Who Likes To Paint? Me, That's Who.

Good morning! How's It Going Everyone? Hanging In There, I Hope! ❤️

I don't know about you, but I'm still in a good mood today, over my "positive karma payback" valve non-issue yesterday (read my sol blog post)! Also, It's around 6:25am and I've already been up for an hour! Just call me early bird. Seriously, I need to be up early these days, the morning light falling from the dining room windows onto the dining table, is perfect for my current hobby, painting! No, not walls, pictures. 😊

I'm currently painting My RIP Dog, Julie's "Masterpiece By Numbers". The problem is, all that glass from 2 large windows, makes the dining room area itself too warm at around noon time, without closed blinds, or major AC support, so I open the blinds and windows, and paint in the early morning as soon as it starts getting light. 

As far as the painting itself, So far, I've been going slowly for maximum detail. I'm keeping track of the time, and so far, I've put in a total of 18 hours of painting, and I've finished..... The Face. Right, just the eyes, muzzle, and "stuck out tongue" areas, plus the patio background, and some black fur areas around the face, are done. 

Yes, I know, it sounds like a lot of time, and not much progress, but after all, it is a hobby, I really like doing it, and there's no rush to get it done. Plus, most of that time went into the face, not the background, because I knew that getting the face right, can make or break a painting like this. 

The good news? So far, I think that IT LOOKS AWESOME! And no, you can't see it yet, an "Artist" never shows uncompleted work. However, if you are one of those people who come by my house occasionally, I might make an exception. 

Anyway, Cheers, I Hope That You're Have A Great Day Too! 😀

Karma Payback

So, I think that I might have received some Karma payback today. This morning, while I was out in the front yard, taking a look at those 2 rose bushes I planted recently, and..... they were drooping. I pushed away the leaves, and the ground was dry. That's not right, because this time of year, I water the front yard every other day, because of the fast fall plant growth that we have around here, and the bigger the rose bush, the better chance to survive the summer heat.

At the controller, I turn on zone 4 manually, nothing. I go out back to the water valves, and the solenoid is not buzzing, and it's leaking. It's the valve I just replaced just a short while back. Replacing Valve 4 means I have to cut the pvc pipe to replace it. On these multi valve set ups, that's like 3-4 hours of work.

To make sure it's the valve/solenoid, I get out my meter and measure the 28vac output of the controller terminal 4. It's dead. Bummer, that means that the controller might also be bad. I replace the controller battery, no luck. Karma sure does seem to be smacking me upside the head at this point, huh?

The controller must be replaced in any case, BUT then I recall the last time I was in the "Sprinkler Isle" in Lowes Hardware, I saw a replacement Solenoid! Could it just be that? I can't really tell where the leak is coming from, so, maybe. I have Orbit Manufacturer Valves, so off I go to Lowes, and, they have it!! Not only that, the controller they have is an identical one to mine that lasted for years before breaking, and, It's ON SALE!! I buy a controller, a solenoid, and also a complete replacement valve/solenoid combo anyway, just in case.

I go back to the house, shut off the water, clip the old solenoid wires, unscrew the old solenoid, screw in the new, strip and twist all the wires (simple for me). Swap out the bad controller for the new one, program just zone 4 for 2 minutes, turn on the house water main valve, run to the back yard and......

NOTHING IS LEAKING! The Solenoid is buzzing, so I run out front, and the rose bush dribblers..... are dribbling! It's the solenoid, NOT the valve! Reprogramming the familiar controller took 5 minutes, cleanup took another 10, and I was in such a good mood over saving myself at least 3 hours of work on my knees, in the sun, in the dirt, that I even put up my Halloween Decorations!

The controller died after many years of working, it was on sale, and a simple swap out, so that's a wash, but it sure was a nice piece of "luck", it being the  solenoid instead of the valve huh? Or was it POSITIVE KARMA PAYBACK? I'm thinking I like the latter explanation better. 😁

A New "Short Story" That I Just Wrote:

I was just sitting around the house this evening, "Under The Influence", and a question occurred to me: Was The Wicked Witch Of The West Really So Wicked? Or Was It Really Glinda, or Dorothy, or someone else responsible, for what happened? I now put on my Sherlock Holmes Hat (I did say UTI, right?) and examine the evidence. And let's just say that the answer "Is Elementary My Dear Watson". 🙂

1. Dorothy, who is some chick that nobody knows, just Murdered The Wicked Witch Of The East, by dropping a house on her.

2. Then, this same chick, steals a pair of priceless ruby slippers, which are rightfully the property of The Wicked Witch Of The West, as the only Wicked Witch surviving relative.

3. Then, The "Good Witch" Glinda, lies to Dorothy, about what it would take to get Dorothy home, perhaps so that she can hatch her diabolical plan, to use The WOZ and Dorothy to murder TWWOTW. By The Way, who sends Dorothy to The WOZ? Right, Glinda. But Why? I'm Getting To That Watson.....

4. Then, just like Glinda planned, Dorothy Murders TWWOTW, while TWWOTW was just trying to get her property back, and defend her home from Intruders. So why didn't TWWOTW just call the Oz Police?

5. Perhaps there are no Oz Police. At least we never see any of them, and after all, Dorothy, has by the end of the story, committed 2 Murders, with no apparent consequences, so perhaps there's no law either in Oz.

6. In the process, Dorothy also has "conveniently" exposed the Leader Of Oz, The WOZ, as a fake, likely throwing Oz into political turmoil after The WOZ skips town in a balloon.Who takes charge then, Glinda? Well, She IS the only power left, besides Dorothy, who desperately wants to leave.

7. What will happen to the Munchkins now that Liar and Murder Conspirator Glinda is in charge? My guess is, not much good. Or was that Glinda's plan all along, To eliminate The Wicked Witches and hopefully The WOZ and Dorothy too, so she could Take Over OZ Leadership Herself?

8. At the conclusion, Double Murderer Dorothy clicks her heels, and also skips town, presumably with the ruby slippers, leaving "Good Witch" Glinda, and her magic wand, The New Unchallenged Queen Of Oz.

A Thief and a Murderer, or a Liar and a Power Hungry Maniac. Who REALLY is The Wicked Witch Of Oz? 🤔

It Was BOTH, of course. Glinda wanted to eliminate the other witches, so she conjured up the Tornado to kill TWWOTE, and after Dorothy thought that she had killed once, it was easy for Glinda to convince Dorothy to execute the rest of the plan, and kill again, in exchange for getting off Scott Free, and getting to keep The Priceless Ruby Slippers. The WOZ exposure was a "lucky break". Glinda gets to be The Unchallenged Queen of Oz, and Dorothy goes free, keeping the priceless ruby slippers. Win Win.

Like I said, Elementary

An Easter Story

I once had this friend, who was a bit Religious. No, lets be honest, he was in a Religious Cult. I'll spare you the long drawn out version, and just say that most, if not all of the "Converts" on "The Base", exhibited what I referred to as a psychosis, that their leader was all knowing, and any other religion was crap.

One example, knowing that I was brought up in Catholicism, was his criticism of that faith, To wit: "Catholicism says that Jesus rose on the third day, but Good Friday To Easter Sunday is 2 days. So they can't even get their days straight"..... OK, after more than 30 years, I may not remember the exact quote, but that was the gist of it.

You see, that's how Cults work. They twist the words just enough to make it sound like whatever they want you to believe. No, Catholicism DOES NOT claim 3 days time. Close, but not quite. I'm sure every Catholic who has attended Church for any amount of time, is well familiar, as I am, with "The Profession Of Faith". For those not Catholic, or don't immediately recall, it's the one that goes.....

I believe in one God, The Father, The Almighty, The maker of Heaven and Earth. Of all that is seen and unseen.......

Yeah, that one. He tried to use that as "proof" of the 3 day thing, because The POF does address it. The specific quote is.....

"He was crucified under Pontius Pilot. He suffered, died, and was buried, and on the third day he arose again, in fulfillment of The Scriptures......."

Did you catch it? No worries, most people wouldn't. NO, it does not say in 3 days. Here, allow me to highlight with caps the important word....

and was buried, and ON the third day.....

NOT in 3 days, NOT after 3 days, ON the third day. So, I said...

"No, that's not right. According to Catholicism, Jesus died on Friday. Friday is Day 1. After all, you MUST count the day he died as a day he's dead. Saturday, Day 2. Still dead. Easter Sunday Day 3. ON THE THIRD DAY. Not in 3 days, not after 3 days. ON." Well, needless to say, he was speechless for a bit, then changed the subject.

So...... (I hope you're still with me). Why have I told this admittedly too long story? Well, I'm trying to make a point.......

If someone is twisting the words of well documented evidence, in order to get you to disbelieve what just about everyone around you is trying to tell you, not to mention the evidence of your eyes and your ears.....

Then Maybe It's Time To Consider Leaving The Cult.