2023 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

You may not find my monthly reviews riveting, but they are a useful barometer for me. Plus, it's my blog.

> Average 1 road trip per month:  A+. Already met & exceeded.

> Lose 5 lbs:  C-. Lost-to-date = 2 lbs. Got off to a great start this year. Not so good the past couple of months. I blame road trips, Thanksgiving, a sad lack of self-discipline. DEC will make or break this one.

> Add to our National Park list:  A. Visited Biscayne NP in FL in FEB.

> Avoid desserts:  C. Thanksgiving was a killer.

> Publish my "Buzzwords" devotion book:  C-. I finished writing them & reviewing them once. My fearless editor [that would be Lois] reviewed them. I've doing my final edits, which I think I will complete before the end of the year, but it's doubtful I will find a publisher by 12/31.

> Write my "Chapter & Verse" devotion book. B. All devotions have been written & proofed by me. Net step is for Lois to proof them.

GPA:  B-

BUCKET LIST PROGRESS

We did add to our NP list. That's probably gonna do it for the year. In the foreseeable future, I see us crossing off tours of TX & CO, an Alaskan cruise, & more NPS. We signed up for a trip to the Holy Land next OCT. Not too sure about that one.

WHAT I'M READING

I recently finished reading "Crazy Horse & Custer," by Stephen Ambrose, one of my favorite authors. I've probably read at least 3 or 4 books about Custer & the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but I learned some new stuff. I started reading "Modern Times:  The World from the Twenties to the Eighties. Slow going. I'm 36 pages into a 734-page book. I'm having a hard time getting into it, but I paid big bucks for it, so I'll persevere.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We've watched a couple of movies lately, one, based on a true story, about the espionage that fooled the Germans into thinking the Allies were going to invade Greece instead of Sicily in WW II. Loved it. The other was also based on the true story of how in 1960 Israelis kidnapped Adolph Eichmann, one of the architects of the Nazi's Final Solution, from Argentina & brought him back to Israel, where he was tried, convicted, & hanged. Very good, but not a feel-good movie.

We started watching "New Amsterdam," but put it on hiatus. Way too woke & PC. Last night we started watching "Scorpion." It has potential. We're continuing to watch "Star Trek Voyager," probably not the strongest entry in the Star Trek world, but entertaining. I started watching "Bass Reeves," streaming on Paramount+, & I'm liking it. Watched the 1st two episodes of the latest NCIS spinoff, "NCIS:  Sydney."  Looks good. Learning lots of Australian slang. Still waiting for our other Paramount+ shows to resume.

CHRISTMAS TREE CONUNDRUM

On NOV 29 I shared a post about my plans to leave the Christmas tree up & festoon it with ornaments commemorating other holidays throughout the year. I listed Presidents Day, Groundhog Day, Valentine Day, Arbor Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, & Kwanzaa. I invited my readers to share additional suggestions, & did they ever come through! Other suggestions included Easter, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Memorial Day, Mardi Gras. More suggestions are welcome!

EVs? NOT SO FAST!

"Electric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered cars, trucks, & SUV's, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports, which found that EVs from the 2021-2023 model years encountered nearly 80% more problems than did vehicles propelled by internal convention engines. Consumer Reports said EV owners most frequently reported troubles with battery & charging systems as well as flaws in how the vehicles' body panels & interior parts fit together . . . Consumer Reports noted that lingering concerns about reliability will likely add to the issues that give many buyers pause when considering a switch to the new technology, joining concerns about higher costs, too few charging station, & long charging times." Norfolk Daily News, 11/30

WHY WE LIKE OUR SENATOR

Words from Washington, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts on Oct. 7 attack

"After viewing uncensored video footage of Hamas' terror attack against Israel that killed at least 1,200 Israelis & 33 Americans, Ricketts, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations had this to say:

"Words can only begin to describe just how horrific, ruthless, barbaric, & shockingly inhumane Hamas' Oct. 7th attack was. We saw uncensored footage from Hamas terrorists shooting unarmed civilians, dismembering soldiers, & bodies of murdered & burned children. We heard terrorists calling their parents to brag about the number of Israelis they murdered. I hope Israel is successful in bringing each of these terrorists to justice. They'll be doing humanity a favor. We must support Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas so Oct. 7th never happens again." NDN, 11/30

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"I love the New York City Marathon. It's the only time you can brag about finishing in 34,000th place." Jimmy Fallon

TRENDING NEWS

"Private jets heading to Global Warming Conference frozen on runway" Drudge Report

"Millennials need $525,000 a year to be happy?" Ditto

MORE TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

"Texas Court rules marriage invalid if 'Cotton Eye Joe' not played at wedding reception."

"Two climate change activists dead after gluing themselves to Ark of the Covenant."

"Canada offers lethal injection option for cold & flu season."

"Chinese state media proclaims Gavin Newsom winner of debate."

"Chick-fil-A, Buc-ee's, Hobby Lobby merge to form most popular store of all time."

BEST THINGS TO SAY WHILE YOUR WIFE IS IN LABOR *

* Source:  Babylon Bee

1. Eve really screwed this up for you ladies, huh?

2. All this blood is making me woozy, I need to lay down.

3. My mom is here to video.

4. I'm sorry the epidural didn't work, but I believe in you.

5. I'm almost at the hospital, the drive-through was super slow.

6. Just think, we'll do this five more times.

7. I'm sorry, this is all my fault.

TODAY'S AWESOME TRIVIA *

* Source:  Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

"Those who know say tht the brain has a similar texture to warm scallops when touched."

"Every second, 995 photos are uploaded to Instagram."

AWESOME DAD JOKES *

* Also courtesy of Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

"My only plans for today are to go buy some new glasses with my wife. After that, we'll see."

"Poor Phillip lost his lip in an accident. Now we just call him Phil."

"I just found the absolute worst page in the entire dictionary. The words I saw were disgusting, dishonest, disingenuous, & disgraceful."