Today's soundtrack:
A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Thick hail and dirty water mixed with snow
come down in torrents through the murky air,
and the earth is stinking from this soaking rain"
(Dante, Inferno Canto VI.10-12)
So I'm back in Nanaimo. Actually, I've been here since Sunday. This is just the first day that it hasn't rained, snowed, or blown hurricane-force winds. Only Dante could describe life in the 'Mo so well, although I think there are fewer Catholics here...
I won't lie to you - I love being back in my old house. Free food, access to all kinds of chocolate, cable, free chauffeur service, a seemingly endless supply of embarrassing baby photos (i'm either eating, dancing, or naked), and, last but definitely not least, access to all kinds of chocolate. Yes, I mentioned the chocolate twice. Believe me, it bears repeating.
Walking around the city, I have complete anonymity. It's nice, for a change. Used to be that when I walked around town, I'd inevitably run into someone I knew, or that knew the family, etc. Now, I recognise no one. Well, that's not completely true. I recognise glimpses of people. That kid looks like the younger brother of that kid from high school. And that guy looks like an older version of a former teacher. Lots of glimpses, not a lot of recognition. Dante couldn't slip past the shades in Hell half as well as I can slip past holiday shoppers in the mall.
In other news, four days left until the Spaniard makes his triumphant, conquistador-esque return to the New World, and then all will be right with the world again. All that remains is to resurrect the soul of Trudeau within the Liberal Party and the Christmas Miracle will be complete (nudge nudge wink wink)!
N.B. -- My computer has a fantastic sense of humour. As Mom walked into the kitchen, it started to play "Für Elise".
