Wednesday…

 - I love seeing people walk their dogs.  I hate seeing those people allowing (encouraging?) their dogs to conduct business on other people’s property. They say dogs are like family, children…but would you take Aunt Sally or Junior just to take a dump on somebody else’s yard? 

- It’s difficult to pin down exact moments in societal history at which things immediately turned downward, but one such moment was when the term “micro aggression “ stopped being a punchline and became a battle cry.  If one has to parse every word or action they are exposed to, that person is not rational, sane, or adult enough…and their whining making headlines and policies shows we aren’t much more rational, sane, or adult either.

- I’ve read that POTUS candidate Donald Trump has mentioned (more than once) SD governor Kristi Noem as a strong contender for VP choice. On the surface this looks enticing but IMO would be a real downfall for future conservative policies.  While DTs policies are no doubt beneficial, he is a magnet for personal destruction politics. My gut tells me Noem’s political career would be over if she is chosen and accepts such a nomination. We need her personally and politically for many years to come

If you’ve paid any attention she’s already been targeted as a threat to progressives with allegations of extra marital goings on, not coincidentally with a member of Trump’s inner circle.

- Still trying to grasp that people born in 2001 have NO reference point to 9/11…and that they are legal adults able to vote, buy booze and cigarettes, and like wines have lots of potential that can only develop with age

- As of this writing, my trek to quit smoking is holding fast, with no more than 7 ultra light cigs (usually less) is standing firm, being less than 2/3s of what I was inhaling in full strength smokes. The plan is to dramatically reduce nicotine, but not enough to cause my body and brain to go into nicotine cessation shock. Another week of this, and I should be able to reduce that further to 3-4 a day until I’m done.

Yes, I’ve had some GRRRR moments but as of now, I’ve been able to control them. The amazing thing is Deb is on the same schedule!  No smoking in house except under kitchen vent fan…I’ve outlawed smoking in my truck. Thus far between the two of us, we’ve kept over $120 of our dinero that was previously spent elsewhere.  Hell yes

- I’ve started watching some pro football this season again…and 3 things continue to pop out in my mind: a) what’s with the huge increase in players choosing numbers like 0, 1, etc? b) seeing players sharing the same numbers as past greats is kind of odd, c) league should adopt a policy that players with dreadlocks or whatever hiding their jersey names should not have names on their jerseys.

- In Monday tradition we got a visit from Midland Customer Service, regarding ‘extreme high water usage’ compared to other months.  Very pleasant gentleman measured our water flow, discovered we are leaking 1/2 gallon a minute. That’s a lot of water = that’s a lot of money.  All I can say pending inspection and repair of offending pipe(s) is well, shit.

Seems the offending leak is under front bathroom floor, requiring some surgical intervention. Offending leak also bypasses the main house valve somehow (no idea how) so water to house is off until repaired. 

- California has filed suit against five major oil companies for perpetuating climate change, demanding massive financial settlements and compels oil companies to ‘pay their fair share’ of damages in future ‘man made climate change’ events.  At this point I would not blame oil companies if they refused to sell their products anymore in that state. Petroleum based products are already astronomically high, making a big dent in society en Toto…forcing oil to pay billions more in fees, taxes, whatever will only render gas prices so high no one can afford it, except the very wealthy.

Which…in my opinion, is the point

- Seriously…how do you lose an $80 million F35 fighter? 

- Sasheen Littlefeather was the woman posing as a Yaqui tribal member for an Oscars stunt involving Marlon Brando way back when…No one said she was guilty of cultural appropriation, not have progressives tried to decimate Elizabeth Warren, Rachel Dolenzal, or anyone else who attempts to use invented ethnic/racial ties for personal gain. 

- For decades I’ve done business with a company that shipped everything UPS. Everything from refrigerator sized recording consoles to a package of guitar picks arrived in 2-3 days, free of shipping charges. Now, UPS has ‘partnered’ with the postal system, and items that used to arrive 2-3 days take 7-10 days, and online tracking as efficient as a square tire.  

- No blog Friday…work schedule ya know. See ya Monday-ish