Today started  well, my right foot was still a tad sore, but it was getting better.....it.......that is my right foot reminds me from time to time...the damage I did to it when I was much younger....between sport, work, and just a klutz from time to time.......no surprise..actually the other foot and both knees remind me as well but are at the moment  quiet......probably plotting when to have their revenge....this tends to occur mostly with the unsettled weather common in this area at the change of season.but fall to winter is the worst....
  So as i said the day was starting off pretty well......that is until I managed to stub my middle toe on my right foot.......I did mention that I was a bit of a klutz.......and many would argue that calling me "a bit of a klutz" is severely understated........oy vey......
  

  There's an old adage loosely based on a verse in the book of Exodus...but the adage comes from Luther at the Diet of Worms......and it reads:
    "It depends on whose ox is gored"
  In other words..........you tend to forgive, or flat ignore the short comings, indiscretions of those who supports your agenda...whether political , social or even religious......and tend to make a big deal out of the same short comings, indiscretions.....of those who holds opposing views to that which you believe in strongly......or ideals that you are told, educated to hold
  This seems to have been the trend in the media lately.......whether broadcast news.and particularly social media....drives me crazy......seems that few can think for themselves...and what we're left with is a clash between two diametrically opposed points of view......It seems that too many of us believe what ever we hear or read....or even worse are told what we should believe.....the result is little positive ever gets done
             "When did compromise become a FOUR LETTER WORD"

  It was my intention to take a walk this AM, if the weather cooperated...... we were supposed to get 3-5" of snow last night until 10 AM.....but when I looked out it is obvious that we got nothing......however one of my feet is "barking" at me this morning.....I have chronic problem with both my feet and my knees.....but it's not constant......this attack is probably a result of the cool damp weather we've been having for the last several days......the most common time for me to have problems with them is the transitional weather at the change of seasons......so the walk has been delayed at least until the morrow...
  If you have read the below post, then you will understand this topic...if not then read it.....I almost broke my hard and fast rule not to respond to viral post, that:
    A) i disagree with
    B) is of a religious or political nature (or in this case both)
  I got so far as to click on the reply option.but before I actually wrote a reply.....my better judgement won out and I didn't respond.....
  I had a good but rather strange breakfast this AM......or by the time I sat done to eat it might better be called brunch........warmed up leftover pizza, split pea soup, and orange juice......except for the orange juice.not typical breakfast/brunch fare...but quite enjoyable

  Was a quite day, spent most of the day watching the "boob tube" and surfing the net...kind of a mixed day food wise....enjoyable but things that one might not normally think should gone on the same menu, fortunately or maybe unfortunately I have never been normal.....the last of the Lo Mein  from fav Chinese restaurant for breakfast, and then Pizza ( sausage & black olives ) and an antipasto salad.... more Pizza reheated for a late supper........

  I have a love/hate view of Facebook..I love to hate it.....not the part where I can re-connect with some of my classmates from high school....this past June it has been 51 years since I've see them....family moved that summer and dad and I were living and working in the new town...in fact I went to work 2 days after graduation......

  No the part that irritates me is many of the poster's search the web for articles and memes that agree with they POV ( sorry point of view ) or even worse believe everything they see online.....particularly on political or religious matters...and never bother to do some digging..spend the time to do the research to verify whether the facts and the particular POV is reasonable or correct.....there is one story line getting a lot of play on Facebook right now which the ultimate hot but issue.....because it combines both politics,religion, and morality......I have not responded and the last thing I want is to get involved in a "flame war" ( if you are not familiar with the term here's a (LINK) for a definition).....also I get annoyed when people use words that don't mean what the think they mean.....or group all people who disagree under a single group........

  Now I love a good debate, dang I even like a good argument ..but it should never sink to the point of verbally attacking your opponent's character.....I never reply to posts where the poster has obviously decided that he or she has the whole truth and nothing but the truth......and will obviously not respond well to facts or a contrary POV........it's just like figuratively banging your head on a brick wall.......You're not going to make a dent in the wall...you're just going to hurt your head and get frustrated

  I thought I had yesterday pretty well planned out....a brief walk to a couple of shops, then maybe some   delivery food, and then some solitaire games I play online and maybe some net surfing......the avoidance of the mall and the big box stores on "Black Friday" is a must
  So the day started out as planned, did my brief shopping trip, was just hanging out online, and then checked to see what might be on the "boob tube", now it was about 11:30 AM (EST or UTC -5 if you prefer) I have the schedules for all the channels I watch bookmarked....and discovered that HBO2 was showing a marathon of season 1 of Westworld starting at noon local time.......
  Now I'm don't binge watch that often, but was watching the marathon starting at noon until about 10:30 PM.........and never did order delivery......

  Had a nice meal with my sis.....fewer  relatives then usual but seems like what once was a close family at least in location  has got spread over the USA and I have a niece living in Europe.....a traditional  Thanksgiving meal.....I not a big fan of the turkey....but really love the dressing..and the green bean casserole.but I did't stay long..they delayed dessert  for someone who was coming only for dessert..but was delayed.....no conversation.......just the majority were crowded around the TV watching NFL football......spent the rest of the day online and listening to classical music....

   now anyone who knows me knows that I love a good french fry....but they must be crisp on the outside and soft in the middle..very hard to find anymore, but I've found locally two places that deliver a decent fry......both use a crinkle-cut fry....One I expected.......a spot that makes Buffalo wings......and a good fish fry..obviously they know their way around a deep fryer.and also though not fried a fine antipasto..the other place which I thought noway but gave it a try....the place I get my Chinese food  deliveries from..who would have thunk it......  

  I find myself falling as prey before the power of the Facebook curse.....when I first got on face book I was appalled by the lack of original thought.......most seemed to communicate only through memes,with emoji, or by just sharing something they found on line......but over time I found myself falling in to the same trap.....that's why with few excepts I have removed much of the materials from the columns that I've found on Google Images.....a few remain.but for how long I don't know at this point
( yup..I've messed around with the layout again, but I solemnly promise never to do it again.well at least to the next time) 

  this is the 3rd week in October and Thursday is the "Thanksgiving"...a holiday which has become a holiday to see how much we can eat....and the day after is one of the busiest shopping days for Christmas.and all the stores run big sales that day....know as "Black Friday".......I never go to retail stores on that day.....the crowds make shopping tedious.......
  now I needed to get a few things from my local food market........and just as I avoid shopping in the  nearby mall, on "Black Friday"...I avoid grocery shopping the day before "Thanksgiving"..hordes of people buying the fixings for the holiday meal......I probably could have waited until Friday to get what I needed at the market.....it will be virtually empty.....two reasons....tons of leftovers....and most will be shopping the retail stores. but checked the weather this AM, temperature 48*F, and even with the windchill it felt like 42*F...and that's a kind of day you don't waste up here this time of year if you need to walk......
  One of the perks for living where I do is once a week on Tuesdays, one of the ladies on the housekeeping staff comes in and cleans my rooms......fresh linens et al.....and if they aren't to busy, they'll do some laundry for me...and it 'twas one of those day...
  I'll be heading to my sis's on Thursday, for the tradition Thanksgiving dinner, few people than usual, the Florida and California contingents of the family will not attend this year, as well as one of the local clan, who is hosting a meal for friends......

  Took a walk to the bank.....it might be 50 yards away, normally, but because of the snow we got I can't use the short cut I usually take, so was forced to take the long way .....needed to get some cash....I always use the ATM..for two reasons:
  1) it beats going intro the bank
  2) I can go anytime of day or night even if the bank is closed
  I have a debit card from that particular bank, so I just withdraw the money from my checking account and since the back is a branch of the main bank that I have my accounts in...I don't pay a fee for using it.....except if I'm paying bills or need something special I don't like carrying lot of cash at anyone time.....
  Now I don't get the urge for a tuna-fish sandwich very often, but when I do I prefer to use solid packed tuna in oil......for two possible reasons:
  1) I just prefer the taste of the oiled pack solid tuna
  2) it's what I grew up on.....when I was a kid...solid pack tuna was all there was.....
  I felt like a tuna sandwich the other day, check my supply of can good..no tuna...so on my last trip to the local food market, I went down the aisle with the canned meats.......several shelves of tuna by different  brands, and styles....except for 1 thing....I couldn't find any oil pack.....then I saw a few cans on the bottle shelf.....and low and behold....there,  was what I was looking for......problem is with my bad knees, bottom shelves can be a problem for me.....but I bucked up.and manage get two cans with out falling down.......

  Have spent a large portion of this afternoon editing both my Facebook timeline, just some minor adds to my profile, and a major overhaul on my poetry blog.....went back to one of the older themes/templates, reduced the column spacing, decided that it was a poetry site and not an art site and except for the art piece in the header...deleted all the art........replaced the header art with a depiction of
the death of Socrates.....so my mania for fooling with the layout, I took out on my other sites for now
( links to those sites are wandering around on the left)

  In theory, by the calendar, winter begins this year December 21st and ends March 20th next year......however at least in this area......Mother Nature has lost her calendar.....I've seen significant snow fall here as early as mid-October and as late as mid-May..........we didn't get any snow last night....but there was some at the higher elevations to the east and south of my location that did...but it's been hovering around the freezing mark on the old thermometer for the last week or so....including the wind chill it's been very close a couple of times to 0*F......so despite what the calendar says...winter is upon us.....again.....
  There is an old gag that is said about this area: "we only have 3 seasons here......Winter, just was Winter, and soon will be Winter"
  The obvious question is......"Why have I put up with this as I begin the start of my 52 Winter up here?"  there are several possible reasons:
 1) I might be a masochist
 2) my elevator does not reach my top floor
 3) this is where my job was.....but I'm retired now...so discount this reason.....
 4) truth be told.....for all the hassle with the Winter weather, I just love the area and the people ( well most of the people anyways) .and besides with my present living arrangements.......dealing with the task of snow removal is someone else's problem......... 

  We got our first dusting of snow this fall.....very light..was all gone by the time I took my walk in the early afternoon it had all melted...would like to think that's all the snow we get for the year but I ain't holding my breath......
  Went to the local food market, they had a good price on some can goods and I tend to stock up this time of year because I can't always get around in the winter because of the snow and my arthritis.....and a stocked pantry is a good idea......plus bought some veggies and fruit......haven't been eating enough of them lately and really should have
  Other then that, has been a quiet day, been surfing the net a little, watching some videos on YouTube....and playing some solitaire online.....

  I awoke this morning to a beautiful bright sunny day in the Northcountry what the locals call it anyways..(just off the east end of Lake Ontario)....so I looked up the local weather..and discovered that with the windchill, the temperature feels like 3*F.....ah the dreaded windchill......so morning walk will be postponed until this afternoon....or possibly tomorrow..
  Now don't get it twisted....I've lived in this area for 51+ years....and usually accept the cold and snow that winter brings ........but the first cold day still comes as a shock... and this mornings walk wasn't that necessary.....
  I remember a day some 40+ years ago when the actually temperature was -55*F with 50+ MPH winds..wind chill was in excess of -100*F.....frostbite and hypothermia could occur in under 1 minute..needless to say....no one went anywhere that day.......
  And then there is the snow......haven't seen any but a few random flakes as of yet but during an eight day period in '77 we got on the order of 178 +/- inches of snow........if we don't get at least 100+ inches of snow for a winter it's unusual.....fortunately with my current living arrangements the snow removal chore is taken care of for me.....
  So the obvious question is why do I chose to live here, well in the start of my sojourn here it was because my parents come up here for my dad's job......I was in college at the time and only spent summers and holidays here.......but fell in love with the area.......so I've stayed......
  Now I am aware that some might question my sanity...all I can say is get in line.......that subject has been debated by many, for many years......
( as you have noticed if you've read this toxic waste dump I call my blog before I've redone the layout....again......if this is your first trip here.......run away as quick as you can before it gets on you (hehe))

   The fog is quite deep and murky this morning, and I'm not talking about the fog outside, which there isn't any.....I'm talking about the fog between my ears.....now I've never been a morning person...and that may well be an understatement.......in fact that would be a gross understatement....now at my age and with the physical problems I have with my knees and feet, and also some balance issues, and also essential tremors which are are usually worse in the morning......it usually takes a couple of hours before I get get around easily......but the fog in the brain is unwelcome....generally my mind is just running wild before the body is really ready to cope with some of my nutter ideas and wants.....but that's normal....but when I awake with a foggy brain......rare but today is one of those days.......but this blog is one of the best cures for brain fog.........force myself to sit at the keyboard and write.......as usual a bit incoherent......but it's like putting a set of jumper cables on a dead or weak battery.....
(Please Note)( usually when I write under these conditions the editing of what I have written takes forever...and a day....but only two minor errors.......if you don't count my tendencies to employ a stream of conscientiousness style.......no that's not completely true........I really have no choice in that regard....it's just the way my mind works)

PET PEEVE FOR THE DAY 
  Now I don't drive anymore, and if you lived anyway near me you would be glad of that fact, poor eyesight, poor balance, bad feet and knees......so I walk with a cane......and stepping up and down over obstacles, particularly curbs can be a challenge.....so I really am thankful for the little ramps that make the transition from say sidewalk to street or parking lot, or vise  versa.....so on my way back to my rooms, there in front of the ramp making my use of it impossible was an SUV, parked in a no parking zone blocking the ramp....oy vey........

  Been an interesting day.......messed up and ended up with a home page I didn't want.....down loaded something by this time with 21 years on the net.....should have known better .but did it anyways...ended up resetting chrome...and then the real fun began .....first time I made the mistake on Chrome.....then lost my emails and that took awhile to figure out, and worst of all lost this blog......used the wrong email to log in.....and then the fun really began......had to restart again.......re-add my 3 emails.....and finally used the right email to log back in to my blogger dash board........lost some saved info on solitaire games I play but that's no big deal......but I can't believe I actually did what I did......in my defense it didn't say it would change my home page,  and add a 2nd tool bar........happened to me  before but that was when I was still running Microsoft and only had the 1 email account