Other Areas in My Padded Cell

Monday, February 13, 2012

I'm Dreaming of a White Valentine's Day (Since I Didn't Have A White Christmas)

What is this strange white substance that's falling from the sky? It seems vaguely familiar to me. Do the angels have dandruff? Or could this possibly be. . . no impossible! But it is! I think this is the stuff that people refer to as. . . snow.
Yes! It's finally snowing here. Hooray!
I must admit, I've been kind of disappointed in winter this year, especially since there seems to be a disturbing lack of cold weather. I'd better enjoy the snowfall while I can though, according to the meteorologists it's going to warm up by the weekend. Pretty soon it will be spring, and then it's bye-bye Frosty. Drat!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, the most romantic day of the year. Pretty ironic since it's named after man who was stoned, then beheaded.
Okay, so the romance of the holiday didn't actually occur until about 1000 years after Saint Valentine had died . . .and the only reason it became a day for lovers was because of the belief in England and France that birds began . . . um. . . courting in the middle of February. . . but still, it is named after him. 

What will I be doing this Valentine's day? You ask.
Well, I can say without a doubt that I will be doing something really special for the holiday. I mean, how often do you get the chance to take your mother to the dentist?
All kidding aside, I'll probably spend the day watching romance movies. Hopefully I'll slip a foreign film in my list.
I love watching foreign films with subtitles. It's a lot of fun, especially when they slip a few sentences of English  halfway through the movie. I usually have one of these two reactions:
1. Hey, where did the subtitles go? How am I supposed to know what they're saying without subtitles?
Or, if the movie's subtitles continue to pop up through the English part.
2. Oh my goodness. . . I can understand what they were saying! I've watched this move for so long that I am actually now fluent in this language!
Then disappointment sets  in as I realize that it's just English, and I'm not as brilliant as I thought I was. In fact, I'm feeling silly that I didn't realize it was English right off.
 But I digress.
 So there are my plans for Valentine's Day, take my mom to the dentist, then sit around and watch romance movies.
And yes, before you ask, I've already started my collection of stray cats. . .
So, what are your plans for Valentine's Day? Are you planning on something really romantic. . . or are you adopting a cat? (Not that the latter option is a bad idea. Cats can be great companions when they're not, you know, using you as a scratching post.) Here's a picture of my kitty.
He's probably watching television in this picture. (Don't worry, I only let him watch educational shows.)

Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for those Time Traveling Aliens.  















Monday, February 6, 2012

New Year Resolution . . . Take Two

 Did you think that I had left you forever?
Well, too bad, I'm back! You should be used to this by now.
We're a month into another new year, so it's time for my New Year Delusions. . . I mean, Resolutions, of course.
Let's see, what are my resolutions this year?
1.Write more than last year: That shouldn't be hard to do.
2. Maybe actually publish something? Ha! Yeah right. I've already had one rejection this year thus far. I bet you're shocked by this news. I can hear you now, "You actually sent something out to be rejected?" Yes! Are you proud of me?
3. Last but not least, this year I am going to try and dodge those time traveling aliens better! Those nasty little creatures are always distracting me! Not that that's really hard to do. I'm always getting dis- ooh, look! A shiny thing!
Ahem. . . Yes. . . I digress.
So, those are my New Year Delusions for the year.
"We've been through this before," I can hear you say, "What makes you think you'll actually keep them this year?
The answer is simple: I'm making my resolutions in February, not January. I've probably just astounded you with my brilliance.
So, how are you doing with your New Year Resolutions? Are you keeping to them? Have you already given up? Or did you even bother to make them at all?
Resolutions are fun to make, but they also shed light on your shortcomings.
Wow, that was almost a deep thought! I'd better stop before I start sounding profound! Horrors!

Till next time, keep dodging those Time Traveling Aliens.

 Photo Copyright © 2011 Darren Hester