Seventeen June 2015

'Hello? Is this you Bill ?'

'Yes it is.'

'What would you like for your birthday?'

Apparently I forgot to set the smartphone to ‘block all’ before going to bed.

'Listen, what would you like for your birthday ?'

'Well, I cannot remember if there was ever a hurricane or tropical storm named after me. How about that for a birthday present?'

'And I’ll call it a southern snow day or some such thing calling off ALL PLANNED activities. Fans & the general population will love it.'

'You got it' & the phone went dead.

'Who is this ?' I checked the phone. ALL calls were blocked. Very strange.

First I thought it was a practical joker, or my smart phone had been hacked, then FB and I finally realized it WAS God.

OK, so it didn’t happen quite that way.

But it is raining, Bill IS HERE. All day, 100% chance of rain, flash flood alerts, warnings & wishes. Smoke if you want to, got 'em & have been appropriately cleared.

MOVE ALONG PLEASE …

It IS FB. Certainly Honey. Don’t drive into ANY standing water lest you get swept away downstream. Unless your biological delivery unit happens to be in the car, take one (1) life preserver, YOU use it and after driving into the water LEAP from the vehicle as it washes downstream.

So I have declared today an above 0 (zero) snow day and canceled all planned activities. Not sure what it all means but whatever will be done will be close to home so carbon footprint is negligible.

I MAY flit from project to project or focus on a single project & go all or most of the day on it. I know ONE (1) thing for sure. I WILL NOT be outside watering the jardin or the plants this day.

God knows I have a lot of candidate projects to select from which I am thinking is why He granted the wish.

The fortress is quiet as all electronics are silent & off. I hear rain plopping on concrete from the front of the castle, I see foliage moving in the back from a zephyr's slight sway to a much faster whipping motion. Occasionally the wind shifts & rain hits a window.

Tea today is the estate blend of mint-sumac but this morning with a nice splash of kahlua. I MAY have a rare second cup with a BLAST of k. Celebratory. PURE celebratory.

Rounding out the report, it looks like the last mountain lily bloomed yesterday. And here it is all cropped & proper. Isn't it lovely ?

The spider lilies will be next & according to my recollections, this may not happen until July however with all the rain & wet weather so far this year & sparse sun, who knows. Time will tell.

I am thinking this batch of blueberries is processed fully with the IQFs. What remains will be fresh eaters until the next trip. That was supposed to happen this week as soon as today but that won’t be happening.

Yesterday the alumni lunch was at local iconic place Bill Smith's Cafe. I kicked myself severely ALL DAY after missing & failing to execute one a terrific networking opportunity. Too slow in reacting.

In the afternoon I did spend some time in the garage studio working on a sculpture. As they say, I ‘got into it’ spending time & working into the night that last week would have been spent in front of the telly watching Stanley Cup playoff games.

Speaking of which, congratulations to all of the Chicago Blackhawks & their Fans for winning the ultimate prize. Also, hats off to the Bolts for a very good season & a great series. Two evenly matched teams & both are winners. But only one can win the big one & hoist that huge trophy to celebrate the culmination of years of dreams, work & some luck.

I am on the final stretch of the latest read with the next waiting in the wings. It may be a good day to read all day & finish digital vertigo.

WHAT ABOUT BIRTHDAY PLANS ?

Very well. Virginia sent a text & I have to pick her up at the airport. Dinner at a local McK place & back to the airport. I am just flattered that she comes all this way to sit in the glow, absorb the knowledge & the wisdom and jet back to Zurich or her next appointment in Europe or the Middle East.

Got to go.

Must find some pictures in the archives to post here so as not to totally waste this +zero degree snow day.

Days like this make it great to be me.

Thank you God.