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Praetorium Honoris

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Harbinger


After Tuesday morning's madcap adventures at the ophthalmologist (far too many "h"s in that word if you ask me) it was back to the familial encampment for to pick up my lunch and ascertain if it would be wise, even prudent, to drive myself to work.

The Missus Herself had arisen early for to take Yours Truly up to the big city of Providence, what with the anticipated dilation of eyes and the like which had been foretold by the seer. (Actually a letter came in the mail indicating that I should expect to have my eyes dilated and for the visit to take up to two hours. Which it did.)

While Doc One has a very competent staff, good lads all, they are, nevertheless, lads. While I adhere to the Seinfeldian philosophy of non ut illic 'mali nihil quod*, I don't swing that way. Now at Doc Two's office the very second thing** I noticed was the comeliness of the receptionist. Very hübsch she was, as was the other receptionist, as was the lady who first examined my optical sensors.

I noted that, other than Doc Two, all of the staff were female. Made the visit much more pleasant, though my eyes were numbed and dilated, I looked rather owlish, truth be told.

But the visit confirmed the findings of Doc One, of the mostly male staff, so it is to be surgery. No magic elixirs, no potent potables, no sorcery will bring back clear vision to my oculus sinister. Until such time as he can be mended (the technique to be used has yet to be revealed to me, perhaps a trip to the Oracle at Delphi is in order, or I could just call Doc One, which I shall do Wednesday, as in domani), oculus dexter will have to soldier on as best he can. Good lad that Dex.

Anyhoo, that rather long winded preamble leads me to the title of the post and the vision which inspired it. As I was saying, went home, grabbed my lunch (lovingly made by the love of my life, Virginia ham and a bit of Hoffmann sharp cheddar on dark bread, plus grapes, a bunch of grapes) and determined that with the use of sunglasses I was more than capable of driving myself to the salt mines. As I went out from the location to the vehicle (cop talk, love it) I noticed that various and sundry leaves on one of the weeping cherry trees were donning their fall coloration.

"What ho?" cried I. "Looks like a sign that autumn doth approacheth!" (I really do talk like that at times, not generally in public, and usually when there is no one listening.)

"A harbinger of the turn of the seasons!"

I really like the word "harbinger," it does not get used enough in my opinion. While I knew the meaning, I was curious as to its provenance, so I looked it up, and here's what I found -
Middle English: from Old French herbergere, from herbergier ‘provide lodging for,’ from herberge ‘lodging,’ from Old Saxon heriberga ‘shelter for an army, lodging’ (from heri ‘army’ + a Germanic base meaning ‘fortified place’), related to harbor. The term originally denoted a person who provided lodging, later one who went ahead to find lodgings for an army or for a nobleman and his retinue, hence, a herald (mid 16th century).
Figured Beans would like that, him being all Medieval and the like. Speaking of Beans, here's the scene where I explain to Captain Vacation what he and Juvat are to do with Beans while I'm recovering from the surgical adventure. Not sure how LUSH feels about all that...



Yes, expect short rations while this eye thing is going on, when I am truly hors de combat, the lads will have lots of good stuff pour vous, so they tell me.



* Sorry, but you'll have to look up all of today's foreign words and phrases, here. And yes, I am feeling a bit lethargic today, thank you for asking.
** The first thing being what a nicely architected building the offices were in. Couldn't notice the content until I'd seen the packaging now could I?

20 comments:

  1. I'm still waiting for the magical day when surgery is done by shrinking a submarine and injecting the miniaturized submarine into the human body.
    And where is the queue for ripping the white cells from Raquel Welch's wetsuit?

    And a harbinger is different from a herbinger. A herbinger, of course, is someone who uses herbs to excess.

    Good luck.

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  2. Well, take a day off from the InterNets and look what happens.... sounds like surgery will help so you'll be added to the Prayer List Sarge. Will also wish you good luck, neither will hurt, eh? Fall arrives Saturday night and in this neck of the woods plenty of leaves have already fallen.

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  3. I'll put you on the list Sarge. We'll be praying it all turns out well. Fall is early here. Lower to mid 90's and we had rain for nearly 2 weeks. It feels really nice after the baking this summer.

    Rest easy and eat your carrots.

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  4. I think you know I'm all in when it comes to correcti g vision issues provided, of course, all the eyes are crossed and the tees are dotted.

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    1. Hahaha! Eyes crossed. I did check the Doc's eyes, he seems squared away in that department, hope he has a steady hand as well!

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  5. Hope all goes well, I'll be preying for success, Glad you got your leaf peeping in early.

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    1. Thanks Dave. Heh, leaf peeping, I'm looking forward to the hordes visiting before the snow falls. They generate a lot of income for the Northeast.

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  6. Replies
    1. Nothing, when I see, read, or hear about anything Medieval (like heralds and the like) I think of Our Beans. Then I go straight for Monty Python. You're good. Someday, all this will be yours. Yes, the curtains.

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  7. Geeze, a castle all to my very own. Thanks...

    I'll keep the bills.

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    Replies
    1. But, but, vast tracts of land! (All subject to property taxes of course...)

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    2. Florida is much cheaper in property taxes than up northway. So far. We'll see after the next gubernatorial election.

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    3. Ah yes, that's right, interesting times.

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  8. what ??!! the curtains ...LOL my mom took me and a friend to see at the theatre first run 1975 had been watching the tv series on PBS of all places since 1971 but it was a thing of beauty

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  9. Ah, yes, leaves dropping...right after I tell my Dad that here in west MI still haven't seen any colors changing...went all the way to central Ontario CA and everything was still green. So, of course, this week, the maples are starting...they have the occasional swipe of color, like a kid was just flicking a paintbrush of orange/red paint around. It is so cool to see...except it means soon it will be winter.

    As I was getting ready for work the other morning, I heard a crash and a thump...looked outside, couldn't see anything unusual...thought, ok, that, maybe, was a couple of walnuts, but it sounded larger. Went outside, had parked in front of the house to unload groceries the night before, and so jumped in and proceeded down the drive...looked off to the west, and saw a HUGE limb that had just fallen off one of the willow trees. If my car had been where it usually is parked, it would have been hit!! So now, I have to go pick up "sticks"...think we shall use the tractor forks for that one. It is as big around as my waist, which is not as small as it once was. Would have left a big dent in my car for sure.

    Your eyes might have been ok to drive with heavy duty sunglasses, but I bet reading the 'puter at work was no fun.

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    Replies
    1. Sounds like you dodged a bullet there Suz. Falling tree limbs (and entire trees) can do a lot of damage.

      Yeah, trying to use the machine was "fun" that day.

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