Friday, January 31, 2025

Crisis

So much I could touch on today - and honestly am having an issue in where to start. Or focus. 

BTW - you know how I said I can't continue this blog with political posts?  I know I'm digging myself in a mental hole (deeper than it was) but what the actual fuck??? 

I could string these out into 3-4 posts, but that might break me. This one alone might do the trick. 



Medicaid

But I'm starting out with a fucking actual HERO.  The governor of Illinois. Oh, he's in for a fucking heap of a mess and shit from the MAGGATS, but because he told the truth. Went out of his fucking way to tell it. Taking no prisoners. 



Gov. JB Pritzker is a fucking saint. Take at least the first 3 minutes of the video to watch. 


Holocaust II

I know (or, I believe) you all think I'm being an unhinged alarmist regarding a repeat of the Holocaust. I mean, let's hope I am. Let's hope that's all it is. 

But here's another reason I'm probably not wrong. 


Deportations aren't the thing anymore, if they ever were. Deporting would mean sending migrants back to their home country. 

Putting them in camps / prison with probably zero legal recourse is where this is headed. It's another link in the chain and seems so obvious that people just think it won't happen. It is. 


Government Workers / DEI / Airplane Crashes

The three images below are not unrelated. Quite the opposite. 


It's alarming that this administration wants to buy out federal workers. This is not to reduce cost, but to reduce resistance from people who know the agencies and who know their jobs.  Say, the FAA. 



To be clear, I don't think due to having no FAA administrator is why there was a crash in DC yesterday. I do think the turmoil of President Musk (I will continue to call him that just to hopefully keep fucking with the Goooooogle algorithm) interfering will continue to be a big problem down the line. 

Buying out air traffic controller's contract will be an issue. But hey - they're going after media control, food source, they've already cut infrastructure - but if they take transportation.......well........they truly win. 


Not an iota of sympathy for the families, the victims or even his military personnel. Nothing. Sociopath 100%. There is no way around that one. 

But if the air traffic controllers or pilots were persons of colour, female or LGBTQ, we will never hear the end of it. If they're not, he needs to shut hit fucking pie hole. Even if they are, he has to shut his fucking pie hole. (And if you watch the video, it looks to be clearly the military helicopters fault.)

And I know it would have been their last day in the White House press corps, but if ONE reporter just asked him, "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??", while he wouldn't answer (let alone coherently) every news outlet would almost have to report the exchange. AND.......it's a valid question. 

The depravity is non-ending. It is just vulgar, and I'm sick to my stomach - literally and figuratively. 



Song by: Bob Marley & the Wailers

Thursday, January 30, 2025

F*!#in' Up

Sep 10, 2024 — Former President Donald Trump denied any connection to Project 2025, the handbook for a new conservative government written by the Heritage Foundation. (PBS)


Who is playing Project 2025 Bingo?



Mind you, this is now a few days old.  You can add no gays in the military to this too, I believe. 



I have to believe someone is tracking this item by item, but I cannot bring myself to even look. This is so fucking depressing. Upping my dosage has done little. 




Song by: Neil Young

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Fool

Marathon training started last night 

Well......most likely half-marathon training for me. 

Physically, I'm pretty sure I can't do a marathon in the next 16 weeks. Actually, I probably can, but it would be s-l-o-w. 

Mentally, I'm not sure I can run either a full or half. 

I have yet to run over the five mile mark. I know I can, I just haven't. My injury is still to fresh in my mind and I'm constantly worried about re-injury. 

There is no way of knowing if it's an irrational fear or not. Well there is - I could run long distances and see if it happens, but I don't know where my threshold is at this point. 

I got a lot of 'welcome back's which is nice, considering it's my third year with this group and the first was pretty chilly. 

But then......the 'coach' who has been the 'coach' for the entire time, asked my name, so she could check me in. Lord. With some of them I'm at fucking square one. 

Like Troy McLure once shilled on the Simpsons with his self help series: "Get Some Self-Confidence, Stupid". 

I have yet to sign-up for anything in 2025. I know it will be a topic at my next therapy session. My doc will urge me to commit to something. Somg goal. He has been. I've been putting it off. 

I thought it was a big step to go back to training. But it is a 'training' group. Everyone there is goal-oriented. Save me. At least not yet. 

The group, while they train at the same time, will have distances for half or full marathons. Like half will run 4 miles one day while the fulls will run 6-8.  Stuff like that. I might run somewhere between, but I will try not to let pride or stupidity make me run with the longer group. At least not this time around. 

At least that's what I tell myself.  




Song by: Elvis Presley

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

I Remember

Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

There are two, actually. The one in May corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar and it marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.  The one yesterday, aligns with the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army in 1945. 

Honestly, if BLOTUS knew the Russians did something good for the Jews, he might not align with them as much. 

Short of klezmer music, there wasn't a great way to incorporate the date into My Music Monday. 

Even for a day late, and only a week into this administration, there is no shortage of material from which to draw on how we even got to needing designated days to remember the Holocaust. 

Yet........here we are. 

You might remember President Musk's pseudo-non-apology tour 18 months ago, after making antisemitic comments, which he claims he didn't do............but he truly did. And continues to do. 

This popped up on IG the other day, and yes, I screen captured it for today.  Sorry that enbiggening it makes it a little blurry.  




I don't know who blotted out 'death' in some fucked up censoring bullshit. Do they think that is the offensive part of the post? 


Anyway - this is how Germany got there back in the 1930s.  Not caring.  At all. 

One can claim "they" didn't want to be the Jews, the gays, the disabled, the Gypsies who were murdered and they were saving their own skin - literally. But it goes deeper than that. 

And this is how Holocaust II happens. Is happening. 

Mass deportations. Voting rights most likely stripped away. Media control. Stopping research for cancer and HIV. No passports for trans people currently.  

The wheels are in motion.   ......and so many people don't care.  Just like Musk. 


I fucking HATE to say it, but two people could speak up and call them out - but their lives would be spared anyway more so if they didn't:  Ivanka and Jared. 

How self-loathing of Jews can they be to watch their father and friends be ok with all of this? 


Speaking of loathsome children



This is happening. 



Song by: Damien Rice

Monday, January 27, 2025

My Music Monday

Maybe because it's the 183rd day of January, maybe it's the times in which we are now living, but I'm feeling a few grades below melancholy. 

I suppose that would be 'depression'. 

This makes for sad music. 

Sad-ish reading too. I'm about to start my sixth book of the month today. Let's hope it's a little more up than the last five. I mean, no book on Josef Mengele is going to be a laugh-riot, you know? 

The others have all been fiction - some with more updated references that still reflect (or include) some of today's political landscape - as is this new one which I'll be cracking today. 

Anyway, back to music. 

Years ago I whittled down my XM stations, to lower my bill, there are certain times of the year they provide me all stations. They do this for a week or two, I'm assuming to entice me to re-up with all 13,091 stations - 99% for which I have no need or want. 

The last time happened around t-giving and they never took any away, though it seems my pricing did not change. I'm sure it will come back to bite me. 

I'm normally not a fan of one artist stations. Does Phish need their own (no!)? Does Pearl Jam (no!)?  Does Jimmy Buffet (fuck no!)?  The only one I let slide is Tom Petty.  But lately I've been stopping on Bruce Springsteen's channel - especially if the selections are from Nebraska or the River. These are two of Springsteen's more down disks. 

I like both disks. The former is very stripped down, just Springsteen, no E Street Band. The latter has the band, but the songs that stand out are the non-radio ready songs....like the title track. 

I was torn between "the River' and Nebraska's "Highway Patrolman". While I love the latter, it might even be too down for you. But at some point you should give it a listen. 

I'll go with the title track to the River.  It's unofficially a sequel to "Thunder Road". Where that was an upbeat song, this is the reality of "Thunder Road"'s after the fact. 


Sunday, January 26, 2025

What's My Name?

I'm in a mood.  

Surprise Surprise. 

I won't inflict it on you today..........but.......who knows. 

Instead it's time for some nonsense. A week or two ago, this amused me. My husband and friends have been "tortured" with it, so why not you too?

The name. The shift of the head. Weirdly mesmerizing. 






Song by: the Clash

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Freezing

It's been a long frigid week.  At one point going to -12.0 °F, and it felt like it (colder with the wind chill). A few times, if the sun came out and there was no wind, the sub-zero seemed almost tolerable. 

Almost. 

It was a bad week to have the vet remove two bumps from Shep - which were biopsied a week or so ago and were deemed precancerous. The procedure went well and he's fine. I assumed this procedure would be more dermatologic-like but it was pretty extensive. 

I feel bad for the poor guy. So, he's had constant oversight since and will until his follow up in 10 days. This is his first cone since we've had him. I'm assuming he had one when he got neutered, but he was probably in the kennel for that - and not having stairs, doorways and furniture he has to navigate. He's adapting pretty well. 

So, on with the slide show. 

Shep giving what for to a bronze statue of a mule - which stands along the Ohio Erie Canal. 

Stylin' in his new Carhartt outerwear. I LOVE the corduroy collar.

No guilt. Right in front of me. 


Shep trying to relax the day after surgery. 

Simon not sure what the hell is going on. 

Simon likes the heat from the radiator below. Why wouldn't he?

I'm sorry, but the jacket just kills me. 




Song by: Nick Lowe

Friday, January 24, 2025

the End is Near

It only took Adolph Hitler 54 days to dismantle German democracy. It took him 45 days to open Dachau. 

It is looking like BLOTUS & Co will take less than 54 days to dismantle U.S. democracy. I'm mortified at it all and yet kind of internally laughing at any and every female and any and every Black or Hispanic persons who voted for BLOTUS. 

He put it all out there for all of you to see, all in advance...........and you didn't give a fuck.  So pardon me if I don't give a fuck about you. 


Compared to the U.S., Germany is quite small. So, breaking that 54 days is no small feat. 

This is about the only time we should be happy our rail system sucks. 











CUNT.  Bruce is a CUNT.  Yup I can call him that now.......because he is a him. The White House says so. 

CUNT. 




Song by: Jim Morrison

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Chuck (is the King)

Aww man - Big Chuck died. 

Chuck Schodowski (on the right) was a Cleveland staple. Well.......for a certain generation. Mine. 

I grew up watching Houlihan & Big Chuck. They showed bad movies starting at 23:30 on Friday or Saturday nights (I'm losing track now) with their own skits in between. 

The 'ski' that ended Big Chuck's name was important in their brand. Parma, where I was actually born due to it being the closest hospital at the time, is notorious for having a high Polish population. 

Of course, they couldn't tell "Polish jokes" on the air, so they became "Certain Ethnic jokes" (and Big Chuck played a "Certain Ethnic Man" (or even the "Certain Ethnic Six Dollar Man"), and the on-going series of the "Kielbasa Kid" or "Mary Hartski Mary Hartski" or "Ben Crazy" (instead of Casey).  And then there was the take off on a Cleveland standard "Polka Varieties" (with Paul Wilcox) with "Polish Varieties" (with Paul Whitesocks).  

Maybe that last one doesn't translate. A Cleveland joke was that all Polish people wore white socks. I'm not sure if that one goes outside city limits. And yes, every Sunday we had a one-hour show on Polka and Polka dancing.

I'd say, for a 10 year old, Houlihan and Big Chuck were HILARIOUS. But since males humour rarely develop after 13, I still found them hilarious as I aged. I can still hear the taped laugh that would end every single skit. And I'm smiling thinking about it. 

Houlihan would eventually leave to be replaced by Lil' John (middle), who would eventually sell 710 and myself our wedding rings. 

Big Chuck (I mean, we can't just call him 'Chuck') was funny. And for a coming of age gay boy, I thought he was handsome. That chin!

The show eventually moved to a Saturday afternoon and then eventually disappeared after UHF and VHF became a thing of the past. 

Big Chuck was 90. Even USA Today called him a Cleveland icon.  

He'll be missed. 



Song by: Eddy Grant

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

We've Got Bigger Problems Now

I am trying REALLY hard not to dip my toe into politics, but it's so fucking hard - and I still have yet to read a paper, an article or a newscast. 

I couldn't avoid my sister texting President Musk and his SS grandstanding. 

Truth is, I couldn't be less surprised or more despondent over it. 

The image my sister sent was a cropped version of this. I did a Goooooogle image search and sure enough most new organizations had the cropped version. ABC was good enough to show the entire thing. But this asshole did it with the presidential seal right under him. 

I shouldn't be surprised. No really. This is what the US voted for. Exactly this. I'm sure those who voted red are giggling over this as "nothing" or "blown out of proportion", but I'm quite thinking not. It isn't even a test balloon - it's the signal. 

(BTW........as Musk is from South Africa, has anyone traced his and / or his families thought on apartheid? I'm assuming since the Tesla cafeteria has force black people to eat together and other workers there call it "monkey island") that the Musks were (are) pro-apartheid.)

A few days before, whomever is about to head ICE already tweeted that mass deportations are about to start this week - and even singled out Chicago for some reason. But let's be clear - they mean Mexican. They're not expelling Russians, Chinese or Saudis. 

And I get I'm going worst case scenario here, but what keeps Russians in line?  Lack of food mostly. Sure. propaganda and beating down of minority groups and rebels, but the big driver is bread lines. 

Mass deportations = most the people who process our food. Who pick it, who clean it, who ship it. And who cook it.  Control the food, you control the entire population. 

If grocery stores, restaurants and the public aren't aware, then shame on them. Food prices will not be coming down, they'll skyrocket. But most of the crops will rot in the field. We won't even have access to them. Places to eat are going to shutter more than they did during covid. 

This shit is literally what keeps me up at night. 

This is not an exaggeration. Saturday was a 22 hr day; Sunday a 20 hr one. I go to sleep with my heart beating like it's from a Poe story. 

Granted, it probably was not wise for me to read a book about searching for Josef Mengele last week, but I did. 

In this book, his atrocities were described, but not to the extent of the actual horror inflicted. Of course that was upsetting even in this version - but the continual disturbing parts of the book were the people who housed  him in South America - knowing full well who he was. They did so willingly and with zero remorse. 

.....and only one was charged with anything, and nothing ever came of it. Not a trial, not a minute in jail. Nothing.

To me, this is the horror of today. All those pieces are in place, right down to the people who will gladly cover for them all. 



....I'm not sure you even want me to start on how this administration is about to control the media - staring with "saving" TikTok.....and BLOTUS looking into punishing Comcast for something Seth Myers said on his show. 

It's not just beginning........it's here. 




Song by: Dead Kennedys

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

If We Were Vampires

"It's knowing that this can't go on forever / Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone / Maybe we'll get forty years together / But one day I'll be gone or one day you'll be gone."

I think of this lyric a lot. I have since I first heard this song years ago.

Today 710 and I hit 'forty years together'. 

I'd say 'ugh' but that's more of a thought of time passing (and time left) than with whom I'm passing said time. 

40 years is a fuck of a long time. There is just no way around that. I was probably wearing two Swatch watches at the time. The horror!

I know I'm a better man / person because of 710. Better half, if you will. He is kinder, nicer, gentler than I. He is funnier than you'd expect, which kind of makes him even more funny due to that. 

Over the years here, I've said we had tough and trying times with the relationship. That was a long time ago, but things that have stuck with us from which we've learned - and learned not to forget or take for granted. 

I always feel weird when someone asks how long we've been together. You can see them start to do math in their head. I was 21; he 24. Obviously, at the time, we didn't know it would be a lifetime thing. Who does at that age?

When we married in 2010, the vows you've heard so many times about sickness/health, richer/poorer etc actually meant something. We had lived all of that in the 25 years we had been together before tying the knot. Couples who get married after being together for 2-3 years and saying those things truly are going through the motions. Those words brought us to tears. 

"Maybe time running out is a gift / I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift / And give you every second I can find / And hope it isn't me who's left behind."

I have also said in this here blog, I want to go first, just like the lyric says. It is 100% selfish and I recognize that. I try not to think about the time we have left, but hitting 60 just makes me feel old(er). We talk about age more. I don't know how we survive without each other - though billions of other couples have done it in the past. I try not to dwell on that. 

710 is confident he'll go first, just due to my genetics. He's usually right about so much, so here is hoping he is wrong on this one. 

The idea is to spend our time in the present and loving and appreciating each other - even though I know I make it difficult. There is a LOT of eye rolling on his part - and it is deserved. 

As you probably know, our anniversary / wedding dates do not match up. I somewhat regret that, but what are you gonna do?  January dates suck mostly due to the weather. 

We have nothing planned for today. Absolutely nothing. 

We had opted for a nice dinner out, as we rarely do that anymore. But it will be below 0°F. That does not sound like fun. And I think we would have done it, but Shep has a minor procedure at the vet tomorrow, so we are spending the evening with him. 

We will attempt dinner this weekend. I think we know which restaurant we will want to patronize. 

I'd like to say we are on our way to closing in on the Golden Anniversary, but we'll also be past 70 years old.........and that is just weirding me out.  I'm assuming if we are still ambulatory then, we'll do somethign special. 

You won't be able to hold me to that though. 




I don't often do this, but here is a link to the blog title song that goes along with the lyrics. 


The title image is thanks for Meredith, and is from November 2000. 



Song by: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Monday, January 20, 2025

My Music Monday

I half-heartedly tried to tie this inauguration day into today's post, but I just couldn't even start to fathom how that might work - or make me feel. 

Then I thought of something related with MLK day, but that was equally as daunting. 

So, I'm doing a pseudo repeat that does actually tie into the former part of my challenge. 

The third Monday of January is considered the most depressing day of the year - also called "Blue Monday". 

I honestly cannot think of a more depressing day and event colliding than with the third Monday than it is doing right now in the U.S. .  It's just mind-numbing.

So, years ago, I did New Order's "Blue Monday" before...... Once by the band on a "Blue Monday". Once as a cover - which was very original. 

New Order has remixed and released the song in so many iterations, though not really altering it, they are tough to keep straight.  There is the original (1983), then the 1987 remix, the 8D audio version, 1988 and 2016 remixes as well. And that's just some of them. 

I'm going with a mostly instrumental version that was on the 2nd disk of their 1987 Substance disk (which was mostly a music version of the songs - sans lyrics), and it's titled "the Beach" - which if you know the original song, those two words appear in the lyrics. 

Honestly, it's been eons since I've taken Ecstasy, but this almost makes me want to do it once again and just dance. A sad dance for sure.......but that's only on the inside. 

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Cooking with Blobby

Oddly, I've never attempted making pot roast. It is such a staple, if you will. But I have a not so complicated history with it. 

When you're feeding a family of seven, as my mother did, pot roast goes a l-o-n-g way. I was just never fond of it. Cooked carrots are a tricky thing with me. Soft enough to eat, but if they're the slightest bit mushy - like my men - I'm out. 

And as it turns out, I don't think I know the difference between pot roast and beef stew - should there be one at all. 

That said, I thought I was making pot roast. But it turned out looking like my mother's beef stew. I'm not sure what that says about her cooking..........or mine. The dish seems comforting and as the weather has turned cold, I thought, eh what the frick. And 710 really loved my mom's roast / stew.........but that's on him. 

I also thought this would be economical.  It is not. 

Clearly, I haven't bought a chuck roast in a while. Most recipes call for a 3-4 lb roast. Had I done that, I would have had to cash in an IRA.  Even at 2.43 lbs, I thought $28 was quite pricey. Yes, carrots and potatoes cost next to nothing, but still.........

Well, let's get on with it - shall we.  I will already start out that I left shit out of the top image, like wine and tomato paste. 

And while I reduced the amount of meat, I didn't change anything else in the proportions. Perhaps I should have - I dunno. 


Ingredients

2.5 pound (1.8kg) chuck roast tied 
2 1/2 teaspoons (16g) fine sea salt 
1/2 teaspoon pepper 
2 tablespoons (30g) neutral oil such as avocado, vegetable, etc. 
2 large yellow onions cut into large pieces 
5 cloves garlic chopped 
2 tablespoons (45g) tomato paste 
1/4 cup (32g) all-purpose flour 
1 cup dry red wine 
2 cups (480g) low-sodium beef stock divided 
2 large bay leaves 
2 tablespoons (30g) Worcestershire sauce 
10 sprigs thyme tied 
5 sprigs of rosemary tied
1 1/2 pounds (680g) red or small yellow potatoes cut into large chunks 
2 pounds (908g) carrots cut into 3-inch chunks 
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325F and set the rack in the middle of the oven to accommodate a Dutch oven with its lid.


Heat a large Dutch oven to medium heat. Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels then season with salt and pepper. Add the neutral oil to the pan along with the chuck roast. Sear until browned on all sides (about 15 minutes total) then remove the roast to a plate. 

Add a 1/2 cup of beef stock to the pot and scrape off all of the browned bits. Pour the pan sauce into the same vessel as the remaining beef stock and set aside. 


Heat onions along with a pinch of salt, and cook until translucent (about 10 minutes). 

Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes or until fragrant. Then add the red wine, beef stock, thyme, bay leaves rosemary, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot and bring to a boil while stirring to break up any. Add the tomato paste 


Boil for 2 minutes then turn off the heat and add the roast back to the pot and cover. Place into the oven to roast. 

 

After 1 1/2 hours, remove the pot and uncover it. Quickly add the potatoes and carrots to the pot and cover again. Return to the oven for another 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 200-210F. 


Place the pot roast and veggies on a plate and tent with foil. Remove and discard the bay leaves and thyme bundle from the Dutch oven. 

To de-grease the sauce, lay paper towels on top of the sauce to absorb the fat then discard or use a ladle to skim some of the fat. 

The sauce will usually be quite thick from the added flour, but for an even thicker sauce, simply use an immersion blender to blend the softened onions and a few potatoes. Alternatively, heat just the pot with the sauce over medium-high heat to reduce until the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon. Or make a slurry of 2 tablespoons flour and 1/4 cup of water. Pour into the simmering sauce and stir for a few minutes until adequately thickened. 


The roast can be shredded or cut into chunks and mixed with the sauce. Any large pieces of fat can be discarded right before serving. Season the carrots and potatoes with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parsley.


A few notes. Don't skip the seasoning parts. I'm not a big salt user, but this needs it. More than you think, and more than I used. I almost never use salt at the table, but I did here. 

I assumed (yes ass/you/me) that this would be brothier and not gravy-er.  The flour made it thicken far too much for my liking - which is what I always got from my mother's version too. I don't enjoy that. Maybe less flour, maybe more liquid? 

It tasted better in leftovers, but I wasn't wow'd with it. Obviously, I didn't feel a need to cook one until this point and I'm not sure when I'd attempt again. For that much in meat, I'd rather get steak - which would still be cheaper, albeit no leftovers. 

This wasn't bad. It was exactly what I grew up with. It's nostalgic, but not stellar. 

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Pretty Boy

Saturday is all about Shep and Simon. 

Weirdo.  Not sure what in the former tree was so enticing, but I nixed that quickly. 

Pretty boy.

Shep knows which car door is his. Always has. 

To be fair Simon did almost no provoking, but Shep wasn't having it and growled for a while. 


Mr Big Paws won't let me read my book. I wasn't about to move him. 

Tunnel effect.


Song by: Kurt Vile

Friday, January 17, 2025

Black Ice

As I inferred on my 12 of 12, I did indeed fall on black ice after running. 

I was first one done with the run and I was doing walking laps in the parking lot. 

This poor young woman - first time running with us - came running into the parking lot and right onto the black ice. I didn't see her fall...........but I heard it. 

It was after I helped her up and then went to continue my walk.... then I just went down. 

I didn't hurt myself - not really. Now at the doctor's office when they ask if I've fallen in the last 6 months, I have to go back to saying "yes".  

The following day I was sore-ish, but I told my PT two days later and she had me do exercises to help with what was hurting - kind of by hurting me more. 

Overall, I am better in terms of range of motion and strength. She could discharge me, but she's going further to find and fix what may have given me the fracture in the first place. As even I guessed months ago, it is probably my gait. 

It seems my right hip comes up to high, leaving a harder impact on my left when I land.  How I change the gait is yet to be seen. I have no great frame of reference on how I look or feel when I run.  Heel strike?  Mid foot? Different for different feet?  I have no idea if I'm doing it wrong and even if given direction, will I feel it if I'm doing it correctly. 

Mentally, it's been humbling. Not knowing has made me not want to run - always questioning what I am or am not doing. 

I cannot commit to any race because I am too worried about reinjury - and prices are going up. 

Bother. 



Song by: Peter Frampton

Thursday, January 16, 2025

the Miseducation of Lauren Hill

I had the unfortunate instance of being somewhere that was showing the confirmation hearings for the Department of Defense. 

Before the incoming administration starts dismantling the Department of Education, they might want to at least get a proofreader. 

Failed VP candidate, Tim Kaine pointed it out thought - not that it will matter, and not that the voting public for this incoming administration would have even noticed. 

Education isn't really a thing for them. 

I'd like to think that Democratic senators are giving it their all, but unless any able-minded Republicunts see through this Fox news host, the schmuck is gonna get confirmed. They all will. I'm guessing if Gaetz hadn't dropped out, he too would have gotten the green light. 


On a brighter note: I saw a headline flash about an Israel - Hamas temporary cease fire and possible releasing for hostages. That would be nice. 



Song by: Lauren Hill

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Nothing

Well, I made it to day 15 of the year. 

14 of those I had "something to say".  Allegedly. 


To be fair, it's been since November 24th since I've had a 'nothing' post. It was also a Wednesday. Coincidence? 

Do I just morph this blog into skipping days when I have nothing, as opposed to writing a post that I have nothing? 

Lots of other blogs don't post daily.  It's a slippery slope. 

But I'm cold and going to the bedroom to read my book. 



Song by: Depeche Mode

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Suite for Orchestra, H 125, Op 32: Uranus - the Magician

If "they" are to be believed, for parts of January and February, we should be able to see 6-7 planets lined up in the night sky.

How many will equate to 'when' in the days ahead. 

No doubt, where you are in the world might matter too. I mean, I'm assuming. 

Pluto does not factor into this......because, well you know..........Pluto! 

On January 21 (I'm giving you a week to plan accordingly), the inhabitants of the Earth will be able to see six planets in the sky at the same time - Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn. Little known fact:  If you look down at your feet, you'll also be able to see Earth. 

It is noted that on February 28, the seven planets of the solar system - Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars - will line up in a single line. Astronomers call this phenomenon a great planetary conjunction. 

Only Uranus and Neptune will be visible through binoculars, the rest will not.

For me, Venus and Mars have been visible lately. Very much so, actually. I'd have looked more last night but fuck, it was cold.15° feels like 4°. But the full moon was amazing. Everything was so clear. 

Being clear is usually not on the agenda for celestial events in the 216, but I'm hoping in the coming weeks something works out. 

Here is some 4-1-1 for those who want to check this out. Consult your local "news" to see what is viewable in your area. 






Song by: Holst

Monday, January 13, 2025

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 177th 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. 

06:51. Oats for b'fast. Just like every morning. 

07:21. Brush-a-brush-a-brush.

07:58. Sunday morning run group. 
That would be black ice people are standing on. In 60 minutes, I'd be lying on it. 

09:37. Bagel, cream cheese and hot tea with the running group. 

10:34. Quick grocery self-checkout purchase before going home. 

11:11. Massage gunning my IT bands. 
Hannukah Harry got me a massage gun for the holidays. 

12:48. Shep on a 50' lead. 
We wore him out with his big runs. We'd love to let him off the leash, but he's a flight risk. 

14:18. Starting my 3rd book of 2025. 
It's been good I've been in a reading mode. And mood. 

16:38. ....and then I fell asleep. This is what I saw when I awoke. 
Had a crappy sleep the night before. I was exhausted. 

16:51. Shower time. 

17:43.  Weekly Zoom call with the besties. Minus Dith. 


19:04.  Making dinner. Chicken and peppers (some onion, some celery, as I was cleaning out the fridge).



That's it for my Sunday the 12th.