Your Weekly Antics Gotta Love Karma Edition...2-23-2023

Well people, better late than never. I'm sure you've all been sitting on the edges of your seats waiting for your phone to alert you that this weeks Antics was published and out, or more accurately you've thought, it's about damn time she stopped writing all her nonsense that the rest of us could care less about. Well guess again kids, no such luck, better late than never. Sometimes it's hard to get The Antics out in a timely manner when you've had to spend your morning dealing with a bunch of morons, I mean, attempting to educate and inform others, how to competently do their jobs so we can successfully do ours. Here's what I've got...

1. Here's something I thought I’d never hear myself say on a home visit…sir, would you mind putting your chickens, or more specifically that rooster away? I don’t like the way they’re all looking at me. This guy lives in a right to farm community, yet still insists on having not one, not two, but all of his chickens live inside with him. They even have their own bedroom. We cannot make this stuff up.

2. Note to self…If you’re going to meet someone at Herbies on a Friday at 4pm and you’re sitting at that table waiting for that person to arrive who is running late, do yourself a favor and don’t sit so that you’re facing the door. Every person over the age of 70 is going to be shooting daggers at you for taking up a spot they could be sitting in. That’s what you get for going out that early on a Friday night, which was actually Friday afternoon. Exhibit 1, This is not a rooster, this is Nash, Reaghans ride or die this week. Why is he featured here in #1? Because he's Nash, and he's awesome, that's why.

3. Body Cams – looks like those are going to be a thing here for the Worcester PD. This means starting next week some of us will have to start behaving ourselves when out on home visits accompanied by Worcester's finest who keep us safe while trying to do the work of the people. This is not going to work out for me. I don’t follow the rules and swear all day long… I don’t say or do anything that has any business being recorded.

4. Hanging out at Sue Miller’s this week she points out the tiny little hole in one of her favorite sweatshirts and immediately blames the lone moth who she believes is corrupting her closet. I remind her that she is the only person I have ever known in my life who actually keeps moth balls in every closet in the house. Due to this practice, I’d like to think she’s safe from the one rogue moth who she believes is out to get her. I make other suggestions…perhaps it was something in the washing machine, did she get it snagged on something? Of course not, it was the moth. I then ask her, are you sure moth balls are even made and sold anymore? Well of course they are, what the hell’s the matter with you? They’re sold everywhere. Clearly they're not doing the job for which they're intended … that moth isn't afraid of Sue Miller or her moth balls. Fly free moth and good luck over there, she’s coming for you.

5. Another Sue Miller fun fact…she likes to bake, specifically for Deb and the Grandkids...Walter and Angel have been removed from her baked goods list due to not dropping in to visit her. Many of her baked goods contain walnuts and pecans - for those of you suffering from Pecan Pie PTSD I apologize for bringing this nut up – Kiley has made it known that walnuts do not belong in baked goods, particularly in brownies. In fact, according to Kiley, nuts of any kind have no business being anywhere ever, but specifically not in Brownies. I asked Kiley this week what her issue was with these single seeded fruits - does she take issue with all of them or just the walnut? She assured me that she does not discriminate, it’s all nuts…the walnut, pecan, peanut, pistachio, cashew, hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia, brazil nut, pine nut, and they’re cousins... any type of butter made with the nut such as peanut butter. Grammy likes what she likes and likes to bake how she bakes. You don’t like walnuts in your brownies? Well that’s just too bad, she’s gonna keep on sticking them in there until she wears you down and you eat them as is. Exhibit 2 how Kiley feels about that...

6. Car dealership service centers – I’m not a fan. Here’s what I’m going to say to car dealerships everywhere…you can’t flim flam a flim Flammer. You want to lose my business over $30? Have at it – news flash, once my remaining free oil changes are up you will never see the whites of my eyes again. You got it my tried and true faithful readers…that’s what happens when some jamoke and his three ring circus tries to take advantage of my good nature. See ya.

Exhibit 3 a fun find by Marj St. John.

7. Enough of moth balls and brownies and car dealerships, let's touch upon Karma. Every once in awhile if you're lucky, you get to witness karma first hand. Listen up, I don't claim to be perfect by any means. We all make mistakes and do or say things we wish we could take back but can't, it doesn't work that way. Hopefully if you’ve got your act together you take what you’ve learned to improve yourself and work towards the greater good. Some people don't subscribe to this practice, continue on their deceitful path of wrong doing towards others, never learning or improving a thing. Well kids, I'm hear to tell you that in recent weeks I've had the good fortune of seeing karma come right back and bite a few individuals square in the ass and it's true what's said...Karma is a dish best served cold... Good riddance.

8. Speaking of Circus’s…did anyone know that there is a specific town in our fine country that those working in the carnival and circus industry went to retire or winter in their off season? No? Neither did I. Thanks to our good friend Chris Andrianopouous who has all sorts of trivia and fun facts, this was brought to our attention. According to Chris and a variety of information on Google, Gibsonton Florida, also known as Gibtown, is best known as a sideshow wintering town, where various people in the carnival and circus businesses would spend the off season, placing it near the winter home for the Ringling Brothers Circus at Tampa, Sarasota and Venice in various times. It’s reported that in the golden days of the American carnival, all roads led to Gibsonton, Florida. The self-defined town nestled 12 miles south of Tampa, became the industry capital, often being referred to as “Carny Town”, "the place where everyone had run away with the circus." Times have changed and it is not the same place as it was in 1967 when it first became home to 100 self-defined human oddities in addition to several thousand “carnies” . A variety of articles write that balmy winter weather attracted those carnival workers who preferred a nomadic lifestyle, giving them opportunity to hone their skills, practice their acts, repair rides and other amusements all protected by the towns safe haven away from judgement, and the prying eyes of the public. We also discovered that not only is there The Showmens Museum in Gibtown, but a feature film was made and released recently that tells a fictional story while giving an accurate history of the town. Who knew? Is this information you could’ve probably done without? Like most of what we tell you here at The Antics, I’m sure it is…however it is an interesting fact of American history should you find yourself stumped on game or Trivia night when you’re out with your pals. You can thank Chris now or later…he’s like our resident built in Phone – A – Friend. Want to know more? Check out the links below...

https://showmensmuseum.org/

https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/the-beast-comes-at-midnight-70805

9. You think you're having a bad day? Check this out. This poor guy was two days early for his intended freight drop off at a local business. How do I know this you ask? Because I was standing at the counter checking out when he presented himself inside the store looking to unload the freight. No can do sir, you're 2 days early, arriving at the end of a business day, therefore there is not enough staff available to unload that truck. Check back tomorrow. Now what does the guy do? He camps out in his truck, in their parking lot, until tomorrow morning, that's what he does. Here are the questions that go through my mind...where's he going to use the bathroom? What's he going to do for dinner? Does he have a tv or a laptop or something so he can watch a movie or something to pass the time? And most important, I hope he has a portable coffee maker in that thing because I don't care how great you drive there's no way you're getting that thing through a Dunkins Drive - thru. See people, this is what you get for being an over achiever, showing up for work, and arriving two days early...you'll end up sitting around. Learn to be lazy like the rest of us.

10. This fool has got to start paying attention to the rest of her pack so she'll stop being left outside. I came home to this...Exhibit 4, Get it together Goose.

And last but not least, there's hope for us people. If I've got you thinking about karma and the circus and moth balls and brownies, then I've done my job. If you've been a shmuck, there's still time to turn things around and I'll leave you with this....

How to break negative karma…

Be grateful: for every experience, both the good and the bad. Act with love: towards everyone no matter what they've done. Check your motives: and make sure they come from a place of love for self and others. Watch your attitude: because negative thoughts create angry energy directed at you.

To put it more simply...don't be a scrub and you'll be just fine.

Have a great weekend!