I Lied

I said in my last post that I would be making daily notes for a year end post.  That did not happen. I imagine that will piss off my large base, but I gotta be up front.  On top of that, JB is upset with me because I ran out of baba ghanouj before I got to her Christmas letter.

Did you see Time Person (People) of the year? Here’s the pic. Stephen Colbert said: “That cover photo there is inspired by a famous photo of iron workers having lunch on the steel beam of a skyscraper. There’s one slight difference: This time, you’re rooting for the wind.”

I got a disheartening Atlantic article from Dr. Joe. The NIH is now nominally headed by Jay Bhattacharya, aka “Podcast Jay”, but it is his deputy that is doing the major damage. I also came across the news that the Trump admin is doing its best to trash NOAA. The pundits have already said it, but it will take decades to recover from the Orange Duce’s wake.

I haven’t got much else for you but the week 16 picks and a ho ho hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas.

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Your Mid-Week Post

I’ve decided to write daily notes starting tomorrow and crank out what will likely be my last post of the year, sometime late next week. We head to DC on 12/20 and I’ll be holding babies and such until we get back on 12/29. This notice will cut down on the snark from certain people saying, “Gosh I haven’t seen a post lately.”

I did get a note from JB yesterday that she enjoyed my last post.  She has fled her FL abode for the sunshine of NYC for several days.  I do not get a lot of comments on my writing, but Unc does occasionally respond that he is on the verge of unsubscribing, which is simply the blather of a grizzled septuagenarian.

Are you struggling with affordability?  Probably not, as you are all boomers, many with second properties.  But it is a real thing for people, including many MAGA knuckleheads, but you’d never know it from the hooey coming out of the White House.  Trump was in PA yesterday calling it a “Democrat hoax” while telling people to cut down on expenses. He gave pencils as an example.  How apt! I’ve cut down on pencils significantly since finishing up trig in 1973.  He also said “You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice, but you don’t need 37 dolls.”  My girl never got more than 7 or 8 each Xmas.  Doesn’t Trump make you yearn for the halcyon days of Nixon and W?

My old employer, the phone company, has been out in the neighborhood this week.  In the biz, we call that a truck roll. #1 and I chatted with the tech before our walk today. They are installing fiber. I mentioned that my son is an employee in good standing with his union, CWA. I’m already with them for internet but maybe I’ll get a better deal than Google TV for cable.

I started my volunteer gig down in Menlo Park last week.  I’m setting up subsidized Uber and Lyft rides for seniors. Like Trump, I’m a little worried about getting into heaven, so I decided I needed to give back. I’m working with one of my old ATT pals.  They said they would get me a headset, which I’d greatly appreciate since I don’t like using the speakerphone. Plus, a headset has always been a good look for me.

We had the 4Ms over for dinner Sunday. My pal since 1969 has always provided the finest of wines during our get togethers.  When my wife and I decide we need the good stuff, we invite them over. One of the reds was from his backyard grapes, a 2024 Côtes du Home.

#1 told me he got his Xmas letters out yesterday and I let him know ours is soon to follow. He delivered his annual hot sauce yesterday, which inspired me.  I plan to put a small sample of my home-made baba ghanouj in our letters this year.

NFL’s week 14 was a little rough on me. I went a mediocre 7-7 but I’m confident I’ve cracked the code for week 15 and expect to scoot upwards out of the five-way tie for 16th that I’m currently in. You can take these to the bank.

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