THE SKY IS FALLING & IT SURE IS PRETTY (September 29/173)

COLOR ME As we lurch into another season-Fall-my favorite, we are mesmerized by the crisp evenings, vibrant colors, cider donuts and apparently summer's last gasps as we endure more 80-degree days throughout September. My Consumers bill thanks ye Mother Nature. It is also the scourge of dead animal season lining our highways and byways as we merrily crush them on our leaf-peeping road trips. This season is of decaying carcasses is only surpassed by the Spring kill when bored creatures driven mad all winter by the spouse and kits finally venture out for some fresh air and SMACK. Ah well. Another one-parent family trying to make ends meet. Though sometimes they venture out in pairs and double smack. The things we do to escape our lives.

                                                                                                             

WIDE WORLD OF STUPIDITY Crazy for the week. Mothers are now totally responsible for causing autism after heckle and jeckle told us to "just tough it out" by claiming autism, without evidence, is caused by acetaminophen (I can pronounce it). 1) No new evidence to support their spurious claim; 2) high fever and pain can cause harm to the fetus; 3) Tylenol was invented in the 50's and autism has been around for a hell of a lot longer than that. They just shoved children who were "different" into mental institutions. Not to mention, many/most autistic children live normal and productive lives. 

How many pregnant ladies took Tylenol, and nothing happened? From the lack of hands up, I say bogus and dangerous for making ignorant statements for publicity. We are being led by imbeciles that are basically claiming autism is all the mother's fault. The same folks who brought you horse pills and drinking bleach to cure covid. Then, adding insult to injury claiming a "cure" is possible for the few people who may respond to B9 (folate). God help us. For parents of autistic children the double whammy is devastating to their hopes and dreams of obtaining real help for their children. As the Darwin awards proves "they walk among us".

 RETIREE ACTIVITIES Attended a 2-day "strategic plan" session for the Safety Conference last week. Fragile egos were stomped upon, and ambitious decisions were made for the future. And I thought I was the only whiny-old person. Unfortunately, we were really lacking the input of our "younger" members. Two essential contributors invited to this 12-person last supper reenactment were 1) not senior enough at their job to attend or 2) had global responsibilities which precluded their ability to provide input. We stumbled through and broke 22 objectives down to five. Now the fun begins as we convince volunteers to serve on task forces to make our dreams a reality. It feels too much like work. 

Another podcast recording Monday on ergonomics and back injuries. Guess what? Training on safe lifting does not stop back injuries when one is competing against age and heavy awkward loads. Technically humans are doing lift-carry-twist, etc., tasks that should be done mechanically. But when we are young and strong and the boss can't see the point of buying equipment... Should be a fun interview with "Dr. Bob" who was the ergo guru at GM for 40 years. However, his resume poses a challenge as I need to pronounce words like anthropology, musculoskeletal and the real tongue twister anthropometry. Yeah I spelled it out in my paperwork phonetically "an-thruh-PAA-meh-tree. I will invite him to mock me later as I massacre the word. He sounds like he has a sense of humor. 

BOY IN CHARGE JP was tasked with checking in the cars and getting the numbers at the church dinner this week. Our friend who runs it became very ill and actually went into the hospital later that night, so it's a good thing we've been training Joe for a couple of years. Of course, Mr. Personality loves working the cars and ends up in long conversations with everybody. They always ask about him if he's not there. I know he will eventually get tired of the duty, but for now he's gold. Plus, he works for potato salad and Oreos, so good and cheap.  Peace out/Stay strong  💚  💙💛

WORKING IT (September 22/174)

 WORKPLACE HUMOR With all the frenzy about eliminating DEI, anyone notice the orange's entire cabinet is a DEI mess of unqualified people? If he's trying to make a point on the danger of hiring your friends, we get it. 

Waging war at work. To the strange argument that democratic cities just want more crime where the right welcomes a deadly crackdown of domestic troops, I think the right pretends it's just about evil people and our "woke" inability to hold them accountable. Of course, some are, but it's also because when you have no chance at a better, or in some cases, a long life, job, home or education, you may get desperate enough to pursue a path that sustains you. DEI offered marginalized groups a way out or nothing changes. So yes, it's a societal issue along with access to more and more guns not more soldiers busting heads and throwing away the keys.

Media work censored. Freedom of speech apparently only works one way as people are getting stalked, threatened and fired over any criticism of that white nationalist Christian that was shot and are apparently threatened by humor and satire. But a foxy commentator who suggested the homeless need to be dealt with by lethal injection gets a yawn? If they control your words, they will also control your thoughts.

Speaking of workplace humor, I was reminded of some horseplay that I negatively impacted as a safety skate. While watching the boy bowl, I was reminded how the plant dudes liked to hide pulverizer balls in odd places to surprise and amaze. These were used to crush coal so we're talking pretty heavy steel balls. Their favorite stunt, outside of the stray locker (oh my foot), was to tuck one in the maintenance guy's bucket so when he grabbed the handle the busted handle and ensuing prat fall was epic. They literally told me I was screwing up their fun. Just stick to dropping water through the grates from the 10th floor boys. Right up there with the bb gun they wanted to use to shoot pigeons out of the rafters of the massive plant-sigh. 

Well, the good news for young families is you now have an excuse not to bankrupt yourselves taking the kiddies to Disney.  In the name of "freedom" there are no required classes for open carry and no vaccines in the sunswine state. Violent or slow death-take your pick. Funny the no vac defense justification was we should not be telling people what to do with their bodies. No, really? Then I guess women just regained their right to choice in Florida. Hypocrisy in spades. Not to mention Fla is closest to Venezuela so probably first to be hit in retaliation for blowing up their "fishing" boats.

TO STAB OR NOT TO STAB Figured we better book us some covid vac appointments before our MAHA guy outlaws all life-saving boosters. Maybe handing a drug addict with a worm in his brain the key to all things medically miraculous was another of those DEI thingees. I never proposed we hire unqualified candidates as a Personnel Director, just go further down the list of the qualified to give "others" a foot in the door. But marmie knows better, I guess. 

Back to booster shots, apparently, a lot of people had the same fear as there was a bit of a backlog for the shot (especially younger folks) but we prevailed. Not sure whose version we got, but I felt kind of rocky for a day or so after. The hurry-up is legit as the latest from the hand-picked panel of vaccine deniers is no healthy person should get the shot and consulting with your doctor before getting the shot. Do I hear echoes of Roe vs Wade trying to place hurdles and slow people down from exercising their rights? But it also gives insurance companies an excuse to refuse to cover it, which could cause big pharma zero incentive to conduct further research and make the next booster. I feel healthier already.

Met a group for "A Night at a Brewery". We decided this was a good activity once a month and there are certainly a lot of breweries to sample in near proximity. As we are all north of 70 the first 10 minutes must be dedicated to "current health issues". We just go around the room. Some of us have hearing issues so we need privacy to bellow out our ailments in excruciating detail. I just smile and nod to save time or check the OH later on what was said. 

The boy is taking choir at school which he really likes. However, he pointed out as it consists of 7th and 8th grade boys, the tendency of voice/s to crack at unknown times during a song makes it hilarious. Your time is coming kid. The director has designated him a tenor.....for now. At a restaurant he and I were playing music trivia and much arguing occurred as we debated which 90's song we were hearing. He was always shocked when I actually got one right, but I think he was cheating with a listening app on his phone, so insults were traded mutually.

 We all have to dig and find the precious moments, or the world will just overwhelm you right now.  Peace out/stay strong.....💚  💙💛

                                                                     

IS SUMMER OVER? (September 15/175)

 BIG MOVES/CHAPTER 2  Step 1 completed. Dudes showed up on time and da da da da actually used the doorbell at the lake house!  I rewarded them for being the first people to ever locate and use the doorbell on the garage with a hearty handshake. One guy said "I'ts so obvious!"  Apparently not. I have it placed directly below the mounted anchor with the big "I" on it pointing straight down to the doorbell looking doorbell. Never gets noticed. 

As instructed, we had duly shoved our loveseat to the door on two furniture movers. Being young, skinny and unstoppable they immediately flipped it on its side and hauled it out the door down the steps. We quickly snatched the furniture movers, stuck them under the larger sofa and wheeled it frantically to the door. Again, no sweat. Rather anti-climactic. Hassock, television and generator were also loaded in record time with the whole operation taking less than 15 minutes. Considering the hassle in getting it all arranged, I was mildly disappointed that it all went off so smoothly. I highly recommend the Habitat people. 

IN OTHER NEWS Driving while brown is now a supreme court sanctioned activity leading to your arrest for just...driving while brown or black. Also having an accent. Or a low-paying job. If we had any doubts that all lives matter, according to the Supreme Court, they don't.  Also, nothing says welcome to investing in the USA than gathering up folks working with us, putting them in wrist, waist, and ankle chains before carting them to a detention center in armored vehicles. Yep, Leper Land is our new moniker. Ain't nobody coming here. I'm guessing it's a trust issue with Mr. "Art of the Deal". Our intelligence-gathering on this ill-fated roundup was stellar as not one South Korean wants to return-fancy that? Also heartening, China is buying exactly 0% of our soybean crop which will probably net us a slew of bankrupt farmers-so much winning, but at least they own the libs right?  

Good news for Florida! They are currently winning the race to the bottom with their no more vaccine mandates and pulling encyclopedias and dictionaries from school libraries. So, kids will be dumb and dead. Excellent. Apparently, they don't want them looking up words like racism, fascism, compassion, slavery, etc.

IN WORSE NEWS No one deserves to die for their political beliefs and talking about them. One of the cornerstones of our democracy. Kirk was conservative, charismatic, brilliant and hateful. 250,000 young white men (looking for trad women) follow him. What is gut-wrenching is the outrage for his death that was not present for the school children also shot that day, for all the children shot, for all the attacks and deaths of democrats where one heard crickets. All tsk tsked by the right. So don't ask me to cry crocodile tears for someone who happens to believe the way magats want, but cry for all of us facing this type of hatred led by the orange one. Guess we have to be the adult in the room, if they leave us any. We defend his rights to trash MLK, civil rights, black and brown, immigrants and women and the word empathy but the crazies are hunting down anyone who dares show any negativity about his message. How insecure are these folks? One of his quotes I will gladly borrow "Always forgive your enemies. It annoys them so much."

PASTIMES Got an invite to MIOSHA's 50th anniversary/reunion. Odd to see so many folks I used to work with looking so much older. How did that happen? Oh, guess I did too - lol. Though one lady said we sure miss you with the MTI (MIOSHA Training Institute). Though I was pretty much the main facilitator, founding mother, committee chair, whatever for the project I retired ten years ago! I think she meant that I was probably easier to work with when issues cropped up and was willing to take the leap of faith into changing things up when old ways didn't work. I'll take it as a compliment.

 Last good week of summer but probably won't get over to the lake unless it's a flying one-day trip. Doctor appt, fireplace repair and out-of-town meeting this week. Been like that all summer so not a lot of lake lounging was possible. Allowed BCBS to have a home visit where I thought we would get lectured on diet and chastised about throw rugs, but he basically did the minimum that my doctor does for my physical-weight, height, BP, how much do you drink. Only reason we agreed was we get 2 Target gift cards for agreeing. The things we do for free stuff. Peace out/stay strong 💚💙💛

                                                                                                   

THIS AND THAT (September 8/176)

BIG MOVE/S Phase one is planned. After much back and forth with Habitat for Humanity we have compromised with their "we do not enter the home" rule. We have agreed to "shove" donated pieces to the door, and they will retrieve so I hope they have long arms. My role, after shoving random pieces of furniture will be to look extremely feeble to back up claims made-the OH just comes by it naturally - LOL. It's all about the white hair.  Though we would need 3 hunks and a mule to get that dang leather couch out of the lake house. I think it all came down to the used generator-they wanted that old generator c'est la vie!  

Phases two and three depend on when the new furniture is ready for delivery, then it's scramble time. For starters, I am extremely nervous about what will be found under a couch that hasn't moved in years. No doubt popcorn, miscellaneous hair or clothing and hopefully no dead bodies (of any kind). My immediate reaction will be I need to grab the vacuum, but as the movers are being paid by the hour, I just have to grit my teeth and get on the road.

RANDOM THOUGHTS On giving Guiliani a medal of freedom-I think he would much rather get paid for all the career, reputation, life-destroying work performed on behalf of marmie duck. 

Yes, that guy "wlitwh" was an FBI plant in Epstein's world for 20-30 years...OMG and ROLF. That speak-easy mikee johnson is quite the lying little christian. I'd sure like to be at his second coming as he "s'plains himself". Points for originality. 

Other awesome achievements:  blowing up 11 people in a boat without due process; threatening US cities and states with martial law; peace talks with a ruthless dictator leading to even more vicious bombings in Ukraine; supporting another ruthless dictator leading to the total annihilation of an ethnic people in Gaza. Department of War indeed.  Meanwhile during all the signings of EO's (Exec orders) the marmie was handed a folded-up cloth which he failed to identify as the American flag. Yepper. 

DOG UPDATE Well the bad news/good news is the little Corgi's owners were found and drove back from Tennessee to reunite with their lost puppy (he was one of a dog family of six). However, it does seem to be motivating the daughter's family to seriously consider obtaining a new dog. Preferably a non-shedding type. Perhaps that was St. Zoe's plan all along. 

SAME OLD PLACE The habit of dining out on our anniversary is to give the cook - the OH - a night off usually for many years at a 100+ year-old mansion turned Inn. Built by the Reuters, the CEO of that new-fangled assembly line car - Oldsmobile. It was also once the home of Lansing's bishop and a seminary. Eventually it was turned into the English Inn. Sure looks 100 years old but nicely kept if you're into stepping back in time. Big wedding venue, etc. On a Thursday night, the five couples sharing our dining room were all celebrating anniversaries-LOL. Well, when you drop two bills for dinner, it's not a regular thing. At our 35th there, we were taking a break before the weeklong festivities and activities surrounding our daughter's wedding. On our 40th, we were also celebrating the news of a grandchild in a few months.  We must really dig their prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, not to mention the creme brulee. Though I always appear shocked when I discover the dessert tray temptations are fakes. Oh, mon dieu!

DROP THAT BALL! JP's nervous initiation into a bowling league occurred and.....he didn't die! After rolling 153 first game, everyone relaxed. The next two games were much less, but at least over 100 so all good as you don't want to get too high an average too soon. 

I am a fanatic about keeping my car clean. Character flaw perhaps, but I just don't like a lot of junk cluttering up everything.  However, when you cart the boy around who is always hungry, things accumulate. I found a Tootsie Roll Pop wrapper, candy bar and a bag of over-priced Boy Scout popcorn in the back seat. I'm now calling it the food truck car. I know the scouts are trying to make money for camp or whatever, but $20 for 4.5 ounces of so-so popcorn? That was the cheapest item. OH says "where are they going to camp-Hawaii?" But he's the one who gave in to the sweet little boy scout outside the restaurant. So, enjoy your trip to the big island, I guess. Peace out/stay strong 💚  💙💛

DOG IS GOD SPELLED BACKWARDS (September 1/177)

SOUTHERN CRACK Guess what? I don't care that Cracker Barrel changed their logo. Only know about it because the snowflake magats are complaining.  Wow and they think we're sensitive. Who gives a flying f.....? Do people really choose their restaurant based on the logo rather than the food and service? Actually, I don't care for their food as I am not addicted to their fried with gravy M.O. However, the store you can shop while you're waiting is fun. 

Oops now they've changed it back-really?  My theory is that there are about 5-10% (both sides) who complain about everything, but they do it publicly as most of us don't give a fig on the little stuff. However, corporate American caves to that lousy 5-10%

WHAT IS OLD? I was moved to explore the advantages of getting older after hearing from the grandson that it does not sound like a lot of fun. One just has to look for the perks.  A few thoughts:

Senior discounts and AARP like cheap coffee at McD's, discount days at stores & restaurants meaning you can eat dinner at 5:00 pm no questions asked.                                                                      

Selective memory-you remember more positive memories than bad.                                                          

You don't have to call in sick, you just take the day/days - no excuses needed & being grumpy counts.    

You become invisible meaning you can snatch the last exquisite hors d'oeuvre from the snack tray as no one even knows you're there; also works in groups or meetings-your remarks are not only surprising but usually on point which, much to your amusement, effectively upends the consensus painfully achieved.  (I have an upcoming 2-day meeting to disrupt)

Patience coupled with experience - we know what goes around comes around.  Since marmie has said he wants to go to heaven in one of his several senior moments- see first statement.                                   

More time to socialize, play cards, fish, take a long lunch, etc., even in the middle of a Tuesday. 

You no longer care to maintain any type of image and feel free to express unpopular opinions.

You can become president and just call it in and play golf. Or become vice pres & take constant vacays.  

A major perk verbalized at a party of our peers Sunday was that no one asks you to move furniture when you're over 70. Even when you own a truck. Which poses a problem for us having to move furniture at two locations. But imagine our consternation in the chicken coops when we found it costs 800 to 1000 to move 2 pieces of furniture 52 miles away. Ouch. Also, my ace in the hole, so to speak, Habitat for Humanity, will pick up furniture, but only if one moves it to the front of the house. If we could do that, we could bring it to them ourselves. Second Ouch.  Everybody wants to have new stuff, but no one knows what to do with the old stuff. Surely the haves and have nots can meet at some happy middle? Furniture and mattress stores that take the old stuff would have buyers lined up at the door. And obviously I should have invested in the moving and storage business based on pricing. 

ROLLING ALONG The boy makes his debut in a bowling league Saturday. Last time I saw him I asked if he wanted us to stay home as four people (Mom & Dad & us) watching might be overwhelming. No, he said he wants us there as well as other Grandma and Great Uncle and Aunt. Talk about pressure. He loves to perform, but he's got more guts than I had at his age where I would rather screw up in private and lie about it later. 

Possibly getting a new Granddog this week. M&K found a sad, little Corgi at a restaurant Friday. He was tired and dirty. After spending the weekend posting everywhere looking for his mom and dad, they are starting to think perhaps he is a gift from my former Granddog St. Zoe who from the rainbow bridge saw they needed a new friend. They temporarily dubbed him Dusty (due to his unwashed condition) until they determine if he truly is an orphan. I asked if JP had fallen in love. As expected, his Mother said "Instantly".  Fingers crossed. Peace out/stay strong....💚   💙💛