BEWARE!

Beware! A super-mega-stupendous winter storm of the century is descending upon us, with the dire possibility of a metorological Armageddon and the probable potential of a recurring Ice Age!

I'm merely echoing what the media has predicted. I meant no harm. And I'm nearly certain that they had no intention of causing a harmful mass hysteria.

Some might mistake my spontaneous sarcasm as a crude mockery of a dire situation.

It was only my innocuous way of showing how the media can perpetuate sunami-sized suppositions.

I had no intention to offend.

My readership is dwindling.

People prefer to read blogs containing safe subjects that they can relate to, like "My begonias are blooming."

They don't care to read things that might harbor dire underlying connotations.

I'm admittedly an enigma unto myself. I have always marched to a different drummer (I read Thoraeu's "Walden" when I was sixteen).

I never wanted to be cookie cutter sameness, or drearily mundane, or run of the proverbial mill. I abhore conformity. 

It might seem unnerving, but I'm glad that I am who I am.

Okay, let's get serious.

The upcoming winter storm is supposed to be massive. I've heard that it will effect more than half of the United States. That's frightening. Snow is bad, but ice is worse. Power outages can be devastating. Driving on ice is impossible.

I'm actually glad that I'm not at home. My furnace is electric. If there's a power outage, I'm doomed.

When I lived on the high plains of West Texas, I learned that the winters could be surprisingly brutal. One winter the night temperature dropped to four (4) degrees (Fahrenheit). And my furnace wasn't working! I was truly terrified that I wouldn't survive.

I put on several layers of clothing, grabbed lots of blankets, and slept on a futon near the fireplace with my cat Kitzee. The fireplace truly saved us.

Kitzee, getting warm by our TX fireplace

Right now, here in Rehab Hell, in Gainesboro, TN, it's 18 degrees this morning. The storm will arrive at noon.

Speaking of snow storms

There is a painting that haunted me ever since I was a child. The artist was Charles Christian Nahl (1818 - 1878). He was a German, who came to America and lived in Northern California for 30 years.

Here is the painting

The Dead Miner, 1867

The gold prospector is frozen to death. His faithful dog is grieving. There is a mining pick and gold mining pan near the miner. He clutches a photograph in his hand.

This painting always has a profound impact on me. It is absolutely heartbreaking and perpetually haunting.

Another painting, while I'm at it.

My parents moved to Southern California when I was six.

We often went to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, which was a reconstructed western ghost town. It was designed  and owned by Walter Knott. He and his wife used to grow boysenberries and sell them by the roadside.

Knott's Berry Farm was fantastic when I was a child (and admission was free). When Mr. Knott and his wife passed away, the place was sold. It's now a gaudy amusement park.

Knott's, when I was a child

In one of the buildings in Knott's, there was a very large painting that mesmerized me. It was called The Night Watch. Every time we visited Knott's Berry Farm, I went to see the painting. I absolutely loved it.

This print doesn't do it justice. It is much more beautiful in real. It was said that the woman's eyes will follow you. That was true. Everywhere I went in the room, her eyes seemed to follow.

I never knew who the artist was, and couldn't find out. It wasn't until I was near fifty, when I learned the artist was Charles Christian Nahl, who also painted The Dead Miner.

The Night Watch is now in the Orange County Museum of Art.

Amazing that I loved both paintings since childhood.

I'll end now, because I'm having trouble with Blogger. I initially wrote this post last night, but it was deleted - and I wrote it again this morning.

Stay safe, warm, and cozy.

Jon,  hopefully not frozen