The Madness of March

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only

Charles Dickens, A tale of Two Cities – 1859

Wow. How true today.

Normally on this date, we’d be yakking about who got left out of the NCAA tourney, why Liberty in, so and so team not.  Not this year.  “March Madness” extends not only to sports but the culture in general… normally in the Sunday Post there is a half-page dedicated to “Television and Radio”, a listing what sport is on when.  Here is yesterday’s entry:

This had the effect of leaving some athletes dumb founded, dazed, and confused

Anyway, the month of March is kind of unique in other ways, I am a bit late, but there is the  tried, trite, and trivial bit about the 4^th of the month as a command to go forward: “March forth”

And the 3/14 is the kind of lame “Pi Day”

Or for the Feeder

And the next day of course, is the admonishment from William Shakespeare’s soothsayer to Julius Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March”

So March has a few things going for it..

Before I got the message/edict from Johns Hopkins Pulmonary Team (basically: STAY HOME), we did go out to support a fund raiser for “Feed St. Mary’s” an initiative to set up a Food Bank locally for non-profits that have food pantries as a source of food without going up to Baltimore, etc.  It was held in the renovated “tap room” of Bollywood

They had, as best they could legally could, my favorite (pasteurized, non-cocktail) beverage

Food was available from the normal Bollywood Buffet, and despite a request by our event chairman to list low sodium and “mild” items. It turned out to be “Indian Food Roulette”.  MFO brought me a plate, and I would sample and determine what had heat, searing heat, or was on “my side” of the tolerance line.  Needless to say, I didn’t go away sated..

Entertainment was supplied by “One Trick Pony” a band of people of our generation.  The table where we were seated was at the far end of the band, and we were basically “trapped” by their equipment on the floor of the "escape route" when it came time (for us) to leave, but fortunately they were “on break” and more than happy to move the stuff.  One of the members held the doors for us, and even came outside to help MFO back the MOMSTER from its parking place.  Nice gesture.

Yesterday morning, aware of the Ides, I tackled the mounting pile of bills awaiting payment.  By the time I finished, the pile was large, and the bank account smaller.

To repair my mood, I fixed myself a veggie, cheese and salsa Omelet.

Okay about a wrap, but I did try to get a photo of the March “Worm Moon”, which was either enhanced or detracted by the clouds

And always entertained by the passing boats on the river: “Red Sails in the Sunset”, except the sail wasn’t red, and it was noonish. 

Okay, time to “march” on..

Hunkering in place doesn’t require me to

DFD

Small cheer, and great welcome makes a merry feast

William Shakespeare