This is one dry winter, I tell you. Drier than most. In fact, according to the reports, the least damp for the past 70 years, with the last one lacking this much rainfall going all the way back to 1941. The article didn’t mention climate change, but you can bet hundreds of readers thought it. Actually I don’t know how many people really read the story because only two people commented on it: one didn’t make any sense at all as if the person hadn’t read the article, and the other forecast an imminent end to civilization as we know it. In any event, there is no question about it, when it comes to precipitation, this winter has all but gone without it. I can attest to this personally.
I finally got out to the country yesterday and took a look around my belovedAlameda. I rented a car at a heftier than hoped for price, my bad for waiting until the last minute, printed out the reservation at school knowing full well that the documents were being scanned and thus making me subject to a possible inspection by the school authorities for engaging in private use of company machinery; it0s just the kind of dangerous life I lead. It was all of three pages so I don’t expect a mighty reprimand; actually two plus the obligatory third page which prints out just one line of meaningless codes and ruins a perfectly beautiful stainless piece of paper. It never fails.
The north ofMadridhardly boasted the lushness you would expect from those mountains at this time of year. In fact, it was so parched in spots it looked more like late June than anything scenery you would find in early spring beneath the snowcapped summits. There was some snow up there, but hardly what you would expect. It just hasn’t rained. Never does these days. They call for it from time to time, the day comes and goes and nary a drop. Tonight it was supposed to rain, and right now the moon is so bright that you don’t even have to turn on the light to read in bed. I wonder what this is going to do to my allergies. Maybe some of those cypresses will die off as a result and give my nose a break.
Oh well, lacking about as much inspiration as rain, I think I’ll post this and drop off for the night.
