We're Making A Conscious Decision...

the countdown has officially begun to when even the dumbest democrat on earth (no names, but her initials are AOC) will have to admit "socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy whose inherent vice is the equal sharing of misery." (Winston Churchill)

...to temporarily ignore current events... 

caracas burns...

...while narco-terrorist maduro enjoys the friendly accommodations aboard the USS Iwo Jima, on his way to face justice

...and focus instead on something that really matters.

It's time to de-decorate!

So we're going from this:

...to this:

From this:

...to this:

And from this:

...to this:

You get the idea.

Happy New Year, y'all.

In a brief return to reality - sorry, this will just take a minute - for the whiny libs, socialists and euro-weenies complaining about the supposed "illegality" of this snatch and grab, here are some helpful reminders from VP Vance and AG Bondi:

To his point about those indictments:

This isn't the woke, feckless dementia-fest of the disastrous Biden years:

Tens if not hundreds of thousands of Americans are dead due to narco-trafficking from Venezuela.

Biden - or more likely, whoever was actively running the country into the ground while Slo-Joe was napping and having his diaper changed - ran their mouth about standing up to Maduro, but as usual did nothing.

Trump - with the able assistance of the United States Armed Forces - just solved the problem.

It's so simple, even a democrat should be able to understand:

You kill our people, you pay the price.

I would love to bore you to tears with something -

- anything about hickory golf but alas -

- yeah, that.

Ok, not quite that much snow just lately, but winter hath made an unwelcome return so swinging my hickories will have to wait.

In the meantime, let's do that 23 Skidoo thing:

guilty or surprised?  you be the judge

and you thought California was the land of the fruits and the nuts; they got nuthin' on Minnesota and Somalian fraud

recently watched <this video> about corn cob pipes made the same way today as they were 150+ years ago.  worth a look.

and yes, I did order a corn cob pipe from them - <the shenandoah> - and have enjoyed a bowl or three of their "Missouri Pride" pipe tobacco. cigars are quicker and easier, but these corn cob pipes are sorta like shaving with a straight razor - takes some time, there's some skill involved, and you’re kickin’ it old school.

My journey through the Old Testament continues and one thing is very clear as you read through the books of I & II Samuel, Kings and Chronicles:  we're a disobedient lot, prone to self-willed wandering away from the LORD who calls us to obedience.

The consequences of our self-will are always the same and underline the truth of Romans 6:23 - the wages of sin is death.

So my prayers have turned into a plea that God will teach me humility and the fear of the LORD.

"13  He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great."

    - Psalms 115:13

later, mcm fans...

Only Because I Have To...

...here's the most accurate...and most popular summary of Commie Mamdani's takeover of the world's financial epicenter.

As much as I'd love to skip the politics, you just can't ignore an earthquake.

Think of it...a 34 year old anti-semite from Uganda who's never held a real job in his life and with no relevant experience was just elected mayor of one of the world's most populous and important cities.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Chief cheerleaders in the Commie's large group of stupid people are a couple of similarly unqualified Mensa rejects:

AOC...

according to this famed meteorologist, we only have 6 years left before <the end of the world>; she hopes to spend them in a socialist utopia.

...and nursing home escapee Bernie Sanders:

according to Larry David, Bernie only has one pair of underwear

Defying both logic and the imagination, this perfectly illustrates the danger of granting idiots the right to vote.

It is exactly as the old saw opines: people who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.

And history is littered with examples of failed socialist countries: the USSR, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea.

Soon we'll be able to add New York City to the growing list of economies sacrificed on the altar of socialist ideology.

The Post sold out immediately, and sellers put up signs saying "No NY Post Papers" in their storefront windows to stem the steady stream of frustrated searchers.

You can still get them on ebay, however:

...proof that in spite of the communist takeover of New York, capitalism is still alive and well.

For now, anyway.

Thanks to brain dead New Yorkers sealing their doom through exuberant youthful nescience, business is booming...elsewhere, that is:

Real estate brokers in Florida, Texas and Tennessee report being swamped with inquiries from panicked New Yorkers.

Consequently, Florida governor Ron DeSantis says they're going to build a wall to keep out incognizant liberals fleeing the predictable results of their lifelong political choices.

Governor Abbott of Texas says they'll slap NY refugees with 100% tariffs.

Governor Bill Lee from Tennessee adopted a <more welcoming stance>, reminding desperate New Yorkers that Tennessee is "open for business".

They're all in agreement, however...if you come to our state, check your liberal politics at the door.

You can pick them up on your way out if you leave, but don't bring your callow political claptrap with you.

It's time to rewrite Sinatra's signature song:

"I want to get away from it, New York, New York!"

Recently had new tile installed in our master bathroom by #4 son and one of my grandsons.

It went from this:

To this:

The best part is not just the new tile, though we love the look...rather it's that the floor is now heated.

Karen is thrilled since it was always freezing in the winter, and no wonder: turns out the old tile was installed directly on a cement slab...no backer board or anything beneath it...just cold, hard cement.

It's toasty now, and just before the snow flies.

Here's to Chris and Isaac who did a great job...

...thank you, gentlemen!

We have this little sign in our coffee nook:

And the sign says true:

...which leads us to the less popular 2nd verse of that little ditty:

"Every hour waking

Will now be spent raking!"

And so we did yesterday...got out the mower and mulched the backyard, then manned the rakes and cleaned up the front:

That's all well and good, but for all the work we did - and I've got the aching back to prove it - here's the problem:

Considering the overall task, we barely made a dent.  Most of the leaves will come down in the 2nd half of November.

But my greens are looking pretty good today...

Think I'll bundle up - it's 33° this morning - forget about what's still ahead...

...and walk a round or three on Ryan's Hickory Golf Course.

On Halloween, one of our trick-or-treaters greeted us with "Merry Christmas!"

His dad looked at us and shrugged, then told his son, "You mean 'trick or treat', right?"

I joined in with, "Don't rush it!  Thanksgiving is next."

"Nope," the little costumed rebel insisted, "Merry Christmas!"

And that's pretty much the prevailing attitude, isn't it?

Thanksgiving is little more than a speed bump on the holiday highway, a brief pit stop between Halloween and Christmas.

Given the strident political atmosphere of the last few years, you can almost understand people's desire to just skip it.

Who wants to risk a big family get together tinged with the threat of nasty ideological conflict?

I know I'd welcome Karen's TDS riddled brothers with the same enthusiasm I have for an abscessed tooth or a bout of the puking flu.

Their sickness is so advanced, they actually believe CNNLOL and MSDNC are news outlets and not just soviet style apparatchiks of the democrat party.

But putting the potential for a strife of tongues aside, it's worth remembering God calls us to be truly thankful:

"15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

    - Colossians 3:15

"16  Rejoice evermore.

"17  Pray without ceasing.

"18  In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

    - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Whether your upcoming Thanksgiving holiday promises to be peace and joy or political pistols at 20 paces, take time and give thanks to God in heaven "...who daily loadeth us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19).

later, mcm fans...