Happy New Year!

Well, our long national nightmare is over. 2020 is dead and buried, which makes me happy because it has been the worst year of my life.

I’d like to think 2021 will be better, but I’m a realist. The Democrats will continue their lockdowns – “for the children” – Joe Biden will likely be allowed to steal the 2020 election, and progressives will continue to try and rule our lives.

That said, we still live in the greatest country on Earth – for now – and while things are pretty terrible right now, they will most definitely get better.

Stay the course, give no quarter, and hang tough.

P.S. – I’m pretty sure Philly hit 500 homicides for the year. I’ll post the final number the second I get it.

UPDATE: Okay, so what I’m being told is we hit 500 homicides yesterday, but they held over #500 until after midnight so they could claim it was the first murder of 2021. As usual, they are fudging the numbers – in reality, we’re WAY over 500 – because I guess they think 499 is better than 500.

That said, I’m logging 500 into the Homicide Tracker, because I know the city is lying.

This Godforsaken Year Is Almost Over

While it’s conceivable that none of us will be attending a lavish New Year’s Eve party tonight – thanks fascist Democrat politicians – it is possible some of you will sneak out to get some thrills before the worst year in recorded history concludes.

Of course, your New Year’s Eve could be like mine last year, where I spent three hours waiting for someone to change Kyle’s tire on the coldest night of the year. He popped a tire on his way to a party, I sat and waited for the tow AFTER I drove him to the party. By time I got home, all the munchies were gone, because my kids are little piggies.

But I digress.

That said, the majority of people on the roads tonight will be either mildly toasted, or vomiting in their own laps. Don’t drink and drive, and if you have to drive, steer clear of populated roads. It’s a terrible night for accidents, especially fatals. I certainly cannot lose any more readers, and I’m not a good enough blogger to attract new ones.

A Child Is Born

While searching for an appropriate quote, I decided to choose something which resonates for me.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” – 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Enjoy your day, and remember the reason for the season.

Christmas Eve Philadelphia

I’ve always also posted the two greatest Christmas songs of all time on Christmas Eve. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses and Christmas in Hollis (immortalized in Die Hard – the greatest Christmas movie) by Run-DMC.

The Guardian posted the story about the creation of Christmas Wrapping this year. The composer wanted nothing to do with a Christmas song, and never expected it would amount to anything. Now it’s one of the most popular Christmas songs with those of us who grew up in the 80’s.

Patty Donohue, the lead singer, passed away in 1996 from cancer. She was only forty years old.

And movie fan should remember this song from Die Hard, when Argyle is driving John McClane to Nakatomi Plaza.

Here’s hoping your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are festive.

Ho, Ho, Home!

Ladies, and gentlemen, boys and girls, I have officially commenced my Christmas vacation, so go find some other place to hand out for the next fifteen days!

Okay, I’ll obviously still be posting, but I will be doing so without being surrounded by callers, criminals, and my coworkers. I can see it now…

Look at them there, sullyling my chair,
There are jobs to enter, aren’t you aware?
That report needs a number, from someone less dumber,
Say hasta luego to idiot Diego.

Bullets are flying, and people are dying,
Ask how many dead, the mayor starts lying.
We work on our jobs with little fanfare,
Cause people in power really don’t care.

Eh, I’m no Dr. Seuss, but I played one in high school and college.

Happy Birthday, Princess P!

Today is Princess P’s twelfth birthday!

Five years ago when my neighbor took this photo, I assumed she would be my little girl forever. Boy how things change. In the time since this photo, Julia has started dancing lessons – ballet and jazz – began Krav Maga lessons – and will likely have her junior black belt test early next year – and self-taught her way to being a pretty good artist.

Of course, she has her moments; “becoming a woman” has given her more than a few moody days, and she still argues with her older brothers, but for the most part, she’s a solid kid. She also loves her dad – usually – and still gives me hugs and kisses before bed.

Julia’s birthday dinner will be nachos. Happy birthday, Princess P! We love you very much.

Of course, this time next year, she’ll be a teenager in one year. May God have mercy on us all.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

“It is therefore recommended . . . for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor . . . .”– November 1, 1777 (adopted by the 13 states as the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation) – Samuel Adams

Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is filled with family and happiness.

It’s The Holiday Season…

No one in my household gets more excited for Christmas than Kevin. You’d think it would be Princess P, but no, it’s Kevin All The Way. So today I am waking up entirely too early on my day off so Kevin and I can hit the malls and get gifts for his siblings.

Like every year, I suspect Kevin will go WAY overboard.

When I was Kevin’s age, I would scrape whatever money I had and give my brother a bag of M&M’s and maybe some hockey trading cards. Kevin, on the other hand, will try to get everyone a small gift, a medium gift, and a super awesome amazing giant gift. And the kid really puts effort into his choices.

Last year we were in a sports store and he picked out a lamp for Kyle. Not just any lamp; the base was adorned with the Baltimore Orioles logo. Suffice to say, Kyle went crazy for it.

Kevin saves most of his chore money for this time of year, and he’ll drag his wad of cash to the mall with us today. We’ll spend an easy 2-3 hours shopping, but it’s worth it to see him get so happy with his gift choices. Wish us luck.

Happy (Belated) Halloween!

Kevin and Julia went Trick-or-Treating last night, despite the fact our jackass governor and mayor were considering cancelling the event.

As if anyone would listen.

Kevin dressed as a Philadelphia Flyers hockey player, and Julia dressed like one of the characters from The Greatest Showman.

The night was anticlimactic, mostly because many of the neighborhood houses were either blacked out, or just left out a bowl of candy for the kids to take. I think it was a combination of the Chinese Wuhan Virus and the riots. The rioters haven’t come anywhere near my neighborhood, but I think people were still worried about it. It’s a shame because they’re almost in high school, and they got screwed out of a traditional Halloween this year.

Oh well, I sincerely hope their haul contained some Three Musketeers bars. Just because.

By the way, Julia was in a mood yesterday, so the final Inktober post should be up tomorrow.

Happy Columbus Day!

Today many Americans will be celebrating Columbus Day, despite the leftist backlash to Christopher Columbus and his obvious racism. (Insert massive eye-roll here.)

Since most leftists are incapable – or uninterested – to judge a person’s actions in the time in which they lived (see also: the denigration of Thomas Jefferson) I decided I woild celebrate Christopher Columbus’ most noted achievement.

The little fleet left on August 3, 1492. The admiral’s navigational genius showed itself immediately, for they sailed southward to the Canary Islands, off the northwest African mainland, rather than sailing due west to the islands of the Azores. The westerlies prevailing in the Azores had defeated previous attempts to sail to the west, but in the Canaries the three ships could pick up the northeast trade winds; supposedly, they could trust to the westerlies for their return. After nearly a month in the Canaries the ships set out from San Sebastián de la Gomera on September 6.

On several occasions in September and early October, sailors spotted floating vegetation and various types of birds—all taken as signs that land was nearby. But by October 10 the crew had begun to lose patience, complaining that with their failure to make landfall, contrary winds and a shortage of provisions would keep them from returning home. Columbus allayed their fears, at least temporarily, and on October 12 land was sighted from the Pinta (though Columbus, on the Niña, later claimed the privilege for himself). The place of the first Caribbean landfall, called Guanahani, is hotly disputed, but San Salvador (Watlings) Island in the Bahamas is generally preferred to other Bahamian islands (Samana Cay, Rum Cay, or the Plana Cays) or to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Now, obviously, you can have your own opinion of Columbus and his actions, but if you’re only against him because CNN told you so, you may want to read up on the man and his life. Of course, you could also decry Columbus, and still receive the benefits of his life and legacy; as the despicable Philadelphia City Council has done…