Ugly

 Yesterday was just...rough.  Mom got out of the home yesterday.   Not sure why, but they pretty much rushed her out the door, which included 1) a three hour delay in calling in her prescriptions and 2) NOT telling us they couldn't call in all of them.  This was not helpful.  As for Mom, she is...ok?  A little apprehensive, maybe being back at home.  I thought she was more advanced in her therapy in some ways (from what she described).  Comically, she thought the bed we set up for her was too high, so I had to take apart Humpty Dumpty again, which was not fun, as the process was a lot of work.  Oi!

Then the Tribe game.  Oi.  Bieber didn't have it last night, to be sure, but... this could be me, but if it was obvious they were preying on the first-pitch fastball..stop throwing it?  Much like 2018 against the Astros, it seems that once a game plan is developed, they can't seem to go off script for even a second, even when it is obvious things are NOT working.  At least 1) Naylor hit more yesterday than in the regular season (off Cole, to boot) and 2) the relievers we would want to use are rested. I predict the season ends today.

Then the debate, which was a shit show and a train wreck.  They were saying that POTUS came out "hot;" maybe, but at some point you have to cool down...much as I hated watching Bill O'Reilly for interrupting people and stopping them from making fools of themselves, similarly, you can let people finish and then attack.., funny thing is, the President has a record to defend -- repealing NAFTA, for instance; if Jake Tapper can make the point, why not Trump?  The manufacturing sector was doing...well, fairly well, if you will; certainly, they made it happen.  Unemployment was at a record low; business confidence was at a high.  The construction sector was advancing at a good clip, and people in that sector in the economy are still bullish on the President.  Compared to 2016, when he was all jobs and economy, he could have stressed that... especially on COVID; his argument there is that he shut the economy down as much as he could, but when the cure was worse than the disease, you had to bring it back, or at least let state and local governments do so... leaving all the low-lying fruit on the trees was not good.

Taxing Times

 Tomorrow (aka tonight) is going to be quite the day...first, Mom gets out of the home.  This is largely good, though everyone is a tad apprehensive as to how things will go.  Then, of course, we have the debate AND the playoff game at the same time!  Thank God I can pitch-track on the mobile phone while listening to the debate. 

Where, I am sure, taxes will be discussed.  I don't know... to be sure, golf and casinos have not been good businesses for a decade, so I can see how they are money losers, and we all know that any accountant can turn profits into losses.  On the other hand... you'd think the guy, if he knew he was running for President, would have at least...covered his tracks?  Paid a bunch of taxes anyways?  I think this is the lost promise of the Trump Presidency...the man campaigned on being an outsider and that he could fix things... at any point, he could have said "This is how rich guys like me game the system, and I want to end it now, no matter what it costs me" and people would have gone apeshit over that.  Instead, he acted like...anyone else would have.

https://www.newsweek.com/whole-foods-american-obesity-1534272?

Oh, I don't know...maybe both sides are right?  We do make bad food choices and sit on our butts too much; hell, I even took tonight off from the evening stroll (not that a charley horse played a role in that one). On that note, I weighed in at 172 at the gym today... I think I have been eating well, but if I could sleep some for a few days...well, it would be a big bump in my performance.

I watched "Girlfriends" today, putting me to on 737 of the NFR, and I think I am at the end of the search -- the low-lying fruit has been picked, and the rest are -- like Tantalus -- beyond reach.  Alas. As for the film...it was ok. just didn;t exactly identify with it and in consequence, it was meh.

Senescence

 So, I broke my glasses last night/this morning... I had a charley horse (upper left thing, like the last one) and in the brouhaha I almost fell out of bed, upended the laptop, saved the laptop, and I guess stepped on the spectacles (which I put on the laptop before going to bed).  Oops.  To be sure, they were old and more than ready for replacement, but... so off I go tomorrow to the optician for a new pair.  Alas.  I am not driving at night, I think, until they are replaced; I can see fairly well, but a little blurry far off, so I will be careful.

Then, this morning, I heard on the radio that the "Dizzy Up The Girl" album was released 22 years ago today.  I remember buying that CD in the record store in Delaware... in short, I feel like a hilarious old person.

In the meantime, I can console myself with the Amy Comey Barrett nomination, or as I am now calling her, Awesome ACB.  I think the process will be a slog, but I am sure some Dem will overstep on her Catholicism; it is a religion of rules and standards, to say nothing of morals and ethics, and, well, I can see that some things are simply beyond some peoples' earthly comprehension.  :)

A couple of days ago I watched "Gaslight," the murder mystery with Boyer and Bergmann (putting me to 736 on the NFR); I liked it, though I had to admit, as a feminist, I could not believe that a woman would be so weak and fragile to fall for a guy and then his constant whittling away at her mental state...

Jug Day

 More late innings dramatics for our Tribe... It is prolly too little, too late for the division, but winning games is a thing in and of itself.  That said, it is getting to the point that you just IBB Ramirez and go face Santana, who is...less of a threat to do damage?  I keep thinking of what Bill James said about "old players' skills" and the career paths of the players who have them...

Today was Jug Day, and as the governor had banned these gatherings, the family and I took in the Jug (we lost) from the comforts of the Trackside Lounge at Northfield Park.  It was... nice? Not a lot of people; we pretty much had our own little booth area (inside) with TVs and comfortable chairs; no trudging a mile through a fairground and sitting on a folding chair here.  The TV had a perfect view of the finish line and we certainly didn't get sunburn/etc.  On the other hand, we did miss live racing and seeing the race with the people we see every year.  We all agreed next year we would to back to Delaware... which was another thing, my annual trip to see people I know and relive the glory days (such as they were) at my alma mater...

Broke a decorative plate in the kitchen today chasing after (and killing) gnats.  Ever get the feeling where you know you shouldn't do something but do it anyways?  I guess that was me tonight....

Walkoff

 Well, the last two nights have certainly been fun, haven't they?  Even I have been...impressed?  Surprised?  I don't know, making the participation trophy playoffs is probably fine, having an outside chance to win the division is better, and realizing that the team has 5 hitters and an OF with an OPS of .600 or something is...well, sobering.  At least they get to set the rotation up just so, and see what happens. But the lack of offense is frustrating; even Perez has regressed, Naquin is scuffling, Delino is hitting better than expected (not exactly high), and let's not discuss Mercado; I think we expected a regression, but this is...ridiculous?

I got an email from the Tribe today -- only mobile entry for the games. I guess I see it, from a safety perspective and all, but, as one who always had a printed ticket... as I like to say, what is someone throws a no-hitter?  How would anyone know you are there (ok, the 8,000 pics on your phone), but you get what I am saying.. it is a tangible memory..

https://theweek.com/articles/938771/case-against-obamacare-weak-probably-succeed-anyway

I don't buy it, or at least not until after the election.  If Trump wins, you can get rid of the whole bill, and Lord knows what will happen (really).  If Biden wins, do you really think they will throw out the whole bill and risk something along the lines of socialized medicine? (Roberts will be blamed either way, to be sure.) I think they just sever what they can and let the chips fall where they may; in some ways it would be easier, as any fix the Dems make will cost  more/be unpopular and you'll see 2010 again.

Decisions, Up in the Air

 Took two walks today... I don't know; I like to walk, and it is good for me, but I have been snacking a bit more, so I suspect that it cancels the matter out, though the cardio is good for heart rate and such...

http://jpkoning.blogspot.com/2019/08/starbucks-monetary-superpower.html

This was pretty interesting!  I have a few of these lying around; it's not that I don't like going, but I try to go for special occasions, or a pick me up... now that I realize I am giving (or someone else did, they are often gifts) them a free loan... well, drink up!

https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2020/09/how-employers-can-help-their-employees-save-more-money/

This was also interesting, albeit not as interesting as this:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-falwells-the-pool-attendant-and-the-double-life-that-brought-them-all-down/ar-BB19aRVj?li=BBnb7Kz

God, I love this story!  I know I am awful, but...

In other news, I saw "Up" today.  Now, normally I am not a fan of this sort of thing, but everyone says I would enjoy it/should watch, and I did... the first 15 minutes was the saddest in movie history, but the rest... well, I don't know...a  little maudlin?  I guess I find the whole thing a little meh, not that this should surprise anyone who knows me.

I've come to the conclusion that the RBG successor fight will help Republicans, if only slightly.  I guess my idea is that Biden's voters are all of those who dislike Trump, and that's that, whereas one part of the Donald coalition -- Evangelicals -- is the one most of danger of staying home, not that President Awesome has given them a reason to do so...   anyways, the Lord works in mysterious ways, and he has done by giving him a solid opportunity to pick up a justice who can deliver their interests..  and that might just deliver enough votes in such states as PA, MI, or FL...

Politics

 So...normally an interruption of Jeopardy! is a major bitchfest for me, but... well, not so much today.  More seriously...I was amused that by 8:15, all of the cable networks had shifted to the upcoming political fight over her replacement.  I was not surprised by any mean, but it was...maybe a little soon?  Probably not in this day and age.

As for the replacement...I have no doubt there will be one; whether or not they will be confirmed... I don't know; I can see vulnerable GOPers hugging the choice, but I can also see the more independent ones deep-sixing it.  Mind you, President Awesome has little leverage over the Romneys and Murkowskis of the world, so if they want to make his life difficult... As for the Dems, I do recall the case of Merrick Garland, but as I said then, Republicans could have ran out the clock and had hearings on the guy, and then pronouncing him unacceptable.  They chose not to... Dems can complain, but the filibuster is one they have eroded, and while they might want to... I am not sure the Jones and such of the world want to, either...

Funny; the book I am reading discusses - just now, literally - both the Compromise of 1850 (and the role Stephen A.Douglas played in breaking up the omnibus bill so it could pass; and 2) how Douglas gutted much of his own creation a few years later with the concept of "popular sovreignity."  I guess I feel that way about Mitch McConnell now...

 Now, some political links..

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-forgotten-counties-will-make-their-voices-heard

I hope so; I just wonder how many more votes the Trump campaign can find out there... it's not that they don't matter, you just wonder if they shot the moon in 2o16...

https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/how-trump-could-win?utm_source=pocket-newtab

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/09/17/trumps_path_to_victory_144234.html

More plausible... not saying it is impossible, but I have my doubts...

Catching Up...

 I don't think I've been five days without a post in a while... not that it was intentional; between watching the Tribe (which has been exhaustingly fun, if you get my drift), taking a long walk every night, and trying to get to bed before 11... anyways, I will be back trying to blog more regularly. 

First, college football -- at least in the Big Ten is back.  I was surprised by the initial decision not to play, not surprised now that they back in... honestly, if I was involved with the other 3 power conferences, I think they would try to ensure that, say, an 8-0 Big Ten does run the table, it gets shut out of the national championship... because they didn't play 10 games, screwed up the schedules for everyone else, etc... It would be a dick move, but...what do they care?

https://story.californiasunday.com/covid-life-care-center-kirkland-washington

This is...sad.  Maybe because Mom is in one (for now); maybe because I can see myself ending up in one of these places, maybe because... even if these places had done everything right, I can't see a scenario where lots of peopel don't become ill and die.  I mean, while I think POTUS and co deserve some blame for all that has passed, I suspect that -- in the early days -- no one said or did anything that could have prevented mass deaths and illness, for a bunch of reasons.

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled

I've said this before, but... I would think Greenpeace/lefty green groups would/could/should, if possible, use all of the cash and resources they are sitting in to figure out how to sustainably recycle plastic... in addition to the environmental benefits, wouldn't there be a social justice issue in bringing jobs and such to, say, communities suffering from environmental injustice?  I would think putting 50 people in a distressed neighborhood to work as much as a win as 100,000 bottles out of a landfill...

https://www.outkick.com/trevor-bauer-challenging-rob-manfred-publicly-shows-how-ugly-a-lockout-could-get/

This is hilarious...

Lazy Saturday

 Democrat Saturday, if you will, is going well.. I woke up before 9 (barely), so the sleeping in was nice. I hit the grocery stores and the gym, and after a chat with Mom, I came home, where a lunch of leftover salmon awaited. Rah.  I then decided to see if I could knock off some of the films from the National Film Registry, and with the power of Youtube, I did... "I Am Somebody," a documentary about a strike by nurses' aides in 1970 Charleston, South Carolina. It was...interesting?  I mean, not that I liked it, but it was a good look at a strike, especially of the strikers.  This puts me at 735, and I think most of the slim pickens are gone... alas.

https://hotair.com/archives/ed-morrissey/2020/09/11/biden-tapper-2008-2012-voters-responded-racist-dogwhistles-2016-something/

If Republicans had any brains (I know, I know), this would be their campaign ad -- especially in WI, PA, MI, and MN -- from now until election day...

The fact that we couldn't even score one run against our division rivals -- with the ace on the hill -- doesn;t exactly bode well for our postseason chances, especially now in this (hopefully temporary era) of participation tropy-style playoff appearances.  I realize making the playoffs is a gain in and of itself, but I can;t help but think that there is something more to be desired...

My change pile is starting to grow;  funny, I put the wrong pants on today and thus had no change when I went shopping, so now I have even more... I guess I will have a nice pile to take to the bank in a few days, doing my part to ameliorate the great change shortage, one way or another...

Visions

 Forgot to mention that I hit another restaurant off my food list:  Boss Chicken & Beer in Berea.  It was funny... stopped to deliver a care package to Mom, and, of course, no one was there to answer the door.  I noted it was 7 -- shift change, so I said, ok, maybe they are busy, so I hauled the three miles or so there, and had dinner... pretty good, actually.  I am not a huge fan of wings, but theirs were decent (mainly legs, too), meaty, and the citrus BBQ sauce was just right.  I also liked the fried/grilled Brussels sprouts; just right on crispiness... I am not quite sure it was worth $14, but close enough, so I would go back, and maybe try a non-wing alternative..  Of course, after dinner, I went back to the home, and... more tumbleweeds.  I finally called the desk line and a nurse came to the door... oi.  At least Mom is doing better; walking lots (for her!) and working on the stuff of life.  They are more confident than she is about going home, but... methinks it will be soon.  Or else.

https://theathletic.com/2055379/2020/09/11/qa-r-a-dickey-on-his-endangered-weapon-his-home-pitching-lab-tom-seaver/

Given my fondness for knuckleballs, I couldn't help but read this... sad but true, there are no knuckleballers on the active rosters this year...

Funny; tomorrow I have nothing to do, save for the trip to the gym and maybe to the grocery store.  This is rare; between food pantry, work, and other things, there is often something going on that requires a chunk of time.  But not tomorrow; I have this vision of sleeping in, reading a good hunk of the book I just started, and maybe catching up on the pile of links and articles to read...

Swirling

 Well, that was fun...losing three to the Royals, and fairly punchlessly, at that. At least Dr. Plutko did not get rocked; rather, the youngster did... I was a little surprised... this could be me, but given the importance of Ramirez to the team...why are they playing him if hurt?  I guess I would have shut him down for a few days until he is fully healed, and, taking advantage of the demotion of Cimber, to call up Yu Chang and play him there for three days.. I  mean, nothing against Mike Freeman, but there are always Mike Freemans to sign every spring, but we need to find out if Chang can play, and 10 ABs against the Royals are as good a test run as any.

https://pjmedia.com/columns/tyler-o-neil/2020/09/09/has-the-second-american-civil-war-already-started-n880940

Interesting, especially considering how many times I mention the Civil War as an example of political discourse run amok; I never stopped to consider that the violence of the 1850s was the first shots.  It does make sense now, looking at it in a differing light.

I've been watching all of the Holmes that were done with Jeremy Brett... I don;t know; they have to dramatize them, of course, but I think in many cases they are removing what is...canonical, if you will. For instance, their "Sign of Four" (which has Inspector Morse as the villain) neglects the romance between Watson and Mary Morstan, while their "Priory School" adaptation cuts out the ending, which is among the most pithy of Holmes' moments.

Catching up

 So, Monday I woke up at 10 AM... yes, that was late for me. I went to bed at 12, woke up at 6 to use the bathroom, figured I could sleep another hour...woke up then.  Oops.  It affected the whole day, as my biorhythms were off, and it was a Monday but not a work day, nor did I have the usual caffeine.. today I woke up at 7, instead of my usual 6... oi. Gotta get up at the normal time tomorrow --  busy AM ahead of me -- and this sleeping in business simply has to stop.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-eastern-jesus?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Interesting, I thought.

So, I watched "The Greatest Showman" this weekend.  I liked it, but 1) I didn't know it was a musical and 2) its message of tolerance, diversity, and inclusion, while nice... has not one iota of evidence in being in the 1850s or so when Barnum was around, so...yeah. I also watched -- thanx to TCM -- "Monterey Pop," crossing another one of the NFR.  It was the concert video for the Monterey Pop music festival, the precursor to Woodstock. The movie was a lot shorter than "Woodstock," which was...most appreciated, if you get my drift.

https://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/newsstand/discussion/cardinals_legend_lou_brock_dies_sunday_afternoon_at_81

I thought this was interesting, especially the comments, such as #21; I think they are correct in stating that 1) teams tend to make moves that are rational to them, if not the average fan and 2) It's not terribly fair to judge a trade that doesn;t work out... of course, the way our front office operates...

Rest, glorious rest

 So, off I went to St. Rocco's today... the food was good-- the lemoncello cake was outstanding, the lasagna there is enough for lunch -- but the line... whoa. I think I spent 30  minutes and a gallon of gas in that.  It seemed the issue was that they only had one place to serve the order (and leave the place) when it was done, so... a chokepoint ensued.  I do believe we will have two places for ordering and leaving at the Polish Festival next month, so we will be more ready, one hopes, for faster exit.

In other  news, Labor Day weekend is now half over, and after the late lunch, I mainly caught on the news today...I intend to watch the latest Netflix movie that arrived and finish my book (I have done a lot of reading!), and with the possible exception of some budget stuff, I intend to do as little as possible the rest of the day..  

I need to get back into the habit of watching J! again; I guess in some ways this the normal six-week summer hiatus, but it's not quite been, and in consequence my watching has been more occasional than not... for one, I can get through (faster) the pile of Word-Seeks my mother has left for me when she is done with them; she seldom does the special puzzles, so I can do them when multitasking, but they have been piling up, and we all know how I to pile crap up

A respite

 No, I was not taking a blogging hiatus, just trying to sleep a bit more (ha), exercise a bit more (better), watch some Sherlock Holmes (yes), and read a bit (some success).  Rah.  I figure it's a long weekend, so I can do some things I want, as I don't really have to set a clock, save for Sunday...

Went to Gually's Restaurant and Deli today...yes, there was a heavy police presence around there, to put it mildly.  Anyways, I got there when the kitchen and dining room were closed, so I took food to go -- chicken, rice, beans, and flan.  It was outstanding; better than my bday dinner, and I want to go back when the kitchen is open, so I can order something  more elaborate (and Puerto Rican).  I also had coffee with a friend and visited not only his house, but his rental property that he boiught and is rehabbing and selling.  To put it mildly, the place is a shithole, but my friend Mark is handy and goes through these things like women and bikes, so... let's just say that I took a shower anyways when I got home.

The unemployment numbers were good; surprisingly so, but let's face it, most of it is from joblessness, with hiring -- though growing-- not nearly enough. For all of the culture war the POTUS is throwing -- coming to Cleveland now would be a smooth move for him, I think -- the economy is where I think he can shine and make the case for re-election.  I think he can make points there, and he can always say that all of his actions regarding COVID were taken with the idea of getting people back to work as soon as possible. I am not saying that this is the best course...

The Rising Tide

 I have to admit, the email box is nearly empty, and the bookmark pile is equally nearly empty, and I consider that a good thing... of course, this will not remain so, but for now... In the meantime, one thing I can't help but notice that if the Tribe payroll is low now, wait til next year.  To be sure, Perez and Hand won't be missed that much, but Santana... I don't know, his glove and on-base skills are, to me, an asset.  Are they worth $17 million, prolly not, and certainly to this club...Alas.  I can see a payrolle below $50 million, if that...

Yesterday I went to the oral surgeon; had to get some gum removed so my cap could fit after the root canal. It was not exactly fun, of course, and I have the pain pills (which I take grudgingly; it's not too bad) and the antibiotics (a necessary evil). It will be a few days before the discomfort goes away, and a few more before the diet is normal, not that this is a bad thing, as a diet of soup may burn off some pounds.  I skipped the gym yesterday and today... mainly because I had a haircut and a Zoom appointment.  My hair place is in Lakewood, and I passed by the food truck court, and I was immediately wistful... but I have behaved and it is probably for the better.

Had a conference call with the staff at the new place about Mom.  Complete 180 from the old one; they seem to think Mom --once she gets the full workout -- will be able to go home and live as well as she could before everything... it was a little odd; she is not as confident, but I seem to think Mom underestimates her own strength.  It was still good to hear, and after last week and its...crapitude at times, this was...enervating?