*Sigh*

One of Those Days...

Gosh, what should I write about today? Heaven knows, there's no shortage of aggravations in the news:

• The Boy Scouts of America has taken the next step on the road to its eventual disappearance
• Donald Trump is still an asshat, and is still getting far too much undeserved support
• Some nitwit former politician (a redundancy, I know) in Oklahoma has announced that the details of the divorce of two popular country music stars are being unjustly concealed from a scandal-hungry public
• Iran has announced that it intends to exploit every conceivable loophole in the unpopular "deal" the Obama administration falsely claims will put a stop to Iran's nuclear ambitions

Or maybe I should spend some more time talking philosophy with my good buddies...

"Sweet! I'm down!"

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

Sorry, guys. I'm just not into it today...

It's Tuesday (the most depressing day of the week), it rained this morning (which makes typing painful), and my muse is sunning herself on a beach somewhere, so...

"Really? Are you sure your legions of fans can take the disappointment?"

Shut your pipe...it's not like there's no post at all today...

Things That Make Me Happy: Milestones Edition

Last night my beloved Kansas City Royals began a 10-game road trip by taking on the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. The Royals won the game 9-4, becoming the first team in the American League to reach 60 wins on the season; they're still the only team in the American League that has not yet lost a 40th time...

The Royals got off to a quick start, as 1B Eric Hosmer (who was given the day off on Sunday) cracked a three-run home run in the first inning...

"Boom!"

2B Omar Infante added a solo home run (his first of the season) in the 2nd, and DH Kendrys Morales gave starter Edinson Volquez some breathing room with a two-run double in the 5th inning that made it 7-1. A pair of runs in the top of the 7th made it 9-1, so when Volquez walked the first two batters in the bottom of the inning (ball four to the second batter was his 111th pitch) and Joe Blanton (just trying to throw strikes with a big lead) gave up a three-run home run, the Royals still led comfortably. Blanton pitched three full innings, earning his second save of the season the old-fashioned way. Volquez improved his record to 10-5, 3.21 ERA.

Game 2 of the series tonight will find Chris Young (8-6, 3.32 ERA) taking the mound for the Royals against the Tribe's Trevor Bauer (8-7, 4.29).

Wild Kingdom Bed & Breakfast Update

Yesterday there was a new customer visiting the B&B for the first time. Around 3:30 in the afternoon, I happened to see a goldfinch snacking on the thistle sock...

"And some mighty tasty thistle seed it is, too. My compliments."

You're very welcome...

I knew there were American Goldfinches in my neighborhood, as I had seen them every once in awhile when out doing my exercise walks, and of course they're the state bird of Iowa. Yesterday was the first time I ever saw one stop by the B&B, though. I saw another one this morning, but of course there's no way of telling if it was the same one.

That brings to 10 the number of different species that have visited at least occasionally, not counting the purple martins who swoop in from time to time to snag some flying insects, and the fat-ass robins who snack on worms and bugs not far from my patio...

"Wait, what??? You're calling me a 'fat-ass'? That's ironic, to say the least."

Neither one of you is funny, so zip it...

My Favorite TV Villain?

Well, perhaps "favorite" is too strong a word, but it struck me while I was watching a TV show yesterday just how often villains played by actor Garret Dillahunt have been dealt with by my TV heroes...

Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy

Dillahunt was convicted of murder twice by ADA Jack McCoy on Law and Order, once as white supremacist Julian Preuss in 2002, and once as unscrupulous political operative Eric Lund in 2006.

Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock

In between those two performances, Dillahunt played Jack McCall, killer of Wild Bill Hickok, on HBO's Deadwood in 2004. He was brought to justice by lawman Seth Bullock.

Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner

Dillahunt played quadraplegic serial killer Mason Turner on Criminal Minds in 2009. He was caught by Aaron Hotchner and his BAU team, but shot to death by the brother of one of his victims before he could be taken in to face murder charges...

Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen

Dillahunt had a recurring role as spy-turned-psychopath Simon Escher on Burn Notice, until he was finally stabbed to death by Michael Westen in 2013.

Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens

Dillahunt appeared in several episodes of the final season of Justified as Ty Walker, a hired assassin. Of course he proved to be no match for U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, and his final scene included this classic bit of dialogue:

Ty: This is bullshit! You shot me in the back!

Raylan: If you wanted me to shoot you in the front, you shoulda run toward me.

 Until Next Time...

Speaking of Justified, all but one of the show's six seasons included a rendition of Kentucky native Darrell Scott's song "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive," typically as each season's last episode ended. They used the Brad Paisley version a couple of times, as well as versions by Dave Alvin and the Ruby Friedman Orchestra. Fittingly, the final season's final episode featured a performance of the song by Scott himself, which is today's send-off. It came at the midpoint of the episode, though, at an especially dramatic moment. Enjoy...