The full entire year of 2023 I will be required to serve my civic duty.
Yes, seriously. When did they start doing it for a whole year anyway? And why am I picked so often? Perry’s been hanging out with me for more than 15 years and he’s been called to serve ZERO times. Me? This is my 3rd round. Judge Poynter and his staff are looking forward to working with ME. Not Perry… not Ben… ME.
Another room without fresh paint.
I moved stuff around upstairs to make another room look less like storage and more like a “real” livable space. I didn’t paint this room yet either but I will… after Christmas.
In the meantime, I’ve got better things to do.
Coco loves the new place. She’s doing her best to steal my hounds affection right away from me. I think she might be succeeding. 😬
TIL (Today I Learned): Only two companies have a higher credit rating than the US Government — Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson.
The 4th of July must’ve been really hard on my entire family. Looking through the photos I promised to share, I found them all to be horrible. It was hotter than a match even that evening, we were all sweating (especially those lighting the fuses), and I must’ve also been off my game insofar as photo composition.
I ended up with many photos of Katie sporting a “Swiss Miss” hairstyle. Ben, Carl, Perry and I were all looking haggard and old, and Mom was either appearing to be mad or like she didn’t know where in the world she was at the time.
I promise we all looked better than the photos you’re about to view.
The obligatory car selfie on the way there… my hair is already flat (not yet in a ponytail), and Perry is working up to a smile that failed.
Next, there’s Carl tending the fire pit. Poor guy looks like he’s at least 110.
Mom looks to be extremely pissed at someone here. I’m guessing it was Katie… who is oblivious to the stink eye upon her.
And Mom again… turning from the angry and bitter version into the sweet and innocent one — with eyes so blank one might wonder if she’s even aware of her surroundings.
It reminds me of this…
Perry and Carl are solving the world’s problems — probably discussing global warming since it was so very hot in the Ville.
Poor Ben looks like he’s my age wearing his sweat soaked shirt. The evening was work for him… setting up and lighting fireworks in the heat obviously isn’t good for your appearance.
The back of Katie’s Swiss Miss hairdo is in probably 75% of the total number of photos.
And finally, since I can’t make fun of everyone else and not make fun of myself, is a photo of me captured by Perry.
Now that you’ve seen my entire family at our worst — including the very worst set of holiday photos you will EVER see — here’s hoping you’re cooler than we were during the festivities.
And finally, if you want to hear about poop (specifically the dog kind), you can head on over to shelleyerwin.com.
TIL (Today I Learned): At a 1915 auction, Cecil Chubb bought Stonehenge as a gift for his wife, but she hated it because she had sent him to buy a set of chairs. 3 years later, he gave it to his country on the conditions that the entrance fee would never cost more than a shilling and the locals could have free access.
Funny, I sat down to write this and that title popped in my head and I could NOT remember the song by Bobby Brown. Oh, I remembered some of the words, just not the tune. And I had totally forgotten that Brittany Spears recorded it too. Anyway…
I am waiting on a dog fence.
I planned to move so the house was easier to show; I could clean it better and it would stay clean; and I wouldn’t have to worry about what to do with my hounds when (if) there were viewings. But all that extra cleaning and dog jostling can’t be worse than taking them out on a leash 500 times a day.
Probably.
So for now it’s hard, but it will all be just fine. I’m going to try to take the same attitude as a friend’s daughter who decided to sell her home and do full-time “van life.” She talks about how doing without things of comfort make her appreciate them more — and how not knowing where she’s going to park to sleep at night is an adventure. (This is the tiktok video I’m basing my nonsense on.)
I figure I don’t have to worry about having a bed to sleep in and I’ll have hot running water no matter what happens next. And tomorrow, I’ll buy a second dog kennel and have Perry get the other one out of the attic. Everything is going to be just fine.
Probably.
And when this girl has a pool whenever I get settled — she’ll be just fine too. 🙂
TIL (Today I Learned): Mosquitoes are the only animals that have killed more humans than humans have.
My favorite brother spoke yesterday at an event in Cincinnati and drove to the Ville to see Ms. Pesky before returning to Las Vegas. I took a few photos after having a really difficult time finding a good spot for the phone/camera. In the photo below, I’m pretty sure Ben was humoring me, I was surprised, Mom was wondering if it was going to work, and Scott was just happy to be in his hometown…
We were a bit better prepared for this one. It’s after I had to remind Mom to stop looking around at everyone else and instead look at where the phone/camera was. I almost got grounded. Again.
But the best photo of all was this one…
Captain Jack VS Mera
I watched most of yesterday’s Depp/Heard trial — it was over early. Amber talked about being an American and did everything but wave our country’s flag while saying that she’s received threats to put her baby in a microwave. Listen… I think she’s conniving. I think she’s a mean girl. I think she’s exaggerating. I think she would step on her own sister to get what she wants (and probably has in actuality). But even if she set this in motion, this trial has been hard for her.
Johnny was (is?) a drug abuser. A drug abuser with an endless supply of cash, fans, and people to cater to his every whim. Anyone that’s ever had an addict in their family knows how hard it is to love them… and what they’re capable of when they’re using. This trial has also been hard for him, but he asked for it in an attempt to clear his name.
Life is too short to be either one of them.
Closing arguments today — 2 hours for each side — then the case goes to the jury. If they don’t render an opinion by end of the court day, they’ll return on Tuesday to continue deliberating. Here’s guessing I won’t be talking about the trial until next week.
TIL (Today I Learned): Possums don’t “play dead.” They actually pass out due to fear of predators. They go into shock and faint when confronted, involuntarily. They are in a catatonic state until they become conscious again.
Today is the birthday of my one and only. Ben didn’t want cake or ice-cream or anything other than an expensive gift. Yup. You can forgo all the typical celebratory stuff so long as the gift is nice… and expensive. Some things never change. I love him lots… even though he’s a #1 butthole.
That hasn’t changed either. 🙂
Considering an expensive gift, I thought about buying him a couple chickens and a fat rooster.
A 2-pack of 18 eggs purchased at Walmart last week cost $3.42.
This week, the exact same eggs are $7.88.
Some sources say it’s because of the war in Ukraine — they’re a major grain producer. Other sources say drought conditions in the US have pushed wheat and corn prices up significantly. And even other sources say it’s because of inflation and gas prices plus the bird flu outbreak.
No matter, we need to get ready.
If eggs are that much higher in one week, we can expect a whole lot of other stuff to jump in price too. Right?
I should’ve bought the chickens. 😉
TIL (Today I Learned): Tapeworms can live inside you for up to 30 years and grow 80ft long.
