I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Since my computer is being kind and letting me in for a short while this morning---ARRRGH! What a bear it was being last night! I had to throw in the towel after only ten or fifteen minutes or so--I thought I'd write something that's not about my troubles.

I like the rain. No, really. In its own way, rain is music. Each drop of rain makes its own distinct sound. A walk in the woods in the rain, is a step into a different world.

It is quieter, stiller than in the sunlight. Rather than the cheerfulness of a sunny hike, a walk in the rain is a melancholy affair. But, not a sorrowful one. A walk in the woods in the rain, is an exercise in observation, in digging deeper inside yourself, to find beauty and serentity...something much easier to do, on a sunny day.

Though the sun is gone, there are still patterns and colours, there is still a tapestry to unfold itself before your senses. The mist that weaves itself through valleys and rivers, the crystal diamonds of raindrops, dripping from branch and leaf, the smell of the soil, often buried in the sunshine, is pulled from the womb of the earth, by the rain. The lone cry of a crow or a blue jay, echoing across the land, is heard all the more clearly than a hundred singing sparrows in the sunshine.

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Mind you, it's a lot more pleasant, hanging out in the woods and fields in the rain, when one is dressed for it. That's why in my younger days, when I was a tree-hugger/closet trancendentalist, I wore a genuine cowboy hat--they're wide-brimmed to keep water from your face and shoulders, and made of beaver fur felt, so shed water rather nicely, thanks. Don't knock cowboys, they don't dress as they do to stand out from the crowd, they dress like that, 'cos by gosh, they've common sense! Everything a cowboy wears is worn for practical reasons...'cos each item has a specific function, that geared for the job, the terrain and the climate.

So, did I care if I looked out of place hiking in upstate New York in my cowboy hat, rugged outdoor gear, and hiking boots? Hell no, I was comfortable and dry--to hell with the looks the yuppies and mundane suburban people (who often didn't have the sense to even wear a proper hat and shoes) gave me. I miss my cowboy hat, wool plaid coat and those old Chekloslovokan (sorry, no clue how to spell that) work boots from Sears...and my sumac hiking staff. I could climb straight up to heaven, in that gear. It was a part of who I was, back then. Sure, I got teased and got odd looks...but you know what? When I was out there, in my woods and fields, I was blissfully HAPPY. And those people who shunned me for my dress/looks? They were a bunch of miserable sods.

AGE 19, YELLOWSTONE CANYON, WYOMING, SUMMER '80

...I'm still here, and my computer is letting me blog this morning (so far). I've not gotten booted off the internet, or struck with 30 popups in 10 seconds (and YES, my security settings are at max, and yes, BOTH my blockers are on), this thing has taken control of my 'puter. Sometimes the blockers work, sometimes they don't.

Well, they had that Children in Need radio contest this morning, as I understand, to win a chance to tour the Tardis and also the Torchwood and Sarah Jane sets...and help a worthy cause, while doing it. How cool is that? well, not British, and no funds, so I won't ever get the chance to get up close and personal to Dr Who in my lifetime.

Well, that's not true, I touched a Tardis console once, saw a cyberman and a dalek, and sat in Bessie, back in '88, so who am I to complain? Nah, I'm happy for the lucky folks who won this morning--especcially the wee one's, what a happy memory those kids will have, for the rest of their lives! Too bad they won't meet David Tennant or other cast members, but...still, that must be something, getting to look at the set up close.

I'm sitting here listening to the S-3 soundtrack which a dear friend has sent along to me. A reason to smile on this gloomy day. I noticed they re-used the "Gridlocked Cassions" track--used in the S-3 episode Gridlock I presume. It reappeared in the the first episode of Series 4, with the Adipose. Wonder why? And, why hadn't I noticed that before? I must be getting old...

We're getting Tropical Storm Kyle today and tomorrow...not too bad where I live, as I'm close to 200 miles straight north from the Atlantic and Long Island Sound-New York Harbour. We're only expected to get an inch or less of rain from this--though I was told parts of central and southern New England, Massachusetts and Conneticuit could get up to 4 inches of rain...which they don't need, as they got pretty soaked from Tropical Depression Ike not that long ago. We could use a spot of rain though, haven't had any in almost 2 weeks, except for a brief sprinkle last Sunday.

My pop up blocker is actually working this morning. Not sure why it wasn't working last night. Well, it worked for a little while, then didn't.

Well, it's 11am here, and I've not had a thing to eat all day, and my stomach says I must eat something. Since the cupboard's a bit bare--out of eggs, the bacon I took out of the freezer last night is still frozen, and I made the mistake of pouring a bowl of honey nut Cherrios, only to find that my box of cereal has gone rather stale...bleh, not a good way to find that out. So, I'm stuck with peanut butter on toast and diet coke (used the last of my milk on the stale cereal).

I'm off in a bit to pick up that little slip of paper with the pathetically small numbers on it, that keeps me chained to my telemarketing cubicle year after year...the one that makes me laugh...just before I start to cry. It'll be about $100 this week, by my reckoning. Time for tears.

I'm still feeling sad and sorry for myself, but I'm adjusting. It's hard being cut off from expressing yourself, or keeping up with one's friends or what's going on in the outside world. I've my books, thank goodness..even if they're the same books I've had for ages, I don't mind reading the same stories over and over, no more than I mind watching repeats of Dr Who, 'cos I do enjoy them. My MS word programme is still--mostly, working, so I can write. It doesn't really matter if I can't share plays or Dr Who fiction with others, as really I only write creatively for my own pleasure and am always completely gobsmacked when I do get compliments--someone wrote the other day on one of my older fan fiction blogs on Wordpress, that one of my stories was "really nice." That's...amazing. No really, I think of my creative writing as simplistic, average, and sort of...well, teenage level, really. My blogging sometimes goes a bit deeper, as I'm a bit more comfortable writing--and had a LOT more practice with---essays and factual stuff.

Well, the computer isn't letting me write again...keeps stopping on me. So, I'll cut and run whilst I can. It's my usual Friday off, and that means doing the shopping, bill paying and chores. Well, I've only funds enough for one bill, and a short grocery list, so shouldn't take all that long.

Have a grand Friday, all. N. (playwrite27)

Hi, trying to cope with this awful trojan. Why oh why would ANY business want to advertise by messing up someone's computer? That is just showing how stupid and greedy the human race truly is.

I'm not the type to blame God for my problems--or anyone else's, but sometimes it does seem like I was born to fail, and born under a dark cloud. Nothing good or positive ever lasts with me.

I was hoping to go somewhere this weekend==there's a couple of things going on that are $10 or less to get in to---the circus on Friday night, and Sunday there's the big "Taste of the North Country" charity food festival in the city park, where for $5 admission, and 50 cents per sample tickets, one can taste offerings from restaurants from all over the Adirondack mountain region, from local, American regional and gourmet foods, to ethnic cuisine and desserts. I've never been, but a lot of my co-workers are going to be there.

The senior centre down the street, is also having their annual fall fete, with baked goods, a jumble sale and crafts being offered, on Saturday. These are the last big events downtown for the year, so I might as well go and look, if nothing else. The model railroading club is having a free open house on Sunday, at their location downtown next to Aimmee's Dinner and a Movie, so I might go to that, as I am acquainted with one of the model railroaders. As I understand it, they are to have three tracks running for the open house, and that'll be really cool, as I do actually have model railroading in my blood, so to speak, having had a grandad who was a major player in local model railroading, back in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Acutally, I don't know which I used to enjoy more: running the train, or making a big, detailed layout.

But, with the short cheque and having to save for a trojan remover, I think I might just go for a walk downtown to look, and leave the spending to others.

Well, Iexpect that the 'puter will be kicking me off, shortly, so better finish. I'm so frustrated!

Actually, I'm so unhappy, that contrary to what I'd normall do, after my nice supper of smoked grilled pork chops, brussel sprouts and au gratin potatoes, I've decided to use the $1 gift card I've been hoarding away in my drawer, and go get another hot fudge sundae tonight, around 10pm, after my supper's settled. Screw the blood sugar, what the hell do I care? It's only me, it's not like anyone but the cats depends on me, why should I obsess with my health? Enjoy what little pleasures I have.