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Empanadas or postres?

Dear Reader, if faced with the daily choice of chicken/beef/ham empanadas (meat-filled dough pockets) or creme/carmel/cherry-filled glazed pastries virtually every morning for breakfast–because that’s all the Paraguayans seem to eat for breakfast–what would you do?

Oh, probably scream for a bagel with cream cheese. Neither of which is available in Paraguay. That we know of.

My grandmother passed away

My grandmother passed away today. I am very distraught. She was my last living grandparent. My father also passed away, and only my mother remains. My ancestry is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Pondering Both Sides

Yesterday the weather changed with Mother Nature’s volatile mood. Snow fell throughout the country for most of the day. In a rare weather phenomenon, lightning and thunder crackled while snow fell. The weather repeatedly grew bright and sunny, then dim and drury, then warm, cold, and frigid. The snow at times fell soft and friendly, like a snow globe shaken, and at other times it waxed ferociously. The weather dominated the day, leaving one ever mindful of its awesome presence.

The weather reminded me of one of my favorite songs, Joni Mitchell’s "Both Sides Now." I hadn’t heard it for years, but I recalled it again yesterday as I pondered the agitated, electrifying day. The weather made such an impression on me that I couldn’t resist posting the song’s lyrics for you. They really sum up the amazing sensation left behind by such a tempestuous day. Such powerful weather patterns shake one’s very being and reminds one of life and all that it has to offer, from good to bad, happy to sad, frustrating to fulfilling.

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i’ve looked at cloud that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions i recall.
I really don’t know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; i’ve looked at love that way.
But now it’s just another show. you leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know, don’t give yourself away.

I’ve looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions i recall.
I really don’t know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "i love you" right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed.

Something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions i recall.
I really don’t know life at all.

Blog Notes: Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for their spectacular, come-from-behind 21-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. It was a game for the ages, and I’m happy the Seahawks were on the winning end of it. Fans of "America’s Team" will have to sit and watch from the sidelines along with all those Pittsburgh Steelers fans. There’s always next year.

Special Note to Tortmaster: Per your request, I posted the caricature for you on the New Year’s entry. The artist turned me into a pretty boy. Don’t laugh too hard! I can hear it all the way from Texas. I agree with you on the UT-USC game.