Empty Chairs

I'm still a little unnerved by Uvalde. I hope many are. 

First off, I get the police weren't as good as they could have been. And you can train for anything, but theory and reality are not the same. 

And it is my estimation that it is no one's job to sacrifice themselves to someone who can rattle off 150 rounds every 10 seconds. Rushing in would have been a suicide mission. 

Yes, BLOTUS would have run in. He said as much after Parkland - but you know, he didn't tell the truth a lot of the time. Much like Greg Abbott. 

Granted, that will now be the Abbott story. Not the guns. Not the access to guns. Not the lack of background or mental health checks. Not the - you can buy 10,000 rounds of ammo with nary a peep - but you go into a national database if you buy a single pack of pseudophed. 

Nope - the pins are all in place to squarely place the blame on the police department. For the entire thing. 

Driving around this last weekend, as we are apt to do every weekend, we came across church after church, synagogue after synagogue with 19 student chairs, and 2 adult chairs out on each of their respective lawns or parking lots. 

I stopped only twice of the 7-8 we ended up seeing, to take these images. 

I am assuming through their own social media streams, many of these houses of worship got together to do this. It would have been too coincidental otherwise. 

But this got me thinking too.  FFS, the GOP and "the church" are forever in a perpetual 69. Religion has such a sway in whatever the GOP wants to do, or that religion wants the GOP to do, that why the fuck are they not pushing some gun control?  ANY gun control. 

But then I realized that it is really the GOP and the Evangelicals. They are "the church" of which we speak. Yes, they support Catholics when they want to deny Pappy Joe communion, but that's about where it ends. Jews?  Only if they want to support Israeli forces - but actual Jew stuff?  Noooooooooo. 

And the Evangelicals already open carry in their churches, so there is no one taking up this cause. The ecumenical and unitarian factions - the liberal wing of religion, if you will - are the ones putting up these displays (and some reform Jews), but they hold no chance of change with the GOP.........or the Democrats for that matter. 

BTW - FUCK Chuck Schumer.  He has stated there are ZERO plans to put forth legislation for any sort of gun control.  "Your vote for change matters this November" - or some such bullshit. 

Dude - you're already losing the mid-terms in the House. The writing is on the wall. DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE you fucking piece of shit!

As much as I hate McConnell, he at least had his people in check. Schumer is a 'leader' in name only. It says 'majority' (for now), but he has no majority..........he barely has the minority. 

Song by: Don McLean

My Music Monday

So, it's come to this in the 2022 Inductees:   Dolly Parton?  Pass.   Eminem?  Nah.  Lionel Ritchie????? Hell no.  

That pretty much leaves Carly Simon. 

If this were the Adult Contemporary Music Hall of Fame - sure.  I mean, I guess.  But Rock and Roll ? 

"You Belong to Me"?   "Comin' Around Again"?  James Bond theme "Nobody Does it Better"????  All nice songs and all, but rock? 

Yes, she wrote her own music - mostly. Yes, she plays guitar and piano. Save for doing this in the early to mid-70s (well the bland stuff - see above - was later), Simon was not really at the forefront of women in music. Carole King and Joni Mitchell were much more prominent and influential. 

I struggled with the song to choose.  "Your So Vain" seems too obvious. "Mockingbird" seems too....I dunno.....trite and she didn't write it. "Anticipation" seems to catsup-y. 

Just to get this over, I did pick "You Belong to Me". She co-wrote it with Michael McDonald, which explains why both she and the Doobie Brothers recorded their own versions. Their version came out in '77, Simon's in '78.  Her's hit #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 (higher on their Adult Contemporary chart). The Doobies didn't release it as a single until a live rendition in '83, and their's peaked at 79. 

I'm sure the royalties still got McDonald a pool at his house. 

....but it's not Rock. 

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!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk - just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else).  

I said a month or so ago, I wasn't going to rush out and get the new album from Arcade Fire, WE.  And I didn't. I waited two whole days. 

No, I didn't really sample it ahead of time. But as you can see by my lack of 2022 "Record" posts, I haven't been buying new music. Period. I figured spending $10 wasn't that bad. 

The band could have recorded a 40 minute note-for-note version of "Kokomo" and that still would have surpassed anything off their last disk, Everything Now.  As luck would have to - they wouldn't / didn't have to. 

I think the disk can be summed up into - or broken down by- four lines of their own lyrics on this disk: 

"don't believe the hype"

#truth.  Arcade Fire came out extremely strong with their first two disks. Original and innovative. They were a victim of their own critical success. It was almost impossible to keep up with that nouveau-legacy. And they didn't. Not exactly.  They had moments, but not full albums of those moments.  WE at least has stronger and better moments than possibly even Reflekor or the Suburbs. 

".....let me say it again, no one's perfect"

No one is. And AF are not, not this disk anyways, but they have strong strong moments.  The disk is basically broken into five songs, though four of them are two-parters. Totally dig "Age of Anxiety I and II". The are the strongest songs on the disk, though the piano intro to the album (and song) somewhat sets the tone for the entire album. 

I love most of "Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)". The song. The message. The delivery.........except for "do-do-do / do-do-do (repeat x5).  It's just lazy writing.  I have come to really enjoy "the Lightening I and II".  The initial listen to the first release from this album didn't do much for me, but it has grown on me. 

"please don't quit on me / I won't quit on you"

I think this is safe to say this could easily be a lyric from Win Butler to his wife, or perhaps to his entire fan base. Because I gotta tell you, I had a REALLY hard time with getting through Everything Now five times, desperately trying to like anything off it, before just shelving it, and re-evaluating my connection to the band and their work. 

"some you win / some you lose" 

You might have noticed I liked "Unconditional I", but said nothing of "II".  Maybe I'm in the minority - maybe not - but I find Régine Chassagne as a lead vocalist, unlistenable. Her Yoko meets Britany vocal ability (not style......ability!) is squeaky chalk on a board cringe worthy. 

That said - on WE, she has used her background skills so much better than in previous disks. I didn't say "good", I said "better".  

While I would have been happy if she had only been relegated to the five "yeah"s in "Anxiety II (Rabbit Hole)", she doesn't completely blow it on the musical break in that song - though I still am not a fan. And her work on "the Lightening" isn't turn-off-able. Her vocal is skippable enough for "Unconditional II". The presence of Peter Gabriel can't really save that song. 

I'm still not sure what to think about "End of the Empire I-IV".  "I-III" is just generic.  "IV"?  Not a fan. It might be ok without the backing vocals.......maybe?  But when Butler sings "fuck season 5", it seems lame, but then Everything Now was their fifth album, so maybe he's talking about that. If so, I'm on board with the thought - but not the delivery. 

Musically, WE is a lot more straightforward than their other disks. There aren't a lot of risks or a lot of experimentation, but it's a sort of redemption. 

Some you win, some you lose...........and this time, they kind of won. Even if it is just a nose. 

Excited

Pet Day.  Pet Day. 

Bad Dad(s). 

When his tongue is like that he needs water - and we forgot to bring it on that walk. 

Sophie is quite the pack animal. 

Daycare Days. 

I love how Shep looks like he's smiling. 

This is our neighbor, Scoonie.

For the first year we lived here, I didn't know his name, so I called him 'Walter'.  It's not. 

Scoonie always says 'hello' when we walk past. He has a great low, but friendly bark. 

He also has a lesion near his eye he won't keep his paw(s) away from - hence the cone. 

Soph really does love that kitchen rug. Made for her colouring. 

Metronome. 

He was in good 'stay' mode when Dad #1 came home. But you can see the excitement start to build. 

Song by: Bad Company

Stuff

I had started another blog post, but it's still in draft form. Not ready for prime time, as it were. 

I have no current events of which to speak. I have successfully avoided the newspapers and news shows. The tv hasn't really been on either.  Ignorance might be bliss, but so is silence. 

The weather has been semi-cooperating. Enough so that we have eaten outside most days this week. Straight from the grill.  

End of month 2 at the gym is - well tomorrow, but I'm pretending it's - Sunday.  It will be my second weigh-in. I'm hoping I lost something. I'd say "anything" but that's a big fat lie. I'd like it to be close to double digits, but trying not to set myself up for disappointment.  But I know I'll be disappointed. 

We are headed into a long weekend, but I'm not jazzed about it. I'm not sad about it either. 

That is my big update. 

Song by: Miles Davis

You Could Make a Killing

I'm still bent out of shape about the shootings mass executions in Texas.

I'd fucking like everyone to be, but 90% of people have gone on with their lives and a shrug of the shoulders. They accepted defeat as soon as the bodies were cold. Probably before. 

It's sad. Not shocking. 

There is absolutely nothing Congress - either side / either party - will do. NOTHING. 

The Second Amendment - whatever interpretation one might have - is about the right to 'arms'.  However, it's not about the right to ammunition. Why isn't someone legislating the fuck out of that?  Or at least trying? 

Like fucking clockwork, the chatter of: "arm the teachers". 

Are you FUCKING KDDING ME?

It's not about how an almost poverty level job (once you factor in the hours of before and after class time they have to put in)  has to lay down their life to protect the kids.  Parents are already expecting the world out of these teachers with over-filled classrooms and basically hoping to get through the day without interruptions of all kinds - let alone a hail of gunfire. 

Thanks to Ohio's governor, you don't even need training or permit to carry a weapon. This douche wants to win re-election in the worst way.  And he'll succeed - on both fronts. 

So parents, communities and politicians who think teachers should be packing, riddle me this:

• If I don't need to be trained in firearms, should Mrs. Smith who has 2nd period math?  I mean, they're watching over your 'darlings'. ''

• Who is paying for these weapons and ammo?  I mean, schools and the state already don't even basic supplies for teachers - they have to shell out for them on their own. 

• Will teachers get full immunity when they accidentally put a bullet through Evan's head when they tried to shoot the guy with the gun?

• Best yet:  will you pay them the salary of a teacher, security guard and armed marksman?  Oh - and clean-up crew?

It would not surprise me that these parents do indeed expect taking a bullet for their kid to be part of the job requirements for accepting a position at the school district. 

You know what's sadder?  Each and every time and event like this happens, there is a sliver of me that thinks:  THIS will be the time of action. 

It's silly and demoralizing, because, as you know, I'm not an optimistic person, but in this case, one almost has to be.....even if just a sliver.  But each time I'm not just proven wrong, it's with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire hitting me upside the head and the absolute cruelty this country condones and encourages. 

Yes. Encourages.  By having no repercussions for any of this behaviour, these tactics, these killings, there is no downside for anyone but a few dozen parents. You certainly don't hear the funeral homes or casket makers advocating for gun safety - hell, the one funeral home in Uvalde is going to make a killing.  Pun fully intended 

That said, I love Steve Kerr.  I have since he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But he is a winning coach - and when you're winning you can say most anything. While you might have not have backing of your front office, if you're winning, they won't fire you. 

Kerr has spoken passionately about any number of social issues including the killing of George Floyd and now Uvalde.  

Song by: Aimee Mann

Hell is for Children

Almost 10 years after Sandy Hook, and nothing has changed.  Not a g-ddamn fucking thing. 

Well, not true. As of yesterday, you can add 14 more elementary school children to the death statistics. 

Truth be told, I got home from work and saw the headline and that's it.  I've read nothing. Nor do I plan to. It is far too sad in so many regards. 

Say what you want, and while every life counts in this regard, it seems a lot lot worse when they are elementary school-aged kids. We are number to the high school shootings, which the shooters are usually high schoolers themselves. 

But this is Texas. A gun state. Ironically, a severe pro-life state - unless your trans, then they're not. But gun deaths of children there don't mean prof-life. It means more pro-gun.  Arm everyone and this won't happen. 

Reality: arm everyone and it happens more often. 

The NRA is having their convention in Houston next week. Their last in-person convention guns were not allowed in the venue.  Irony. 

In more reality news, around the same time as the newest shooting, Ohio gets this:

And with this fucking shit-eating grin too. 

Irony #2:  Firearms are prohibited at the Ohio Statehouse. 

While not at retirement age, we are nearing it. We've been wondering what to do in our aging year - and where. But the where had been beach? city?   Now the discussion has turned to: which country? 

It's not longer a "joke". You cannot emigrate to Canada. It's not that easy. But I'd gladly live out my days in Paris.  But with this gun shit, women's rights, the soon to be challenged same-sex marriage and the potential return of BLOTUS (which = the last dying gasp of the U.S), the joke is no longer funny. 

Yes, we'd miss some family, and friends, but at least I'd have peace of mind. 

I think. 

Song by: Pat Benatar

Sir Duke

Meh. 

That is my one word review for the Duke. 

Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren - how bad could it be? I thought?  The on-line Insta trailers made it look lighthearted and funny - it seemed. 

It wasn't bad. And it wasn't really lighthearted and / or funny. 

It looks like it was semi-released in late 2020, but for general release, the studio et al tried to wait out Covid. It probably would have fared better just going to a streaming service.  While it waited its release, the director unexpectedly died.  It's not foreshadowing.............I think. 

This is a mostly-true tale of a portrait of the Duke of Wellington that gets stolen from the National Gallery - the only known theft from the British Museum. It is done by a barely workingman who espouses Robin Hood references. He is a man of the people and for the people - which comes around at his trial.  

The trial of Broadbent's character (well, the character he plays, not his 'character' per se) is the most humourous thing going here. While the rest isn't depressing, it plays a little bleak, but I suppose if you're a man of the people for the people, it should. 

Broadbent's performance is good, I would say Mirren's is less so. It's ok and all, but halfway through there is a line inferring she is an Irish "girl". I didn't remember her sounding Irish before that comment, and not really after that line as well. Even after a foreseen transition in circumstances, she still is a frickin' crank.

Matthew Goode - who was also playing across the hall in Downton Abby: We're Making You Watch Us Again - was good as always. I have yet to see him in be fair or bad in any movie or television show which he touches. 

I'd have to say - if you have to see it, wait a month or two, it'll be on Netflix or the like. 

Fun fact: the only gay bar I've been to in the UK was........the Duke of Wellington. 

2022 Movie Count / Goal: 04 of 15

Song by: Stevie Wonder

My Music Monday

2022 Rock Hall inductees are the theme. 

I like Duran Duran well enough,  Are they Rock Hall worthy?  Maybe.  

MTV had been a thing, but their second album, Rio, really cemented not just them, but the second British invasion - and D2 lead that charge. They also kicked up video production standards for all bands making music filmettes. 

Their music is fine. Some better than others, even if the lyrics really really don't make sense. 710 heard me sing "I smell like I sound......" from "Hungry Like the Wolf".  He didn't believe me that these were the words, so he looked them up. Let's just say, I wasn't wrong. 

Don't get me started on "Union of the Snake". 

The band got in on their first nomination. Actually, I think at least 5 nominees did. 

I could pick one of the flashier videos they did, but I'll stick with the first - or one of the first - "Planet Earth". 

....to make you feel old, the song and their debut album is 41 years old. 

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think.

Yeah, most of my Shopping posts are "jokes",  some are not.  This one remains to be seen. 

I got access to a supply of Teeth Whitening Strips.  14, to be precise. One is supposed to use them for two weeks in a row - well, for 30 minutes, each day for 14 days in a row........to be specific. 

My teeth weren't (and aren't) shiny white. I don't want them to be Hollywood white, but I'd like them less dingy.  I'm not 100% sure it worked. But I'm not sure it did not. 

Using them is fairly easy. 

They come with an upper set, as well as a lower one. I try off each tier of teeth and peel one (then the other) off and adhere them to my chompers. 

They don't align perfectly, but you know, everyone has a different mouth. 

I'd put them on in the morning - usually before the gym. I would do my 30 minutes of cardio, then pull them off. 

Getting them off isn't that difficult, but it is sticky. Your saliva and their "glue" do allow them to bond, but good.  What you then have to do it really rinse out your mouth and sometimes even run a tissues across them to get rid of what I can only fondly call as "gunk". 

I did take before and after pics, and it can be a lot of factors, but in that venue, I don't know I see a difference.  

However, in real life, I think they are marginally better. Of course, that could all just be wishful thinking. No one has just said, "hey! look how much white your teeth have become!".  ....but I suppose if they did, all I'd take away was, "wow - your teeth were dull and dingy before!"

I'm glad I least tried it. But I don't know I'll go back for seconds. 

I Get Around

As I somewhat mentioned before, it was a tough week. So, there are not tons of pics. 

I get that cats nap a lot!  But I'm just not sure why they move from place to place during the day to do the same thing. 

Our bedroom. My sister-in-law's bedroom. Shep's bedroom.   ....and yes, Shep has his own king sized bed. Why do you ask?   I'm guessing my s-i-l place the steps there for Sophie to come down easily. 

Someone (me) might have been snacking outside. 

Someone (not me) might have bee very interested. 

New neighbor dog, Willa. 

Lovely eyes. But in a way - TOTALLy creepy when she stares at you. 

That said, she could have as easily been interested in Shep, but she whines for my attention. I love it. 

More lounging - in yet another room. 

It's grilling season. Shep would like to assist. 

Song by: the Beach Boys

Going to Sleep

It is 20:41 - and I can barely keep my eyes open. I like working out at 05:00, but it's fucking with my end of day life - what little I had with which to begin. 

Work this week has made me Crank-Y!  I'm not well-liked this week, but as I told my boss, "you don't pay me enough to be likable".   Or lickable. 

So, I have nothing crafted. .....and I'm going to bed. 

Song by: Dave Brubeck

Ad of the Month

Ok - technically the ad is like 50 years old.  I do not remember it, but some of the readers older than myself (if there is such a thing!), might have seen it in the past. 

Full disclosure:  My mother put Dippity-Do on an almost daily basis when I was a wee lad. 

I believe I used it in the 80s as well, when I somewhat still had hair and still felt it "needed" product. What it did was accentuate my thinning hair where you could see scalp.  

20 Dollar Nose Bleed

Honestly, 27 months in and I took my first Covid test.  

Well.........second. The first was for a pre-op when I had my nose fixed a year and a half ago. This time, it was for possible exposure. 

Ever vigilant, whilst in Chicago, we semi-let our guard down. Since we had almost never been out to eat in the last two years, we met my nephew for dinner and I wasn't thinking. They asked for proof of vaccination. 

I didn't have my card. 710 did. But I hopped onto my electronic medical record and could show proof that way. I was cool. And we were eating outside, so we felt somewhat safe(r). 

The next evening, we had dinner with my friend Doug and his husband. Everyone but said husband had been boosted x 2.  Erik has not met the age parameter to get the second booster - so good for Doug for landing a "younger" man. 

I gave both a quick kiss upon arrival. 710 had never met Erik so they just exchanged greetings. We had a lovely evening (though the second worst pizza I have ever had in my life, and that includes the from the box Chef Boyardee shit). And we ate and socialized outside at their residence. 

We ended the evening somewhat short, as they were flying to London the next day. 

Cut to two days later, I get a text from the UK. Upon entry,  tested positive for Covid. 

Fuck.  x 3. 

I texted 710 to let him know. He took it better than expected. Doug and Erik felt terrible, but my take again was:  we've made it 27 months. I took it as a when, not if, situation. 

But we tested when I got home. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. I'm not a fan of things up my nose - boogers included. 

15 minutes later..........

It says I'm negative, though they don't make it easy to read. 

C vs T.  I suppose the FOUR PAGE  INSTRUCTIONS tell you what that means, but all I had to know was C does not = Covid.  It means it's negative.

710 was negative as well. 

I texted Doug yesterday morning (the night before would have been rude, as it was the middle of the night in the UK).  He and Erik were very relieved they had not passed it along to us - as they Erik felt awful about the prospet.  I assured them ill feeling from something like that was never a concern. 

Thanks to Pappy Joe, we used two of our free home tests. 

Song by: Fall Out Boy

Speeding

I can't say I'm happy, but I can't say I didn't deserve it either. 

87 in a 70. 

Sure, Han Solo can do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, but you go a measly 17 miles over the speed limit and you get fined $140 !!!

Still, 87 mph is fast. Even on a turnpike. Even a mostly empty one (at the time). 

I'll set it up a bit:  5-6 miles of one lane traffic. Everyone BUT the truck in front of me was going the posted, but slower, 55 mph.  Due to said truck, we were doing 40. 

So when the construction ended, Blobby opened up that throttle and took off. 

710 uses Waze and I'd say 95% of the time, the other Wazers have notified us of police who are near. Not so this time. 

G-d love him, the patrol guy probably heard my expletive even with my windows up. He had to see the brake lights. And he started to even pull out before I passed him. THAT is how fast I was going. 

I knew it was going to happen. 710 knew it was going to happen. State Trooper Brigham definitely knew it was going to happen. 

He was very kind and courteous. While I wouldn't say he gave me an out, he gave me an opportunity to give an excuse why I was going so fast. 

I suppose I could have said I had to poop, but I had just passed a rest area. I just copped to say: "I wasn't really paying attention".  He ran what he needed to and came back with my ticket and fine. 

That all said, it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. My last ticket, 39 in a 35, cost me $10 more than what I was paying here. If you break it down by mph over the limit, I got quite the bargain. 

All of this did not put a damper on our weekend in Chicago.  But 710 drove the last hour of our trip. 

Song by: the Go-Go's 

My Music Monday

2022 Rock Hall Inductees Month. 

Eurythmics are TOTALLY deserving to be in the Hall.  For the most part - they did everything themselves - write, produce, play, you name it. 

There are any number of 'obvious' songs I can throw up there, and all would be fine. But you've seen them before, here or MTV, or..........you name it. 

A horribly underrated disk is Savage. The band went back to basics here - just the two of them. No one else (pretty much). And it works. Savage is a bit more eclectic, but so great. 

I'm going with "Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)", it's got a good beat and sure, you could dance to it, but they're not gonna make it easy. 

  

Bad News

Not a total shock:  the news is depressing. 

It's dangerous, but I skim on-line versions and ban all nightly news programs from the house. Now and again, 710 wants to read me an interesting story - and now and then, I have to tell him to stop. 

Yesterday, it is the ban on social media for banning content. Texas has said FB, Twitter and the likes cannot ban any content posted. 

While I like to think it would get struck down in any appellate, State or Federal court, clearly, things have not been going that way.  This could be a whole new definition of the First Amendment if Ginny Thomas has anything to say about it..................and she does. 

Yet, the door swings both ways, does it not?   

I can publicly call Ted Cruz's wife, a sexually diseased immigrant whore, who likes to disembowel young girls 5-9 years old, and there'd be nothing he could do about it...............right? 

As Ginny Thomas' husband so nicely stated yesterday, current SCOTUS is not the one of the Ginsberg years. Any deaf, blind, mute could tell you that you fucking asshat. 

Guess what Clarence - the ones taking away women's rights to their own body:  interracial marriage is on their agenda too.  I have no doubt you'll vote to support that too.

Oh yeah, depending on which report you read,10-20 people were shot to death at a supermarket in Buffalo, by a white anti-Semite.  It's so mundane, that even in electronic feeds, it was below the fold in the NYT and CNN sites. 

Song by: Johnny Cash

Take Good Care of Me

Small-ish work week and a few days away from home.  I had a shorter time for images this week, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed especially. 

Shep loves his backyard.  Yes, it's his. We pay for it, but it is his. 

A moment of Sophie.  

Harriet is a basset hound who lives around the corner and goes to our daycare. 

I mentioned a year ago she hadn't found her bark yet.  She has since found it. Quite well, I might add. 

My man Henry.  I don't see him as much, but he always seeks me out at pick-up as he knows I'm a sucker to give him pets and rubs and tell him he's a "good boy".  .....and he is. 

Post big walk. 

Shep rarely reclines in the car. He was tired and a bit overheated. 

Getting groomed. Happy to let her take care of me. 

Song by: Rachel Sweet

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 145th 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.

05:08.  Morning gym.  Every morning. 6 days per week. 

07:39.   Long weekend trip. Finally taking two days off of work. First time off in 2022. 

08:03.  Unfortunately, it was a dog-free trip. 

Shep got dropped off at daycare / boarding. 

09:32.  Fangboner. 

Best. Street Name. Ever. 

11:16.  It wants me, lord, I can't go back there. 

13:37.  Hotel room view. 

Overlooking the place where Bob and Emily Hartley lived!

14:14.  Very late lunch. 

14:36.   F. U. 

Given the opportunity, I will always do this. 

17:20.  The El.  Well, before it get el-evated. 

18:12.  Oh yeah?  Oh YEAH???

.......or what??

19:51.  Sunset from my nephew's rooftop deck. 

We took him to dinner and had a really really nice time. 

20:34.  Walk back from the El to the hotel. 

Thus concludes one more 12 of 12.