Fruit Cake or Fruitcake, That Is The Question! Oh, and TTOT, Too!

Okay, so I'll admit, these were last
years fruitcakes sent to me by Ivy.
I'd already cut into this year's
before thinking about taking a
picture.  But, they were just as
big and just as good, if not
better!  Thanks, Ivy!!

If anyone has noticed, I've been absent since around Christmas.  

I could blame it on Ivy and the delicious Fruit Cakes she made from scratch and sent me for the second year in a row, but I won't.  (By the way, if you've never had scratch, you don't know what you're missing!)

No, besides satisfying my taste buds and increasing the size of my stomach, Ivy's tremendous pastries (for which I thank her with all the gratitude my heart can generate) cannot be blamed for my lack of appearances.  

I could blame it on some of the family illnesses going on to those close to me.  Illnesses that cost me many hours on the road during times I should be resting and preparing to be the best at my new day job, but I won't.  My love and obligated devotion take precedent and cannot be blamed.

The pain between my shoulder blade and neck that charges down my left arm and fills my left forearm and hand with electric shock vibrations could also be the culprit.  Many chiropractor visits later, I've almost got it to the point that it doesn't wake me four or five times a night ... or, every time my body moves during time that should be allotted for sleep.  Pinched nerves and injured forearm muscles can be hell, but cannot be blamed for one's inability to move forward.

And, if I had won the billion dollar lottery the other night, I couldn't even blame that.  I will stop all rumors right now that winning it was not the case.  I am strictly a contributor to the wealth of others, it seems.  C'est le Vie!

No, it's simply because I allowed all of the above to provide excuses for my laziness.  

Don't tell my wife I admitted being lazy, please.  I'll never hear the end of it!

See, justifications are excuses.  Root problems can't rely on justifications, or excuses.  To dismiss an act due to excuses is to deny truths.  Continue to deny truths and before you know it, there are none left.

I refuse to act like a television "shrink" or a ghetto dweller.  These, and many other groups, have blurred the lines between right and wrong by continually making excuses for behavior that is detrimental to society as a whole.  Nor will I live in the narcissistic realm of the politically correct where the "I" is always right and everyone else is always wrong.  I believe in the glory of individualism and the benefits it provides to anyone with a little common sense.  Keep your uniforms and acceptable word tracks as I refuse to accept your excuses for practicing them.

So, no excuses.  Laziness was my downfall.  All else only factors by the importance I gave it to validate my temporary logic to avoid sitting down at a typewriter and producing something worth perusing.

Now, if we could get everyone else in the world to live by such a rigid set of values, we might just survive the next century ... without killing ourselves or the Earth!

And, Ivy, those Fruit Cakes are absolutely the best I've tasted in decades!

With that behind us, let us move on to why we're really here!  It's time for 

TEN THINGS OF THANKFUL!!!

View All TTOT Posts Here!!!

My last offering here gave many of you the idea that I'm a softy at heart.  I think "human" might be a better description.  I attempt to bring about a sarcastic look at what is happening in today's world by scraping away the sensationalism and political rhetoric and simply stating the reality of the situation.  I might come across as "icy" or "cynical" at times, but what I'm really attempting to do is to get the reader to think.  

We are told so much these days that many have stopped thinking about what is being said.  As long as we accept everything as stated, we allow ourselves to become a herd of cows lining up for the slaughter.  We need to listen to what is being said, use our powerful sense of reasoning to question it, and arrive at our own decisions.  It will keep us from copying the acts of the German citizens before World War II and being caught up in the emotions and propaganda for which their government was known for.  As long as one of you ignites the tender that creates a blaze there will be hope for individual thought and ideas.  Hopefully, government will never gain total control because of your inspirations.

So, this week ...

I'm Thankful For:

1)  ... the POTUS's final State of the Union Address.  It's nice to see that the President visits Facebook.  Two days before the speech, Princeton University releases a post about how a bill is really created.  Of course, it showed that the common citizen's opinion didn't matter to Congress.  Instead, Big Business and its funding of politicians wrote the bills that they wanted.  

The President ended his speech by talking about how the nation's faith in government had dwindled.  He challenged all in attendance and viewing to ensure that necessary changes would take place.  It was a good ending that touched Facebook viewers deeply.

Of course, politicians and Big Business were laughing underneath as they are the ones that could change things, but won't for obvious reasons.  Neither political party wants to be the one to piss off Big Business, just as you wouldn't want to piss off your meal ticket either.  So, it's been addressed, discussed and passed into the past.  Just as Obamacare is getting thousands of premium payers never seen by insurance companies before, Big Business is busy planning its next scam on the American public.  I think it's entitled, "Mein Kampf."

2)  ... the passing of David Bowie and Alan Rickman.  It's nice to see people go out on top, instead of hearing about how decrepit, sad and lonely fading stars are in their later years. We'll miss them both.

 "Major Tom meets Snape on the Road to Purgatory"

 ... now that's a movie I'd pay to see, 

and I'd damn sure buy the soundtrack, too!

3)  ... the pictures of American Navy personnel on their knees after being detained by Iran.  Why?  Because they're alive, not dead!  

Remember, the U.S. and Iran are not the best of friends.  Now, one of our boats ventures into Iranian waters.  They get caught.  Once upon a time, Iran would have shot first and asked questions later.  Instead, they take the prisoners, ensure our people aren't armed and ready to blow up their captors, feed them, and then release them.

Stop bitching, people!  That's what I call "Progress!"

4)  ... Alabama barely defeating Clemson in the quest to win the college football playoffs!  Yes, I'm sick of Alabama always winning!  Yes, Alabama has a fine coach and a team that's a well oiled machine.  Yes, my wife is from Alabama and thus a strong Alabama football fan.

However, to see Clemson come as close as they did gave me hope that the underdog still has a chance in this world, regardless of the strength of the machine they face or the money that supports it.  Kind of sounds like the common man vs. Big Business and tainted government employees, doesn't it?

5)  ... the Ebola epidemic is gone!  After years of battle, the World Health Organization has given the "all clear" to the three countries in West Africa.that suffered over 11,000 deaths by the virus.

Any guesses what's up next on the "Deadly Disease" agenda?  Betcha it has to do with ingrown toenails.

6)  ... John and Mary have been found in a study by MooseRoots.com to be the most common names of geniuses.  

That's El Toro Defecation if I've ever heard it!  

Everyone knows Richard is the number one name.  (cough, cough)  

And what in the hell is MooseRoots.com?  

7)  ... the Druid Hills Academy in Charlotte, N.C. for banning their teachers from using the word "Please" when dealing with students.  Officials of the school say it's to make the "bratty" kids behave.

I guess schools have figured out that if the kids aren't taught the basics 

of manners at home, it's not their job to teach it at school.

Next week, the school board is to vote on installing "Waterboarding" as a viable 

form of punishment for shooting spitballs at the ceiling over the teacher's desk.

8)  ... the 8 glasses of water a day rule controversy.  Doctors seem to be at odds over saying how much water it takes for a person to stay hydrated.  Some say 8 glasses a day may be too much, where others stand by the rule.

I say, 

"Have a beer and don't worry about it.  

And, if you're still thirsty afterwards, 
have another!"

9)  ... water for being found on the Rosetta Comet!  First, it was oxygen.  Now, water has been discovered on the Rosetta Comet!  

What Next?

How about instructions on how to speak Spanish?

10)  ... Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky for flipping off the media.  After not being allowed into the latest presidential debate, Rand's followers have called in masses with not so nice comments for Fox News.  Simply explained by Rand, he raised his middle finger in expression of his supporters to the media.

A man of few words, yet, one that gets his point across precisely.  Hmmm, I may have to look into this candidate a little deeper!

Oh, and Rand, I couldn't have said it better!

So, with laziness behind me, I submit to you this Ten Things of Thankful.  

Or, in the words of a once wise man, 

"That's All Folks!"

CIAO!

*** I just noticed that several of you wrote in after I'd put the blog aside last time.  My most sincere apologies for not answering or acknowledging your comments in any way.  I do ask your forgiveness as I am usually good about responding as soon as I'm able (weekend work schedules and such).  Again, I'm very sorry for my neglect!