Following up on my prior blog, thinking of Qatar and a possible third Q, magically came up with Quiescent, which is in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy. Qatar is absent from the world stage, in a dormancy period at this present time as it is hosting the World Cup. But then Triple Q shall hopefully return to its exemplary (almost unrecognized) behavior, setting an example of quiet and hence extremely effective diplomacy without losing its principles or its sovereignty. Look what it did during the blockade, which the Middle East countries are trying to forget (because they were in the wrong and did not prevail. Qatar has not forgotten, nor has Alexis McBride. Quiescent, by the way, has the most appropriate synonyms: latent, fallow at rest, inoperative, deactivated, in abeyance, quiet; dormant, slumbering, sluggish,, torpid. My favorites and the most descriptive for this situation? In abeyance, quiet and torpid.
Continuing upon the topic of Pakistan, was going to continue with the situation in Pakistan and reveal, utilizing a very well written article in The Economist the utter depravity of Former Prime Minister Khan who was ousted from office in April and has been charged with terrorism. But rather than go quietly into the night as a person who cared about his country would – instead he is inciting riots. The country will never recover if he is allowed to drag it into oblivion. The Quran tells us that good always triumphs over evil . There is absolutely no doubt about it, the Former Prime Minister Khan is evil. He almost makes Trump look like a good guy – yes, that bad.
What is depravity? It is moral corruption; wickedness. The synonyms describe Former Prime Minister perfectly as he is mired in corruption, corruptness, vice, perversion, pervertedness degeneracy, degradation, immorality, shamelessness, debauchery, dissipation, dissoluteness, turpitude, prurience, obscenity, indecency,, sordidness; wickedness, sinfulness, vileness, baseness, iniquity, nefariousness, criminality, viciousness, brutality, brutishness. As you read over these words, just think of the Pakistani Former Prime Minister Khan.
Go quietly into the night is a phrase taken more or less from the poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. “Night” represents death and oblivion, and to “go quietly” (or “gentle”) means to go without a struggle or protest. Churchill said “We will not go quietly into the night…we will not vanish without a fight! We are going to live on! We are going to survive! Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!”
Not only does the Quran decree that good always triumphs over evil, there is another sign that Khan will be defeated as it is two against one. Khan is the one – the two who will
prevail are 1) Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and 2) Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
My positive feelings toward Qatar led to a Google search. (Actually, most things in my life lead to a Google Search) Mecca is an obligation for those of the Islamic faith, not only that but the weather conditions could pose a welcome relief from the many months of an Edmonton winter which shall soon be upon us. The search revealed that traveling from Edmonton Edmonton to Doha via Qatar Air could be a distinct possibility. A business class ticket would not be prohibitively expensive and then an added delight. There would be a stop over – but not in the dreaded Toronto Pearson Airport but instead in Montreal, a most charming city, vista there in the distant past. Its airport named for Pierre Trudeau, a hero of mine (son Justin not). Qatar and Saudi Arabia are next door neighbors so it would be easy to get to Saudi Arabia – friend Marina employed as a fitness instructor in the capital and then Mecca. None of these plans have been formalized in any way for several reasons. Goodness knows what will be happening with Covid, do need to learn more about the significance of Mecca and Medina and who knows – I might just love winter and not want to leave the snow for the sand. I am not fond of sand – well, the Abu Dhabi sand but am convinced that Saudi Arabia sand is not much different nor improved. I shall see, should Allah determine that the trip be advisable.
Most of this blog has been written over the past two days. Today is September 1, a month most welcomed. As a child and young adult I remember hating the summers, loved the routine of fall. It was back to school, the routine, my school friends and; a place of comfort and esteem. My love of learning has always been with me. Unfortunately was trapped in a home environment where books, learning and intellectual discourse were unknown. Fall meant I was back In my element. Most of my adult life has been spent in the land of no seasons – Northern California. During ‘winter’ it rains, but frequent and lengthly droughts meant every day all year was somewhat the same. There was no need to check weather conditions to decide what to wear as the temperature was always moderate. I actually grew tired of great weather. People from less fortunate climes would spend their vacations on beaches – I sought culture, museums, history and the theatre for my vacations. I am eagerly anticipating autumn and even winter. Edmonton folks think I am crazy – anticipating the freezing temperatures. I do remember the phrase cabin fever. I shall now Google it. My goodness it does continue to be a phenomena. It is irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter. So if you describe someone as having cabin fever, you mean that they feel restless and irritable because they have been indoors in one place for too long. Cabin fever is not a medically defined condition but a ‘folk syndrome’ commonly understood to refer to a combination of anxiety, lassitude, irritability, moodiness, boredom, depression, or feeling of dissatisfaction in response to confinement, bad weather, routine, isolation, or lack of stimulation. Google speaks of the opposite of cabin fever which is Agoraphobia. It is possible that agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is the opposite. What is absolutely amazing its that there is a reel on Instagram of me, on the patio of my Marin County apartment speaking of agoraphobia, admitting to it and saying that it is perhaps the result of Ramadan 2021. I do recall being unable to leave the confines of the apartment, could not even venture forth on my patio which was most public, directly across from the swimming pool and sauna. Laughingly I speak to myself:
Me: I guess I got over that bout of agoraphobia.
Alter Ego: I guess so! You left that apartment and moved to Abu Dhabi.
Me: Indeed I did. That is a fine example of going to extremes.
Alter Ego: You do occasionally do that.
Me: Oh shut up! I hate it when you bring up my faults.
Alter Ego: Perhaps that is not a fault.
The origin of the term cabin fever is a bit murky, but it probably dates back to the early 1900s in North America, when it may have referred to someone who was isolated in a remote area, or cabin, especially during the winter when it was necessary to stay indoors for days at a time.
Helpfully Google tells me how to cope with it. 1. Go Outdoors. Daylight hours are getting longer and the sun is lifting higher in the sky by the day. 2. Follow a normal earring pattern and maintain it. 3. Set goals 4. Keep your brain busy. 5. Stay active
So there you go! That is a Canadian expression used constantly with much inflection. Inflection is cadence, accentuation, intonation, emphasis, rise and fall, lilt, change of timbre. The best way to imitate the Canadian ‘So there you go!’ Is to remember rise and fall. Your voice rises and falls as it repeats this four words. It is amusing. Whenever I involuntary utter those words with the proper inflection I say.
Me: Oh my goodness. I am talking Canadian. I do not want to but it was bound to happen.
Alter Ego: It was! Your American accent may be extinguished.
Me: Whatever will be will be!
Alter Ego: Hahahaha
So if cabin fever descends upon me I know what to do. To be forearmed is to be forearmed. Oops, it is back to Google and this is what I found. Knowledge in advance enables one to be prepared. Used in a sentence: Let me know when she’s in town so I can take the phone off the hook—forewarned is forearmed. This expression originated as a Latin proverb, Praemonitus, praemunitus, which was translated into English by the early 1500s.
I do have the premonition that readers need some humour in their lives. Fortunately The New Yorker magazine arrived yesterday and there are some funny ones which I shall photograph and attach to this blog.
