on living, well...

Much of Minnesota is under an air quality alert that started yesterday and has been extended from noon today to 6 pm tomorrow. Freezing fog has accompanied the stagnant air. On the other hand, temperatures have been hovering around freezing, with a little melting occurring, and there’s not a tick or mosquito to be found. All in all conditions seem tolerable, if not desirable, as long as vulnerable groups don’t try to do anything strenuous outside.

Personally, I’d rather be donning a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and bug repellant, but that will have to wait for a few months. During the interim, I’m planning on drinking lots of coffee; reading books; baking bread and doing whatever else I can to enjoy life. There’s an old saying, attributed to George Herbert, that I learned when I was much younger: Living well is the best revenge. I shouldn’t have let it slide off of my radar screen.

are all garden parties political?

Photo by J. Harrington

After almost three years of COVID, even longer suffering episode after episode of regulatory capture rather than protecting the environment on which we all depend, plus a host of systemic breakdowns in systems such as health care, education, and politics, it’s time for me/US to stop simply opposing charlatans and idiots.

We should shun them. We should not acknowledge their existence. We should not argue with them. There’s another old saying to the effect of “let them stew in their own juice.” The exception is we should hold them accountable for their actions and inactions.

I have a vague memory of having previously posted a similar rant and included the lyrics to a song by a pop singer when I was much younger. The singer’s name is Ricky Nelson and the song is Garden Party. For background, check song facts. Then read the lyrics below (or vice versa):

"Garden Party"

I went to a garden party
To reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories
And play our songs again
When I got to the garden party
They all knew my name
No one recognized me
I didn't look the same

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So ya got to please yourself

People came from miles around
Everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus
There was magic in the air
'N' over in the corner
Much to my surprise
Mr Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes
Wearing his disguise

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So ya got to please yourself

Lott-in-dah-dah
lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Played them all the old songs
Thought that's why they came
No one heard the music
We didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou"
She belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk
It was time to leave

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So ya got to please yourself

Lot-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
Lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Someone opened up a closet door
And out stepped Johnny B Goode
Playing guitar
Like a-ringin' a bell
And lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties
I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang
I rather drive a truck

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So ya got to please yourself

Lot-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
Lot-in-dah-dah-dah

'N' it's all right now
Learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

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