Ad of the Month

Now, I'm usually here to critique an ad per month - usually funny ones. 

This, is not that. Funny that is. 

We all age, I get that. But the Wayne's World / Uber Eats Super Bowl ad was just creepy. 

Dana Carvey (Garth) looks no different. I mean, at 27 on SNL, he always seemed like he was 54.  Wayne, himself, has not fared as well.

Have you ever seen a burn victim or some post a face transplant? 

Welcome to Mike Myers' face. 

With all the money in the world, and at last what had to have been decent make-up artists, this was the best they could do?

The entire thing is just do disconcerting at which to look. 

Roly Poly

I don't know the Muses have returned, but Sophie and Shep haven't really gone anywhere - except for Shep who goes to daycare a few times per week, and several dog walks per day. 

Soph? She's pretty much housebound. 

Daycare pick up. 

Each time, 710 gets a picture texted his way that we are on the way home. 

Sleepy Cat. 

Lately she's taken refuge at my feet. I love having here there. 

Shep in a snow storm.

Every animal clamouring for when I walk in the door. 

It's nice to be wanted. 

More snoozing for a senior cat. 

The dog like to roll. At least the snow was clean-ish. 

Still Dad #1's favourite co-worker. 

Cold, but pretty, hike day. 

Song by: Terence Trent D'Arby    

I Got Nothing

Maybe the Muses have gone to Cancun. 

No doubt their kids coerced them into going there without any thought to my needs for writing, or your needs for reading. 

Worry not - tomorrow is Shep / Sophie Day. 

Song by: the Bangles 

Time's Up

I'm calling it. 

It is 21:08 and I have not a thing of which to write. The Muses are nowhere to be seen, wenches that they are. 

As you've known, my political blogging has really curtailed. The bullshit that is Ted Cruz and then these Capitol Riot hearings is again just a joke and soul crushing all at the same time - so I opt not to partake. 

710 and I chatted at dinner about why Cuomo is on the outs due to some misreported death numbers. DeWine, the Ohio governor did the same thing, by the tune of 4,000 fatalities...........and zero repercussions. One is a democrat. One is not. 

Wait - I'm not doing politics.  Never mind. 

I'm getting a cookie, then going to bed. 

Song by: the Buzzcocks

Tiger

I'm just saying - if I were Tiger Woods and had to be stuck playing golf with David Spade, I'd probably run my car off the road, crash, tumble down an embankment and have emergency surgery just to ensure it wouldn't be stuck with him ever again. 

I mean, the last time Woods crashed his car, Spade probably wasn't involved (I said "probably") but at least this time, his (now ex) wife probably wasn't beating the wrecked car (and driver?) with a golf club. 

I said "probably". 

Oh - if you haven't figured it out, I had zilch to write about today. 

I might have been better just to post that. But I didn't. 

On another note, whatever did happen to Paula Cole. I guess I have a wiki search coming my way. 

Song by: Paula Cole

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!  

I am underwhelmed with the Foo Fighters new disk, Medicine at Midnight. 

I love Dave Grohl as a musician and human being. He's seems genuinely nice and funny - and talented, but Medicine is lacking something. Possibly a lot of somethings. 

Clocking in at only nine songs and 39 minutes - which seems chintzy - the band does not make best use of this limited time with the best resources or songs. 

A year or so ago, Grohl called it their Bowie Let's Dance disk. I guess someone should have asked more about what that meant. It has little Bowie-esque qualities, lesser Nile Rodgers qualities and the songs will never be as memorable as Dance. 

Medicine starts off with a pretty horrible "Making a Fire" with it's "nah-nah-nahnahnahnah-nah" chorus. WTF were they thinking? It is possible it might have been good without it, but it is so incredibly distracting, you'll never know. 

I can't believe I'm the only one who thinks "Waiting on a War" has more than just a tad of similarity to something like "Best of You". I mean, I love the original, but it's kind of been done in terms of tone, not lyrics. 

I'll kind of give the Foos a little credit for "Cloudspotter".  I mean, I don't know what it is or supposed to be, but it's different - and not typical. At least if they're stretching a bit, make it interesting (or at least different), which most of this disk does not have.   ....and "Chasing Birds"?  Just. No. 

The title track, there are sections that have a little Bowie influence. Ditto with "Shame Shame". 

For more typical FF, I guess, "Holding Poison" and "Love Dies Young" (which starts like Heart's "Barracuda"-lite) and they're fairly generic. I mean, they're not great Foo Fighter songs, but I expect more from Grohl & Co. 

Maybe next time. I'd say if you're considering Medicine at Midnight, sample heavily before plunking down the $$. 

My Music Monday

I am probably in the minority - outside of Norway -  but I like a-ha. 

Prior to this pandemic thing-y, we had considered seeing them on their 35th anniversary tour of their debut Hunting High and Low. 

Their three U.S. dates - all in Los Angeles - were all sold out, but in reality, did I really want to vacation in L.A.? 

So the bigger idea was a European venue. But all of that got nixed with Covid. And while the L.A. dates are rescheduled for later this Spring (and still sold-out), but those dates seem highly doubtful. 

At least the European dates are 2022. Maybe by then we can travel. Maybe by then we will be allowed back in Europe. 

Until then, you can hear something from their album, Minor Earth, Major Sky disk from 2000 - "Little Black Heart"

Maybe Baby

Here is what happen when you don't pay attention to something you click on Netflix. 

I saw the title, Always Be My Maybe, but what I really saw was an image of Ally Wong. 

Without reading, I assumed it was some limited series and how hard / bad would be to sample the show. And so I clicked. 

As it turns out it was a 2019 Netflix movie. It seems Hallmark wouldn't pick it up. 

Ok - it probably wasn't as bad a a Hallmark movie, but it wasn't Citizen Kane either. Closer to Erica Kane. It was a bit formulaic - so much so that I guessed one of the closing lines........25 minutes before the end of the movie. 

That made me flash on when my friend Jon and I went to see Star Trek 5, where the Enterprise was going to Sha Ka Ree (which we immediately changed to Chaka Kahn.....as in Wrath of....).  THAT movie was so predictable, that when I said, "I could have written this..." Jon stopped me in my tracks and said, "thank g-d you didn't!".   Truth. 

I've gotten off track.  Wong and Randall Park created, wrote and star in this movie of two folks who've known each other since they were kids, had an unsatisfactory sexual experience as teenagers and drifted apart...............until they didn't. 

Park is in many things, but I best know him as Senator Chung on Veep, though he is on Fresh off the Boat - which I've never seen, though that also stars the chick who was headlined Crazy Rich Asians. 

I mention this as the rest of Asian Hollywood who was not in that movie is basically in this one. The other six.  .....though Jin from Lost was totally hot. 

......oh, and Keanu Reeves........playing himself. 

I think my biggest issue with this is - and it's a theme of the 2021 things we have been seeing - wasted talent.  

Wong is funny and talented, but you wouldn't know it here. Allegedly she's also a script doctor on Park's sitcom - so in theory she should know how to write. But 30 minute sitcoms are nothing but formula, so maybe that is all she can translate to the larger format? 

Oddly enough, I liked the band Park is in during the movie. 

Like so many other things we've seen, Maybe had potential, but when the most interesting thing going on in the film is Reeves playing himself, you should have known you were in trouble. 

2021 Movie Count / Goal: 07 of 15

Song by: Buddy Holly & the Crickets

Two of Us

It is a post-Valentine's post.  And it's the cutest couple ever. 

Sofa Sweethearts

We travel in packs.

Shep and his goodie bag

HR needs to be brought in on this office romance with Dad #1

Stalker. 

Boop. 

Song by: the Beatles

Red Earth

 ssss

Since Ted Fucking Cruz is like BLOTUS where nothing sticks to him, I just cannot be bothered. 

So - let's go with the Mars rover, Perseverance. Yay for its landing safely. 

Song by: Crash Vegas

Hateful Hate

Good. Fucking. Riddance. 

Karma baby.  

If you hate that fucking much on people and spread lie after lie after lie, even if it is just for ratings, you deserve to die of terminal cancer. 

There. I said it. 

Yes, they were lies, but his listeners believed the shit out of them. I think the dickknob knew they were lies, but you know if you say it enough even you start to believe it?  That was this. I think. 

Of course, who could blame him.....to a degree? A convicted drug addict who did no jail time. How could he possibly relate to someone who had the exact same crime, but who wasn't white and got put in the pokie with no access to good legal support or money for bail.   ......so they rotted.  

Instead of pointing out inequities in sentencing guidelines or the justice system, he just based shit on race. And gender. And sexuality. If you weren't a white straight male - you weren't good enough. Period. 

Anyway - I know a year or so ago, I assumed Rush was lying about his terminal diagnosis and he'd have some 'miracle' recovery.  I was wrong - and glad I was. 

I hope his journey from that diagnosis to his big dirt nap was a painful one. A horribly horribly painful one. 

Yes - I'm not one of those who are like: "oh, we should have compassion for those who are suffering.....even if it's Rush".    Nooooooooooo.    Nooooooooo.  He had no compassion and deserves none. 

Deserved. Past tense.  

Just like Rush.  

I liken Rush's death to Jerry Falwell (where I still remember where I was when I got a text about his death!).  The idea of pissing and / or dancing on his / their grave still invigorates me. 

Granted, the death of BLOTUS will be like that times 2,081,993,872,124. But until that day, I'll take this as a placeholder. 

See you in hell, Rush. 

Song by: 10,000 Maniacs

57 Channels (and Nothin' On)

In my on-going un-scheduled (read: when I have nothing planned or anything to write about) limited (?) blog series about shit we are watching - which is totally different than movies we are taking in. 

These are (usually) going to be series, though I suppose there could be one-off programs. It's hard to tell.

While of course, we stumble over things in the Netflix menu etc, usually we pick up on thing via word of mouth. I'm always going to forgo the paranormal series, as those just no longer interest me.

We just finished Schitt's Creek. 

I know what you're saying - and thinking:  "but it's been on for six years....."

You're telling me nothing I don't know. We did see the first episode of sesason one six years ago, but honestly, it was not good and the idea of spending 30 minutes with Chris Elliot seemed..............tiresome.  And that was my 'nice' version. 

For a long time, I was unswayed by folks who said, "you havvvvvvvve to see it".  After my resounding loss to Mike during 2020 Emmys, where the Crick took all top awards (and whom Mike all successfully selected), I thought - well..............maybe we should try again. And we did at the beginning of the year. 

If you can get past Elliot - and if I can (to a degree), you can - the show is quite good. I'm just not 100% sure Elliot is acting. I'm not 100% sure Dan Levy is either - if his SNL appearance was any indication of his 'range'. 

Of course, I've loved Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara since I was a high school lad watching SCTV. Then onto all the Christopher Guest movies. O'Hara is brilliant in just about anything. Her Moira was good, though more than once she veered into Lola Heatherton territory.  Levy was Levy. 

What, on the surface, could have been construed as a vapid Paris Hilton type of persona, Annie Murphy's Alexis was determined, smart, savvy and caring. And she grows - something you don't normally see in sitcoms. Her voice could easily have the casual viewer thinking otherwise, but she might be THE star of the show when it comes down to it. 

She and Stevie.  Stevie is totally underrated. 

More importantly, Schitt's Creek is a show and town where people truly live and let live. David's possible bi-sexuality and gayness are barely topics of conversation and there are no teachable moments, because no one in town, or nearby Elmdale, care. 

A storyline about Jake being a guy that is seeing both Stevie and David is great - and no one is truly hung up on it. The one would be 'after school special' moment is a newly arrived high school kid who might be gay and Joecyln gets David to engage him - and of course, it backfires beautifully. 

Of course, there is a storyline about love - and it just happens to be between two men. No one cares, even Patrick's parent who didn't know he was gay.  Their first date and first kiss is just a wonderful episode 

The lack of any homophobia puts Creek on its own plane. 

Only a few episodes fell into farce material - which I don't enjoy as it is so trite and usually not well done. 

I like the townsfolk. I like the storylines. You gotta love Catherine O'Hara. 

I might not be one of the people who say you 'havvvvvve to watch it", but I think if you can get past the first few episodes, Schitt's Creek is something you'd enjoy. 

Song by: Bruce Springsteen

She's a Lady

Yes, this video has more than hints of misogyny, a big dose of homophobia and some downright Tom Jones mocking.

And yet I cannot stop laughing. 

Funnier is when I played it on my laptop, 710 not being able to see a thing, and he says tom me he says...."Lindsey Graham?"

HILARIOUS. 

Song by: Tom Jones

My Music Monday

Nothing new on the John Paul White front in terms of new music - and we are at the two year mark since we've gotten any. 

But it is Covid et al, so......studios, bands, etc probably don't mix that well and I think he's older school than someone in Los Angeles does their part and emails it to him to add.  I'm totally guessing, of course. 

"Black Leaf" goes back to his second solo record. It is the opening track to Buelah. This song alone got me to purchase the disk.  

I think you'll like. 

Be Mine

For something to post, I'm "lifting" a meme from Dr. Spo. I'm not sure I come out looking so great in all of this.

It is Valentine’s Day and there is a meme on Facebook (or so Spo says) I thought I would try here. Feel free to copy such a play along. 

Where you first met: (this will KILL Spo). THE Ohio State University Hospitals.  10 East Rhodes Hall.  Rhodes. As in former Governor James Rhodes. Same one who sent National Guard to Kent State in May 1970. 

How did you meet:  We were both working on the same unit. 710 was permanently there (for the most part). I was a 'float', but did a lot of time on the Hem / Onc unit. 

First date: We had a few 'group' outings with folks from the nursing unit after work. I think they were trying to set us up. First date was thwarted by my broken down 1971 waxberry Maverick, but 710 came to rescue me, so........white knight and all. 

How many years together: we met in November 1984. We didn't start going out until January 1985.  So, that is 36 years folks. Sorry if you had to use the WOPR 2000 to calculate that. 

Age difference: Three and one-quarter years. Give or take. I'm younger. 

Who was interested first: I don't know. I think I was, but I honestly do not know. 

Who is taller: I am. Considerably.  Ok, not considerably. But I do say, he doesn't meet my usual height requirement and that I made an exception.  

Most obnoxious in-laws: This sounds like a relationship killer question. I have a feeling we both think our own parents are were the more obnoxious pair. If you don't take into account parents, then I "win" (?), as I have four sisters. 

Who said “I Love you”first:  No idea. I'm guessing I did? 

Worst temper: Oh lord. Me.  Hands down. 710 doesn't have a temper, which makes mine seem even more extreme. I have been SO much better about it since when we started out.  

Most sensitive: I like to think of myself as rough and tough, but I'm far more thin-skinned than I'd like to be. Or think I am.  Or want people to think I am.  {sob} 

Most annoying habit: His?  Or mine?   We fixed his one bad habit (well, according to me).  Me? I have none. So......problem solved. 

Most forgiving: Him. I'm "exhausting", as I have been told.  Repeatedly. 

Loudest: As if this even a question. As my mother said, and 710 will remind me (along with just about anyone else who's heard the phrase):  I've been blessed with a voice that carries.......

Most useless facts:  total toss up. His are more about engineering and such. Mine are more pop culture. 

Funniest: I am. C'mon!   But do not count 710 out. While he cannot tell a joke to save his life, he catches me off guard often and makes me laugh and laugh. Part is because you're never expect him to. And he really knows me and can push buttons - in a good way. 

Who Wears the Pants in the Family:  Hmmm. I'm really going with Sophie. But since that is not really one of the options, I think each of us has one pant leg. 

Most stubborn: Guilty. But we both have our moment. We try to work out a system for this and when we remember to invoke it, it kind of works.

Falls asleep first: When we used to go bed at the same time, and if he stopped his book in progress, 710 can fall asleep in about 20 seconds. No lie.  I fall asleep in a few minutes. I don't stay asleep, but.......    Anyway, now-a-days, I usually go to bed a half hour before 710 and in dreamland far before he comes in. 

Most impatient: I am. By far. 

Better driver: I'm not casting dispersions,  I'm just saying I have a lot less tickets and accidents than 710. To be fair, none of the accidents were his fault. I do drive, for the most part, wherever we go.  Any armchair psychologist will say it is a control issue thing. 

Biggest neat freak: 710 is neater than I. Though since we've moved last year, we are both pretty diligent about neatness. 

Most social: I guess it would be me. 710 is social once he's out in that social situation. 

Most competitive: I think it should go without saying, that it is me.  I say, "I win!" a lot.  I get eye rolls.  A LOT. 

Best cook: We both do well. I might be a bit more adventurous and the one looking for new things. More importantly, he cleans. 

Who is the handy-person: 710 has been tinkering with things since he was a child. He can build and fix most anything, and I'm happy to let him. 

Post a picture:

This was in San Francisco - maybe around 1993? 1994? 

Song by: R.E.M.

12 of 12

  So I'm doing my 130th 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. Erik is back and I think he's picking up 12 of 12 again. 

05:04. Adding to the winter-time clothing pile after an a.m. Shep walk. 

It was 19, but feels like 8.

05:59.  Brush-a, brush-a, brush-a

06:34. On way to the office. 

06:43.  Quick stop for tea before the office. 

08:08  My secondary office site is also a vaccination site for the general public. 

10:17. Headed to another floor. 

11:14.  Power outage. 

Entire building went black. I went with my iPhone flashlight to help the seniors after their shot get down the hallway to the doors.  Took almost an hour for the back-up generators to kick in. 

12:14.  Cold out, but sunny. 

27 degrees, which for the last 10 days is a heatwave. 

12:43.  Remnants of lunch. 

It actually wan't bad - though the mayo was fat free. Who the fuck want's fat free mayo? 

16:10. Backing up. Leaving work. 

18:01.  Be Mine!

Valentine day at doggy daycare. 

18:20. Dog walk at dusk. 

That's a snow-covered frozen lake behind 710 and Shep

That's it. 12. For another month.

Time of Trains

The Muses are nowhere to be seen. Inspiration is nowhere to be found. 

Almost. 

But this video just made me smile, so..............watch it. 

 

Song by: David Broza

the Trial

19 days 

That's how long it's been since my last post about politics, and it was about a poet, at that. So, 20 days, since the inauguration.  That might possibly be a record in the last four years of this blog. 

I have no words of wisdom about this impeachment trial. Thoughts, yes.  Wisdom, no.  

As you might have guessed, I've tried to read or listen to as little as possible. And I've watched zero of the proceedings, live or in recap. I don't see the point. 

A. We know what happened. 

B. The House and Senate knows what happened. The Republican side doesn't care. 

C. No 17 Republican senators are going to vote for conviction. Even the 6-7 who "allowed" the trial to be held won't vote for conviction. Mark my words. 

I mean, that's it in a nutshell, correct? 

This total bullshit after, 'can't convict after he's out of office' is kind of on #moscowmitch, no? He is the one who delayed the trial until after BLOTUS was gone. 

So, this is an exercise in futility. 

From all accounts, the prosecutors (whomever they are - from/for the House? the Senate?) did a whiz-bang job.  The semi-newly hired BLOTUS lawyers? Not so much. 

Seriously, if you don't follow Luke Skywalker on Twitter, you should. He has tons of money, so he doesn't have to work a lot and has done little but troll BLOTUS the last four years. 

And as much as I want BLOTUS removed and not able to run again (though he will more likely be dead in four years), the conviction is not for that. Send the fucking signal to the next (current) group of asswipes, that this isn't tolerated. 

Simple. As. That. 

Mind you, they're asswipes, so they either won't get the message or think it doesn't apply to them, so......again, this entire things is a waste.

Next political post?  Let's try to make it 21 days.*

*on the off off off off off off off chance the Senate does convict, I will be obligated to lose that proposed timeline. 

Song by: Pink Floyd

Rosebud

Movie-wise, we are on a roll. 

Same day we saw the Eva Cassidy show, we hit up Netflix and watched Mank. I mean, you didn't actually think we were going to watch the Super Bowl, didya? 

Herman Mankiewicz, that is. 

He who wrote Citizen Kane. He, who along with Orson Wells, wanted tobring down William Randolph Hearst. You know, Patty's grandfather. 

Mank is played by Sirius Black Gary Oldman, and while he inhabits the role, he might be 20-30 years too old for the actual part. I'm not sure most people know or care Mankiewicz' age and how / if it relates to the goings on of the subject (they don't).  I'm just saying they'd never have a woman in her 60s be allowed to try to pull of a 30-40 year old. 

Mankiewicz becomes disenchanted with Hearst when he realizes the latter is using media to manipulate the outcome of the California gubernatorial race, trying to (and eventually succeeding) upset Upton Sinclair's chance at winning. 

Some of the juxtaposition is nicely structured around a party at San Simeon while the guests talk of Hitler, brushing him off, yet then discuss the back room deals to control California's governmental process, all without the slightest irony. 

Mankiewicz agrees to "anonymously" write the screenplay for Citizen Kane, though it's an open secret that it is done by his pen, and many try to dissuade him, including his brother (who would go on to write and direct All About Eve).

Director David Fincher (and written by his father, Jack) shoots Mank in black and white and uses some Wellsian / Kane visual homages. 

The cast is good. Oldman does a fine job, though I feel like even I should have lung cancer by the time it's over, he smokes so frickin' much.  Amanda Seyfried does a great job as Marion Davis. Dickie Mountbatten (or the guy who played him in the Crown) is good as Hearst and Ben Kingsley's MUCH hotter son plays Irving Thalberg, who might be the actual true bad guy here......though they're all kind of bad guys. 

The actor who plays Wells is spot on with the voice and looks like a young Orson. 

I would say, after the fact I enjoyed the movie. During - it was a bit disjointed, a bit 'six months earlier.....' and tough to follow. Mank took time to find its groove. 

If you have Netflix, it's not like it's costing you anymore to watch it.  How's that for a ringing endorsement?

2021 Movie Count / Goal: 06 of 15

Song by: Sparks

Songbird

So a "movie" on YouTube is something new for us.  Normally, I use the service for music videos or comedy clips. Maybe a dog / cat kind of thing. Nothing longer than say, six minutes.  

It was more of a documentary - an hour in total - but technically documentaries are movies, so, I'm letting this ride. 

Eva Cassidy - One Night That Changed Everything. 

The show chronicles two nights of the reluctant recording of her first solo disk - a live one at that - Live at Blues Ally. 

While it was one night that might have changed everything, technically it was to two nights, but the first one had sound issues making the tape unusable. 

10 months from the day of the recording, she'd be dead from melanoma. 

While the movie doesn't dwell on Eva's death, as they barely mention it, she's is talked about in the past and what she'd be doing now. The movie truly covers the two nights she made this recording and how it launched what most likely been a career she never quite had the time to get off the ground. 

The folks at hand were were band and how they worked with her - or didn't. They had to beg her to learn guitar to fill out the sound, and to practice or even warm up. She was just a natural when it came to singing, though she had little passion for having to interact with the audience - but mostly from being an introvert. 

Cassidy's studio work - which was fairly limited, but someone still monetized that shit for all they could - was all released posthumously. For me, I never heard of her before an NPR piece on her back in early 1997. But I think a lot of people heard that All Things Considered (or was it Morning Edition?) show. 

The movie showcases a number of songs - but I feel that her "Nightbird" was just amazing. She did it on the first night, but not the second, so it didn't make the record. As it turns out, she didn't want to release it at all, but too much money was already invested. 

Perhaps Cassidy would have made it in life. I'm not quite sure. One of the record execs who turned her down signed Norah Jones (who is NOT all that) and Cassandra Wilson. With 20/20, he cannot fathom what caused him to pass on her. Maybe only in death and strong post-mortem album sales would he have even contemplated this in the first place. 

The movie is on YouTube - so it's free. I think we only needed to screen one commercial mid-way through. A small price to pay for a big talent. 

2021 Movie Count / Goal: 05 of 15

Song by: Eva Cassidy

My Music Monday

I've always loved this song. I liked Black, (who apparently died five years ago from injuries sustained in a car crash) the artist as well - for what little output he had. 

I'll rephrase: what little output made it to the states. Most of it in the late 80s and into the 90s - before the advent of the intertubes and Napster. 

Actually, it's amazing how much new music I found back in those dark ages. I remember seeing his debut CD in a cut out bin at Schoolkids Records in Columbus......for $0.99. 

I purchased it just on the album cover alone (I wasn't the only one to sometimes pick music that way - was I?) . 

The album was ok - but it had two stellar songs: "Wonderful Life" - which was the title track (and featured here back in 2011 !!!! - have I really been doing MMM for at least a decade???), and today's selection, "Everything is Coming Up Roses" - not an Ethel Mermen cover. 

Enjoy.  I insist upon it. 

Site of the Month

Tis the season. 

Girl Scout Cookies, that is.   Cookies are the Site, but not exactly what you think - so keep reading. 

Last year, due to Covid, I missed them. At the time, I didn't work with anyone who sold them (for their kids) and by the time they normally would show up, shilling them outside grocery stores, well.....Covid took care of that. 

This year, I do work with someone who sells them - and while it's been a while since Girls when door to door, there is a new option:  website ordering by each individual scout or troop. And for and extra $5, they are delivered to my house, as opposed to mom or dad slogging them to work, then to you, then you back home. 

It worked well - and I got them within days of ordering. Better than that annoying middle Scout. 

But here's the Site. 

Since you can have them shipped, why not order them from anywhere?  Yes.......local girls....blah blah blah. I get it. And I get supporting friends or co-workers kids.

But what about those areas who don't have that? 

I bring to you, Troop 6000.   

These are Girl Scouts who are homeless and in a shelter. They do not have the same experiences that community scouts have. They certainly don't have the selling resources the other troops have There are no neighbors, there is rarely gainful employment by their parents, who can hit up their colleagues. 

I wish I had seen this before I ordered my four boxes. But just for the fuck of it, I might order four more. 

If you are considering ordering Somoas, Thin Mints or the likes, consider Troop 6000. 

Up On the Roof

Long torturous work week. But I get to come home to the animals......assuming I'm not working from home. 

A boy and his dog on a late afternoon weekday walk. 

Making biscuits on dad.  Love it. 

Sophie brings down my productivity 100% when I work at home. 

I'm ok with that. 

Cold day at the Lake Erie shore. 

Neighbor cat high atop a 4x4. 

I don't really know his name, though I've taken to calling him 'Walter'. 

She's not afraid of no dog!

Sophie is all love and kisses - as is Dad #2.

Song by: the Drifters