Like a Fishing Boat in Rough Seas

 

I went through some of the photographs in my files and found one that validated my reason to never become a fisherman, an individual who works on a flimsy boat out in the ocean for a living.  That image became the wallpaper on my computer this week, as seems fitting considering some of the issues going on in the world.

(No idea who to credit for the photograph)

The weather forecast for this weekend calls for an uncharacteristically nasty cold, wet Arctic blast that could possibly bring snow, sleet or ice to parts of south Texas.  Knowing how news media outlets use events to sell airtime to the public, sensationalizing the possibility of dangerous weather, road conditions that might be super hazardous and a chance that grocery stores could run out of necessities; this kind of weather reporting is good for business.  Take it with a grain of salt, it might not be all that bad; then again, stay home if you can this weekend.

Have you noticed the precious metals market, specifically the attention to the gold and silver prices as they climbed to record highs?  We’re in for some interesting times as the banks holding promises to deliver on their silver holdings only have pieces of paper rather than actual physical silver.  In other words, and these numbers are only approximately accurate, but in other words there are roughly 47 pieces of paper claiming to be the same 1 ounce of silver owned by all those 47 investors. When it comes time for the bank to settle up, let’s just say it won’t be silver hitting the fan.

An ounce of gold passed $4,700 yesterday.  Why is that important? Maybe it’s important on the world economic stage because the Dollar becomes less and less the standard which keeps the United States afloat. I don’t claim to be schooled in world economy; however, if the nations of the world decided to use something other than the Dollar as a reference for value, then things could become rather dicey, I think that’s the term, dicey.

I’m much better observing perfectly timed photographs or paintings by artists like Winslow Homer as he captured angry seas, the master’s ability to blend oil paint into dark colors within treacherous waves as men made their way across them in their flimsy boats, prayerfully hoping to make it back to safe harbor.  I can feel the danger those men faced, even if only from the comfort of my easy chair, sitting in the confines of my home. 

Y’all stay safe now, ya’ hear!

 

 

Amazing find at local Kroger Grocery Store

This past Friday while finishing up our grocery shopping at the Kroger store in Huntsville, Texas, I happened to glance at one of those ‘point of purchase’ items, the must have do-dads placed near the cash register that you hadn’t planned to buy; but oh, my goodness, you must have it.

You’d think finding specialty items used by MI-7 or CIA’s deep cover operatives would be limited to a special catalog, technologically advanced weapons available only for individuals with special security clearances, but here they were, and at a grocery store?  I carefully considered adding this item to our shopping cart and then wondered if it would be safe to store it in our vehicle.

There were several Vortex Umbrellas on display without any noticeable security barriers. Not even the high command at MI-7 were aware of the Vortex group of assassins hidden within their own trusted cadre of agents. Yet here they were at the cash register available to anyone.

There were no distinctive markings on the product as to whether these were T-2 or T-4 type defensive or offensive umbrellas as shown in the Johnny English Reborn movie. The two items appeared nearly identical: the one being designed to deflect bullets while the other as a self-contained rocket launcher.  I used my cellphone to capture a photograph of the fancy umbrella’s product card since nobody would believe such a prize was available at Kroger.

I’d almost bet the farm we’ll find lipstick dispensers that double as a single shot pistol over in the cosmetic’s aisle or maybe some of those throat lozenges that distort your voice in the pharmacy department.  I’ve always suspected something else was being run out of the Kroger store; why else have such a huge second floor that isn’t open to the general public?

I’ve spent enough time considering our next grocery shopping trip.  It’s time to finish reading the book I got for Christmas, The Secret Life of Walter Mittey.  Y’all be safe out there.