Random Musingshttp://www.davidbowie.com/bin/user/myriada/Blogger: myriada |
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November Snow
November 17, 2008 10:56PM
When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I'll know I'm growing old.
~ Lady Bird Johnson
If that’s true, I’m in big trouble! But in all fairness, the snow we’ve gotten since last weekend is more like what you see above than the beautiful, crisp blanket that one normally associates with a first snow. This is just a few random flakes that were persistent. It’s a sprinkling of rain that wouldn’t take the hint when the temperature dropped below freezing. It’s Mother Nature with freezer burn. And it’s been just enough to kick start the usual rash of “Oops, I forgot how to drive in winter” accidents in this area. I’m told there were several. Every year, it’s the same thing. It may be even worse this year if cities are remiss to spend money on street care because of the lousy economy. But I would hope that wouldn’t be the case. In the meantime, I keep reminding myself as a hockey fan that I should love this kind of weather. Ugh… Maybe later. Right now, I just want to pull the covers up over my head. 
But speaking of the economy, I did see one ray of sunshine today. You might recall that I was recently lamenting the fact that Pedigree Denta Stix had discontinued putting a free adhesive label on the back of their dog treats for the purpose of resealing the package. The strip did tend to lose its stickiness after repeated use, but gosh darn it – I wanted my free adhesive label back! Well today I opened a pack of Denta Stix that I purchased just last weekend, and guess what? The adhesive strip was back! Woo-hoooooooo! Power to the people! We prevail! Now maybe I should write a post about the way gas prices – and by association, product transportation costs – have fallen dramatically, yet grocery prices haven’t dropped one red cent. Why, I haven’t been so shocked since Obama failed to secure the Ku Klux Klan’s endorsement. 
And now since I feel like we could all use two things in our lives right now – sound economic advice and a healthy dose of silliness, here is an educational short brought to you Mystery Science Theater 3000-style courtesy of Mike and the ‘bots. This is some of their finest work. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll spew whatever you’re drinking all over your computer monitor. So check it out. 
MONEY TALKS (Part 1) (5:57)
MONEY TALKS (Part 2) (6:15)
Crow: (referring to Benjamin Franklin) "He was the best president we ever had!"
Oh, The Places You'll Go
November 15, 2008 11:57PM
Its really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.
~ J.D. Salinger
And to round out my picture updates, here is that suitcase that I mentioned "rescuing" from my neighbors' garbage after they had moved out a few weeks ago. Pretty snazzy, huh? Told ya so. 
And it is in as good of condition as it looks inside and out. The only flaw is that one of the zippers that goes around the outside is off its track. I still think that might be fixable with some effort, but even if isn't, my old suitcase had one broken zipper anyway, and it was in a lot worse condition, so this is quite an improvement. Granted, I wouldn't want a gorilla pounding on it, but its light-weight, easy to handle, and practically new. I even like the color. 
Here's a close-up of the branding plate:
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On a traveling theme, here is my special dedication for today. This is one of my all-time favorites -- a song that I initially associated with The Lord of the Rings, which I had just finished reading when I first heard it. You can probably tell why. These days it has a much deeper meaning for me. The clip itself was recorded live in concert -- or concerts as it were, It seems to be a bit of a montage in places. Either that or Morten has the ability to spontaneously change his outfit and hair configuration from one second to the next.
SLENDER FRAME -- a-ha (4:04)
There's many roads to leave by, but few come back again. I don't believe it. I believe it.
Beneath The Boughs Of The Honey Locust Tree
November 13, 2008 11:57PM
Of all the poems I’ve ever wanted to write,
there’s one that has the honey-locust blooming,
its thorns still green and malleable in late spring,
the lilt of its flowers strewn across the yard.
This is not that poem, though here in the old house
whose heartpine floors wane at each corner
I can imagine it.
~ John Casteen
Here is that pictorial tribute to my favorite tree that I promised a few weeks ago. I've been rather fond of a number of trees in my lifetime. I'm a tree-hugger, after all. But this tree, this honey locust, reminds me a lot of myself.
Here is a view of it from the direction of the road. A trailer owned by the landlord is parked underneath it, and behind the tree is the gentle slope where Ayla and I used to sit and play in the warm afternoon sun when Ayla was just a pup. To this day, we pass beneath its boughs each and every day during our morning walks.
But this isn't a tree that I would recommend hugging. Or climbing for that matter. It sports these wickedly sharp, massive thorns to protect itself. I've read that in the past, the thorns were sometimes used as nails, just to show how unpleasant a run in with them would be.
But the honey-locust tree does have a softer side. Each year, it produces these large, curly bean pods -- about 8 inches long -- that smell quite sweet, like a honeydew melon. Here is a shot of the mature pods hanging amongst the tree’s thorny branches.
In the fall, the pods drop from their branches, blanketing the ground and filling the air with their distinct, sickly sweet fragrance. The pods provide a plentiful food source for hungry animals during the long, harsh winter. Here is a close-up of some pods that had collected on the landlord's trailer.
So it just goes to show that sometimes the greatest kindnesses can come from those who appear gruff and unsociable at first. You can't judge a book by its cover, nor a tree by its thorns.
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| Real Name: | Wendy |
| Location: | Fort Wayne, IN, USA |
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