Not so trivial

Spaghettti on bow-tie pasta

Jordan made it according to Amy Russell's recipe

kudos and thanks to both ladies!

My Society for Uplifting the Language is still on my mind. I have decided we should create a Dunces List, of people who are the worst offenders, and maybe an Honors List for those who are eloquent without sinking to tastelessnessIf you want to use a psychoactive drug to get Hardin addicted, look into the benzodiazepam derivatives (i.e., Valium and others). They do have a high degree of addictiveness, and are classed as controlled substances.

. I’m afraid the man now in the White House is the first entrant on the Dunces List, for his use of denigrating nicknames for people who deserve our respect. The latest is Cheatin’ Obama, hilarious from the lips of a man who has cheated his way through life. Crooked Hilary has been with us awhile, as has Little Rocket Man for Kim Jong-Un and Pocahontas for Senator Elizabeth Warren. The thing is that these are not only insults, they are tasteless—and way beneath the dignity we deserve from the supposed leader of the free world.

Today I ran across a truly eloquent put-down from Sir Winston Churchill to a woman who said to him, “If I were married to you, I would poison your coffee.” Churchill replied, “Madam, if I were married to you, I’d drink the poison.” Another time, at an opera, Churchill, having characteristically over-imbibed, stumbled and fell at the feet of a particularly ugly woman, who cried out, “Sir Winston, you are drunk!” He stumbled to his feet and replied, “Yes, madam. But tomorrow I will be sober, and you will still be ugly.” (Thanks to Randy Eickhoff for reminding me of that one.) Classic, eloquent putdowns. Churchill goes to the head of my Honors List. Does it tell you anything that most candidates for the Honors List are deceased? Ah, the times we live in.

But we do live in interesting times. The student crusade continues, and now teachers across the country are walking out—principally from elementary schools, I gather. It’s like the people have begun to speak out and I’m delighted to hear it. As much as I can I add my voice to their cries of protest. We get a lot of warnings against the encroachment of fascism, and I can certainly see warning signs, particularly in 45’s attempts to consolidate power and control the media, but I am encouraged the Americans as a group. We stand united—most of us. God Bless America!

Closer to home, Texas weather can’t make up its mind. Yesterday was chilly but during the night it warmed up—don’t ask me how that happens. Jordan came out this morning in a workout suit and complained, “It’s supposed to be chilly, and it’s hot out.” The temperature got all the way to 80 or a bit above by noon; shortly thereafter a front came through—lots of wind and some distant thunder but no rain, and now it’s in the sixties and predicted to go into the low forties tonight. April is a most uncertain month.

In spite of a medium-good eye doctor appointment (there’s still a bit of swelling), I was in a blue funk when I got home in the late morning. A couple of reasons which aren’t even worth dignifying with mention, but when that front blew through, I suddenly felt better about the world. Amazing how the weather can affect our moods.

I think it’s a day to be put to bed. Tomorrow will be a better day!