might need a reason to go out, the anniversary is a great rationale. This morning I'm taking Shep for a play date at doggie daycare, and then the owner is taking him home to stay at her house for the night. He's gonna have a great time.

We are totally going to take advantage of the sitch.

While it would be nice to plan on a movie and a nice dinner, it's tricky. First off - I have to present at a meeting today......... 16:30-17:30.   .......and on a fucking Friday. Srsly - who schedules that?

So time-wise that fucks stuff up. If I eat before the movie, I'm sleeping during the movie, because it will be a 21:30 showing.......and I'll be full.  ...and possibly drunk.  If we eat after the movie, the nicer options are probably out.

I fear we will end up doing one or the other. I'm not sure I care which. I'm not sure I care which.

I get to spend the anniversary with the man I love, and whatever and wherever that is will be fine.  Though not sitting around the house, as that is not an option.

....btw, the pearls in the title image were our "borrowed", I guess. Eileen Flowers' strand came to us via her daughter, our honour attendant, Becky.  I tried to put them on for a shot, but they became more like a choker.....or a choke-him.  I feared the string would burst and people at the Smithsonian would be scavenging Eileen's jewels.  And that I'd pull a Jack Tripper and slip on one and prat fall before the ceremony.

So seven years. Or 32.  Either way, I think we'll make it work.



Song by: Rosanne Cash

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Funny Way

You know how I said just seven days ago that I'd see in two weeks if we could make it a full 17 days before the next mass shooting?

Well.......I was off by 10 days.  .....and not in the good way. I suppose I was feeling optimistic, which is so unlike me.

Of course, I'm loving that BLOTUS tweeted about the wrong mass shooting. Granted, they are so frequent, who could possibly keep up?

Enough of that already. Apparently I can talk about mass shootings every half dozen days or so. I'll catch the next one.


So tired am I of well, everything in the news.

I've been watching the new Tracey Ullman series on HBO. It seems better than that last season....or was it just earlier this season?

I'm a fan, but you know, sometimes Ullman - like all skit comedians - run certain things into the ground. If I never see another episode with "Kay" in it, I'll be ok. She's been milking that one since 1987. Enough!

Ullman's Dame Maggie Smith bit is just so-so. I'm loving her Dame Judi Dench character, but I can see that being over done very very soon.  But take a look......she pulls it off all too well.



Tracey is doing a decent Camilla Parker Bowells.  Or what we can assume is one....I mean, I really don't know how Camilla walks or talks. And what I'm guessing is a good Angela Merkel.

But what I am truly loving is her take on Jerry Hall as the new Mrs. Rupert Murdoch. She's so frightening and frighteningly good it's downright creepy and hilarious.  ....and while on some level I knew Hall had married Murdoch, I kind of forgot about the entire thing, probably by design.

There are a series of them, but only two of them I found on YouTube, and I'm only picking one. But since it is Thanksgiving time, I'll choose that themed one.






Song by: Tim Finn

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Lies Greed Misery

You know, I don't really give a fuck about Hillary Clinton - one way or the other.

Would she have been a better leader than BLOTUS?  Obvi.  Would she have gotten anything done? No. No she would not have.

A GOP controlled House and Senate and they still can't pass anything for a GOP "President". Put a Dem in the White House  - and a girl at that, especially a Clinton - and you can just tick out your 4-8 years with nothing to show for it.

I voted for Clinton because really, what were my options? But I don't think she's much of a political saviour. The emails were a non-issue, but I have to believe she has skeleton after skeleton in her closets just like every other person who runs for office.

All that said, the DOJ considering investigating the Clinton Foundation is just plain retribution and vindictive....and the joke / sad thing is: you were the "winners".  Now, all you'd be doing it for is spite.

Welllllllllll.......that and - deflection and distraction.

Russia. Wikileaks. Jr. lying about Wikileaks. Sessions lying about Russia. (fill in the blank here......here.......and here for any other moment from which they are trying to move you away.)

I mean, if you're really looking into potentially corrupt foundations, Jeffy, you might want to start with your boss.  That thing - time and time again - has proven to be nothing more than a money laundering business. A the very least I'd say it's nothing but a tax shelter, except for the fact that your boss doesn't actually pay taxes.

Sessions though, it just a turd. What was it: 29 times he "didn't recall" something during testimony? Best case scenario you're memory is going as you slip into dementia.  Worst case - you're lying through your teeth, which is ironic for the head of the Dept of Justice.  ....and let's face it, does any of us think when they say "I don't recall", not not think they're lying?   It's my go-to.

But on the off-chance that Beverly Leslie isn't lying, do you really want an Attorney General who doesn't remember a thing?

No. No, you do not.


We are being governed by a bunch of low-rate mean girls......and stupid ones at that.




Song by: Linkin Park

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Conjunction Junction

It's doubtful I will get to see it - Venus and Jupiter seemingly being right next to each other this morning, though hundreds of million miles apart. It's called a conjunction.

And I won't get a gander mainly for two good reasons.

1. They will be visible this morning about 45 minutes before dawn.  Shep and I take our walk well before then. Hell, I'll be in the office about that time (though I do have a window).

2. It's been so super cloudy here over the last week, it's doubtful we can see the moon let alone the stars.

If you have the chance, look east-southeast less than an hour before dawn. I'll be looking, just not hopeful.


Song by: Grammar Rocks


Monday, November 13, 2017

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 92nd 12 of 12.

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Now it's just Erik and myself - that I know of.....as it's the only blog post he's still doing......for now.  

I still continue to do this, because of all my consistent post topics, I actually like this one the most.

06:10.  Shep got up late, but 710 took him out for his a.m. walk.  
I stayed in bed but never truly got back to sleep. 

06:40.  Healthy Feet goo. 
Trying to keep my heels from being less cracked. It's kind of / sort of working.  Hand is till in pain. 

06:50.  First set of PT exercises for the day. 
I've had to put these off due to they busted hand, but I'm trying. 

7:05.  B'fast. 
710 had the bowl, spoon and cereal box out, awaiting my arrival. 

10:25.  Cold day.  Hot Chocolate. 

11:30.  New Shoes time. 
I truly believe my other shoes were a contributing factor to my fall. Hopefully, the new ones 
will not be. 

12:05.  Blood Bath & Beyond. 
Needed bar soap for the shower. 

14:10.  Winterizing.  Down come the storm windows. 
Well, kind of. I could only do a few. Old as they are, they are unforgiving with a useless wrist. 

14:30.  Cleaning the insides of the sconces. Icky. 

15:00.  710 doing the leaves. 
I knew raking was out for me, but it turns out, so is the blower. More wrist pain than anticipated. 

18:25.  Nana & Shep. 
He loves her....and I think she adores him too. 

20:07  Essentials
While Shep and I wait in the car, 710 grabs milk, butter and pistachios (for me for work).



.....and that was just 12 things that went on in the life of Blobby yesterday.  Can you stand it?

Sunday, November 12, 2017

More More More

So Roy, how'd ya like it? how'd ya like it?  (see what I did there?)

Yes, folks, if you think BLOTUS is the lowest and scariest you can go into U.S. politics, you are incorrect.  You just have to look to the Alabama "judge"* to know how things could be much more more more worse.

I'm not quire sure how he got to be a judge, as he clearly is out of touch with the law. Well, the laws that aren't from biblical times.  ....and even those he's interpreting incorrectly for his own gain.

He could learn a thing from that 'thou shall not covet....'

So, Roy Boy had a thing for teens as an adult. How is this just now being found out? He's been an asshole for years.

Politicians are not like Hollywood. Sure it took tinseltown a long long time to get on board that rape is bad, and sexual harassment isn't a good thing, but they're getting it.  Washington DC?  Not so much.

I loved this tweet:


Of course, Mitchy McC is all like - 'he should drop out of the race.....IF he's guilty".  Once again Mitch: suck. my.  dick.

Anthony Weiner sends his first dick pic - more or less - and is out of his political job. He didn't even get with the girls. The GOP is all - oh man, let's just wait and see - and then goes right to victim shaming.

Of course this is the same party that embraced Dennis Hastert, Larry Craig, Newt Gingrich, Mark Foley.......should I keep going?  Once again, they're the party of hypocrisy.

I will give them this - publicly they say they're cutting off the funding for Moore. I'm cynical enough to believe this not to be true, they're just be covert about the entire thing. 

Of course, I'd love to see the d-bag go down in flames, but all bets are off. Yes, the Dems had a good week with the 2017 elections, but this isn't just the south - it's Alabama.  Fucking your sister and cousin are standard operating procedure. How much worse can trying to date a 14 year old be?

Still, some in the GOP are truly distancing themselves from Moore. They're pulling back endorsements. Maybe they're seeing him as Harvey Spacey....and don't want to be the collateral damage.

I'm hoping this does not end well for Moore. Because if he's elected, it could all end badly for us.



*judgeship revoked September 30, 2016



Song by: the Andrea True Connection

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Let's Go Slow

It's been an unrelenting week at work. The time change is not helping matters - not that I'm one of those who can't adjust, but it's true: dogs do not believe in daylight saving time.

Still, walks on either side of work are done in cloak of darkness, which can make picture taking challenging. And last week was all about the rain, so not even weekend outing images.

But I must persevere in the name of my readers.  You're welcome.  I think.

Stare down to dinner. 
At least he's cute about it. 

Trying a bowl to slow down his scarfing of fud. 
It's working and he seems to enjoy the challenge. Probably takes him 10x longer. 

Just hangin' with his pops #2.  (that's me)

Soph is a trooper for taking a tail in the face a few times per week. 


The guy is a jumper. 

When we first got him and he was on this wall, I'd pick him up and gently place him on the grounds so he wouldn't get hurt. He's all about the jumping up....and down. 




Song by: Jules Shear & Rob Shear

Friday, November 10, 2017

Domino

Some woman on Facebook commented - incorrectly, in my opinion - that why is it that someone took immediate action regarding allegations about Kevin Spacey while it took decades for anyone to believe women about Bill Cosby or Harvey Weinstein.

She seemed to imply - well, state, more than imply - that no one believes women, but men's stories are to be trusted.

Mind you, this was in some feed where I got a notification that a friend had commented in the thread. However they have their settings would have allowed me to comment should I chosen to, but I figured no good could come of it. Minds were made up......and to go back to the days of early message boards on the internet, why start a 'flame war'.

I think quite the opposite of Spacey. Yes, Netflix - and now some movie he was in (past tense) - took immediate action. But not because he was a man, or that it was a man who accused him. It is because of these women, their stories, their fight - and the tipping of that first true domino with Weinstein, that the gates are now open.

I said as much last week.

Who runs the world? Girls! They run this mother.

So, Amazon Picture president. Gone.  NBC reporter - shitcanned. Louis CK - you be in trouble. Ditto for you Jeffrey Tambor (sorry George Bluth....I wish it weren't true). Some chef I never heard of - 86'd.  And a few others since Harvey's downfall.

That is major progress, though Cosby is still on the loose.

Cosby aside, I don't know who was actually tattling on Weinstein. For years, McGowan and Olivia Munn told stories of inappropriate behaviour but mentioned no names. I don't know if it was shame, denial or more protective of their would-be careers over their self-esteem or knowing it was and would be happening to others, though they basically remained silent.

It's not victim-shaming. Still, if one is unwilling to name names, especially if it didn't happen to you (I'm looking at you Paltrow, Affleck and Jolie!), then you're complicit at the very least.

Justice was swift for Harvey and Spacey, though it's public opinion, but anything court-related.

I'm not sure there is a comeback in Kev's future. No more House of Cards. Allegedly the 6th season is or was shooting. I'm guessing not anymore - at least with him. A completed movie ready for release in a month (!) is being reshot with no Spacey - and replacing him with Christopher Plummer - 30 years his senior.  Ouch!

I'm guessing that would-be gig at Bonnie Franklin Dinner Theater might now just be for sound-guy or usher.

So no, I don't think it was a male / female thing with the expediency of Spacey's downfall compared to others. Actually, Netflix and that movie company did it for any number of reasons:  limiting their liability was #1.  Saving coin was #2 (but tied in to #1).  And I'm cynical enough to figure they did it for the publicity of being right, and letting everyone know it......and hey, if it helps sell more goods and services, so be it (see #2).

.....and let's face it, while male-female casting couches are standard, 'they' probably want to shut down any dude-on-dude talk. That, is unseemly.  While normally I don't think it is, when you add Spacey to the mix.....it is!

And while you can thank the countless women who have been harassed, fondled and raped for the change in culture, who everyone might want to be thanking currently is Ronan Farrow.



Song by: Van Morrison

Thursday, November 09, 2017

Site of the Month

While I am doing November's Site of the Month,  it seems I am sticking with this week's gun violence theme.

Oh - unlike most of the mass murder events, this theme was not planned.

It's a simple SotM, one that needs little explanation, and one that is kind of sadly necessary to drive home points that the NRA-lovin' public doesn't know or want to know.

....and for those who do know it, they attempt to rationalize it away.

That's why I like statistics so much. I'm not so sure numbers lie, though the way one can spin them can tell a different story. One must be careful with this.

The website name says it all:  Days Since the Last Mass Shooting in the United States.

Clean. Concise. Accurate.

We are only in single digits, of course, since the last shooting. I made a "joke" a few posts ago that it would be 17 more days before the next one. Let's see how accurate that is in two weeks. I am guessing since we are 'Murica, we won't ever make it to triple digits between mass shootings.

It you hit the 'history' link in the SotM, you'll see each shooting: location, date, number killed. And going back to 2014, there are no triple digit time lapses.

.....and that is just sad.

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Shooting the Moon

Almost no real need for text today.  Almost.











This last one really says it though. IMHO, of course.





Song by: OK Go