If ifs and buts were candy and nuts

Temperature: Last day of January and we’ve had exactly one afternoon with below 0/32 degrees and several record-breaking days with 5/41 to 10/50 temps this winter. No skiing or skating, and no walking on water because the sea won’t freeze. There’s still February, but so far, we’ve had three seasons instead of four in these southern parts of the north. And the flora and fauna have absolutely lost the plot; a harbinger of things to come at an accelerating pace. Yes, I gripe about winter and how I like warmth, but I agreed to the terms and weather conditions when I said “I do.” No one should do what Russia is doing and say they’ll look at the bright side, adapt, take advantage when it comes to the climate crisis. Jesus effing Christ, there’s a threshold for human adaptability and going along is a race to that threshold.

Eating: falafels, in a minute.

Drinking: lemon tea with a dollop of honey and not a drop of milk, thanks.

Watching: Sanditon 

Listening: Who is this Billie Eilish you all speak of? Yes, I’ve heard of BE. No, I haven’t really listened to BE, not properly. About to correct that, promise.

Reading: The madness of crowds: gender, race and identity by Douglas Murray.

Writing: I write to you all the time, sweetie darlings. But you never write me back, you miscreants! Something better to do, have you? For shame!

Thinking: Ta-ta, Britain, sincerely sorry to see you go. Let the best of your past be the worst of your future.

Feeling: A tinge of wanderlust mixed with both happy and sad memories. I dreamt I was in Singapore again. Not sure what prompted that particular location, unless it has something to do with my mother-in-law’s death two years ago. Singapore is where I was between her final breath and funeral, a trip that couldn’t be postponed or cancelled. And like any dutiful mother, wife and daughter-in-law, I felt bad for not being of much help during that period, but my father-in-law wasn’t alone, he was with family, with everyone trying to pitch in and help him cope despite their personal loss and grief. And it is astounding the amount of red tape and paperwork you’re supposed to handle chop-chop in a cool-headed manner when all your head is good for is crying into a pillow or shoulder. (My father-in-law, on the phone, February 2018: “I did okay today. I went 90 minutes without bursting into tears.”) Oh, life. Cruel, crazy, beautiful life.

Dita and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

You know the kind. The one involving an altercation. And for a person who'd rather handle matters in a civilized manner, an altercation is an abomination. [Such an expressive language, English. With a word for everything. Except schadenfreude. With a million-ish words to choose from, can't we come up with something? Any suggestions? Misfortune-merry? Affliction-merry? Accident-glad? Accident-pleased? Woe-is-you-woo-hoo? Hmm. Woe-is-you-woo-hoo. Woe-is-you-woo-hooism. I like the sound of and sounds in that. Start using it. Start spreading it. You heard it here first! You attended the birth!!]

But some adults act like children and get angry when faced with facts they disagree with or simply don't want to hear. Listen carefully then respond. Calmly. Don't shut down the other person then storm off all na-na na-na boo-boo I win. Doesn't change the facts, only how I see you.

I need a hug. Anybody need a hug? Hugs all around, sweetie darlings.

Start your weekend on the right foot

Or the left. Whichever is fine. Forget about steps or choreography. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Just give yourself to the music.

I dare you not to smile while at it.

Now praise we great and famous men

At the Oscars. Again. Again and again. Over and over.

"Let us make a list of nominees in our image, after our likeness, to rule over gender, racial and ethnic minorities, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls through the doors of a movie theater."

The AMPAS needs an enema. Because this stinks to high heaven.

And then we danced

Temperature: It’s been a whopping ten degrees warmer than the average temp for the season. Some migratory birds have stayed put. We had a rose in bloom. We’re gardening. In January. R i i i g h t.

Eating: a Mediterranean-style vegetable soup

Drinking: something bottled by Gwynt y Ddraig later tonight, but only after I learn how to pronounce it.

Watching: Do yourself a favor and go see Jojo Rabbit. You’ll laugh at the cowardice and grandstanding of the Nazis, and cheer at the courage and resilience of ordinary women, men and children.

Listening: and dancing to the sambas de enredo for 2020. Carnaval! Tá chengando!!

Reading: The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy by Mariana Mazzucato.

Writing: updating my resume, actually.

Thinking: “Here’s to putting an end to ignorance and replacing it with love.” (Taika Waititi)

Feeling: If life gives you lemons, swap them for limes, make a caipirinha, drink it ice-cold, open the window, yell Ha!, then draw a warm bath and soak yourself to a prune.