I understand that some scientist figured out that yesterday was the most sad, depressing day of the year. They called it "Blue Monday". Okay. If that was the worst, then things have to get better from here, right? Hopefully, I'll be in a better mood before tourist season. I seem to have slipped into a cynical cycle from which I need to climb out, or better yet, snap out. I'll work on it. Maybe I just need to slow down and regroup. Life could be worse. At least I don't live in Minnesota. I think my outlook is changing already.

Dread

Happy Stonewall Jackson's Birthday!

Today we celebrate the birthday of that famous militray genius General Thomas J. Jackson, aka Stonewall Jackson. Since I have the day off from work, I felt I should pause to remember the great man and his many admirable qualities. I hope you too will pause to remember why we celebrate this date, here beneath the Carolina moon.

The Signs Do Not Lie!

This upstate South Carolina sign sums it up rather clearly, and simply.

Posted by Dread who of course chooses Prosperity!

It's TRUE! If you don't like our weather, just wait 15 minutes.

This is the kind of local weather set up that turns cocky sure meterologist into blubbering broadcasters who rely on the most technical language they can muster from their scientific background training. Which it turns out, is a convoluted way of talking about upper level wind shear and condensation rates, dew points, jet stream anomalies, etc., to essentially say, in a hidden coded way, "We don't have a #*s%king clue what the weather is going to do." But we locals know.

It might rain. It might snow. It might sleet. It might do all three, or any combination of two of those. Or, it may just stay cold, cloudy and miserable, and do nothing. That's just the nature of the beast, when a high moves down from Canada and a low comes out of the Gulf. It really depends on WHERE they collide. And that's the way it is, here beneath, the Carolina moon.

Posted by Dread who stocked up on cans of salmon, milk, butter, onions, and potatoes to make a stew.

Grind This!

Locally, and I understand a lot of other places also, a tradition started a few years ago, called "The Grinding of the Trees". It’s become something of a ritual celebration, but actually is just everyone dropping off their tree to a station that grinds them up. The grinds are then allowed to season in huge piles and are given out for mulching trees and gardens. A ritual recycling, if you will.

I think its a nice tradition we've started. I hope it spreads. There are a few other things I would like to see ritually ground to bits. Understand, I'm not naming names or anything. I'm just saying...

Dread