While the part of Texas where I live is NOT currently under any kind of tornado warning, we have had spooky weather most of the day, with high winds, dreary skies, and thick, sticky air. Right now, the wind is wuthering through the trees and whistling at the windows, as if it, too would like to be inside.

I spent most of the day holed up in the Word Lounge watching documentary specials newly released for the 100th anniversary of RMS Titanic‘s sailing and subsequent sinking. At one point whatever I was watching had a music track with a sustained note that was the same pitch as my town’s tornado sirens…again, we weren’t under a watch, but that eerie keening tone still made my spine go all a-tingle.

I was also doing our income taxes, which I’ve put off doing until this weekend even though I could have done them months ago, because I just wasn’t in the mood. I finally e-filed at 4:27 this afternoon, and I got the text alert at 7:56 (while I was sipping some post-sashimi green tea at Simply Asia), that my return was accepted. We’re getting money back this year, and while normally my goal is to break even, for once I don’t mind that I gave the feds an interest-free loan, because when you’re self-employed and your income fluctuates wildly it’s difficult to gauge things. Also? On paper my freelance gigs have me in the black. Last year I wasn’t. I love the color red, but not when it shows up in Excel spreadsheets, you know?

I’ve been sipping tea all weekend because tea goes well with stories about ships and the sea, and because I still have this allergy/sinus thing in my throat that makes my voice all husky and raw, and sometimes non-existent. NUMI organic Earl Grey has been by go-to brew at home for a week or so now (I need to order the loose Earl Grey from Teaism – it’s so good I almost want to BATHE in it), and right now I’m sipping my comfort drink: a venti, soy, no-water chai with a pack of honey in the bottom, courtesy of Starbucks.

All in all, it’s been a quiet, but quietly productive Saturday, and now I’m watching documentaries about sharks, which makes me happy.

Still, I’m in a musical mood (despite the inability to hit any identifiable notes just now) so I’m sharing a vintage Harry Chapin song in honor of the Titanic centennial, and my friend SMG, who mentioned it at dinner last night.