Getting Better All the Time…

I sometimes think that the universe is run by three departments.  There is the Business as Usual Department, the Practical Joke Department, and the Fairy Godmother Department.

The first tow agencies don’t take much explanation.  They are vast bureaucracies, and they are in charge of “Life as we know it.” 

The third department consists of one elderly female GS-9 clerk.  She takes a lot of leave, and generally doesn’t do much.  But occasionally, something comes across her desk, and she picks it up and does something nice about it.

I doubt any of us will have much trouble figuring out which Department was responsible for the last week.  Winter has sure had some fun with us, but the latest blast is now receding rapidly.  In fact it looks kinda like we’re gonna get a bit of a break from the cold and nasty, at least for the next couple of days.

This past weekend, we were treated to a definite act of the FGM Dept.  First off, we had the privilege of hosting a book signing and social for the South Side Cycling Club.  The guest of honor was Saul Raisin.  Saul was signing his book Tour de Life.  The proceeds from the sale of this book benefit research at the Shepherd Center.  It was a pretty nice evening, a chance to meet a truly remarkable individual, and to socialize among the tribe of local cyclists.

Then on Sunday, a bunch of us went out for a ride with Saul.  It was a fun ride, with lots of laughter, and good conversation.  For a change, the north Georgia weather cooperated nicely.  It was a brisk clear morning, with temps that were only slightly on the cool side, and no wind.  A joyous ride, indeed!

One more happy note:

It’s staying light out a little longer!  It’s now not dark at 6:00 P.M.  That’s always a first step toward the end of Winter.  In fact, this coming Saturday, sunset will occur at exactly 6:00 P.M. and civil twilight will last until 6:27 P.M.  I always mark this as the turning point in the Winter.  Yes, we have about six more weeks of real Winter ahead, and we certainly have ample chance of the Practical Joke Department to do its work on us, but the end of the annual trial is in sight.