NO KING/ONLY CLOWNS (October 20/170)

OPENING LINES I don't know why I settled on Sunday to create my weekly epistle. Sunday is my housecleaning and laundry day which necessitates running up and down stairs multiple times. Now that's a lie. I haven't been able to run up and down stairs since my hip/knee/back all took their proverbial, but very descriptive, crap. I usually cling to the handrail like a stubborn grease stain on a dress shirt; or a drunk koala to a eucalyptus branch; or a slug on a blade of wind-blown grass; or spaghetti stains on plastic...well you get the point. I am very ssslllooowww on the stairs, but I get a lot of steps in.  Plus, I owe the Director of MIOSHA a draft script tomorrow for our podcast next week. Feels like I actually have a job. 

Random:  Must be hard for the pseudo-Christians in marmie's inner circle to pray as they must spend all their time stroking his ego 24/7. Yeesh

EYE SPY Well the OH got his second cataract surgery. He now possesses at least one eagle eye. He insisted on getting sunglasses (Foster Grant of course) and readers right away, but I keep telling him "challenge yourself", don't use crutches like that until you, well, see what you can see. Regular eye doctor this week will determine if he can read unaided or not though distance vision is great. However, for the first time since before we were married, he has naked eyes-no glasses. As full-blown hippies from the 60's when I left for home to get ready for the wedding, he sported a mustache and naked eyes. Shows up two days later with no hairy lip and GLASSES. What the h---? False advertising, but we went through with it anyway. 

But then there is always some drama in life. Internet-love it or hate it-bearer of interesting facts and terrorizing info you really did not want to know. After successful surgery, according to the surgeon, OH slept most of the day with the eye patch. Next morning however, he woke up and said, "I'm seeing these flashes in the corner of the eye." Ruh-ro. One of those specific things they said should not happen and call right away if it does. Crap. I call and get a stepped up recheck time. Can you be here in 20 minutes? It's a 15-minute drive even without all the road construction and I am not even dressed for public consumption. "Of Course". I managed the hair-raising ride with only one yellow/pink stop light bypassed. He told the doctor my driving was a lot "different" now that he can see-real funny. Well, they laughed (all men).

In my few minutes waiting for a call back on a new appointment time I idly look up eye flashes after cataract surgery. "Very rare occurrence is eye flashes which could indicate a possible retinal detachment." Major crap. I decided to keep that fun news to myself-no sense both of us worrying, but it explains my running the red er er pink light. I made a similar decision years ago when my doc told me they found cancer and again thought no need both of us worrying until the biopsy. Not a smart decision as it precipitated a lecture on shared disasters. Obviously, I don't listen. 

After dilation and much rooting around no retinal damage detected. Just sometimes people actually see the edge of the new lens kind of reflecting in certain light. Apparently, your brain eventually decides 
"no biggie" and you don't really notice it anymore. The ride home was a bit more sedate and grandmotherly with nobody clutching their pearls this time.

Random: Wonder why they call it meno-pause. Are they thinking we just take a break and then go back when we feel productive or is that reproductive. Just call it End of Life as We Knew It. Depending upon your point of view, of course, it can be quite liberating. 

SAILING AWAY Need to find a day this week to bring the pontoon back to its winter nest. Not much of an opportunity to use it. And summer even gave us extra innings. Always seemed like something needed doing back at the ranch. Even our week with JP at the lake was pretty much a washout-literally between the other boat almost sinking and hard rain for two days. Oh well we still have Halloween out there. The decorations are up, and my candy stash and Butter Shots are ready to greet our lakey friends. I'm hoping to see lots of costumes and the OH is just hoping we get less-more leftover candy. We just found out the big party is up the street at the Island House where everybody dumps their leftovers in the community bowl and parties hearty. May have to nip up there and check it out. 

JP's concert was entertaining, and surprisingly those middle school boys have quite a few deeper voices in the mix. They were joined for the finale by the High School Madrigals. Not sure they were old enough to appreciate those beauteous ladies in their evening gowns as one of JP's friends said I couldn't hear myself sing as they were so loud. Oh well at some point...As they all swayed in unison singing "Circle of Life", I kept waiting for a grammar school disaster, but apparently a year or two of maturity forestalls spinning off the risers. They looked very mature with their hands at rest, their black ensembles and bright blue ties though JP had to take one lad by the shoulders very deliberately and move him into position. He also got some hoots and calls from the audience (besides us) when he came on stage. That's our boy.

Random: What do you call a ghost's favorite music? Sheet music. See how I combined music and Halloween there?

Thank you, America, for standing up for each other this week. Not a Hamas lover, anarchist, or country hating body in sight as we busily practiced our first amendment rights. Peace out/stay strong....💖 💙

  

ALL THAT GLITTERS (October 13/171)

HAS to be said. The military combat standards are the same for everybody-men, women, black, white, Hispanic, clown, regardless of what hogshead says. How do you think bone spurs got rejected? Now on to more fun stuff.

"Moving day is a great reminder of how out of shape you are, ta ta boom!"

CHAPTER 1 My way of introducing we have completed the 2nd and 3rd legs on the stool of the great sofa shuffle. After almost two months of waiting decided to "drop in" on the furniture store and light some fires. Which is really a bad idea in a furniture store-all that wood you know. Hello and who are you is a not an auspicious beginning especially when they thought they hung up on you the night before, hence the in-person visit.  

After a frantic ten minutes or so, it was reported that a call to the factory indicated furniture was finished and shipped, ruh oh; and a call to the trucking company indicated furniture shipped and delivered, double ruh oh. Ok, we're tearing the warehouse apart. Surprise! Two pieces of unassuming furniture with our name all over it just sitting innocently in their little plastic panties. This is Wednesday and they only deliver to GL on Wed and Friday. I recklessly said Friday, as the OH has his eyeball enhancement surgery next week. Which means I may have to cook, er, er, order pizza while he's out of commission. Only sizeable flyswatter in the ointment is that I have to move old stuff out before Friday to the lake. But amazingly when $800 is on the table movers can work miracles after stringing them along for 8 weeks. 

The guys who showed up were just 2 inches shorter than the low ceiling kitchen at the lake house. Their hands could palm a beach ball. They handled those heavy leather couches like they were tossing a golf ball across a football field. Very humbling. Conversely, the dudes bringing the new stuff were a couple of gents who were considerably older and smaller-but same physical acumen when it comes to bouncing furniture around. Double humbling. As we always say, the best tool in our toolkit is our checkbook. 

CHAPTER 2 We got to know our delivery dudes from the store quite well as it turns out. Both hunters and one runs a gym in town. However, that wasn't it. After watching their skillful back-up into the driveway, one hops out and starts for the house, then whirls to go back to the truck. Where he proceeds to pull and pull and pull on the door handle. Chuckling I assume he locked the door as he shouted to the other dude. Surprise! He managed to lock all the doors on the truck including the back. There should have been a cartoon bubble over his head as he tried to figure out his next move. Keys, phone, etc are now inches away from being useful. Taking pity, I open the door and ask the obvious. So, we spent the next hour or so chit chatting after I lent him our phone to call the store. But as the store doesn't open until 10, all he gets is voice mail. Raise your hand if anybody comes in to work early and answers the phone before opening time. Well, I always did, but I'm crazy. 

Considering the complexity of all the moves related to the new furniture between Habitat, M&M and Mapes, I considered this a minor issue. They, of course, were horribly embarrassed and if I had been working, I would have been ticked waiting around for 2 hours to get my furniture delivered. But we're retired and we are open to excitement coming in strange forms. I offered treats from M&M's to coffee to Crown Royal vanilla, but they passed. 

BUT WILL I BE ABLE TO PLAY THE VIOLIN? As if there wasn't enough drama, we also had doctor issues last week. First, I get a text at 6:30 am Monday that my regular doc is out and so no appointment which are made six months in advance. Especially after no snacks the night before and yogurt for breakfast anticipating weigh-in. Had an ice cream sundae that day to compensate. This is the 2nd time this they cancelled this year-I must trigger bad mojo for the guy. Last time the reschedule took three months, so I was surprised it's only two weeks but who knows. We don't do much but listen to my heart and lungs and argue about my blood tests so no biggie. However, on Tuesday I had the much-anticipated ortho appointment with my knee guy. Yes, I have a knee guy and a back guy. After much poking and prodding and MORE x-rays (I should glow in the dark at this point) it came down to do it now or do it later. My reckoning with my left hip has arrived. So, my knee guy is now my knee-hip guy. Much like my cancer & colonoscopy surgeon-you don't want to know what I call him. 

 I like to make these little "bon mots" as Dad called them. Like when delivering a baby I suggested we use the Volga Boat song as background music (think about it). I was also able to use the line (not my own) when the radiologist said these were supposed to be your golden years. I said they are as we're full of gold, silver, platinum, titanium...Only thing worse is entering your golden years without any gold actually. 

First concert for JP this week and I hope one of many as he pursues his career in musical theater (my wish) or zoology as he adores all that swim, walk and fly and can recite chapter and verse on each. We don't even bother to read the signs or listen to guides at animal enclosures, as he knows more than they do. Mom and Dad had to take him clothes shopping as the choir ensemble was black shirt-pants-shoes of which he owns none as he lives in sweatpants and colorful sneaks. Peace out/stay strong..💚  💛💙

HAPPY/MESSY OCTOBER (October 6/172)

"What do you get if you divide a pumpkin's circumference by its diameter?  Pumpkin pi (da da thump). 

As we crash headlong into the "Fall of the Leaf" (thank you ancient Britain) ponder that, by average, the cost of Halloween went up $11 to $114.45 per person! What the hell are we buying? Champagne truffles for the neighborhood and renting real ghosts? Like the horror show of our country right now is not scary enough. Tariffs be damned I say and spring for that Vietnamese-made "Wicked" costume. Nothing says 'Merica than southern Asia's take on little blonde and green girls. I vote for a home-grown "Old Spice" look for men wearing nothing but a towel and a whole lotta .... nice smell. 

SPEAKING OF SPOOKY Why do we care more about a crazy murderer's political slant than why we continue to make it easier to provide guns and IEDs to mentally ill dudes? Meanwhile, the local "gun and knife" show goes on notwithstanding a horrendous attack on a church. But I'm sure all the new purchases and purchasers will be registered and documented.

Hogshead and marmie had a big party and nobody laughed or clapped much to donjulious' dismay. Even when they said they were going to fire all the non-white, female and fat soldiers (to their faces) plus they can practice war games on American towns. Who wouldn't want to be part of all that macho crap? Word to the unwise. Loyalty to the chief changes based on whim so don't think you're not vulnerable all you fawning cabinet lapdogs. Right down to the repubs who would rather shut down the government than give Americans health care. You will not be rewarded. You are just more cannon fodder reserved for a later date.   Did you forget you got all three branches of gov-this one's on you. History will not be kind.  

TWO IN THE BAG Latest poddie is playing and I actually recorded the November program last week-yay. As the program was ergonomics and back injuries, we got to tell stories. I mentioned working in a bakery in the summer paired with a dude a foot taller loading and unloading trays from an oven. Nasty hot work, but I didn't show any weakness as I'm sure he was not happy to be yoked to this short little female ox. One job I particularly worried about was digging little angel food cakes out of the pans using my bare hands-no gloves. Their rough edges dug into the cuticles, but apparently nobody died, and I did wash my hands. The long shifts and constant and overwhelming "bakery" aromas made it impossible to eat anything, so I usually crashed on my lunch break and drank two cartons of milk for the 8-10-or 12 hour shift. I was certainly at my fighting weight that summer.

December podcast is devoted to MIOSHA probably rounding out their big 50th anniversary, and hopefully, not their last. Then I'm going to tap a security specialist who is dying to be famous. Can't wait to hear what we can do to protect ourselves when schools, restaurants, stores, churches, parades, worksites are basically shooting ranges anymore. 

WEEK AHEAD Two medical appointments this week. First my 6-month check-up of which anymore consists of reviewing blood tests and arguing meds, checking lungs and heart. Kind of a whole lot of nothing. Next day is the orthopedic consult on whether I keep my hip or not. Though basically they won't be happy until my spine is held together with gorilla glue and duct tape. The back surgeon called it plates and screws, but I know they always take the cheap route. 

After a whole morning with the eye surgeon the OH finally got approved for the second cataract surgery, so he's ecstatic. Like being able to see is such a big deal.  Of course, I predict the furniture we've been waiting for the last six weeks will probably show up necessitating a coordinated move of old stuff to the lake and new stuff being delivered. Then we have to move the pontoon to storage before the ice hits. Nothing precipitates a bunch of must-do chores than a surgery date so I'm assuming a lot of juggling over the next couple of weeks. If not, hopefully the furniture switcharoo also occurs before the snow hits. 

JP is getting his "sea" legs on the bowling league. He was responsible for all four points won Saturday. However, he was the only one who showed up out of four facing another 3 down 1 up team. Until football season is over, they keep playing short. But he was over average so all good. Little listeners. He took me aside to mention his history/social studies teacher may be a trump guy as he will make remarks about good things massa t does. I said just go with the flow which is sad as the non-mags have to be the adult in the room. 

What do you call someone who imitates your Fall decor - a cornucopier.😆Peace/stay strong.💚💙💛

                                                                                                  

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 💚  💙💛