Change of routine leads to paranoia

When we go to our cabin, we usually make a couple of stops before we leave Duluth.  At the last of these, I plug in my iPhone for a podcast of Wisconsin Public Radio's "To the Best of Our Knowledge".  The podcast lasts about 52 minutes, a bit less than the time it takes us to get our cabin.

Yesterday we planned to go to our cabin with no special stops.  Instead of listening to Minnesota Public Radio until we made our stops, I plugged in my iPhone before I even backed out of the garage.

About ten miles away, I wondered if I had shut the garage door.  My wife said I probably did.  After all, whichever of us is the passenger almost always checks that the driver closed the door.

I didn't turn around, but it kept gnawing at me all the time we were at our cabin.  I had visions of our lawnmower and snowblower being stolen.  I wondered if my wife's car would be broken into.  Around and around rattled these thoughts in my mind.

When we returned today, I forewent a couple of stops that I wanted to make and we came directly home.

Whew!  The garage door was closed.  As it opened I saw that my wife's car, the lawnmower, and the snowblower were all there.

A couple of hours later I'm still feeling the sense of relief!

Moral?  Don't be distracted as you pack and definitely don't be distracted as you lock up.  Have your paranoia about doing all you should before you leave, not after you are on your way:)

Will God's blessing or wrath descend on the GOP convention?

I considered this question reading "Gay marriage would bring wrath of God upon us", Rev. Helen Millen, Letters to the Editor, Duluth News Tribune, 2012-08-22.

Rev. Millen implies the wrath of God would descend on us if the Marriage Amendment is turned down in Minnesota.  If God is so ready with his wrath and blessings, how will we interpret what happens on the Republican Convention in Tampa FL next week?

If Tropical Storm Isaac hits Tampa during the Republican convention, does that mean the wrath of God has descended on the Republican Party?  If Isaac misses Tampa, does that mean that God has blessed the Republican Party?

Neither!  It does mean that the Republicans were taking a chance on scheduling a convention during hurricane season.  If they are going to take a chance with a rather predictable event, what else are they taking chances on things that whose outcomes are predictable, like climate change and cuts in government spending?

I will neither cheer nor boo the weather during the Republican convention.  If a storm does hit and there are many cancellations, I will feel sorry for all the hospitality workers that were hoping for lots of work and tips.