Currents and Picks

Some have had their boats have come in, but this year the big charter party boats are strangely quiet and still. Doesn’t stop the holiday music blasting from the resort’s patio bar. You can still pick your poison there. (© image.)

You know what a pickaxe is, right?

So who was the darlin’ child that came up with “toothpick”?

Probably not a tooth’s pick. They, being rather small and fragile, would not axe for trouble. Of course an incisor might give up his eyetooth to take a bite at naming a dental grooming device. Word of mouth: what would the pearly whites choose? “Toothpick” just sound so, well, aggressive, uncouth, and unsophisticated – so not worthy of the bright whites.

Any alternatives? Or is this just dumb.

Oh, the Crepe Myrtle finally got the memo about Christmas decorations. These turn scarlet around Christmas time before discarding all their leaves. Such a drama queen. Always one in every bunch. (© image)

Retarded.

That’s a desirable thing. Like retarded (“to delay or impede the development or progress of : to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment”) the growth of mold.

No one was ever allowed to say that word about a person when we were kids. You would get Shushed and lectured about politeness and being kind.

Sometimes, you could hear adults say “feeble minded” or “weak minded” individuals. Said as a quiet fact, not an insult.

That was back when it was OK for everyone to be different, to have different levels of abilities of all sorts. Everyone had something they were good at (and were encouraged by adults to focus and develop that strong point), but everyone wasn’t a winner – and we all knew it and it was OK.

Telling a lie to a kid – that he/she could excel at a certain thing when there’s no chance in heck it’s ever going to happen – benign negligence. That sort of retards growth in a direction that is much more possible instead.

So where am I going with all this?

A 1929 Polish Christmas postcard of Carolers. Somehow fits 2020. We’ve had similar mummers. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Clobbered. That’s the way I feel about this year. 

People picking on others constantly. Emotion driving more than intelligence.

It has been the human race retarded.

You have to know when to fold ’em. Turn in the cards. Wait a bit, shuffle, before playing another hand.

And that’s what I’m doing: taking a break until next year. 

Maybe things will calm down in the world, and people will regain perspective and sense, but we’ll see.

Outlook is optimistic, but I need to free up time and energy, so I’ll try to slip in from time to time to read how you are all doing, but suspending regular posting  – Oh, Ok, short irregular sprints, maybe …the cat made me put that in…she has her own agenda.

Like she insists her “Recommendations for Party Manners and a Happy Life” be included immediately.

She says “It’s what the world needs now.”

You be the judge. I’m staying outta this.

1. Give credit where credit is due. 2. Praise in public; criticize in private. 3. Mind your own business and leave other people the #*%& alone.

And there you have it.

It was closed to 75F this day. Our neighborhood Christmas landscape looks a bit different from many places who have those snowy scenes.(© image.)

From Our Realm to yours

Merry Christmas 

May all your holidays be merry and bright

Jingle on!

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

It’s got bark. We’ve got bark. It lights up their lives, and so do we. (1918 Christmas postcard/ USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)