Fast Change

After weeks of continuing temperatures with lows in the seventies, and highs in the low nineties, the first cold front brought lows in the forties and highs in the sixties. It's a pleasant relief. The cooler, drier weather makes yard work much easier to deal with. The one caveat is our lack of rain means fires will be very small, if at all. After we get some rain, I'll rake and burn leaves. 

This is the time of the year when I will replace my Crocs with the holes with those that don't. I like Crocs. With my stomping around the yard, semi-wading around the pond while weed trimming, and the dust, stopping at the water hose before returning into the house is mandatory. I can rinse them off, let them dry a little, and not track anything into the house. 

The return to standard time is soon, which means my dog (smarter than a substantial percentage of politicians) will ignore our silly manipulation of clocks and continue with his schedule that follows the most efficient use of daylight. That means he'll wake somewhere around 5:30 am, instead of 6:30 am. He, unlike most people, won't be affected by the ridiculous semi-annual adjustment of bodily functions to accommodate ignorant humans.

Wondering Why

 For the last month, I've been receiving tens of thousands of visitors each day. That's way more than in the past, and makes me wonder why. Has Blogger stopped screening visits? Has my blog become more popular? More Bots? I'm thinking it's more Bots. I may be wrong, but I doubt it. 

Getting Some Things Done

I've been putting it off for a week, but my car was reminding me the oil needs to be changed...so I did. My age tells me the cost is way too high. My observations tell me it's the same wherever you go. So it is, and I have around 7000 miles until I get bent over a barrel have it done again. I guess I could do it myself, but after the time I got a cramp in my leg under a car, couldn't get out from under it fast enough, and realized my shade tree methods are for younger folks, I'll probably not do that again.

The mower cut indicated the blades needed to be changed. As usual, the fine sand under the grass has sandblasted a substantial part of the blades. The difference in weight would have been a good reference for the damage, if the appearance was not known. 

I used my line trimmer to trim some grass around the pond I've neglected since right before my surgery. It took way longer than usual, but I did get to try some new string I bought, which has impressed me. Where the other brand was stout, the new string is just as stout and more durable. I bought it on Amazon, since the local hardware store didn't have the size I needed. They lost that part of my business, and in the real world, that doesn't make a difference.

The hurricane with the strange name is forecast to come ashore around Destin, Florida around sunset today. I feel for those that will have to deal with the aftermath, but know that area of the coast has substantially improved building codes to deal with winds and surge. The damage will happen, but will not be as substantial as in the past. Still, it's a hurricane, and even if someone only leaves for a day, they'll not have to endure the maddening howl, horizontal rain, high water, and fright. I'll say a prayer for those in its path. 

The madness of modern politics is in full swing. The mud slinging is constant, the outright lies deplorable, and the fact the hype will continue after the election doesn't help. I'd rather not watch, and sit on the porch with a cup of coffee instead. The cooler weather makes such things more pleasant, and the evenings are great for doing just about nothing.

I'm Guessing It Doesn't Have to Make Sense

I was reading a news report about a woman sentenced to death row, and a botched execution. Apparently, out of all the people that could administer the medication that stops the heart, they found a group that not only missed a vein, the did so twice. I have no comments. 

People are pushing Socialist candidates, while teachers don't teach about the politics of Adolph Hitler, the most reviled Socialist in history. Some might think this is a conspiracy. Others may say it's stupidity. I think it's both. 

Pollsters have turned their profession into something as respected as politicians, and used car salesmen. Still, the media slobbers as they publish the polls. It's a little sad to watch, but it's more saddening to think there are people that will publish the poll numbers, and there are also people that put the poll numbers on their social media. Pollsters are not experts anymore. They're grifters, and have destroyed their reputation.

Europe is turning into a third world conglomeration of countries with foreign invaders destroying their history. It's not what anyone would have expected twenty years ago, but it's now a reality. I doubt this would have happened if the citizens were armed. They're not, and even their own police forces are forcing the "immigration" with arrests and harassment. Even a comment on a website can leave those that disagree with the politics in prison. What happens next will more than likely be violent, and ugly. 

Locally, between the infrastructure decay, misuse of public funds, and outright dumbassery, taxes are being raised in some communities to keep the grift going, and protecting the retirements of all involved with the supposed public servitude. I'm glad I  moved from a city. All are cesspools and destined to fail.

The weather is nice today. It's forecast to be so for the next week. I'll enjoy what I can, and maybe do something more productive than sitting on the porch and drinking coffee.  

Summer Fading

On some years, we receive a strong cold front, which whisks away Summer, and leads to a morning where there is no doubt the crip, strong north wind heralded the start of Autumn. It's not looking like that will be the situation this year. The afternoon temperatures are still in the nineties, and the morning temperatures are in the low seventies, but they're creeping down. It appears Autumn will not arrive with a bang, but will slowly sneak in with some rain, cooler temperatures, heavy fog, and Winter will appear sometime in November with a cold front that will be surprise with a drastic drop in temperatures. We'll see, but I'll welcome some cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and the lack of the black flies we call "love bugs".