Well, the the story is: I had an allergic reaction to some shrimp I ate last weekend. It wasn't a particularly deadly attack by those damn little shellfish, but I went to the emergency room to make sure it wouldn't get any worse. There, they gave me a steroid to help take down any swelling and prevent any breathing problems. Unfortunately, the steroid also caused some intestinal problems, and kept me awake for most of the last three nights. I did see my regular Doctor today, and he gave me a prescription for something to ease my intestinal discomfort, and help me sleep. So, with luck, I just might get a decent night of shut-eye (sleep) tonight.
I'm sure it will take a day or two to recover my usual bright and cheerful self, so I won't be running any of my conversation groups at the Library for the rest of the week. But I'm sure I'll be bored to tears by next week, and will be quite happy to be back pretending to teach some English next week.
Anyhow, be well, stay out of trouble, and check back here when you get a chance, for any further updates, or stange weather, and/or news reports.
And if you'd like to make me happy, go find some obnoxious Republican, and kick him or her in the ankle.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Monsters, Vampires, & Werewoves, Oh, My!
October is my favorite month. Why? you may ask. Because Halloween is my personally favorite holiday. How could this be?! you are probably wondering. And to answer that, I say, I live for wonderfully scary and horrifying stories. Not true stories, you understand, but fiction. I read a lot of different kinds of stories, from some mainstream (popular fiction, like bestsellers), although not much, to a lot of science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, horror, and any combination of them.
But October is the perfect month to read those dark fantasy and horror stories. In part, because the month ends with Halloween, which represents the pagan holiday of Samhain. In past times particularly, but still today for some, this holiday was thought to be the time of year when the separation, or the door, so to speak, between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. And so, communication, and even contact, is possible. Or so it is believed. By some.
But October is also perfect for those spine-tingling stories, because it is getting colder, as winter approaches. The leaves are changing color, and beginning to fall from the trees, and darkness is falling earlier as the days grow shorter. Yep, I'll say it again. I love October.
Eddie, my feathered friend, doesn't really care what time of year it might be. As long as he is warm, gets fed, and can receive headrubs upon demand, it's all the same to him.
Then there's Albert. Normally, at this time of year, bears would probably be making preparations to hibernate for the winter. Albert, however, who is now quite used to living indoors most of the time, seems to have no intentions towards sleeping through the winter. In fact, right now he is planning on going walk-about (an Australian term for wondering around, sometimes for very extended periods of time) for a month or two. He's been watching a lot of tv, and he heard a lot about how global warming is destroying the homes of the Polar Bears, and making life difficult for many animals. He's pretty angry. Unfortunately, he has also heard a number of politicians, pundits, and presidential hopefuls, (Republicans all, of course), denying there was any such thing as global warming, and speaking against any action to correct it. Big mistake. At least, as far as Albert is concerned.
So, he wants to drop-in on as many of these fish-for-brains idiots (His words; it's lucky I can understand him. Mostly.) as he can come across. What his exact intentions are, I can't tell you. But, I can say, I believe he has tasted human flesh at least once in the past. And, after all, it is the perfect month for trick and/or treating. Any treats, however, would probably be for Albert. And none that would be given freely.
So, it's not Halloween yet, but you can't begin to prepare too early. But be forewarned. If you are on the right (as in the conservative) side of the political spectrum, I would try to avoid letting a big black bear named Albert into your home. It would not be a good thing. Just a word to the wise.
But October is the perfect month to read those dark fantasy and horror stories. In part, because the month ends with Halloween, which represents the pagan holiday of Samhain. In past times particularly, but still today for some, this holiday was thought to be the time of year when the separation, or the door, so to speak, between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. And so, communication, and even contact, is possible. Or so it is believed. By some.
But October is also perfect for those spine-tingling stories, because it is getting colder, as winter approaches. The leaves are changing color, and beginning to fall from the trees, and darkness is falling earlier as the days grow shorter. Yep, I'll say it again. I love October.
Eddie, my feathered friend, doesn't really care what time of year it might be. As long as he is warm, gets fed, and can receive headrubs upon demand, it's all the same to him.
Then there's Albert. Normally, at this time of year, bears would probably be making preparations to hibernate for the winter. Albert, however, who is now quite used to living indoors most of the time, seems to have no intentions towards sleeping through the winter. In fact, right now he is planning on going walk-about (an Australian term for wondering around, sometimes for very extended periods of time) for a month or two. He's been watching a lot of tv, and he heard a lot about how global warming is destroying the homes of the Polar Bears, and making life difficult for many animals. He's pretty angry. Unfortunately, he has also heard a number of politicians, pundits, and presidential hopefuls, (Republicans all, of course), denying there was any such thing as global warming, and speaking against any action to correct it. Big mistake. At least, as far as Albert is concerned.
So, he wants to drop-in on as many of these fish-for-brains idiots (His words; it's lucky I can understand him. Mostly.) as he can come across. What his exact intentions are, I can't tell you. But, I can say, I believe he has tasted human flesh at least once in the past. And, after all, it is the perfect month for trick and/or treating. Any treats, however, would probably be for Albert. And none that would be given freely.
So, it's not Halloween yet, but you can't begin to prepare too early. But be forewarned. If you are on the right (as in the conservative) side of the political spectrum, I would try to avoid letting a big black bear named Albert into your home. It would not be a good thing. Just a word to the wise.
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