Tuesday, February 16, 2016

MELTDOWN BEFORE DAWN



 








Well, not exactly a meltdown. It was more like freaking out (is that term still in existence?). I'm generally calm and reasonably patient, but occasionally I  lose it and freak. It depends on how much I'm provoked. And how many unpleasant things are overwhelming me at once. Tonight I felt overwhelmed.

Perhaps I'm merely tired of winter. And cold. And snow. There was more snow on Valentine's Day (and for those of you who read my previous post - yes, I did have pizza on Valentine's Day).

 Valentine's Day

Since Tennessee - God, will I ever learn how to spell it?? - is considered to be a southern state, I assumed that the winters would be mild here. I expected snow and fairly cold winters - but my expectations were also fanciful and -perhaps - delusional.

I had envisioned this mountain wilderness to be inhabited by Heidi, Old Yeller, and Bambi, with the Waltons throwing innocuous snowballs and the Von Trapps singing Edelweiss. 
Instead, I feel like a member of the Donner Party, The Forlorn Hope. I'm fastening snow shoes out of birch bark and imagining the cats roasting on sticks over an open fire.

Speaking of cats, in the middle of my meltdown tonight I accidentally tripped over the cat food dishes that I keep in the kitchen. Two full dishes of food and a bowel of water went everywhere. It's not the first time. Nor the second time.

Then, my laptop refused to accept my computer password. I couldn't get online for over an hour. This caused genuine panic. I finally figured out it was the Num Lock key. 

Then I remembered that Bosco had been messing around near my keyboard earlier. Damn cat! Bosco is the same culprit who knocked the "i" key off my computer keyboard a few months ago. No, it isn't fixed.

 Bosco

And then there is the nightly visitation of the coyotes. At around 3:00 a.m. almost every night a pack of coyotes comes on my property and seemingly surrounds the house - howling and yelping and making bone-chilling taunting sounds. They never stay for very long.

I had to put some important letters in the mail box, so I summoned my courage and decided to go just before the crack of dawn. It's a very long walk, down an icy, muddy, tedious hillside (mountainside) and I always dread it immensely. I put on my heaviest winter coat and took a walking stick, cell phone, and flashlight.

Just as I got to the box I heard the coyotes howling again, but this time in the distance. I had a major adrenaline rush as I was laboring up the steep hill to get back to the house.

I've thrived on danger most of my life. It's some kind of a pseudo-masochistic thrill that I crave. I'd probably be lost without it.

More of my Hollywood stories coming up. I know you're enthralled at the prospect.


Check out my Oscar Fashion Bombs at
http://cabinetofcurioustreasures.blogspot.com

24 comments:

  1. I was half expecting you to say that when you reached the postbox you found that you'd left some of your letters behind. Anyway, if and when somebody says to you something on the lines of "These things are sent to try us!" I know how you'll feel - namely, like socking him/her one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems like things have been sent to "try" me my entire life. I'm in the mood to send them back.
      Fortunately I did remember to bring the letters - but I ALMOST forgot to put stamps on them.

      Delete
  2. At least you're not as lazy as I am. I drive to our post box since it's all of a block away. It's just too cold, icy and you never know when a damn moose is going to show up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to drive to the post box, too, but I can only do it in fair weather. When it rains, my car gets stuck in the mud. When it snows there's no way for me to get out of here on wheels. The ice is too treacherous.

      Delete
  3. Let's hear it for the I hate winter club. Bring on the global warming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I eagerly await global warming. So far the ice floes here in TN aren't melting....

      Delete
  4. What's winter? 'Inviting you and your readers to Phoenix where tomorrow's high is supposed to be 91. Better yet, let's trade places for a few days!

    PS - I wonder if 'your' coyotes have a crush on your kitties?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My parents lived in Phoenix for awhile a few years before I was born and my mother HATED the heat. We also visited there quite often when I was a kid. The only place I ever lived that could compare to Phoenix is San Angelo, Texas.
      I take after my Mom in that I hate heat too - - BUT I'm not exactly crazy about the cold...

      There are times when I actually feel like offering my kitties to the coyotes.

      If Raybeard (above) happens to read this - - I'm only jesting. Maybe.

      Delete
  5. what type of pizza did you have on VD? I don't suppose domino's delivers out there...

    and I would LOVE to hear more hollywood stories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your right - Domino's doesn't deliver on Mt. Everest.
      I had to have a frozen "store-bought" pepperoni pizza, but it wasn't half bad.

      I will hopefully post several more Hollywood stories this month - in "honor" of the Oscars, and the memory of my wayward youth....

      Delete
    2. I should have said "you're", not "your"

      Delete
  6. Not quite sure what coyotes eat, but I hope that if you are walking around they won't bother you. Sounds a bit scary, that walk down to the mailbox.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most coyotes won't attack a human if they are alone - - but I wouldn't want to encounter a pack of them when I'm outside. Especially if they're hungry.....

      Delete
  7. Jon,
    I wondered about your decision to move into the Tennessee mountains. While the topography of those mountains is indeed beautiful (I've been there) I would never live there because of the vulnerability. Not only vulnerable to the whims of the weather (and yes, Winter does hit the mountains heavy) but the homophobia so prevalent in that area of the country, Bible Belt. I think the coyotes are after your cats, I doubt if they would bother you. And again Jon, I reiterate my warning to you to be very careful when walking on the snow and ice. After falling on the ice last year and almost having a fatal ending, I know how vulnerable you are in that environment. Thank goodness I was only three blocks from the ER. Be very careful Jon. The coyotes aren't your danger, it is the snow and ice.
    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so right about the dangers of the ice and snow, Ron, and we both know from bitter experience. I still have major back problems from falling last winter - - on top of another back injury that I sustained 20 years ago.
      The homophobia is rampant in Missouri and Texas (small towns) so I'm used to it.
      I won't be flirting with the local lumberjacks - - well, not too many of them, anyway.

      Delete
  8. It was 80 here today but felt much hotter driving slowly checking the cattle with the A/C off.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Warm wishes for an early thaw, Jon. And I'm glad they cut Tennessee down to only four e's. I think it used to have 15 or 16 --the way I spelled it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the 15 or 16 e's was the original Indian version......

      Delete
  10. I think Washington State may have Tennessee beat for hard to spell/pronounce names. This was from a flood report I was reading yesterday:

    Stillaguamish River
    Skykomish River
    Snohomish River
    Tolt River (not really a contender)
    Snoqualmie River
    Bogachiel River
    Skokomish River near Potlatch in Mason County.

    Here in Alaska we have Kinnikinnick

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, that is incredible! I actually like Kinnikinnick a lot.

      Delete
  11. Just out of curiosity, why did you choose to walk down/up an icy, muddy hill in the dark? Or is that the kind of pseudo-masochistic thrill you are talking about?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Necessity more than thrill.
      The mail carrier comes early, at around 8:00 a.m. It was supposed to start snowing at dawn. I wanted to beat the snow and the mail carrier. I'd prefer driving to the mail box but it's an impossibility in foul weather. Walking is no big deal to me, even at the crack of dawn. I've done worse things.

      Delete
  12. My Tennessee gal pal is sick of winter about now, too. She grew up in Arizona, and every couple days, she sends me an email saying she's ready to go back to the desert. But chin up! Spring will be here before you know it.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.