Conversation is Decorated Silence

Tweet I was listening to a BBC piece today on poetry and one of the guests, in a reference to the rhythm of poetry used this phrase: "conversation is decorated silence." He said it was from the Elizabethan period. I like to think of sound in this way, particularly in the context that he was using it -- he had just listened to a poem in Serbian -- a language he doesn't understand -- and then heard it translated into English. He said he felt the essence of what the poem was about upon  hearing it in Serbian -- because of the rhythm and expression in the poet's voice.

To think of sounds in this manner, in some ways, makes it easier to tolerate those sounds that I might feel inappropriate in certain settings -- loud music in restaurants for instance -- at least a temporary tolerance. I would probably wind up walking out of the restaurant ultimately.

White Out!

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Less than three feet in front of me, through the window, a winter storm is raging. The snow, at times, is horizontal as it strikes the nine inches of snow already fallen. The wind, periodically, creates white out conditions -- the mountain that is 200 yards away -- has disappeared in the blowing snow. Visibility at times is 50 yards or less.

It's peaceful.

Since childhood I have enjoyed watching it snow. Today, I am sitting by the fire, in front of my computer, writing a report and wishing I had time to play. Maybe later today -- when the report is closer to being "a wrap!"

The photo above is my view through the window as I work -- just beyond the evergreen --- about 150 yards -- is a mountain -- invisible today.

Captions?

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When you look at this picture -- what does it bring to mind? Please feel free to leave a comment and your thoughts.

Used Cars and Salesmen

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I went shopping for a used Jeep Liberty. I'm not sure why I wanted a Liberty. I had driven them a couple of times when I rented a car while visiting the U.S. and liked the design and they got pretty decent gas mileage. So, I developed tunnel vision when I went shopping. I shopped for what I knew.

Shopping also meant dealing with used car salesmen. Most of the ones I encountered met the stereotype -- phony, slippery with the truth and ready to make a deal. One guy promised a six month warranty and the very next day seemed to have forgotten. When I pressed him, he came up with a convoluted reason why a warranty just wasn't possible. He did promise a tank full of gas instead. I passed.

I wound up buying a used Liberty from a guy at a dealership who seemed genuine.  Everything he promised, he delivered -- and that included a warranty.

In the five days I have owned the vehicle, it has come in handy and I will certainly put its four wheel drive to good use tomorrow. Today, we got about half a foot of snow. Vrooooom!!!!