*sigh*

If I knew what to write, I'd have posted before.

I was dismally depressed late lasts week, and although I thought about dragging you through the mire of that depression, I couldn't quite get my thoughts clear enough to write anything. So I chose the better part of valor and didn't.

The depression has lifted, mostly, at least for now. Two sunny days have helped, but I actually enjoyed the dark rainy of last week, even though I was depressed. If that makes sense, and I don't think it does.

Sproing seems to be settling in well at the treatment facility. I'm not sure about his progress, or really much of anything. I talked to him yesterday, and Superman and Diva went to visit. I stayed home to study.

Manny (the pickup truck) isn't working. Again. Superman left the headlights on last week and ran the battery down. We jumped it off, and I was able to drive it home from the parking lot at his workplace, but when I tried to start it this morning there wasn't enough juice to start him up.

I have a big test, a really scary monster, on Thursday. I haven't been studying like I should. That can be said for most of my semester, actually. What happened?

I dunno, maybe I'm in the doldrums. It's mid-term now. Life is in a delicate holding pattern. The days are getting shorter. We finally had a cool day yesterday. The temperature dropped to just above freezing last night, though this afternoon was very warm in the sun. The breeze was nice, but without a breeze things were warm. Kinda nice, really, and dry instead of humid. But the sun hurts my eyes.

What, do I have to complain about everything?? Sheesh. OK, remember when I said the depression has lifted? I spoke too soon. Or perhaps I should just not think about it. Too much navel-gazing is bad for the soul.

Never mind. Pretend like you didn't read this drivel. Go for a drive through the blogosphere and find something fun.

The summer doldrums

dol·drums
Pronunciation: \ˈdōl-drəmz, ˈdäl-, ˈdȯl-\
Function: noun plural
Etymology: probably akin to Old English dol foolish
Date: 1811
1: a spell of listlessness or despondency

2often capitalized : a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds

3: a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

Indigo went home yesterday; got home safely after a long and arduous journey. IIRC, it's almost 600 miles from here to there.


The day he left our air conditioner stopped working AGAIN. Superman bought me a small window unit for our bedroom. It's comfortable in here. This early in the morning it's almost bearable in the rest of the house. By early afternoon it'll be miserable out there.


I learned yesterday that our central a/c unit is 25 years old. I had no idea it was that old. We obviously need a new one. You know we don't have $2500 lying around. Superman is going to make some calls, talk to some people, try to get us a deal or something. It'll work out somehow. If I can stay in my one cool room I might be ok. But there is a lot of stuff I need to do out there. Sigh.


It's early July. The doldrums. July is a long month, followed by August which is another supernaturally long month. Between the two of them we are approximately 180 days from the brisk winds of autumn. Here in the doldrums we just plod along, getting nowhere. Shit happens, troubles build, tensions mount, verbs follow nouns. It is an ineffective time with no end in sight. This is not my favorite time of year.


I read an extremely good book some years ago called Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. I highly recommend it. It was the Newberry Award winner in 1956. The book has a nautical setting, which brings me to my point. In the book, our hero is on a masted sailing ship trapped in the doldrums. However, they do not sit waiting for the fickle winds to blow. No, they sail on an ash breeze.

I need to find my ash, get my ash working on the problems.