Cumulus futilis

Toe,
It's a bit of a dreary day here, with a layer of stratus clouds obscuring the sky. I recently developed a fixation on cloud classifications, and am trying to memorize all the different species. I don't know why this fascinates me. I've always liked looking at the sky. I am not a total weather nut like some people, but the fact that I can now identify from the look of certain flattened cumulus clouds (cumulus humilis) that a warm front may be moving in excites me a little. However, I am more humbled by the whole field in general--I really can't identify these clouds very well yet without my handbook, and when I do, I still can't claim any special understanding of what they portend (reader humilis).

In other news, I am also developing a depressing obsession with the economy, and see all sorts of portents of doom. A part of me does not want to buy any plane tickets to India because I can't see going further into debt in this sort of economic climate. We have work to do on the house, and we don't have a gigantic pile of cash to draw on. I don't want to blithely march into economic ruin. Then again, if the economy truly tanks, what difference does a few more grand in debt matter?

Love,
E-word