This month’s spectacular full Wolf Moon has been filling and setting in the west. It’s shown through my bedroom window these last few mornings, awakening me earlier than usual. Last night’s then-full, bold, and lovely light added visibility to my area; it eased the nightly routine of “tucking in” my horses and poultry.
Again, today’s header is “borrowed art” from Sandra Boynton’s FB page. I’ve found she’s one of a few cartoonists who mostly “hit it out of the park.” Boynton is multi-talented, and her FB page charms.
Today is another all-too-early in-to-work, and now, I must start moving. My morning routine mirrors my nightly routine of caring for equines and poultry.
Have a wonderful day.
Dear Friends: The full Wolf Moon will enlighten a few more nights. Diana
The upcoming Beta Generation (2025-2039) begins with this month’s brand-new babies. Researchers are exploring how Betas’ lives may differ from their predecessors, and to me, some projected differences are not very surprising but slightly staggering.
Some projections are that the new norms won’t include nuclear families, and there will be more pets than children. Another is that outer space will be a popular vacation destination, and future career paths will be in that space world. The future finance world won’t print cash because Betas won’t use it.
No surprises, right? But still, wow!
Rapid technology has profoundly reshaped our world since WWII. My generation and those following have learned how and grown accustomed to responding quickly to required new learning. We have learned to adapt rapidly to enormous pressures for making personal and social changes.
Rapid technology has made incredible progress. Advancements have created ongoing challenges and ethical dilemmas, and we grapple constantly. Today’s solutions are designing the possible Beta World ahead. That future is becoming more visual.
Dear Friends: Paraphrasing “Pogo”: “We can see the future, and it is us.” Diana
I acquired an adorable trio of African Dwarf Goats in 2010: the mama (Sego Lily) and her twins (Breeze and Poppy). Sego Lily had originally been adopted from a herd environment, and by 2010, her real age was only an estimate; her babies were months old.
The trio was sweetly bonded and inseparable. They participated in official parades and often strolled with me on neighborhood streets, leashed, alertly cautious, and keenly aware.
Mama passed away about five years ago when I was guessing her age at fifteen. Little Poppy passed away a year ago at age fourteen. And yesterday, I lost Breeze; she was fifteen.
That morning, while outside and feeding my animals before leaving for work, I discovered Breeze lying down and apparently unable to rise onto her feet. I tried lifting her but hadn’t enough strength. Breeze’s legs were stiff and unmanageable, and she might have suffered a stroke sometime in the night or earlier that morning.
Breeze passed away before the emergency veterinarian could arrive at my place. My workplace is painfully short of workers; I felt needed and went to work, where I arranged to meet an emergency veterinarian later at my place. Meanwhile, my kind neighbors watched over Breeze and hours later let me know she had passed. Later, a concerned co-worker followed me home and helped with her remains.
RIP, my Breezey.
Breeze and hitchhiker
Remembering those three sweeties this morning, I’m sad with an empty feeling.
Dear Friends: Cute, fun, and stubbornly determined when wanting something. Diana
I started making bread from scratch recently after years of not bothering to. I’ve begun by cheating a little and using a bread machine. It does the labor and frees me to apply my energies elsewhere. I’ve been reviving an understanding of ingredients–the currently available choices and how to use them; and I’m gathering those required to recreate my favorite bread types.
On another day off from my part-time job, I’ll make a loaf from scratch and the hard way by myself. I’ll physically mix, knead (my favorite part!), shape, and bake. I’ve been intending to start by making an easy loaf. That might change because I have stumbled across and purchased a 100-year-old sourdough starter. This starter originated in the early 20th Century on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf by a baker whose family kept the starter alive, and now, his grandchildren are selling the descendants.
A living starter brings challenges. Starters need regular feeding to stay healthy and growing. Starters used inadequately will keep growing and may become unwieldy. A solution is to toss portions regularly, but that gets tiring. I’ve “been there” and “done that,” but not with an old original starter. Maybe the new one will encourage me to adapt by baking more often and using it.
There is much baking or tossing ahead. My bread machine turns out pleasing leaves and might also capably “do sourdough,” but early loaves with my new starter will be from doing the work myself.
Dear Friends, I have little spare time, but I am assuming a hefty project! Diana
Some time ago, I casually listened as an interviewer questioned the popular and successful writer Amy Tan. I’d not read anything by Tan; I became more attentive as she explained some experiences and interests that turned into creative inspirations. She said bird-watching was a high note in her daily life, and the activity gradually had changed–from being very casual to becoming highly attentive. Best of all, focusing on birds made another of her artistic sides evolve.
I am a great appreciator, a casual watcher, and sometimes a photographer of wild birds. I have two domestic birds in my home, each very different–a retired racing pigeon and a busy Cockatoo. Each is interesting and intelligent (most overtly, the Cocktoo) in its own way.
I long remembered elements of that interview with Tan and wished to learn more about her affection for birds. I finally ordered her book and haven’t been disappointed. In fact, it’s more delightful than I anticipated because her “other artistic side” is pen-on-paper artwork–and her own!
Tan’s bird art is a fine art. Today’s header photo is of the book cover, with birds by Tan, hinting at more art on its inside pages.
She’s an excellent writer, too. Her words share Tan’s observations and delight, bringing readers near the writer’s first-hand experiences.
Dear Friends: It’s an original, a beaut that evolved from wishing to learn. Diana
I’ll spend much of this morning watching PBS cover Jimmy Carter’s funeral procession. I’ve always believed Carter and Rosalyn to be outstanding individuals, a consistently highly functioning team. They remained actively involved and productive during and beyond his presidency years.
On PBS, some historians describe their personal relationships with the Carters and offer educated Carter-related historical perspectives. I’ve not heard anything new or surprising about the Carters, but gaining more understanding of their relationship, perspectives, dedication, partnership, and pre- and post-Presidency activities.
Pomp and circumstance events always make me tear up a little. Wondering why, my best guess is that I sense surety relative to all the elements–clothing, steps, sounds, and colors–all representing perfect planning in our imperfect world. These moments in time do touch me deeply.
He outlived Rosalyn by months before turning 100 years old. Carter was determined to stay alive, at least, until he could cast his vote for our next President.
Dear Friends: I intend to learn more about both the Carters and their legacy. Diana
Coworkers and American Cocker Spaniel, (adorable) “Charley”
Wednesday, January 08, 2024
Today is yet another early-to-be-at-work, but I will have a day off tomorrow. Early to work might not seem like too much, but it means lots of extra effort from me. An earlier to work forces me to speed up my morning and be outside before I must leave, feeding and caring for animals.
I see upon examining my new planner that (again!) I am focused on the wrong day. At least, it matches today’s due-in time at work and has me correctly tracking in these early hours. A key lesson (yet again) is to avoid focusing on incorrect days and dates.
That happens when I’m in a hurry and have lots on my mind. The planner is giving me a sobering picture of this month. January will soon be half over, which doesn’t seem awful, but my mid-month commitments are making demands and coming due quickly. That incentivizes my tendency to confuse dates and times.
More about that lesson. I must quit trying to feel happier by avoiding pressures from uncomfortable timelines and commitments. The solution will be starting to work at focusing more steadily on them, and I can do that.
I now have a “plan with the planner” to help me better manage time in the early mornings. My desired outcomes are: (1) an out-early blog, (2) animals appropriately cared for, and (3) at work on time.
Dear Friends: Sloppy thinking leads to sloppy planning that invites mistakes. Diana
I’m looking at a planner and reviewing the information I entered yesterday. I have elected to “find” my inner-organized and goal-achieving self, and I now have a book for planning. In it, I have scribbled some “things to remember” and my due-in times at work. It’s a start, can’t hurt, and best, will prove a helpful tool.
Without question, planners are wonderfully helpful. What’s questionable about planning are users. As for me, something inside resists organizing, and sometimes, I fly by the seat of my pants. I wonder why and have written about my struggles. Finally, again, I’m in the mood to challenge myself to get on board. I am using a simple-looking planner.
I see a scribble reminding me to buy bread flour. For some weeks, I’ve been baking bread. The loaves are turning out deliciously without bread flour. My instructions call for it, so bread flour might punch up the outcomes. This is nonessential but an entry; I’m trying!
Other notes are more weighty; reminders about sending money to the IRS, paying near-due bills, and replying to friends who’ve written to me. All that’s okay and helpful, but the planner’s most important job is to get me to work on time.
This planner is for keeping my head straight about work starting times. The other day, I should have been at work at 8:30 but showed up at 10:30 after focusing on another day’s starting time. That’s happened before. I’ve missed starting times by confusing myself by staring at the wrong day’s schedule.
Good planning to “get me to the church on time” would be a boon! I will try to be more diligent about making this effort effective. The win won’t be lessened from reminders of little things, like getting bread flour.
Dear Friends: Today has an early start time: I’m fully aware and moving Diana
Almost every day, I think about planning for that day and estimating my needs for the week ahead. I designed a form to facilitate planning and printed copies of it to make planning easy. But I have the continuous problem of my head having a stubborn side that resists (or refuses) to create and follow a plan.
I insist on working in my head and keeping time and action needs there, but that’s sloppy. Sometimes, forgetting when and where I’m supposed to be forces me to show up on the edge or late.
Why, oh why!
I did some research. It taught me that some people have a high need for closure. They prefer certainty and predictability; they are more likely to engage in planning. They gain comfort from having a clear sense of direction and control. (Note: I’ve always assumed myself as such an individual.)
My explorations teach that others may be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty and are less inclined to make detailed plans. These folks seem more adaptable to change and may enjoy the element of surprise. (Note: I’d rather not admit that I might be one of these people.)
I have always disliked ambiguity, uncertainty, and similar conditions. I’ve also always been confident about knowing myself–and well. Reflecting on my resistance to making plans and armed with new insights, I wonder if I’ve known and understood myself well enough.
Pros and cons: Planning reduces stress, increases efficiency, and improves goal attainment. Spontaneity promotes present-moment awareness, enhances creativity, and increases flexibility. An ideal situation would be having the skills to activate both sides of the coin.
Ultimately, an individual’s best way to find comfort is by understanding and embracing one’s personality and cognitive style. A way to resolve planning and spontaneity issues is to find a suitable balance between them.
That points me toward working more to learn about and embrace my unique aspects. That would help me adapt more willingly to the typically daunting challenges of planning and achieving.
Dear Friends: Gaining more insight guides us into fewer tripping-ups. Diana
Today’s header image–“a find” in my Facebook feed–perfectly speaks for itself. A snapshot of joy and beauty that reminds me of many fun outings, most specifically, “chasing rising full moons” with my friend Susie. This image “says it all” without needing a caption.
The Calvin and Hobbes strips brilliantly point to adult sophistication using the antics of a six-year-old hyperactive boy and his “toy” stuffed tiger. I enjoy these strips that reconnect me to my early learning and to “my now.”
Last night, in a phone conversation with my longest-time friend, Linda, we reflected on the passage of time and on the evolution of human awareness. We discussed some complexities of living and marveled over the gradual unfolding of awareness between youth and maturity. Our periodic catches-up on each other’s lives helps us measure how much we’ve learned and continue to grow over the years.
We mutually recognize that a life journey involves self-discovery and expanding perspectives. Last night’s conversation, like most of ours, deepened our connection.
Later, I continued pondering the intricate tapestry of human experience and am still reflecting on it this morning. I selected today’s header image because it reflects many of the positive human attributes Linda and I were discussing.
Dear Friends: The “human experience” is rich with laughter, love, loss, and growth. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 