Man, this thing seems to go on forever.

Yeah, it blends in and out with the sinus-head thing. It's like rain in Portland. It goes on and on to the edge of madness and it's best to remember skating on the edge of madness for long enough can lead to going crazy. No, really. I see why people move to Arizona, although August in Arizona has its own set of issues.

So we are feeling depressed, are we?

Not so much depressed as worn out waiting to get through this chest cold. I will check with the doctor Monday. I generally decide to do these things on a Friday night or a Saturday morning when it's no longer possible to check with a doctor until the weekend is over and then, of course, things have changed and I don't follow through. Maybe he can do something with the lungs. This coughing has been going on for too long, although I doubt there's anything he can do about it.

And this rain is getting depressing (maybe three weeks baby sitting my sister's place later this month in Lake Oswego will turn out less than wonderful as she's reporting it's been raining there now since the beginning of time), but I was born in Seattle and have some experience with grey overcast skies. Many people living here in California, come to think of it, come here with such experience. I wonder why?

Well, what did you do in the old days in Seattle to keep your sanity?

Well, that's a good question. Why don't I turn off public radio - I've heard enough of it by now to last me for another decade - fire up the XM radio tuned to one of their many old fart's oldies rock and roll stations, brew some of this gunpowder tea sent by Mr. K and kick back watching the mindless movies I've rented from Netflix. That would have been my solution many decades ago in Seattle.

And your solution today?

Write here as I slowly go batshit crazy.