There's something about April in North Carolina that always makes me think of these opening lines of The Canterbury Tales:




Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
the droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke..

Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages describes me to a tee (or fare thee well). I'm always ready to go, perhaps not on pilgrimages, but to just get in the car and not stop 'til I reach the ocean, or mountains, or desert.

But Chaucer never saw the April-green here in NC in contrast to the dogwood, dark boles and blue sky. We get this shade of green only at this time of year. Each leaf is reaching for the sun as it newly unfolds and displays a green that is new and fresh; it's a green that seems saved only for this moment. I'll try for a picture; my words cannot do it.

BRB is Write(and needs a fully annotated version of Chaucer)

March 2 in North Carolina

Here's a few views of our location under a few inches of snow. I think I have a few shots of the same spot with that April green.

As you can tell, I really should learn how to manipulate these pictures.

Anyway, March snow, April green. As we say around here: "I love North Carolina."

BRB is Write(and is moving soon)

Random Musings About:

What day is this?

While making my dump run I remarked to myself: Self, why are there so many cars on the road? Usually I answer myself right away; when I arrived at the grocery many miles later it hit me. Today is the last sane day of the holiday season. Many of the crazies are getting a head start.

There was one cop for every ten drivers on the roads. All the ones I saw had some one pulled over. (Go get 'em, guys.)

The store was plugged with last-minute shoppers (like me.) The interstate was full of travelers, but just not as many as last year.


I actually do like the holiday season, i.e. Thanksgiving and Christmas. What I don't like is the rest of the people enjoying it with me. By rest of the people, I mean the whole freaking world. Family is ok. Family is great. But the rest of the world best stay out of my way.

I get cranky when: Stores are sold out of the one item I want, nay need.

Other drivers aren't giving me the attention I'm giving them.

I have to go to the mall. (Interesting that I use the same phrasing when I have to go to the toilet.)

When every store clerk says, Have a good holiday. Although, around here you hear Merry Christmas much more than any PC response.

'Nuff crankiness: Y'all have a great Thanksgiving.

BRB Is Write(and has much to be thankful for)

Take this sweatshirt, please

This is really for Tam

If I could write snark like that, well I cannot.

The story behind the shirt is that most of the BRB family worked for this radio station in Canada. At the time it was the only commercial classical radio station in the Dominion. (Privately owned) We had this board operator/cartoonist and the goofy shirt was the result of a promotional campaign.

So. you really can have music to soothe the savage beast.

BRB is Write(and knows how to use a cart machine)

Veterans' Day

I don't have much to add this year from what I wrote last year. Just go hug a vet.

Also for any vet that might stumble across this post, check the link on the right to the Veteran's page. This is updated twice a month and is mainly for retirees and the disabled and their families. But for an impartial look at what's happening with the VA and legislation, it cannot be beat.

BRB is Write(and is still a vet)

Find PDB Here

Tried to fix my blog roll and lost him.

BRB is no computer genius

Election Leftovers (or Rightovers for some, or orts for the not-too-picky)

These are some random thoughts I had as I watched my giddy coworkers on Wed.

It took a lot of white folks to ensure Obama's victory. I know that he will not forget it, but I wonder about some of his supporters.

In our local fish-wrap today, syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman (average white woman) writes:

"Race was not 'the issue' in this election. I know that. The issue was the economy. The issue was the war...."

Perhaps race was not the issue in her circle, but is sure was among 98% of the black voters. If 98% of one race votes for a person of the same race, the issue is race.

I should qualify that. In all of the previous elections for president we had our choice of old white guy, younger white guy, military veteran white guy, draft-dodger white guy, smart white guy, not-so-smart white guy. I can understand having a candidate that you strongly identify with. In past presidential elections I have felt strongly disenfranchised. But don't tell me the issue isn't race. I'm not that dumb.

From reading the paper these past few days, not all of the media have sobered up. But when they do, they will face the problem of criticizing a man of race, and having the race card thrown at them. The honeymoon will last longer, but when problems arise, they will face the Imus dilemma.

BRB is Write(and really shouldn't write about politics)

Camo Cat

This is Nell's favorite spot on a warm Autumn day. She will shift from time-to-time to follow the sun.

BRB is Write (and has boss cat)