Trump and Murdoch: Deal or No Deal

 Baby, it's cold outside!  The temp is 30 (F).  Plants don't do well when the temp is below freezing.  And we're heading into a really big contrast since the temp, if the weather forecasters are correct, will be a scorching 81 (F) on Saturday. That is really a little too hot for this time of year.

On a whole, yesterday was really productive.  I'm pleased, not only did the small aquarium get cleaned, I also got a 10+ mile ride in on the bike.  During that 10+ ride I discovered something.  For the past several months I've been listening to audio books, mostly about Greek history.  Yesterday, rather than listen to a podcast, I played one of my old playlists and got in a decent ride.  Since a decent ride with music is preferable to a so so ride with a podcast, it seems as if the playlists are back on.  

I also cut up some beets and boiled them, the first step in making pickled eggs, or as we here in Central PA call them red beet eggs.  And, speaking of eggs, they cost only $4.99 at my local Giant supermarket, that's $3 less than they cost 2 weeks ago, so I'm wondering if they're buying local, or if these eggs were imported from Turkey.

The cushion on the futon in the living room, after three dogs, has finally begun to wear down.  The seam tore open so I temporarily fixed it with duct tape (and it is duct tape, not duck tape).  This is how it started:

Of course, when I got back from my visit to the supermarket, I discovered that the duct tape had been no match a 7.5 month old puppy.  There was now a hole, and about 2 pounds of stuffing were all over the floor.  So, this is how it ended:

Lily did the same thing when she was about the same age, which is why I ended up with an inexpensive futon in the living room.

Of course Signalgate continues.  While the anger and outrage being expressed by Americans and these dodo brains the Orange Anus installed in his cabinet, I'd relatively certain there is also a lot of smug satisfaction being enjoyed by a vast majority of the country:  Orangie deserves every terrible thing that comes his way.

As someone said, this is what happens when you staff your cabinet with TV personalities, rather than qualified individuals.  Hegseth, Homan, Waltz, and Gabbard all come from Fox.  As someone who's old enough to remember, Rupert Murdoch tried to become very influential in British politics a long time ago with several prominent members of Parliament in his pocket, so to speak.  Now, it seems, he's done the same thing with Orangie's administration and it makes one wonder if perhaps some deal was struck between the 2 billionaires, something like: you put my people in your cabinet and my entertainment channel will drown you with praise.  Such a deal would slack the appetite their egos have for attention and power.  It does make one wonder, doesn't it?

Piping Rock and Roll

Yesterday was... interesting.  I managed to get an 11 mile ride in before going to work... and work was... extremely busy.  I blame the stimulus checks.  And... everybody was nice!  No cranky customers.  Everybody was patient.  Today is probably going to be the same.  Shit, I may end up getting overtime this week.

And I didn't bank all of my stimulus check.  I ordered a new futon mattress for the dogs.  The old one has sprung a spring... literally.  About 2 inches of one of the coiled box springs was poking out of the top.  A sharpey thing like that could hurt the dogs.  And since the money was in my account, I spent about 15 minutes last evening perusing the online selection.  It should be here in about  week.

I was supposed to hand of The Body in the Loch to reader Patty on Tuesday, however, she texted me saying something had cropped up and she wouldn't be home.  This means a day delay or so, until we get our timetables set.

And for those who might be wondering, there is piping in the book, as well as the wearing of kilts.  Trying to be as accurate as possible, I did some research just to insure I was getting it right.  And yes, you can play rock and roll on bagpipes.

Now, ain't that sweet?

 

When size matters

So, I bought a new mattress for my futon - this one is 8" thick as opposed to 6" and has inner coil springs.  Size matters.  At one time I had an expensive sofa in the living, unfortunately one, or both of the dogs, couldn't tell the difference between the sofa and a super, duper stuffed dog toy.  Now I have a futon with disposable mattresses.  The last one wasn't damaged that badly, but I really wanted something that was thicker... bigger, if you know what I mean.  And with this one, I also bought a cover, something durable, with a pattern.  In a few years, when the dogs settle down more, I will once again get myself an actual sofa, till then the futon will have to do.

On the entertainment side of things, I watched a bit of NBC's "Emerald City," last night, in fact I made it through the entire first hour before the commercials got to me.  The writing is okay, though I cringed when Toto got his name.  The cast is, for the most part, decent, including some guy by the name of Oliver Jackson-Cohen who evidently doesn't have a brain, but does that matter when you're 6'3"?

However, as I said, the writing is... well, let's say uninspired and dumbed down, and, of course, there were all of those damn commercials.  I don't understand the mentality of people who will patently watch something which has been chopped to shit by advertising. but then.  These are, no doubt, the same idiots who voted for DT. 

Little Wrenches

As I'd said about a week ago, I'd bought myself a futon.  Originally a friend of mine was going to help me with the assembly, however, since its early arrival gave me plenty of time, I chose to put it together myself.  Now some might have thought this to be a rather large undertaking since I am rather anchored to a walker until after my surgery.  Right.  I am not one of those who sits around when there is something needing to be done, no matter how much I might be hobbled.

I assembled the seat back day one.  On day two I put together the seat.  And on the third day put the frame together and mounted the seat and the seat back.  The walker wasn't as much of a challenge as I had been expecting.  What I really came to dislike was the 'alan wrench,' which was provided.  It was tiny, and there were a lot of bolts.  I took a picture of it along side a standard pen to show just how little the damn thing was.

That little wrench is all they gave me to assemble this:

As you can see, the dogs love it!  As someone who works for a home improvement retail giant I can safely say I tools galore; various screwdrivers of all shapes and sizes, wrenches, pliers... you name it, I go it.  Now I know not everybody has tools lying around, but everybody I know has a least one screwdriver.  And I understand the idea behind the little wrench is to provide the tool so people don't have to go hunting for one.  But it's so small it was the one complication which truly became frustrating.  Still I did put it together.  I just wish some of these manufacturers would allow for an alternative to the little wrench.

The futon, and when to use it.

As part of the plan for my recovery from surgery I purchased a futon.  Why?  Several reasons.  The expensive mattress and box spring I presently own are high... I mean high, like when I sit on the edge of the bed my feet dangle.  While this isn't bad when your back is fine, it's not exactly the best way of getting out of bed after back surgery.

Anyway, the sofa in the living room has seen better days so I thought to myself, I should get rid of it and buy a futon.  I'm not fussy about my furniture.  I don't need to buy "top of the line" or "hand crafted."  It is just furniture, after all, isn't it?  It doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be comfortable.  Utilitarian.  Something that can substitute as a bed for a couple of weeks.

So I ordered the one I liked.  It was delivered 2 days ago.

Now all I have to do is assemble it, which I'll do bit by bit.  I have a friend coming over next Wednesday morning to help with the big stuff, like putting the seat / back onto the frame.  If I need any more assistance all I need to do is ask.  I've had quite a few offers.