There’s no light pollution on The Mountain. This may not be a certified “dark sky park,” but other than surrounding terrain, nothing interferes with my stargazing.
By the ten o’clock hour last night, the sky was black velvet strewn with diamonds. The galactic plane of the Milky Way, though faint, was visible over Hall Mountain to the south.
My recall of constellations ain’t what it used to be, so I cheat — I have the Stellarium app installed on my phone. I hold it up to the sky, and it identifies what I’m seeing. Pretty slick.
Stellarium even has a night-vision mode. The dim red glow allows my eyes to remain adjusted to the dark.
There’s a tendency these days to experience Nature, concerts, special moments with kids and pets and such through our electronic devices. That diminishes us. When stargazing, I use phone and app only to help me learn (or re-learn).
I was outside again around 2am. A freshening southerly breeze had brought clouds, and my crystalline night sky was gone.
Predictions of severe weather evolve as onset draws closer. This weekend is no exception — The Mountain now is at “slight” risk tomorrow and Saturday.
The extended outlook gives Ozarkansas a 15% chance of getting more of the same not only Sunday, but Monday as well.
When these maps are issued again tomorrow and the next day, I expect to see some or all of the region placed at “enhanced” risk.
Anticipated rainfall totals have changed. Judging by the latest map, seeing three inches here is a distinct possibility. Areas to the north and west likely will contend with another round of flooding.
That forecast will evolve, too, I’m sure.
I’m both wary and fascinated. We’ll see how it unfolds.
“If you keep saying it the way it really is, eventually your word is law in the universe.”
Werner Erhard
I sleep. I eat. I care for the dogs. I pay bills. I blog. I do chores. I work in the cabin. I visit with neighbors and friends. I go to town.
I walk in the woods. I watch the sun set. I gaze up at the stars.
I do all the things.
No, I can’t escape the larger situation, nor should I try to. It demands attention. A word I’ve used lately is “consuming.”
But even though it seems to permeate everything, it doesn’t. Truly, it affects very little. Virtually all of my everyday life, practically speaking, is entirely within my authority and control.
And so I do the things.
What that does, or what it’s done for me, is yank my life back into proper perspective. My attitude follows.
When I do have to deal directly with aspects of separation and divorce — from personal finances to legal procedure, even the random cockroach on social media — I do so knowing that it’s but a small part of life and living.
Is that “a positive attitude”? No, not really. I’ve never been a disciple of Norman Vincent Peale. I’ve noticed that whenever I find myself dwelling on the negative, it’s because I’ve lost perspective.
Perspective is the rocket ship I rode from denial and sadness to acceptance and indifference.
Just as “kindness” without underlying goodness is a put-on, perspective trumps “positivity” every time. Reality rocks — and rules.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable