Mattie Travels

Last night I had dinner with my college friend Kim and her daughter...quite fun.  We met at Kitchen Social in Pinecrest, which was packed -- I mean, it was a nice night out, the weather was perfect, who wouldn't want to go out and enjoy the mall?  Parking at the next county is fine, as I need the exercise.  Anyways, it was quite nice -- grub was good, we went down memory lane, and her daughters were amused/fascinated/appalled by our tales of yore.  I walked around a bit there... nice to get steps in, but I couldn't help but notice a slightly elevated police presence.  It is the East Side, but St. Anthony in Parma is having their festival this weekend and it is largely closed to the public.  Sigh.

Yesterday I also had an eye doctor.  It was fine -- some age/diabetes stuff that I need to monitor, but one thing was that they offered this "Dilation Reversal," where for $20 you can get drops to largely restore your vision after they dilate the pupils.  I was like, yes, $20 is a price for convenience, and it worked!  I mean, for an hour it was a bit off, but then it just cleared and vision was normal again.

I also watched the World Cup game between Team USA and Paraguay.  As I told several people, we cannot not watch Team USA, but... man, that game was incredibly boring.  I fell asleep near the end, and when I woke up (on the living room floor) it was past 3AM.  I slept through my first alarm (woke up for the second) but did have a minor kink in my neck.  My gym double may have helped, maybe not... ok, I feel fine now, but the legs are a bit sore.

Today was also a busy day -- errands, gym, some work, a grad party, the second homily at church to discuss our new canned food drive, and here we are now...read some emails, handled some stuff, the usual.  Rah!  My blood sugar was a little low at night so I used a bday gift card and hit DQ for a blizzard.  Quite good, even if I do not think I will have many more, with the whole diabetes and all...

Social Security Is in Worse Shape Than Previously Projected: Report - NOTUS — News of the United States
What will actually happen?  Nothing, of course!

Catching Up

Man, it was hot today, and yesterday, and the day before.  I fear the electric bill -- and summer has not yet really sprung upon us.  Sigh.  Anyways, today was a day of spending money; both personal and OC.  Utility bills, reimbursements for hot meals, roof repair... I mean, I hate the spending in general, both for me and for others, but... alas.  I did amuse myself and the contractor by going over some of the details over the materials and the install process, and my report did assuage some of the more reluctant types on the Board.  I hope.

I have a busy weekend planned, one way or another, but I need to keep cleaning my house (I seem to accumulate dust) and go through the paper pile on the kitchen table.  Some of it is food pantry stuff, some of it is SVDP stuff, and some are none of the above, but... well, they all need to go.  It would look neater, and in some cases, I have procrastinated enough.

The Law of Averages - by Umit Dhuga, PhD
Interesting!  Ok, maybe not; the ancients were not idiots, they certainly knew trade and finance, and someone put it all together...

This Is Why America Can’t Have Robots And Other Nice Things
I suspect the people who say we cannot manufacture things here are correct, but I cannot help but think the attempt to make more things in the US must be tried -- not only for reasons of national security, but also because we need a strong manufacturing base.  I think the economy works best when we do many things, and making the highly technical components of thing certainly counts.  Now, it would have been better not to have surrendered this in the first place, but...

Linx

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian hit and killed in store parking lot
Sad!  I have a few of his books here, and I rather enjoyed them.  I think the approach that he is a radical centrist is 100%, and I think we need more and not less of that in history.  I certainly didn't know he was 92!  I have been listening to some of his addresses on YouTube, and I should probably make an attempt to read more of his books, even though the reading list is full as it is.  Alas!

An interview with historian Gordon Wood on the New York Times’ 1619 Project - World Socialist Web Site
I forgot about this... I am not surprised the series was not debunked or taken less seriously, but... it should have been.  Most actual historians crapped on this hard, for a bunch of reasons, but still... it is hard to be a public intellectual when the press does not encourage this sort of thing.

The Fading Fun of Trump 2.0 - WSJ
I have mentioned this several times, and I think it is 110% correct.  All of these things -- war, inflation, the narrow majority -- weigh on the man.  That said, he needs to not do those things that cause this.  Also, I have to admit, the man feeds off a foil and controversy to really thrive.  So far, the Dems are keeping their powder dry, which I can see him objecting to, one way or the other.  Of course, this is for now.

Welcome to 48

So, I am 48, and it doesn't seem that much different than 47.  Indeed, I nodded off during Dr. Pimple Popper and now cannot fall asleep.  Sigh.  I had wanted to get some emails out, and I guess they will have to wait until tomorrow.  It was quite warm -- the AC was on a bit -- but there was a sense of... foreboding?  I mean, it was darker out with the clouds, and while we didn't have rain today, it felt like we were.  Odd.  I know we expect rain and storms later this week...it is summer, I guess.

Coaches, ADs 'disgusted,' 'stunned' with Brendan Sorsby ruling
Um, yes.  I need not remind you all that I called this, but... how the hell do you actually expect anyone to take this seriously if you let a guy who bet on his own team play?  I do not think this will last on appeal, but until it does (and it was a homer judge)...well, the NCAA (like every other league) got itself into this mess, so...

Anyways, Sunday was Corpus Christi, and as always, it was beautiful.  The altars were wonderful, the service was fine (attendance was a little sparse), the homilies nice, and I did NOT have to carry the blessed speaker, so I really got to enjoy the event.  We walk less now -- around the parish campus, mainly -- and there has been an effort to cut the time, I think, but I don't think it detracts from the experience.  I was joking that we are four months away from the Festival, but soon enough I will not be joking.  

I had breakfast before at Harvard Inn -- since the Red Chimney fire we need a new place.  It was... ok?  Not as good as the Chimney?  I mean, it was fine -- a bit too buttery -- but just different.  It was economical, and I should probably have the lunch menu as well, to judge it more fully.  After my Dominican feast...

Past-Posting

I was going to post last night but I crashed.  Not sure what happened but Friday I literally got no sleep -- I kept getting charley horses, and getting up with cramps, walking around...oi.  It was not fun, and I am sure the Lord was reminding me I am not quite a young man anymore.

Anyways, yesterday we plowed through -- met a friend for coffee, went to SJN to make the OC donation to the garage roof replacement fund, and then it was off to CentroVilla 25, the Latino-themed mall north of Metro. It was pretty cool, actually -- they have one section with stores, one section with food, and a central gathering area.  There are seven different eateries, each for a different country, and I have to admit making a selection was difficult.  I went with the Dominican place, and it was quite good -- chicken, rice, beans, plantains, cake.  It was a bit heavy for lunch after no sleep, but I will be going back to try them all.  

Have to admit I sort of crashed when I got home -- went through some stuff, vacuumed, dusted, moved stuff around, but the lack of sleep definitely got to me.  I did have time to read this:

Annotated Report
Which was interesting, if sometime incomplete and a big mess.  I think they are largely correct, but candidates and the economy matter too, as the GOP will soon learn, I fear.

I am now 48, and while I hate birthdays and getting older and such... I cannot complain.  Life is good so far - health ok, good job, house looking better, good family and friends -- there are worse fates to befall people.  All I need is time, and maybe some more discipline to use the time I have...

Wake but not woke

 Here we are, 1:30 in the morning, I should be in bed, but I was catching up on stuff -- emails, articles, etc. -- and he we are.  I guess it is officially the dah before my birthday, which does not help.  As I so often say, I had older parents, and I know what comes next (and in my case, sooner), and that is... not good.  I hit the gym and did some extra cardio, and then gave it all back by hitting Jimmy John's for a $5.99 Cubano (acceptable luxury to me in this day and age) and a cherry cordial flurry from Doc's -- as I told my sister (who mocked my big-spending celebratory ways), I don't mind going a little crazy once in a while.  I know I should be a bit more accepting of birthdays, but the leopard cannot change it spots.

Red, White & Clueless - ESPN Video
Interesting.  I remember going to a World Cup as part of the Citizen Bee and being bored out of my mind.  Hell, I am bored every time I watch soccer, so see above comment.  I guess I forgot that we advanced and were a thing.  

States balk at the high price of Medicaid work requirements amid budget crunch - POLITICO

I read this article, and I immediately thought 1) States always complain about costs; and 2) If they had been doing this from day one, it would not be the crisis now, and we would all be better off.  I realize the party that robs Peter to pay Paul will have the support of Paul, but eventually you do run out of other peoples' money.  I will also note that if you removing workers through immigration enforcement, thi would be a golden time to put people into the workforce, no matter what...if that is what you wanted to do.

Dark Clouds

Here we are, not blogging...  I was busy doing things, like work and some SVDP stuff.  Our initiative to revitalize older conferences is going -- not exactly swimmingly -- and we have some ideas for new ministries that I am trying to foment.  I always say that every time I sent out an email it generates two, and while that is not exactly true, it is close enough.  Sigh.  And, dare I say, I am a little...depressed.  My birthday is upcoming, and we all know how I feel about getting older.  It is one thing to say goodbye to 47, and... well, I just don't like it.  The weather has been nice, and I have been walking at lunch to get some rays, which has helped, but...  I will note that there is nothing on the schedule (for now) and I have not had any restaurant tourism in a while, which leads me to think that I should try to cross a place off the list.  We also need some Pub Quiz.  I have been busy, as has been the team, but the summer is the time to travel and try new places.  Rah.

Sherrod Brown leads Jon Husted by 8 points in Ohio Senate race poll | Fox News
This is not good.  I am worried about Texas (Paxton will drain resources that could be used elsewhere, like OH) and Husted has not exactly been on the air.  Ramaswamy is, but given his wealth, there is little reason he should be outspent.  

‘Why are we talking about this?’: Democrats are furious that the Bidens won’t go away - POLITICO
This amuses me, as we really should not be surprised that the Bidens are re-inserting themselves into the political sphere.  I am not sure that it helps us, as with inflation and prices being what they are, there is little point of reminding everyone who was President the last time inflation was this high.  I am not sure how this ends, and the issue is that POTUS doesn't seem to know it, either.