Anklo blog

I hate servers at restaurants that use the phrase “no problem”. I realize that this may be my issue, but these servers annoy the piss out of me.

I heard a radio ad directed at anyone needing an idea for a Mother’s Day gift. Head on over to BigPlush.com and send Mom an 8-ft. tall teddy bear for the low, low price of $399 plus S/H.

Who in the world, mother or otherwise, would want a gargantuan 40 pound stuffed animal? Who would think that this is a good idea?

We were having lunch yesterday when a vehicle entering the parking lot caught my attention. It was a Ford Excursion that was pulling into this strip center in the suburbs. Behind the wheel of the behemoth was a thirty-something mom with one small child in the back seat. The SUV was sporting the typical magnetic “Support the Troops” yellow ribbon… right beside the fuel flap.

I went to the Target at lunch today to pick up a few things we needed. Naturally they were scattered all over the store, so I ran across the halloween costumes and decorations. That’s fine. I expect them to be there. It’s fall. It’s two days from October. I should see halloween stuff.

What I shouldn’t see is Christmas stuff. That’s right Christmas. All along the back wall, at least 30 feet, every shelf, all stocked full. Fresh and new in green and red packages. Lights, tree stands, garland, all the standard stuff. ON SEPTEMBER 29TH! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This is just wrong on so many levels. I haven’t been to this particular Targer in a while. They might have started stocking the shelves weeks ago. Even if they did it all last night, it’s wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. It’s too much for me to dedicate a whole month to a single holiday. Now it’s three months? Please make it stop.

The story here discusses Senate hearings where recently retired officers stated the obvious. The only rebuttal from other officers was that you shouldn’t “publicly criticize U.S. civilian leadership during war.” That’s crap. At least in this type of war that doesn’t have a defined end point.

I agree that this hearing is primarily an election year stunt, but so what. That doesn’t invalidate the content.