I'll Blog Your Eye Out!

Happy John McEnroe's birthday! Maybe I should gave gone with "happy day you were on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 Beatles"

It's a cold one today. Not the worse day of the year though. The weather is killing my knee - it sucks to get old. Realizing that I was alive when The Beatles were on "Ed Sullivan" doesn't help the age deal. Did you know that they were on Ed's show (I call him Ed) ten times? Four times live or taped and six times via promotional clips (those were probably new then?).  

I can't believe that I really do not have anything to write about today. Cha Cha is out getting her nails done right now. I just got back from the supermarket getting food for my work lunches this week. 

I am pretty tired of winter; I am more of a Spring-Fall kind of a guy. When I was younger I liked winter but I was a lot dumber then (I hope). Maybe not "a lot" dumber.

I hope it is better by morning because tomorrow is back to work day. It will be a game time decision. This cold weather is killing me knee. Being on my feet for twelve hours takes quite a toll on me with the bum knee. The past few weeks they have had the trainers take Sundays off. Being a trainer, maybe they will make the decision easier for me by doing it again. I will call the call-in line soon to see the weekly/daily staff decision.

I guess I will end now because I need to get some more laundry done. I also need to get the squirrel and bird food out so it is ready for them at the crack if dawn.Some times shorter 

blogs are better because who wants to read an encyclopedia every day.

Thanks for stopping by. Who knows? Maybe I will blog again tomorrow. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Caution - Dangling Participle Ahead!

Ironically, as far as yesterday's blog (not yesterday's anymore) is concerned, Cha Cha and I watched season one episode six of the Netflix series Ozark and it was mainly about religion. It kind of creeped me out. Maybe there is a higher power and someone upstairs is trying to tell me something!?? So, maybe one day I will be smoking a turd in Hades. Oddly, they also talked about Adolf Hitler in season one episode seven. Maybe I am the Mattster of the universe? The blog is a prognosticator methinks. I will have to blog the winning number fro the lottery and then go guy a ticket with those numbers.

I wrote that previous paragraph last week but got sidetracked and stumbled on just the one paragraph and the photo.

Today is Saturday and tomorrow my three-day work week begins. I think Cha Cha and I are going to Schmidt's in Elburn for dinner. Just thought I would tell you that in case you gave a schmidt.

Today I slept all the way to 10:00. I am normally an early riser so I don't know what happened. I am one of those people that still sees light with his eyes closed and hears every single sound. Some nights, when I don't have to work the next day, I will have my wireless earbuds in or just some earplugs. More times than not I do not wear them because how would I hear a call for help if my ears were plugged/budded? We must always be vigilant (we have a guard dog that is very good at letting us know when someone is close). his ears are much more effective than mine.

I think I may be getting sick - that would explain the sound sleeping and not getting up as early as usual. I suppose sleeping-in is what we are supposed to do on our day-off eves?

I am still kind of tired which means I will probably be wide-awake at bed time.

Gonna end now but just wanted to get the dangling participle closed out so I cab start a new when I blog next. thanks for stopping by, I will try to blog on Wednesday but you know how that goes, Thanks a lot for stopping by, I hope you have a great everything, TTTW? TA!

Oh yeah. the Trevor Noah show at Northern Illinois University has been cancelled and we were refunded our money - BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

HAPPY V. D.!!!!

Happy V. D. (Valentine's Day)! I am not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination but I know that religion is important to most people around the world. I would guess that, if you were to speak with everyone in the world I would be in the minority. If you search the world over throughout history can you imagine how many different gods there have been? I bet there have been hundreds of thousands of gods. Native Americans, Greeks, Romans... probably have had thousands on gods each alone. I am happy for people who have faith and take comfort in knowing that someone or some force helps them make it through the day. I guess today being St.Valentine's Day it also seems odd to me that people like Al Capone, who was behind hundreds of brutal murders, could go pray to a priest and be absolved for any wrong-doing. Have your goons go out and slaughter people in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and you still go to Heaven or the Happy Hunting Ground? I guess I can see absolution if you are defending yourself or your land or your loved ones or your freedom... Bottom line is I am a live and let live kind of guy and you can do or think whatever you believe as long as you're not hurting others or yourself. It is said that Hitler was religious though was one of the worst human beings ever to walk this planet. Godfrey of Bouillon killed countless people to avenge Jesus' crucifixion - ironic. Herod the Great waned to kill Jesus but somebody beat him to it though he was able to commit the Massacre of the Innocents. King John of England was so bad that the Robin Hood character was inspired by his horrible deeds. He also caused the creation of the Magna Carta. Nero systematically murdered all of the members of his own family in various horrifying ways. And, as you know, he "fiddled as Rome burned." Caligula thought that every law became the instrument of torture. He killed just for the pleasure of killing and torturing. Attila the Hun killed up to hundreds of thousands of people. Of course, there is Genghis Khan who killed 700,000 people in one massacre and ruined another hundred of thousands of peoples' lives. He also said that "the greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy to drive him before you, to see tears, to see cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears and to gather into the bosom his wives and daughters."

photo before the Asian mustard was applied

I will be right back as my garlic chicken spring rolls (with the spicy Asian mustard) are ready and it is already 13:20. I have only had a banana to eat so far today so I have to eat before by body slows down burning fat and calories - BRB.

Okay, in looking back, I guess I went on quite a tangent there. I hope nobody is offended as that was not my intention. Faith in something, or someone, or some ideal is what we all need and want. Faith of some kind is what gets us all through our the long days.

I guess I have written enough for today. I got going and just didn't know when to stop until now. Thanks a lot for letting me vent and maybe get your blood boiling. Enjoy the rest of your day doing whatever makes you happy and know I Love You! Now I sound like Fred Rogers. TTTT?  MITM (out)

Phoenix Rising

I don't know why but I have decided to blog again after awhile (again). Everything is well, for the most part. I will try to blog more regularly again but I have blogged that before. I am working at the same place where I have worked for, what will be, three years in April.  I am fairly sick of the job and know I have more to offer society. I have considered going back to the police department and have spoken with them and they are open to me returning if I wish. I have also been scouting newspapers and magazines to write for again. I loved writing and being the News Editor in college and I miss writing dearly. I have written for many magazines and newspapers and, as they say, I have ink in my blood though I have no tattoos.

I have also been actively looking at getting the Dirty Laundry Podcast going again. When we did the show before there was not as near as many podcasts, These days podcasts get advertisers to put together spots or have the hosts talk about their advertisers' wares/services... Doing the shows was truly/is one of the great joys of my life. My family and friends are more important, of course. I am in a place that I am ready to do the show again. Maybe we could even write-off part of our house on our taxes as a place of business since we have the studio right here in our home.

I am not sure if we would talk politics or not; it seems that it would be tough not to talk about politics since that seems to be what is on everybody's' minds these days. We both lean one way and know that there are many people that lean the other way. Podcasts don't go well if the hosts are hater (usually).

What else? Oh, I have been working on a novel that will or will not ever happen. Novels are a lot of work as it turns out.

There is a new episode of Crashing (HBO) on now. I like the show quite a bit; it reminds me of when I was Assistant Manager at Zanies Comedy Club. With all of the jobs I am writing about I feel like Forest Gump. That was probably one of my favorite jobs ever. I met so many funny people. I met: Tommy Chong, Emo Phillips, Gilbert Gottfried... I cannot remember them all but I will have to drag-out all of my old autographed photos and and get back to you. I think some are hanging in Kajunkes Studio (where we record the podcast). If I remember I will get back to you on that one.

I never met Pete Holmes (after my comedy time?)

Since Christmas I have lost almost 20 pounds. I am just watching what I eat and, basically, doing what I did when I belonged to Weight Watchers quite awhile ago. Rejoining the YMCA  has helped a lot too; I got one or two days a week.Tomorrow,Thursday, is my weigh-in day. I just weigh myself one day a week so I don't get discouraged if I don't lose a pound or two every single day.

I am probably going to end now so I have something to write, maybe, tomorrow. I only work three days a week these days (Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays). They are twelve hour days so it is tough for an old matt at times but the four-day weekends are wonderful. Thanks a lot for stopping here for a few minutes of your time. I will try to blog again tomorrow but I have blog commitment issues sometimes. TTTT (Ta Ta 'Til Tomorrow). MITM (out)!

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!