Go and Catch a Falling Star

GO AND CATCH A FALLING STAR,
GET A CHILD A MANDRAKE ROOT,
TELL ME WHERE ALL PAST YEARS ARE,
OR WHO CLEFT THE DEVIL'S FOOT,
TEACH ME TO HEAR MERMAIDS SINGING,
OR TO KEEP OFF ENVY'S STINGING,
AND FIND WHAT WIND SERVES
TO ADVANCE AN HONEST MIND.

~ John Donne

Of Note: Romania, the land of Dracula, doesn't know where to stop in its current witch hunt. Just last month, the country began taxing witches, fortune tellers and soothsayers. Some of the ladies thought that gave credibility to the ancient profession while others threw poisonous mandrake root into the Danube "in order to put a hex" on government officials. Now a bill is in the works that would impose a fine or even prison if the seer's predictions did not come true. Furthermore, the new legislation would require all witches to have a permit, provide receipts to customers and bar them from locations close to schools and churches. Last week the controversial bill passed the Romanian Senate but must go through other steps before becoming law. Now the beleaguered women have been joined by political pundits, who say the government has gone too far. One politico remarked: "The government doesn't have real solutions, so it invents problems." The moon-worshiping witches have more problems than this. Last year scientist determined that the moon was shrinking. According to the teachings of ageless wisdom, one day it will actually disappear. When that day comes, witches will have to turn in their cards and capes. Before then, however, they might have to move out of their ancestral home to a friendlier environment. Maybe California should send out an invitation and see what the group could do about the state's enormous deficit, which is larger than the budget of many countries.

Today's Weather Report: A cold front moved in last night, and it dipped to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. By morning it had risen to -4 degrees. Right now it is 4 degrees above zero but will fall again during the night. The sun shone brightly today and was quite welcome after days of gloom. We have plenty of snow to protect the perennials in the garden but those getting hit with cold, sleet and snow in other parts of the country might not be so lucky. According to family in Dallas, more bad weather is expected tomorrow, which could affect their flower gardens. Only time will tell.