Among the reasons scientists say water is necessary for life (as we know it) is that water is a solvent. But an article (entitled, Is Water Necessary for Life?) published in the July 2019 issue of Astronomy says this: “There are also plenty of opportunities for life to flourish based on solvents other than water.” The author, David J. Eicher, is reported to be “one of the most widely recognized astronomy enthusiasts in the world.” Whether that recognition, or his extensive history of authoring scientific books and papers, qualifies him as a reliable source of believable information about the connection between non-water solvents and life is a subject for debate—debate for which I am not qualified to moderate nor in which I am qualified to participate. But for as long as I can remember, I have questioned the assertion that water is absolutely necessary for life. A press release (entitled, Water is not an essential ingredient for Life, scientists now claim) published online on SpaceNews.com on November 26, 2004, approaches the matter differently. Subsequent scientific explorations may have found data that would argue against both positions. But I’ll leave it there, anyway. I am curious about the matter; I would like a definitive, inarguable answer. But I am resigned to the likelihood that I won’t get it; at least not one in which I have absolute faith. As in so many other circumstances, my curiosity is strong, but not strong enough to lead me on a “mission” to find an answer that probably exists (if it exists) far outside of humans’ ability to reach.
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Last night’s World Tour of Wines went on without me. Mi novia, though, came home with some plastic bento-boxes full of my food; already paid-for. She took with her to the dinner the bento boxes in which my oncologist sent home with me some Thanksgiving meals last week—so kind and thoughtful! I did not really feel bad; just drained of energy. I feel that way this morning, as well, though not quite as fatigued as I was yesterday, when I cancelled my haircut and my appointment with the podiatrist. I’m still not quite up to speed, so those appointments will have to wait until another time. Bah!
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We’ll have family with us this afternoon through Sunday, a welcome visit that will no doubt boost my energy and otherwise improve what looks like a grey, dreary day outside. The high temperature today is forecast to reach 45°F, only 9°F higher than right now. Fortunately, we will not spend time wandering around shivering and naked outdoors. We won’t spend time indoors in that state of discomfort, either. Instead, we will immerse ourselves in a temperate environment; inside, where we will be sheltered and warm and comfortable. Good people, good food, good conversation. Ideally, all family members would be here with us; that will take place another time. Patience and commitment are what that will take.
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I do not understand why I can get a reasonably good and consistent connection on Zoom with my family in Mexico, but not with telephone connections. Those connections typically are unreliable—static, dropped calls, and wide variations in the volumes of the voices on the other end of the line. The only downsides with Zoom are that they take a small (but still irritating) amount of planning. In addition to the aforementioned problems with phone calls, phone connections involving more than two locations amplify the difficulties. I can cope with troubling interference with communications, but I allow my impatience to dissuade me from making the effort. Perhaps I contribute more to the problem than do the technological connections. Ach.
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Early to bed last night and late to rise this morning; I should be fully rested. Yet my body insists I have not slept long enough. Apparently fourteen to sixteen hours (or more) is inadequate. I am not in intolerable pain, though, so I can handle a bit more sleep in lieu of unwelcome weariness.
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