Writer on the Storm: Recent Events (12-1-07)

(Sorry I haven't had time to post in a while, having been deluged by too much e-mail!).

     I'm amazed that I'm not writing this by gaslight, jacklight, or even by my rugged Energizer HardCase LED flashlight. The incessant ice storm has been pelting us all day with an apocalyptic new "wintry mix" -- ever-worrisome, and wearying our precarious power lines.

      As a result, my usually-sunny Flower Power iMac has been flashing red alerts -- probably asking me to give it a break for a while. But I must soldier on -- to eventually reach the sacred fortress of the Gatherscape, catch up on mounting e-mail, and post a few choice articles (or more).

     It's been an excellent week for mail -- yesterday I got my much-sought-after "Bug Club" Insect Sounds Clock from Amazon. And the day before that, I got a nice book on an integrative nutritional approach to abolishing asthma.

      On the survey front, last week was better in terms of monetary digits -- but I guess that goes with the territory. Those cold falling stones seem to weaken my bones, so it takes me a bit longer to get down to the computer room each day.

     Our homebound "poltergeists" seem to be settling down (like Mr. Furny of the new furnace). Still, one morning that strange bathtub emanation (or stigmata?) seemed to be especially active. It's this odd reddish secretion that appears to come right out of the wall, from beneath a rubber or plastic molding. But I've never been brave enough to peel it off to reveal the source of the fluid!

      And Christmas plans seem to be coming together, so our dispersed satellite families can reunite at a traditional time -- perhaps Eve or the Yule day itself!

     It's amazing that we haven't seen many tempers fly over this yearly reconciliation, although the month is still young. Generally it's a bit like herding cats -- and Brian has enough of those to handle! But we did have one glitch -- his daughter Mari had to take some university class to get enough graduation credits. Some kind of counseling deficiency, sounds very familiar to my university days. I had to stay a summer to make up for some graduate-level courses I had to drop, since I mistakenly signed up for them! Now that was a scary experience.

      The Ron Paul campaign is also doing some amazing things -- besides the usual routine, like winning online polls (CNN, etc.). Our local QC Meetup group tried to get a video kiosk "installed" at Davenport's Northpark Mall, but it looks like it hit a detour. Still, there is a phenomenal amount of positive energy and creative ideas almost everywhere you turn, and much more to come (like the blimp that may have the funding to fly). That is, despite some bizarre attacks like columnist Mona Charen's, where she claims that Paul would make a perfect leader for the Branch Davidians! (Hmm -- does this mean she wants to give Ron Paul supporters the Janet Reno tear gas incineration treatment?!).

     And regarding that blimp, don't be surprised if Glenn Beck claims it was actually inspired by the old 'Black Sunday' movie.

(Remember their blimp was supposed to launch a bunch of deadly darts or bullets at a Super Bowl game?!).

     So I hope you're all having a nice combination of excitement and holiday bliss -- and hang in there, as I try to get to all your e-mails. And to end this transmission, an amusing note from our perpetual neighborhood "circus of the squirrels." Our neighbors recently tied up a tire swing, and one of the tireless rodents was first to try it out! Looks like he got his Christmas present early. Have a delightful December!!