All of THE Sudden I Will Show My War Face!

Stop and wait for the WALK sign - this one reads Don't Walk

I had thought that getting off of work two hours earlier than usual would have been fantastic. As my parents used to say when I was a kid - "that's why you don't get paid to think." That seemed kind of funny when I was a kid and wasn't getting paid to do anything but now, as adults, we ARE paid to think. Anyway, I guess we get into routines (as you know) with our situations and circumstances and even something seemingly great can cause havoc. This was nothing catastrophic but just inconvenienced me a bit. I think I am back on track now at 1132.

I heard something last night that drives me crazy. I may have mentioned it here before. I am a fan of the language I speak and write and comprehend fairly well. Granted, my typos make it appear that I am a moron from time-to-time but typing and keystrokes are not my native ways of communicating - as evolution goes I am way behind in those practices as my four fingers do the work of ten. Anyway, I cannot stand when people say "all of the sudden." It is an idiom which means that it is not necessarily a literal meaning so maybe it can be acceptable either way. It may be cultural differences that cause one or the other? It may just be that the phrase is spoken rather quickly many times and it is heard incorrectly. Maybe it doesn't really MATTer and I am just a picky-puss. Like me, idioms follow their own rules sometimes and no rules at all other times depending on the circumstance. I guess I will just try to let that one go and just continue to deal with it my mind.

Here is a MATT with a War Face

Another thing that drives me crazy, and I have blogged about it before, is when I am driving and I come up to an intersection to make a right turn with a green light and people see me coming and then walk across the street (in the crosswalk which is good so they are visible at least) when there are bright orange lights in their face (it almost always dark out when this happens so the orange is very bright) that read "DON'T WALK." I know we all get caught in a situation when we are in the walk and the light changes while we are in the MIDDLE of the road but I bet, as a kind, courteous and intelligent person, you speed-up your gait to get out of the average 4,079 pound vehicle's way (yes, that is the average weight of a vehicle in America - no need to fact-check me). I have people just look at me defiantly with no regard to another human's plight or life. I have many back-stories for the people who do this and I usually have a mini-novel sketched-out in my head about their lives in my mind before they get all the way across the street. I just keep a poker face on as I do not want to let them know they are getting my goat just a tiny bit. I know they cannot read so they won;t see it here - if they could read they could have made out two little bright orange four-letter words and one apostrophe (DON'T WALK)! Bottom line is, and I have lived my entire driving life with this knowledge, "pedestrians ALWAYS have the right-of-way" even though I would think many would be wise not to use it all of the time. Maybe they can see on my face that I am not a lunatic. Maybe I am too mild-MATTered and need to get a crazy face or something. I wonder how showing them my War Face would go over?

Because I have a difficult time letting things go from time-to-time - I just Googled "all of  the sudden" and all the photos that came up read "all of a sudden." We all know that Google is the new Miriam Webster (yes, I know it's "Merriam Webster" but that was funnier in a moronic, ironic sort of way).

It sounds like the banks minds at Walt Disney Studios are planning on remaking a bunch of their old films again. I suppose that is easier than turning another of a bazillion fairy tales or camp stories or fables or novels or legends... into movies. So now, with the success of Meleficent as a live-action film many other Disney films will be rolling our way with live action soon too. Cinderella is coming out next and The Jungle Book (not sure if they will use the word "The" though) is going to be made, Tim Burton is supposed to be making Dumbo (I predict Johnny Depp will be in there but probably not Helena Bonham Carter), Beauty and the Beast...

I guess shorts made of the flag and using Old Glory as a cape is fine though

Wow, now it is 1609 already. We went to lunch (all four of us - the entire immediate family) and I went and filled the fuel tank of Splenda's Jeep and now she is on the six hour journey back to the even better weather than we are having now. I miss her already.

I heard on the radio that there is a lot of controversy surrounding a photo of a baby wrapped in Old Glory (The American Flag). A mother took a photograph of her eight-day-old baby in the flag being held by a seaman (among other photos) and shared it on Facebook. That damn Facebook is nothing but trouble. She received nearly 4,000 likes but she started receiving negative comments too saying things like "the flag is not a prop..." There were also many negative comments aimed at the Navy man who was in some of the photos with his name on his uniform clearly visible. The woman complained to Facebook saying that she was being harassed and cyber bullied but Facebook said that this is not bullying. Wasn't Facebook started on the principal of bullying? That's what the movie The Social Network taught me anyway, "you don't get 500,000,000 friends without making a few enemies." Also, isn't the American Flag merely a prop or a symbol? The red is supposed to be a symbol of the blood that was shed to start this nation, the blue is supposed to represent justice and freedom and the white is supposed to be a prop for purity. The stars were props for the original 13 colonies. If they had used the one made by Betsy Ross or the one raised or "propped"-up at Iwo Jima I may feel differently but, probably not.

Okay, I have to get another load of laundry done and clean the kitchen. Thank you for stopping-by. I am always so happy that you read this and, on occasion, you comment. Thank you, thank you. Have a great Thursday night. I hop you are having nice weather where you are. I am not complaining here. TTTT (sometime)...MITM (I may actually check those Power Ball tickets to see if I need to buy more tomorrow or not) TA!

Life is Full of Exits - My New Matto?

I was not prepared to blog today so I have no idea where this is headed today. My guess it will be a short trip though. I begin work tonight at 2000 rather that the usual 2200 so I that is another reason to shorten this today; I have to get a few winks before work. Happily, it is my weekend beginning in 13 hours. Splenda heads back to school tomorrow so that is the unhappily part. I did get to spend a little time with her. Cha Cha took off work today so they are shopping in Geneva now. I should probably be worried because they took the new Jeep rather than the Fiat. I am assuming that it is because the Jeep holds a lot more stuff. The Fiat is a convertible though so it has unlimited refills.

Since our ladies are shopping Fabio and I did a very guy thing - we went to B-Dubs (Buffalo Wild Wings) for lunch. I love their Buffalitos.

I still have not checked those ten Power Ball tickets magneted to the refrigerator. I am not a loser until I check them. On the flip-side, I am not a winner until I check them either. I have not heard any reports on the radio that there is a big winner in Illinois though. I have not heard any lottery news actually.

I have decided to try to come up with a slogan to live by. Shouldn't we all have a credo? I think the word "credo" implies a religious belief and I am not a religious person in the Biblical sense. I think the word "religious" doesn't necessarily have to do with The Holy Bible though. "Religious" can just mean something that one does routinely. It probably just has to do with repetition. If you do something religiously you do it over-and-over.  I am leaning toward "life is full of exits." I don't know why but that sounds good to me. I think it would look great on a tombstone. I am big on irony and it seems like it would be pretty ironic on a tombstone.

It is almost 1600 now and I have to wake-up for work in three hours but I am not even asleep yet. That would be quite a feat. I think I am gonna blog this a wrap so I can be able to comprehend and retain my training tonight. I guess I am already living my new matto (motto) "life is full of exits" by exiting the blog. Do you think ZzzQuil would be a bad idea if I am only able to sleep for three hours? I would probably be better-off not getting any sleep at all rather than being groggy.

Thank you for stopping by. I am sorry this is so hasty. I promised that I would blog today and I try to keep most promises so that when I have to break one people know that I must have a good reason. Don't you know people who break promises all the time so you never believe a word they say? I used to work for several of those people - many of them all at the same time. Not to mention the fact that when you are forced to tell a little white lie you are able to sell it easier if you don't fib all the time. I will blog again tomorrow unless I am able to spend a little more time with Splenda before she gets out of Dodge. See, that was a disclaimer that gives me a little latitude if I am unable to blog - life is so convoluted and confusing sometimes. TTTT (81%)...MITM (out) TA!

Loonies from Heaven!

I've Got a Golden Ticket Loonie

I tweeted "Love Love Love Schitt's Creek" and I was favorited by Dan Levy (star and writer of the show and son of Eugene Levy) and the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company). I am like one degree from SCTV. Is this the new way to measure my importance? Cha Cha thinks that it is really him tweeting but I think maybe it is "his people." Either way I do love, love, love Schitt's Creek.

You know how I have been telling you about how I find money (change) on the ground at least once every 24-hour cycle? I just got back from test driving a car and when I took the car back to the lot I saw something gold and shiny on the ground. Of course, the first thing I thought was that is was a Wonka's Golden Ticket but it was not. It was a Loonie (a one dollar Canadian dollar) and a Jefferson nickle. Of course, Queen Elizabeth was the one I had mistaken for a Golden Ticket. Does this mean I should have bought the car? Does this mean that those 20 Power Ball tickets magneted to the refrigerator are winners? I probably should check those regardless of what The Queen was trying to tell me. Maybe I should quit looking down so much though it is profitable.

Cha Cha has been teaching Jeff to open the patio door by himself. The other day I was sleeping before work and Jeff must have had an inspiration because he did go outside while everybody else was gone and I was asleep. Our backyard is completely fenced-in or she would not be trying to teach him this skill. Anyway, I heard some rustling downstairs (the bedroom is upstairs) so I came down think Cha Cha was home. I got toward the living room and there was a moose in the house. Jeff's Great Dane girlfriend was standing in the Tiki Room barking at me. Jeff was in Kona's yard and Kona was up in Jeff's hizzy. There is a section of the fence between our yard and the neighbor's yard (their yard is completely fenced-in too) so Jeff and Kona can play together. I am not sure how much longer Kona is gonna be able to fit through that hole - she is the size of a cow calf. I have to say cow calf because other animals have calves too (camels, whales, moose, oxen, reindeer, rhinoceroses, elephants, gnus, elk, yaks, giraffes..). Even a piece of ice that breaks off of a glacier or an iceberg is called a calf so, I did not want to assume you knew which calf I was referring to.

There is a new series on Netflix called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It stars Ellie Kemper who played Erin on The Office - the U.S. one though there was not an Erin on the U.K. one as I recall. It is a series created by Tina Fey. The series was to be on NBC (under the title Tooken) but, after it was done, rumor has it that the NBC executives said something to the effect that is was "too smart for network television." Whether they said that or not the Loonie I found on the ground earlier today is better than a lot of the network crap that I have seen lately so I agree with this sentiment. Get smarter America - the rest of us are suffering from your idiocy - thanks Netflix and Canadian Broadcasting Company for helping us get through this. I cracked-up one time when Kimmy was referred to as Amelia Bedilia. They didn't elaborate - just left it at that. I remember that book as a kid. - that and Miss Tessie Tate. Do you remember books? Maybe that was the sort of thing that is "too smart?"

About a month ago I talked about gas prices and predicted here that they would soar at Spring Break time. Well, it is Spring Break time and I heard on the radio this morning that fuel prices are up an average of thirty cents per gallon nationally from a couple of weeks ago. I am no genius by any stretch of the wallet imagination as we all know but I predict the same thing will happen in 2016. It will keep happening as long as we continue to let it happen said the guy who was car shopping just awhile ago.

I am gonna take off and check-out some more vehicles. I hope you have a great night; I took tonight off because Splenda is home from school. She and a friend are in Chicago now looking at "The Bean." I am gonna pick them up at the train station later-on when they call. Thanks for being here...TTTT - MITM (out) so long!

Today's Blog is One Hour Shorter - Bloglight Savings Time

It is the day that Daylight Savings begins in the country where I currently hang my hat. I am not going to go into one of my diatribes about how antiquated this idea is these days with out technologies (oops I guess I sort of did). It benefits me in a way tonight I suppose because I will be in the cold one hour less. However, since I am not paid on a salary basis, I will get compensated one hour less on my paycheck for this week. I imagine, if I was really hurting for money, I might call off sick tonight or take a vacation day so I would get paid for that extra hour.

Cha Cha and I are sitting in the Tiki Room with all of the blinds open. It is a very sunny day though it is only 36 degrees out right now. I may be able to hip some of that ice away from the end of the driveway today. But, the snow will melt a bit and the water will sit in from of the driveway and there will be new ice there later. Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday it is supposed to be in the 50's.

I think Cha Cha and I are going to go trespass at some of the local cars dealerships and see what they have on their lots tomorrow. I like looking while the sharks (car salespeople) are not in the water. I wonder if it is illegal to be on their lots while they are closed. You would think if they didn't want us there they would have a gate at the entrance, right? I cannot believe that they are not open on Sundays these days. Maybe it is because the banks are closed on Sundays?

Why are there so many bloody Sundays? Today is the 50th anniversary of the day in 1965 that police gunned-down people who were protesting for voting' rights in Selma, Alabama. In 1972 British soldiers shot and killed 26 unarmed civilians in Ireland for protesting for similar reasons. Maybe this is why car dealerships are closed on Sundays? The song Sunday, Bloody Sunday (by U2) was written about the one in Ireland. There was the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Russia in 1894. Maybe all of the violence on Sundays throughout history is why the NFL plays their games on Sundays? Supposedly there is more violence perpetrated against women on Super Bowl Sundays than any other day of the year. I think this one has been disproved as a myth but it fits nicely here so I will ignore the fact that it isn't true (is that an oxymoron?).

They were good but they were no: Snoop Dogg, Shaq or Martha Stewart 

I keep getting distracted from writing this. I think this blog has taken me about three hours to get to this point.

I just saw a commercial for the Comedy Central roast of Justin Bieber. I cannot think of anything I would rather see less than this. Bieber is a moron and I cannot stand Jeffery Ross. Out of curiosity I looked to see who is "roasting" him. The fallen stars that are gonna fail at being funny are: Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O'Neal and a bunch of people that I have never heard of. Supposedly Bieber wants Seth Rogen to be one of the roasters but his star hasn't fallen that far quite yet. I bet it would be funnier if they just put photos of: Buddy Hackett, Dean Martin, Foster Brooks, George Burns, Don Rickles, Nipsey Russell, Ruth Buzzi and Milton Berle on the stage. The old roasts were funny because they could all be hammered back in those days. I just hope they have the laugh-tracks prepared.

It is almost noon so I will sign-off. I will not blog tomorrow because I will be trespassing at car dealerships and wondering how to spend my Powerball winnings that I am gonna win tonight. Now that I think about it maybe, since I will be a millionaire, I will just have somebody go pick up the new vehicle on Monday. I have never ordered a new car on the internet before. I wonder how much the Batmobile Mattmobile would cost? Have a great Saturday and Saturnight. TTTMonday...MITM (out) TA!

I Am Already Rich it Turns Out

Cloud Gate at  A T & T Plaza at Millennium Park, Chicago. "The Bean" is much easier

I feel like I have showed-up for an exam without studying; I have no idea what I am going to write today but I said I would write this MORNING so I am writing this MORNING.

I have a few things I have to do this morning. I have three big bags of clothes to take to Goodwill. I have to get the house tidy because Splenda is coming home Sunday for several days during her Spring Break. Normally the lived-in look of the house would be fine but she is bringing a friend with her to stay a few days. The girl she is bringing with her has never been to Chicago and one of her big dreams is to see what is affectionately known as "The Bean" in Millennium Park. The actual name of "The Bean" is Cloud Gate. And, truth be told, the precise name of the area of Millennium Park that houses Cloud Gate is A T & T Plaza at Millennium Park. Chicago is more fun in the summer but there are always thousands of things to do in the city. I will worry the entire day they are down there because I just watched a show about all of the gang violence in Chicago. I know it has always been there but, out of sight out of mind I guess. I also saw on that show how many of the people that were relocated from one of the projects that they demolished was called University Village. I believe it was part of Cabrini Green which was the poster child of the projects of Chicago. The show told how they relocated these people to the suburbs. One of the areas that many of these people were shipped to was to an apartment complex in my town called...wait for it... University Village. We call it "The Village."

Maybe this one would be better for me?

I have blogged about how I find money (most often coins) on the ground. I find some every single day or night of my life. It is mostly pennies but, almost always, the pennies have some body guards lurking about - nickels, dimes, quarters... I always pick them up because of the "find a penny pick it up all day long you'll have good luck" saying. I would say, for the most part it works. I am lucky enough to have: a good great family, good amazing friends (like you), a good MIDDLE life, good health so far, good non-hideous looks, a good job... I guess the penny voodoo is working. When I wrote about it here February 24th Debbie P said I should buy some lottery tickets. She suggested that I buy a scratch-off ticket and use "the one red cent" that I found to do the scratching. I did that but I did not win on that card - maybe I picked the wrong kind of ticket? I bought the one called Aces and 8s - I wonder if there is one called "pennies from heaven" or "loose change" or something like that? I also purchased $20 worth of Power Ball tickets for tomorrow night's drawing. I think I will move that over by the pile of change that I have accumulated/found. Maybe that penny isn't the lucky one? I would love to call-off from work tomorrow because I am too rich to work any longer.

Wow, now it is 1018. I have to start Mrs. Doubtfiring this place and get the place tidied-up. The laundry is underway already but there is always something to do around the hizzy. I hope you have a great rest of your Friday. I think I will be blogging tomorrow (maybe my last time for awhile since I will be winning millions of dollars tomorrow night). I will still blog when I win but I will just probably dictate it to someone else who will type it for me. Thank you for spending my last full day as a commoner with me. I will invite you to the soiree when I win. See, I am already blogging like a richie. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

What in Tarnation?

At least he has a jacket covering HIS draws!

I just got back from getting a haircut. I don't tell you that to make you jealous of my fast-pace, jet-setting, caviar dreams lifestyle I tell you just so if you see someone who looks like me with shorter hair waving at you it could very well be me.

Last night, in the MIDDLE of the night, I saw the ghost of Charlie Chaplin walking away from me down a sidewalk. As I got closer I realized that it was not Chaplin's ghost after all. It was a guy who was walking like The Little Tramp because he had his pants belted around his thighs instead of his waist. It was very cold out so he was walking fast just like Chaplin in his silent pictures too. I know styles are different for different age groups and for different social classes and for different nationalities and races of people but this one has always confounded me. This from a guy who wore purple parachute pants and had green hair (just that wash-out kind) when he went to see the Psychedelic Furs back in the 1980's. The reason that this one confounds me (and I know I have written about it here before) is where this style comes from. This is how the male prisoners are forced to dress if they are the "receivers" or whatever the unwilling receptacles of male love are referred to in prison. I guess it is so the "givers" of male love can have a quick drive-up window of sorts if they want to get their business done and move-on quickly. Why in tarnation would you dress like this if you were not forced to? Is it more than a fashion statement? Anyway, until last night, in the dark, I never realized how this fashion "choice" makes one walk like Charlie Chaplin's most famous character. It was also way below zero last night so this Tramp wanna-be had to be freezing his ascot off. Incidentally, I think Chaplin was a genius! Here's a video of his famous walk with a catchy tune called The Charlie Chaplin Walk.

Another of may favorite comic actors of all time died 33 years ago today. I cannot believe it was that long ago that John Belushi died. He died the year (1982) that Cha Cha and I met - weird! I am not sure why that is weird - maybe because it seems like an entire life ago (Splenda's and Fabio's lives plus interest).

I guess we could go custom to battle these MIDDLEwestern winters

I cannot believe that it is almost 1700 already. Grocery shopping and sleeping and haircuts and shopping for new vehicles on the internet really suck-up. I am liking the Jeep and Toyota vehicles. We have always had great success with Toyota. I know Cha Cha has been looking at sites too so we will decide soon. She has been working very hard on a project for her work that is wrapping-up tomorrow. I think we will probably drive around town on Sunday (when the dealers are closed) and see what we like on the lots. Any suggestions would be welcomed. We are wanting another 4-wheel-drive as we live in the tundra. Should we get a Toyota Tundra? Maybe we should buy a 2014 and save some money huh? Bentley and Mercedes have some nice SUV's now too.

I am gonna wrap-up. I am sleepy and have lots more to do. The kitchen is already cleaned thankfully. I am not sure what is going on for dinner. I have no idea when my beloved will be home. She is not answering texts as I know she is very busy. I asked her if she wants to go out or if should whip something up. Since the kitchen is cleaned I am thinking the latter is gonna happen (that is my vote). Thank you for being coming in - I am always happy that you do. Have a great night. I will blog in the morning most likely. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Afraid To Be Happy?

I am really glad this is my Friday but I don't know why that makes me glad. I think society has just conditioned me to think the last day before my weekends and my weekends themselves are better than the other parts of the week. I like my job so I cannot figure out why I like the weekend so much more. I am going to stop thinking that way and, if I do, I bet that I will be much happier. I am also going to try to rearrange my sleeping so I can spend more waking time with Cha Cha.

I didn't blog yesterday because I was running people here and running them there. Fabio had to get a new sports physical for school as his old one had expired or whatever it is that requires people to get new ones. I imagine the insurance companies and medical industry have convinced schools that they have to get these renewed every so often. How else do you get healthy people to part with their health care money too? Incidentally, Fabio is very tall and very healthy. Thank goodness we HAD TO have that officially told to us.

I have been very crabby over the past couple of weeks. I think it is just this never-ending winter. I hope that is all that it is. I have always been a moody mofo so it is not that unusual. It is part of my psyche that I don't care for very much. My moodiness also makes me a person who cares for others so much I suppose. Supposedly for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; I guess the crabbiness is the opposite of my true nature huh? Or vise versa.

I am going through my little notebook to see what I have written in there to blog about that I did not blog about. I should use the notes every day but many times things pop into my mind that seem more important and interesting so the notebooks just continue to fill-up. I will write some of them now so I can tear out some pages and I will expound as to what I think they were about:

Working up a sweat. Call it a work-out for your fingers

"Turn signals could not be any easier to use." - It is exasperating that people cannot use their left pinkie (maybe their right one in counties that drive on the opposite side of the road from U.S. and A.) to flick down that little lever on the side of the steering wheel. It is rude not to signal. Granted sometimes it does not effect others but, when it does, use the turn signal. I know I break rules occasionally but I am different.

I will be right back - the washer and dryer are beckoning me with their various tones. I have to juggle the clothes from one to the other.It was just the washing machine - the dryer is still doing its business so I cannot juggle quite yet.

I guess that was all there was in this notebook. One thing I had not used and 13 pages ripped out of the book. My notebook is half as thick as it was a few moments ago. I am even a note hoarder.

I have not worked-out in a week and I have not been as careful as I was being with my eating for the last three days or so. I did go to Smash Burger with Fabio after his physical yesterday and had a salad so, I suppose, I am still doing good for the most part. I have not lost any more weight but I have kept the weight off that I did lose. I need to get back in the saddle (not the feedbag) again.

I think I am going to take some classes (at least one) in the Spring; we should never stop learning new things. I am in a situation where I can take classes with no, or very little, cost to me. I should have been doing this all along for the last three years I guess. I am kind of excited about it. I have been looking a gift horse in the mouth in a way. That is just plain rude.

The backward hat & the skateboard will be my camouflage 

Cha Cha has been extremely busy at work. The project that she has been working on for a few weeks should be done by the end of the day Friday. She has worked about 16 hours a day lately. She is a remarkable person.

I have to get some things done here before I think about sleeping before work. Hey, I work an hour less on Saturday night because Daylight Savings starts. I get off early but I get paid an hour less too. I am sure I will eventually go-off on how stupid the Daylight Savings thing is again in a few days. I do that twice a year when we Spring ahead and Fall back. Have a great night - that is my plan too. Thank you for stopping-by. I think I will blog again tomorrow. If I don't I will apologize about it on Friday. It is better to ask for forgiveness than request permission right? TTTT (about 82%)...MITM out! TA!