A Bloy and his Blog

Here’s a few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately — some are important in the grand scheme of things, some aren’t. I’ll leave you to decide which is which.

America the Beautiful should be the national anthem of the U.S.A.

With the recall election mess currently going on in California, I’m grateful I live elsewhere. I only hope the Wisconsin legislature looking at tax freezes and budget cuts here realize why things in California are such a mess right now.

Is French Toast really French? More importantly, who wants to make French Toast for me tomorrow morning?

How can President Bush call it the “Clear Skies” plan when it actually allows more pollutants and greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere?

When the blacktop sealer they just put on your driveway is curing, it is very stinky.

Lately I’ve been very aware of the passage of time — both in small and large amounts. In this age of modern conveniences, why do we often run out of time? Not enough time to get the house chores done before bedtime, not enough time to write a blog entry (wink), not enough time to finish reading that magazine before next month’s issue arrives…

As I get older, time seems to move much faster for me than it did when I was younger. Is your perception of the passage of time inversely related to the amount of memories in your brain? I remember summers when I was a kid that seemed to go on forever. Now the seasons (summer especially) seem to just fly by.

As David Bowie once sang, “Time may change me, but I can’t change time.”

I had the “closing time dream” again last night.

I’m at work (in the library) and it’s closing time. So we lock all the doors, but somehow people are still able to come in. They keep walking through the locked doors in droves. We tell them that the library is closed and they have to leave but they don’t. Of course since all the library patrons keep coming in, that means I am unable to go home (and getting a bit irritated about the whole situation).

Around 14 years ago I had earned my masters degree and was searching for a job in the library field for several months. I was working in a retail store at the time and every so often I would have a dream similar to the one above. It was closing time. They doors of the store were locked. I wanted to leave, but customers kept coming in.

About a year ago I started having the same dream every couple of months or so. The only difference is, it takes place in the library. When I thought about the dream today an important question that I had not considered before, popped into my head. Why don’t I just leave?

I saw one of the first signs of Spring today. I opened up my mailbox to see the L.L. Bean outdoor gear catalog waiting for me. Unfortunately it was accompanied by a big sign of winter — a snowstorm. Right now there’s about two inches on the ground and we’re supposed to get another four inches. I guess I won’t be camping anytime soon. At least looking at all that cool stuff and daydreaming about the outdoors will make the winter night seem a little warmer.

So there I was at home with cabin fever, day dreaming of summer camping and biking. As I was silently wishing it was spring and all of this bitter cold weather was well behind me, I clicked on a web page and saw the following quote:

It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.

- Sir Winston Churchill

Tragic news today when the Columbia space shuttle broke apart and all of those aboard perished. In a time when war, terrorism and other negative aspects of humanity can be all too prevalent, those 7 astronauts died while on a peaceful quest to expand our scientific knowledge. May that noble quest never perish.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who were close to the astronauts.

I am definitely behind in my blogging. I blame it on the winter. It certainly isn’t MY fault. [grin]

Short days and long nights in bitter cold temperatures bring out the hibernator in me. I find I sleep more in the wintertime and I spend more time curled up on the couch with a good book (and maybe a blanket). Of course the lack of snow doesn’t help. Looking out the window and seeing a winter wonderland of brown can be a bit depressing.

I’m as dark as December.
I’m as cold as the man in the moon.
All I hear is that lonesome sound.
The hounds of winter, they follow me down.

- Sting, The Hounds Of Winter