GROCERY RANT (September 2)

"A stack of toilet paper just fell on me in the grocery store. Not to worry, it was just soft tissue damage"

Anyone else look forward to their bi-weekly, weekly, ok daily trips to the store? Did you buy milk? No just picked up my prescriptions...again. They love to drag it out bottle by bottle exciting you with the quick text "your prescription is in" and then finding only one of several was actually ready. This is after you wait in line with absolutely nothing to look at besides bladder control products, hemorrhoid creams and protein drinks (should they be on the same shelf). What did we do before we had phone scrolling abilities?

Then a quick run turns into a scavenger hunt as you try to determine logically where certain items are paired up. (See previous note about pharmaceutical item groupings.) Shouldn't vinegar be with the baking supplies or at least laundry/cleaning products? Nope, it's with salad dressing. How many folks do you know proudly and healthily splash vinegar and oil on their crusty leaves? It's all about the dressing - usually ranch. Then try to find distilled water. Again laundry? Nope in the soda aisle. For the more advanced try to determine the locale for instant potato helpers or tuna fish. Canned meat aisle? What is canned meat anyway? Spam? But the chili is there, I think. Also does one start from the door or zip past all and sundry and start from the back? Milk and other refrigerated items are in the back though ice cream is in the front. Don't they both need to be refrigerated? Fresh fruits and veggies are in the front (by the door). Again, what logic would have that first? Your 10 minute run to the grocery store ends up an hour foray into the unknown. 

Asking the employees product locations is always a crap shoot as well. For example, asked where the canned fruit was, and the employee said I'll see and walked away. Asked another employee and they said I'll see and walked away. Ended up finding them myself in Aisle C-geez.

Especially annoying is the fact that items like vitamins, dental, hair, adult diapers, feminine products, shampoo, makeup, etc. is on the far end of the store by the pharmacy. Except the soap. I don't know where the hell that is. I buy Dove in bulk at BJs. One is thrilled when the list does not include both food and personal items. Though I do get my steps in. Then we have check-out. I have rarely been to my "mega-store" when there are more than 2 staffed aisles open. Though familiar often the scanner is impatient and unhelpful, and I always say that's the last time I use self-checkout. 

And apparently many grocery carts have been abused in their youth leading to the "wobblies" or the "three wheels working" syndrome. After meticulous selection, I always seem to find that particular cart and debate starting over again or just living with my bad luck. I have often seen where these hapless carts make a break for it as they roll merrily through the parking lot on their own until stopped by someone's brand-new Lexus carefully parked at the back of the lot. Tragic. 

😠Gear switch. If you have ever been to the Arlington National Cemetery, you know the respect and solemnity that it evokes. The employees, both military and civilian are steeped in its history and treat all of it with tenderness and care never forgetting the sacrifices of those who are buried there. Many are historians with wonderful and moving stories to tell. We spent an interesting half hour listening to a worker explain the significance of different areas of the cemetery. It is not a raucous or carnival-like atmosphere. Then along comes rumpiestilkins and outrageously sh--- all over the rules and traditions of our most sacred ground. Is there nothing he will not desecrate, trash, lie about where we finally say enough? 

And now good news. According to Fidelity Investments a record number of 401(k) accounts broke the one-million-dollar threshold creating a 2.5% increase in 401 millionaires. They went up an average of 13%. Non-employer sponsored 401's went up an average 14% in the past year as well. Damn economy indeed.

Picture of the week. Having breakfast on an old radiator sitting in a tractor seat. Peace Out...💚 💙💛

 

                                                       

71 DAYS, SIGH (August 26)

AND SO ON AND SO ON At the point now when the multitude of political ads promote a la la la response from me to hopefully drown out the cra cra. Love the one about Elissa Slotkin single-handedly creating economic disaster and subsidizing sex offenders by being "one" of the hordes of congress people voting for the CARES Act. This occurred under Trumpie (had his name on the checks even) when we all got a bunch of money for surviving the pandemic. I would assume prisoners would meet the less than $99,000 cut off for income. Oddly enough this once in a lifetime windfall allowed some to live beyond their means thus leading to massive credit card debt when they wanted to continue spending like more checks were coming (my take). Silly me. I just put it in the bank. UPDATE: I get it-gas and groceries are higher than 3 years ago-blame inflation. When people got money, they spent it on everything including home improvements and home offices, for example, which made things scarcer and items more expensive. Wages went up 22%. Interest skyrocketed to tamp down inflation-it worked. But people are still spending (packed planes, etc.) I'm a saver and never buy anything I can't pay for. I could not survive knowing I had credit card debt, etc. Houses and cars (though I keep both many years lol) need loans of course, but vacations, toys, new phones every year not so much. 

MUD THAT STICKS Political mudslinging has been around forever. Like when John Adams was accused of over-powdering his wig. Thus, illustrating being out of touch with the basic population living on a buck a day (a wage that persisted until WWI) though technically a lot more hours than 8 hour/5 day a week job (damn unions). Or the Whigs calling Lewis Cass (1848) a pot-bellied, mutton-headed cucumber in response to Democrats saying Zachary Taylor was, among other things, a crappy dresser. In simpler times (1800) the opposition just claimed Thomas Jefferson was dead. Considering the lack of fast transportation and a 24/7 news cycles that claim probably played for quite a while. Leading right up to 2000 when Karl Rove engineered robo-calls to help Bush by asking primary voters if they would be more likely to vote for John McCain if they knew he fathered an illegitimate black child.  With AI these days, the sky's the limit! Think Taylor Swift endorsing the Con. 

Especially prophetic was the 1831 National Republicans saying Andrew Jackson took for himself "a power no Monarch in Europe dared attempt, the most absolute despot now at the head of any representative government on earth who exercised indiscriminate removal of public officers for the mere difference of political opinion". Ruh ro. 

 Apparently, the RFK endorsement of Rumple in exchange for a job does not even raise a wrinkle, though technically a federal crime. VP Harris refused to meet with him when he offered the same deal. Hmmm. Could there be a difference between a prosecutor vs. a convicted felon? But with the supremies intent on dragging us back to the 1700's and the freedom stifling provisions of Project 2025 who knows?

OOPS On a lighter note. FAX News part of the fake media (and they have the lawsuits to prove it) checked in on "the other guy" to get his take on Harris' acceptance speech. In true and predictable form, it descended into an incoherent rant complete with beeps and burps from his phone as he kept hitting buttons to express his outrage apparently. They gently cut him off LOL. 

WHAT UP DOC? This was seeing your local doctor week. Total clearance from the back surgeon. I mentioned that after knee surgery, my back kicked up. After back surgery, oddly enough my hips are now leading the chorus. "Oh yeah, your left one is pretty bad." Thanks for noticing. He mentioned a doc friend that does hips. They really need to consider a package deal. However, as I also admitted I was back to walking up to 10 miles a day (painful but doable) he snorted. Basically, come back when you're wheelchair bound. Works for me.  Meanwhile the OH has been suffering an eye problem that necessitated a series of shots in the eyeball. Yeesh. I know. After delaying as long as possible, I mean who willingly wants a shot in the eyeball, the first one occurred this week. A quick numbing, look to your right and bing bang boom all done. A monthly routine for the foreseeable future. A case of imagination being worse than reality. 

The bird wars continue. The finch feeder is being emptied every two days and fights ensue. Finches, chickadees, sparrows and the occasional mad squirrel attempting, and failing, to make it up the slippery metal pole. Meanwhile, unperturbed by the action to the south of them the "hummers" jealously guard their own little "sweet tea" feeder. They only need to run each other off rather than any foreign species. Having a tiny beak doth have its advantages. Peace out...💚   💙💙💙

MELLOW YELLOW (August 19)

DID YOU KNOW? Anyone who has been to Washington D.C. sees the perpetual protest groups complete with brochures, flags and dance music ensconced in Lafayette Park across from the White House. Did you know the first group to use it as a protest staging area? The suffragettes as they lobbied to be considered more than a second-class citizen (1 step above slaves) and be granted the right to vote. Their proud tradition of tilting at windmills continues to this day. Democracy in action. Messy but interesting. One prez who shall remain nameless wanted the military to shoot them so he could safely stroll to a local church and hold a bible upside down. There was tear gas, but they came back. 

 PERSONAL OBSERVATION The country is full of outrage just looking for something to vent on. 

CAMERA, ACTION Back to work on podcasts. Recording programs ahead certainly gave me a good summer for recovery. Almost enough down time to consider how long I want to keep doing this.  However, my popularity precedes me as I got three requests for podcasts in quick succession. The latest one was with a local association for Road Infrastructure and Transportation. He promised to be political, and I promised to cut him off if he went too crazy. 

Spoiler alert. He backed down on that threat during the recording even though I teased him with a topic close to the issue-insufficient enforcement and fines for killing road workers. Though actually he claimed that the majority of fatalities occur to our ever-distracted drivers swan diving into the construction zone. I used to work with his boss when I was at MIOSHA and RC never backed down on a controversy, usually at a high volume. His final thought to my "Fix the damn roads" was "We build the best damn roads in the country".  May get pushback on that. Should have asked why they keep fixing the "same damn road" over and over or maybe I'm just imagining it. 

Next topic is a toss-up between the new Heat Stress standard or the dangers of molten metals. I'm all for riveting stories about foundries I have known, or rather my guest has known. The heat standard on the other hand has some really wicked and unpopular sections on record-keeping and references to 115-degree heat. This ain't Florida folks. 

WHY? A lot of things that seem to be common sensical, but in the safety world we can always be surprised. Like the guys freakin' out as the playbox sand they're pouring says silica: carcinogenic. Only if you lay in it for days inhaling it like a sleeve full of coke. (you need the sleeve as you have to keep wiping your nose). Or can a smell make me sick? Void yes, permanent disability not so much. Can we drink the water in the water conditioning tanks for an upset stomach? Well as the song says "put the lime in the coconut" or coo coo nut. Though it is calcium carbonate from limestone wells I'm not sure raising the pH of your insides is a genius move. 

Then the scary ones. Can't I just turn off the back-up alarm. It's bugging me and nobody pays attention anyway. Or having to address a building maintenance meeting to explain why a temporary seasonal worker cannot come inside with the master electrician when he accesses a live bus section. Or why did you go back into the sewer vault after the detector was going off? I didn't think the detector was working right..argghh. 

Followed by the ones that do not complain as they pull out a deep pit pump on the intake side of the wastewater plant. Or the meter reader who lowers themself into a dirt-filled Michigan basement to read a meter. Who would think reading a meter could be so hazardous? I was monitoring the work as we entered an older lady's cockroach infested kitchen and I will not forget the family group covered with blankets in the middle of the day in a house with bars on the windows that just stared at us.  I asked the po po to check that one out. But their biggest complaint? My not allowing them to wear shorts in the summer when EVERYONE had been bitten by an animal at some point when doing their rounds. After I left, shorts and white vehicles appeared. Ah well. What a party poop. 

The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on.

New bird feeder placed to encourage the yellow finches I've been noticing. They really love the birdbath so decided to provide the whole spa experience. Though I just saw a squirrel climb the metal pole so sq/inhibitors may need to be installed. Peace out....💚  💙💛

                                              

GOING FOR GOLD (August 12)

"I don't approve of political jokes--we've seen too many get elected" (ta rump bop)

POLITICALLY SPEAKING Which is how I preface having breakfast with ex-Governor Snyder last week. He didn't know I was coming; I didn't know he was coming but we were connected by a booth seatback, so I think that counts. Talking politics of course. Well, he was, I was just straining to listen in to him and his buddy. Caught the words of being an example which really leads to some fun speculation. Good or bad example? Dumpf or ,la? Weird Vance or Tampon Tim? (for reference, I have had feminine products around the male gender all my life and none of them died). The active gun range and wannabe terror camp near the lake or just life in general? 

Speaking of felines and supporters; this election is about cats and their rights to exist as substitute children. Their inability to provide their "parents" with extra privileges is just the tip of the whisker. However, their ability to slide into tight spots like boxes and cupboards do make them excellent spies. The intelligence garnered may or may not be provided to their owners depending on their moods, because, well they're cats. Basically, teenagers for life.

APROPOS Been trying to figure out the best shopping days when there are actually lanes open and less people to play grocery cart bumper tag. Apparently, Tuesday is not the day, though how so many people have the day off in the middle of the week I have no idea. But they were armed with children and full carts of unhealthy processed items-so much for all the whining about "the economy". And although I have made my share of snide remarks about how I should pay less for the groceries as I check out and bag them myself, I am getting rather good at it. I have even mastered 2 for 1, coupons and cash sales. Not having to send up the little red neon "smoke signal" when I screw it up is the grocery award of honor. I saw one lady signal at least three times. She should be banned from the self- serving world unless it was a distraction to smuggle a watermelon out under her shirt. 

You know, to get serious for a moment. We have the technology and resources in this world to feed and house everyone on earth yet we find it, apparently, more moral to build character through struggle. Meanwhile, the middle class carries the burden for both the rich and the poor, though we chastise the poor for being that way rather than demanding the wealthy pay their fair share. During the Eisenhower years, the wealthy were taxed at a 90% rate and the economy kept booming. It is now 35% as corporate backed politicians repeatedly slash taxes. And they want to blame the "other side" for ruining the economy? Too bad we don't teach history anymore.

FLASHERS A whole new meaning to lightening round occurred last week for the OH. After finishing 10 holes with a threatening dark sky, the thunder started rolling. Retreat sometimes being the better part of valor, they hit the gas for the clubhouse. Which is relative as those little carts do not have a tremendous number of rpms. Except when the 12-year-olds in our lake neighborhood zip around in obviously souped-up versions.  As they trundled towards the cart shed a tremendous flash made a close encounter of the nasty kind almost on top of the cart. I asked which one voided first? Apparently neither. 

After a short respite in the clubhouse with proverbial buckets coming down, they made the next dash to the truck on foot. The OH figured he was already soaked so why run. Still outside while his screaming (internally) friend was already ensconced in the truck the second flash hit the ground trying to finish the job. He should have bought lottery tickets. 

Now I must break for the Closing Ceremony-Thank you world for the sports, love and togetherness if only for a moment.

AND FINALLY "The word politics comes from poly, meaning many, and ticks, meaning bloodsucking parasites"                 Peace Out.....💚  💙💛

                                    

LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING (August 5)

I had a bad case of the peekaboos. The hospital put me in ICU.  

OPENING UP Which is one way of introducing WINDOW WEEK! One of the hottest weeks this summer and that's when Andersen decided to send their crew in to open things up.  Fortunately, they sent a crew of ex-Georgians who find 90 degrees refreshing. I did offer bathroom, refrigerator and cooling spots of course. They said the weather was much better up here and they get paid better-who would'a thunk it? Most polite gentlemen who sprinkled Ma'ams like powdered sugar on a plate of cookies. I believe I even said "bless your heart" once when they gallantly helped with stubborn furniture. Yes, we tip contractors when they go above and beyond like fixing the relatively new deck when one of the boards took a trip south. Install comes just in time as I believe Consumers is celebrating their most recent rate hike. As I often say, "wonder what the poor people do"? (usually at the pharmacy)

Our problematic patio doors are now history as I manipulate the new ones with the tip of a finger. No more banging, pushing, lifting said doors to open and close. Assuming our house is doing its best to return to the earth (houses settle) we heard a mumble that it took $40 worth of caulk to get the seal just right. Yes, yes, we saved $15 grand, but like most sales they jack up the price, so you feel like you won. Still an obscene amount of money but I guess asking 50-year-old doors and windows to hang in there a bit longer was not an option. The workers claimed they could feel a regular breeze coming out of the bottom of the old door. So technically my electric bill should drop $100 since I am no longer "air conditioning" an open patio, right? No wonder squirrels and chipmunks and the occasional rabbit like hanging out there. Should have noticed the fur moving as they basked in my costly artificial breeze.

                                

The airplane carrier for the horses to the Olympics is named "Air Horse One"

HERSTORY. Sunday before our epic window week we enjoyed a little cruise down the Grand River outside of downtown Lansing. Our friends invited us to a "historical" program but assured there would be wine. There was wine. Our safety talk from the Captain included "since the depth is about 10 to 12 feet in case of an accident we will only descend as far as the second deck and the bar will be open until rescue". Oh yeah, they also had life preservers. Plus, the pseudo paddlewheel (and diesel) boat can only go so far before it makes contact with a bridge, so it is an abridged (pun) version of a river trip. The History Lady decked out in 1900's garb revealed she had created her "historic" pictures through the assistance of AI (huh). Possibly she was also AI, especially when she mentioned a former zoo on the site that tended to lose its animals to thwarted escape attempts. The bear was recaptured...however the alligator may still be roaming free. Lunching on small boys by the missing alligator was also mentioned so I am more convinced she was a robot. You know, because of the no emotion thingee.

History Lady also talked about some slickers from New York I believe, who sold people a lot of swamp land later renamed Lansing. I guess they figured out how to work with that. Further hilarity ensued when she said Lansing became the Capital when legislators from the actually populated areas of Michigan got tired of arguing and just voted the next suggestion that hit the floor. Surprise! Talk about exploiting folks about swamp land. I guess that also worked out. As we had wine, food and lots of cookies we didn't argue any messy details or question possible fake news.  I did put my recent back surgery to the test by climbing very steep boat stairs with a glass of wine in my hand. No wine was lost so success.

"If attacked by a mob of clowns go for the juggler." I don't know I just like puns. Peace out..💚  💛💙

SUMMER'S BACKKKKK (July 29)

OBSESSION Ok, ok. I have a thing for ice cream; Ben & Jerry's to be specific. Yes, I try to eat lo-cal, no sugar popsicles, but sometimes you just need the real thing. I can make a pint last several days, but whenever I have some in the 'fridge it calls my name late in the evening until I succumb. I am weak. It used to be my go-to when I was on the road. Nothing like hitting a grocery store and grabbing a half pint and then devouring it in my room after dinner. YOLO (you only live once) though a lot of time is consumed by worrying about how much I ate or what I ate. How do we get that way. It's been especially aggravating as my walking keeps getting curtailed. By basic starvation and pushing the illegal exercise I have maintained my weight, but I really hate the obsessing about it. 

Television or internet does not help with their constant subtle jabs advertising the next great treat, which is never particularly healthy. Then there is the socializing where wine and desserts flow unabated. Cannot go a'visiting without treat in hand and people usually object to a potful of legumes or carrot/celery sticks. Not overtly, just a gentle sniff and lots of leftovers. 

AND SO, IT GOES Another fascinating week in politics. A bizarre VP pick and a new Presidential candidate launched. Literally the rump explained the JD pick was because "he likes me the best". Find me the barf bucket when I think he can't get any more narcissistic. Lots of talk about "God spared me" but no particular concern for the man who died instead. And his people lap it up like hungry coyotes hovering over a carcass. 

As for Vance, he is a man who believes violence is an illegitimate reason for divorce regardless of his front seat at his grandparent's lethal marriage which included child rape, drunken attacks and trying to burn one's better half. But they never got divorced he proclaims! That lady knew her place of housekeeping, raising the kids and defense. The "other side" is full of childless cat people apparently. Well cats do need love and food and clean litter. 

He also believes childless people should pay more in taxes. Bet the rich didn't see that one coming. And if we had any further illusions, he described a bizarre situation in his first speech. He lauded an example of an older lady with 16 guns secreted around her house, so she is always near lethal force as a celebration of the second amendment. I just call it nuts. A hapless salesman approaches this lady's door and is greeted with the eyeball of a .45 from Grandma Death. Hopefully any grandchildren don't go looking for a pair of scissors in the kitchen drawer or utilize the clothes hamper; each of which is marked with a tastefully rendered skull and crossbones I imagine and the smell of gunpowder.

VIVE LA FRANCE On another topic. I thought the Olympic Opening Ceremony was fantastic and, so French. From decapitated Marie Antoinette to the Phantom, to the provocative menage 'a trois to the humorous drag fashion show. The music was sublime and the lighting and ascent of the balloon/torch amazing. Some thought it was "too French", but I think they have the sophistication to parody themselves in most delightful ways. And for those who were offended by the last supper bit, what is much more dangerous is rumple silly kin proclaiming to a conservative religious organization Turning Point that they only have to vote once for him and "everything would be fixed" so they never had to vote again. And they want to call Biden impaired. Impaired and evil is much more offensive. The fact that he literally said it OUT LOUD should have people walking, no running to the ballot box as in his plan there will be no ballot box in the future. Media are you listening? UPDATE: The majority thought it was a fashion show with drag stars though the banquet was actually a humorous rendition of a painting from Greek mythology, but outrage needs a target, I guess.

Kamala has been called too liberal as she has spent much of her career fighting for things like maternal health care, equal rights and supporting the police while creating job training programs for first time young offenders which hits her both ways. The critics say she changes her mind; at the same time that she is labeled totally progressive liberal. Like it's wrong to change your mind, decision or stance with new information or when the windmill banging proves ineffective. So, if that is too liberal, count me in. We don't have all the facts yet, but definition:  Liberal means using our tax money for programs that benefit the people, the bane of the Republican party.

LIFE AFTER DEATH? Another fun fact about aging is thinking about "final" plans. If one has money and time, it is a major boon to your loved ones to handle such arrangements ahead of time. Some friends recently made the investment and apparently, they were offered multiple spots in ye old skeleton park. They were told, no shi--, that people are very picky: sun or shade; near the noisy road or near the woods. But the topper was the dude who insisted on laying down in his tentative choice to see how it feels-huh? What am I missing here? I assumed I would be moving on, not just taking an eternal dirt nap, especially as I prefer to be rendered into a little pile of charcoal. 

YOU CAN'T SEE ME... In reference to the Howell march, why do white supremacists and KKK faithful wear hoods and masks? Maybe because they know they are wrong and want to stay friends with their neighbors? Try the last part first.  

Our picture today is brought to you by an annoying woodchuck who managed to take a bite out of a beautiful home garden tomato through the cage! Maybe he needed to floss. Peace out.....💚  💙💛

                                                                 

(July 22)

UPDATE For a couple of reasons, I did not post last week. After an over do do at our annual birthday bash at the lake and subsequent clean-up I was post-surgical tired. Never had this problem from previous surgeries. Recovery mostly consisted of a lot of cussing and moaning over the PT I had to endure. Healing, as always is fast for the aged whippersnapper, but it is the surprising need to "nap" that has slowed me down. Only PT with the back is walking-oh my-my go-to anyway. Averaging about 10-12,000 (about 10,000 below my normal) steps as I have been cautioned to only walk 30 minutes a day- as if.  However, the stiffness that will apparently be there for a while is self-limiting. Lifting is up to 10-15 lbs., so I am a little less useless. I was approved to drive at my sutures coming out party. "Ah, I've already been doing that". As I don't need and don't take the pain meds, it was not really an issue outside of my needing my pillow in place when I am in the car. I was even able to perform "My Way" Cologuard testing and deliver the box to UPS. They have to know what's in there....

OVERLOAD Secondly, I think we all had to stop and reflect over the attack on July 13. Not surprising, considering the rhetoric, but also disappointing and so so wrong. Before I was out of high school, I saw three successful, if one can say that political assassinations: John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luthor King, Jr. Wrong then and still a horrible way to express oneself. These three actually cared about society and this country. Was it Russian retaliation? Foreign terrorists? Racial hatred? Mental illness? Two men who served bravely in the military during wartime and in our country's government and a passionate Reverand serving in the streets of America to promote freedom.

 How can we believe in ballot over bullet when the latest attempt is against one who has undermined our trust in that very election system, perhaps triggering those who feel they have no voice or control, to commit a heinous act? One who has insulted veterans by calling them losers and suckers and capitalizing within hours on his wound to fund raise in his new role as martyr. No one should be wounded or killed over political differences, but we've forgotten how to communicate over the wall of diverse beliefs. The fake call for unity, which had the ability to engender hope ended in a 90-minute rant against the "others" and loaded with exaggeration, mislabeling and outright lies-business as usual. Once you see support from the likes of Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock the farce is pretty much in place. Especially enjoy folks who fought face masks now sporting diapers on their ears. Goes well with the red hats. 

In more news, Biden's days are numbered I believe. Who can replace him is the issue of course. If I had my druthers and the world was fair (lol) and intelligence and commitment were more important than a popularity contest I would back Pete Buttigieg. Sigh. UPDATE: Biden did step down and as predicted, is backing his vice president. Hearing the public demand of someone of his age and apparently diminished capacity he had the grace to do so. So, what about the equally aged and diminished guy who claimed in his RNC speech that Belgium was a country, Finland was a part of Russia and Frederick Douglas was still alive. Not to mention the constant references to sharks vs. electrocution and a fascination with Hannibal Lector and Putin. Maybe it's time for him to step aside for a younger malignant narcissist? Seems to be the obvious move.

OTHER NEWS Hard to think of more positive news this week, however. MSU is working on an oral vaccination for bovine TB. Considering how hard it is to get the elderly to line up for shots, how are we going to corral those pesky deer. They run in herds, but they are sketchy if they hear movement abandoning their children if need be. A female boa gave birth to 14 babies without any masculine intervention-yep virgin birth. The best way to create artificial freckles is to sprinkle broccoli with black/brown makeup and splatter it on your face...or sit in the sun without sunscreen I suppose. See if you just look hard enough...Peace out  💚   💙💛