Solar Charge

Now I know what a rechargeable battery feels like.

I'm talking about the type of batteries that recharge with solar power, like the batteries in outdoor accent lighting.

Just when snow and cold and clouds and sleet and cold and snow and clouds and cold and freezing rain and clouds and cold had brought me to the point where it was simply too much effort to swing my feet out of bed, too much effort to prepare a meal, too much effort to tie a tie, along came a blue sky sunshine day with temperatures near 50 degrees.

Most importantly that day came on a weekend. I carried a chair out to the front porch, positioned the chair so I would be directly facing the sun, and sat down to absorb vitamin D. For two hours the only time I moved was to keep the chair perfectly aligned with the sun.

Slowly but steadily I felt my internal power meter rising. After that two hour recharge I was energized enough to...

go inside an take a nap.

Aguilera's Anthem

Those of you who had tuned in to the super bowl in time for the opening festivities heard Christina Aguilera flub the national anthem.

While I'm in no way a fan of Ms.Aguilera, I feel sorry for her. Don't get me wrong, she totally messed up and it should never have happened; but we've been headed for this moment ever since the first time an artist decided he or she could improve on the way the national anthem was written.  I don't know who that first person was, but creative interpretation should have been stopped right then.

This would be the perfect time to enact standards on the singing of the national anthem.

There's a whole portfolio of rules governing the do's and dont's of displaying the American flag, there should be a similar set of guidelines attached to the national anthem.

An honor guard carrying the American Flag doesn't recreate the flag as a diamond to show off artistic talent - they are honored to carry the flag as it was created.

A singing artist should feel honored to be asked to sing the national anthem just the way the song was written.  The national anthem is a challenging song. Belting it out just right should be proof enough of an artist's talent.

Singers who want to create unique tunes should schedule a concert tour.

Too Warm to Count?

Today was the day for the polar bear plunge in Rehoboth Beach.

The town has been filled with people coming to both watch and participate in the annual event and I've been catching pieces of conversation.

With air temperatures in the forty's many of the conversations ran along the lines of this doesn't hardly count.

Doesn't count?!  Folks were getting ready to strip down to bathing suits and run into the ocean in February.

At a minimum that should count for one free visit to a mental health clinic.

Spotting Gargoyles

When the gargoyle turned to look at me I decided I had been working too hard.

I had just returned from a meeting and was pulling my chair up to my desk when movement outside of the window caught my attention. In truth I couldn't imagine what I had seen. The second floor window offered a view of only a couple of trees growing in the courtyard of the U shaped building. Seldom did I see anything moving other than branches shaking in the wind. Waving branches had become so commonplace that they would hardly have caught my attention as something out of the norm. 

It was while gradually adjusting my line of sight ever higher that I caught the movement again. Not in the trees but atop the substantial brick chimney that rose some fifteen feet beyond the slate roof of the four story building. Frowning, I found that I couldn't remember having previously noticed the two stone gargoyles positioned on the top corners of the chimney.

When I stepped closer to the window for a better view, one of the gargoyles turned as though having seen my movement. Removing my glasses and rubbing the bridge of my nose, I was contemplating rescheduling the remainder of the day's meetings to afford an obviously much needed break when both gargoyles spread their wings.

Only after they lifted into flight did I recognize the turkey buzzards for what they were.

Historical Coping Skills

When you think about it, history shows us mankind has always hated the time of year that brings cold, snow, dark, and ice.

December 21st is perhaps the most depressing day of the year - having the least amount of daylight. Desperately in need of a pick-me-up, we decided to hold a party for Christ.

February 2nd is pretty much the midpoint of the atrocious weather period. Desperately in need of some positive reinforcement after six weeks of cold and snow, we decided to throw in an event that gave us at least a 50/50 chance of the hurried return of warmer weather.

With an equal chance that cold weather might continue, we quick needed to through in a day where we could reassure our loved ones that we loved them despite our seasonal foul humor - what better method than to exchange poetry from the heart on February 14.

And then once truly warm weather returns what did we decide to do?  Close schools and send the kids outside to celebrate.

Yep, our past deeds confirm that these inhospitable months have always been about coping... and counting down to the return of civilized conditions.

Groundhog Tidings of Joy

Break out the sun block and the swimsuits - Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. I repeat, that's a big negatory on the shadow.

Which means warmer weather is just around the corner for the northern hemisphere.

With an ice storm this morning creating downright hazardous conditions for groundhog watching, I venture to say old Phil would never even have left his warm and cozy burrow if he hadn't been dragged into the open.

Which doesn't say a whole lot for the common sense of the people who gathered around the burrow while freezing rain fell from the sky.

Though I guess we need to give credit where credit is due.  Without those dedicated groundhog watchers, we wouldn't know that relief from this abysmal weather is in sight.

Now what did I do with those flip-flops?

A Homeless Trip

So I saw the article about the homeless couple who won a trip to the Super Bowl.

And my first thought was... They're actually going?  You gotta be kidding me.  In their place, I'd be asking for the cash equivalent.

Then I read further and learned the couple currently live in Green Bay -- and now have an all expense paid trip to Dallas.

And suddenly I was in complete agreement.  Get thee the h... out of the cold northern tundra and go where it's warm.

Though I think I'd ask for the cash equivalent of the return flight.