I wasn't going to post anything today (Wednesday), but then I remembered that these things are usually dated a day ahead, so a very

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(Except in my town. Halloween trick or treating has been delayed to Friday due to rain. Seriously)

~

The Deuce concluded it's run on HBO Monday night. A fascinating look at the NYC Times Square area in the 1970's to 1980's.


It WILL be missed!

~

Yes, they even make pumpkin spice Cheerios now. Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure they will sell well.

I was encouraged though to see that they now make chocolate and peanut butter Cheerios.

I'm not much of a guy fro cold cereal any more, but I might try them sometime.

Who knows? They might become a thing with me. And we're all looking for a new thing, right?

~

... but this doesn't help:

I just happened to think yesterday that I hadn't received my notice to renew my car plates yet. I know they're due in October. That's just how my mind works, I remember little things like that.

It rained all day Saturday and I didn't feel lkie going out to check on my plates in a constant downpour, so I made a mental note to check today online.

Yep, sure enough, my plates had expired 6 days ago.

I always get my notice in the mail early. I wonder why not this year.

No, I don't think the government is setting me up, but...

this sure doesn't help.

I paid for new plates online at the state BMV today. Now I just wait for them to arrive and try to remember not to do anything stupid before they arrive.

Life goes on.

~

Rainy, sloshy kind of day here today. Arainy day song to enjoy:

I heard this classic by The Boss today, and remembered when I had a similar experience:


I got past it, but it still makes me a little sad when I reflect on those times.

~

Today is the first time in a long time that I haven't either:

Dropped something on the floor while cooking
Bumped into something walking through the house
Stubbed my toe
Misplaced my reading glasses
Got a sharp pain from twisting a part of my body the wrong way
Forgotten what I was looking for when I walked into a room
Stood up too fast and had to sit back down

You might think that's a weird thing to be proud of, but you just wait until you get to be older.

My record is two days in a row, so fingers crossed, since that doesn't hurt.

Over the course of several years, I have accumulated a closet full of winter coats.

I have several leather coats or jackets, suede, denim (lined with sheep skin) and wool.

Unlike some people who live in this area, I don't like the bitter cold. When it's freezing outside, I only leave the warmth of the indoors to go to work or the grocery.

When I was younger, before I bought my first car, I walked everywhere in the winter. I would get cold, but if I kept moving I maintained enough heat that it didn't really bother me.

In my 30's, after my divorce, I worked for two years a a meter reader for the local electric company. I worked in all kinds of weather. I was bitten by dogs. I was threatened with guns by irate customers. The very worst thing that happened was getting both of my hands frost bitten (years later I got toes on both feet frost bitten, but that's another story for another day).

That's the reason I have a closet full of winter coats and a drawer full of winter gloves. When the temperature dips below 40 degrees, I have to wear gloves or my hands start turning numb.

So I've bought another coat. This time I went all out and bought a hooded, insulated parka that comes down over my rear end. Just for those days when I have to go out and scrape ice and snow off the windows.

I know, I know, I could move to a warmer climate, but with retirement looming within a year I will tough it out and soldier on.

My happy thought is that when I retire, I will no longer have to venture out when it's freezing. I can stay indoors, look out at the frozen tundra and smile while I remain toasty warm.

Life goes on.

~

Cybermen, Cybermen, at my door.
They're so heavy, they shake the floor.

Cybermen, Cybermen, what can I do?
Oh yeah, I think I'll call for Doctor Who!

I treat everyone the same, wherever I shop. If the employees are civil to me, I'm civil to them. Rude or bored employees will get back what they give and cause me not to shop in their store any longer.

One thing I can't resist, though: If an employees asks me at checkout if I found everything alright, I can't help myself from asking them:

Why, are you hiding something?

It is sometimes a wonder I haven't been banned from stores for being a smartass.