Language

Reading "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan has prompted a new interest in the use of words in the English language.  I for one have forgotten some of the more "colorful" phrases that can be used to describe a situation or to provide a "put down" without resorting to the course words so common today.  Allow a few examples.

1.  Scrub.  Use - "A sorry Scrub," said Mr. High-mind.  Because a Scrub is a stunted tree, the phrase indicates that Mr. High-mind considers the subject to be an insignificant person.

2.  "... that your Conversation gives this your mouth-profession the lie."  The intent of this slur is that the "behavior contradicts what is said."  The character Faithful also states this truth when he said:  "I see that saying and doing are two things, and hereafter I shall better observed this distinction."

3.  Bethought.  This word is used to describe the state of the pilgrim, Christian, when he was perplexed and "...at last he bethought himself that he had slept ... ."  The footnote indicates that bethought himself meant "Remembered" but suggests a differentiation between consciousness and essence or self.  You might use this term when referring to yourself in the third person, for example.

4.  At a Stand.  This phrase is used to indicate that you are "at a loss."  

5.  Beshrew him for his counsel.  This means to curse someone for their advice, as in, "I beshrew her for telling me to buy two tickets on the maiden voyage of the Titanic."

What makes the book so much fun to read, is the use of allegorical names. In addition to Christian and Faithful, my favorite other character (and the most convicting one) has been Talkative.  

Then the ultimate - "Some said they were fools; some they were bedlams; and some they were outlandish men."  Bedlams - what a terrific term for inferring someone is mad (as in insane, not as in irate).  I am going to work more diligently at language.

"Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow."  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

    

Full Moon

Full moon again - happened a couple days ago.  How do I know?  BK took off again (or perhaps it was because I made him "Internet famous" with my last post - who knows).  I suspect it is the moon, however.  Probably time for one more "kitty rut" before the leaves start falling.

 Then there is the lunar effect on poor Buddy.  The little guy hasn't been feeling all that well lately (note peeing in the sink and likely tainted with kitty blood).  The moon, however, set him to looking for his "arch enemy" Black  Beauty in her normal habitat - on top of the kitchen cabinets.  Lucky for her, she was in her second favorite spot - under the bed.  I would have hated to see the confrontation above my head.

 The cats are not the only ones impacted by the current cycle.  Once again my computer is under attack.  I got an e-mail this morning from a member of my address book whom I have not contacted in a couple years.  The note thanked me for my contact and indicated he had attempted to open the link supplied, only to find it didn't work.  Gremlins?  I think not!  More Internet terrorists if you ask me.

At least the yard looks nice.  The deer seem to like it as well.  The herd is back.  The other evening at sundown it was a mom and her twins (complete with spots still showing).  These were followed by five more, including the young buck who has been hanging around.  I guess it is time to start taking measures to attempt to protect my trees.  The older ones in the yard have split bark (one of which bit the bullet during the last major wind attack and is nothing more than a stump), possibly due to the strange weather patterns of the past couple years.

Unemployment figures reported yesterday that the national average is 9.6%, while Tennessee has 9.8% and Detroit over 20%.  When the figures are adjusted for those who "have given up looking" (which I believe means run out of unemployment benefits), the actual national picture is more like 22% unemployment.  Housing starts are the lowest is more than a decade, and the market is below 10,000.  Our Vice President says that all is well, the plan is working.  Makes one wonder just what plan he is referring to, doesn't it?

"Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few."  ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Education," 1905

 

Hairless

There is a breed of "hairless" cats, but BK is not one of them.  Poor thing has suffered all summer with some strange skin allergy that had him licking and licking until all the hair from his head, upper shoulders, tail, and parts of his legs was removed.  He still has some of the bumps on his skin, but in my opinion he seems to be getting better.  Of course, my eyesight isn't what it used to be either.

I am happy to report that I have conquered the interface issue (as you can now "see").  No real reason, but I did replace the batteries in my camera (I upload directly from the camera).  In any event, you now can see my poor little kitty.  To me it is amazing that a feral cat, who I could not even get within 10 feet of more than a year ago, has integrated himself into my little colony.  He purrs, sits on my lap in the evenings, frequently cuddles up near my neck at night, and is currently on the desk (tucked in behind the computer) where he has been for about 4 hours.  I guess I am an acceptable food provided.

There are symptoms of fall starting to show.  The red buds have (again) lost most of their leaves (early), the so-called grass (i.e., green stuff that requires mowing) is turning brown in areas and growth is slowing, and sometimes the breeze seems to be coming from the WNW.  Then there are the yard visitors.  They were not around during the beastly hot/humid days, but have returned.  Last night as the dark descended there were five (one just loosing its spots).  I just hope the white stuff holds off until January.

"This was one of those perfect New England days in late summer where the spirit of autumn takes a first stealing flight, like a spy, through the ripening country-side, and, with feigned sympathy for those who droop with August heat, puts her cool cloak of bracing air about leaf and flower and human shoulders."  ~Sarah Orne Jewett

 

STUPID!

OK - the title might refer to me.  Then again, it might not.

For the past two days I have attempted to update this blog.  Attempted being the operative word.  

I have photos to upload.  The "system" won't cooperate.  Not certain if it is the browser or the website or some unruly combination.  It is frustrating, however.  

Let's top this week off with heat and humidity.  That always puts me in a different mood.  The beginning of the week was great - including three runs outside.  None today or yesterday - our friends the "Twin H's" have returned.  See dismay on my face.

Maybe tomorrow or even later tonight.  Maybe it will rain.  Maybe people in hell will finally get ice water.

"Patience:  A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue."  ~Ambrose Bierce

 

Egad - Mid-August Already!?

 Hard to believe that summer is in its waning days.  Especially hard since once again the temperatures are in the 90s and the "feels like" temperature is well over 100.  This weather has not been good and the yard is a visual reminder of the work left undone.

Staying inside has its drawbacks.  Too much time to contemplate the lack of suitable openings for employment, listen to the "talking heads" describe the lessening of unemployment followed with a down surge in the stock market prices, and generally waste a good bit of each day.  

Yesterday saw a tad bit of activity around the place.  Two batches of zucchini bread (a total of 5 loaves and a dozen in cupcake form).  That took care of one mammoth zucchini from Jean's garden.  What to do with the remaining behemoths that now grace my counter is another question.  Depending on my level of ambition I may grate at least one of these large vegetables and then freeze 2 cups in individual bags (2 cups being the amount called for in one batch of the zucchini bread recipe).  

There are tomatoes as well.  I am now thinking more spaghetti sauce, but made with chopped up zucchini.  That should freeze in individual servings, making fall/winter meals easy.  Did I mention that I have already prepared for the oven a mixture of celery soup, rice, zucchini, and chopped tomatoes seasoned with basil and assorted other Italian herbs.
 
With the current ambient conditions, however, turning on the oven or stove top brings a rolling sweat to my brow.  I am holding out for a drop in the humidity.  So far the local weather forecasters have been wrong.  The temperatures and humidity were to have dropped by now, following predicted showers.  Well, the rain did "drop" by last evening about 9 pm, but didn't stay.   Clearly, the humidity was only encouraged by the wetting of the vegetation.  In fact, the brown areas I mowed on Thursday now seem to be a brilliant green (this does not bode well - more time on the "craps-man" is in my future).

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken."  ~James Dent