Ah, back to work.

In three weeks from the end of my vacation, of which three days have passed I have scheduled 31 hours of meetings, 9 hours of medical appointments... so... roughly a third of my time is gone already!

Hurrah!


Also, here's a REAL Stealthy Dachshund:

The winter that will never end.

This winter has been... forever. It was warmed on the 27th of January than it is now. We've had the biggest snowfall since 1972. And it's snowing again.

What is more frightening, however, than its duration is that fact that its end is now in sight! Green grass is promised along with above zero temperatures. Birds are making some noises that indicate their priorities are changing, and the sun peeps over the horizon slightly earlier and slightly northerier (shush) every day.

This is very intimidating! Once I owned a light jacket, but where is it now? Is it lost? Can I remember how to wear it? If I wear it wrong, people will see my failure and mock me!

I knew once how to bicycle on a warm, dry road, but those skills are frozen and old.

I am genuinely afraid to see how this turns out.

Oh well, I'll give it my best shot and see!

Travel

There's something about travelling that renews your vision.

I've noticed since getting home from far-off lands that everything looks different here in Prairie Metropolis and I'm seeing the buildings in a new way. The little architectural parts of them show up in different ways, even things as miniscule as the texture of the brick exterior walls.

I like it! It's a pity about the plane travel required though.

Also, I think the next time I travel to a country where I don't speak the language, language lessons will be required

Winter

Dear winter.
I like you. You're fun. But the party is over. It is time for you to go home.
Please.
SD.


Also, in theory, there is a group of people moving my house! Into my yard! Photos to follow, I hope?

Banking and winter and... Germany!

I fixed all my banking today. Sigh.
I actually have very few expenses, because I don't own a car. I don't say I have small expenses, I just don't have many. No car insurance, no registration, no car payments.

And it's winter. Very very winter. And I haven't biked in a week, which saddens me.

But soon SWDNYHABN and I are off to Germany for two weeks! SO MUCH FUN!

TIME TRAVEL BY JOVE!

PATRON WANTED: I am seekinge a patron to sponsor me in the development of a time travel device, a mechanism if you will. The purpose of this device will be to enable myself to travel BACK IN TIME to a period approximately eight years ago, and punch myself in the gob.

THE PURPOSE thereof is to perhaps instill in my younger self a bit of a sense of humility and an understanding that despite my impression at the time, I was not nearly as brilliant as I thought, and that perhaps being sliiiiightly less satisfied with myself would prevent future turmoil.

PERHAPS THEN I would have talked half as much at half as many people half as loudly about half as many things half as certainly. I calculate that this would create a reduction of at least 24% in moments that would cause me to cringe in the future.

Excelsior!

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, ‘mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

They said "pop up the mountain, Charlie
It's lovely up there.
It's an easy walk and you'll love the view,
And then we'll have a party for you"
Excelsior!

And as he climbed, they said, "Hey Chuck,
As soon as you get to the top
There'll be a big party and such"
And then they heard him shout:
Excelsior!

"Oh dear," they said, "you didn't see
You climbed the hill too slowlily
You should have known that from the start
Your climbing wasn't worth a fart"
Excelsior!

How dare you mock by climbing slow
Over the rocky slopes of snow
We are so angry you would try
Now go away, you make us cry
Excelsior!

There in the twilight cold and gray,
Tired, but very cold he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell, like a falling star,
Excelsior!