Change the page. December has arrived. Today is Wednesday, the first. Commence the countdown to the new year.
May be a new month but we began it the same way as the end of last month, with sunshine wearily attempting to poke sunlight through clouds and fog. Gray and silver drape the trees. All the deciduous have dumped their leaves. Naked branches are the new norm, except for the pines and firs.
Temperature is 40 degrees F with expectations that we’ll see 62. Sure. Sunset will come at 4:40 PM while sunrise’s feeble start was at 7:20 AM. A day without sunshine is a dreary spectacle.
Today’s music popped into the morning mental music stream after a political conversation with friends yesterday. Someone made the comment, “That’ll be the day,” which prompted the ol’ mental Alexa to say, “Playing That’ll Be the Day by Linda Ronstadt from 1976.” Why Alexa went with that cover instead of the Buddy Holly edition is outside of my gray matter’s ken. Anyway, it’s on a loop in my head so I’m putting it out there to loop into others’ heads.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when you can. You know what I mean. Got my coffee, French Roast, untouched by sugar, cream, or milk, but with a splash of cinnamon. Here we go, December. Cheers
Sunshine glittered off the trees and cracked through the windows at 7:19 AM on this November 30, 2021 morning. Two hours later, fog stole the light and cast shadows across hopes for a bright, sunny day. The temperature was 51 F; now it’s 45. The expected high is 62 so we’re expecting change to come.
Hello, fellow Earthfarers. Today is Tuesday, the final day of the eleventh month of the year. 2021 is drawing down. Yet, it will all go on with a new set of numbers and labels. Same day, different year.
I have Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” from 1980 occupying the morning mental music stream. This is directly dream related. As I noodled through recalling my dreams, one about change stood out. From that, I came to think of this song. I remember hearing it for the first while I was at home listening to an offbeat FM rock station in San Antonio, TX. That station played many tunes that didn’t find regular airplay on other stations. The song resonated with me, although I, a white male in America, have always had it pretty good. I looked up the lyrics later.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get some jabs. Here’s the song, a reflective tune for a fog-swathed morning. Wait…is that sunshine?
Not holding my breath. Just sipping my coffee. Cheers
Sunrise on this Monday lifted the curtain on a foggy November day at 7:18 this morning. Life outside the windows wear a damp, dull sheen.
It’s the twenty-ninth, November’s penultimate day. Forty-three degrees F is the air temperature, but that fog block minimizes the sun’s presence and lends a chilling effect to the skin. Fifty-nine is projected as a high for today but I’m skeptical; sixties were expected yesterday. Though the sun broke through the fog by three, temperatures never went over the mid-fifties in our valley. I suspect more of the same today before sunset at 4:40 PM.
I have “Blue Monday, Blue Day” by Foreigner (1978) feeding the morning mental music stream. My dreams featured blue and that’s shaded over into the thinking operations. But there’s also that Monday/fog combo invoking a mild patina of depression. Hence, “Blue Monday, Blue Day”.
Stay positive (yeah, I know), test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when you can. Don’t go gently into that night but into the kitchen for a cuppa coffee. Here’s the music. Cheers
Happy Hanukkahto those who celebrate it. The observance begins today, Sunday, November 28, 2021, and goes to December 6. Our friend makes terrific latkes, and she shared them with us as part of her Festival of Lights. She moved a few hundred miles away so we won’t have them this year. Sad face.
The sun showed its light at 7:16 AM, which revealed a foggy valley. Temperature is 53 F now, and will climb to 65 today. I’m treating an apparent head cold so I probably won’t be out there enjoying the day. Felt it arriving yesterday after my walk. Coughing woke me at five thirtyish. A sore throat announced its presence, and the energy level was a no-show. Stoppered nose. Teary eyes. Planned some yard work before the sun sets at 4:41 PM, so I’m bummed.
Anastacia with “Sick and Tired” (2004) is bubbling through the morning mental music stream. Her song was about a relationship gone wrong and broken hearts, but I like her vocal style and the song’s grittiness.
Hope you’re doing better. Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when you can. Gonna medicate with a cuppa coffee. See it that can summon some energy for writing. Cheers
This is it. 2021 is about to enter the home stretch and gallop into history. It’s been a rush of hours. Despite being limited in where we can go, I’ve stayed busy with writing, housework, tending cats, reading, and some limited socializing. My wife, who is more social, laments that we’re just marking time. I don’t feel the same. I’m writing, after holding off on pursuing a writing career, or even much writing effort, while working in the military and business. Wasn’t supposed to be like this; when I retired from the military, I was going somewhere to write. But no; she was pursuing her career and pleaded with me to stay in the SF bay area for that purpose. Five years later, her career was done. One company bought another and she was let go. She never worked again. Meanwhile, I worked another twenty years after putting my twenty in the military. So, not sorry. This is now my time. It may be too late as I dance through my sixties — hell, I can pull my social security now, if I wish. But I’m going on, writing and trying until health or death stops me.
Okay, that screed is out of the way. Today is Saturday, November 27, 2021. Oh, a gray day is on us. One great smear of dull gray clouds blots out the blue sky, sunshine, and surrounding mountain tops. Stillness is holding, like the valley is holding its breath. Sunrise came upon us at 7:15 AM and sunset will take place at 4:45 PM. Temperatures are warmer, already 52 F and we expect 62 F. I’m a little disconcerted by the warm trend. By this time in many past years, we’ve already experienced a few inches of snow from at least one storm. Nothing of that sort has taking place this year. The fear is that the snow we need to have piled onto the pack won’t come, leaving us mired in drought and subject to more wildfires next year. Breath held, fingers crossed.
The COVID-19 Omicron variant is the big news. Just as we thought, hey, a light, maybe it’s the end of the tunnel, another variant hurdles toward us. The world races to react and contain it, headlines blare. We know that’s not true. Many people are shrugging it off as fake news or not really that bad, or so what? Let’s take our chances and die. We’re in the same boat but same don’t care. They’ll pull in the direction that they want, and damn the rest.
Sour mood, isn’t it? And I’m already drinking coffee.
Today’s morning mental music stream is occupied by Rick Astley singing “Never Gonna Give You Up” from 1987. Started because of a cat. He was singing it to me as he tucked in against me in bed this AM, kneading my shoulder with his claws and singing a deep baritone purr. I had to get up to attend other cats and my bladder but the fur beast was singing, “Never gonna give, never gonna give, never gonna give you up.” At least, so it seems to my demented mind.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get thyself vaxes and boosters when possible. Looking at the trend started in 2020 and continued in 2021, 2022 is gonna need more patience, more masks, and more endurance.
Here’s the music. Pretty lame video. Think I need more coffee. Cheers
Friday’s greetings, fellow voyagers. Today is November 26, 2021. The sun kicked in around our environs at 7:14 AM, guiding us out of the dark night into the bright day and lifting our temperatures from 35 degrees F to 37. We do expect to climb into the fifties with the temperatures as clouds and sunshine continue the battle of evermore. The sun will steel away with its light and warmth at 4:46 PM. We’ll do our best to enjoy the hours between.
Speaking of evermore, I have “The Battle of Evermore” by Led Zeppelin (1971) in my morning mental music stream. Came upon when I was out last night. We’d finished Friendsgiving on some friends’ farm. It was about 8:30 PM. I was preparing to leave. I stepped outside, out in the country a bit where their property sits, and admired the stars and breathed the air. Memories from doing this as a child, teenager, and adult throughout my life came up and stood beside me. Hence the song’s presence. We’re here for a short while, but those stars are evermore.
Stay positive, test negative, listen to the music (like how I slipped that in there?), wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and boosters when you can. Just read of another variant emerging in Africa which has kicked the stock market down the stairs. COVID-19 and its variants seem like they’ll be another facet of evermore. Don’t get complacent now.
Welcome to Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Thursday, November 25, 2021. My wife has turned on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade being broadcast from New York. She loves watching that. It’s part of her tradition.
Out walking yesterday, my mind treated me to a series of songs. First up, “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me.” That was followed by, “Give my regards to Broadway. Remember me in Herold Square. Tell all the gang at Forty Second street, that I will soon be there.” Then, though, my brain suggested, “Isn’t it Trafalgar Square?” What? Another brain section wondered if it wasn’t “Lester Square.”
I think my brain is trying to drive me nuts.
Sunrise came upon us at 7:13 AM and sunset will cometh at 4:43 PM. Temperatures were at 32 F when I arose but it’s now 36. We expect 56 under a pale blue sky.
We’ll be going to a Friendsgiving celebration this year. It was skipped last year but we’ve been doing this for ten years or so. Folks who live out at a farm invite others each year. It’s limited to twelve people this year, all vaccinated and boosted. We’re taking a sweet potato casserole which my wife made yesterday and an appetizer tray.
Meanwhile, a Roxette song, “It Must Have Been Love” (1987) is occupying the morning mental music stream. Don’t know why this song is there. Maybe I heard a snippet from it sometime yesterday. Could be from dreams; had a long train of dreams last night. Some were sexy and a few were funny. Too many to go through, though.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when you can. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving to you. Hope it’s memorable and fun, with minimal stress. Otherwise, seize the day, wherever you are. I’m gonna seize a cuppa coffee. That’s how I start. Here’s the music. Cheers
Happy hump day, camels. Maybe it’s hump day for you. Wednesday is often so designated. Mid-week, people consider it the hardest to bestir themselves to endure. Hardest to get up, process, and function. Even coffee and energy drinks seem to do little…for a while. But then, as the morning hours pass and the afternoon arrives, they realize, they’re going to make it. And if they can make it through Wednesday, they can make it the rest of the week.
Course, hump day isn’t always Wednesday for some people. Some feel hump day on Monday. If they can get through Monday, then all else is gravy. Or hump day is Thursday and if Thursday is survived… You get it. I’ve beaten it sufficiently that little life remains.
Today is November 24, 2021. We’re racing toward the year’s end. Just consider: next Wednesday is December 1.
Sunrise split the valley into light and dark at 7:12 AM. The sun’s warming light will fade out of the valley starting at 4:43 PM. Current temperature is 29 F, according to my thermometer, and the cats agree, declaring, “Cold. Gimme heat.” Net says it’s 39, but then the sun hasn’t actually entered my yard yet. Still just clearing the mountains and forests. Give it time, right? High temp should be 55 today. The sky is deceptively summer blue. Looks warmer than it is.
I have “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men from 2011 echoing in the morning mental music stream. The song came about because I was reading about how people read data about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations, and reached their own conclusions about vaccines not working. They called this their truth. They then lamented that they were blocked, locked out, or shut out of whatever forum they were using because they were spreading misinformation. From all of that, I thought of “Little Talks” and the line that goes, “Though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to the shore.”
Yes, the truth can be complicated. What was true a hundred years ago might not be true now. We learn, we grow, we develop new understanding and discover what we held as the truth was wrong. The truth now, though, is that data supports the vaccines, masking, and social distancing. The truth, though, is also that variants will emerge and break through. The truth is that we will know more in a year, and we’re not sure where COVID-19 and humanity will stand at that time.
Damn. Now I need coffee. Stat.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when you can. The truth is, that will help most of us survive. Cheers
Today is 327, by the Julian calendar. Pretty straightforward, innit, ‘stead of all that Tuesday, November 11, 2021 stuff, but not as poetic and evocative. You give a day, say, Tuesday, and you think of things. Birthdays, work, anniversaries, songs. 327, I pretty much think of a Chevy engine, Corvettes and Camaros. I also think, 3+2+7 = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3.
Sunrise split the gauzy cloud layers at 7:11 AM. The sun will conduct business in our realm until 4:43 PM. No appointment necessary. Temperatures will be warmer for the lows (39) and colder for the highs (45) than yesterday. Rain showers are possible with no great accumulation.
I have the Boomtown Rats playing from 1977 in the morning mental music stream. I ascribe its presence to the holiday shopping season bearing down on us. While it’s supposed to be a season of giving, watching people on the television going nuts buying things really causes me to doubt the purpose behind it all. The car commercials and their enormous sales, about people spending gobs of money to buy a car to make this ‘a season to remember’ doesn’t help at all. The song is all about selfishness, and that’s what I see as the final manifestation of much of the buying going on. It’s a gimme gimme gimme time of year.
Well, stay positive — yeah, sure you’re feeling pos after my minor screedette — test negative for COVID-19, get the vax and booster when you can, and wear a mask as needed. Speaking of needed, I have a need for coffee. Catch you on the flip side. Cheers
Another Monday has come around, to lift you up or tear you down, depending on your point of view, and what it is that you’re trying to do.
November 22, 2021, has broken like many other days. Bright sunshine blasting light on everything under blue skies unencumbered by smoke or cloud arrived on the Ashland scene at 7:10 AM and will swivel away, leaving us in darkness alleviated by artificial lights at 4:44 PM. Nothing of this day portends murder, death, and chaos, but it’ll happen somewhere. Perhaps the weather there is giving warning signs.
We saw freezing temperatures last night. Got up to 33 F after the sun broke, which stayed as the temp for some time. It has risen to 36. We expect something in the fifties but this feels like aunter, that season between autumn and winter when leaves are still turning and falling but winter’s advance cold marches in and chills us.
I have Jethro Tull, “Bungle in the Jungle” out of 1974, in the morning mental music stream. This came about because of granola. I decided brekkie would feature oatmeal, a pretty standard breakfast for me. I like granola on my oatmeal. Adds crunch, heft, flavor. Several granola styles are in the pantry. I thought I’d save one of them for later in the week, prompting me to remember, “Eating their nuts, saving their raisins for Sunday.” This is, you know, a line from the song. Thereafter, Ian and the gang played live in my head from the record player that still exists in brain’s teen cellar, where all things teen are stored.
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax and booster when ye can. Also, coffee up. I’m going to. It’s cold morning and coffee warms me well. Also stimulates the muses to come so I can write. Muses are so fond of the coffee smell that all I need do is spritz a little ground coffee scent about and they flit right in.
Michael Seidel, writer 