My Dream Was My Ticket Out!

I have not blogged for nearly two months and I am not sure why I am blogging today; I guess I just got a wild blog up my butt? I also miss all of you!

I have been working on my first novel which takes a considerable amount of time as I have learned. I have moved along pretty well but I know it will be a laborious task before I am finished with the book. Cha Cha and I are still working on getting the podcast up and running; the studio is back in order. I guess I will be on Facebook more again in the meantime; I just needed a break for my sanity's sake (what I have left of my sanity, that is). I won't be on Facebook as much as I had been previously but, who knows, I may be on more than I think? I have 89 unread message from, probably partially, from you.

The political climate is still very disheartening to me but I feel that there is brightness on the horizon.  I am happy to see all of the women and people of color and sexual orientations gaining major political positions in the country. That is what America is all about to me and that is how I have always felt.

NOT

Jill and I were supposed to go see Trevor Noah at Northern Illinois University on November 10th and that got rescheduled because of his illness. It was rescheduled for this Sunday night. December  9th, but he had to re-reschedule because he is still sick. So, they rescheduled it again and now we are not sure when we will get to see him as the new date has not been scheduled. I guess we could sell the tickets or get a refund but we have good seats and we like him so we will just wait and see what date the next reschedule will fall upon. They did say it will be in 2019 which is very soon now.

I don't have much else today but I will try to blog more often as I am off from work four days a week. Many weeks I have an extra day off because of my problem with my knee and and my opposing Achilles tendon. I can call off when I am having an issue and the time is not accountable time. Blogging about that, I got a bill from one of my doctors (the worst one of the ones that I visited) for another $500 for a pair of orthopedic shoes that I have never received. I do not plan to pick up these shoes (that is a trap) and I have paid everything else in full. I had previously written him a letter letting him know how I felt he did a poor job but I paid everything up to that point. He wrote me back how he did a great job... I will consult an attorney if I need too. The last time I saw him was July 26th. The bills always took a long time to get to me and I paid them immediately when they arrived. The last payment was in early September which was everything I had received and, as far as I am concerned, he is paid in full. I talked to one of my neighbors (Lisa) about him and she had gone to him before and she told me about her terrible interactions with this doctor who does not seem to understand the Hippocratic oath.

I am sorry if I offend you by my political rhetoric but I respect your opinions even if they differ from mine even though you may be incorrect. My writing fluids are flowing again and I think this blog will help me to continue to push through with my upcoming best-selling novel. I will be happy to sign a copy for you once the first edition is printed.

I am going to end now and get some dinner. Thank you for stopping by again; I will blog as I can. You are still very important to me and always will be. TTT? MITM (out) TA!

Love #42

I wonder how much he would be worth today?

I apologize that I have not written in almost a week. Life often gets in the way of our hobbies (as I guess this is a hobby). Work takes a bit over half a day (12 and a half hours if you consider the drive each way) for three days of my week. The week before this (which is "sort of" last week though my week is over this week already) was a rough one. I had to call off the week before last because of the mushpounder incident that I wrote about on October 2nd. I have a doctor's appointment about that knee because it still causes me somewhere between discomfort and agony most every day. One of my Operations' Managers suggested that I see about getting intermittent FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) to cover days if I should have an issue when I cannot come in again. The FMLA, if I call-off, would allow the hours to not be accountable against me. I could then, if I wished, back-fill the hours missed with my accrued vacation hours. I would rather be well but I prefer even more having my knee be pain-free. I woke up this morning with a slightly swollen, aching knee cap but I think I may be getting used to the pain. I hope it is just like arthritis or something because I do not need bionic kneecaps.

Sure am happy that we got the furnace/air conditioner fixed since the weather has been having drastic mood swings over the past few weeks. Air conditioner on one day and furnace on the next.

Last night I watched The Tuskegee Airmen and right now I am watching Glory. I have seen them both many, many times but I like them both greatly. If I believed in reincarnation I would believe that I was an African American in a previous life. The fortitude and struggles of these people were paramount. My knee discomfort and pain mean nothing compared to what they had to endure.

I may have to watch the movie 42 next. If I cannot find it on one of our many ROKU channels I do have the DVD and I can watch it that way. My opinion is that Harrison Ford overacted a bit in 42 but I can deal with that.. I have many baseball caps and my favorite one is my Brooklyn Dodgers' cap. I am also very fond of my Montreal Expos' cap. I guess I like defunct teams' caps.

Still working on getting the podcast going again. There have been a few setbacks but I got more excited after listening to a few of our old show that were/are stored on my cellphone. I am going to try to get them on-line and I will let you know if/when/how I can do that; Cha Cha is the technical guru so I will have to get it figured out.

I think you probably have had enough from me for today. I'll try to blog again tomorrow but I am going to stop being too hopeful because something always seems to come up. Ha, I just looked and 42 is on Netflix. The trifecta will be completed and, maybe, I will have to try for the quinella after that is done? TTTT (probably)... MITM (out) TA!

"Nowhere special, I always wanted to go there"

$10 part and $85 labor

The air conditioning was fixed yesterday and all is well. I have it set at 72 degrees but the thermostat reads 56 degrees right now at 08:34. It is so chilly that the air conditioning won't even come on. It will work well because the furnace will need to work very soon. Thankfully, it was a quick and fairly inexpensive fix.

To celebrate National Taco Day yesternight I went to the store and got all of the fixin's for tacos and guacamole and I made them here. The great thing about that is that we have leftovers for today (tacos, taco salads, nachos...) I may even have a taco omelette this morning.

Be sure to register and vote!

I mentioned the show The FBI (1965-1974) yesterday and I could not find it anywhere on any of the many, many channels that we have, though the new updated version is beginning. There were several partial episodes of the old show on You Tube so I watched those and that quelled my itch. Right now I am watching Blazing Saddles for the 324th time; I wonder if a studio would/could even make this film today. I could watch Mel Brooks' movies forever. I think Richard Pryor was one of the team of writers for this film? I like when the directors of films appear in their own films (either starring or cameos). Mel Brooks makes me think of this as I am watching one of his films and I have seen him in it, so far, about ten times as different characters. Other directors I can think who have done this are: Alfred Hitchcock, Kevin Smith, Clint Eastwood, Roman Polanski, Orson Wells, Spike Lee, Peter Jackson, Christopher Guest, M. Knight Shyamalan, Woody Allen... I am sure there are many more that I am missing. Why not get directing money and acting money at the same time? You're there anyway so take on a part-time job in addition to the full-time gig of directing.

I do not have much more on my mind today other than I already feel like taking a nap though it is only 10:12. I think the political nonsense is wearing me out. I started writing more about that but I backspaced it out as that is one of the topics that we aren't supposed to talk about. But, how do things get remedied and changed if they are not spoken about?

Gene Wilder (The Waco Kid) just said, "Nowhere special, I always wanted to go there." I am with him on that one. Given that, I imagine that you know the movie has just ended as will today's blog. I thank you for showing up and taking part in the blog. I hope you have a fantastic day and I will check back tomorrow on whether or not that you did. I suppose we will find something out about the Supreme Court Justice debacle tomorrow and I am not extremely hopeful with all of the hate and party bias and misogynistic behavior that usually happen in the old white men's club. I do try to keep the faith that these husband and fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers can put their minds in Dr. Blasey-Ford's shoes. TTTT...MITM, out, TA!

Stamps! Who Needs 'Em?

Sorry that I did not blog yesterday; it was a rough day. My left knee was bothering me quite a bit and I, for the most part, stayed slightly medicated with my knee propped up. When I went to bet last I used a heating pad on the knee and it felt pretty good for most of this morning. It is 12:06 now and I just have a slight ache on the inside of the kneecap. I worry that it is going to lead to surgery eventually. The Achilles seems to be doing well though. Dr. York, who I highly recommend if you need any orthopedic assistance, said that I could apply IcyHot to the keel of my right foot but I have only been doing in once a day except for the days I am working: on those days I apply it three times a day. I just mailed the payment for the entire time I was with him and the physical therapist (Clayton) and it was only $237.81. Before insurance it was $1,284.81 so I am quite satisfied with the insurance covering the lion's share. Insurance is nice to have when you need it though the premiums suck when you do not. I forgot the cost of a stamp and I am mot even sure how much postage is these days as the don't put the price on them as they used to do. Another government scam to keep us docile(ish). They think they are fooling us by putting the word "FOREVER" on the stamp and they can sneak rate increases in whenever they wish and we will be none the wiser. I still have to deal with the crappy scammer, podiatrist Dr. Neil Levin - he will not be getting his entire bill paid by me. If a lawyer is needed then let the games begin!

When I went out to put the check in the mailbox I found a dead bird on the ground. I picked him/her up and took him/her to the backyard and now the rabbit that I buried there months ago has someone to talk to. I don't believe in an afterlife but maybe it's different for them and I don't want to hurt an animal's chances of having a friend in their happy hunting-ground if there happens to be one. For me, I will deal with whatever comes either by myself or with others - what do I care? I'll be dead. Dead animals always make me kind sad for some reason. Must me the Native American blood running through my happy hunting veins. Now I feel like watching Dances with Wolves for the bazillionth time.

Jill is going to be back from her week-long work think in Chicago. I will be happy to have her back home; I miss her when she is gone; she completes me. I also have the furnace/air conditioner guy - All-Star Heating and Plumbing coming out the afternoon. It was odd because when I called him he said that he was doing a service call at my next door neighbor Dan's house and would come over here right after he is done there. Two houses right next to on another? Should I suspect foul play? It is neither hot nor cold today but winter is coming and we may have warm days before winter too, huh? I will review their service when they are done here; we used them one time before and we were satisfied.

We also have to have the driveway resurfaced before winter. My good friend from across the street, Lisa, suggested Arrow Asphalt Sealing & Striping. I wonder how much extra it would be for striping a short driveway? I think that would be cool-looking but I used to wear bell-bottoms in the 70's so what do I know? Should I make it a no passing zone? Seems safer that way. I just liked their Facebook page.

I just found out that today is National Taco Day today. I did have some cheese and salsa and guacamole on a couple of corn tortillas this morning so I guess my stomach knew and told my brain. Since they were not technically tacos I will have to makeup for that blunder later in the day.You want a taco now don't you?!

It is 14:21 now and many people are watching the clock as the time winds down to the ride home.

I just showered and am starting another load of laundry. You're welcome City of DeKalb for the extra shekels on the water bill. Remind me that we need laundry detergent and bleach. Jill is not home yet as I had hoped that she would be.

All of the Trump garbage is on television right now and I notice that there are ZERO people of color behind him in the audience. To me that is huge. People need to vote even if they have never voted before. I will be dead soon and I want the future of this country and world to be better for my descendants as I imagine my ancestors wanted for me. 45 has become my least favorite number and, because of him, I want people to become more involved even if that merely means for them to first for the first time in their lives. I have a clear conscience for not voting for 45 and I cannot accept any of the blame. He is now mocking Christine Blasey Ford for being assaulted to a crowd of honkies just days after he said she was so brave to come forward... Why do we (HE) want the country to be divided? I am sick of all of it!!!! I am confident that the FBI are not swayed by politics and they have been conducting a fair investigation. I wait to hear 45 bad-mouthing the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I wonder if the television show The F.B.I. is on ROKU somewhere - if it is you know I will find it! You know I cannot wait as I owe you the answer so you don't have that bug in your brain...

Ephram looked a lot like Mannix didn't he?

Okay, there is: The F.B.I. Files on Favesome TV (which channel I may add), of course there is The X-Files (but they just investigate craziness which might fit now) and there is a show entitled FBI that is in it's first season on Fandango Now and on VUDU. I want the show that ran from 1965-1974 starring Ephram Zimbilist Junior (I remember watching that show every week as a wee lad). I probably didn't start watching it until about 1969 or 1970. He had three networks and maybe not even a PBS station yet?  We grew up with gritty television cop shows and sit-coms. AND WE LIKED IT!

I am going to end now and take the garbage cans (plastic roller doohickeys) to the curb so I do not forget. I noticed that many of the neighborhood keep their doohickeys outside while we keep ours in the garage until the night before pick-up. I am worried that they will blow away or tip over...

Now it's time to say goodbye to Matt and all his fun. He would like to thank you folks for kindly dropping in. You're all invited back next blog to this locality to have a heapin' helpin' of his jocularity.
Middle that is, set a spell, take your glasses off, y'all come back now, here?

I Might Just Blog the Good Life Yet

I am blogging much earlier that I usually would be blogging on a Tuesday (it is 11:31 right now). I woke-up this morning at the usual 04:57 and tried to stand up. I was in instant pain so sat back down on the bed. My left knee was swollen to the size somewhere between a softball and a mushpounder. Remember mushpounders; the really big balls that were larger and more mushy, I guess, that a softball. They were used sometimes in gym class so we could play baseball without wearing mitts. I called work and said what the problem was and that I would not be in today. My Achilles ached more than usual this morning too. Maybe the changes in seasons are going to be the literal death of me. I guess being on my feet for twelve hours worked okay for the three days last week but I must have been walking more for the 24 hours on Sunday and Monday. It was odd because when I fist stepped on the floor this morning I felt like someone slipped me a mickey. The only other living being in the house was Jeff and he does not know how to even open a can of dog food so I ruled him out as a suspect immediately. I wonder if I should have started back with less that the full shifts to get back into the swing of things? Most people were surprised that I was brought back at 100% immediately.

Surprised to learn that they use rotary phones

Sorry, I had to take a moment to answer the phone from some robot trying to get me to borrow money. Another of many numbers that I have blocked on my cell phone. I realize that it is tougher for companies to get people to answer unrecognized numbers with called ID so they cold-call people to get them to buy things that they don't need. With the internet I can find anything I want or need to buy and get all of the information about the companies and products in seconds. I am sure that I am like you in that if I do not recognize a number I will not answer the call. If they leave me a message and I want to call them back I will call them back. Most times, however, it is a number to add to the do not answer list on the phone.

You are not going to believe this - I just now got another robo call from an 888 area code.  A recording that they owe me money "because the company has been forced to close down..." There was even dramatic music playing - it was like a radio bit and they expect me to call them back and then I bet they will want my banking information. It would have been funnier if they played Mr. Roboto in the background. I may have at least listened to the entire message before I blocked it. Sadly, I imagine that the people who fall for this kind of thing are the people who can less afford it the most. I get a lot of messages like this while I am working but my phone is off at work, except during breaks, and I hear them later and delete them at home.

I may try going to supermarket (Schnuck's) this afternoon. It very close to home and I will use a shopping cart as walkers. I will even park next to one of those cart corrals so I will not have to take the cart back up to the store. I am one of those people who actually does take the cart back to the store when I am finished with the cart.

I am wearing my Bob Uecker (Mr. Baseball) T-short today. It has a plaid Brewers' logo next to his name on the back with a number 9. In case you are unaware of who he is: he is the announcer for the Brewers and was dubbed "The King of Baseball" by Johnny Carson. You may remember him from Mr. Belvedere if you old like me. He also had many bit parts in countless movies and television shows. He was in many Lite Beer commercials. He plays he announce in Major League says the great line, "juuuust a bit outside." He has been the Brewers' announcer since 1971, I don't have a dog on the World Series race anymore so I am torn. I want the Brewers to win but I have many friends that are Cubs' so I wish them victory too.

Thanks for coming by. Have a great day and avoid robo calls at all cost. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Of course I got a program!

I don't have much on my mind but that has never stopped me from blogging before. Since, I work three 12's after today I will think of something to write about. It was nice hearing the Cardinals win today already. Like, I think I blogged yesterday, if they offer that I can come home before the beginning of the shift tomorrow I will volunteer. Tomorrow the Cardinals will play the Cubs tomorrow at 14:20 and I wouldn't mind having a few adult beverages. Being a Sunday maybe I could get someone to meet me some place. I can think of two Cubs' fans that would be great comrades. The Card's are still in contention for the wildcard depending on how they do tomorrow and how the Milwaukee Brewers do against the Detroit Tigers. Maybe I will wear my Cardinals-Tiger's sweatshirt that I got when Fabio and I went to the 2006 World Series (one game not the entire series).

I am so please that there is going to be an FBI investigation of the Brett Kavanaugh. So many people are asking things like, "what if he were your son?" I think the more appropriate question would be, "what if Christine Blasey Ford were your daughter?" I know how I would answer each of those questions as I do have a daughter and a son. I admire Senator Jeff Flake for making a move to push though the FBI investigation and I do admire the woman who confronted him in the elevator to convince him of this just as much. We should all fight for what we believe in; especially if it is going to have ramifications (one way or another) how we and our descendants will have to struggle or strive! Blasey Ford is a hero and Flake is a hero and these women in the elevator are heroes. Never a dull moment in the Trump Whitehouse. I will leave it at that I suppose.

For you youngsters - these are record albums of LP's from long ago

I am listening to Stevie Wonder's album (or whatever they are called these days) Songs In The Key of Life. I still have a lot of LP's (33 1/3) and 45's (not to be confused with one of Earth's worst country leaders (easily in the top five worst anyway). The reason for this choice is from my "Li'l Dude" pal Jay Cole.

I cannot believe that I am wearing jeans today: I am not ready for fall/autumn or winter. I know that it doesn't matter what I am ready for though. I am not ready to die but I don't have a lot of say in the matter either. I promise that I will die and I will probably not die well. What would "dying well" be now that I write that? I give myself about eight more years so go with that in the dead pool.

I just switched and and now listening to Queen - A Night at the Opera. Thank you YouTube for what you allow me to do.

Sometimes I wish they would just mail me autograph requests

I have to get a few more things done before we head out to dinner with Cha Cha's brother (and my brother-in-law) Tom and his wife (our sister-in-law, as you may have surmised) Kara. I would tell you where we are going but if I write it here who knows what could happen? Sometimes I like to just have a quiet dinner without signing autographs and mugging for photos and such with people.

Have a great rest of your day/night. I probably will not blog again until Wednesday as I work the three 12's starting tomorrow bright and early. Enjoy whatever you have planned and be nice to people who deserve it and just avoid the ones that do not.  Thanks, as always. TTTPW probably Wednesday). xoxoxoxo

Look, Here's Today's Blog!

Can I write and you read the blog without driving each other crazy?

It's not even 08:00 on the third day of my four day weekend and I am awake and out of bed. What is wrong with me? I have been having those weird feelings in my chest and stomach like when a foot falls asleep but it is on the inside rather than the outside. Kind of like the tingling of one of your hands or feet falling asleep. I also have a slightly stuffed-up nose and I am very chilly. I sound like Felix Unger.

One great thing about this morning that I have not had in awhile is that my right Achilles aches just a little bit and my left knee area doesn't have any discomfort. I am hoping that the lack of knee discomfort continues and the Achilles gets to that same place soon. I go back to work on Sunday and it would be really nice to be relatively painless; I will not hold my breath.

This just in.... Brett Kavanaugh is a liar and a bully and a misogynistic buffoon. But the rest of the buffoon mafia that sticks up for him and praises him will probably get him into the Supreme Court. Maybe he can sit next to Clarence Thomas and they can tell war stories. I hope that I am wrong about him becoming a S. C. Justice but we have witnessed this political boy's club crap way too many times. I wonder if there are odds on whether he get in or not in Las Vegas.  I learned that betting on political elections is illegal (even in Las Vegas) but I see "the odds" are 6/4. That, basically, means that for every one dollar you bet, if you win, you would receive $1.50 in return, If you bet $100.00 and win you would get back $150.00. I was never really good at mathematics but I could always do math very well when in came to poker and blackjack and the like.

Does everybody else notice that Sarah Huckabee Sanders says "LOOK" a lot at the beginning of her sentences? I am not sure that someone who speaks like that should be should be the White House Press Secretary. Maybe it does make since given who the GOOFUS  POTUS is currently. Shouldn't she, at least, say "LISTEN" instead of "look" if she wants people to listen to her kissing 45's lying, misogynistic rants? Even though that would be rude it would be more linguistically proper. Do you suppose she really believes the crap that she spews or does she just like the paycheck so she puts up with the lies and garbage. Maybe she is just waiting to write her memoirs about the (hopefully short) time with a lunatic, sexist, racist, psychopath President?

Did I mention that Brent Kavanaugh is guilty? Sadly, he will still become a Supreme Court Judge, I fear, because crooks of a feather protect their own kind. I don't know how 45 can even comment at all about sexual misconduct as he his whitewashed in sexual misconduct. I have always respected females as that is how I was brought-up. I would have behaved that way even if I was never told that by my parents. I am kind and friendly to everyone I come in contact with until I have a reason not to be kind or friendly to them for a reason. Most of the people that I know as friends behave that same way because, most of the time, "birds from a feather flock together." I would not flock with mean or racist or misogynistic... I would still be civil but  that is about as much as I would be with people that behave in these manners.

I am going to end now because I have whipped myself into an internal frenzy thinking about all of the evil and unwarranted hatred in the world. Have a great day. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

U.S. Senate Hearings - How Exciting!

It is 09:06 and I am watching CBSN as the Senate Kavanaugh - Blasey Ford  U.S. Senate hearings begin. I feel like a court reporter while typing this though I will stop typing now to watch the proceedings. I have a strong feeling as to who, I believe, is telling the truth and who is lying. I will, hopefully, see her the rightful person vindicated. Isn't that what we always hope in any court proceeding? Based on the opening statement by some old white fart who is leaning his comments in the way that he believes I will be surprised to see a just verdict. Why not just start the hearings rather than expressing your own feelings.

There is a short break from the proceedings now at 10:30. Based upon what I have seen so far my opinion of what happened has not changed. In fact. I am believing my initial feelings even more. And now it is 13:17 and they are taking a 45 minute break. I think I will be done watching this when they come back. Kavanaugh will be interviewed a bit later today. I probably will not watch any of that as I can just wait and watch the clips of that later. I am pretty sure what the Kavanaugh hearing will be a waste of my time. The a-hole Lindsey Graham is talking about how unfair this Blasey Ford testimony has been without his bullies being present present. What a jag!

Jill is working from home today and she is in a meeting in her office. It is a virtual meeting or whatever you call it when many people are on their computers discussing work things. While she has been working and meeting in her office I replaced two toilet seats. I am not sure that it was necessary but Cha Cha says it was and we bought the seats so she will be surprised that they are installed. The toilet seat in my bathroom is broken-in to my taste (not literal taste) so we did not get a seat for that toilet. Of course, I gave the toilets a good bleaching and scrubbing while they were seat-less.

I may watch The Lone Ranger again while I eat lunch but I may not. I really should take a nap but I won't. My typing hands smell like toilet cleaner (mainly bleach I would guess by the smell). Ha, my typing about what to watch and smelling my bleached hands I think I will watch season 2 episode "#2" of American Vandal instead. I didn't notice yesterday that the #2 is in quotation marks  in the episode's title - very clever considering the season.

"You think Helser's gonna get VLE?" "I'm on the DL, who cares?"

Hey, the Cubs and Cardinals face-off tomorrow to begin the three game series that will end the regular season. Anybody want to meet at a bar for lunch tomorrow at 13:10? The Cards were leading the wild card race for several weeks but now they are one game behind the Dodgers for the second spot with three games left. It is cool that those three games are against the Cubs. It will be tough to overtake the Dodgers for the wild card now. My hope is that the Cubs will sit some of their good players to rest them up for the playoffs giving the Cards a chance to make the wild card game. My dance card is open tomorrow and Saturday (both day games). Sunday is also a day game but I work on Sundays. If I get offered VLE again (see yesterday's blog for info on VLE) I will take VLE to see the final game of the regular season. A boy can always wish.

Alright I am going to grab some lunch and then figure my next project for today. Thanks a lot for stopping in again; I do appreciate you. TTTT...MITM (out) CYA!

Ya'all Come Back Now, Here?

Happy weekend (for me at least) and happy whatever you want to happy about.

I came down stairs this morning and turned on Netflix and I see season two of American Vandal has begun so I watched episode one. I really liked season one and this one is shaping up to be good too. They seem like documentaries but they are, I guess, mockumentaries (I think that is already a word but, if not, I will take credit for it). I just watched one episode so far but it is only 08:34 right now so, I imagine I will watch some more episodes later today. Netflix pretends that they/it knows me because it recommends "Top Picks" for me and I rarely have any interest in those shows/movies. It's like Netflix doesn't even know me.

My first week back to work was kind of rough. The right Achilles seems to be doing very well but the left knee if taking on the role of the protagonist. I probably already wrote this in a previous blog but the walking unevenly (with the stupid Darth Vader boot) was putting a lot more stress on the left side. We have a thing at work that they will call VLE (Voluntarily Leave Early) that they will call once in awhile if not everyone is needed for that day. They rotate the list so not all of the same people get the chance every day. In my first day back, Sunday, guess whose name was called first. Yes, I was at the top of the list and I decided to stay at work for the twelve hours. I regretted that decision most of the day but, come payday, I will be happy that I stayed all the work week. I will wait until after my four-day weekend to decide but, if I went with how I feel right now I would/will probably agree to go home if my name gets called. But it is a blogger's prerogative to change his/her mind.

This is Dr. Roy - he is awesome!

Well, it is now 17:01 and I have done quite a bit since those previous paragraphs. I went to breakfast at The Junction (though I had a tuna melt and cole slaw) with a gal pal of mine. After that I drove to Winfield to see my neurologist. Everything is perfect and my next appointment with him is September 25th 2019. On the way home I stopped at two stores to get various groceries and sundries. I cannot believe how that I-88 is still so bad with construction. On the way home from Winfield I took Butterfield Rd. all the way to Geneva where I got on the tollway to head the rest of the way home. It seemed faster but maybe it was just less stressful as I continued to move.

When I got home our next door neighbor Phyllis came over and brought some mail of ours that she received by mistake. It turned out that it was just two credit card offers - one for Jill and one for me. I tore them into shreds and burned them in the fire pit. I cannot believe how many of those stupid things we get. Phyllis originally from Alabama. She recently had a book published and we will have her on the podcast when we get that going again soon. We are going to monkey around with it in the basement studio before we see if we want to use the library's facilities.

I am going to end now to start getting dinner ready. Still using the Sun Basket box that comes with three meals per week with all the ingredients to make the dinners. Cha Cha made the one last night as I usually do the cooking. She found it quite easy and it was quite delicious. Tonight it is some kind of a gyros dish. I may watch season two episode two of American Vandal or I may watch another episode of The Lone Ranger. The one I watched this morning was one of the first episode where The Lone Ranger found Silver and nursed him to health when they found him shot and left to die. I love watching the shows from when I was a kid. We watch: The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, The Lucy Show, Flipper, I Dream of Jeannie, Good Times, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Dick Cavett Show... so many more. It's nice because most of them are only half-hour episodes and they're good to watch while making dinner or folding laundry or blogging... I will really end. Now it's time to say goodbye to Matt and all his kin (friends). (He) They would like to thank you folks for kindly dropping in. You're all invited back to this locality to have a heapin' helpin' of (my) their hospitality. Hillbilly that is, set a spell, ya'll come back now, ya hear? This has been a Filmways blogsertation! TA!

Too drunk to blog

I am home from work and too drunk to blog. I'll hit you up tomorrow. Thank goodness for wine and vodka. I look like Ge'rard Depardieu when I am drinking.

Carolina's On My Blog

It's 11:42 the day before I return to work. I set the alarm clock for 5 AM this morning just to make sure I still knew how to get up early to an alarm. No problem at all, thankfully. I am pretty excited to get back to work. My Achilles is aching a little bit but nothing like it wad before. I am concerned that being on my feet for 12 hours three days straight will aggravate the heel. If it does I am just going to soldier through it  quietly like I was doing before I knew what was going on.

I took Jeff to Gevena for his grooming this morning. The appointment was for 08:00 and we got there at about 07:30 so we walked around until they were open and it was time for his snip, snip... (not the vasectomy kind but the haircut kind). He did very well. Last time we were there I was unable to tip the lady who cut his fur because they will not allow people to put the tips on the credit cards. I have a feeling that the people who trim the dogs are like independent contractors. Luckily, the woman who cut his fur last time was there again this time. I was hoping for that to occur so I stopped at the ATM on the way there and got some cash. I was able to tip the lady who trimmed him today $10 and I also tipped the lady who cut his hair today $10. So weird. I am watching The Andy Griffith Show and it's one that is mainly focused around Floyd the barber - the "The Bookie Barber" episode (season 2: episode 28 in case you remember it by season and episode number rather than title). Now Jeff is outside just getting filthy again.

I brought one of the bigger televisions into the Tiki Room and now I am thinking about bringing the tiki bar up here but I feel I would meet some resistance so it will probably not happen. There really isn't that much more room in here anyway.

All of a sudden it feels like a knife just stabbed me in the right heel of my foot. Oddly, I am sitting down and typing and it is above the part of the Achilles tendon that is swollen and agitated. Perhaps it is good that is not where the tendon is aggravated? Whatever happens I will push threw it and save my money from going back to one of the doctors. The first doctor I went to is trying to railroad but I am not having it. I will wait and write about that later if the letter I sent him isn't addressed to my satisfaction. Suffice it to say that he did not diagnose me correctly and did not credit a $200 payment that I have proof of pavement (I do have a receipt). All of the other doctors I visited seem more forthright. I am not going to jump to conclusions until I hear back from his office.

How come most people in Mayberry, North Carolina don't have southern accents? I bet people in Mount Airy do.

Oddly, my phone just dinged and I looked at it's a story about Republican Congressman Ralph Norman making a sexual assault joke about 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg being "...groped by Abraham Lincoln." What in the Hell is wrong with these people? In case you are looking for verification it was published in the NOT-failing New York Times. I cannot imagine what we would have read if the internet had been invented 50 years earlier. Who wants to move to Canada with me?

I am going to call this a wrap. Not sure if I will be able to blog tomorrow since I will be working almost every hour that I am awake on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. I may squeak a blog in before Wednesday but I doubt it will happen. Thanks for stopping by. TTT?...MITM (out)

Uncle Donald's Old Time Blog!

Is it just me or do you have a dirty mind here too?

I didn't have time to blog yesterday because Cha Cha and I got busy to rearranging the Tiki Room and getting smashed again. All of the drinking will have to slow way down for me on Saturday as I go back to work on Sunday. I am excited to get back to work though I have gotten a lot of things done I was done with the doctors and just continued with the physical therapy. Sitting in the Tiki Room makes me notice that we don't have a Tiki in here anymore. I have several in the basement so that is easily remedied. Please don't mention this to Jill as she might put a kabash to it. I will just hope that she doesn't notice it for awhile.

It is tomorrow now as that last paragraph was written yesterday. I hope to finish the blog today so this paragraph isn't tomorrow. Cha Cha and I went to lunch at Fatty's today and I had the usual - corn cob salad with no bacon. I also took my bottle of giardeniera (a word that does not exist according to spellcheck. we ate out on the patio and, though very windy, it was a pleasant lunch. I had a couple of bloody marys and Kill had a few screwdrivers. We got done just as the Friday night staff was arriving for work. I know that Friday nights are crazy when the students are here. What else did we do? We went to Menard's and spent a lot of money there and then we stopped at Schnucks because I decided I wanted to drink some Moscoto and Jill needed more orange juice for her new drink invention - Orange Gingerroka (not sure of the spelling). She even contacted some people to try to make it become a worldwide sensation.

We are watching Black Panther on Netflix right now; it was just added to Netflix. So far the movie is great but I may be biased because my high school mascot was a panther? I will be right back - I have to crack that bottle of wine and begin my journey. I cannot drink too much because I am setting the alarm for 05:00 to get back into the swing of getting up early for when I go back to work Sunday. My Nikes are pretty-much broken in and I will see if I can handle the 36 hours in three days; I know that I can. My Achilles tendon feels like it is at about 75-80% and I have a brace and a sleeve for my left knee which has been carrying much of my weight over the past three months or so but I will tough it out come what may.

Sadly, I just learned that Donald Trump is still the puppet dictator of the states - BUMMER! I cannot imagine that he will make it through his entire term as President. I have more faith in the American people and the United States justice system. Trump is a puppet of Russia and of Korea and of the knuckleheads and mostly he a puppet of reclusive billionaire Robert Mercer who is one of the main shareholders of Breitbart New. He pumped $77,000,000 into donations and gifts for many conservatives including Drumpf. Steve Bannon, Trump's Chief of Staff, was also
big into Breitbart before becoming chief executive of Goofy;s Presidential campaign. I am sure there was nothing shady going on there.

Tomorrow Jeff and I head to Geneva to get him groomed and his nails clipped. He does not care for the cowardly lion treatment but he does strut around like he is king of the forest once he gets it all done. He loves taking car rides but he won't care much when he gets to his destination tomorrow.

I will try to write again tomorrow but who knows what the day will bring. I am going to end now so I can try to pay attention to the movie and get a good buzz on. Have a great rest of your today and a better tomorrow. TTT?...MITM (out) TA!

We Don't Use the Word "Supermarket" Anymore

Though it was sucky while I did it I am glad that I mowed the yard and burned he brush yesterday as it rained and thundered throughout most of the night. It was still raining this morning and the sun is just beginning to make an encore appearance this morning at 11:39. I have very few things on my dance card today other than going to the supermarket. I like to use the word supermarket as saying "the store" is so very vague these days since we have stores for many different goods: the pet store, the tire store, the clothes store, the porno store, the liquor store, the auto parts store, jewelry store... so many more to list if I were so inclined but I am not. I now try to think about all of the different stores in the few shopping malls that still exist.

Man, it is 19:14 now. I have done a lot since 11:39 though it just seems like seconds to you. I went to Petco and got to the checkout with a cart full dog stuff and didn't have my credit card. I only keep one credit card with me now so it is easier to pay crap off from the bank card with no interest... So, I drove all the way back across town wondering, all the way, where in the Hell my card was. As I walked into the house I remembered that I used it to buy Trevor Noah concert tickets last night though I am not sure if this kind of show is called a concert. So, I drove back across town (with Jeff this time because he gets to go in that kind of stores) and paid for and got the stuff. So, all is good right now.

If you live near me and want to know a podiatrist NOT to go to in my neck of the woods please let me know and I will, happily, give you information. I was sent a bill that says I have stuff past due and this is the first bill that I ever received from them. Additionally. they say I owe around $336.00 and this is from the beginning of when I went to see him in late July. I kept impeccable records with copies of everything and I paid $250.00 the first time I visited and that is not listed. I checked my bank account and it was deducted from the checking account. This guy also said that I had a "partially severed Achilles tendon" when, in fact it ended up being a stressed when I went to see an orthopedist (using the disc that I got from the podiatrist. Plus, how can I be past due when this is the first bill that I ever received from him? 

For dinner tonight I made Chicken katsu with gingered greens and spicy chile mayo. It was pretty good but I have had better from Sun Basket. It was easy to make but I learned that I don't like mustard greens. I love mustard (all kinds) but there should never be green mustard, right? I think there was for awhile or maybe that was ketchup?

I am done now because I want to watch The Bob Newhart Show and put some Icy Hot on my Achilles. Thanks for stopping by again. Cha Cha is off of work for the next three days and I am still off until Sunday so maybe we will find something fun to do. If you have any ideas for fun things to do while everybody else is either at work or in school let me know. TTTT (almost surely)...MITM (out) TA!

I Think I will go with the "larb" tonight

I am taking a break from life now to blog a bit.

Last night Cha Cha and I went over to the DeKalb Public Library to check-out their facilities/ new podcast studio. It looks like a great room with a window and a glass door so people can see Cha Cha and The Agitator making magic (recording the podcast you sicko). We are going back to the library at the end of the month to get schooled on their equipment and such. Anybody who want to use the studio and their equipment has to go through this procedure. I am pretty excited as we had recorded and posted almost 200 shows as we were doing one show a week for quite some time (I am not going to do the math). I just went to the Dirty Laundry Podcast Facebook page and it is still there and you can still listen to a few of our old shows. Whet you appetites for what is to come! Make sure to check out the photos of some of our past guests and such.

I went over to Lowe's and Menard's. I do not know why I ever even go to Lowe's because I always get frustrated and then go to Menard's and find what I need with very helpful employees. I will learn my lesson one of these days. Jill wanted a new closet door in for the closet in her office and that was my project for most of my day so far.

One week from today I will almost be done with my second day back to work with the four-day weekend a mere 14 working hours away. I am excited to get back to work but I am somewhat concerned that being on my feet for twelve hour stretches will aggravate my Achilles tendon.

What else is exciting in my living on the razor's edge life?  Saturday I get to take Jeff to Geneva for a snip snip here and a snip snip there and a couple of la te dahs. I will have to find something to do with myself while I wait. There is plenty to do in Geneva and St. Charles. His appointment is at 08:00 so maybe breakfast? Maybe Cha Cha will go with me. Last time I just stayed there and helped the lady because Jeff does not like baths or getting his nails clipped. I don't think I mentioned the nails being clipped so I had better call back now and tell them about that part. I called and they said "that will be no problem." That's why we drive all the way over there from here.

When I drove into the driveway from getting the door I saw a box from Sun Basket on the front porch. I was going to go to the supermarket to get something for dinner after I installed the door but the blogging gods smiled on me. See, I do believe in some gods. so, the three choices for tonight are: sweet potato taquitos, quick chicken larb lettuce cups or chicken katsu. I didn't know what quick chicken larb... was either but the book that comes with the food (with the recipes...) says that this is "known  as the national dish of Laos. Now I looked and learned that katsu is Japanese for "cutlet." It is traditionally deep-fried pork or beef. We got chicken as we are trying to stay off of red meat. The larb photograph looks the most appealing to me. I bet you have never said that before.

Now I just have the podcast on my mind; I really do miss doing the show. We met a lot of very interesting and talented people and right now we could make quite a few conservative enemies though that would not be out intention. There is so much to talk about right now in the world of politics and influential people taking advantage of their subordinates in many disgusting ways. Maybe we can get big enough to get blasted by 45 in a tweet; that is my new goal, I bet Tom Arnold would phone-in for the show.

I expected to only blog for a few minutes but here I still am. I am going to change out of my new Nike's and put on my lawn-mowing old, ratty, Nike's and mow the yard. I will do, least, the front yard so we have curb appeal. When I get going I will probably continue to get the back done too because that is my modus operandi. It is 15:43 now and I will clock back in when I get done with the yard. I cannot believe the humidity - mainly because it has led to me many times.

I am back and it is now 16:53. In addition to  mowing the front I also: mowed the back yard and burned a bunch of dead branches and leaves. Now it is about one of eleven hours before Cha Cha gets home. She is so dedicated to her job. She literally works seven days a week though a few of them are from home. She has a lot more patience than I do because I know what she goes through. If Debbie P. is reading this today's blog she will know what I am blogging about.

Alright off to make the Larb. Wasn't Larb one of the Star Wars villains? Have a great night; I will probably blog again tomorrow since I have all of the yard work and that damned door done. TTTT...MITM (out)!

MATT HELSER has a BLOG!

One week from today I get to return to work. I know that I will have some mild discomfort but I am going crackers not being able to do much. I have come a long way as I am wearing my new Nike Air Precisions now rather than that stupid Herman Munster boot. I will wear the Nikes almost constantly to try to get them broken in properly by next Sunday. I will not wear them in the shower or while in bed. I still do wear a soft boot that I was given by the orthopedist while I sleep. I am not sure why but I assume he knows what he is talking about as I seldom do. I am also wearing a knee brace dealie on my left knee as I think I have favored that leg while the right Achilles was on vacation. It seems to help though I know it will be soaked in sweat every day when I get back to work.

Cha Cha and I are heading over to the library sometime today to check out their podcast booths. We have a studio in the basement but the library may have equipment that allows us to get Dirty Laundry Podcast on the ether quicker? Maybe they even have a way to allow us to broadcast live? So many maybes and perhapses and what ifs... I am not sure if live would be that good though as I think most of the funny stuff was done in the editing. We'll see.

Happy Mexican Independence Day! That makes lunch choices a bit easier considering Mexican food is probably my favorite food genre. I am a huge see food person also as you can tell by my waist size.

I wonder how 45 will celebrate our neighbors to the south today? Do you think he will mention the wall? I imagine that he will have something to say about how we have been independent longer from England (though he may say something like Englishville or something) than Mexico has been from Spanishtown. I prefer Pina Coladaburg. I bet 45 doesn't even know that our country was bore from England and they were born from Spain. So embarrassing to have a doofus in charge. I have talked myself into a margarita or three today. I see maybe Rosita's in my near future though Eduardo's is also at the top of the list.

Last night I ended-up watching All the President's Men twice. If you rent it on whatever ROKU station we rented it on you can watch it as many times as you like within 24 hours from when you begin watching it the first time. What a great investigation to bring down a maniac though I think it is worse right now (for just a little bit longer I feel).

A satchel full of I Pass money

We had to get a new I-PASS transponder yesterday because I guess they go bad and expire or something. In case you are not from Illinois the I-Pass allows you to go through the faster lanes and not having to stop to pay tolls; the are read as you continue to drive. It is kind of a scam because, many times due to constant road construction, you have to slow down and stop anyway. I have always thought that if a road is under construction to the point that vehicles are forced to stop they should suspend the tolls until they are done with the construction. Anyway we got a new one at Jewel Foods. We could have gone there or to some gas station chain or the tollway oasis I guess. Eventually they will probably mail us speeding tickets based on the times from one toll area to the next. The rest of the country uses EZ Pass but that will work where I-Passes work and visa versa. So why does Illinois have to be different? I bet Al Capone had something to do with it. Hey, is the Al Capone's Hideaway & Steakhouse still open? Nevermind, I went to the website and it read. Sorry, Al Capone's Hideaway & Steakhouse is Permanently Closed. Of course it said that because how can you have a hideout if you advertise? where it is? Supposedly it was actually one of his hideouts pretty far west of Chicago. I loved going there but now I can just "fahget about it!"

If you have Netflix and are looking for s good show to watch I recommend NORM MACDONALD has a SHOW; it is really funny. It is, basically, a talk show but very relaxed (very free-style). The first guest is David Spade and then he has (in order): Drew Barrymore, Judge Judy, David Letterman, Jane Fonda, Chevy Chase, M. Night Shyamalan, Michael Keaton, Billy Joe Shaver and Lorne Michaels. It gets the MITM seal of good talk shows. The entire first season is already available so you can binge watch if you are so inclined. There are a lot of naughty, naughty words (you have been warned).

I am running long so I will end now. Thanks for stopping by. I will probably write tomorrow so stop by again if you feel so inclined. Don't worry, I don't know who stops in and who doesn't and I would not be offended even if I did. Have a great rest of your Sunday, TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

She's not my lover but I may be tipsy

She's not my lover

I want to start by thanking everyone for the birthday wishes yesterday. Please do not feel bad if you did not know that it was my birthday as I took it off of my social media sites because, for me personally, I think it became silly to celebrate after about the twelfth anniversary of  my death.

I heard on the radio today that the Texas Board of Education voted to remove Helen Keller and Hillary Clinton from the state's curriculum. To me these women two of the most influential women in America's history. I would also include: Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Coretta Scott King, Susan Day O'Conner, Rosa Parks, Dolly Madison, Sacagawea, Harriett Tubman, Sally Ride... I know I am leaving so many remarkable American female American heroes out my that may because history is mostly written by men and men are, often times, intimidated by strong, smart, tough, brave... women and leave them out of the history books for fear of being overshadowed. I am married to a very intelligent, brave, strong woman and we have a daughter that is the same.

The real Woodstein

We just rented All the President's Men on Amazon Prime ($2.99) because we have watched many interviews with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and we got the itch again. When I was writing (and the news editor) for my newspaper in college my buddy Mark Jennings and I considered ourselves the Woodward and Bernstein of the paper. We did a lot of investigative stories as a team and even won a few awards. I am not Jewish (that I know of) but I was the Bernstein because he was tall and I was/am not. We had many Deep Throats over the years but we never revealed our sources when asked not to reveal their identities. I am considering getting back into my love of journalism and I may just start here on the local level. I still have ink in my blood. I am gonna watch the movie and drink about five or six bloody marys and I will be back. Cha Cha is having screwdrivers in case you are keeping score.

Why do wasabi peas float? I imagine it is because they are dehydrated. I have had five Absolut bloody marys now and I should not be blogging but I am because that is how I roll.

Michael Ian Black

Tomorrow Cha Cha and I are headed to the Dekalb Public Library as we have found out that they have podcasting booths. Michael Ian Black does his podcast from a library and he even brings his dog into the studio in the library. We will not bringing Jeff to the library as he would not behave himself. I am excited to start doing the podcast again but, remember, I have had five bloody marys so what do I know? We used to do a segment on the podcast called "Cha Cha's wining" where she would review a wine. I bet we cannot take a bottle of wine into the library. Why do wasabi peas float is still my question? I know that was random but I really want need to know.

I think I may watch All The President's Men again tomorrow. what a fabulous movie! Bob Woodward was/is from Wheaton, Illinois. All of the greats are from Illinois - me, you, Obama (sort of thought marriage), Woodward, Harrison Ford, Mandy Patinkin, Bill Murray (and his brothers), Hillary, Michelle Obama (our next President?), Roger Ebert, John Cusack and the Cusacks, Cindy Crawford (I got her yogurt in a line at a store once so, basically, she bought me a yogurt), Robin Williams, Mr. T., John Belushi, Hugh Hefner, Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, Bob Newhart, Fred Savage, John C. Reilly, Gillian Anderson, Quincy Jones, Walt Disney, and so many more...

I am a bit tipsy but I am home and have not and will not drive while under the influence of: horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, wasabi peas, ice, bloody mary mix and Absolut vodka.That would be wrong and against the law and I am no scofflaw. Abslout is my vodka - if you drink the cheap stuff you will regret it the next day. I think I forgot to mention the blue cheese olives.

I want to express that I love you and that I am thankful that you continuing to stop by so I can keep writing. I apologize if there are typos and such but I am seeing three keyboards now. TTTT (probably)...MITM (out) TA!