And Tequila

Further to yesterday's Whiskey post, another alcohol-related earworm: You and Tequila (Kenney Chesney).

'Cause you and Tequila make me crazy
Run like poison in my blood
One more night could kill me, baby
One is one too many, one more is never enough

I hope you enjoy.

Whiskey

Today's earworm: Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton).

Seems like it would be Just Right for a bit of slow dancing.

I hope you enjoy.

Wee Fire Pit

Offspring the Third built a fire pit in the back yard and tried it out yesterday evening. It worked well. And it made me long for campfires and woods and dark star-laden skies, and I wonder when -- oh, when -- will I have those things again?

Giving of Thanks

Holidays over

Offspring back to school

Friend off to points north

House empty, heart full.

Birds of a Feather

Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
― Kahlil Gibran

Picture copyright 2015, 2016, Mediocria Firma. Used with gratitude.

Sprouts

Herself speaks.

Preparation for Thanksgiving is under way. While (alas) Offspring the First will not be here, Beloved Husband and I will nevertheless have the pleasure of the company of Offspring the Second and Cherished Friend, as well as Offspring the Third. The full complement of Menfolk is always a good thing.

The shopping has been essentially completed. While we were out and about, we came across this marvelous vegetable specimen - brussel sprouts on their stem. Nifty. I think, if I had to do it all over again, I would consider studying more plant biology. 

Leonard

The passing of music icons in 2016 continues with the death of Leonard Cohen.

Aside from the eternal Hallelujah, which has been covered an endless number of times, he leaves behind a tremendous body of work both ethereal and profound.

Godspeed, Mr. Cohen. Thank you for the music.

Dance Me To The End Of Love.

(https://youtu.be/NGorjBVag0I)

It is a bit Chilly

Elderly three-toothed dog is happy to share the blanket, though.

Words

Here is a marvelous website --
http://www.drtimlomas.com/positive-lexicography.

It welcomes the visitor thusly:

Welcome to the positive lexicography, an evolving index of 'untranslatable' words related to wellbeing from across the world's languages. 

Excellent.

I hardly know which word to pick.

Let us start with this:

Nam jai (น ้ำใจ) (Thai, n.): lit. 'water from the heart', selfless generosity and kindness

We shall try.

Flower

Offspring the First surprised us with a visit this week. HUZZAH. We have missed her bright shining self.

We got her a flower. 

It might be just big enough.

Next Great Adventure

We laid Peacock to rest in my in-laws' garden yesterday.

Fly, Peacock, fly.

To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. - J.K. Rowling

I See Fire

Today's earworm: I See Fire, by Ed Sheeran. It somehow seems appropriate for the current troubled times.

Calling out father oh
Prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Patriots and Tyrants

Herself speaks.

There has been a great deal of unrest since the election. Within it, there has been an upsurge of xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic attacks. Swastikas drawn on public buildings. Hijabs torn from heads. Students of middle-eastern ancestry beaten. "White Pride" graffiti. A Ku Klux Klan celebratory parade.

I did not know that such hatred simmered beneath the surface of America. I have lead a naive, sheltered life.

Let's bring it closer to home:

The adult daughter of one Facebook friend, while out with friends, was physically assaulted by a man who proclaimed "It's official, I can grab it!" Another Facebook friend's daughter -- a young attorney, born in Kansas, with Hispanic ancestry -- was told by an aggressive man who would not leave her and her table of friends alone, "in four years you will be gone from this country." The mixed-race son of a third Facebook friend was called a nigger and beaten up at his elementary school.

God almighty.

Are my Offspring safe? They are half Hispanic, but on the whole, look Anglo. Does resembling me provide them with a measure of protection against xenophobia?

And is Offspring the First safe? It seems frightening to be a young woman right now, when our president-elect has effectively provided a stamp of approval for consequence-free assault. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything. Offspring the First is taking a self-defense class. Let us hope it will be enough.

We do not know who is a safe stranger, and who is not, any more -- for those who commit these crimes, look just like us.

When I go for a walk in the neighborhood, I sometimes pass by this house, with this banner hung on the front balcony:

The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the shed Blood of Patriots & Tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson

I do not know, for this homeowner, who is the Patriot and who is the Tyrant. I can only guess.

How do I protect those in danger?

(Why has the president-elect not spoken out against the violence?)

I wish I knew.

That Sounds Rather Painful

Woman

Someday.

And to all the little girls who are watching this -- never doubt that you are valuable, and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams. 

Despair

This is despair as I have never known, this morning after the presidential election.

I have nothing pithy, witty, or hopeful to say today. My heart is broken, and I cannot understand how this has come to pass.

Do not try to explain it to me. I will have to learn it myself, inch by inch, day by day.

Oh, America.

Hiding Like An Ostrich

Election returns coming in. OH, THE TERROR. Egads.

It Is Dark So Early

Daylight savings -- you have tinkered with our lives once more. 

At least the sunsets continue to be beautiful. 

Fat Boy

We would occasionally refer to ottoman-shaped dog as "fat boy". He so loved food. I have no doubt that he would have, as I did today, appreciated finding a frozen confection named after him.

Knock Knock

The wind apparently pushed one of the leftover Halloween ornaments into the path overnight. When Offspring the Third and I left for band practice in the wee hours of the morning, there it was, just... looking in.

Oh, dear.

Wish

I yearn,
Like the small bird,
To fly.

Picture copyright 2015, 2016, Mediocria Firma. Used with gratitude.

On My Desk At Work

Sometimes it seems like the whole world is on my ass.

Hee.