& Run

Mucho coverage of BLOTUS stating another pack of lies.

“You know, I really believe — you don’t know until you test it — but I really believe I’d run in there, even if I didn’t have a weapon.”

'There' being a Florida school with an active shooter with a semi-automatic weapon.

Much fun has been made at BLOTUS' expense...and for good reason.  Many of them flawed.

Yes, there was the: ".....but he was scared by an eagle".   Then there was the, "he'd run in but has bone spurs and got five deferments". 

Yeah we get it.

How about the overlooked one, and the one I have yet to hear any one say - and look at the pic before I say it: 

BLOTUS is a fat fuck who hasn't seen a 'run' in the past six decades.  239 lbs.  15 lbs ago....maybe.

Perhaps he would have waddled walked into Parkland. But 'run'?  You may as well get a mic, a brick wall and a two drink minimum for these jokes.

...and BLOTUS, for the record, we don't have to 'test it' to know. And I DO really believe that.




Song by: Sir Sly

Career Opportunities

Ugh. This twat.

Every Tomasina, Dick and Harriet thinks they can and should run for public office.

They can't.....and shouldn't.

Hon, I totally get that your Clueless residuals are barely keeping you in your third story walk-up efficiency, and barely keeping the lights on at that. What? Ramen.....three times per week?  Four?

I mean, I haven't checked your IMDB, but I'm assuming Clueless is your only credit, right?  So those residual checks are keeping you going - it's a good thing cable TV exists, and that movie is on 3-4 times per week somewhere.  That $16.82 per week must come in handy.

Hell, when FOX doesn't even want you - you've pretty much scraped the bottom of the barrel, no?  (The question is rhetorical, sweetie.)

So what does one do when they are at the bottom of the barrel?  Government work. Guaranteed health care, pay-offs payments from your special interest groups. You might finally get that 1999 Mitsubishi you've had your eye on at J.D. Biryder.

Like her acting career, Dash (ugh, I guess I have to use her name for future reference, huh?) didn't really plan. Because if Compton and Watts residents are actually going to the polls, they're totally electing a republican.  {can you hear the sarcasm dripping from my screen?}

What a dipshit. Even Reginald Denny had a better outcome in that 'hood.  (I'll wait while you Gooooogle 'reginald denny'.)

Maybe instead of running for Congress, you could get, you know - a job. Maybe one of the ones all them bad hombres are taking from us. Stacy - maybe you should go to Soledad and pick lettuce for 10 hours per day at less than minimum wage.

If all else fails, you could probably rent a room from Tori Spelling. I hear she's down on her luck too.



Make sure you click on the image. I doctored the image  a little.  Can you find it?



Song by: the Clash

My Music Monday

Back in the mid-90s there were far far far too many bands that sounded far far far too similar.  You know the type - Big Head Tood, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, the list could go on and on and on.

I'm sure the 60s, 70s and 80s had the same problem. So it's no surprise that the trend continues.

I don't know if it's a cultural thing or a business one:  let's fast track our success by sounding like someone else who already carved a way with this sound.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  And I'm not current enough in today's music to know who the originators might be and who are the followers.  I do know with Alt Rock station on Sirius XM, I hear like-minded songs from groups like Nothing But Thieves and Joywave.

Sir Sly doesn't branch off much of those last two - and it works. I don't know anything about the rest of their music, and truth be told, while I keep this on in the car, it hasn't made enough of an impact to make me want to take a deeper dive into their oeuvre.

My Lover's Box

All Ravel.

That was the billing on the Cleveland Orchestra concert that 710 wanted to see. I was game. While I like 'Bolero' enough, I was happy it was a selection they were not playing.

He splurged and got box seats.  (this is where you oooh and ahhhh.)

I'm finding the only way to see classical music is if you have your own box seats. Who wants to sit with the riff-raff?

Not me!

710 was a fan of the Mother Goose Suite since he was a child. I am 99% sure I had never heard it.  I enjoyed the first movement of the piece. I thought the violins were extraordinary. Then it just kind of fell apart. I'm sure the playing was fine, but the piece itself was not for me.

The second act was just mocking me:  Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.

The super dedicated bachelor / pianist, Jean Yves Thibaudet, played the piece as required - only with his left hand. I can't say I enjoyed the piece itself, but it was extremely interesting to watch. Actually, I will clarify: I liked the piano part - most or the orchestra park didn't thrill me in the slightest.

The last piece.....ugh. Daphnis and Chloé .  As we were walking out someone behind us said something about it sounding like something Spielberg would use. Oddly, I thought about Spielberg when it was being played too...........but only because it's like some of his movies when you thought it was going to end - and happy it was going to happen - and then it just kept going.

Before the piece started, 710 says to me, "Little known fact: this was the soundtrack to Centurions of Rome. 

I should back up.

When I met 710 back in 1985, (well, '84....we started going out in '85), we joked about his favourite all-male adult movie being Centurions of Rome. At one point, it was the most expensive male porn production ever. But it was a period piece......breast plates and such.  While I never viewed it - I just assumed it was something super cheesy like Clash of the Titans.....but with dicks.

Anyway, I found Daphnis and Chloé to be a mess. A 50 minute piece I just couldn't get behind.  Oh oh oh......and one lady in the chorale (100 folks there), and she was so distracting with her movements - when there were supposed to be none.

I know I'm glad I went. I need more exposure to this stuff, and I've liked other Ravel works....just not these three. 

Next week, we might go back, but for Beethoven.   .....but I want box seats. I can't go back to the general population.




Song by: Garbage

If Wishes Were Horses

Man - it was a long week. But I still had an opportunity to get a few snaps of your favourite constants on this blog.

Shep's first live horsey. 

For as often as we take him to the polo fields, we have never been there with a horse. Shortly after this pic, he went nuts barking at the poor guy. 

Still at the polo fields - and his 50 foot lead. 

It makes him feel like he can run free..........until he can't. 

I'm no Nancy Drew, but if I were, this would be: 

the Case of the Invisible Kitty Kat

Lord he's long. 

He just doesn't know what to do when Sophie is in his chair - which used to be hers.

HRH. 

Song by: Lucinda Williams

Terrorise Me

BLOTUS believes that Wayne Lapierre and his cronies are - and I quote - 'great American patriots'.


Bitch, please!


I call them: accomplices.

As you saw in yesterday's post - they are terrorists. Well, I think they are.

I suppose the big news yesterday could have been the new charges brought up against Manafort and Gates.  ....and it is big news, but laundering $30,000,000?  Big whoop.

The NRA moves that kind of money around every election - we are worried about Russian infiltration when we already have someone manipulating the outcomes of our elections.

But can we go back to the 'accomplice' part??

You know, Charles Manson never stabbed or shot one person in the Tate-LaBianca crimes. Yet those were the crimes that put him away for life........until death.

Sure, Charlie provided the means, and maybe even the idea, to use those means to kill others. And still, he rotted away in prison  - oh and convicted - for seven counts of first degree murder.

Hell, he wasn't even seen as an accomplice, but as a murderer.

In theory, we have a mass murder, walking around free, conspiring with and funding the biggest politicians in the country.

His name is Wayne Lepierre.


I have way more respect for Manson.



Song by: Neil Finn

King of Intimidation

Oh Mr. Jones - I have many questions concerning your letter.

By the way - if you want to know what a domestic terrorist organization looks like - you might want to look up the page and (re)read that letter.




Song by: Alanis Morissette

Turning Tide

Colour me surprised.



NOT.


Note: I did not place BLOTUS' lie statement that he asked his Keebler Elf to "propose changes that would ban bump fire stock".

It's a "we'll look into it" to placate the people who have their panties in a wad.

Maybe it's me, but the aftermath of this school shooting seems different. These kids are not not going to be heard. ...and I fucking love it.

There are some viral videos going around of camera crews following law makers who have accepted NRA money and asking what they are doing more than sending - yes, say it with me - "thoughts and prayers".

They're not getting to real big law makers. And some accepted.......$3,500.  Oooooh.  They're not getting to the Rubios or Portmans who are in $3,000,000 (and up) range.  $3,500 isn't anything in the scheme of things.......though it means their vote is cheap.

What I don't hear these folks with the cameras asking - and not that it would ever be answered is - "is absolute support of the 2nd amendment and lax gun control worth the cost of a few dozen children's lives every few months?"

Should anyone find a backbone to even reply it's a no win answer for said person - which is why they don't touch it (not that I've ever heard the question asked in the first place).

But really - isn't that what it comes down to ?   What is acceptable amount of lives lost before there is reasonable gun control?

Right now, the number seems to be "infinite".    There seems to be no limit.


B.T. Dubs....... Loving the NY Daily News cover.........again.

Song by: Clannad

In the Mood

 I'm still bent out of shape over that last school shooting - but the good thing is, those students are NOT letting up.

But instead of a diatribe here from me.........I'm just throwing up some screen shots I've been seeing.....

Submitted almost without comment.

We just had fire and tornado drills when I was growing up. 

Students today have very very different reality. 

I'll leave it on a positive note. 

Song by: Robert Plant

My Music Monday

While they hail from nearby Akron, I can't say I know much about the Black Keys - except that they're white.  I will assume their name is more about the sharp and flat notes of the piano.

Still - they do get the praise. I don't know them enough to say if they are that hugely popular, but I can tell you when they played Cleveland last, they sold out the arena venue.....and in an extremely short amount of time.

I don't know many of their songs either, though I do know this one - as it is maybe six years old.

Their "Lonely Boy" is not a remake of the same named song by Andrew Gold. I'll wait, while you collectively groan.

It's a rock song....a little distortion, a decent chorus / verse thing going on. It's kind of fun.


As for the video - if you watch between 0:00:08 and 0:00:16 - that is how I usually dance, though mostly around the house.

You're welcome!

Caint Use My Phone

My 89 year old mother is now officially part of the 21st century. Yesterday, we got her an iPhone.

It's not quite as extravagant as it might sound. First off, we got her the 6 - and we got it at {gulp} Walmart.

I know....I know.  It wasn't my first choice, but what a crock that Verizon or Apple does. The latter was selling that phone for about $550. Verizon claims they don't sell them at all due to a lawsuit against Apple regarding slowing down of phones on purpose.

Here is where I should have called bullshit on that. A. The Verizon website says they sell them.  B. IF they are suing Apple, why are they selling either the 8 or X?

Walmart had the phone for $199 - and a monthly cell rate of $35. Verizon said going from a flip phone to smart phone package would start at $100 per month. 

Used car salesmen have much much much more integrity than cell phone shysters.

The bigger reason to get this for her is as she ages, her voice is.....challenged. She's finally going to a doctor about it, but at this point, I'm assuming it will be to keep it where it is, as opposed to improving it. Losing it anymore would be close to the point of mute.

So, she needs a device to keep her communicating. Her flip phone didn't even have texting capabilities, and even if it did - do you remember how texting worked on those?  She could never do it. I couldn't.

And she can use apps to order Uber, etc, where she won't have to talk to anyone to arrange such things. She has an iPad, so she has some of the functionality down. but we were over there doing a tutorial for her.....or with her.

I got her to get Siri to set a daily reminder to take medications at a certain time. She thought that was great.

So we got it, got it all set up for her, including importing 2-3 dozen contacts so she'd be ready to go. We can return this in the first 15 days, so if she's really not feeling it, we can take it back.

This is really for convenience. Honestly, sometimes it's just easier to understand her in text / email then sitting across from her at the table. But we have to be practical - at some point, this might be the only way she can communicate.

I will say, Siri picked up on everything she said, no matter how hard it was for me to understand (though truth be told, yesterday was a pretty good vocal day). I showed her she doesn't even have to go to 'favourites' or 'contacts' and just tell Siri to call me.  That made her face light up.

So, she'll give it a try and write down any questions she may have regarding the device. 




Song by: Erykah Badu

Poison Arrow

I missed a Valentine post because of that school shooting. Another repercussion of gun violence.

I apologize in advance - this turned out to be a Shep week, but he's not our only love. As you'll see, this year, it was all about Mr. Shep.

Shep ignoring a wanna be play bud at the park. 

Doggie Valentine's Day. 

Daycare requested owners bring treats in - and like a grade school VD celebration, each dog would go home with a sack off of goodies.  We are bad parents.....we store bought. So many brought home-made biscuits wrapped in their own bags. 

Still - I was so into it when they announced it. I figure this has to set our doggie days care apart from the others. 

Each member (canine type) got a heart-themed neckerchief.  

Shep looks so snazzy in his. 

Soscha (sp), the Samoyed (mix?) is apparently Shep's new girlfriend. 

She's a beauty. I approve of their relationship. 

Three full weeks of daycare has worn his poor boy out. 

And I can never get enough of pick up.  As I've said before, the boy is a jumper. 

Song by: ABC

Hey Good Looking

School shootings and politics. We will take a break from that today, since none of you took the bait about having Congress' families off'd in the name of gun control, with beef and beef cake.

Olympic beef cake at that.

Though I'm limiting it to two.   ....and yes, one is Chris Mazdzer.

Official gay blog rules clearly state that he must be featured at least once during the Olympic games. It seems fair. And clearly he's a favourite of women and men....at least men of a certain persuasion.

And what's not to love?  He rocks the bod - and the suit. That suit would be my nightmare (and yours, if you had to see me in it). But mine would come from the second it went on, I'd think....."oh no.....I have to poop.....and am never ever gonna get this off in time". 

Clearly he has a nice bod - but it's nothing over the top, at least in this pic.

....and he is a man who is in desperate need of a beard.

I'm not sure I'd hit that...........or even give him a second look.


John Daly - no, not the bloated, alcoholic golfer - is slightly more non-traditionally hot.  First, I'm thinking he might be 5'3", but can't be sure - at least without checking his wiki page.

You know how some people are better on / in video than in still pictures?  I find Bradley Cooper to be like that.  Daly is too. He represents much better when in moving images. Not to say he doesn't have his moments.

Do you think the people at Under Armour purposefully know they show the peens of all male athletes?  I can live with that. 

Daly says it takes a long time to get his hair the way he wants it. ...and claims to be straight.  I have my doubts. 

Now I really have my doubts. 

Still, he's got something going for him, as long as he doesn't show off too many of his teeth (he seemingly has a lot of them!), or the carved wooden cross he seems fond of wearing. 

I still find it hard to believe he'd put on a helmet and mess up those locks. 

I could wrap this up with some clumsy metaphor about them medaling in my dreams........but I won't. .....or just did I ???




Song by: Hank Williams

Nothing Ever Changes

Business as usual.

I mean, it is, right? 

Thoughts and prayers have been distributed per protocol. Nothing done in regards to either gun control (not elimination) or mental health services....per protocol.

Add 17 to the 'dead' list.

Spare me the 'had the teachers been armed...' bullshit. You have a 19 year old terrorist with an AR-15 that can unload 600-700 rounds per minute. But he's part of a well regulated militia, so we're all good.  I mean, except for those 17.

Personally, I wish these fucking politicians just came out and were honest about their feelings for their lobby-group: "A few dozen dead bodies per month is the price we pay for 'freedom'".  Clearly, they're saying it anyways........just not out loud. I might respect their honesty, but not their thoughts. Or their beings. Right now, they get zero respect.

And yes, if there must be a few dozen deaths per month due to 'senseless shootings', I fully advocate those deaths be family members (especially their children and grandchildren) of the senators and representatives who so strongly and steadfastly defend guns without, or with few(er), restrictions. The ones who take NRA money.

Make no mistake. I want the senators and representatives to be spared. I want them to have to live with that every single fucking day of their lives.

Forever.

Harsh?  Absolutely.

But their actions (or lack of) affect thousands of families per year. Let it truly touch those who influence laws and have let it happen to others.

Until then? Well.......I'll see you back here in a week or two when the counter goes back to 0 days.




Song by: Stevie Nicks

In the Palm of Your Hand

I was sooooo looking forward to yesterday.  It was the day my cast was to be removed.  Well, it was removed. I had kind of anticipated that they'd tell me, "one more week....", so I wouldn't be disappointed during my visit. As it turns out, the entire visit took place in the cast room.

The doctor came by to see how I was doing. I told him of my soreness and he nodded accordingly. He told the ortho tech to remove the cast, and the stitches and set me up with a splint, but he'd be back after the cast came off.

The reveal wasn't actually what I thought it might be. I'm not sure what I thought, but it was all anticlimactic. I found out the stitches were disposable, so told the tech not to bother taking those out. When the doc returned, he had other ideas. He wanted them out - so out they came.

As the doc looked at my surgical site, I had a chance to see where my pain was and how it was in no relative area where the screw had been placed. Before the cast came off, I just assumed it was where my pain emanated.  I was wrong. Hmmmm.  I mentioned this, and he couldn't quite tell why, though we assume it might be how I was holding my hand while in a cast and still trying to type 6-7 hours per day. 

It was the palm of my hand that freaked me out. Not just because the hand had not been washed in two weeks, but the bruising.

(now I know how Rob Porter's ex-wives feels!)

Again, no rationale as to why, as the screw did not come through to that area. Again, maybe just the palm against the cast - and it's horribly painful.

....but not enough to use my opioids. I still have 28 left.

The doc, asks how the pain meds are and if I needed anymore. Really? Another prescription? I told him I only took four and he nodded approvingly. He wasn't laughing that much when I asked him if he knew where I could sell the rest.

So, I went from cast to splint.  The splint was warm and pliable going on......until it wasn't. It hardened and is actually way more restrictive in movement than the cast. I have no access or movement to my thumb.....on purpose.  Buttoning and zipping my pants was incredibly cumbersome.  Pooping for the next 8-12 weeks is going to suck!

The difference with the splint is, I can take it off to shower.  I hope.

I tried to take it off to eat lunch yesterday and it was a struggle to remove....to the point of I didn't think it would come off.  And it is so sweaty underneath!

I don't know what the wound will look like once it heals. The scar will most likely be smaller than this, but who knows. It's actually bigger than I thought it would be.  In the last pic, you can see two slightly larger than pin pricks in my palm. The screw was threaded which came out those two holes i case the screw broke, so they could pull it out with those threads.

Oh.....and the screw itself....

So, I can't start PT for at least four weeks. So it's just me and the splint (btw......my fifth with this injury......but who's counting?).  If it's truly 8-12 weeks of PT, then I'm not done with all of this until closer to summer.

Balls.


Song by: Alison Krauss

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 95th 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.

06:05.  Buttoning my shirt. 

.....the struggle is real!

06:20.  Dry Cleaning. 

Putting out shirts for pick-up, along with the hangars for re-use/recycling.

06:45.  Arriving at work. 

Beautiful clear sky with a glowing crescent moon. 

06:55.  FitBit Charging. 

Low it is. Though not from overuse. With cold and injury, I'm not getting two dog walks in per day. My steps lately have been not meeting goal. 

09:10.  the Daily Flash Report. 

It seems low, but this only goes through Friday. Tomorrow's report will be in the upper 90th%ile. 

12:20.  the Crapeteria.

One decent thing to eat there today (as I didn't pack). The line was too long, so I settled for something I couldn't even finish.  Blech. 

14:50.  Business Plan Problem. 

I know I was doing things correctly, but could not get it to jibe. Finance couldn't either, so I know it was not just me. 

15:35.  Early release. 

I've kind of been using this injury to leave work after 8 hours. Sue me. I get my work done and I've done years of 10-12 hours per day.  I had something I needed done, so I boogied early. 

16:25.  Paws and Paws. 

I don't get manicures, and this is only the third pedicure I've ever had, but my feets needed it desperately. And with the hand/wrist, trimming my nails was off the ability to-do list. 

17:10.  Doggie Daycare Pick-Up.

You break it, you buy it.  Shep could have easily broken the secure gate he was so happy to see me. He's a jumper.....as you can see. 

17:45.  Throwing Shade. 

Attitude from the dog about delaying his dinner. The cat is thinking, "amateur". 

19:40.   Unloading. 

Held off as long as I could. I think 710 was late from work to force me to put away the dishes. 

.....and now your Baker's Dozen.....

20:50.  Orange Cake and Nilla Icing.