Monday Morning Quarterbacking

Several random notes and filler on a snowy Monday afternoon:

* Photo above — What we have here is the view outside of my front door, to the right, of my neighborhood when the snowstorm hit hard on Sunday afternoon. I love the contrast from my neightbor's house on the white and drab that surrounds it.

The little girl asked all morning to go outside and play in the snow. We finally did just before this scene hit. It was a good dusting, but nothing like this. And we both lasted 2 minutes - the Arctic blast wind that fed the storm absolutely drove us inside. The wind chill was way below zero and the temperature was in the high 20s most of the day.

Today, it is a slick white sheen on a normally overcast December. The sun is out and the sky is blue. Well, that should be a metaphor for everything - even when the storm hits, the sun comes out the next day anyway. Or whatever... no need for Zen today.

* Work - We still have our jobs. Talking to colleagues from other papers over the last month or so, I can say that with some pride and some sadness - some of them are out of work now. The wife's job is safe for now as well. With the economy in the tank, the need for counselors is just as big, maybe more so.

* "... for the rest of us" - The Washington state capitol in Olympia has out a moritorium on holiday displays due to several protests over the Nativity scene there.

But honestly, why is it so interesting? Because - "The moratorium applies to ... pending requests for a Buddhist display, a Jewish banner, a mannequin of Satan holding a statement against atheists and wishing them a merry Christmas, an aluminum pole in celebration of the invented holiday of Festivus, and a "Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Display."

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld should be proud... very proud...



* George Bush and shoes - I honestly would like to know what was going through George W. Bush's mind when shoes were thrown at him in Iraq...



In Iraq, to throw a shoe at someone means that you are offering that person the biggest insult possible - that you aren't even worthy enough for me to step on. Since shoes are barriers between you and the ground/dirt/etc., the target of your shoe throwing is beneath even your shoes.

Rather unnecessary, to be honest (and funny), but it does remind me of this quip from Austin Powers... "That really hurt! I'm gonna have a lump there, you idiot! Who throws a shoe? Honestly! You fight like a woman!"

And it gives me a chance to seque into this moving gif that's a favorite:

Have a happy Festivus, everybody!