BP

I haven't watched batting practice in probably thirty years. My Dad used to take us to the ballpark early to watch it, but I've never done it on my own. Huh. Haven't thought about that in decades.

Correctomundo

A great quote from an unlikely source

One of the greatest indictments of this society's obsession with political correctness, safe places, triggers, and other gobbledegook comes, from of all the unlikely voices in the world, Ralph Nader: speaking about the phenomenon, he said we are creating people with skin so sensitive they are "blistered by moonbeams."

My Thoughts

Let me spare you all all some angst: America isn't going to get rid of its guns, we aren't going to ban anything, and blaming Orlando on anything but the killers ideology is pointless. In a world without guns, he walks in with a suicide vest. Same result, fewer memes, and no go-to scapegoat to divert blame from where it belongs.

Weight Loss Update

I was worried about my weigh-in today. My food intake was so-so over the last week, but I lost Sunday-Wednesday to the hip and did the bare minimum of moving, with no gym time, and spent the rest of the week treading lightly on the joint. No damage done tho: my weight fluctuated by all of two ounces.

Happy Flag Day!

C'mon Hilary

Clinton said today that if you're under investigation by the FBI you shouldn't be able to buy a gun (presumably until that investigation is over). I agree. But once again, I think she has a tin ear for irony: YOU are under investigation by the FBI. So you aren't trustworthy enough to buy a pistol, but you're good to go with nukes?

Before you read too much either way, I'll post things supporting both Presidential candidates because at this moment I'm not sure how I'll cast my ballot. I'd prefer to vote for neither, but I've never missed an election and won't start now. And spare me the 3rd party argument. This isn't a parliamentary system and I'm not going to waste my vote.

Ha Ha. Grrrr

Smilwy watching the ball game with me, drawing a picture of A-Rod, and getting ready to inadvertently insult me.

Smiley: "There's this kid, he's in fourth grade, and he is HUGE. I mean, he is soooo fat. He's like half your size Dad."

Half my height. I'm sure he meant half my height.

A Rachel Dolezal Meme

Grumble

I would like to publicly thank the family of 35 for bringing all their kids to the mom's eye doctor appointment. I further wish to thank these adept breeders for taking literally every seat in the waiting room, thus leaving me to stand, and an old woman to sit on the floor.

Yup

I can watch and enjoy any sport, with the exception of outdoor soccer. I have tried, but it bores my very soul. - watching NCAA Track and Field

A Sad but Relatable POV

Yesterday Nick, the Sikh gas station attendant I see everyday, was visibly upset over the news in Orlando. "The world is going to hell. The madmen will kill us all. . . It's good it's good your daughter is not going to the festival. Stay away from public places. Avoid crowds. You are safer alone. Nowhere public is safe. It's all going to hell." Although I don't think he was in the country at the time, his temple is the one that was shot up a few years ago.

LOL

Forget the politics, this meme is dead on!

My reasoning

YaYa is annoyed with me because I vetoed her attending PrideFest with some family members today. A - it wasn't going to happen anyway, as we had an event to attend shortly after noon and B - given the events of today, both in Orlando and California, uh-uh. 

It's all well and good to not give in to terror, and to push forward in the face of violence *if you're an adult*. If I decide to do that, I'm a grown man and I've made my decision and can deal with the possible consequences. Not so my 14 year old daughter.

The Conjuring 2

Lisa and I saw this before going to dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ.. I LOVED it. It was frightening and very well acted, and the screenwriter wasn't afraid to address the issue of credibility head-on, both for the Warren's and the family involved. I even bit on the jump scares lol. Kudos too for the film's respectful and sincere portrayal of Catholicism. Go see it!

The Orlando Mass Shooting

In line with my long standing belief that a killer doesn't deserve fame, I've deleted the post that had a picture of the shooter prominently displayed.

If there is any truth to the fact that the Orlando shooter was on the FBI "Watch List" - and there are conflicting reports - then I humbly suggest we nut up and do more than just "watch" suspected terrorists and wait and see if they kill 50 people.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 20th birthday Caitlin Anne! Congrats on being halfway to forty, and only ten years away from 3-0! Give us a call if you're free today.

Uh Oh

We have two cars and Lisa and I have free use of both. But over dinner I told her that I was annoyed she left the windows in "my car" open.

Oops.

Cue five minutes of damage control.

YaYa: Chill, Dad. Mom hasn't even mentioned it.

Me: Oh, she's filed it away. You can write this moment down on a piece of paper, fold it up, and put it in your hope chest. Cuz the day is coming.

My Mom is in the Hospital

My Mom's in the ICU for breathing problems. I have no idea about the severity of this; like my Grandma before her, her trips to the hospital are frequent enough that you just never know. So prayers  for her recovery are welcome, but hopefully not needed.

Another Defense of Clinton

Also, let's stop attacking Clinton for saying she is a trailblazer and trotting out Victoria Woodhull. 

You know everyone who posts about it had to Wikipedia that name, if they even bothered doing that much work. 

Woodhull "ran" for President as a candidate for a minor party in 1872. Aside from the pesky lack of votes she got, she was under 35 and Constitutionally ineligible when she ran. All power to her, and she sounds like a great lady, but be real - Clinton is the first *true* female Presidential candidate. 

Criticize on facts, of which there are plenty, not horses**t.

My Thoughts on Benghazi

Regarding the disaster in Benghazi, and of Clinton's "betrayal" of these men. I have read the book and seen the movie (13 Hours), and neither one does anything but reinforce the truth that the attack was a tragic snafu on the ground.

From the Ambassador traveling without much protection, to the guard that left him behind in the burning estate, and the harrowing attack that followed, it seems like the kind of FUBAR situation that develops when gunfire starts. You can't read accounts of low-scale skirmishes without tripping over similar stories.

Did Clinton pathetically try to spin the event after the attack? Yes. Do I think she (or Obama) are at fault for the tactical failure? No. There is no ammunition here to hold against her (outside the spin), and comments to the contrary are, respectfully, just partisan smoke.

America, 2016

Just stop

Hilary Clinton tweeted Donald Trump and told him to delete his account. She should fire the intern that wrote that. The Queen of deleting emails should never have brought up the subject. The jokes write themselves.

Junie's Summer Birthday

As Junie has a summer birthday, she's celebrating her big day today at school. Since Lisa was at the awards banquet and I wasn't about to bake 31 cupcakes, I took her to the store and bought some to take in as a treat - and juice too. I drew the line at buying cups. Pricey for my taste, but this text from Lisa just made it all worthwhile.

Good Advice Rejected

Junie has been crying about some crap the kids at school said to her. Twenty minutes of her sobbing and telling Lisa her story. I gave her good advice, but she's refused it.

"That's all you ever tell me to do, Dad! 'Tell them to F- off.' I'm EIGHT Dad! I can't tell my friends to F- off!"