But thanks to all the music of our childhood I still enjoy singing (though I don't do it often) and I have deeeeeeeeeeep wrinkles round my lips, because I whistle (rather nicely, I think) so much.
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11 Jan. 2008. Poured cates & dogs last night, and the thunder and lightning had poor Timoteo (the Siamese) cowering under my bedspread. Pandora (who is only about 8 months old) was not at all frightened. Has rained all day, and looks as if it will continue for another day or so. OK for this time of year here.
But yesterday it SNOWED in Bariloche, northwestern Patagonia. This is all wrong! Must lodge a firm complaint with the Weather Man!
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Sometimes I think I have Thoughts. But as I have no-one to share them with, I often wonder whether there's anything in them worth communicating. Then again, my brain is often apparently completely empty, and some nasty little critic inside pops up and tells me, 'This ain't meditation, it's just mental slacking off. Get with it, gal, or you'll end up in a public institution for the mentally deprived!'
Most of my life seems to sort of float along somewhere between these two extremes, but for the last month I have been somewhat more alert than usual, and lay this down to new Methyl prednisone medication, which reduces fibromyalgic pain but also seems to activate the little grey cells... A mixed blessing, as I also have to increase hypotensive medication.
This is my first blog experience. I started a diary many, many years ago, but dropped it around age 14 when I discovered my mother was reading it, and have not done it again since then. I have my doubts about the usefulness of this resource, but, having nothing else to do this afternoon, am giving it a try. Who knows, maybe someone will turn up with some interesting comment...
Well, that's it for today. No! Actually, the tadpoles have developed rear legs and look as if they'l be out of the pond in a couple of weeks, and Lucy, whose eggs are due to pop sometime today or tomorrow, is glued to her nest and lets me hope against hope that this time there will be at least a couple of goslings after three barren years.
Leander and Romina are having a grand old time playing in the pond today. Have discovered that, against all expectations, the tadpoles actually keep the water much cleaner than before: perfectly clear, and much less algae sticking to the walls and bottoms. The geese usually put on these clean- water-day shows only once a week when I empty the pond, clean it out and brush off the algae before refilling. But now, thanks to the tadpoles, I haven't done anything other than pour in fresh water and let it overflow for a while every morning, and - apart from thick silt at the bottom, which I can't clean out because my hose is too thin to use as an effective, clog-proof syphon - done no active cleaning. The water is perfectly crystalline, smells fresh, and my pets' behaviour is the best proof that these wee beasties are really doing something good for the pond!.
So, once they've finished their metamorphosis, I think I'll see what arrangement I can make to put in some Koi, and perhaps some water plants that the geese won't eat. Think I'll have to wait a few months, though, as summer is my economic low...
9 Jan. 2008. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS! You can depend on it!!! The night before last I got a call from my cousin Bella, in Buenos Aires, saying she has a sudden overload of translation work, and would I be willing to take some it. Would I be willing??? It's enough to make one believe in a god who notes the falling of a sparrow... So maybe, if all goes well, next month I'll be able to replace the tadpoles with KOI, which apart from enhancing the pond's beauty will relieve me of some of the routine cleaning jobs.
And then, I've been promised - go ye, faithful, and believe in the promises of government officers - that the subsidy to get my workshop going again will finally provide the necessary materials in March.
So, things are looking up!
I'm very much one to be grateful for small daily blessings, and feel I've been gifted with a special talent for experiencing pleasure in things that often go unnoticed by others. But today I have to give GREAT thanks - never mind to whom, I certainly haven't the faintest idea - for dear Bella and for this wonderful machine that makes it possible for me to earn some money in the summer!
It's true. EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING...
