Mullets and Scotch and Scoops, Oh My!

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I decided to blog earlier than usual today. I hope nothing exciting happens after I blog and am out and about because I will probably forget to blog about it tomorrow. I still do carry a pen and a small pad of paper with me almost always. I think that became a habit when I was working for newspapers and magazines so, should something amazing happen and I was in the right place at the write time I would be prepared to become Scoop Helser - Ace Reporter! It also came in handy when I temporarily lost my marbles for a couple of months last year. I looked in my notebook and saw where I had left my marbles and I have had them ever since. I just wrote in my notebook that I need to but squirrel food and a tortilla press today and to pay the electric bill. Yes, I am going to begin making my own corn tortillas to see if that works. I really like the small ones we get at that place in Woodstock with the lobster tacos.

Yesterday I got a call from Author House Publishing about wanting to publish my book. I am still in the research portion of my novel and I am already having people call me? How do they even know that I am writing a book? I actually have an idea for a second, totally unrelated to the first, book. I better get my asterisk in gear while the tortilla iron is hot!

Yesterday I took Jeff for a walk through Prairie Park. How do dogs have some much urine in them? I think he stopped at every tree and fire hydrant and sign post on the walk. We walked 6.91 miles and his area has been sufficiently marked. By seeing all of that action I can honestly say that a Matt does pee in the woods. I will say that is just for entertainment purposes and I did not walk into the woods and pee on a tree myself. That would be considered as public urination and would be wrong and against the law. Jeff saw his first freight trains up-close and he saw Disc Golf and did not even run after the discs. He is an amazing Frisbee catcher but I have not been able to teach him to throw them back yet. He does bring them back but doe not like to give them up easily. It looks like it may rain again today and I was going to go to the driving range.

That's not really Jeff. Jeff is a scotch dog not a tea dog

When we got home it was apparent that Jeff was exhausted. Light weight! He crawled under a chair and, I thought he was going to get a ball but, he fell asleep. He slept there for a couple of hours - motionless. For a bit I thought that I had walked him to death. He is fine now so I guess I worked him like a dog, Maybe, since he has four legs it was like him doing 14 miles?

I wonder if the Salvation Navy has any used Disc Golf discs. Huh, now it is raining!

I got done watching Creed. It was not the worst Rocky film but it wasn't the best. Rocky (the first one) was the best one in my opinion. Rocky III was pretty good too - Clubber Land (Mr. T. was a bad-ass). I guess that is why Rocky won Best Picture in 1976 and Creed didn't even get nominated. Stallone didn't win either time though nominated. He was better when he wasn't so punchy in 1976. Rocky IV or Rocky Balboa were the worst in my opinion. Will there be another Rocky? I will not even ruin the ending of Creed by saying whether it is even possible or not.

I am in better shape that this world-class athlete (he has lost weight though)

The rain has stopped so I am going to throw my clubs in the car and head to the store. If I get done shopping and it is still not raining I may find home on the range and do some driving. It will be nice to have the clubs in the back of the JEEP in case someone needs a fourth or there is a pick-up game somewhere anyway. How come there are pick-up basketball games and baseball games but you never hear about pick-up golf rounds? I bet Jeff would like golf; there are lots of trees and signs to pee on on a golf course. I can think of at least 18 right off the top of my head. Thanks for stopping in. I hope you have a great day and can stay dry. It is windy now too so maybe, depending on the direction, I can do some John Daly drives? Without the white mullet. TTT?...MITM (out) TA! Damn it - it is raining again.

Disc and Dat!

I just got back from taking nine bags full of leaves and yard waste (sticks, branches, dead grass...) to the Landscape Drop-off Site. Now I have to vacuum out the JEEP again.

Yesterday was a good day. I did seven miles in the morning (five of which was on the bike) and then Cha Cha and I went and weighed-in. She lost 4 pounds since last week and I, happily, lost two. As long as I am a loser I am happy. Then we went to the new place we go for salads - it is the best salad bar in town as far as I am concerned. It is not an atmosphere for quiet but they have the best selection in the area. If you wish to know of this recent find of ours (though many are always there so, as usual, I am a bit slow) please send me a message and I will let you know.

Ha, it just now started to rain - glad I did the leaf delivery earlier this morning. I am also happy that I just let Jeff back in the house before it began.

Yesterday I went golfing with my two children and my current foster child. We played 18 holes and I got five holes in one and hit the pin two times from the tee on two other holes. I would call myself Fuzzy Blogger but Frank Zoeller already has that name Fuzzy. Then I thought maybe Chi Chi because Cha Cha and Chi Chi sounded fun to me but that damn Juan Rodriguez already has that nickname. Happy Helser - damn it Gilmore! Tin Cup is probably pretty appropriate with the five aces but Roy McAvoy has that moniker sewn-up. I guess The Agitator will do for now. Did I forget to mention that my ball was the yellow one and that it was miniature golf?

I rented the movie Creed and am watching it while I am writing this; it just hit Redbox yesterday. I got it from the grocery store right near our home and I will probably walk it back later if the rain stops; I really like walking. I would take Jeff with me but, they have inside kiosks and Jeff cannot even pretend to be a service dog because he is too excitable and loves every person he meets. I think Jewel has outside Redbox kiosks but they are pretty far. Hold-on and let me check where there are outside red boxes near me... Huh...7-11 have an outside kiosk but they are way up on North Annie Glidden Road. I really don't want to get caught in the rain without a Pina Colada. I may have to drive or go without Jeff.

That reminds me - When I hoofed home from the library the other day I took a different route home than I took there. I went through Prairie Park / Annie's Woods (yes, Annie Glidden). That made me really want to take-up Frisbee golf. I saw one guy who had a bag almost as large as my regular golf (clubs) bag. It must have had more than 20 discs in that bag - my golf bag only about  12 clubs in it (of which I use about six). This dudes disc bag was not as big as Al Czervik's but it was pretty close. I suppose you buy a Frisbee golf bag like that you get a free bowl of soup. I suppose it is actually just referred to as disc golf. I would think that Frisbee (Wham-O) would become the official sponsor of disc golf and have regional tournaments and such.

I really feel like heading over to the driving range today (the real one, not the Frisbee one). Maybe that is what I should open - a disc driving range though that would be about the same as a disc golf course. I love playing golf. My dad and I used to go every Sunday for quite a stretch. With his two bionic knees and his triple bypass I doubt that he will ever golf again. I may have to be one of those losers who golfs alone of try to catch-on with a threesome. I wish I could get Cha Cha to golf with me. Maybe I should just grab ONE Frisbee and go disc golfing with Jeff.

Boy, this movie is so suspenseful - I wonder if Balboa will train Apollo's son? Rocky was better though I still have a long way to go in this movie. I think Rocky is a bit punchy.

Have a great day - I appreciate you stopping by. I will blog again soon (maybe even tomorrow)?TTTT (Then - not necessarily Tomorrow). TA!

Kind of Voluminous but I AM at the Library!

For some reason I feel the need to get home and have a hard-boiled egg

I want to start by saying that I don't think I am going to say (type) TTTT at the end of the blogs anymore because T never comes (many times it doesn't anyway). When I type the Ta Ta Til Tomorrow I have every intention of writing the next day but something often seems to cause that to detour itself.

I have, pretty much, guaranteed that I will move my body at least 7.5 miles today as I am typing this from the public library 3.84 miles from my home and, unless it starts raining and call for a ride home or I get hit by a potato truck and have to get ambulanced (that should be a verb) to the hospital I will either sleep here in the reference section of the DPL or I will have to hoof it home. It was pretty pleasant on the way here but, when I took my backpack and jacket off I felt my back pretty wet. It is fun to see the town on foot rather than by vehicle because you can appreciate things you usually just zip by. I like, even better, that I get to go the wrong way on one-way streets (sidewalks, actually) and see many things that are invisible most of the time.

On the way over I listened to the Adam Ant station on Pandora. I heard "500 Miles (I'm Gonna Be)" by The Proclaimers; I have always loved that song and it seemed appropriate as I was pounding the pavement. Right as I was getting to the library The Buggles started playing "Video Killed the Radio Star." Hearing that song reminded me of how fortunate we were to grow-up in the early 1980's. Splenda and Andy (I have to get him a MITM code-name I think) went to a 1990's themed party this past weekend. What do you wear? We had lots of stuff in the 80's. We had parachute pants and Flock of Seagulls hair and Devo hats and Coneheads and Grace Slick and Max Headroom and The Blues Brothers and early Madonna and Cindy Lauper and Pacman and Michael Jackson and leopard-print pants (I could go on for about ten pages on this one). The 1990's could just not compete with the 80's so they just didn't try at all it seems. We have hope for you 2090's! Plan ahead!

Speaking of the past - I found my fluorescent pink I-pod and the charger a couple of weeks ago. I charged it and it still works. I should have brought that with me to the library. I will have to start using that though I do love Pandora and the versatility there.

Fashion makes me think of the new series that Cha Cha and I have been watching on Netflix. We have been watching Daredevil! It is really good. I was hesitant because that knucklehead Ben Affleck starred in the lame movie about the same character. How you can screw-up a Stan Lee comic is beyond me (that was when they were still comics and didn't think themselves too cool and call themselves graphic novels).

I have the words "I want those who get to know we to become admires or my enemies" stuck in my head. I know why they are stuck there and I kind of like that. That would be my second choice for a tattoo if I ever got one. My first choice (and I recite these in my head at least ten times per day) would be, "be well, be happy, be peaceful." The first choice would be a less expensive tattoo too I guess.

 Is this a spoiler or is it not? 

Yesterday we had Cha Cha's side of the family over. It was a very pleasant day. My parents were invited too but, now that my dad is back driving and working as Kato (not O.J's Kato rather The Green Hornet's - Bruce Lee) he had to drive The Green Hornet's nephew or son or someone to the airport.

Hey, tonight Better Call Saul is on and there is also the new episode of 11/22/63 on HULU. Should I watch 11/22/63 here on my computer in case I get hit by a manure spreader or something on the way home?  I thought about stopping to get a chopped salad at Subway on the way home but that would be stupid since we still have lots of salad left-over from yesterday. I could eat salad and watch the show - man, I really know how to live don't I?

Oh yeah, I have a job interview set-up for April 15th (hey, that's tax day isn't it?) at a very large world-wide corporation. They are hiring 200 people initially so I will feel like a loser if I am not one of the first 200. Eventually they will hire even more. I suppose it will all depend on the hours and the money even if they do make me an offer.

Load 'em into the backpack boys!

I think I am going to end now and look for a book or two to make my backpack heavier on the way home. Some of these books right in front of me are pretty hefty (Gray's Anatomy, The Oxford Companion To Wine, The Merk Manual - Nineteenth Edition, The Fiery Visual Dictionary, Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs, The Oxford Companion To Food, The Baseball Encyclopedia...). I could get some work-out with these books in my backpack. Who needs barbells when we have literature? Thanks a lot for dropping-in. I may write again tomorrow but it is weigh-in day so, no promises. TTT?...MITM (out) TA!

The Pretending to do Something Important Blog Break

This is the photo she took of me - I don't see the resemblance

I am sorry that I did not blog yesterday as I had hoped. I started to mulch the yard yesterday but, unfortunately, I waaaaayyyyy underestimated the amount of mulch I needed. I got 10 bags yesterday which did not cover the areas I thought I was mulching. When the boss got home last night I learned that the areas I had done were just a small portion of what I needed to do. So today I went back and got another 12 bags and, after those were dispersed, I went back and got another 14 bags. This morning I did the mulching in pouring rain with temps about at 34 degrees and the 14 I just got done with were wheelbarrowed in snow at about 27 degrees (my gloves and pants were still frozen from this morning. Splenda said she watched me this morning and said that I looked like Paddington Bear in my getup.  So, tomorrow I will probably have to get another 20+ bags of mulch.

The house smells great. Between mulchings I went to the doctor (routine follow-up to bilk some insurance money) and went to the store to get some essentials and something for dinner. I am cooking red potatoes (halves) smothered in olive oil, garlic and dill. After they are done I will cook the five salmon steaks that I seasoned. What a coincidence - the stove timer is beeping that the taters are ready. BRB! I am back and the salmon is in the oven. Fabio showed-up out of thin air and tasted one of the potatoes and said they are good. He's a tough dude to please sometimes so I am happy about that endorsement. Oh, by the way, my blood pressure was like 120/60; I think that is pretty good.

I cannot believe Cha Cha and I walked to the grocery store the other night and it is snowing today. I have walked over 14,000 steps every day for the past three days. I usually get about 10,000 steps (or close to it) per day but that is with trying- it is much easier when I am not trying as it turns out.

Tonight is the night Baskets and Portlandia are on television. I think they are on at the same time. We record them both but usually watch Baskets first. I am afraid that I may not make it through Baskets - thank goodness for the double DVR. Last week Baskets was kind of boring (flashback episode) so I imagine they will make up for it tonight.

That reminds me that one of the funniest men in television history (in my humble opinion), Garry Shandling, just died. He made me laugh every time I saw in something. He was only 66 years old. The official cause of death is unknown - that usually is pretty bad news (like dying isn't bad enough). The police department received a 911 call from his home saying he suffered from a "medical emergency." Just a few days ago he tweeted a photo of himself with Kathy Griffin and my college buddy radio station co-worker and acquaintance Bob Odenkirk (star of another of my favorite shows Better Call Saul). Shandling tweeted that he "had to call Saul." It's a sad comic day.

Alright, that is enough out of me for today (thank you for not disagreeing). I will try to blog tomorrow but there may be a lot of Easter brunch or Easter linner or whatever it is called prep tomorrow. Saturday we will be busy quite a bit of the day in Woddstock - it's like Groundhog's Day ever weekend with us going there. Thank you for stopping by so I can pretend that this is important and keep taking breaks from other things that need to get done. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I Had a Horseshoe Up My Blog!

I am back home from my weekend trip with my college buddy Greg. We had a pretty good time and I really watched what I was eating and drinking as it is just a hobby of convenience of mine to be more healthy these days. It is weird to think that Louisville, Kentucky is only 5.5 hours away. In case you are not from the Chicagoland area, we measure things in time rather than miles. That may be an entire MIDDLEwestern way of doing it but that is pretty much how I have always remembered remembering distance - by time. We got to Louisville Friday night. Saturday we went to the Louisville Slugger factory and museum. It is a really cool tour and everyone who goes on the tour gets a free mini-bat. I am not sure what I will do with it so I may just keep it under my car seat in case I need a weapon for self defense. We also went to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. It sounds like Evan Williams was the inventor of Kentucky bourbon. The tour was really good and it ended with a bourbon tasting. We got to sample three of their bourbons. I could talk about an hour about bourbons now I think. They even have a Kentucky Bourbon Trail visiting all the distilleries in the area.

On Saturday night we went bar-hopping and went down town to Fourth Street Live where they have lots of bars and restaurants... It is kind of like a mini Wisconsin Dells (kind of). We ate and went from bar to bar watching the various NCAA basketball tournament games. They seem kind of bitter in Kentucky about the tournament this year since Louisville did not play because of sex scandal violations. University of Kentucky was eliminated on Saturday by neighboring state school University of Indiana so now the KFC Yum Center will not have a Kentucky team in the house. I drank a bit of bourbon and diet Coke at the bars but stuck mainly to iced tea for the most part. I remembered that I am in this better way of eating... for the long-haul.

So, the next day, after carousing all night, we went to Waffle House. I had never been to a Waffle House and I believe I am the only person to ever have ordered a salad topped with grilled chicken in the history of the history of Waffle House, It was actually a pretty good salad. I do not think I have the need or want to ever go back to this fine okay mediocre place again.

Except we were at The Horseshoe in Indiana instead of The Taj in A.C.

Sunday morning we went to Indiana just across the border from Kentucky) to Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino. I played Blackjack for awhile and grew bored of the after winning only $50 so I moved-on to Texas Holdem. I am a huge Texas Holdem fan and have won quite holdem tournaments so I felt much more comfortable at that table. I ended-up winning enough money to cover all of the expenses I incurred for the entire trip plus a little gravy. And, with the free drinks while playing I drank only one bottle of water. I learned long ago that you don't to have to pee and get dealt-out while you're on a streak. So, Greg and I were like Mike and Worm going over to Teddy KGB's place and, I guess I was Mike on this particular day. We then went back to the Louisville Slugger Museum to see one of my former neighbors that moved and works there now. She showed us many things that we did not get to see on the first trip there - it was great to see here. She is ALWAYS cheery and smiley and happy and who doesn't need that? Incidentally, Texas Holdem was born at The Horseshoe (Vegas).

Today was weigh-in day and I had no idea what to expect. I felt like I did (almost) the best that I could do on a 3 1/2 day rip of debauchery. To hedge my bet this week I did five miles this morning before going to get the news. I actually lost 2.0 pounds since last Tuesday. That makes just over 30 pounds since the end of 2015. If I keep-up at this rate (10 pounds per month)I should love 90 ore pounds this year. I realize that is not very realistic but that is what I am shooting for. I know it will be tougher as I get closer to the target but I will just have to work harder (maybe ten miles a day?).

I caught-up on the last two 11/22/63 episodes on HULU. There are only two episodes left (there are six available now). If I didn't already have access to HULU I would subscribe just for this show (though there is probably a free trial as there usually is with these services). I read the novel and I still cannot wait to see what happens. James Franco is really good in this film. I am not sure if I like it because I like Stephen King or I was born in 1963 or I like James Franco or a combination of all but I know it is really good.

I am going to end now because there are some seedless grapes calling my name (that is true but I have also run out of things on my tired mind). Thank you for stopping by; I apologize if some of this is redundant from my "check-ins" on Facebook or my Tweets on Twitter. I believe I will blog again tomorrow. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

St. Patrick and The Donald

Happy St. Patrick's Day. This is one of my mom's favorite days of the year. Her maiden name is McGuire (from the Gaelic "Magi of Eire" who were the priests of ancient Ireland) and that was always a huge deal when growing-up for some reason. I am sure me Ma and Da are having corned beef and cabbage today. Too bad Greg and I aren't leaving for Louisville until the morrow because we could celebrate with some good Irish whiskey (they call it Kentucky bourbon down there though). We may stop by Carbondale on the way home to visit the old college stomping grounds but it seems way out of the way. I have been there many times since graduating since Splenda went to school there but I don't imagine Greg has been there often, if at all. A lot of the places we frequented as college students have since closed and the strip is nothing like it was back in the 1980's. I wonder how well I will do with the new way of eating/drinking on this trip. I am not worried but it will be interesting. I don;t think Greg golfs as it would be fun to golf in Kentucky.

I am so sick and tired of all of the political talk and nonsense. How does the rest of the world look at this? We are no better than some of the third world countries we condemn with the attacks at rallies and the like. I will be so happy when this election is over - depending on who the new POTUS is. I have been to Canada a few times and I really like it there.

It is tomorrow now (Friday) and I need to get this posted because I will not be blogging again until, probably, Tuesday - unless I die on the trip. People always give me the business for saying things like that but, I wish I had the power to just say or write something and make it happen.

Maybe threats lead to threats and violence leads to violence?

I heard that someone has sent a death threat to Donald Trump's family. The note or letter or whatever it was said that if Trump didn't drop-out of the race something bad would happen to his family. Is it real? Is it someone from the Right trying to cause problems for the Left? Is it the Left trying to look like it's the Right trying to cause problems for the Left? Is it someone from the Left? Is it ISIS? Is it someone trying to "take-out family members" of a terrorist (Trump)? I could spend all day coming up with scenarios but, when you are in the public eye (no MATTer what) someone is going to dislike you and, probably. threaten you. It is sad and I hope nothing comes of the threat but you want to play the games you are going to run into people who cheat and/or want change the rules as the game goes on. It was mailed to Trump's New York home from Massachusetts where The Donald's son Eric and his wife, apparently, live. I know we will hear a lot more about this before the end of today.Did I mention the white powdery substance too?

Okay, I have to wrap-up because my ride to Kentucky will be arriving soon. Have a great weekend and I will probably check-in on Facebook now and again on our trip of 3-4 days. Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip-side (for those who remember record albums/ 45s / LPs. TTT?...MITM (out) TA!

Just the Usual Poop

Is this what they mean by "double soft?" 

I am already blogging at it is only 13:23. I went to vote, I worked-out, I went and weighed-in and then I came home and ate a huge salad. I have had a pretty good day so far. I stuck to my guns and voted for the person I had decided-upon and hope to vote for for President. I did eight miles and some weight training this morning (felt pretty good about that). I lost 1.4 pounds over the past week; I was worried that the weight-lifting would make that a problem.

Yesterday the two new roommates and I cleaned the backyard. We had lots and lots of leaves and lots and lots of dog poop. I swear a lot of the poop looked like what horses drop on the streets during parades. It makes sense that dogs the size of ponies would make horse-sized yard pies. I will leave the dog poop at that. It does make me think about toilet paper though. Who is the genius that made toilet paper rolls so that, to start a new roll, we have to rip off about three layers to get the roll started. Is it a ploy to have us use more T.P.? Maybe it is just the brand we use. We use Scott toilet paper; I think they are probably a division of Scott Tissue. Maybe we should start using the cheap crap (pun intended) that hotels and public places use.

Speaking of a bunch of crap - I heard a week or so ago that Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC, was told by doctors that he could not go on the upcoming tour with the band because it would cause him his hearing. He had told that he had lost a large portion of his hearing from the first leg of the current tour and continuing could make him lose the rest. Johnson took over when Bon Scott died in 1980 and has been the band's front man for the past 36 years. There is a report out now that Johnson was never contacted by the band before they started talking to several different singers but Johnson says he wants to finish-out the (possibly final) tour but that the band has already "kicked me to the curb." That is pretty crappy. I have been an AC/DC fan since high school back in the 80's  and this makes me sad. I missed Bon Scott for awhile but Johnson filled-in very well and the band kept going strong. I think, if they don't reconcile with Johnson, I will be done with them (I will still listen to the old stuff).

The Georgia Peach's bat (I want to see his sharpened spikes too)

I think, within the next week or so, my college (and beyond) buddy Greg and I will be travelling to one of the colleges we attended together (SIU) and then on to Louisville. I am sure there will be some partying in Carbondale (like old times) and probably the Louisville Slugger Museum / factory in Kentucky. One of our former neighbors works at the museum so maybe I will be able to hold Ty Cobb's bat or something (that's what she said). I wonder if they are still officially known as Hillerich & Bradsby or are now just Louisville Slugger? Also, everyone who goes on the tour gets a free mini-bat. Free? Nothing is free - it's always worked into the price of admission. what are we, stupid? The Muhammad Ali Museum is there too; who wasn't a big fan of Ali? I think even George Foreman and Joe Frasier liked Cassius Clay. Do we get FREE mini boxing gloves there? I am pretty sure we'll make our way to a casino or two while in town. ROAD TRIP!!!!!

I think I have run out of things to filibuster about so I will probably end here. I hope the candidate you voted for (or vote in the actual election) wins unless you voted  (and vote for) for someone other than the person I voted/vote for. Have a great rest of your day and thank you, so much, for stopping. A quick "happy birthday" to Eddie Z.! TTTT (probably)...MITM (out) TA!

It was the Dukes, It was the Dukes

 I bet Afghanistan and Pakistan don't have Daylight Savings Time 

Again, no proofreading today (daylight savings time and all)

It is 19:05 and I am finally getting around to blogging. It is 20:05 and I am finally getting around to blogging. This is, every year I have writing the blog so far, when I complain how stupid Daylight Savings Time is. I usually go on to say how I understand how this tradition helped the farmers by giving them an extra hour of daylight when they needed it but now with the GPS systems and floodlights in tractors they don't need this archaic tradition. I will not even mention that now. This is the one we liked as kids when we had an extra hour of daylight before the streetlamps came on and we had to head home.

I would have blogged earlier but Cha Cha went and watched Whiskey Tango Bravo at our local theater. I really like Tina Fey but do not see a lot of her films for one reason that did not cause me to avoid this one - Amy Poehler was not in this film. It had Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman and Alfred Molina and I like all of them a great deal. It was a really good film. There was some funny moments but, for the most part, it was a fairly serious movie. It was based on a memoir of journalist Kim Barker called The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I guess that long handle would have changed the way the movie poster looked a great deal

Good thing that Jay Pharoah is a cast member because Dr. Ben is already out

That makes me think a lot about Saturday Night Live; I still watch SNL most every week. With the Presidential election coming up I think I know who, at least, three actors are voting for - Larry David will be voting for Bernie Sanders, Darryl Hammond will be voting for Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon will be voting for Hillary. Whichever of those three candidates become President the actor playing them is guaranteed at least four years of steady weekly work, I suppose if Hillary wins with Bernie as her V.P. or Bernie wins with Hillary as his V.P. two people could stay off of unemployment. I worked with Darryl Hammond at Zanies and he is a total D-bag so, I really hope I don't have to see him every week.

I have decided who I am voting for in the Illinois Presidential Primary this Tuesday. Obviously, as it has taken me thins long to decide, I have given it lots of thought and, even though it is only a Primary I take it seriously. I am not going to say now because I want everyone to think for themselves and make their own decision. If you really want to know send me a private message and I will let you know but Matt In The Middle is not prepared to officially endorse a candidate right now. I may endorse a candidate when it the actual Presidential election.

If you look real hard  you can see Cha Cha and I in there

Last night we worked at the fun fair in Bartlett, IL.. Cha Cha and I were assigned to the prize room. The kids played games and they got stamps on punch-cards that added to points and then they would cash their points in for prizes of different point-values. It was like being Lewis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine in Trading Places (man, I really have SNL on my mind today don't I?). It wasn't too crazy until they announced that "the prize room will close at 7:45..." I must admit that the time flew by and I really liked to see the smiles on the children's faces as they walked out with the things that they had worked to save-up their points to win. I slept really well last night (I suppose that could have been the NyQuil though).

Alright, it is 21:00 now so I am gonna wrap-up. I hope you adjust quickly to the new time and, just as you are in a groove, we will Fall back - Ugghhhhhh. Thanks for stopping by no MATTer what time it is. Have a great rest of you night. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I'm On a Mission From Blog!

(Preface - I am not even going to pretend to proofread today - same as usual I suppose)

I don't remember where they used to say this and I don't know why it came to me but, maybe it was in Nebraska when I was a kid - "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down." I know it had to do with a water shortage when we visited relatives somewhere. It may have been in Nebraska where we seemed to go every year or so to visit my dad's grandparents and family (The Westbrooks). We also had more exciting vacations as kids too but Nebraska seemed to be, at least, semi-annually. You know what, I think it was when we vacationed in California and they had a water shortage out there. It always seems weird to me that places that are near large bodies of water have water shortages.

Maybe Jesus made it so Moses could part my corn tortilla shells? 

I went shopping this morning as I seem to do every single day. The main reason I went back to Target today was to return and exchange the Mission corn tortilla shells that I bought yesterday. When I opened the bag last night I saw that at least ten of the 24 shells had slits down the center halfway across. Since they are yellow (because of the corn, of course) it looked like a PAC-MAN reunion in a plastic bag. The bag was not cut in any way so it must have happened in the factory or someone dropped something on the package. I know they only cost $2.02 but I am a Matt of principal and I was going to the library again anyway.

While I was at the store an aisle was a bit congested so I stepped aside and let a lady come through. I know this is petty but, I really hate it when I am polite (even when I clearly have the right-of-way) and I don't a "thank-you." I always say please and thank-you; it only takes 1.238764 seconds to smile and just a bit more to say "thank-you." Just say "thanks:" that takes even less time. I will not stop being considerate and polite and happy and smiley because of crabby-pants and sourpuss people but come-on; give a brother a little sumpin' sumpin'.

 Good manners even go back before people were here! 

This morning I called again and spoke to the people that called me yesterday and left me a message about a job. Turns-out this job is night work and I am not supposed to do over-nights. I probably could have finagled my way into getting the job but it would have been through dishonesty and deceit and that is not good in any situation, especially if someone is trusting you to protect people and property. I still have that second interview next week and I have feelers out in many places so, it's all good. I am still on the verge of starting my own business too but I cannot discuss what that would be, or will I ever be able to in most cases. I know it sounds all Black Ops and stuff, and it kind of is, but that's I have to say about that.

Something so weird just happened. I decided to write about my dad and how amazingly well he is doing after his medical scare(s) recently and, you will NEVER guess who called me to see if I am feeling better with this cold I have been kicking the butt of. I will give you three guesses who called me. Nope, not Donald Trump. Good guess but not Bernie Sanders. No, not Marco Rubio... it was my dad silly! He is doing great. He is already been told that he can stop doing many of the therapies and the home care people are no longer coming to see him. When I grow-up I wanna be just like my dad (except for the political views that we currently do not share - I will stay myself in that department).

I may go by a new bike this weekend if we have time for that with all of the things we have to do (Woodstock for our secret Saturday rendezvous and then the fun fair later - hey, maybe I will win a bicycle at the funfair - I hear that the workers get tickets for a raffle but I doubt an adult bike is prize). I hope I do not win a prize - it seems disingenuous to volunteer to work at a children's funfair and then win a prize.

I'm bloggin' in a railway station, talkin' from and to the nation...

I think Cha Cha and I might go to another concert this summer (in addition to Fogerty). We might so see Paul Simon too. Aren't we such socialites lately? Rumor has it that PS wants me to be his Garfunkel but I know that is just a rumor made-up by some hack blogger sittin' at a railway station. Thant makes me think - I wish Illinois Senator Paul Simon were still alive. I loved when he commented on things: I cannot imagine what he would have to say about the state of the political areas today.

Okay, I am having trouble focusing with a stuff-up nose and an itchy throat. Thank you very much for stopping by. I will probably (almost definitely) not blog tomorrow. Cha Cha and I may go see a movie tonight so, if we do, Sunday's blog will be worth the price of admission with the fun fair and the movie. Have a great rest of today and a mahvelous Saturday. And be kind and polite to everyone until them please. TTTS?...MITM (out) TA!

By Stock In Me Before Today's Closing Bell

Man, another busy day. I went to a couple of stores (Target and Schnuck's) for groceries. I planned on just going to Target but they didn't have some of the exact things that Cha Cha wanted so I went to Schnuck's for those things. Oh yeah, I also stopped at Lowe's for seed and suet and corn for the birds and the squirrels. When I got home there were three dogs Jeff and two others the sizes of gazelles (Kona and Harley) on the patio so I distributed some pipe bones and put the groceries away and fed the birds and squirrel.

I stopped at the library before the stores and got a couple of books, three music CD's and one DVD. I love that the JEEP lets us copy CD's to the hard-drive of the stereo system. I am much more comfortable at the library now that I have been there four or five times. They have a state-of-the-art system for checking books in and out which is pretty simple once you know it and the DVD check-out was rather confusing the first couple of times but now I know that one too. Maybe I should get a job at the library?

Speaking of that, I took a couple of new Civil Service exams today at my work's Human Resources Department so I am on a couple more waiting lists now. I also have a second interview set-up for a radio station that I applied to awhile back. It's a smaller radio station but it is part of a giant radio network and the pay is good. Wolfman Jack and Dick Clark and Howard Stern and Rick Dees... all started at small stations and I know their names!

Weird, just as I got done writing that last paragraph I received a call from another company (a private security company) that I applied to - I guess I am in high demand right at the moment. They are going to call me back in a few minutes to set up a time to meet with me. I think you'd better call your broker and buy stock in me before the price goes up (I wish). I am delighted that I am in such temporary high demand. My only worry is that it will be overnight work and my doctor has not cleared me to work overnights. If I could work overnights I would just go back to my own P.D. - you cannot get much closer to home. Rules and regulations need to be enforced during daytime hours too, right? I have a nearly life-long friend who worked for a police department for many years and now he is in private security and he seems pretty happy. Maybe  I should get a few more Hawaiian shirts (actually I have too many already) so I can do the Thomas Magnum thing.

So now President Obama is taking heat for not attending Nancy Reagan's funeral. The last five former first ladies who died (Ford, Johnson, Nixon, Eisenhower and Truman) had their funerals attended by the sitting First Ladies and none of the Presidents. Were those Presidents whose wives (including Michelle Obama when Betty Ford died) given the business for attending to Presidential duties? What is different this time? Is it because it is an election year? Does it have to do with a Supreme Court Justice dying recently? Is it because the GOP is openly racist now and they were still hiding in their hoods when Betty Ford died? The division this two-party system causes in this country infuriates me. How about no more party system? Parties are supposed to be fun - let's not call them parties anymore let's call them The Democratic and Republican Pains or Jokes or Nonsense. I don't consider this paragraph political since it addresses all of politics in America and not one party or another (I guess it does imply it but my conclusion is that American politics are infantile).

Hey, they are all Caucasians!

I had better end now so I will be ready when my phone rings again. I hope you are having a good day and it continues to the night. I appreciate you checking-out what up in this hizzie. I will be back with more nonsense or griping or stupidity tomorrow I think. Hey, tomorrow is Friday - that means I have to get the garbage to the curb tonight (thanks for the reminder). Oh, phones ringing - TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I Should Keep Wearing Clip-Ons it Turns Out

British officers (Bobbies) wore clip-ons but none for them now either

I suppose it is nice that I blog later in the day most days because that means I am getting things done during the day. I had a few meetings earlier today and now I am sans tie again. I have always liked wearing a tie though I was happy when we got a new Police Chief and we didn't have to wear ties at work any longer. Of course, in law enforcement, we wear clip-on ties so perps cannot use our uniforms against us to strangle us. The new Chief made a lot of good changes; I wish he would have changed me to working days so I would still be working every DAY right now.

I think I am going to use all of my job training for a slightly different venture very soon. I cannot expound on that but I am pretty excited. I guess I could but I choose not to - sharing is overrated sometimes.

I think our Primary election in Illinois is this coming Tuesday. Believe or our not I am not 100% sure who I will be voting for. If it were the actual Presidential election I would know now but I will not explain why I am not sure now. I may expound after the Primary if I remember or if someone reminds me. I heard that Jeb Bush is meeting with all of the Republican candidates except Donald Trump to tell them how to beat Donald Trump in the Florida Primary which will also be held Tuesday. I think that is funny but is it just sour grapes from Bush? If you don't like your party's front-runner should you maybe switch sides altogether? Politics are humorous to me. I think they seem to be to a few of the candidates too.

I guess Chipotle's company-wise meeting about properly storing and preparing food was a waste of time. One of Chipotle's restaurants in Massachusetts (just outside of Boston but isn't all of Massachusetts just outside of Boston?) closed after an employee contracted norovirus and two more employees may also have the disease. We just had a second Chipotle open in our town and I bet there are many people going there for the free burritos to make up for them almost killing people awhile back. We got the coupon in the mail and I wouldn't eat there even if they paid me (and I did receive and will not use this coupon / voucher). I am glad my new way of eating makes stomach poisoning against the rules for me but I bet it makes one lose weight! I will do it the old-fashioned way without vomiting and being hospitalized near death. I would sooner wear a non clip-on tie at work than eat at Chipotle.

I am rereading one of my favorite books of all time. It was written by a one-time author who died way to young. Most everyone in the World knows her name. Can you guess the book? There are several clues in the first three sentences of this paragraph if you are a good detective with a clip-on tie.

Splenda and politics both cause cancers in the USA

I just heard a report that Splenda (the artificial sweetener and not my daughter) may contribute to serious health issues like cancer. I love Splenda (both my daughter and the artificial sweetener) so this saddens me - I don't really want cancer; if I did I may have tried smoking a long time ago. According to the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health a study shows that mice given Splenda every day "throughout their lives developed leukemia and other blood cancers." The Center for Science in the Public Interest has always called Splenda safe but now changes their tune and are telling us to stop using it. Why would I believe you now when you were wrong last time? I say the CSPI (if that is their acronym) should just keep their traps shut. If I get cancer from Splenda I want my family to sue the CSPI because they told me it was safe. Maybe I should make a video now so they can show it in the trial after I receive Death By Sweetener! I want that on my urn or my tombstone... and I want my ashes used to sweeten someone's tea. Now I look further and, apparently, people have been using Splenda to kill ants for some time now (so does club soda though I guess). I am going back to tequila - cacti are healthy, right?

Okay, I have spread enough bad news for the day so I am gonna wrap this up. I am sorry if I depressed you today but remember that I am the leader of the band so I will go first. I appreciate you stopping by. Tomorrow is Thursday so I will have more to blog about. I think I am going to watch To Kill a Mockingbird to cheer myself up (the mockingbird probably ate ants who ate Splenda). Last night it was Gran Torino. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Learning Never Stops Until Living Does Methinks!

Took longer to figure-out how to take this drone photo than to detail the car

I cannot believe it is 16:57 already. Happily, I have gotten a lot accomplished so far today. I had my weekly weigh-in, I did grocery shopping at two different stores, I made another huge bowl of chopped salad (about 10-20 salads depending on each serving size), I got the Fiat detailed - inside and out, I picked-up my medicine refills (because that's what MIDDLE-aged people and beyond do), I vacuumed the stairs (Jeff hair mainly), I put away all of the groceries (of course), I applied for two more jobs... I think I forgot to tell you that I had an interview last Monday; I think it went pretty well but I shall eventually see if it went well enough.

My weigh-in today went better than I had expected; I lost 3.2 pounds since last week and I have lost exactly 27.0 pounds since December 29th. I am really happy with that. I was pretty bummed-out last week when I gained for the first time since I started this new way of life (the way I should have always been living). I know I gained only 0.4 pounds from 2/23 - 3/1 but even 0.01 pound would have been unacceptable to me. I still have a way to go until I am happy with my weight but, now that the weather is changing, it will be much easier and more comfortable to get outside exercise in, at least until I start complaining about the heat and humidity. I did do five miles this morning before I went to the weigh-in. I think I am going to buy a new bicycle this weekend so Cha Cha and I can do a lot of peddling; she got a cool new bicycle last year. Maybe I will do the shopping by bicycle and backpack soon; that would limit the amount I could buy based on the backpack size (BONUS!).

I feel much better though I still have an occasional cough. You know that little tickle you get in your throat which manifests into a cough?! Man, I hate that.

 I sure am glad we have designated seat this time 

This coming Saturday, after Cha Cha and I take our weekly morning trip to Woodstock we are working at a Fun Fair. Hey, I hadn't made the connection that we have tickets to see John Fogerty in September and he was at Woodstock with Creedence Clearwater Revival back in August 1969 and we have gone to Woodstock (Illinois) for the last two weeks and counting. Yes, I realize the Woodstock Music Festival was in upstate New York; that is why some are in italics and some are not. I wonder if The Grateful Dead will be his opening act again and Janis Joplin and then Sly and The Family Stone (Sly is only 72 years old now) and then The Who and then Jefferson Airplane (or even Starship)... will follow? I am pretty sure Joplin won't be there since she died in 1970. If we get a chance to meet Fogherty we will not mention that we saw Creedence Clearwater REVISITED because they definately have some bad-blood between them and, as you might imagine, I am in Fogerty's corner. Had I known what I know now I probably would not have gone to see a couple of his ex-bandmates and others play the music that J.F. wrote and sang. Live and learn I suppose.

So, back to the fun fair... Our friend Debbie's kids' school is having a fun fair and, somehow, she is in charge of the fun fair or, at least, getting people lined-up to help or something. None of the parents of the children that go to that school will volunteer to help so Debbie asked Cha Cha and now four of us are going to a school about five or six towns over so their kids have a nice fun fair. What is wrong with people these days? I sound really old don't I? Jill and I did Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts and I coached girl's softball and girl's basketball and coed T-ball and boys basketball and boys baseball and I cannot even remember how many things. Lots of parents helped back when I was just a whipper-snapper parent. Put your phone down and stop with the selfies and crap and be part of your children's lives! I hope this darned cough is gone by Saturday (he wrote out of nowhere).

My goodness, it is 17:56 and I have to figure-out dinner up in this hizzle ma-nizzle! I predict salad. I had better call this a wrap - hey, how about salad wraps on corn tortillas with grilled chicken and giardinera (of course, since I put that on everything these days). Thank you so very much for seeing what I am up-to today. I will try to do something boring tomorrow so I have to wax poetic in the blog. I hope you are having nice weather like we are in this part of the MIDDLEwest. I am pretty sure that I will blog again tomorrow (also, I am getting a lot of pressure to get the podcast going again and I usually buckle under pressure if it involves my ego). TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I Have Been Upgraded to Platypi (though now I hear that it is Platypuses)

You can tell that it is me by the Crushable Hat

It is almost 16:00 and I am just now blogging. I promised that I would blog today so here I am thanks to Ricolas (the sugar-free ones, of course) off-and-on all night. I am finding that tea travels through my system just as fast as alcohol did if memory serves. I imagine since I have only had two bananas and two Cuties (technically I think they are Clementine oranges) there isn't anything to soak-up all the Zen tea I have been drinking. I will probably have a salad in a bit. For some reason, and I will tell you the reason in a moment, salads make me think of giardiniera and giardiniera now makes me think of John F. Kennedy (because of the mini-series that I am watching now I guess). I am watching the movie about the book I read (11.22.63) that I mentioned here in the blog too. It is odd how one thing, which is totally unrelated to another, will sometimes make you think of the "another." James Franco has been very good in this role so far. I have just watched the first episode (90 minutes). I think there are three up now and a new one is released every Monday so there should be number four out tomorrow. Maybe HULU is going to try to become a television network soon, huh? I also mentioned that I was sick as a dog; well, it got a bit worse last night and I became as sick as a platypus and now I am just as sick as a seahorse. I think the worst of the cold or flu or whatever I have is just about over. I have been drinking hot tea all day long and sucking on Ricolas all night.

It was funny in the show when I noticed one of the characters was drinking an Ensure. I thought to myself, "self, there is another clever product placement" but, a few minutes after that I guessed it was not a good product placement when the person drinking the Ensure said, "that tastes like snot!" I guess somebody is not a fan of Ensure.

I mentioned some people (actors) in the movie that I like but I found another while watching the show. Harry Dunning is in the movie and I have liked him in several things I have seen him in:The Patriot and Deadwood to name a few. Deadwood is probably my favorite show of all time though Band of Brothers may be tied with that.

Yesterday our new housemates got all settled-in and we went over and put some of their stuff in a storage unit. Then, last night, we took them to dinner where we met-up with MADYM and her new beau Scott. We went to Schmidt's in Elburn; that is a pretty nice place but man, was it loud and hard to talk. What did I expect it would be like on a Saturday night in a bar? Guess what I had? A salad and iced tea. Man, am I boring. They had giardiniera for the salad too. Oh yeah, that is what I was gonna write about with 11.22.63 and giardiniera. There was a scene in a restaurant storage area and they had jars and jars of giardiniera on the shelves. Try to say "jars and jars or giardiniera" 23 times fast.

There was a really funny campaign billboard in the movie (see, I am so sick I cannot even remember things in blogological order). As you probably know if you read the blog that, though I am a candidate-by-candidate voter. I tend to lean Democratic (liberal) because I care about the welfare of others as well as the welfare of my family. Of course, I had to research to see if this was a jab at The Republican Party or it was really an actual sign that the Nixon campaign used for the 1960 Presidential campaign. As far as I can see, this was a real slogan / billboard / campaign button... I suppose being a Dick didn't have the same meaning that it has today. Was Nixon (maybe because of The Watergate break-in) the reason being a Dick became negative? My mom's dad was "Grandpa Dick" and I think if it was a negative thing he would have gone by Richard or Rich or Rick. Was it also because of Nixon's enlarged proboscis? Anyway, my 15-year-old equivalent sense of humor loved the sign.

Okay, I have to stop because my proboscis is filling up and I have to have Tito get me a tissue. Thanks for stopping by and watch 11.22.63 if you have HULU. Thank you so very much to stopping by today; the thought of you reading this makes me smile and then blow my nose and suck on another lozenge (that is a funny word - lozenge). Have a great night and, if I see you, I will not breath on you until I am germ-free. I guess we are never germ-free so I mean until I am sick kind of germ-free. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I am Not Quite Fit as a Fiddle

As predicted in yesterday's blog I am as sick as a dog today. It got pretty bad last night and carried-over to today. Maybe I shouldn't have watched the Republican debate last night though that was some of the most entertaining thing I have seen in a very long time. Where does that expression, "sick as a dog," come from. I don't remember any of the dogs we have ever had having a cold or the flu. Birds get flu apparently but not dogs. Whatever happened to the bird flu? And, yes,I realize it was not a flu that birds got. Sometimes dogs get sick if they eat the wrong thing but that is pretty short-lived. I am kinda glad that our new house guests aren't coming until tomorrow now because maybe there will be less of chance of me sharing this cold with them by then.

Cha Cha got a message from a supposed photographer that is looking for feet models. He said he would put $50 in a PayPal account for her if she sent him photos of her feet. Of course, Cha Cha is very intelligent and did not send these photos. This is the third time that she has been sent a request for photos of her feet (from three separate people). What is the deal with people getting sexually excited over feet? We should send them photos of my feet. With the scars and half of the big toe missing on my left foot she probably would not get any more messages about her feet. Or, is there a fetish for people who lie scars and missing phalanges too? If so, I could be a super model maybe.

Fabio just told me that the movie 11/22/63 is on HULU now (at least the first three episodes). I read the book a few years back and I liked it a great deal. It took me awhile to read it as Stephen King's novels are usually lengthy. Fortunately we have HULU so I may watch an episode tonight. Fabio says they are about 90 minutes each. I will wait for Cha Cha because she may want to see it too? I remember 11/23/63 like I was just 39 days old at the time of JFK's assassination. I like a few of the actors in the mini-series - James Franco, Josh Duhamel, Chris Cooper, John F. Kennedy (as himself)... so I think I will like it a lot. I know Stephen King, sometimes, has cameos in his films - I will watch for that Easter egg in case it exists.

New news (though I suppose that is from The Department of Redundancy Department) - our new tenants will be here tonight around 22:00 - 23:00 rather than tomorrow. I suppose we will move their stuff into the house on the morrow. Convenient that Fabio has to work tomorrow, huh? I am still fighting this cold so I am really looking forward to carrying stuff. I may try to take a nap after I get done writing this because I have already accomplished a great deal today to prepare for tomorrow. I do feel better than I did this morning and last night but that could be temporary.

REO Speedwagon sang "Roll With the Changes" but they went out of style anyway

Cha Cha is lobbying to start doing the podcast again. It is more hassle than it is worth as far as I am concerned. I enjoy recording the show and I do think the show is entertaining and I like giving up-and-coming musical acts a vehicle for their talents and songs to be heard to a world-wide audience but the editing kills me. But, on the flip-side, I would not want another person to edit the show because when we record I have a vision (an aural vision if that is possible) of what sound effects and drop-ins should be added in post-production. I am sure she will wear me down eventually because I do like the show and what we had been doing.

I have a lozenge (a sugar-free lozenge, of course) in my mouth and it does not even seem to be stopping my cough. Do you think it is the sugar-free part that is messing it up?

Heading back to Gobbler's Knob like it's going out of style

Man, the birds sure did cleaned-out the feeder early this morning. They ate the seed like it was going out of style. We always heard that "going out of style" phrase as kids too. I am not really sure what that means either. Do we do things more as they are going out of style? That wouldn't make sense. Maybe it was supposed to be about tangible items rather actions like using up some film before cameras with film went out of style and cell phones taking photos and you wouldn't be able to get film developed anymore? I think you can still have film developed at places like Walgreen's and such but you had better get that done before film goes out of style. I think we still have some disposable cameras; I am not sure what is even on them. I imagine they were the kids' cameras when we went on a vacation. One is a waterproof camera - my guess would be Hawaii or Florida or just some goofy water park? I may get those developed before they go out of style. Maybe I can use the time machine deal in 11.22.63 and get them developed before they were even in style?

I think I may lie down for a bit now and see of this cold will go out of style. I doubt that I will blog tomorrow with the move-in and the new thing that Cha Cha and I do in Woodstock, Illinois every week starting last week. It has nothing to do with the movie Groundhog Day but it is really fun to walk the town square and see all of the places and things that we saw in the film. I may see if that is on HULU or Netflix or HBOgo or one of the several other movie vehicles we have. I will probably blog again Sunday or, I may surprise us both and blog sometime tomorrow. Thanks a lot for being here- I am always happy to find-out who is reading the blog. TTTT or Sunday or both?...MITM (out) TA!

Today's Blog Was Interrupted By a Political Canvasser

Yesterday turned-out to be a much longer day than I anticipated so I was unable to blog. My dad had a doctor's appointment in the morning and, though he was cleared to drive again by his doctor, he asked me if I would stay and drive he and my mom to her appointment in the afternoon. How do you say no to your dad? I imagine he was a bit gun-shy to begin driving such a long distance (it was about 30 minutes away with traffic). I think he wants to get his feet wet on shorter drives to feel more confident. We had lunch on the way so, I got a free lunch out of it. I told him that if he wants me to drive him to his next appointment to just let me know; I am certain he will drive himself. He has had jobs where he, basically, drove for a living so I know he is looking forward to driving again though who wouldn't want a chauffeur?

It is already 16:08. I have spent a lot of the day cleaning the three bathrooms up in this hizzy. With our new roomies arriving tomorrow I want to make them think that we are much neater than we really are. When you start at 100% and very slowly work down to 60% it may rarely be noticed. The cleaning even included replacing toilet seats in two of the bathrooms; I had already replaced the one in the powder room several months back. I am doing laundry now too. I am on load number three (laundry not toilet seat related) and, eventually. I will probably wash some of my own clothes.

My new favorite television show is on tonight. I love the new FX show Baskets. I feel so strongly about it that I wrote a review of the show that is posted on IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base). Here is the link to the reviews of Baskets - you just have to scroll down to mine (it is on page two right now and will probably move down as more people add reviews beause they are posted reverse-chronologically). Cha Cha did one too about the same time that I did mine (she did hers first actually and I am just a Copy-Matt). I pretty much like everything that Zach Galifianakis is part of. My favorite part of the show is probably Louie Anderson though. I guess I should stop or why would you read my review?

I will be right back because the drier is playing the tune that says it is time for me to fold clothes and move the clothes in the washer to the drier and begin another load so this endless circle can continue. BRB! Sorry, that took longer than I figured because I peeled the hard-boiled (I need to call them hard-baked eggs because that is still how I cook them now ever since I posted that way to cook eggs here awhile ago). I also just threw some chicken breasts in the oven - I guess that answered the age-old question as to which came first: I did the eggs first so the egg came first. I need to run to the store and get some more stuff for salads so I will be wrapping-up here pretty quick. Oh, and the chicken is seasoned with rosemary and garlic for those scoring at home.

 I think a spooned-tongue would be more convenient 

I am fairly certain that I am getting a cold. I have a nose that is runny sometimes and stuffed-up other times and I have a sore throat and my tongue hurts. I am not sure how the tongue plays in the scenario but, perhaps that is a separate issue. Maybe I have a forked-tongue after all?

The doorbell just rang and I went to answer it, as people sometimes do, and it was a dude canvassing for Bernie Sanders. I will not say what we discussed as people are sick of politics right now (if they are anything like me) but it was informative. I am not sure if he is going to every house but he had a list and knew that I am Matthew - he forgot it "Saint" at the beginning but I will forgive him that transgression.

I am headed to the store. Thank you very much for letting me rant today; I am sorry I wasn't here for you yesterday. I am pretty sure that I will blog tomorrow because our new tenants won't be here until later-on I suspect. I hope they don't mind that the entrance to their room is hidden behind a bookcase and stairs because immigrants aren't real popular with some people in 'Merica (I know Drumpf doesn't care for them - at least that is what his forked tongue says). You do know his real name is Donald Drumpf don't you? (no kidding) It makes sense when you know the German meaning. I am gonna stop because I have turned a political corner and need to hit the brakes. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!