A SIRENS' CALL (March 31/198)

SCAMMY SHAMMYS  In a brilliant move, one step up from the Nigerian prince needing money, I received a fascinating letter from a Solicitor's office in Ontario. In it I was the recipient of a ten-million-dollar bank account left by a Dr. Maria with no heirs - hoo hoo. Well, I had to give 10% to charity but I am perfectly fine with what's left. Being the curious type I looked up the attorney and there is actually a law firm of that name and partner of the right name.  Again, I am impressed with the scammer's attention to detail.  So of course, I wrote the attorney and sent him a scan of the letter for their amusement or concern as I put it. He, of course, was happy to pursue fraud proceedings against the letter writer.  I had also apologized for the orange clown and extolled the virtues of his beautiful country confessing to relatives from his area of Canada. He turned out to be a fan of Red Wings, Lions and Tigers (as a border town dweller) and assured me this too shall pass. Thank goodness for the ever-optimistic Canadians.

PLAYING AT WAR Who knew grown men/women would revert to cutsie emojis while they're, supposedly, raining down hell on the bad guys. Serious plans hatched in Signal chat like a bunch of Valley Girls setting up a shopping adventure on Rodeo Drive. The head of the CIA, National Security, National Intelligence (oxymoron), Defense, State, Counter-Terrorism and the White House (among others) must have fired everyone who could have instructed them on how to play Stratego or Sink My Battleship -take your pick - without totally exposing their proverbial backsides to the "other side".  Incompetence, arrogance, unexpected and inappropriate humor prevail while our soldiers are being compromised or killed. Big fun. 

Showing the merit-based competence that got them their jobs we can imagine "Do I need to save these coordinates on my phone?" asks the clueless head of Intelligence (Gabby) who probably just passes everything on anyway. "Boom-Boom" chuckles Mr Natl Security (Walz) while Defense's blue boy (Hogshead) arranges the after party or did that happen before the boom-boom? Ratcliffe (CIA) just whines "we are so misunderstood. We were just chatting about the weather". Meanwhile the only one with integrity and who practiced discretion is the journalist who was accidently put on the circle jerk.  At least until they started to malign his integrity. Surprise! He just happens to be editor-in-chief of a prestigious multi-platform magazine and possesses a brain. Again, intelligence fail!  I feel so much safer now. 

IT'S ABOUT LIFE STUPID After feeding his adoring slack-jawed adherents that vaccines cause issues, like life, Rkay, not a doctor or immunologist, promoted mass doses of Vitamin A for nervous parents. Leading to several cases of liver failure because Vi- A in large doses is a direct toxin!! Kind of makes you long for the old Fauci days, an actual doctor-scientist-immunologist, when we bitched about all the washing, 6-foot rule, masks and vaccines but we lived. Sad, I know.  

But pretty much that's the future when you lay off thousands of people who actually do know what they're talking about and close down all research and prep on the next epidemic or disease. I know if I was a germ I would definitely be taking note. When I was researching the aids/hepatitis program for police and fire I could actually pick up the phone and reach someone at the CDC for advice. You know not go on my opinion, or worse, the employees who wanted no muss, no fuss. Well, you have your wish and again my catch phrase. I feel so much safer.

SPRING BREAK Took the boy to the lake for a couple of days as he had the week off. Bowled a couple of times and a quick visit to the Air Zoo in Portage to replace his beloved WWII flight jacket. Kids insist on growing. Cold but sunny which was Joe's point when I caught him out on the dock fishing pole in hand -no coat and no shoes. I insisted on shoes but have given up on coats. Update -- the song JP sang at the talent show was "In the End" by Linkin Park. He said he couldn't sing like Bennington and I tried to explain that every artist has their own style. You might sing the same song, but it is your own rendition. Upshot is he signed up for both choir and acting for his "enhancement" classes this next term. Hmmm.

Ever curious what a frozen Coke can looks after it blows? Outside of coating the entire fridge from its resting place in a drawer it becomes a work of art.  See Pic. Ok Michigan State-give us a heart attack one more time tonight!  Peace out.....💚💚💚  💙💛

                                                                 

P.S. Money saving tip of the week. How much did the government save by just parking 20 truckloads of food costing one million dollars when marmie cancelled the food bank program in Cleveland.  Cruelty is the point. 

ROLLING ALONG (March 24/199)

The first five days after a weekend are the hardest...

OH THE HUMANITY "I thought the left, you know, the Democrats, were supposed to be the party of empathy and caring. And yet they're burning down cars.." Real quote from a petulant muskie to fax news.  This from the guy who labeled empathy "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization" as well as calling anyone who received ANY kind of federal assistance "parasites". Oh boo hoo, want some cheese with that whine? Being paid by the government to rip through every institution and federal program with wanton glee. Getting fat on government contracts and using the prez and commerce secretary to hustle his goods and buy his stock. LOL & OMG! 

 In other words, he was relying on our "softness" to ignore his evil, heinous behavior and big mouth. Guess what? We didn't. Just to show you we are not bogged down in that pesky old empathy we shall rejoice in your tumbling stocks and sagging sales. Call us cruel. It's the new world you and yours asked for and created. Karma's a bitch they say.

 Word must be filtering down or consequences from Washington have finally impacted one individual in our neighborhood. For four long years we have had to endure one neighbor flapping his ludicrous banners in our collective faces extolling the virtues of their beloved cult leader. They changed them out now and then but always allegiance to the orange one. An especially egregious one proudly stated           God-Guns-marmie. Like the Almighty had anything to do with Sir POS. And for four long years, our mostly sane neighbors never tore down, torched or pooped on the daily assault. "Cause the Democrats are supposedly the party of empathy and caring".

Oh and no tears shed for the mostly poor red state schools who will have to deal with no money as they torpedo the Dept of Ed. Never fear they have a plan. Posting the 10 commandments and prayer will compensate for empty bellies, no supplies, equal treatment or special ed. Somebody's got to work the fields after all the foreign workers get deported.

FRUSTRATION I know men find it difficult to understand why women take so long to shop. Case in point. Mission:  need one pair of black dress slacks and replacements to two leisure pants that are long in the tooth as they are worn...a lot!  (suits were easier actually) Result: Two hours later, one pair of dress pants and 2 shirts I didn't even know I needed. This is after, literally, trying on a dozen pairs of pants. Male clothing mission: need pair of dress pants and a shirt. Result: 10 minutes (including check-out) after trying on one pair of pants and picking up the usual size shirt. Difference? Women's clothing has a multitude of designers, and their sizes are not uniform!  Arrgghh Trust me. No one is a perfect size whatever. That's why when you order online they ask you who (what brand) you usually wear-see they know. There is no standard sizing for women's clothes and, insult to injury, the same thing costs us more. It's called the female tax. Or does that sound too DEI? Truth hurts....us. 

STAR POWER Ok, enough negativity about the proverbial roosters flapping home to rotate. We have a budding star in the family. Through his own grit and determination, the grandson made his stage debut. He was part of a talent show where he sang a difficult half-rap half singing number that he chose and practiced. Loving grandparents attend faithfully and pray he makes it through successfully. Surprise-he was a hit! Casually holding the mic in one hand, other hand in the pocket grooving with the beat got the audience bobbing right along with him. The cheers, outside of family, were legit. Did he sing a little too fast in a couple of places? Was he off melody a couple of times? Maybe but who knows with rap anyway. Lol. We've always said his future should be in musical theater. His outfit was reminiscent of Springsteen in jeans, work boots and a long black button-down shirt over a tee shirt-all he needed was colored shades. 

                                                                                              

So stay alert and keep your powder dry. Keep dancing MSU!  Peace out....💚💚💚   💙💛

If attacked by a mob of clowns go for the juggler...

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS (March 17/200)

RANDOM THOUGHTS -Beware the Ides of (in)March, we are much too feisty for one day. 

 Why is it so many folks, including the ones on LinkedIn that I consider more savvy than most, are still siding with marmie and can even justify the debacle with Zelensky? How do they not know that Ukraine is the only one standing on the precipice of NATO fighting to save democratic ideals. Fox News better let them know. Though even foxie conservatives have been a' chastising the "boy" for screwing with their 401's. 

When asked by seniors at a Michigan plastics plant to stop trying to cut Social Security, Vance's response was "Don't you all have jobs?" kind of fell flat with the crowd. Amazingly tone deaf and harbingers of things to come. Those 70+ folks better brush off their resumes. 

Cruising by a popular hang-out for the homeless folk, I noticed no one holding up their usual sign. You can tell the spots based on the amount of uneaten food kind folk present to them trying to help. Apparently, they take weekends off? 

Amusing that marmie said anyone who signed the USMCA agreement (because he didn't like NAFTA I guess) must have been an idiot. He negotiated and signed it in 2018. Now he's beating our longest and best ally over the head with it. And we thought he possessed no self-awareness - kudos.

Ever wonder why frauds work so well on seniors? You might think it is their lack of sophistication with the internet or failing mental facilities or just easier to scare. Nope it's because they answer their phone. Try calling anyone under the age of 50- buzz buzz buzz. They are desperate for connections and socialization. What we should do is force conversation and long never-ending get to the point stories on unknown callers. We can wear out these rascals trust me. As a past personnel director I had the pleasure? of listening while retirees talked about their cat, their grandchildren, Mildred down the street, etc. until they actually forget what they were calling about. I used to get a lot of work done once I mastered holding the phone on my shoulder and would usually answer emails as they talked. They eventually got there and were always grateful for the respect.  

In the continuing effort to make us, unhealthy, stupid and unemployed, the administration's funding cuts to Johns Hopkins will shut down a large part of the City of Baltimore as they are the largest private employer in the City. Another smart money-saving move by chainsaw mary. 

The priest at my church likes to start the service by asking if anyone has any good news to share. He was just bubbling over with eagerness to share his news. Reaching under the lectern he pulls out a large basket. "I know it's hard to get eggs right now, but someone gifted me some." Ok big whoop. But then he tilted the basket to reveal giant bright blue ovals that look like they were laid by a dinosaur. One looked to be the same volume as a dozen chicken eggs. He further revealed they were EMU eggs! Double huh. As I've not noticed many Liberty Mutual clones around the neighborhood it is a mystery. Especially since Doug, the emu, is, well a guy. 

Paraphrasing Jeff Foxworthy, "you may be a racist if you deport a Brown Medicine highly skilled organ transplant surgeon from Lebanon with a proper H-1B visa" or "detain a woman in Puerto Rico coming back home to the USA because she is brown". You may be a scared little white boy and racist when you deliberately ERASE all references to women, African American and Hispanic heroes who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery by order of two little scared white boys-marmie and hogshead.

Speaking of scared white boys, I always seem to be greeted at church by the grumpiest hospitality member in the group.  Very definition of an oxymoron, I know. It's like he darts over to the door to hand me my book to which I always say thank-you but never a friendly acknowledgement. Mind you these are volunteers, and no tips are at stake.  I asked another member why he is always so grumpy, and his answer was "he's grumpy and I'm sneezy" hilarious. He also services my row when they pass the plate and is in my path to hand me my bulletin, a regular three-peat. It has a become a game. However yesterday, he fumbled the signal and forgot to pass the plate so I'm frantically trying to throw money at it. We clasped hands as he took possession of the envelope. Nope-no change. Still handed me my bulletin with his trademark scowl. Totally makes my day.

Like most celebrity endorsements, a crappy car was hawked by a celebrity who doesn't drive and really hates EV's to followers who could never afford it anyway. Unfortunately, and humorously it was the president. 

We buried our friend last week and a more emotional funeral I don't think I have ever been. Wishing peace and love "that there's just too little of". Keep protesting, listening, believing and pushing change where you can. God bless Missouri because with FEMA funding blocked, you're on your own. You sold your soul to a man who doesn't even know your name... 💚  💙💛

                                                              

MARCH MADNESS BEGINS EARLY (March 10/201)

GREEN GREEN Why is grass always "greener"(egregious) when the dems play? When Marjorie (Jewish laser crazy) Green shouts insults while wrapped in her farm raised-mink coat like a schoolgirl wearing her bunny wrap at homecoming during Biden's address, we just sigh and move on.  But when a truly courageous old dude, also named Green, complete with a resplendent cane, cites the emperor's lack of clothing, class and truth while shaking said cane, the repugs are so intimidated they toss him out and censure him. Of course, the dramatic toss-out took a while, because well the man uses a cane. Talk about your thin-skinned snowflakes.  We need more dems like Rep Al Green in my estimation. 

                                                                                                          

Meanwhile same old same old. Tariffs. marmie creates a crisis, then resolves the crisis he just caused. However, the stock market is certainly reacting in a "predictable" manner. After putting financial people in high positions, the gloves are off in that it's probably all about making as much money as they can along with an alleged appearance of stock manipulation.  Don't get me started on a bitcoin reserve. Our economy relying on something that is based on nothing and only worth what people will pay? Again, I feel so much safer. Also, when is the fishman going to start cutting the more than 4000, six-figure emps who carry the water for Congress? Yep, they got that many "helpers". As soon as they finish laying the hatchet (excuse me, chainsaw) to Disaster Relief, Medicaid and SS (while raising defense AGAIN) the proverbial shitske will really hit the maggot fan. 

PEOPLE BE STRANGE We were waiting behind a lady with a full cart at the grocery store when she frantically discovers she has lost her debit card and searches for other means of payment. I calmly watch her try a check which is denied, then a credit card that she doesn't push all the way in and says it doesn't work. Just as she gives up and starts to walk away from her cart, the man behind us comes up and pays her bill! $134 worth. Now, $50 I might have helped out, but $134 and multiple payment options are declined? I don't want to say it was not legit, but I watched her use several means and no dice. Even the OH thought it was a little squirrely and he's like the Beiber song "Love Yourself" in that "he likes everyone". But kudos to the kind man in the back. We pass no judgement and applaud the charitable act. 

Another people be strange moment was the other day when I could not utilize the discount at Bob Evans as the cashier claims, the QR Code kept getting rejected and they weren't taught how to deal with that (like call a manager?). Last visit there a discount would be applied if I spent $20. As I was less than a buck short, I grabbed a loaf of banana bread which would essentially be free to reach the magic number. Again "no can do". Apparently the "slower" of the restaurant species is always at the cash register. I have suffered BE's constant text and emails and even downloaded the app to partake in the coupons available. Then it dawned, they had never honored one!

I have a hidden talent, frankly, which comes from my penchant (love) of taking offense on minor issues like that. Yes, I take things back and get refunds, etc., etc.  At any rate, I have developed excellent complaint letter writing skills. Never post publicly, unless the offense is outrageous, I'm never going back, and lives are at stake. But I carefully and respectfully reiterate the facts and behaviors and send it to the owner or corporate. My latest missive resulted in $20 in gift cards from the local establishment and another gift card from corporate. Amazing how often that works. I got a personal call & recompense from the English Inn (a restaurant who prides itself on a fine dining experience) after I wrote to the owner describing our less than fine outing. After 3 out of 4 awful experiences at a local Mexican place at the lake, yes, we went back four times as our options are limited out there, I wrote the owner and described my issues. For once I got no response so the OH said maybe not their fault as I should have written it in Español. Authenticity has its drawbacks I suppose.

MSU (BIG10 Champs) soundly thumps little brother michigan for the second time and of course the blues try to start a fight par usual by disrespecting our senior tradition. Funny how they are always the "other team" involved but "they never start it". They are the champs of that scenario.

Busy week with doctor visits, a conference and a Celebration of Life for our dear friend. Now as JP said the other day when he was trying to get off the phone with his bestie to go bowling with us "Geez guys, I have a life".     Peace out....💚💚💚  💙💛I Stand with Ukraine

STY GAMES (March 3/202)

TIPLESS WORLD As businesses pushes us into a cashless society, they are also charging us an extra service fee for the privilege of using a credit card! "Oh you want change for a twenty? Let me figure out how that works". Perhaps that requires an extra charge for the ability to do basic math. 

SERVICE WORLD Furnace/AC install went well until about 11 pm when the brand spanking new heatmaster started to do a little shimmy/shake along with powering up and down every time it turned off. Run, run, swoop down slow, slow then run, run slow, slow stop. Mesmerizing as one waits for the furnace's fan symphony to finish clearing its throat three times before turning all the way off. Sigh. HVAC folks out the next day to REPLACE the igniter which started the whole "let's replace the whole damn thing and quit replacing an igniter every year. As I understand it; they do not ship the latest igniter with the brand-new furnace, and it came separately. Huh? So, if you don't know that, you learn the hard way. Always comforting when the repair guy (not the install guy) has to keep looking at the instructions.  Maybe they should come to the install party together? Nobody got a tip, but from experience, I did postdate the check a couple of days. Going local we at least can get service within a reasonable time. 

Not so much with handyman/woman people. If you're working for yourself and are frantically, and frequently advertising your ability to fix anything, just call, you should probably make yourself available.  We have had mixed, well actually lousy adventures with handy persons. One lasted a few years, did several jobs and then ghosted before finishing the bench for the deck/pergola. I have to quit paying these people before everything is done, but we had had good history with him. I even checked police and obituary reports to see if I was banging on an empty drum. Nothing, so that mystery remains. 

Another one did some bigger jobs and even came out to the lake house to build a firewall and a couple of other projects. We gifted him with one of our precious all-beef sticks and paid his bill in full. All we needed was our key back. Another mystery disappearance. I think he lost it and was embarrassed. Dumb. Both of these guys did take some shortcuts so not a great loss unless you really need something done. Asked an electrical engineer friend to help on a couple of small electrical jobs, but obviously not a long-term solution. 

Found another possibility at the lake whose wife was frantically advertising his awesome skills. Gave him a shout when we realized upon purchase of a new generator, we had never purchased one in the box before. I was hoping for some assistance with the 220 lb. metal monolith. It wasn't about how to put it together, but more about how we could move the damn thing to put it together. While I was sending ghost texts out to the universe, the OH came up with creative solutions like hanging the beast over the tailgate to put the feet and wheels on and tying cables to it and run it down a ramp to the ground. I was playing second chair so my assistance consisted of fetching tools, reading instructions, pulling, sliding moving things on command and being very helpful when the OH ran into a roadblock on the wiring by pointing out we could move the battery box. It works and no cuts, bruises or broken bones -Success!

Of course, when we finally heard from the newbie handyperson, we went back and forth a couple of days before connecting. He diagnosed my non-working basically new dishwasher within ten minutes, and we arranged a couple more jobs agreeing to meet in the am before we had to leave. No show. I finally texted and the response was he had an appointment at 9. Ahem. Step one of running a business COMMUNICATE! I sent a long text and said we'd like to work with him, but we need to communicate on changes to schedules or I might as well nip this in the bud. We agreed to a meet next Wednesday pm so we will see if it's a hit or a miss and move on.

POLITICAL RANT I'm assuming everyone has been privy to the shit show last week with our dumpf and his mini-me, judy. After inexplicably voting with our mortal enemies (for 80 years) on the Ukraine war they then tried to ambush Ukraine's premier, who despite being outnumbered, rendered our fearless leader and wannabe mafia don petty and asinine. Which immediately got Ukraine massive support from the EU. judy's ranting about saying thank-you reminded me of an old grannie reminding President Z to thank his auntie for a totally inappropriate birthday gift. Perhaps he even offered notepaper so he could communicate his gratitude for holding off an invading dictator and saving democracy. Wow. Well at least our mortal enemies were happy. 

Also, as for all the massive layoffs of government workers (with prejudice by saying it's a performance issue), who the hell do you think is going to do the work that we, I don't know, pay government to do? It will affect everyone. Of course, since they have also outlawed science, health and charity maybe people don't get it yet. I have a family member who has often made the comment that they consider a compliment, "well you work for government, but I know you work hard". Where did this mentality come from? Name one business that has a 100% productive and perfect workforce. Just like other businesses, the majority are decent people doing their job. As someone who has worked in management and personnel I have definitely disciplined and fired government workers, just like every other business manager doing their job. 

But no sweat, the house passed a budget proposal that has the potential of cutting 880 billion out of Medicaid and 7,000 social security workers are also being laid off. Their thinking is the disabled and poor need to find a job with medical benies. Good luck with that. Maybe muskie should get back to running his crumbling empire and get out of the "people's business". Technically the government workforce has not grown proportionately for 50 years, and I can attest that every government job I ever had was in a vastly understaffed situation with the emps doing several jobs to keep things afloat-at less pay than the private sector. Humorously today, the trade-off was you were protected by Civil Service. However, you know who collected a paycheck without working? Right, political appointees usually with ridiculous demands of preferential treatment, ignoring established rules and procedures and causing general chaos. I have examples unfortunately.

THE BACKYARD MENAGERIE Nothing like new goodies like corn cobs to entice all types of beasts to the backyard. The birds have reigned supreme for many years and those below have grabbed what left-overs fall into their realm. It's always a hierarchy thing where the sparrows get knocked out by the starlings who fade for the crows who bow to the cardinals who acquiesce to the bluejays. We have even had some raptors who snatch a more meaty offering but that's nature. This year we added the corn and are hosting about 13 deer but also, ducks, rabbits, coyotes, a giant racoon and some other weird blobs that hover over the golden treasures that are impossible to identify. Suffice it to say, we are becoming popular. Though the racoon has sometimes moved right onto the deck after leftover seed and does not seem too spooked by humans. Come Spring all that goes away and the only beasts enjoying free meals are my hummers (hummingbirds). Could cause a riot at the door.  Peace out.....💚  💙💛