I Think

761. New year looks like old year, so far.
762. Events of 2012:
a. Hopefully have my novel ready for submission
b. Win the lottery
c. Turn 70
d. Find a pair of shoes that fits - I buy them half size too large, because 10 1/2 is not wide enough - Mason shoes used to have my exact size, but now they make generic shoes, like everyone else
e. Find a suitable candidate to vote for
f. Short list, hey?

763a. One more restful day. Tomorrow, the doodie hits the fan at work, as we will do siding every day of the week. We have to complete three buildings and a portion of a third to end the project.
764a. The long holidays had my system a bit out of sorts, along with the fact I am altering my regimen somewhat. Today I am feeling back to normal, which is good.
765a. Watched Mae West in She Done Him Wrong , last night. It's only her second old film I have been able to view. I didn't see her as an idealized beauty, but I did like her appearance. Her on screen persona is engaging.
766a. Caught the last portions of Greg Peck - To Kill a Mockingbird, the other day. Some stories remain powerful no matter how many times watched or read.
767a. Punky the dog likes a new toy enough that I think I will dispose of her chicken and some other old squeeze toys. The pile is getting huge.

768a. I started a blog, yesterday, about my brother Sam's comic book store. The url is on my profile, if anybody wants to view it. I have just three posts right now. I expect it to be slow growing, because it is to be about the store more so than Sam.
769a. It will be freezing outside for a few hours, with a high in the 50s. At least the sun will shine upon us.
770a. Politics have been crazy for many years, but this year it may hit a new high, from the way it has been running so far. I am not optimistic about any of it.

771a. Got up a little earlier than I wanted to. I have this vision of old Ben Franklin, bending over his keyboard at all hours of the day, turning out far more material for our education and delight, than he ever did in days long gone. Not an original thought, but a compelling one, at times.
772a. Romney looks inevitabler than ever to be the Repub nominee. He is the least objectionable of the ones with a shot, to me.
773a. I need to look on line to see how much money earned last year will put me over the limit. Even though I waited until I was two months short of being 66 to take my money, I still have to pay income tax on SS if I exceed a certain amount. That fact gets kind of glossed over, when they tell you that you can earn as much as you like.
774a. Doesn't matter how often I watch episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Show, or Twilight Zone, I often don't recall the twist ending, which generally keeps me engaged til the end.

775a. Had a new experience, feeding the ducks and geese. The fowls were industriously pecking up the corn and sunflower seeds, when a lady and her small son approached, riding bikes. The geese blocked the path, threatening to attack, if they did not turn around. I placed myself between they and the riders, until there was distance enough for the geese to stand down. It was the first instance we had witnessed of aggression out of the birds.
776a. Today looks to be a painting day. All the new siding has to be covered. The caulking and other preparation is always the hard part.
777a. I would like the home town team's chances in the playoffs, if we had our regular quarterback. I do feel they have a shot, but -

778a. My friend, the one that supplies me free colloidal silver, is 82 years old. He confided that he produces bloody urine and has something similar to a cold. Last week, he awoke to find himself unable to move his legs. It took a pretty good while before he could get up. He has been to a doctor and is awaiting an appointment for an MRI. I dread to see him hospitalized. So many of my elderly friends have gone in, for seemingly lesser problems than his, and died in there. I can only hope - and wish.
779a. My coworker - the latest one - has been enough impressed by my ability to move to order up a bottle of H3O (calcium sulphate). I wish I had film of the before and after of myself. It would go over on youtube.
780a. Looking at the weather. We have a 25+ inch deficit in rainfall to make up. I predict we may catch up in three to four years. Seriously.

781a. I hated to lay it down for Frank like that, but he is too old for fairy tales.
782a. Today will be a football day for me. In between times, I will be working up a file to submit a new ebook on Lulu. So, I will check in just sporadically.
783a. I saw a very good episode of the old Alfred Hitchcock TV show last night. The one where Robert Morley invited his friend and employee to a very special restaurant. Of course, the jaded viewer will guess the punchline before the final few scenes, but it was masterfully done.

784a. We had some great rain yesterday. It was a little too great, in Houston. Some of the flood water there has two schools closed for the day. Here, it was wonderful. Almost an inch and a half. I cheerfully waded the sidewalks in pursuit of my duties.
785a. I have not heard any songs celebrating our remarkable football team. Hmmm.
786a. I have lately incorporated hot - habanero - peppers and raw garlic into my regular eating habits. It affected my urinary system. Suddenly, the flow is strong, once again.
787a. Back to the siding project this morning.

Edgar, I've been trying to figure out what this means. I've gone through your recent posts. Can't find what it's referring to.

Sign me Curious in Noo Yawk.

In the thread about creationism - is it science? - I told Frank bluntly that I don't see the possibility of a god. No agnosticism for me. He thought I was hostile, at first, but not so.

No intention to start an argument,edgar, but you probably remember that I'm on Frank's side on this.

I have stated time and again that I will state what I think. Others are welcome to think otherwise, and no skin off my nose.

Thanks, edgar. I found what I was looking for. I hope I didn't start something on this thread that you'd prefer not to have on this thread.

No problem. I welcome comments.

788a. I don't mind when a person disagrees with me, on any topic. I only resent when I am misrepresented in their stated reasons for not wanting to allow my conclusions. For instance, when I assert that I am not a believer, the other has to twist logic around until they can claim that I am, after all, a believer. They otherwise have nothing to argue against.
789a. Many years ago, I found myself reading Will Durant's outline of philosophy. After, I picked out a few philosophers. It lead nowhere. At core, I don't really care what Kant and Plato thought about anything. Then I became enamored of Buddhist thought and read The Tibetan Book of the Dead, The Buddha's Law Among the Birds, Zen Flesh Zen Bones, and so forth. Even attended Nichiren meetings. Ultimately, the relevance to me was not to be found there. I flirted with Scientology, when it was still young, but moved on. I no longer join in when I discover something different. I study as much as I find relevant. In the end, I am for the direct, straight line, without any of the trappings that just seem to muddle and befuddle. A scarab pushing its own bundle through life. And that's enough.

790a. Leonard Cohen has his first studio album in several years. I have yet to sample it.
791a. Went to the park yesterday. Four more ducks are missing. I suspect that the gator I saw some months ago is the guilty party - aided by the rise in the water level, which changes the equation, in some way.
792a. A person close to us got a DUI over the week end. He was in a sports bar. When he reached his limit, he called his wife to come drive him home. At one point, he went on the parking lot and got his cell phone. Then, he and a friend sat in the friend's SUV, talking. The police pulled over a car and both vehicles went in the parking lot. The cops advised the SUV owner to move out of the way. He did move and then he and our friend went back in the bar. As they sat there, a cop came in and asked our friend to step outside. When he complied, they asked him to take a breathalyzer test. He refused and then was arrested. It seems, when he retrieved his cell phone, his key unlock gadget also started his engine and he neglected to shut it off. He has a lawyer and has not been before a judge, as yet. - edit - His license was suspended for refusing the breath test.

793a. The Euro copyright on most of James Joyce's writing has expired. I never realized there were so many restrictions, because Ulysses and other of his works are available free, on line.
794a. It's Friday the Thirteenth. Implication: Calendar Coincidence.
795a. It gonna be cold out there this morning. But, all things considered, this is a mild winter for us.

796a. Life is not easy for the owner of a dog named Punky. When I go to put on my shoes, she throws her body all over me, nips at my fingers and lunges at my mouth with her tongue out. We have been going through this about nine years.
797a. I thought all week the Texans would play today. Not so.
798a. I managed to put a nice wedding ring on layaway for mrs edgarblythe, without her knowing about it. Her old one got lost. We likely will find it somewhere in the house, one day. Maybe not.
799a. The animal war resumes this weekend. There is either a possum or squirrel, nesting under my bedroom. It got inside a wall, apparently taking insulation, for a nest. I set out the trap last night. The culprit will get transported to a public park, far from here.

The 9'ers are playing today, and I'll bet over 90% of the SF Bay Area will be watching. I'm not a sports fan like my wife, but I'll be watching too.

My team is predicted to lose. But I love to watch them anyway. Ever since Wade Phillips joined the staff, they have played exceptionally well.