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My thoughts released; a mind set free |
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These pages contain my thoughts, from meandering ideas and persuasions to deep cerebrations and serious mentations. Why, for what purpose? To release my mind and set creativity free. Somewhere inside the constraints of my mind dwells a writer, a poet, an artist who paints with words. In here I release those constraints and set the artist free. Perhaps, lost somewhere in the depths of thought, is a story or a poem, waiting to be written. |
| It's sixty degrees today, sunny, and the ice on the lakes is vanishing quickly. I'm starting to feel eager to take the kayaks out of storage and get them in the water. Tomorrow we are planning a trip over to Maplewood State Park to see how open the lakes are, do some hiking, and enjoy a day of fresh air and sunshine. Part of me insists it's too early in the year to kayak. But is it? My wife and I purchased our first kayaks in late autumn, after the prices dropped. Despite the cooler weather, we were eager to take them out. and enjoyed them into November when the ice along the shore made it too difficult to launch them. People may have thought we were crazy out kayaking in a snowstorm, but we didn't mind. I suppose I'll contemplate the idea for a while yet, I'd like the air temperature to be a bit warmer just in case either of us ends up in the water. But, if we stay close to the shore and in the general area of the vehicle, we could bring dry clothes and ensure a means of warming up if needed. I recently answered a question about the last time I went outside my comfort zone; maybe it's time to step outside it again. A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group"  "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
| I was recently asked if there was any particular song that reminded me of the time period when I met my wife. I was divorced at the time and raising three teenagers. I had a girlfriend for a while, but things weren't working out, so we kind of drifted our separate ways. I was also trying to rediscover myself at the time. I had come to this conclusion after a few short romances that didn't work out; "I'd be better off to give up dating and looking for that special someone and focus on myself and the children." I was doing just that when I met the mother of a couple of my daughter's friends (sisters). She had come to provide the sisters a ride home, we met and soon we were friends. We had both come to realize that we were better off single and without being in a relationship. But, in my heart, I still longed for someone to share my life with, to share theirs with, and to fill the emptiness inside. We quickly became best friends, and do to circumstances we could not prevent, ended up living in the same house. Love had struck deep and hard without us even realizing it. The song that reminds me of the time frame when love arrived at my door with a simple knock was by the Eagles, it described what I was longing for and what I thought I would never find. |
| It was a beautiful day today despite the warnings for thunderstorms. In fact, it clouded up some, looking like rain for about an hour this afternoon, otherwise clear skies through the day. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of rain; it would clean up the mess winter left us with, but I also enjoyed the sunshine. I sat out on the patio in a t-shirt enjoying the sun on my skin while the dogs frolicked and played. Of course, the snow is still melting so it's muddy, but even that should be gone within a day or two. One of my neighbors saw me sitting out and came over and visited, also in a t-shirt. It was in the mid-sixties, so not overly warm, but comfortable. Then, Steve pointed to another neighbor out cleaning up his yard. He was in shorts, no shirt, and flip-flops, enjoying the day. I think it's a bit cool for that much bare skin, but he didn't seem to mind. |
| "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away..." At least when the day started, they seemed far away, but then life hit before my second cup of coffee. I awoke early yesterday, put coffee on then opened the curtains to look out at the sunny morning. It was a beautiful but chilly morning. Even so, the heat of the sun was beginning to melt more of the snow and ice. I poured my first cup of wake-up juice and settled down with my laptop to see what was transpiring here. But, before I could do much, the dogs got up and came to say good morning. Bellah needs some loving right away when she gets up, and Max has to sit on my lap for a few minutes, so I closed my laptop and directed my attention to them. Next, they need to be let out to do their morning business, so I went to get dressed. It was much to cold out for my pajama shorts and sleeveless t-shirt. I took my coffee and went out to watch them sniff and inspect the yard, get distracted by the birds and squirrels, and to remind them why we went out. Finally they took care of business and we returned in, just in time for me to refill my coffee. By now, my wife was up so we sat down to discuss what we would do for the day. Before we could and after only a sip or two of my second cup of coffee, my wife's cousin showed up at the door. He drives truck, so he has packages delivered here for safe keeping until he can stop by and pick them up. Yesterday, however, he also needed to take his private vehicle in for some work, and needed someone to follow him over and give him a ride back. Of course, he doesn't take it some place close, so by the tie we got back it was lunch time. After lunch he got a text stating his vehicle was fixed and ready to pick up, so again he needed a ride. This took until late afternoon since the vehicle wasn't quite ready when the text was sent. When I got back, my wife informed me that we needed to pick up a few things from the coop store, which closes at five. We had a half hour to get there and pick up our items. One of them was salt for the water softener, which was getting very low. We also had some grocery shopping to do, so it was around dinner time when we returned home. I helped unload the pickup and took the salt in to fill the tank. That's when I discovered that we had a small water leak going into the softener! Luckily, it was just a rubber gasket, and I had one on hand, but it meant shutting the water off to repair. Of course, it's plumbing, so nothing cooperated, and by the time I finished, with my wife's help, it was after eight. It looked like a late dinner, and unfortunately, we had planned for stir-fried beef and vegetables. I say unfortunately because it's a time-consuming meal to fix using all fresh produce. But, my wife and I jumped in and tag-teamed the task, and by nine thirty we were enjoying a delicious, but late dinner. After, I assisted with cleaning up and dishes with the plan of logging in after we finished. But, and there seemed to be too many buts yesterday, my wife's cousin showed up as we were doing the dishes. He had been called from work to take a load out but his vehicle was acting up. His request, "Can I park my pickup here and get a ride over to work?" It wasn't a problem except for the time it would take; He's supposed to have someone from the shop come get his vehicle, fix it right this time, and return it to his place of work for him when he gets back. But for me, it meant that I would be late getting back home, which I did around eleven-thirty. I hustled to get logged in to complete my five, but wouldn't you know it, the internet was down. I wound up tethering my laptop to my phone, which wouldn't be a problem except I haven't used my hotspot since last summer and couldn't remember the password! After a few attempts I did get connected and logged in with about ten minutes left to get my five done which I was doubtful of. But I rushed, I typed fast (probably with many typos) and finished with two minutes left. |
| I don't have much time tonight, minutes left to complete my five. Let's just say it was unplanned and busy. I doubt I'll make all five but I'm trying. |
| It was another nice day today, in the fifties and sunny with a light breeze. I decided to try and find the sidewalk that runs between the house and the garage. Both roofs slope towards it, and the house shades it, so the snow doesn't melt as fast, and all the runoff from the house and garage creates a lot of ice. I shoveled what snow I could; it was packed, wet, and heavy, but I eventually uncovered the ice underneath. I put some salt down and relaxed on the patio while it did its magic. I had filled the bird feeders yesterday but the birds and squirrels had them pretty well empty, so I refilled them and watched various birds flock to the feeders. After a cup of coffee I returned to my task of chipping the ice away from the sidewalk and busted most of it loose, shoveled it away, and admired the long lost cement walk before calling the dogs in and taking a much deserved break. Shortly after coming in, I heard Bellah growling at something and went to investigate. I figured it would be the squirrels harassing the feeders, but instead discovered a couple of wild turkeys cleaning up the spilled feed from the ground. The birds were working as a team, the smaller ones landing on the feeder and knocking feed down for the turkeys. I poured another cup of coffee and returned to the window to watch, and discovered a deer had arrived. She would stand on her back feet, tip the feeder dumping seed on the ground. Then she and the turkeys would eat until it was time to dump some more. Soon the squirrels showed up to join the feast, as well as a couple of rabbits. I was reminded of a song a I watched the gathering of birds and critters: |
| The sun is hot today even though the temperature is just a little above thawing. Our recent snow is melting fast creating numerous rivulets as the melt-off flows down the slope of our yard. I found myself traversing back in time to my youth, playing and laughing as my best friend and I would find sticks, carve them into boat shapes, and sail them down the flowing water. Once bored with sailing, we would take wet snow, sand, and mud and create damns across the rivulets, watching as the water pooled and grew deeper until it would burst through and flood the lands below. We would use snow, sticks, and even small rocks to create a town below the damn, then watch as the flood waters would obliterate our creations. Kelly and I would be soaked and muddy by the time her mom or mine would announce it's time to come in. We would both get in trouble, although never serious, but enough to make us stay in for the rest of the day. But there was always tomorrow and we would do it all over again. Kelly and her family moved when I was about eleven or twelve, but our paths crossed a few time after I finished school. When I joined the service we lost touch but years later met online. I wrote a poem for her after we reunited online: "Come Out and Play" |
| Has spring finally arrived? The season has, even if the weather hasn't. Despite the recent, heavy, and deep snow, the frost seems to be out of the ground and it's melting from the bottom up as well as the top down. There are already numerous places in the yard where the ground is showing. I spent some time outside today and noticed the trees are budding and some of the little animals are out and about. In the strip of trees along side our property I saw a groundhog out and about (pretty brave with our two dogs) searching for food. I also noticed a lone robin perched in the big oak, watching me. I suppose it was hoping I was out to fill the feeders. I didn't disappoint it, I loaded up the feeders as well as scattering feed on the ground. I also, scattered some meal worms in the bare spots and watched as it flew down and feasted. I did a bit of straightening up in the garage, and when I came back out, I found the lone robin was no longer alone. A whole flock, twenty or more, had moved in to feast on the seeds and meal worms. I went in, got a cup of coffee and sat out while I watched the enjoy the feast when I noticed a couple more visitors looking for food, a pair of orioles hanging around where my wife hangs their feeder. I didn't have any oranges for them, but they seemed to enjoy the dried blueberries and a few strawberries I tossed their way. |
| We had a beautiful sunset this evening, vivid reds, pinks, and purples shot out from the horizon and reflected off the crystal white snow. I had the dogs out and didn't even think about taking a picture until after I brought them back in. But by the time I gave them treats, grabbed my phone, and went back out, the sun had dropped below the horizon and only shades of gray remained. I heard from a few people in the area that this last storm dropped about twenty-seven inches of snow over two days. Luckily, over half of it melted as it came down, and tonight we have about four to six inches left with some bare spots already opening up. I shoveled the end of the drive way out this afternoon, and boy was it heavy; more slush than snow. I also had a visitor stop by for a while this afternoon. She knocked and I had no idea who it was. She seemed to know me, mentioned that she hadn't talked to me since last fall, and decided she would stop by and say hi. Being polite, I asked her in, offered coffee and visited with her as I tried to remember who this was. I'm terrible at remembering names, so that part didn't surprise me. However, even if I don't recall the name, I usually recognize the person unless I only met them once and for a short time. But, I didn't remember this person at all and finally said, "I'm sorry, but I can't for the life of me, remember your name." "Really! It's Audrey. Remember, I was at the family reunion last fall." I felt bad, but not because I didn't remember Audrey, I felt bad because I didn't have a family reunion last fall. Then it struck me, our neighbor had his family reunion last fall. I explained this, she looked confused, then turned redder than this evenings sunset, and apologized. She had the wrong address but was close, Steve lives in the next house over. No matter, it was a nice visit even if I didn't know half of what she was talking about. |
| I recently had to go up a couple flights of steps, the elevator was out of order. I climbed the first with little problem, but scaling the second I felt a pang in my left knee. Nothing serious, just out of shape and not use to climbing stairs. Once the snow's done and the weather permits, some good hiking the hills and trails over at Maplewood State Park should get me back in shape. Upon leaving, I found going down the steps a bit easier, but still trying on muscles that weren't accustom to such movement. Once back to the car I thought about how much it's changed over the years. In school, we had three floors to go up and down throughout the day. Back then, two or three steps at a time was normal, both going up and going down. Even as a young adult I could take multiple flights two at a time without hesitation or problems, but eventually it became one step at a time. Still, even then I could climb multiple stories without tiring or problems. But, over the years I found it more and more tiring to climb steps. I suppose frequent use of elevators and not using my step muscles had a lot to do with it. I also think my years of sampling milk trucks, up and down steep steps for twelve hour shifts, took a toll on my legs and especially my knees. I also know being overweight and smoking adds to the difficulty of climbing and descending steps. Seeing as how much I enjoy good foods, the weight is difficult to lose, but I have cut way back on how much I smoke and I am planning on reducing the amount even more. Once it's nice out and I can resume my outside activities I'm planning on nipping that habit in the butt completely. But, even after I get my weight back down, I'm currently about fifty pounds too heavy, and extinguish the smoking habit, I'm sure climbing steps, hills, and even ladders with still present a bit of a challenge—I guess it's just "climb-it" change. |
| We had a winter storm watch through the weekend for today and tomorrow. It started with one to three inches. Sunday it was two to four inches and yesterday increased up to four to eight inches. This morning we had gloomy skies but no precipitation. The watch had become a warning with potential for significant snow fall. We were right on the norther edge and told to expect a coating to an inch, with heavier snowfalls south of us. We had two inches by noon and a new storm prediction back up to six to eight inches for today with heavier snowfall expected tomorrow and possibly into Thursday. I heard on the radio while over at the neighbors, an updated forecast, it's now a severe winter storm with a potential of twelve inches of snow. Isolated areas could see snow fall of two-plus feet! By Thursday we will be back into the forties with plenty of sun, or so they say. How much we'll get for sure, nobody knows. We've had about three inches, maybe four already, but a lot of it melted as it landed leaving us about two inches on the ground. It's still snowing, but the wind has lessened, and the sky is lighter. April first, Fools Day, and Mom Nature pulled a good one. But then again, maybe not; March did come in like a lamb so it's only natural for it to end like a lion. Either way is the same. My wife works until five this afternoon, so she'll be home before the roads get bad. She also has tomorrow off so we will be home, safe and secure. As for the dogs, they love the snow! Like kids, they are running and frolicking and making the most of this storm. After all, it may be along time before it snows again. |
| I'll have to make this another short entry today. No, I'm not out of time, but typing is kind of a pain today. Actually it started to be a pain yesterday evening, but it was bearable, today it's a bit worse. We rearranged the living room yesterday to make room by the windows to set up a table for plants and seedlings. The plan is to move them outside later this spring after winter gives up it's fight and goes into hibernation. The problem is, we can't grow anything except a few flowers that apparently don't taste good. If it's not the rabbits, it's the deer eating them. But, my wife had an idea to move and use a freestanding dog kennel we had used for a pen for a chicken that showed up one day. It's seven foot tall and if I remember, ten foot square. We will move it to a nice sunny location and I'll build some raised beds inside for her plants. But, I digress. Often. Anyway, in moving a couple of heavy pieces of furniture, I must have over worked my shoulder and arm muscles in my right arm. Now, I have a bit of throbbing that grows worse when I type. So, I'll keep this short, and let it rest. |
| I woke up to a world of white again, but just a dusting instead of the one to three inches The folks over in Grand Forks predicted. The dusting lasted through the morning, but melted off this afternoon when the sun broke through the clouds and the temperature climbed into the forties. We get another early spring day tomorrow, but those same clowns in Grand Forks have now issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday and Wednesday with three to six inches possible after some freezing rain. Whether or not we get bad weather or not is yet to be determined. My Mom always said if March comes in like a lamb, and it did this year, it will go out like a lion—I never know if the weather service is lying or not. I don't put a lot of faith into their forecast until the day after as it seems they are wrong more often than right. |
| Last night, or actually early this morning, my wife woke me with a shake and whispered, "I think someone is in the house." It took a minute or two for these words to sink in to my half asleep brain, but once they did, I was wide awake. I was just about to tell her, "You were probably dreaming." But before I could, I heard something in the kitchen. I also noticed it was very dark, the night light was out. I sat up, listened, and sure enough, there were sounds in the kitchen. I quietly crossed got out of bed and slipped my robe on as more sounds came from the kitchen. I couldn't understand why the dogs hadn't started barking as I fumbled for the flashlight I keep on my night stand. Once I had it turned on, I realized the dogs where not in the bedroom. I talked in a low voice to my wife, now sitting on the edge of the bed, "I think it's just the dogs out there, I'll go see what's up." She must have been thinking the same because she lay back down. I walked out of the bedroom guided by my flashlight, through the living room, and as I entered the kitchen, I saw both dogs sitting by the patio door. I was just about to ask them what they were doing when I heard something behind me. I turned my head towards the sound and discovered someone standing by the sink! Quickly I turned the flashlight on the intruder, blinding him. I was a bit panicked, I had no weapon, no phone, nothing. Then, I realized that the intruder was my wife's nephew. He stayed with us last winter, and still has a key as well as his room here. He had been drinking a bit and had gotten a ride to our house to spend the night. He let himself in and was trying to not wake us, but the power was off and he couldn't see except in the kitchen where there was some light coming in through the patio door. He remembered we kept a flashlight in the kitchen and was trying to find it when I came into the kitchen. I guess I startled him as much as he did me; we both had a good laugh. I was surprised he didn't have his phone light on and asked why. He had it when he came in, but the dogs heard him, recognized him, and in their jumping and excitement had knocked it out of his hands. He didn't know the power was off until after he had dropped his phone and in the dark he couldn't find it. |
| I posted in the Newsfeed that I had missed my daily achievements yesterday. So, today I am starting over, and with this post will have my five done for the day. I could have logged in after returning home yesterday and maybe had enough time to finish all five, but I would have been rushing and not putting much thought into any of them. Besides, I was off on my completion sequence, getting three badges on one day, then the other two a few days later. So, since it was late I decided to take the day off, reset, and then restart today. If I put the effort in, I will now compete and receive all five badges in a week. I did mention in a former blog post that once things start getting busier with the coming of warm weather, it could become very difficult to maintain my weekly streaks, and that was the case yesterday. I had a few things I had been putting off until it was warmer and nicer outside; yesterday was that day. It was in the mid-fifties Fahrenheit, a gentle breeze, and nothing but sunshine. After the work outside work was done, I had to run my wife into town and take care of a few things at her place of employment, then we took the dogs out to Maplewood State Park for some hiking and fresh air. Some of the remote camping areas are still closed off, so we hiked the gravel road (the trails are very muddy, have standing water in places, and ice and snow in shaded places) back to the camping area. Spring has arrived, the tapping and collecting from the maple trees has begun. I was hoping to catch someone at the ranger station, I want to find out who collects, processes, and sells the finished syrup. It was after dinner time when we left the park, we were hungry, and we had not taken anything out to prepare, so we hustled back into town and stopped at the local meat/locker plant to pick up something for our dinner. We picked out a nice beef roast and I couldn't refuse getting a fresh, right from the smoker, double-smoked ham, and since we were there, a couple of whole chickens. I also picked up a small chunk of flank steak to slice, cure, and dry for beef jerky. Once it's warmer, I'll dry it in the pellet smoker, but this batch is drying in a convection oven. My wife was hungry for hot beef sandwiches, but it was too late to cook the roast; instead we sliced it thin and fried the slices, then made gravy in the pan, returned the sliced beef and let it simmer while the potatoes cooked. In honesty, I prefer this method over the traditional hot beef sandwich. After I helped with dishes and cleanup, mixed up the brine and started the jerky marinading, then retired to my recliner. It was after ten, eleven WDC time and I wondered if I would be able to complete my five or if I should use the opportunity to restart, and here I am. |
| Well, not yet, but it's getting close. I still have time to get my entry in and have it count for today, but I don't really have any idea what to blog about tonight. It's been a busy day, but uneventful. I logged in without much time, but did get everything done for my five, or will when this posts. Tomorrow I will have to slow down and catch up. For now, it's time to quit rambling on, and on, and on... |
| A post in the Newsfeed stirred up a buried memory that I decided to use for today's blog entry. In the early years of the century I met a person who had a lasting impression. I was visiting my Mom and younger brother at the time, and it was my brothers idea to go visit Thelmer. Thelmer lived just on the edge of a small town and had about a dozen beef cattle. He lived in his parents house, alone. The house appeared to be in good shape, but needed roof work, paint, and some general repairs. All the other farm structures were either in the process of collapsing or already on the ground. As we drew nearer the house, I could see all the windows were blocked from the inside. Not boarded up, blocked by various things stacked against them. Thelmer saw us about the same time the stench reached my olfactory. I didn't know what, or where the offensive odor was coming from, but it was enough to turn my stomach. Thelmer met us in the unkempt yard and, knowing my brother, started talking. My brother introduced me with a smirk; Thelmer wasted no time in shaking my hand as he introduced himself, "Good to meet ya; Thelmer E. Wielęburk's the name." I shook his hand, but my first instinct was to pull away. Hell, my olfactory senses told me to flee, quickly. Thelmer had the dirtiest hands I had ever seen. Not like hands doing work and getting dirty, this was dirt upon dirt, weeks, maybe months worth. His clothing was shiny and I could not tell the original color, and as hard as it was for me to accept, Thelmer stunk so bad his odor had masked the previous stench that had assaulted me. Thelmer was nice person, just not a clean person. He held fast to the beliefs of times past, bathing too often wasn't healthy. I learned from some of the old-timers in the small town (I later lived there for a while) that Thelmer's parents were much the same in some regards, but Thelmer took it to a whole new level after they passed away. Thelmer was cheap. He managed to pay property taxes and hold the family farm, but in doing he eventually sold most of the farm's assets. He didn't have electricity, plumbing, or even a phone. He couldn't afford to have garbage hauled, instead he stacked it wherever he could find room (the blocked windows). I also learned, after he passed and the house was condemned, that he also used pails, buckets, or anything else he could scrounge for a toilet. When filled, it joined the rest of the garbage that eventually filled the house except for the kitchen, where Thelmer resided. Thelmer did bathe, he had a galvanized washtub he would pump water into from an old hand-drawn pump, let it sit for a day to warm, and then take his bath. He did this in late spring and early fall. He would also change his cloths after his bath. He would purchase a new set of clothes, bathe, change and then live in those clothes until his next bi-annual bath. People in the small town did help Thelmer, but he didn't want handouts and generally refused them. He was thought to be dirt poor, selling anything left to him to survive. But, after he passed, it was discovered that his house was still furnished with antique furniture, pictures, everything. Unfortunately, the years of garbage and waste had destroyed most of it and the rest was burned by order of the health department. In the end, everyone was fooled. Thelmer was laid to rest and along with his simple obituary in the local paper was a small article stating that Thelmer's parents had invested in the Bell Telephone Company and had amassed quite a large amount of money when they cashed in their shares. They had set up an escrow account for their only son to provide for him. They also had save a couple of hundred dollars over the years they farmed, mostly in coin. This also had been determined to be worth a fair amount of money, so it was kept in a safe deposit box. They had worked with an attorney out of Sioux Falls who arranged everything, set up the banking accounts, the safe deposit box, and even helped them invest some money in some other stocks that did well. I remembered back to my first meeting with him. He had insisted we go over to the gas station and get coffee. We did, he let me pay for his, and with a wink said, "I'll let you pay for the coffee, I'm a bit short right now. But, if ya ever need anything, let me know, I'm worth my weight in gold ya know." He often told people he was rich, but we all thought he was just a bit crazy. Long story short, Thelmer was worth a small fortune! |
| I've always enjoyed a wide assortment of music and over time my tastes have developed to include a lot of popular songs, yet other songs many enjoy I find don't do anything for me. They're alright, but they just don't move me. Sometimes as I listen to songs I enjoy, people not familiar with my eccentric tastes in music are surprised; this includes people of all ages. I was contemplating my musical likes and what shaped my musical eccentricity over the years and decided it likely began at a young age, when my mind was developing and easily influenced by the many styles of music I was subjected to. My grandparents listened to big-band music, polkas, and even traditional or folk music (barn-dance). My parents enjoyed western and country, while my older siblings listened to songs from the late fifties and sixties. Of course, they all had vinyl records of their favorites that I would borrow and listen to. In time, I began buying some records as well, often influenced as much by the album art as by the songs recorded. Often, I would like the imagery and see a few songs I knew from other records or from the radio. One such album was "The Best of Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show" . Most of the songs I had never heard but there were a few I liked such as, Sylvia's Mother, Cover of The Rolling Stones, and Carry me Carrie. I remember putting the album on and starting it, eager for the songs I liked and curious about the ones I didn't know. The album had these songs: Sylvia's Mother Acapulco Goldie Freakin' at the Freaker’s Ball Makin' It Natural Penicillin Penny The Cover of the "Rolling Stone" Get My Rocks Off Carry Me, Carrie Queen of the Silver Dollar Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie Of course, if you're familiar with these songs, you know they weren't the kind of songs my parents would have approved of for a boy in his teens. But, being in my teens in the 1970s, I instantly developed a fondness for all of them. Quite a few of the songs were, as my mother called them, raunchy and corrupting, but she did not take the album and I was able to play it as long as it was turned down low enough she couldn't hear it. One song in particular that likely defiled my developing gray-matter was this one: Luckily, all I had was the album art and not the video or who knows how much more damage could have been done~ A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
| What, pray tell, am I referring to as getting shorter? It's not the days, they are still increasing in length, up to 12h 19m now. It's not me, at least not yet. So what then is getting shorter? And, why am I happy about it? The seasonal rifts that occur in the vicinity of 46°25'N latitude are getting shorter. When I say "seasonal rift" I'm talking about the fluctuations between seasons, in this case the fluctuations between spring and fall. In late winter, we have an average of winter weather and temperatures with very short periods of spring-like periods, lasting a day or maybe even a week before winter returns. But, eventually we start seeing longer periods of spring weather and temperatures with a day to a week off winter mixed in. We have passed the meridian of winter-spring rifts o that now we see spring like weather the majority of the time with a day or possibly two of winter. After almost a week of spring, winter returned through the rift with cold weather for a day, then yesterday the rift closed and spring returned. Today the rift reopened with temperatures below freezing and snow, up to an three inches possible by tomorrow. But the rift will close tomorrow and spring will return for the next week. Yes, the seasonal rift is weakening and soon it will be spring. |
| Sometimes an idea for a story, poem, or blog entry arrives from an unsuspected source. That's the case today after the delivery of a water pump. The pump is a rechargeable unit designed to fit on top of a three or five gallon water bottle. We use them for camping, and it's always a hassle to pick them up and pour them, so I decided to invest in this portable pump. After the package arrived I opened it and inspected the contents, plugged the pump into a USB charger, and looked at the instructions. The very first line was a warning which prompted me to write this entry: Please do not use this product to pump alcohol and other stimulating liquids such as oil. An attorney, a cowboy, and a health-nut walk into a bar. The bartender asks, "What'll it be for y'all today?" The attorney answers, "Scotch, on the rocks, sir." The cowboy replies, "Bourbon, neat pardner." The health-nut, showing off that he only drinks healthy beverages answers, "A glass of cod-liver oil, and could you please garnish it with a stalk of celery." Sorry to the health-nuts, I mean no offense. But, I had never thought of oil of any kind as a stimulating liquid unless you consider how it would stimulate one's digestive track! Rest assured, we will only use the pump for fresh, clean water... |
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