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 As you can see, it is late, but here we are, blogging away.  I worked a bit late, was graciously asked to help lead a meeting, and then went out with some friends after.  It was fun and nice to get away -- we even saw some kids in prom finery, which was impressive -- but on the other hand now here I am.  I do work from home tomorrow -- plenty to do! -- so I guess it is not a total catastrophe.

The DNC Is Preparing for the Worst in Chicago — Without the Help of the City’s Mayor - POLITICO
Could Democrats be that stupid again and have convention chaos?  Of course!  Will they?  Maybe.  Will it hurt them as much as the CW thinks?  That I am not sure; older people may be turned off but younger people might be enthralled.  I would also note that in most cases people hold their noses and vote anyways (why I am skeptical of the Haley vote going to Biden), so even if there is convention chaos, Dems will come home -- as will the GOP.  There is the independent vote to consider, but that number is decreasing.

Kari Lake keeps giving Republicans new reasons to worry - POLITICO
This could be me, but shouldn't this seat be considered as important as Ohio's?  Gallego is on the air and defining himself; to me, the national GOP and others -- whether they like her or not -- should be countering that.  We might not win in Ohio or Montana or elsewhere, so ALL seats must be considered to be in play.  God forbid we win 5 or 6 seats or something.

Fat people are costing us all billions. It’s time to get tough (msn.com)
I largely agree, and I am not so surprised this is coming from the UK, where they have the NHS and all; it does affect their tax dollars directly, so people in turn are going to be miffed and want to pay less... not that they will want to eat less or get off their duffs.  In the US, of course, our health care bills are often divorced from us and reality, and aside from the general platitudes about health, there is no incentive to drop a few pounds.  Alas.

Unexpectedness

Long day today; worked late to get a grip on one of the projects (which underwent further revision, albeit somewhat more clarification), and then had to rush to the OC, as someone had left toys in the storage room (the fallout shelter!) for the Hot Meal.  So I made sure I went over there and salvaged them -- four boxes of games and such, nothing too exciting, but new, unopened, and available.  Might come in handy Saturday.  I made an unpleasant discovery; I heard a rattling, and something was in one of the traps in the food storage room.  I mean, it is good that we caught the thing, but after four months... well, to have a visitor was NOT pleasant.  I did write the exterminator to come and lay more traps; I guess I need to find more holes to fill, though the gaps in the garage door -- which we cannot fix, save for installing a new one -- could be big enough for a critter to enter through.  Sigh.  I may buy some as well, just to expand our coverage and get rid of them; like Democrats, you have to eradicate at first glance or else... you're stuck with them.

I must admit I am vastly surprised by the continuing contretemps in Broadview Heights; this could be me, but if you have tell people -- with great hullaballoo -- that you are inclusive, you really aren't, are you?  I would love to see new leadership in the city, and if this is what brings it about...well, I am going to be almost sad.

When I got home tonight it was the usual -- emails, paperwork, and follow-ups, accompanied by the PBS special (as a Republican, I feel somewhat dirty watching it, but if I can do it for "Downton," I can do it for something educational) about Pompeii, which was quite interesting -- hard to believe there is so much of the city yet to be excavated, and the interesting (and sad) things they keep finding in what they do excavate.

Sighs

Interesting day; got a couple of new projects at work, which were followed by multiple modifications of said projects, as well as shifting due dates.  This was meh as it is -- understandable but no fun -- but then I had a bunch of difficulties downloading some of the data files; namely, they were too large for converting to Excel, and I couldn't figure out/wasn't allowed to break them up.  I just put them in PDF form and will have to manually search them to find what I need.  Oi.  Then it was off to the gym (there was leftover pizza at the office and I felt fat) and then home.  Tivo'd J! and have been too busy to watch, alas.  I have quite the collection of shows, and I will eventually get through them, to say nothing of the Masters, which are hour-long affairs and thus are... well, I have to block out time.

The Democrats Have a Joe Biden Problem | The New Republic
Isn't this everyone's problem?  I do find it humorous that if the New Republic notices this, I can only imagine what John Q. Voter does.   I would say not good economically, but the rest... that is a problem.  I can still see large numbers of undecideds (in so far as they exist) breaking for incumbent due to infanticide, "democracy," and Trump fatigue, all of which are somewhat legitimate.  Somewhat.

Also funny; my plan to get through the paper pile on the kitchen table has been progressing -- in so far as it does -- slowly due to the general busy nature of my life, and the plan to get through bookmarks and such has been equally truncated.  Some of these are links related to my side hustle -- on which I have been putting in some work these past few nights -- and until I complete those writeups I cannot delete them.  I hate to say it but I am looking forward to Memorial Day weekend so I can devote some time to doing absolutely nothing but reading and watching films.

I realized today that I have a Communion breakfast this weekend and a pile to get ready for the toy drive.  I am fond of saying sometimes my life is not my own (every parent says hold my beer!) but this week is one of those times where it is especially apt.

Hot Meal Fun

 Well, that was a mostly exciting game, aside from the part about the Cavs not winning.  Funny; I barely watched the team during the season, and now...playoffs baby, I guess.  I was actually only home for the second half, as I was graciously invited to the quarterly Hot Meal meeting.  I am not sure that I was needed at the meeting, though it was good to see who was involved (some of our parishes are hot meal only, and some have different people involved in food bank operations), and they got to see me.  I told them about the other hot meals parishes/pagan churches on, and how we have similar issues -- rising costs, rising demand, etc.  This could be me, but a lot of our clients... well, the sense of entitlement is a bit much; I think fourths and tupperware containers for extra food is... well, right out.  At least we can afford what we are doing... for now.

A “Restaurant Apocalypse” Is Starting To Sweep Across America, And That Is Really Bad News For The U.S. Economy (substack.com)
Dare I say a bit of nuance is required?  I think a lot of people are doing well; if your house is paid off and you are working you are in great shape!  If you are working and have minimal debt (like me) you are ok; you notice costs and can deal with them, even if you are frugal (like me) and can reduce your exposure.  But for the bottom third, of course, this is something you cannot avoid...now, of course, most of these people voted for Biden, and they are getting it, and deserve it, but they will also keep voting for Biden, and.... alas.

Opinion: With Biden versus Trump, Catholic voters face a spiritual crossroads (msn.com)
This could be me, but when you have a Catholic president who says he is a Catholic, but never seems to endorse any doctrines or Church teachings...well, there might be some people who reasonably conclude he isn't actually Catholic, or a Catholic in name only, and thus that is something of an anathema, thank you very much.

CBS's Robert Costa Begs Bill Maher to Stop Mocking Lefties, Just Hit Republicans (newsbusters.org)
First thing I noted when I saw the headline is that he used to write for National Review, and was a good one, too... and now...alas.

Rest

 After the busy weekend, it was good to do... well, less.  My sister surprised me and showed up at Mass today, so we went to breakfast at the Chimney afterwards, which was good as always.  Favorite Niece was in town but slept in, so she didn't join us, though we did get her a side of hash browns to go.  It was good to catch up with my sister, not that we don't stay in touch, but...  then it was off to the OC, gym, and brunch with some friends.  It was well over three when I finally returned home and then it was off to do some contract work.  It was quite nice, and there were plenty of interesting things to learn -- always good.  Now, of course, I cannot sleep, but that is hardly new anymore...

Sad news about the police officer in Euclid; as always, I am shocked and appalled that his murderer was even out on the street.  I realize prison is about redemption, in some ways, but how many times do we read of career criminals being out on the streets and then going on to commit more serious crimes?  Oi.  Have we not learned the lesson that some people simply need to be put away forever?  

It was Mother's Day today....funny how one adapts to the fact that Mom isn't around anymore.  I was joking today about how I could have honored Mom by going out to eat, hitting the casino, or that sort of thing, but I didn't.  Maybe I should have but of course the casino has no charms for me, and I had plenty of grub at home.  Or, as my sister helpfully suggested at breakfast, there is always time for a rain check.  Sigh.

Catching up

 Busy weekend, as evinced by the fact that I am just getting home now and blogging.  Today was an early start, as I had OC duty.  The crowd ended up being ok -- 119 -- but we had shitty weather for most of it; rain, often heavy, windy, and cool -- so much so I ended up getting one of the space heaters in the back to dry off.  The clothing racks could not be put out, a bummer as we had plenty of them.  Also, I had plenty of handouts for next week's toy drive, which we didn't need, as the people we thought would come did not. I guess I had made too many.  Alas.  I still think we will be able to give them away, but...at least all the produce went (not that we had a lot), stuff was rotated, and the mission was done.  Phew.

Wedding after, and while it was fun, it was very tiring, as I was out and about all day and night.  And, on the heels of last night's Four Eagles Dinner... well, Mattie could use plain fare, plenty of rest, and plenty of quiet.  None of these are especially forthcoming in the next few days and weeks, but we will make do.  I may nap tomorrow, though I will probably just drink five cups of coffee instead.

At the wedding today a couple of people told me about the story from St. Thomas More in Brooklyn, how a convicted pedophile is cantoring at Mass.  While on the one hand I can see the point -- he is not with kids, he is front of everyone, everyone deserves a second chance -- the optics, at the very least, are incredibly poor, and as always...I find it fascinating (but not surprising) that no one downtown thought to say "Gee, this might not be a good idea, which leads me to wonder who is actually running things...

Restlessness

 Last night was not good; I just could not fall asleep.  I went to bed at 12 or so but it was 2 before I fell asleep, and even then it was not fitful, as I got up a few times.  Oi.  I was definitely feeling it today, with some cramps and discomfort, and a general sense of blah during the day -- a couple of extra cups of coffee for sure.  I intend to hit the hay soon, and while I may do a gym double tomorrow... if I sleep in a bit, it will be ok.  This is depressing, as I have a busy weekend and I need the proper and sufficient rest.  Alas.  We march on.

I am fascinated by the drama in the House with MTG and Speaker Johnson.  I find it interesting that Dems are working to save his speakership, one because he did the right thing on Ukraine, and two because he doesn't have the dishonesty of McCarthy (which seems to have affected equally on the left and on the right). It could, of course, be his personal religious views that are driving this -- it certainly hasn't been claimed by any of the articles about him, which doesn't surprise me, given who is writing them.  It is odd.  Of course, as the Dems do not have a majority, and I don't see anyone crossing over to vote for Jeffries, I think he can hold on, at least until the next election.  If we still have the majority then... who knows.

I decided to treat myself after work and went to Slim Chickens; it is a fast casual chain, specializing in fried chicken (tenders, wings) and such.  It was quite good -- decent portions (I will switch out the fries next time for a less heavy side) and I think I got more value for my cash there.  Now, I wouldn't eat there all the time, but... another thing. I was one of three people who ate inside; I counted 14 cars in the drive-thru and three DoorDash types.  I realize the rain -- quite a contrast from yesterday -- might have compelled people to stay inside, but it is a very odd thing to see, even after all these years.

I put the Cavs on late (forgot they were on) and I thought it was a typo; impressive win.  Hearing that the Celtics missed 16 of 17 threes in one stretch reminded me of the Duke offense, where -- whether they felt they were able to make them or not -- they would keep shooting, no matter the score, and usually it ended poorly.  That said, if the Cavs can keep this up...