Friday Music: Icarus

We've been listening to this song for so many years, can't even remember where or when we first heard it. There is something about the story of Icarus that is so timelessly evocative. When we google Icarus and read about how many songs mention him and how many paintings depict him, it makes us wonder what it is about this young man, those wings, that draw of the sun that has stayed so compelling for more than 2000 years. It also makes us wonder what will we leave behind besides that ash heap of history that will be relevant 2000 years from now... a story? a song? an apologetic note etched into a cave wall? What do you think?

Almost Wordless Wednesday: 22 Degree Halo

Sometimes the halo is perfect, as round as the sun, with the clouds radiating outward like rays. Just a brief moment of zen in an otherwise chaotic world of madmen, viruses, and debates that we don't watch.

Grammatically Correct Or Not

That perfect moment of reflection

This may be the weirdest post I've ever written, but I can't resist asking this question. The other evening after I checked all the doors in the house to make sure they were locked, I said this out loud to Roger. "You think the door is locked, but it not always is." My proofreader's editor brain did a major spin on that:  IT NOT ALWAYS IS. Is that in any way a grammatically correct way to say "You think the door is locked, but it isn't always." And if it is grammatically correct, why does it sound so utterly crazy? What do you think? I sincerely look forward to your analysis.

Friday Music: The Last Laugh

What do you think of when you hear this song? When is the moment you want to have that last laugh? I think of the morning after election day this year. I want to wake up laughing. (This is Mark Knopfler and Van Morrison.)

Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh my friend
Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh at the end
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Down in the scuppers with the drunken sailors
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
But the last laugh, baby is yours

And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

Games you thought you'd learned
You neither lost nor won
Dreams have crashed and burned
But you're still going on
Out on the highway with the road gang working
Up on the mountain with the cold wind blowing
Out on the highway with the road gang working
But the last laugh, baby is yours
 
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down
They had you crying but you came up smiling
They had you crawling and you came up flying
They had you crying and you came up smiling
And the last laugh, baby is yours

And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down
Yeah don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

What's Up Doc?

This Conspiracy of Ravens gathered to tell me of my woes

So I went to see the doctor on Friday. We're lucky to live in small town, small enough that we can walk to the clinic. It was a beautiful sunny day. I had thought about bringing my own face mask, but I thought, "What the hell, of course they're going to have face masks. It's a health clinic." Okay, so I was wrong. I checked in at the front desk, went to get a mask where they always have been, and the box was empty. Uh-oh. Well, there were only a few people in the waiting room. I looked them over and determined that none of them had the flu. I don't know why I thought in that moment that I had special powers, but I did. We weren't in that room five minutes before one of the people waiting started to cough. COUGH. No mask! COUGH! I stood right up and walked to a different part of the clinic and luckily got called in to see the doctor right away.

The doctor listened to my vertigo story and thought it probably was caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).  I told her that all of my blogging friends and all of my Facebook friends had made the same diagnosis. We laughed. I, on the other hand, told her that I think it has to do with my neck. We'll see. So far things have calmed down, only a bit of unsteadiness when I move too quickly. I can live with that. She gave me a handout of exercises to do and a lot of information about vertigo. She had the lab run a bunch of blood tests. The results of which turned out to be normal. How can that be? I have no idea. I'm not normal in any way!

So, we walked home and all I could think about was being exposed to the flu at the clinic. I was so bummed out about it. It was exactly what I did not want to happen. I've been reading and commenting on Facebook posts by a woman (we have a mutual friend) who used to live here in our small town, and who happened to be on the cruise ship the Diamond Princess, the one that's been docked in Japan and under quarantine for the past eleven days. I wish I could emulate her calm spirit and nature, her kindness, her acceptance of the moment. Instead I started googling around to find out how long  it takes for flu symptoms to show up after exposure (24-48 hours, but sometimes up to 4 days). What are the first symptoms (the usual, sore throat, headache, fever, chills, etc). How long does it last (a week and maybe two before all the symptoms are gone). I spoke with my nephew about my fears and he suggested that I take Elderberry syrup. Turns out it's a pretty good natural way to manage the flu. I started to take it as a precaution. As I type this, it has been 48 hours and so far so good. But what a world we live in, what a world.

So, do I have answers? No, not really. But now I'm just going to concentrate on the primary election coming up in March here in California on Super Tuesday. That sounds like fun, doesn't it? I'm so worried about the future I think I'm making myself sick. What a world we live in, what a world.

How are you?

Friday Music: One Day

I had been thinking about what song to post on Valentine's Day. There are so many beautiful love songs out there. I just couldn't find the one that lifted my heart and spirit and hopes. For some reason I thought about this song, which isn't a love song in the traditional romantic sense at all. I went and listened to it again the other day and noticed that it had been recorded on Valentine's Day two years ago. Yes, this is our love song on Valentines' Day. One Day, please.

No News But Sunshine

I haven't been to see the doc yet, but I did get an appointment for Friday. I'm hoping she'll have some answers. Not much new to report. No more vertigo, but ongoing unsteadiness and light-headedness. I'm careful. We have been getting in a few walks out and about. The weather has been lovely, sunny, and inviting.

The signs of spring are everywhere. I think the birds are even starting to build nests. We are more than half way to Equinox, and the flowers in the front yard are celebrating with the colors we wait for all winter.

The yellow of Daffodils and the purple Anemones remind us that no matter how shitty we feel...

...how much the President drives us crazy...how much the thoughts of flu seasons and new global viruses scare us to our rickety old bones... the flowers bloom with no ideas of such things. The season is theirs.

Thank you all for your kind good wishes. I'll keep you posted.

Blogging Hiatus

The view from the bridge while zooming into town

We're taking some time off from blogging. Not sure how long, but hopefully not very. I am not well. Not sure what's going on, but I experienced three bouts of unbelievably horrible vertigo in the middle of the night and have not slept since. I haven't been to see the doctor because I am waiting to see if it will resolve on its own. I prefer avoiding doctor offices and ERs during flu season, if I can. If there is any news or a radical change in my health I (or Roger) will post something here. Until then, take care friends.

Not Even A Real Attempt At A Post

We have no words. We're waiting to see what happens next. It's hard to pretend we are living in normal times when we obviously are not. A friend posted this on Facebook and I thought it summed it up pretty well.

The first primary vote is on Tuesday.
We'll see how it goes.
Until then, how are you?