Volcanic eruptions—spewing super-heated smoke and viscous molten rock from the bowels of Earth—may illustrate our planet’s unchecked rage. Cold water springs from which potable water bubbles from below might offer a more serene, forgiving attitude, as if to counter the heat and anger represented by white-hot lava emerging from the core of the Earth. Are humans’ emotional paradoxes modeled after the behaviors of the planet; or do we consider planetary “emotional” expressions to be reactions to us? Or, perhaps, have we gone beyond ascribing human attributes to non-humans, and vice versa? The possibility exists, of course, that we know better than to anthropomorphize non-human aspects of our environment, but we do it anyway…simply because it is simpler than relying on complex reality to explain the inexplicable. I do not know, but sometimes my words suggest otherwise. Knowledge and belief have been known to trade places in my mind; an embarrassment to my intellect and an awkward challenge to my emotions.
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Slippery ice remains on the driveway outside the front door. Based on reports from people who have commented on their experiences on the roadways within the past several hours, icy patches—some very big patches—continue to make driving hazardous. That notwithstanding, we understand the painters will return today. And, that being the case, we will take Phaedra to stay at her cat motel again; she would be in the way if she remained here, in her cat house. I have grown increasingly cautious when I have to contend with black ice, whether in the car or on foot. I am not worried about my driving, but others who drive irresponsibly are a concern, so I drive defensively and do not let concerns about time govern my behavior. As for walking…I should have a pair of boots with spiked soles I do not. Ach!
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Tomorrow, I will see an optometrist. He will, I suspect, refer me to an ophthalmologist. But I hope he will at least give me an interim eyeglasses prescription that will dramatically improve my vision between now and then. I should have gone ahead with a procedure on my eyes, more than a year ago, to address the “roughness” of the surface of my eyes. But I was hesitant to do it, thinking I might not live long enough to make the process worthwhile. I can be an idiot. Whatever my expiration date turns out to be, I have unnecessarily spent a year (thus far) with increasingly bad vision. The following day, I will spend a good part of the first half of the day at the oncology clinic. I am tired of having poor vision. I am tired of having lung cancer. I am tired of being tired. Such is life, though. It is what it is, as “they” say. Whoever they are.
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It’s not quite 6:00 a.m. Still dark. The temperature is five degrees (F) below freezing. After the painters arrive, and after we escort Phaedra to the cat care service, I hope the streets are conducive to driving in search of pancakes for breakfast. If not pancakes, then hotcakes. If neither, then something equally as sweet and appealing. I remember reading about differences between hotcakes and pancakes. To my way of thinking, they are one and the same. But some people apparently consider them as different as dogs and cats. Or as different as mung beans and marijuana. Or as similar as corned beef and pastrami…or butterflies and butternut squash. Speaking of food and cold weather, we have spent roughly a week and a bit more confined to our quarters, where we’ve eaten canned chili (with beans), ice cream, pizza, and a few other things that refuse to be remembered so early on this cold excuse for a warm day.
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Last night, we watched two or three episodes of an old(ish) television police action/drama series entitled “Southland.” It aired between 2009 and 2013. I remember liking the show, but last night’s viewing did not seem quite as appealing as was the show the first time around. Still, it was moderately interesting. Except for one thing: the theme music. I absolutely LOVE the the theme music,
“Canção do Mar” (Song of the Sea), a Portuguese fado song composed by Frederico de Brito and Ferrer Trindade and originally performed by Dulce Pontes. Here you go…if I can embed it…or part of it…here.
