Signs of Weakness

    Trump set the stage for this invasion. Taiwan is next. All due to his love of strong men in charge. Traitor.

Signs that Trump May Be Reaching The End Of His Rope

    It was too much to ignore. All that free cash. All that power. He went at acquiring it with his usual mix of larceny and bullshit and now that he's no longer president it's time to pay the piper. Justice fucking matters and the rule of law should apply to all of us equally. It's Time!

BIGBUG = I Am Entertained

    Fun watch. This one is really out there yet still keeps you entertained. Manufactured security workers who believe they are smarter than humans and see no need to take their orders anymore. Realistically points out the end result of where we're headed as a society if things continue as they are and it's not pretty. Ignorance never is.  

Signs of Willful Ignorance and Denial

    It's mostly a discussion about Don't Look Up, the #2 watched Netflix movie of all time, which highlights the Republican aversion to facts and the consequences there of. It rings so true that it resonates across one's senses. Stupid people are deadly when given the opportunity and they scare the shit out of me. That's what I got out of it. What's your take?   

Signs of Kevin Hart's Super Power

    What is Kevin Hart's super power? It's his ability to bring out the best in any group or person he engages with. That's what makes him so enjoyable to watch. His personality is the tool he uses to lift those around him to the same level as entertainers. The chemistry videos have all been Kevin Hart along with the Rock or Snoop Dog or whomever. Kevin is the common denominator, the go to funny guy that drags everyone else into the zone with him. He's da bomb.  

Right-Wing Crack Pipe Lie Gets Smoked

    So this is all Republicans have. Lies and bullshit. No facts. No policy. Pretty much everything they talk about has nothing to do with bringing this country together. Outrage over teaching critical race theory in our schools when it isn't happening and there is no agenda to make it happen. Lies and bullshit, that's all they got. 

Signs of Adjustment

     Our two Chihuahuas are finally starting to get the hang of things and we're finding them more charming each time we correct their behavior. Positive reinforcement seems to work most of the time and we now spend less of that time trying to design positive reinforcement strategies for specific behaviors. In other words we're getting used to each other. Adjustments take time and patience. We have plenty of time these days but we may be a little short on patience.  

Signs of More of the Same

    More details, more outrage. Yes, it was planned from the day Trump lost the election. The paperwork starts shortly thereafter but really, do we need any more evidence? Just put that piece of shit in prison along with all the fuckwads that helped commit these crimes. There is no justice until those people pay the price for attempting to overthrow the legally elected president, Joe Biden.

      

Signs of More of the Same

45 Bombshell: Explosive Oval Office Meeting On Voting Machine Plot Revealed

    What bombshell? That he attempted to overthrow the most audited election in history because he lost? That he's been lying about the election being corrupt? All we're seeing now are the details. We already know enough to reach the logical conclusion that Trump is a piss poor loser. His ego can't handle the truth that the American voters rejected a would be dictator with sympathies for Russia. The vast majority of Republicans still act like Trump has their balls in a little magical sack that will shred them if they step out of line. WTF is this crap and why isn't that traitor in fucking prison? Enough is enough. Stop gawking at and bullshitting about what this piece of human excrement has done and make him fucking pay for it. That includes his criminal family members too.

    If you think I'm tired of Covid you'd be right. But I'm way more tired of the continuing coverage of every little detail about how America almost lost it's Democracy with zero accountability (so far) for the pieces of shit who organized and funded that effort.

The Rug Washing Sign

How is it that videos about washing rugs are a thing? Could it be the simple joy of a dirty job done well with a clean rug to prove it? Are the times we're in becoming so chaotic that we'd rather watch someone wash rugs than deal with it? Inquiring fool seeks answers.

Signs of Life

     Someone I knew from work has IM'd me and wants me to give him a call. I find my self reluctant to do so and am searching for whatever elusive feelings are causing this reluctance. Strange how changes in who you normally encounter now involve questions like, "Are you vaccinated?" before committing to a face to face. Now that I'm retired there are 2 people that get within 6 feet of me and that's it. More than likely this is also an issue of trust and there I go, off on another tangent. What I'm trying to say is I should let the chips fall where they may and call him back already. That might the change I'm waiting for.  

Signs of the Afterlife

     I have no idea what that means entirely but I'm going with it. I hear some music we recorded a few weeks ago and am reminded that it's time for a little practice. With that in mind I'll go after telling you that I will soon be posting a song or two I've written that are topical in these times. That's right, I can see it coming and I've written some songs about it. We live in interesting times and many will continue to ramp up the hype about how the end is nigh and all that biblical crap. To my mind it's only a matter of timing and content, both of which are open to conjecture. I'll try to share more of those thoughts as we get closer to the end of the world as we know it. 

Signs of Fascism

     Definition: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. 

    Sounds like Trump and his supporters to me. They meet the definition. I wonder how many of Trump's supporters are aware enough to see it? They blame Antifa for any violence the Right perpetrates so I'm thinking not many. The ones who stand to make some big bucks if Trump returns to power certainly should know better. But I'm betting the majority of them are ignorant of where that support is taking us as a country. If they knew I'd doubt they would continue to support their former criminal and thief. 

Fear of Flying Signs

     Just got back from visiting with my son and his family in Georgia. Had anxiety attacks throughout both flights there and back. Partially due to wearing a mask for 11 hours straight getting there and 7 hours on the way back (direct) but mostly due to being in that big ol' jet airliner. Who knew I was this scared to fly. I sure didn't. Previous flights caused no were near the level of anxiety that these did although my last was nearly 20 years ago. I'm thinking that I'm much more in touch with my feelings about flying as I'm not in as much denial about those feelings. Becoming aware of and changing my behavior has gradually released many things that I previously buried and among those things were my actual feelings as I made my way through life. Crazy high were the walls that I maintained for too long. It was no fun but it's hard to deal with one's fears when one ignores them. Now I can face them and sort them out. Grateful be I.

Smart Phone Initialized

     So Tuesday I got the phone to work for outgoing calls and messages only. I could also receive messages but not phone calls and when someone called there was nothing on the line. No voice mail, no anything. Spent an hour on the phone and still couldn't get any love. While AT&T was sending me to their techs I was sidetracked by some BS while on hold and lost the connection. That was my last call for Tuesday as I'd reached my limit for profanity free conversation with people who were no help.

    Wednesday I made my final call and after an hour of holding and whatever I was in business. They reset the connection and I've finally joined the smart phone crowd.

    I'd like to thank You Tube for the many videos about how to navigate your new I-Phone 12 and get the most out of your phone. I'm finding them very helpful.

Signs Concerning a Smart Phone Purchase

     So I finally decided to get a smart phone. I've held off but as my home phone is useless in a power outage, I felt it was time. I did a bunch of online research and then began my journey began last Tuesday when I stopped by the T-Mobile store in Ukiah.

    They had the phone I wanted in stock at their warehouse and said it would be in shortly. I left with a sim card and thought we were through. Called them back Thursday to find that the phone was on back order and it would be several weeks before it would arrive. They'd be more than happy to upgrade to a more expensive phone that they had in stock which chapped my hide. Since I couldn't log into my T-Mobile account without my smartphone I was unable to cancel my order online which forced me to drive back to their Ukiah store in order to cancel the whole thing. Verizon was next.

    They had a store in Lakeport so I stopped by to get some quotes and was disappointed to say the least. I went home Thursday evening and started looking at what AT&T had to offer online.

    Decided to give AT&T a shot as I already had an account with them for my current phone and internet. This despite previously horrible interactions with their customer service department, including nearly a month where I was without internet during the holidays. Got someone on their website via phone and 90 minutes later I thought we'd completed the order. One problem during that process was that they were unable to ship the phone to my physical address. You know, the place where my utility lines end. Their wireless department seems to be using a USPS database to confirm shipping addresses and they won't ship to the PO Box that I'm given free due to USPS not delivering mail to our house. They can't seem to wrap their minds around the concept that the address where I get their services isn't in the USPS database. I asked him to look up my address via Google Maps to see that it fucking existed and that Fed-X and UPS delivered here at least once a month but that didn't matter to his software. I was forced to use the UPS Store's address in Lakeport for the phone's destination and my credit card company flagged the transaction and requested that I confirm it. I did that but the order is still on hold. AT&T tells me that it will ship shortly but it's Monday, the transaction hasn't cleared yet (Now I'm worried that they have the billing address wrong) and I'm getting nowhere with customer service. Even called the order department directly and got the same bullshit. The only order that they've confirmed is the one to stop my current phone and increase my internet payment. That's right, I'm keeping my phone number to go wireless with them and their dinging me for shutting my phoneline down to go wireless.....with them. Maybe once I've activated my new phone and combined my accounts (they opened a new one for the wireless order but I can't access it until I activate the phone) that might lower it again but I doubt it. Looks like I'm being royally fucked in about every aspect of this transaction. I haven't even seen exactly what I signed up for. They finally emailed a copy of the order I requested via phone today but there's nothing on it other than the phone I ordered. 

    As it stands, I'm starting to think this might be a sign but of what exactly I'm clueless. Maybe I should have let T-Mobile screw me without complaint. Possibly it means I'm in over my head with this type of transaction. My favorite so far is that these companies are here to get every fucking dollar out of you that they can by any means necessary and Jeffery don't do that. That's a problem but I doubt it's my problem. Just sayin'.   

More Signs of Rain

     Made it through our recent rains in pretty good shape. Clearlake has recovered quite a bit in a short period of time, that's for sure. The seasonal creek that runs behind our house surprised our backyard neighbor with the amount of water it carries. She installed a culvert last Summer that wasn't up to the task. Nancy tried to tell her that the creek would have it's way come Winter but they buried part of it anyway. Oh well, at least it left our backyard in good shape.

Chimney Sweeper Signs aka Retired and Suicidal

     It was time for our annual chimney sweep so we called a local guy who got back to us quickly and we scheduled him for last Saturday at noon. My first impressions when he got here was that he was older than dirt and barely walking. To say he looked frail would be an understatement. Needless to say, I stayed out of his way and let him do his thing. When he came down the ladder the first time he missed it with his second step off the roof and nearly fell. Nancy was there for that. He was able to pull out our fireplace insert but unable to push it back which I ended up doing. Then he cut himself on the new chimney top and just let the blood run down his hand as he joked about having less blood for dialysis next week. When he was through he expressed his wish to keep working until he died. He wanted to bite the big one on someone's roof then crash to the ground one last time. I still don't know what to think of that statement but something tells me we were close to it becoming reality. He did a great job though so he gets a pass for now. I'll keep an eye on the local paper to see if he gets his wish. 

Signs of Rain

     Not much so far but enough to chap Blaxter's hide. He can't decide where he wants to be and acts disgusted when he forces himself to venture forth in the rain. At least Blaxter doesn't require a litter box like most cats. This allows us to have a cat without the obnoxious odors that usually accompany ownership. Not that Blaxter would ever consider himself as being owned. Guests have had odd looks on their faces when he saunters in to inspect them a short time after their arrival. They've commented and asked what our secret was. Did I train him to use the toilet? Hardly. Nancy trained him to sit, to lay down and to shake but that's as far as she got. He lets us know when he needs to go out and we open the door. He's in charge of our relationship because eight years ago he chose to walk into our lives. 

    Blaxter initially lived at the local dentist's office with two other cats. All three were dropped off at our next door neighbors when the dentist closed his office. That was a year or so before we bought the house next door. During that time the other two cats died from the usual things that kill cats but not Blaxter. He survived the streets and the racoons and the coyotes then decided that we were his new humans. I think the brushings had more to do with that choice than anything else but I believe there's some love involved too. At least on our part.   

Signs of Language Issues Online

     I've recently had issues with a few orders I've made online and they were made worse by what I thought at first was just poor customer service. Once I applied my mind fully to the most recent incident it turns out the cause was more than likely translation errors. When I wrote the vendor to let them know that my laptop hadn't arrived they replied with the same Fed-X tracking number I'd been given previously which showed that it had been delivered. I started a claim through Fed-X and found out that the tracking number was for an order that was delivered to my town but not my address. An order that weighted over 60 pounds. Wrote the vendor with these details and was once again told that my order was delivered. My third reply to them started with a question, "Did you even read my previous email?" I then went on to detail (again) that the tracking number was not for my order. Shortly after they replied with a different tracking number that's going to ship today. No explanation. No apology. Just the tracking number. Hopefully they got it right this time. I'll know when the laptop gets delivered and until then I've been given signs that I might not receive exactly what I ordered. It's been quite entertaining so far but I expected that. After all, the laptop they sold me was top of the line and only $99 with shipping. What are the odds it's legit? Thought I'd have an answer by now.