…we just pulled the pond pump (thanks to Jane!), coiled the hose, pulled the UV sterilizers, and fastened the heaters. Now we’re filling the pond back up to level before totally shutting down exterior water. That storm is looking extraordinarily nasty—polar low pressure with the force of a hurricane bearing down on Alaskan coast: heads up for Canada and the northern tier of US, clear across. BC and Alberta could catch it. WA is looking to be a lot chillier than the forecast, and the likelihood of getting over to see Jane’s brother next weekend does not look good.
It’s election day today: we got together our ballots, which has a batch of annoyingly complicated issues, which, imho, is why we’re a republic that is s’posed to have legislators capable of studying these things, adding the numbers, and reaching a sane conclusion. I fear for the outcome when voters have to parse 8 pages of explanation of toll roads and bridges and whether a bicycle is a transportation system, or a pedestrian counts, or whether you can use gas tax to fund a city bus… and which, what, and where would be affected…
I missed voting today; had a sleepless night. So I don’t get to complain about what was decided on several local important items up for vote. I finally slept some during the day, but now I’m dragging around, still sleepy. Lots to do tomorrow, though.
We had a brief cool snap about a week ago, but then back up to high temps, normal or abnormally high. We did get rain today, the first in two or three weeks. I wish the drought would well and truly end.
Here’s hoping the northern US and Canada do OK with the approaching storms.
I remember seeing something about a theory that there had been a very hot weather period (centuries) that affected the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian cultures from the Roman and pre-Roman eras, even extending up through central and northern Europe, and this accounted in part for the very common depictions of people au naturel. Given the summer we just went through here, I’m inclined to wonder if that was true, and not just the differences of cultural attitudes and availability of clothing. The theory did say that Earth goes through cooling and warming periods more drastic than we’ve been used to since people began measuring and recording temperature and weather since about the 1700’s.
Contrast that with, my playlist just played a song by Pink Martini, which gives “White Christmas” in Japanese. I can’t understand the Japanese words still, but the female lead singer punctuates the Japanese with “White Christmas” in English where the song has it. It’s a fun blending of the two cultures. (The group records retro-flavored songs in English and several other languages, mostly European and Japanese. Kinda fun, recommended to me by a fellow scifi fan.)
If you like “White Christmas” in Japanese, how about John Denver’s “Country Roads” in Japanese? (see the clip below)
This song features in one of my all-time favorite anime movies – Miyazaki & Kondo’s “Whisper of the Heart”.
It’s about a young girl in present-day Tokyo who compulsively reads fantasy novels and dreams of becoming a professional writer.
“Whisper of the Heart” is different from most other Studio Ghibli movies in that it has very few magical elements. But all the details of everyday life, and the thoughts and feelings of the young protagonists are captured with amazing clarity and sensitivity.
The only slightly magical element is a strange cat who travels on trains by himself. He leads the main character, Shizuku, to the house of an old man who is a master-artisan, musician, and antique restorer. She meets his grandson, Seiji, who goes to her school.
In this clip Shizuku and Seiji are at the grandfather’s house. Seiji tells her his dream of becoming a violin maker and studying in Italy. Shizuku figures that if he can make violins he must be able to play, so she asks him to play for her. He agrees, but only if she sings.
He knows that she has been working on various alternate lyrics to “Country Roads” for their graduation ceremony, so he starts playing it on his violin.
Halfway though, Seiji’s grandfather returns home with a couple of his musical friends…
Watch the clip
Sizuku feels that since Seiji is so talented, she has to prove herself, and starts writing a full length fantasy novel.
Highly recommended if you like cats and very gentle stories about creative and artistic people.
Found it! When I tried in 2009 I couldn’t find these films and the recommended anime-series in a region 2 or region-free format. You just triggered a new search and suddenly a lot is available – thank you for your recommendation!
One thing about England is the lack of extreme weather – for which I’m grateful! I also hope the people in the storm’s path are OK. I like the sound of the book – gentle, indeed. The mention of a strange cat reminded me of this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8174850.stm
I am hoping for typical western european weather at the end of this month – dull and damp, above freezing – I will be driving home from Spain. 😀 last year at the end of November we had bad storm and snow and low temp conditions which I would hate to meet on the road … so sometimes we swerve from the normal and have a little bit of extreme!
here in western Spain the rain is pouring down today, replenishing the water table, but rather dark and grim, blowing across from the east and getting colder. the view blotted out by low cloud, except for the steep boulder strewn escarpment just above …..
hope you two don’t get the storm too badly …
Whisper of the Heart sounds a little like a Murukami novel (one of my favourite writers)
Hah hah – we’ve got dull and damp down to a tee. Weather forecast for this week started off as grey cloud for Monday, grey cloud for Tuesday, grey cloud for Wednesday…
For a bit of variety the BBC felt obliged to point out there was going to be some light drizzle at 3am or somesuch. Quite why they think anyone cares what happens at 3am in November in the UK is beyond me 😀
Anyway it’s improved now. Apparently the grey cloud has turned white.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/313?area=Bicester
I really hope we’re not going to have another bad winter like the last two. I *like* boring weather. I do not like having to negotiate snow and ice. That kind of thing shouldn’t be allowed in a well run country 😀
Sounds like you’re in for it — at least you work in your home. Stock up on groceries, etc., so you can stay in out of it. Hope it doesn’t jump the Rockies, or we’ll get it too. However, we’ll probably get our share.
CJ: you should have been down here in the Okies this week. We had tornado watches, flash flood watches and earthquakes all going on at the same time.
You get into the bath tub or a closet for the tornado, no you have to go outside for the earthquake, … you get the drift.
People on the front lawns in their bathtubs?
I have good tornado nerves, but I’d hate to do both at once!
:))
Earthquake? In Oklahoma? …Daaaannnggg…
(I have relatives in OK. They’re used to tornadoes and such, cellar stays. Me, not so much.)
That movie and book sound really good. I watched Steamboy recently and was very impressed. A bit message-heavy, but a fine story and beautiful art, with plenty of excitement and fun and strange, along with the main threats.
Whisper of the Heart; I’ll check it when I next get the chance.
I seem to recall it was 5.6 and the strongest one ever recorded in the state. It’s been centered around Prague. Benedictine Hall at St Gregory’s University in Shawnee was badly damaged.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.232482440148154.60014.159532724109793&type=3&l=1bb984110a
My wife, who grew up in “The City”, remembers several earthquakes in the 50s and 60s that could be felt there.
I remember once reading about a “failed rift zone” in Arkansas. I suppose that’s the cause of the New Madrid quake of 1811-12–largest ever recorded in the Continental US, AFAIK. Seems like these Oklahoma quakes could be associated.
It’s a different zone that New Madrid, AFAIK, however, if New Madrid goes there won’t be much left of the middle of the US.
Been through a typhoon that also had an earthquake during the worst part of the typhoon. You don’t go outside as you would for an earthquake, but you’re not supposed to stay indoors, either. Well, at least it was a small earthquake and didn’t last long.