My Music Monday

C'mon - if you're gonna do a theme with articles of clothing, footwear has to be part of it, no?  And I refuse to do Nancy Sinatra. Yes, I own that song, but I refuse to be a cliché.

Sure, I had my choices of songs, but opted to go with 1993's "Walking in My Shoes" by Depeche Mode  ....because I'm gay.

What gay man - of a certain age - didn't love Depeche Mode back in this era?

DM has a new disk coming out in a few months. I have to say, some '80s acts really keep plugging away - and successfully. I mean, after you heard "People are People" 35 years ago, did you really thing they'd still be putting out new music?

Yeah - I didn't think so. But then, neither did I.

Site of the Month

So, apparently Sean Spicer doesn't know, or can't be bothered to learn name of the press corp?

I really don't know. The most I've seen of the man is when he's being played by a woman.  ....and you know that has just go to tee him (and the entire administration off).

So, when I say I don't know him, I can't be bothered (i.e. stand) to listen to him or his briefings.

I'm assuming he can't be bothered (i.e. stand) to learn the name of the press corp - if this month's Site of the Month is remotely accurate.

I present to you, the Sean Spicer-ized My Name.


....and apparently I'm

...so let it be written, so let it be told.


What's yours?

Standing

Tis Saturday.  Shep Day.

Sometimes Sophie Day - but not today.

Shep and his new dragon toy. I love that he loves toys. And he plays with them all. 

Shep's neighbor: Shane. 

Shane cracked a toe nail, and they couldn't save it so until he heals, he has to wear a baggie on his paw....the poor guy. 

Bad pic, but cute buds met on a walk. 

Bo - the Mastiff, was ever so sweet. Linus, the Corgi was cute too. I don't want a dog as big as Bo, but he was quite the charmer. 

A dog and his boy. 

Given a little more time, I think he'll be walking upright very very soon. 

Song by: Patty Griffin

Therapy

Goo.

So I learned something new yesterday on the rationale for the goo that is used during ultrasounds.

Apparently, the waves just bounce off the skin if there isn't that gel. The gel helps the waves go to there they are going.

Still, it's slimy and a little icky.

I know this because I went to my first physical occupational therapy session yesterday.  They scheduled me for OT when the order really said PT.  I think it's the same person, actually, but the order needs to be physically changed or technically it's insurance fraud.

We went through some heat therapy. We did the exercises. I was told to put the band back on - even though the doctor said to take it off. And she (yes, a she - not a cute guy), did a tissue massage. What she was looking for were pressure / pain points. She found many.

The heat wrap actually started to burn part of my arm. She had to rewrap it. The ultrasound thing was weird the last two minutes of the eight minute treatment - it started to feel like little pin pricks - though every so slightly.

I know part of it is to stimulate blood flow, but I really don't know what it's supposed to do in the long run.

I did find out I allegedly have a bone spur right at the area of my affected elbow.

Oh yes, I say "allegedly" as she didn't feel it, as much as read it from an ultrasound (a radiological ultrasound, not a treatment one) report. The only problem is, I haven't had an ultrasound. She countered, that I had one on the 10th. I did have a doctor's appointment then, but no test other than regular x-rays.

So I guess I have to scour my bill when it comes to make sure I don't pay for that exam. But then there's a bigger issue:  who has the bone spur who doesn't know it?

I will do a few more weeks of PT/OT and reassess then.

Hopefully it will get better.




Song by: Mary J. Blige

Life for Rent

I am finally getting around having my car fixed from the crash-bang-boom that happened two months ago.

I was lazy and didn't jump right on it. The car was all very driveable, so why rush it?

I don't think it helped that I only somewhat like my car. It was great for a test drive, but the more I live with it, the more I think "meh".  ....and it's not great in snow.

The collision place had to provide the rental. It is 4-5 days, so what do I really care? It's taking me to work and back........and that's it. You're talking to a guy who with work travel, has rented hundreds of cars. There is no thrill. And as it turns out, they all use the same rancid-smelling cleaning solution between each customer.

As they wrapped up the paperwork, the guy goes, "you have your choice of a Santa Fe....a Mini Cooper or a....."  

Mini Cooper please!, I said, I sad.

I don't know why all the excitement from me, other than it was one of the few cars I haven't driven and kind of always wanted to.

Winnie - I named it Winnie, as in Winnie Cooper - has some pep. But I'm not a fan overall. It's loud, the sound system isn't intuitive and it smells. So much so, that in 30 degree temps, I drive with the window down.

That said: it's new and different. It has power and tons of headroom. Oddly enough, I don't have that in the Benz.



Song by: Dido

Nazi Driver

Blah Blah Blah Michael Flynn.

Blah blah blah.....treason.

Yeah - it's great and all that that douchebag met his fate 23 days into the job. But do any of us think anything is going to happen to him?  Do any of us think that this will put a chink into SCTOTUS' armour?

Yes - I said 'chink'.....but I meant it as a 'crack' and not an unidentifiable Asian - like Dump might say / think / do .

I'm more surprised Flynn "resigned". I thought SCROTUS would go to the mat for any of his picks.....no matter how ludicrous the person or situation. I just assumed he'd fight to the death for the wrong thing.  Colour me surprised.

My current issue is with Stephen (and you know he probably pronounces its 'stef-in') Miller.

For all the naysayers of SCROTUS not being Hitler-ish, you just need Miller's quote from last Sunday's Meet the Press to show you it's not so 'ish'

I'm not quick to forget that others in the administration - regarding his 'not a ban' ban - that the courts should listen to the one person that matters - the president. Clearly their 6th grade civics class with its lesson on separation of powers didn't take. Or maybe they were sick that day.

Of course, I think they're just ignoring that whole Judicial, Executive and Legislative thing on purpose to see how far they can go. And because they are evil evil monsters. And they don't think anyone will stop them - and scarily, very few people are.

Maybe between things like that last Meet the Press and perhaps Flynn being investigated will shed new light for the Dump supporters on what kind of man they might have really elected.



Song by: Soundgarden

Valentine

Puns.

Who doesn't love a good one?

While yes, the card that Becky sent to the group is funny on the most basic level - I think I'm more amused that Vlad and SCROTUS are dressed like Deiter or from the band Sparks{oh yes, they have a website}.

Of course, Vlad/SCROTUS valentine is just a similar image of Cruz/Dump last July.

Vlad is looking a little pasty; and Dump is looking far too pink - when he's really orange.

Neither here nor there - but it should be continually pointed out that these two are BFFs - Best Fascists Forever !!

....and as make-out pals goes - Putin could do a lot better.



We have zero plans for the "holiday". Well, that's not quite true. We've discussed getting carry-in from a decent place. It doesn't have to be fancy for us. It will just be nice that neither of us has to cook.  ....or clean.

Of course, someone will have to order and pick-up.   .....and it most likely won't be me. I'm the guy who rushes home to take the doggie on his evening hike.

Since I'm drafting this the evening before, there is only a 27% chance any of this will happen - other than the dog walk (that is a 100% certainty).  So I better start thinking of things to cook.




Song by: Fiona Apple

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 83rd 12 of 12.

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

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

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

And it's a dual post day - as it's Monday, so I also have a My Music Monday entry as well. 

05:37.  Yes, the clock is 4 minutes fast. 

I'd like to say this was my first time awake, but I know I was up at 01:30 and around 03:15. 

05:54.  First walk of the day. 

Rainy and foggy (though neither really show up well here) - Exorcist style

07:32.  Eyes go in. 

08:20.  Mat set down for yoga. 

10:30. Post yoga tea: complete

11:15. Doggie provisions. 

That boy goes through the puppy chow. He only has six more months before he graduates to dog fud. 

11:33.  Drive-thru. 

I'm not proud, but Wendy's was lunch. I've never encountered such a crappy staff before - which has got to be saying something. 

13:50.  Trying to nap. 

LEGO movie on in the background and one dog who insisted on pets and scratches. ...and someone did not get his nap. 

14:44.  Walk around the lake.   Twice. 

A little muddy, but Shep needed the exercise - and it was his first time there. The lake spilled over last week with heavy rains and all the snow melting. 

16:20.  Post walk. Post bath. 

Like most dogs, Shep tries to rub the clean smell away. He was tearing around room by room. 

17:00.  Laundry. 

Barely a Sunday can pass without at least a load of laundry. Yesterday it was three. 

17:45.  Lubing the heels post shower.

Gotta (try to) keep 'em soft. 

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

21:30.  Dishes. 

I was going to be lazy and leave them until morning, but the idea of that got the best of me, and I cleaned the kitchen - though 710 did the pans. 

So next month, the 12th also falls on a Sunday.  I'm not quite sure how different the next set will be. But stay tuned.......

My Music Monday

Articles of Clothing is the theme o'the month.

Since you rarely get to hear Gang of Four, why not let my blog be a forum for their work?

"I Love a Man in a Uniform" sounds like it should be a song by the Weather Girls, no?  But it's not.

To be clear, this Gang of Four are not Chinese Communist leaders later tried for treason. ....though I'm assuming that is where the band lifted its name.

I love(d) the line: "to have ambition was my ambition"  or "I had to regain my self-respect, so I got into camoflage".   They both just make me smile.

I won't quite say it is a throwaway song, but it won't go down as a classic by many standards. That said, I immediately downloaded it in the heyday of Napster. ....and in my iTunes liberry it still resides.


Today is a two-fer in terms of posts. Don't forget to look for my 12 of 12.

These Arms of Mine

Two years and one month later, I'm back at the orthopedic surgeon about my elbow.  My right one this time.

Last time, it was the left one.

Last time it was physical therapy exercises, meds and a band to go around the area - just below my elbow.

Since I knew all these things, I tried to self-treat. The problem is, none of the previous things worked....even in the slightest.

So, off to the doctor I went......well, after I called a counterpart in orthopedic surgery, asking for a reference for a doc who isn't a surgeon. I always assume they'll want to go straight for the cutting, when that is what I want to be a last resort.

The front desk staff was nice - though the paperwork, which my own staff gives to patients - I find highly doubtful anyone reads.  So much so, that on the top question on the second page, I almost wrote: "about 20%"

I was kind of a dick of the following question on the last time I had my arm x-ray'd....and I wrote "about 5 minutes ago".

I can't say I was horribly impressed by the doc. He was nice enough and seemed to know what he was talking about, but had little to no bedside manner. And he annoyed me when he called my malady: "golfer's elbow". Nor did he find it amusing when I asked when it changed from "tennis elbow".

But he said, if the brace isn't working by now, it's not going to. And this time, my pain is directly on the elbow, not slight below like last time. All the tendons come together on the elbow and I can't wear the brace directly on....so.......out it goes, I guess.

He didn't offer stronger prescription meds. He just offered physical therapy. One with electro-stimulation and some heated massage. So, I'll look into that on Monday.

On the chance that PT doesn't work - and really, why would it? - the next stage would be cortisone injections. And if that doesn't work, there is another kind of injection series to get, to which I got the pamphlet.

I don't know I want to get back to giggles.  I don't even know if I was ever there in the first place. Actually I do know that I was not.

There are other steps after that too - steroid injections and then, yes, surgery. But those are down the road. Until then, I'll wince when I put down a plate and I'll tear-up when I try to lift a gallon of milk.

Most gym things are out of the question. I doubt even with treatment that lifting or curling will be in my future - long or short term. Yoga is a struggle too......but I'm trying.

So maybe PT will be exciting. Maybe I'll get a cute therapist.



Song by: Marti Jones & Don Dixon

Toys

In a busy week of SCROTUS, work, and falling down, there is always the need for pet therapy. An good thing for you - and me - that we have it today.

Break time. 

Kooper and Shep take a rest between play. Shep seems to love eating snow. 

King of the mountain.....or at least of the house. 

Wild-Eyed. 

He's not horribly food driven (like Petey was), but he is curious. 

Sophie's indignity: having to share space. 

Boomer. 

We had dinner at my sister's house. Boomer was hanging about hoping Shep didn't run over him. 

New Toy. 

Bobbi our neighbor presented Shep with a new dragon. He walked all the way home with it. He is a spoiled little man. 

Fun at the middle school. 

Kooper and Shep having a good chase in the snow. 

Song by: XTC

Dumpster

I'm Dumping Dump.

The descriptor, not the man. He was never mine to let go of. I can't / won't embrace him.....unless it's to break his neck of suffocate him.  Yes Secret Service - I'm sure you can find where I live.

And as much as I like CheetoFührer it's not quite working for me.

So, while I'd like to claim this as my own concoction, Becky led me to So-Called Ruler of the United States.

Yes, from now on, the Donald will be known as SCROTUS.

And while I'm not completely burying my head in the sand - it's hard to take the news. Maybe I'm imagining it (though I don't think I am), but there is a LOT of SCROTUS coverage. I know he's new - and a dick - but I don't think Obama or even Shrub got this much coverage.....combined.

Yay to the 9th Circuit Court.  Of course, this poses problems for SCOTUS (sans R). No, scratch that, SCOTUS poses the problem. The delay of getting the case on the docket could mean having a 9th judge. A SCROTUS pick. A SCROTUS prick.


Not that I'm thrilled with the 'ban' ("it's not a ban!"), but the anger and hate coming from this White House is just as scary as the lies.....and the propaganda / whitewashing of the truth. Any truth.

They are literally - literally !!! - telling a lie until it becomes the truth.....and not only that, are saying it out loud.  The 'we will call it 'fake news' until you support the president'.

What.  The.   Fuck.

When the Wall Street Journal thinks you're fucked up and lying - and it is owned by Rupert Murdoch - then you're probably fucked up and lying. Not that SCROTUS has gone after them. At least that I know of.

I'm surprised not a bit by the confirmations of Sessions and DeVos. But you gotta figure, especially with the latter, you can't feel good about your appointment when you need a tie-breaker.

...and speaking of SCOTUS (sans R), I don't believe for a second that Gorsuch’s comments on Trump's judge comment ("demoralizing") weren't fully orchestrated to bring the left to his side.....even by 2-3 votes.  To me it's just an obvious play that I never considered he wouldn't take the opportunity to say something "off the cuff" in front of democrats who would relay it to the media.

The dems played right into their hands, of course. They always do.


Sigh.



Song by: Cuntfish

Ok....ok.  I do NOT own or know of this song. I do have another song I do own with 'dump' in the title, but this one presented itself and it was far far far far too good not to use it.  ....but mostly for the band name. 

All Fall Down

Blergh.

All our snow was melted, so I cannot blame that.

Yesterday morning I had a meeting off sight, so I didn't go in to the office, but planned to go directly to said meeting.

This gave me an extra 90 minutes or so at home. It gave Mr. Shep an extra 60 minutes or so free from his crate. It was a win-win.

While we had done our daily 05:30 constitutional, I took him out for another chance to go #1.

I had a plan.

When one crates Shep, they should be fully prepared to walk out the door. Coat on. Shoes on. Keys in hand. The whole ball of wax. If you do it properly, you can almost be at the door before the barking and howling beings.

So, taking him out before crating him throws a wrench into the plan. Either track through the house with wet, possibly muddy, shoes (snow melted and it poured the day before, leaving everything yucky) or take off shoes, crate and then have to put shoes back on. That is a lose-lose.

I attempted something else. I put on a pair of 710's slip-on shoes he keeps for taking out the dog. That was problem #1.  #2 was taking Shep out for more than a trip to the ground cover. He pulled me for a walk - I had the time.

Our neighborhood is old. I'd say about 50% of the sidewalks are original.......and slate. Slate is a lot more slickery than ceee-ment.

So, not knowing the shoes had less than optimal tread, Blobby went down........and he went down hard.  And while this is a semi-gay blog, I didn't "go down" that way.  Just to be clear.

It was one of those falls that you were on the ground for a good four seconds before you even knew you were on the ground.

There were a few problems, of course - besides me laying in sidewalk dirt and wet whilst in my work clothes.  I had landed on my bad leg. The one with the plate and nine screws. So there was that. I also hit my right elbow....which is another problem.

But my bigger issue was my fall and probable noise(s) I made scared one puppy.....and I also inadvertently let go of the leash.

710 and I had this conversation weeks back....that if he got away during a walk, what would happen? I figured out early on what Petey's reaction would be:  he looked back once and kept trotting away. The ingrate.

Shep is a special kind of dog. He looked back when he wasn't so startled by all the action, I called him, and he came running to me......as I lay on the cold, wet, hard ground.

It allowed me to grab his leash, while I tried to figure out to get myself up with a little dignity - though that had already disappeared.

So most of yesterday, I walked with a limp. But I can't say it's from the fall. Two days ago it was 57 degrees.....if February. Yesterday afternoon it was snowing. My leg is susceptible to low pressure fronts in terms of pain and limping. So......it was the fall or the winter.....or both.


That all said, I was just really really really happy with Shep's reaction. Who's a good boy??



Song by: Shawn Colvin

Everyone's Gone to the Movies

....and so it begins.

The Golden Globes were just a warm-up to the 6th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®

Truth be told - I just paid-up my wager to Mike (g-d help me, I link to his blog which hasn't been updated in almost four years!) regarding my humiliating loss to him.

Truth really be told - it was his birthday and he needed more sweets like Dump needs a new Executive Order Trapper Keeper.

So, that might not have been the best analogy, but you know where I was going with that.

And if I'm totally being honest, I didn't make cookies for him. I purchased them. I didn't even try to pass them off as my own. They should arrive today.

I did watch most of the SAG awards. Had I known Winona Ryder (trust me, click on the hyperlink) would be unintentionally high-larious, I would have paid more attention. But my take away from the show was: La La Land isn't untouchable.

Nor should it be. More hype than art. More fluff than substance. I felt better when Becky posted a quizzical Facebook response to the movie. Many people chimed in saying they didn't get why everyone thought it was so good - and how it wasn't close to being the best movie of the year.

I "joked" with 710 saying we should go see La La Land again, to see what we clearly missed the first time. Though now it seems that we missed nothing.

Still - the contest looms. February 26th.  Closer to the time, I'll give my selections, Mike will wait an appropriate amount of time to choose his. And as always - you are all welcome to join in.

But to warm up - we will be selecting from below.  So put on your thinking caps.


BEST PICTURE Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight

BEST DIRECTOR Denis Villeneuve, Arrival Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge Damien Chazelle, La La Land Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

BEST ACTOR Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences

BEST ACTRESS Isabelle Huppert, Elle Ruth Negga, Loving Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Mahershala Ali, Moonlight Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel, Lion Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Viola Davis, Fences Naomie Harris, Moonlight Nicole Kidman, Lion Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Hell or High Water La La Land The Lobster Manchester by the Sea 20th Century Women

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Arrival Fences Hidden Figures Lion Moonlight

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Arrival La La Land Lion Moonlight Silence

BEST FILM EDITING Arrival Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water La La Land Moonlight

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Deepwater Horizon Doctor Strange The Jungle Book Kubo and the Two Strings Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Arrival Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Hail, Caesar! La La Land Passengers

BEST COSTUME DESIGN Allied Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Florence Foster Jenkins Jackie La La Land

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING A Man Called Ove Star Trek Beyond Suicide Squad

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Jackie La La Land Lion Moonlight Passengers

BEST ORIGINAL SONG “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” La La Land “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” Trolls “City of Stars,” La La Land “The Empty Chair,” Jim: The James Foley Story “How Far I’ll Go,” Moana

BEST SOUND EDITING Arrival Deepwater Horizon Hacksaw Ridge La La Land Sully

BEST SOUND MIXING Arrival Hacksaw Ridge La La Land Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Kubo and the Two Strings Moana My Life as a Zucchini The Red Turtle Zootopia


Song by: Steely Dan

Come

When my friend Jeremy moved to Atlanta a few years ago, I fretted that it would be the end of our friendship.

There are no worries. We call each other now and then, but text often - usually daily.

Mostly it's about his "love" life {oh yes, quotes!} or being the only Jew working in a Christian organization. Both are fun topics. I get to comment on guys I don't know and will never know - and get to hear tales of the single life and how horrible it sounds to actually attempt to date.

Then of course, we exchange the weird things in life.   ......like yesterday.

Here is a pop-up news story that came to his phone.

Maybe he got busy, but Jeremy didn't respond to my comment:  did they slip and fall in it? 


Or maybe it's funnier because law enforcement has to provide updates on said bank robbery. Either way, I bet they don't put those exploding dye packs in the getaway bags.



Song by:  Fleetwood Mac

My Music Monday

It's my month for the theme.  One month, I'm just gonna say to Erik - just put on music you like with no theme.   ...which is basically what I did for years.

Still, I went with songs that have an article of clothing in the title.

Both Erik and I populated our scheduled posts for the entire month. For the first time in forever, I feel there will be overlaps in choices. I suppose we have time to rectify that if it comes to fruition. But I'll be innerested to see if we choose any of the same songs.

I might be stretching that with my first selection, David Bowie and his song, "Blue Jean".  Not blue jeans. Or dungarees.

"Blue Jean" came barely a year after his super big outing with his Let's Dance record. I remember the MTV premiere for this, which they must have played every hour on the hour. ....and it never gets tiring.

....and you gotta love when Bowie sings, "she's got a poe-leece bike.....".  And the 3-D make-up is just fascinating.

I love the song. But I love Bowie.

Your Latest Trick

I tried to warn others a few months ago about Dump flashing shiny objects to distract you / us / me from the important things in life.

...and if not important, at least the ones that are his failures. Sometimes they are both wrapped up into one.

I hate to say it - but this administration is great at diversion and distraction. They know America's short attention span and how easily we can be derailed by something so heinous as Kellyanne's face.....the words that come out of it.

So, while many many many many folks mocked, tweeted, meme'd and Facebook'd all of this shit on the Bowling Green Massacre (and of course, not delving into it - since I was working - I assumed it was Bowling Green, OH),the CheetoFührer & Co, went about their "work".

So while people were what I believe to be purposefully diverted, the new administration went about to kill a rule aimed at protecting streams from the effects of coal mining.

Yes, Flint, Charleston WV weren't enough to ruin their water supply for months, years or decades. Now anyone in or near coal mining areas get a chance to have their water tainted. And let's not forget any of the Keystone or Dakota pipeline folks.

And let see, I think this is a nice juxtaposition

No - not the Fish Furniture ad. Who would buy a sofa set from a place named like that?

I'm talking about the started attempts to repeal regulations against the banking industry. The same banks that decimated us in 2008.

There was also that diversion of Dump's first botched military outing. But they did a double diversion with that one - the 10 year old video the Pentagon put out of the 'raid'.   Lies. All lies.

Of course, they could be trying to take your mind off of Dump's Supreme Court nominee.....

The nominee nor the administration even tries to hide how far to the right Gorsuch might be: the Fascism Forever Club.  He's not just a member - he's the Founder and President.


Yes, we can mock - and should - this administration for just about anything. But when they release / say something so outlandish, you had really better take a look at what they're trying to slide past us and don't let them and don't let up on the vigilance.


.....oh, and he lied - again - and didn't really distance himself from his companies. The sad thing is, he untruths so much, I'm not even the least big surprised. That in itself is trouble, as the U.S. people just get used to the fact as normal.


....and we're up to day 15.



Song by: Dire Straits

Talk to Me

I think we have a good selection of pictures this week. I'll say we find our house to be complete again with a dog in the picture. We pretty much sit around every evening just marveling at him.

As much as I'd like to think that Sophie rules the roost, right now she doesn't. We seem to be more a slave to his needs. He's not quite as self-sufficient as Soph.

Snow Day. 

Blazing a trail in lots of snow we had. He likes the snow, as long it's not slush or there isn't any salt. 

He also loves the radiant heat floor in the bathroom. 

Squirrel patrol. 

Many a time, I'll try to distract him from the varmints. This time, I ran with him to the tree, just to bring out his dog instincts and let him feel in control. 

Bed time snuggles.  It might be my favourite time of day. 

Make no mistake - Sophie has the upper paw. 

She puts up with a lot from Shep, and she had been taking refuge as needed. The other night, she decided she wasn't going to take it anymore. Shep got whapped and he had no idea what to do about it. 

Shep is also a talker. 

He's a barker too, but he talks. No idea what he's saying or what he wants, but it's fun to engage him. 

Song by: Chris Isaak

Ad of the Month

My Ads of the Month have somewhat been pseudo-sexual in nature. I don't think that was ever the intent, but it creeped into them anyways.

This month's entry? Not so much.    (well, I hope not!)

It just made me laugh. Which isn't a small feat considering John Malkovich makes me feel slightly weirded out a bit more than say Willem Defoe does.

...and yet compared to CheetoFührer, Malkovich is the most normal person on the planet.

Seeing Black

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Your President of the United States.

You stay classy San Diego!

Yes, this was how Dump kicked off Black History Month.


I've met 18 month olds who aren't as big of babies as this pussy.



Song by: Lucinda Williams

Trampled Rose

Any more these days, I come home to see what fresh hell awaits.

Oh, it's not 710, Sophie or Shep......well, sometimes Shep, but to see what CheetoFührer is up to now.

Well, now plagiarist DeVos got her cabinet seat approved. You had to see that coming. She never went to public school so she doesn't know it's not good to copy of your neighbor.

But Dump, can't get away from him television showmanship - if that is what one chooses to call it. I call it P.T. Barnum with a cathode ray tube.

First - a televised announcement (in prime time) for your pick for the Supreme Court?

Second - you're bringing your two top pics and selecting one?

Doesn't he have to go horseback riding on a beach with each of them, have a picnic lunch and make conversations with lots of sexual innuendo before giving the rose to just one of them?

I'm basing all my knowledge of the Bachelor from the Soup or the People's Couch.

I know I should care about both (or either) of these guys, but I don't. Oh my - a middle-aged white male. Shocking!

The thing is, unless they killed a baby on national tv, the vote will go down party lines. And even that baby killing thing is not a deal-breaker for the GOP faction. In fact, it might bolster their vote....but only if the baby was a refugee.....because you know: pro-life.

The public can protest all they want over a nominee, but does it ever do any good?  And don't say "Bork", because I'll counter with "Thomas".

So far the Dems have not stopped a single cabinet nominee. Sure the votes are off by one, but you only have to win by one. I expect Sessions, Price and that Secretary of State guy to make i through as well.

The best the Dems can do - and I encourage them to, regardless of the pic of how qualified they are - is to hold up the nomination for a year or two. Give the GOP a taste of their own medicine.

But they won't.

They need balls. I'd say bigger ones, but they should at least try out a starter-set before they go into 'man-up' mode.

I don't know about in your neck of the woods, but here in the land of Cleves, they are running political ads.  I shit you not.

"Don't let Sherrod Brown vote against Jeff Sessions.  Call his office NOW".

I hate Ohio.



Song by: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss