1/14/22 Black-ish Is Getting Worse?

     I loved the first few years of Black-ish, I thought Anthony Anderson personified the perfect modern-day dad, try as you might, your kids still own you and kick your ass, at the end of the day.  I loved the chemistry and I felt relatable, how his feelings would get hurt and he'd pout like a child when he didn't get his way, or his family didn't support him on some crazy idea.  Then they got political, and sorry but as Trump says "everything that goes woke, turns to shit."

    This is supposed to be the last season, and this is about the last show I am watching on TV with new content, but they are making it hard to stay with it.  I can accept the one episode where they are going to show us about Martin Luther King, or some other important black moment, but the show can't do this every other week.  This season, Dre, the dad, is starting work in the big time, he has been promoted from the "urban" department to the main one that does commercials for the Super Bowl, that kind of stuff.  Right off the bat, he turned me off with his assuming that white people just get there without working hard.  I think the company does well because it has the best people at the top spots.  His character has done the work and now he has arrived.  That is how life works.  We started on food stamps and in a shitty apartment, now we're here.  I think that is the way for most people.  He wants to whine about nepotism amongst the white people, yet he got his son into his job and already hovering around the talent as an assistant, sorry bro, but that is nepotism as well.  

    His wife has also been promoted to the board or something important at her hospital, yet she spends more time at home than even I do.  I doubt she is even working forty hours as much as she seems to be home.  I thought doctors got paid good money because they ignored their families and were always at work saving people.

    The lessons the kids have been learning lately are just plain horrible.  In the last episode, Diane, the younger daughter, is being wooed by a guy at school and there was a scene where the family is trashing the purse the boy gave her as a gift.  The bag was a Louis Vuitton backpack that new would sell for close to $2000.  Why in the fuck would a ditzy teenager need or deserve a bag like that?  Why would a teenage boy be gifting such a gift?  Why would her family shame him for buying a knockoff bag and call him trash?  I was thoroughly confused that the lesson from this scene wasn't "this boy is in high school, he doesn't owe you anything this expensive."  I guess these assholes are rich, with the executive dad and the doctor mom, so money isn't a problem for them, but fuck them.  That was such a shitty scene.

1/13/22 Covid Finally Got The Wrestling Team?

     I knew we were just waiting for it to show its ugly face, there was no way the team was going to go all season without an outbreak the way they all carry on.  Wrestling is kind of an intimate sport, as much as it is violent.  The team of boys and girls are pretty much forced to share an impossibly small space either while awaiting their turn to fight, while sitting in the bleachers because there are always way too many schools involved in the big tournaments, and then there's the fighting itself which surely involves the exchange of sweat and tears as close as they have to get to one another.

    Baby A just did not look right the past week, he had been blaming football class, which the head coach came out and pushed the boys to max efforts on their weightlifting abilities and this left our young beast almost crawling afterwards.  He said the wrestling coach was even a little upset because all the boys in football were hurting during practice, struggling just to move.  I then thought it was very weird that on Wednesday night he was still hurting, this is a 17-year-old that does nothing but work out, a hard day in the gym shouldn't destroy him this much.  Thursday morning, he didn't wake up on his usual time, 6:30am (he likes to get up early to have time to himself).  I went and knocked on his door and he was still in bed and sounding sick as he ever has.  I told him he would stay home, then Wife got me moving to go get him tested.

    He tested positive, by then he had heard four other kids on the team were positive, and while he called the coach to tell him, the coach said another kid just called him as well that he was also positive.  As of right now, there are 6 cases of Covid on the wrestling team.  I was sure that the meet this week would be cancelled, but I guess the show must go on.  The list of wrestlers was released, and the 3rd string heavy is taking Mijo's place.  The 2nd string guy, who wrestles on JV squad has a possible torn AC joint, the same injury our boy got playing football, he too landed weird on his shoulder during wrestling practice much like Mijo did on the football field back in October.

    I figure if this had to happen, this is perfect.  The meet this weekend is a small Tri-meet, with just three school participating, and there isn't a meet next weekend.  There will be another small Tri-Meet on the Wednesday the following week, but that should be past the 10 days our son has to quarantine from sports.  The district meet is then going to be the week after, on the 2nd of February, I believe.  Hopefully, all the wrestlers heal up by then, and Mijo can get back to doing what he loves.  He already looked better a while ago, he was sounding like his usual spicy self, and he said the soreness from his muscles was starting to go away.  I jokingly asked if he was worried about the kid taking his place, he said "nah, I can take him." with a smile.

1/12/22 The Downside Of Owning Too Much Stuff?

     Everything requires maintenance, and that is where stuff falls apart, literally.  I usually do a pretty good job of maintaining our vehicles.  Wife racks up the miles, I get the oil changes done when needed.  I got the bright idea of getting a backup car last year, just before prices got crazy, and got our little Ford Escape.  The car has been more than great, and Wife drives it a good amount for work, until it needs an oil change, then she'll drive the Telluride for a week or so.  Right before Christmas break, the Excursion suddenly developed a loud noise, and I thought it was simply the muffler had rusted through, the thing is like 17 years old now.  I didn't think much more than that and just jumped into the next vehicle and kept going.  It probably took another two weeks before I even discussed anything to do with it and that is when my dad put the idea of stolen catalytic converter out in the air.  Turned out to be right, so now I really didn't want to drive it, knowing it is going to cost me at least $1000, if I know the Ford place well.  Fast forward to today and I was sure it had been too long, and it probably was not even going to start.  I then thought well, if it sits longer other things might start going bad, and I do have a nice battery charger, if it gets to that.  I was happy it started after a few rough sounds.  It sounds horrendous and I can't understand how all those cool guys that take the muffler off on purpose can enjoy riding around with all that noise.  I just backed it up and moved it over in the driveway and it annoyed me so much.  How can someone willingly think that noise is good?  We need to pay down some of our Christmas expenses before looking into spending more money to get this fixed.

    The pool is my original albatross, man do I have a love/hate relationship with that thing.  On the one hand, I love the idea of owning my own pool, but on the other, it is such a hassle keeping up with it year-round, that a lot of the time, I just don't.  Somehow or other, we accidentally repaired wherever it had been leaking for the last few years and currently, it has still been holding water since around August.  This has got me a little interested in not letting it turn green and we were doing okay, until I ran out of chlorine, which I had ordered a 25-pound tub in the spring.  I bit the bullet and went and bought a 35-pound tub last week (another $200) and filed the chlorinator hoping that would be enough, but I guess the algae is still trying to fuck with me.  I went out there a while ago, opened up the water hose (I had covered it for freezes), and primed the pump to run.  I was surprised it all started so easy, and I went ahead and brushed the walls loose of any algae and took out as many leaves and floating stuff as I could.  This, with some shock and running the pump overnight should clear the water up in a day or two.  I am hoping it holds water like it has, and I will start using it as soon as we get into a series of 80-degree days.

Wife just texted to be a dear, since I am doing stuff outside and take down the last of the Christmas lights in the balcony.  Like I said, there is a downside to having nice things.  There is always work to keep up with stuff.

1/11/22 Covid Today?

     We are still living with Covid-19 and trying to do the best we can.  I will admit I got vaccinated twice, which was the original recommendation, this was after I had gotten Covid last January.  I did not want to get vaccinated because I felt that already having been exposed, I would be safe, but that is not how the people in charge see things.  In order for Baby A to participate in sports, he would have to get vaccinated.  We had held off doing this, because he did home schooling the previous year and I didn't want him shot up with something that hasn't been tested and looked at for years.  All he cared about was being able to play, so he decided to get the shots.  I figured since I was the last one, I might as well do it too.  If something bad does happen to them, Boy had already done it and so had Wife, why would I want to be left out?  All for one and one for all, as they say.

    They still tell us it is super scary, but honestly, everywhere we go, hardly anyone is ever wearing masks.  Last week, at the wrestling meet, we were told we were at stage 5, and that everyone had to wear their masks, but still, once we were inside, hardly any of the spectators were wearing them correctly.  They might have their mouths covered, but few had it on properly.  I can't wear it, the humidity makes my nose run, then I have to constantly be blowing my nose, it just sucks.  I'll do it if everyone is doing it, I am not going to fight over it, but if the majority of people aren't wearing it, then I'll be a part of that group.

    The CDC director came out and said a couple weeks ago that if the mask wasn't N95, it wasn't really doing anything other than giving the allusion of helping.  This same director came out this week saying that at least 75% of people that have died have had at least four comorbidities, which is saying a lot.  I don't want to outright say that Covid is made up, but it is probably just a little worse than the flu, who quietly kills a lot of people every year.

    It just strikes me as odd that some colleges are going back on lockdowns, even Crystal City, our hometown, is back on a lockdown.  My mom said my nephews are back to learning from home for a week or two while the new Omicron variant does its thing.

    Is there an end in sight though?  I have heard that there is now Flurona, and even Deltacron, as the different strains keep mixing and matching with one another.

1/10/22 We Want This Weather Until We Get It?

     Year round, I keep hoping for cooler weather.  Yet now that it is cooler, I can't seem to function, all I want to do is stay in bed.  Maybe it doesn't help that we don't run the heater as we should, Friday for example, after we got home from the wrestling meet, inside our house, the temperature was 63.  Baby A was not feeling himself and asked for the heat to be turned on.  I would normally say "put some warm-us on, but since we are just being lazy and staying in the house, I figure it should be a little comfortable.  I turned the heat on to 72, and the house instantly felt better.  I even felt like I could be in the kitchen on the computer, compared to when we walked in the door, I just wanted to hide under the covers.

    On top of that, the weather has been sneaky.  It'll slide up to mid 70's, which even seems to require a little A/C, but then overnight, all of a sudden, we'll go back down to the 40's.  I know it's not really cold for the people who live up north, but it is cold enough for us.  Right now, it is 59 outside, not bad, while the thermostat says 69 inside the house.  I don't quite want to turn on the heat, it is a battle of saving a couple bucks in electric.  I also know the temperature for later in the week is going to crawl up into the 70's, so we shouldn't need heat, but even then, it can get chilly at night.  Well, never mind, I just looked at forecast, and we will be in the upper 30s the next two nights, so even if it is nice during the day, 30s sounds cold.

    Wife is really bad with this.  She'll complain it is hot in the house, with the heater on and open a window, then like Sunday, she'll turn on the heater in the bathroom, so she won't be cold during her shower.  I say if you're going to freeze us during the day, "Toughen up Buttercup" and enjoy the cold when you shower.

    Maybe I have just contracted my Dad's lazy disease.  All I want to do is sleep and watch TikToks all day, which is all he does.  Dammit, I need another 20 years before I can live the life.  It'll be hot before we know it, and that usually gets me out of my funk, even if it gets me complaining that it is too hot.

1/9/22 Are All Wrong Numbers Scams, Nowadays?

     I woke up to a weird text from a chick looking for a Ben.  She said she was back in town, and she wanted to reconnect, if he was interested.  It sounded legit, so I texted back, "I think you got a wrong number, sorry."  She then sends a pic, which could have been sent with original message, but it just took a minute to arrive, and apologized, but said since she was new and didn't have anyone to talk to if I wanted to text.  I like texting, and no, it wasn't dirty, I asked if she was here for work or school, she didn't answer correctly, like avoided and mentioned what is there to do for fun.  I mentioned some of the activities, like going downtown and the food trucks and all that, but that we never go out, we are consumed by our son's activities, wrestling right now.  Again, she didn't laugh or add anything to that, I mean, in a conversation, you respond to what people say.

    She then said she had just gotten off the treadmill and sent a nude, very nice pic, but what am I supposed to do with that?  I said nice pic, she then wanted me to start painting a sexy scenario, to which I said "sorry, you're not tracking very well, I think you might be a bot."  She then responded that she was not a bot and that I was getting weird.  At this point, I blocked the number.  I knew better, but I wouldn't mind the random text where you text with a stranger and give them recommendations on your city and things to do and stuff.  At least the face pic matched the body, and all the tattoos matched the spirit of someone who might send those types of pictures to a stranger.

    What is the end game to that, though?  If I already saw you naked (you sent a pic voluntarily), why would I pay to see more, if that was your angle?  If you want money from strangers and you aren't shy, set up an Only Fans page, she was attractive enough to get some suitors, I would imagine.  

    It has been a slow weekend, since Mijo was done with wrestling on Friday, we got Saturday all free, and we enjoyed it by sleeping the day away.  We saw a few movies yesterday, nothing to write home about.  We saw the new Ghostbusters, it was meh, saw some Love and Monsters that looked promising, but I fell asleep.  Then we watched From Dusk till Dawn and Mijo did not like that it turned into a vampire movie, he thought it was just a heist movie.  It got too stupid for him once the vampires showed up.

1/8/22 Jock On Campus?

     I enjoy when Baby A tells us stories of his day-to-day activities at school, after all, he is a student athlete, so he does spend time in school as a student, something he rarely even mentions, it seems.  We spend so much time focusing on him physically since he is at practice every day and we really do worry about him hurting his body the way they go at each other every day.  Since school just got back under way, his focus has been classes, and getting back in the routine of things.

    He told us since his ACC classes (he is taking college classes at the same time as high school classes) haven't started, they are supposed to stay in the library, which I guess is mostly to keep them housed somewhere.  He thought it would be a good idea to follow some of his friends to class, since it was one of the coaches (offensive line coach) he likes who teaches, he surely wouldn't mind.  As all his friends slide in, the coach stopped him at the door and pulled him aside, asking "what are you doing, did you just transfer into this class?"  Mijo trying to be slick said "no Coach, I don't have ACC class yet, I was going to hang out in your class and observe."  Coach apparently likes him enough, because he just told him "How do I punish you if you get loud or disrupt the lesson?"  Mijo says "I'll do 25 diamond push-ups."  Coach says "nah, I'll tell the wrestling coach on you, make them punish you."  Mijo kind of agreed, but he saw that his friends inside heard, and he could tell they were going to get him in trouble just to be funny, so he slithered back to the library.

    He then told us of two unintentional confrontations involving him getting hit in the chest.  On one, he says he was walking with his group of friends, walking and talking, not paying attention, all of a sudden, the guy in front of him swerves aside and as he looks forward, one of the smaller girl wrestlers tackles into him as she is almost running through the hallways, in a rush.  I find this cute, because Mijo is a solid big boy and I know she is one of the smaller 110–120-pound wrestlers (sorry, that's how they are measured) and she basically is just going to bounce off of him.  She is one of his buddies, so he just gave her a "get out of here..." swing with his arm.  His mouthy friend yells "Damn Baby A, always abusing women..." which embarrassed him a bit as other girls turned and looked at him.

    The third one was a classic, jock versus band nerd (I only say that because I was one).  He knows there are territories and going into the band hall is not something he wants to do, but he was looking for a friend of his who is always in the band hall.  He walks in there, not looking for any trouble, he just had a message for his friend, and another kid, at seeing Mijo with two other guys stands in front of him, pokes him in the chest and tells him "Stop! you shouldn't be here, I'm going to tell the band director."  Who the hell does that, seriously?"  Our boy was left confused, like I almost felt angry enough to kick his ass, but I left, it was fine.  Telling on him is such a child move, I remember the band director recognizing me last year, she still remembers Mijo was in band his freshman year, she loves our boy and was still saying she wishes he was still playing, so I doubt she would have responded negatively.