Gone

Gone Forever 

Just stop and think about how many things are gone because stupid people avoided warnings, avoided common sense, avoided any fore thought as to what they are doing.

 
McDonald's coffee... too hot... Spilled on lap... got burnt while driving... sues McDonald's. ( McD's reduces the heat)

McDonald's McNuggets... too hot... given to child... child got burnt... mom sues McDonald's. (just recently)
 
And long ago... McDonald's hot fried pies. They were the best ever. 
Stupid person bit into hot pie... despite warnings in the package... THE FILLING IS HOT... got burnt... sued McDonald's. Pies are gone!

Warning labels. I guess the more thinking person you are, the more warning labels seen infantile. Some seem totally ridiculous,  but I guess it's there because some stupid person once did it... So now there's a warning label.  Funny thing is... Some will still do it despite the warning label. 

DO NOT USE ELECTRIC HAIR DRYER IN THE SHOWER.

DO NOT EAT THE MOISTURE PACKET.

DO NOT USE ELECTRIC TOOL IN THE RAIN. 

DO NOT SMOKE WHILE FILLING GAS IN CAR.

DO NOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING. 

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.  

DO NOT USE GASOLINE TO LIGHT A CAMPFIRE. 

CAUTION: FILLING IS HOT!

CAUTION: THE FILLING IS HOT!

Sometimes... It seems perfectly logical to remove all warning labels and let fate weed out those that are perpetually stupid.

BUT THAT WOULD BE UNKIND. 

I know... We're all do stupid things from time to time.  Some people live for it.  No common sense.  No fore thought or thinking. No regard for their safety of the safety of others. Total disregard for warnings. AMAZING.

Conclusion:  warning labels are intended for stupid people, but actually only good for smart people... why? Because stupid people ignore them. Go figure. 

A little kindness

A Little Kindness  

Old horror movie

It's like an old house movie from the 60s. 

Nice weather

Tuesday... Finally... Some nice weather. 
The holiday weekend... Sunday & Monday was cloudy, gloomy and stormy. So just about everything outside was a bust. Even had our first round of thunderstorms... downpours of rain,  thunder & lightning. Unnerving at times... but no real damage.  Several trees locally came down and oddly, some of the numerous fields of farmed grasses had spots where heavy rain and wind down drafts flattebed the grasses. The farmed grasses are about 16 inches high, growing in uniform height,  and usually sway in the breeze with velvety tops. Now large scattered areas are flattened, much like crop circles,  but with irregular shapes and patterns across the fields. 
The thunderstorms... Sometimes beautiful to see... Hopefully observed from a safe place. Sometimes a little frightening. 
Big heavy booms of thunder that shake everything... and violent streaks of lightning. Quite the show. 

  

History

History... can be many things.

 
Depending how long ago,  there may be many unknowns.

History contains truths... But not always all of them. 
History certainly contains many facts... Again,  perhaps not all.

And most importantly,  history is written from the perspective of who won the conflict or war. Generally justifying their actions as being righteous, and the other side, the loosing side as being evil. Better know as propaganda... the facts and truths told in part to support their agendas. Sometimes, outright lies either to get support during a conflict, or to justify the outcome. 

General perspective can vary greatly depending on your part in history, and your view point as to your beliefs. History today is certainly twisted by perspectives and agendas... Propaganda to alter public opinion to a certain point of view. 

So history can be different to many people.  BUT general facts and truths should not be altered to support different agendas. History is what it is. Applauded by some, condemned by others, and to most, it is what it is... History.  Something in the past.  Take it or leave it. Most simply leave it... Like it or not... It's in the past. Some want to use history to explain their current issues in life, looking for something to blame rather than blaming themselves for their shortcomings. That's a popular social behavior today... nothing is their fault... Someone else or history is to blame. And it covers recent events and goes back hundreds of years. 

I was raised in a time where if there was something you didn't like,  you simply dismissed it, avoided it, and moved on with your life. That's not the case today.  Everything is an issue that offends people... even if it has no direct bearing or affect on their lives. Society today wants to rewrite history. Change or ban books that while factual,  that are offensive to someone's perspective. Rewrite narratives,  alter or change names or buildings and streets to appease the sensitivities of those that are offended. 

So, once again, history, and those offended by it,  protest and incite violence against anything that offends them. Just about everything offends someone. Living in the Maryland -Virginia area, civil war monuments and battlefields are numerous. Offensive to some because of the events of 160 years ago. Battle reinactments has been going on since long before I was born and continue to this day. And like the numerous things that offend people, they simply can not take their personal feelings and avoid  the things that find bother them. In fact, they will go out of there way,  hours away, to protest something that they would have never seen if they had not seeked it out. 

Civil war battle reinactments bring history to life... Which is enjoyed by many. If you don't care for it,  avoid it and get on with your life. Some reinactments are threatened with violence because some find it offensive, and they have sensitive hurt feelings.  So they are offended by events from 160 years ago, several generations removed... but not offended by their actions to incite violence today?

Nevertheless,  reinactments continue to bring living history to life. If you don't like it stay away from it. I don't like some songs, lyrics, or performers... I find them offensive... I simply avoid them. I don't go on a crusade to eliminate them or sensor them... I simply go on with my life... I move on and let it go.. not letting it adversely affecting my life. 

Society today... offended by everything... Unable to let anything go. 

    

A dirty rendezvous

Seeking a dirty weekend rendezvous ...

Summer Bucket List

Summertime Bucket List 

That's a lot to do in one sunset. 
So my check off list covers more than one Summer. 
(actually... 70 year Lifetime)

Yep, I'm that old.

Yep... I'm that old...

Plus...
Starter button on floor.

High beams on floor.

Shifter on steering column.

Wing windows.

Floor vents.

And once a month flat tires

with no road service. 

Feelings

My feelings are hurt...

I'm offended.

I'm very sensitive. 
Change is needed. 

Sooner or later... sooner I hope...

The vast majority needs to tell

Them to grow up, sit down, and shut up.

NO ONE CARES THAT YOU ARE OFFENDED,

NO ONE CARES YOU ARE SENSITIVE, 

NO ONE CARES THAT YOU FEEL HURT.

YOUR LIFE ISN'T COMING TO AN END. 

NEXT UP ... The Braves or The Chiefs?

Or because of violent connotations...

The Raiders?   The Pirates?  The Buccaneers?

Perhaps The Vikings? 

KFC

KFC... Then and Now...

Then : 21 pieces of chicken... $4.95

If they had a 21 piece bucket today 

Based on current inflation / prices/piece

It would cost  $52

Inflation rate $4.95 x 7.8 = $38.60 today 

Compared to KFC inflation 

Today a 21 piece bucket would cost $52.

10.5 times.

What should be $38.60 would cost $52.00

Much more than normal inflation.

Add to this:

The pieces of chicken are much smaller.

Original is greasy... Crispy is dry.

A roasted is not too good either. 

But then again...

Very little is as good as it once was.

Final thoughts: 

I fully understand my grandfathers thoughts on prices when he got older. 
I feel the same way today,  as I'm older.

OMG... IT COSTS HOW MUCH? !!!

LUKE... I HAVE BECAME MY GRANDFATHER. 

21 pieces of chicken $4.95

~~~ OMG ~~~

Today... $52.00

Gasoline?

Gasoline? 
Hey... Wait a minute. 

And,  while on the subject...

Pizza delivery...

Yes... Really... Any Time.

Go figure. 

And... The Lyon Estates? 

Wait... 1985 Before they were built...

And NOW... Nothing there?

But how can that be?  We knew they were built. 
We saw them! So what happened? 
Not there... Built... now not there today?

Somehow the time continuium has been altered. 

Taking a good look

Perspective... Taking a good clear look...

Sometimes ya just need to get a few things of your chest... Writing it down to get perspective. 

If you listen to the news media, and everyone that is influenced by it, you would think that the country, society... well, everything is the worse its ever been. These are the worst of times. And for some things think that might still be painfully true. Politics and politicians are continually getting worse. Religions influence on not only how it's followers should live, BUT how everyone else should live their lives... abortion once again being the hottest topic to trample on individual freedoms. People are influenced by bad examples elevated by the media to say is okay to be offended by everything. It's okay to feel oppressed because of events 165 years ago. It's okay to rewrite history. It's okay to blame everyone and everything else for your personal problems. It's okay to force your personal beliefs upon others. It's okay to be angry and act on your anger towards everyone that doesn't agree with you... Which is everyone. And whatever percentage of people are truly malcontents about everything, the media would make it seem as though it is the vast majority. So go along with the majority... act out against everything not to your liking.  And there's the rub. Society has encouraged anger and acting out on that anger including protesting well just about everything. And now that violent acts like shootings are becoming all too frequent no one sees that this behavior has been encouraged by social attitudes that its okay to act out on anger. Society draws a line, but is still responsible for letting things get this far as to what's acceptable. 

Just something to think about when you wonder how did things get this bad.

And this whole thing about gun control.  Yes its a good thing, but it's already too late.  The flood gates were left open and the guns are out there... And you are not going to get them back. And making them illegal to solve a problem is akin to making drugs illegal to solve the drug issues... it is NOT going to work.  Criminals are still going to get the guns. 

So politicians, religions, and society perpetuates acceptance of being angry and offended and acting on it... and it's a run away train. This only heightens the already 60%+ of Generation Z that suffers from some degree of mental stress... Depression, anxiety, and being offended by everything... THEN ACTING OUT ANGER VIOLENTLY. 

Just like with drugs and guns... The flood gates were open on being offended by everything... It's a run away train, headed for a wreck... and its in the news everyday.  And people are amazed that this violence can continue to happen. GO FIGURE. 

And we all thought the Covid years were bad.  

Looking back... and forward to today. 

2020... 2021... 2022... 2023...

Kinda feeling the same.

Different issues... worse results. 

Could have been prevented? 
No one cares if you are offended.

Sit down... shut up.

  

. 

2065

The year... 2065...

The A.T.

The Appalachian Trail in 

Shenandoah National Park

The A.T. runs north & south through the National Park... 101-107 miles depending on the information source. Skyline Drive runs across the ridge of the mountain basically paralleling the A.T. I have walked an extremely small portion of the trail... Mostly enjoying nature and the views via a car as the drive criss crosses the mountain ridge providing views both westward & eastward down into the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont Valley. But many people walk the A.T. in part,  through Shenandoah National Park or in a greater journey in part or whole that stretches from Georgia to Maine. 

Recently... a record time of 35 hours for the 101 mile trek.

Note: The green dotted line that runs parallel 

to the red line, Skyline Drive...

That's the Appalachian Trail

Mistakes

Clearly... Mistakes were made.

Serious Mistakes

Rules

Rules... Rules must be followed.

Cookout

Holiday Cookout at neighbors.

Ahhh... no thank you... we just ate.

Oh... wait... I just remembered...

We have to pick up a prescription.

Very important... must get now.

But thanks anyway.

Well be back... if we can.

Enjoy your meal.

Later.

Impossible

I have an absolutely impossible lack of understanding why people can not either accept others as they are... or leave them alone. Wouldn't the world be a lot happier if people could just stay in their own lane and not worry about things that don't affect them. Always trying to force their beliefs upon others... why? 
Is it politics? Religion? Cultural?

Or are they simply narcissistic and controlling of anything or anyone that doesn't conform to their thoughts? Take your pick... some people are all of these.

As for myself...

Treat me right & I'll treat you right...

Respect me & I'll respect you.

Agree... or agree to disagree.

Live & let live. 

Powerful

No Greater Word as Powerful 

End of discussion... dismissed... You can go now. 

Clear Skies

On a Clear Night 

You can see forever 

What else would you do at 4am

on a Sunday morning

on a holiday weekend  

When everyone is sleeping?

And you are wide awake

AGAIN.

Careful...

Careful what you say...

Holiday

Hope y'all are enjoying your holiday...

Make the most of it... Enjoy a bit of Nature. 

Holiday Eats

Holiday Eats

Hope Y'all Enjoy some great food. 

Holiday

Y'all have a great holiday. 

This holiday is a lot of things to different people.  Family, friends, vacation, cookouts, and travel to the beaches.  Planes, trains,  and automobiles.  Sadly... When you ask younger people what the holiday is all about you get all kinds of answers... except for the real meaning for the holiday.  Remembering those that fought and died to give up the freedoms that we all enjoy. All the wars and conflicts that took the lives of American soldiers.

Good News

Good News...

Africa

Memories of Africa 

Animal Kingdom

We were cast members at Disney World for several years. 
The first few years were in Animal Kingdom... Africa. The Mombasa Marketplace gift shop. And the Out in the Wild gift shop. We had a great time interacting with guests. Disney encouraged cast members to have fun interacting with guests to enhance their experience. It made our experience nice too. 

One day in the gift shop,  two ladies were looking at the leather bracelets. Some little gifts for the daughters and their friends. Different colors and patterns. Since it was right on the counter, and I'd never miss an opportunity to have fun, I told then stories with my usual sincerity, of course,  completely made up... But you never know,  it could have been true. As they looked over the bracelets I told them that each color and pattern made a specific meaning. And since they seemed somewhat amazed with my explanation and knowledge,  they were in the perfect frame of mind to believe everything I was saying. Yep.. That's my thing... telling stories. 

As they looked over their selections... oh how pretty. I told them what each one represented. This one represented maturity. This one relaxation. This one good health. This one happiness. And so on. And while they gathered their selections,  the one lady said her teenage daughter would love this one... It's her favorite colors.  And I said that it represented fertility.  "Oh... no,no, no" . Then she put that one back. Go figure. They bought their selections and departed. 

Then the second part of the story.  Working next to me at the counter was a college student, working on the college program. He watched and heard the entire encounter. And with the most serious look on his face, he questioned me... "Wow? Do you go home and study about this stuff at night?"  My response... "yep".  "You're never to old to learn new stuff".

Yep... Working at Disney was lots of fun.