Preparing for a nice long drive up to the pine tree's and mountains today. Just me, music, the open highway. Packed a lunch and will sit by the 'creek with my feet in the water munching on lunch and reading some western comics in the high country.

Tomorrow and Monday relaxing at home with chinese food takeout, old classic movies on DVD to enjoy and sleeping in.

Middle son went camping with friends. Youngest son is working this weekend. I’ll probably go in to the office at some point. Will likely smoke a few racks of ribs Monday.

Got my first dose of Pfizer.

Woke up this morning to news of a mass shooting here in town. No fatalities as of yet, six people hospitalized, a few in critical. Apparently there was a remembrance party/celebration of life party at a hall honoring someone who passed a few years ago and someone else objected and walked in and opened fire at the gathering. The hall was only maybe five minutes from our neighborhood by car. Sometimes news stories are far too close to home.

-M

Why it pays to have roadside assistance on your car insurance. Left work last night to find my left front tire was flat. Took me 5 minutes in 100+degree temperature NOT BEING ABLE TO LOOSEN THE RASSIN'FRASSIN" LUG NUTS before I called. In 15 minutes he arrived and for another 30 he sweated, grunted and darn near gave himself a hernia trying to loosen the lights. Finally managed to get them off and put my spare on while sat on the side thankful it was him and NOT 58 year old me straining in the heat.

Blasted dealership torquing the nuts with their air compressed guns forget it takes superhuman effort to fix a flat on the side of a road or in extreme conditions. Taking to the tire shop at 8am when they open for replacing both front tires. Will make sure they un-torque ALL 4 TIRES so they can be done manually without inducing a stroke or heart attack.

The side stories here is the advances we have with our portable computer called the cell phone. Call my insurance and connects me with a text to online system to enter my info and need and it updates me with text google map follow ups until repair arrives, fixes and leaves. Not pay a thing (other than gratified tip to repair guy) as it's all part of my insurance coverage. While awaiting assistance spent 5 minutes again on my cell phone internet making 8am appointment at tire shop across the street from my home. Able to enter car and tire information, cutting down my time spent at the shop today. As a regular customer with all my information I received confirmation of appointment and that the shop has proper tires to replace. Another automated text reminder at 7am with note stating should be in/out within 1 hour.

Man how the times change. As a teen I had to do the tire change myself or walk to a phone and call for family help. Would do a drive in to shop, hoping and dickering to get new tire(s) while spending 2-3 hours waiting depending upon how busy they may be. Bless you Star Trek for predicting and inspiring with hand held communicators and hand held tricorders. Now we all carry our personal connection for the miracle working Chief Engineer Scotty in our pocket!

I see irony was one of the victims, too.

The price of the Second Amendment is never paid in full.

Now, yes, they have two suspects in custody for the shooting, but it took a while and they had the hospital the victims were taken to in lockdown for a while this morning because the shooter was still at large. The lockdown was lifted about the time I got up this morning, the shooting however occurred at about 2AM last night, so it was locked down for a bit.

-M