The Albatross.

 Hanan used to go about quoting poetry and cultural phrases that pretty much missed my understanding. Thus he would say--for no discernable reason--Albatross, get your albatross! It was a reference to something from the Flying Circus where John Cleese dressed in drag was trying to sell an albatross as if it were ice cream. One's psychological burdens were often the mirrors of the albatross, but knowing the Coleridge poem left me with other words to bring to memory--besides the idea that one could be surrounded by water and have not a drop to drink: 

He prayeth well, who loveth well

Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best

All things both great and small;

For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.

Anyway, today's  bird is the albatross. It seems to be a large seabird that is absent generally from the North Atlantic area. But it has a large wingspan, no matter which particular species it may originate from.

Birds generally mean something to almost anyone who has ever had reason to watch them or listen to them. Here in Texas we adopted the Mockingbird as our state bird. The "songs" of the Mockingbird are simply mimicked songs in some manner according to scientists, but such thoughts make me wonder if the observer failed to watch and listen through an entire season of spring when the males are claiming their territory and into the season when they greet each day with joy. The cardinal is the only other bird that makes a big deal about daybreak and joyous dancing about the trees in my back yard. Love these birds! 

Now, let's think about how that albatross may also signal some wet weather. According to the weather app on my phone, tomorrow will begin a few days--or a week--of wet and cooler weather. It is February--in Texas. If we were not to get rain now, it might not come later at all. Currently, ice is floating across the lake with perched sea gulls yelling about things. Have not seen that before. Maybe too busy to pay attention before, but it has really been pretty amusing to see pelicans and sea gulls out there on the lake. Smiles are nice to have around. And birds are pretty good indicators that life goes on and is worth smiling about.

Thought my body was feeling pretty good this morning. Did some work here in the house and gathered eggs and talked to the girls. Then decided to drive to Wally World since the usual ordering online routine did not seem to be working. Got to the store, and guess what, nothing that ever had to be cool or cold was even in the store--except for the beer and such. That had not been picked up or otherwise disposed of, so it sat there, sadly, on the shelves where it had been allowed to get warmish. Ruined on the shelves but not yet removed. Even the bakery shelves were empty. Managed to find a few things to bring home. Had to buy a pair of wire pliers and a small crescent wrench since Jerry never returned mine. Going to put a sign on the front door: NO! Just no. He is so irresponsible. 

Used the shopping cart to help me walk around the store. Did not realize how much walking hurt until it became a bit much. Maybe soon my legs and back will stop hurting so much and a bit more exercise will help take care of whatever needs to be done. Just walking around the house and out to the coops is not enough exercise. But trying to put on that right shoe is still pretty miserable. Danged sciatica! It's one thing to realize one is no longer 19, 29, even 59! But it really is kinda sad to look at one's self bent over when walking or driving down the road like a little ol' lady!

Have been thinking about spelling today. Remembering when we were in grade/elementary school and making up ways to help myself remember how to spell veg-E-table. Now it is words like dia-tom-ace-ous. Just despise forgetting how to spell things that should be easy. 

Had to look up on the phone why the flags are at half mast. Yes, 500,000 deaths is too many for a stupid virus. But then each year we lose somewhere around 24 to 62 thousand to regular flu. Don't think the CDC even expects reports of the regular flu each year. But most of us go get a flu shot each year if we are a certain age. It seems to be worth it not to have that illness hanging on. Of all the childhood illnesses that we went through, yours truly had most of them: two kinds of measles, mumps, chicken pox, and strep throat. Daddy would coat us in Vicks if we sneezed, and then he would make us swallow some of that gunk. Don't think we ever had the flu. Didn't dare get sick for fear that Daddy would find another remedy!

So far today only some minor cleaning in the kitchen has occurred. It seems the dogs soaked the rug under their water bowl. Think Thompson nearly knocked the entire fountain over on one of his wild trips out of the living room, across the kitchen, and out the back door! Something needed to be addressed with his particular brand of vicious barking! People walking by down by the road, a dog outside at the neighbors house, an extended sheet of paper towels that had caught on the telephone post. Yep, all kinds of suspicious things to cause his alerts!

While watching things at Walmart earlier, it became apparent that the person who was in charge of reestablishing the electrical current to the refrigerated units was most perplexed. He was looking straight up in the air as if something were entirely out of sync with how the wires were supposed to look. It made me feel sorry for him. Can you imagine having that kind of responsibility? NOTHING was cool in that store except maybe the cans and bottles of soda and stuff in the end caps at the checkout stands.

As the young man loaded my groceries in the back seat for me, we watched as two huge fire trucks, a fire captain, and an ambulance came whizzing down the road toward the apartments immediately south of Walmart. Would truly feel frightened to live there. Well, in almost any type of apartment complex where someone else's cooking could cause one to be burned out of house and home--not to mention the gang and domestic violence. It's bad enough to have Jerry and all his trashy friends around, but at least he has warned the "lodgers" that the old woman across the street may be fragile, but she shoots first and doesn't even bother to ask questions. And anyone with an ear can tell these two dogs mean business.

Went out and gathered eggs one more time. If it does not rain tomorrow, maybe some cleaning out in the metal coop will make things out there feel a little neater. Will have to see if TSC has timothy for the nests since an entire bale of hay just feels like it would be too much. They also have some planters that would be neat out in the front of the house. They are whiskey barrels with handles on them. Guess that also means a trip to Lowes for dirt. Always something.

Guess the mail box needs to be checked sometime tomorrow. Have not even considered it until today. Seriously don't believe the mail ran during that mess last week. And anything in there now is going to be junk mail. Rolling eyes here.

Not much to tell that sounds amusing today. The plumbers removed a piece of chicken wire that was stuffed in the corner of the fence to keep the hens inside the yard. Not sure why they moved it, but the hens discovered it was no longer in their way. Four hens in the front yard! That was not especially fun for them as they only got a taste of freedom and green grass before they were back inside. Poor babies have to deal with just dirt and dead grass right now. 

SO glad to have Connie back at home. And the messages from Leta Talley say that our prayers are being heard. Thank you. But let's not forget those who are STILL without power or who have been uprooted from what they would consider as normal life. Prayer helps them and us as well. The blessings we have should never be taken for granted.

May your night bring you rest and may you awake with joy. You are loved.