Happy Mother's Day Ma!

That's my Mom and me on January 2nd of 1974, seventy six days before I was born (if I did the math right). I was born in plenty of time for Mother's Day that year, giving her the benefit of 43 such celebrations since the picture was taken. She deserved them all. Happy Mother's Day Mom - I wouldn't trade you for the world!

Smiley was upset at me for taking him with me to Mass when he wanted to nap instead. He was upset with me when I demanded his (nominal) help when I cut the lawn. He was definitely upset with me about moving the animal carcass. But tonight he asked to go on a bike ride with me. Half an hour and several hills later, #WeAreGood.

One Dead Possum

In recent days I've said it smelled like something died in our shed, and today I found it: a ~10 pound long haired cat or possum with its guts split by decomposition. 

It was actually outside the shed, jammed between it and the fence. Because of the size of the space I had to have Smiley get in there with a shovel and drag it out to a point where I could reach it. 

He wasn't easy to convince, and enjoyed it even less, but as Lisa said "You're going to be a man, and men have to deal with the ugly." 

I buried the beast in the backyard.

Wow

British doctors are calling for safety labels on avacodos, because of the danger of cutting your hand when slicing them. Sigh. This, from the people who once held off Hitler.

The Removal of Confederate Statues

I have mixed thoughts on this. The South should never have been allowed to venerate traitors after the war. But they did. And 150 years later the statues aren't being removed to correct that error, but to protest the ethical beliefs of a dead generation. That's an awfully slippery slope to start down.

Howboutthat?

Custard climbed up on my lap again! Twice in two years. Howboutthat?

The Firing of James Comey

Comey angered the Right by letting HRC off the hook; he angered the Left by his stunt before the election. He angered everyone else by misleading Congress and refusing to admit his mistakes. Why his firing is a surprise, much less labeled the act of a despot, is beyond my level of understanding, unless partisan hate now demands you protect this incompetent bureaucrat.

Grillin' Out

Twas nothing fancy, and it was too cold to justify dragging the grill out, but I did anyway and cooked up dinner.

A gift GC gave to LK for her recital

I just got back from a brisk 45 minute walk with Smiley