Thursday, September 12, 2024

It’s still morning, but my blog is late. I’ve begun rearranging the early hours to care for my horses and Pimmy instead of creating a blog first. Pimmy’s ill health is a wake-up call, and I will blog later each day.

Also, interrupting my early hours has been a growing intent to become stronger physically. I don’t have enough time to go to the gym regularly, so I have collected equipment at home for stretching and muscle-building.

Finally, I understand that if “I don’t use it, I’ll lose it.” My lifestyle, with horses and a part-time job, has forced me to focus on gaining and maintaining flexibility and strength. I had noticed physical shortcomings. While in a saddle, I discovered that looking backward by twisting to my left wasn’t as possible as turning to my right. Also, my left arm wasn’t as strong as my right arm (odd, as I’m left-handed).

More later. I’m way behind in sending it now and should already have explained changing my morning routines.

Dear Friends: Thank you for still “being here,” you’re as important as muscles. Diana

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

We are saddened by this unforgettable date, already triggered in our memories by the brutal massacre in Israel last October. Those events stir mightily our increasing awareness of troubles occurring in many world places and what that suggests going forward.

Harris did a worthy job of giving the impression she would move forward more carefully in world affairs than Trump. However, the jury is still out regarding who might win the election.

My neighbor, Bill, has given me a Harris/Walz campaign button. I like having it but can’t wear it at work or around town. This city will likely go Blue as it’s done recently, but plenty of old-opinioned Ya-hoos around might cause trouble to an outed Dem. (I prefer to avoid Ya-hoos always.)

I need to be at work early (I’m a store opener today), and I must start getting ready.

Dear Friends: Once-confident Americans trusted Roosevelt with 4 terms in office. Diana

Tuesday, September 10 2024

As I review opinions about tonight’s debate between Harris and Trump, it’s easy to remember that several years ago, Nancy Pelosi shredded a copy of Trump’s State of the Union speech in front of him (and the world). Pelosi understood how to handle Trump and did noticeably several times. Tonight, he’ll test Harris; she must prove capable of offsetting his aggressiveness.

Like many interested in national politics, tonight’s debate looms on my mind. Today, I will open the jewelry department at work and can be there for the event’s start this evening.

I enjoy having a pair of socks with RBG’s image on them. I don’t wear the socks to work, as her image might alienate some coworkers and store customers. However, for quite awhile, I’ve casually searched for more socks–a pair with Nancy’s image–without luck. A wanting for Harris to adorn my socks remains a TBD.

Dear Friends: This debate will significantly improve the last one; tune in and enjoy. Diana

Monday, September 09, 2024

Good morning!

Today’s header photo isn’t fine, but it beautifully captures Chase’s joie de vivre. On that day, I slipped away from needed work at home, taking a camera and my dogs.

Here’s my cute ball of fire Mitzvah running full-out with wet feet.

And beautiful Osix. Photos of her rarely aren’t good, although this isn’t one of the best.

I carried my big zoom camera–not a great choice for a hiking outing, for it became heavier to carry as I went along. I discovered that forcing it to make quick automatic adjustments crates some images too darkly. My future hiking camera might simply be my iPhone.

Crazylegs is coming my way.

And bouncing up.

My big camera captured a lovely clover as we went along in summer’s fading days.

Dear Friends: A transitional season invites outings to savor the remaining warmth. Diana

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Today at work, my scheduled shift is known casually as “dream hours.” I won’t have to open or close my department; others will perform those jobs. I’ll have a sweetheart role of simply “being there,” if needed. I’ll happily avoid the bending and lifting necessary to open and close the department, but still, I’ll be on my feet identifying and assisting shoppers.

I’m doing stretching exercises to ensure my flexibility and strength are adequate for the bending and lifting necessary to transfer jewelry trays from or into the display counters and safes.

I’m also studying the grading of diamonds and gemstones relative to clarity and cut and memorizing the factors of assessing gem potential values.

All this is earning the happy freedom to spend a few dream hours at work. Today, I will simply show up, sparkling in my bling, and assist with customer service basics without guilt.

Dear Friends: Loving a light workload, no deadlines, and minimal stress. Diana

Saturday, September 07, 2024

I became sidetracked this morning, and my time for blogging hello has slipped past. So, a quick “Good morning!” I’m running late and must handle routine morning chores before leaving for my outside, part-time work.

Dear Friends: Sayin’ it, in a nutshell: Have a great day! Diana

Friday, September 6, 2024

This week has been sad, with yet another school-ager mass shooting and another of the stock market shrinking; plus, today is predicted to be downtown LA’s hottest this year, ~100 deg.

I was saddened by that mass murder and by watching my holdings shrink. It happens, too, that I can imagine being in 100-degree weather because it occurred locally this summer. Whatever and wherever something happens, we’re all in it together.

Thanks to ever-improving technologies and communications, our world becomes smaller daily. Years ago, I casually followed early attempts to create AI and couldn’t have dreamed it would develop as it has or that I would frequently use and appreciate what it offers and brings. Going forward, my imagination is significant but also primitive regarding AI’s full potential and ultimate impact on our social lives.

This week ends with me feeling out on a limb, so to speak, or perhaps in limbo. I know my brain can adjust, and later today at work, I will feel confident about finding myself in the company of generally kind and non-threatening others.

Dear Friends: As children, we’re urged to “hold on tight” while riding a merry-go-round. Diana

Thursday, September 5, 2024

My hours schedule in the jewelry department has been changed, and I’m not expected there today. That makes me free to work at home. Here, a broken fence post needs support, and several bags of concrete hardened by rain need hauling.

My donkey’s new anti-grazing muzzle has arrived. Wearing it, she may follow the horses freely on open trails but can’t graze on grass. Grass is sugary, and keeping her healthy requires avoiding excess sugar.

Donkey training is not as easy as horse training. Pimmy has followed me and the horses loosely on trails. She’s been adorned with a new piece of equipment and has the unending determination to get rid of it.

Today, Pimmy’s new training will start with an introduction to the muzzle. We will walk in the neighborhood and she might challenge being muzzled. She must be accepting or otherwise wait home alone until her friends return from open trails.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this lovely day early in the transitional month. Diana

Wednesday, September 04, 2024

We’re approaching a time change, another round of inner shock. Manual time changes, referring now to Daylight Saving Time (DST), affect all living beings. I wish for more citizens, thus more states, to strongly resist them.

The sudden change in daylight hours affects natural bodily rhythms. This season, with naturally reduced daylight, my chickens lay fewer eggs. As occupants of the natural world, we understand light patterns as closely related to wildlife migrations, mating seasons, and feeding habits.

When we transition to daylight savings time (DST), the sudden shift in daylight length disrupts our natural circadian rhythms. Natural light changes are disruptive and might cause difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and more daytime sleepiness. Also, the artificial disruption of our body’s internal clock can trigger negative emotions like depression and anxiety.

DST was originally implemented to conserve energy by extending daylight hours into the evening. Longer daylight hours in the evening would encourage people to spend more time outdoors, potentially increasing physical activity and improving well-being.

Daylight savings time is fine and fun, but it does not last. Soon, we will manually shift our clocks back one hour to start standard time, which also won’t last because later, we will resume DST.

Observing my chickens makes me recall semi-annually wishing to resist artificial time changes. I already feel the dread of another required change on the horizon.

Considering the horizon, I have watched with delight some newly rising moons. The episodes have illustrated one of our little planet’s most lovely elements: the moons behave routinely, precisely as expected, and with constancy despite our unpredictable earthly times.

Dear Friends: Why won’t everybody agree to dump semi-annual time changes! Diana

Tuesday, September 03, 2024

Yesterday, there was clear evidence of my donkey Pimmy regaining a healthy appetite. After leaving work, I stopped at the barn and checked her feed tub, finding that she had eaten almost an entire flake of hay–great news.

Last week, Pimmy left the hospital; her lack of appetite was a big issue. Her health team stressed that Pimmy’s full recovery would include consuming one and a half flakes daily. At home and watching her, that eating goal seemed light years away, if ever, until yesterday’s evidence that Pimmy is beginning to make significant dents in hay allotments.

She will remain separated from the horses. This will ease my medicating and let me more accurately know that she’s eating enough hay.

Yesterday at work, I found the department store busy with shoppers. That final day of the holiday weekend seemed a turning point for retail. Kids preparing to return to school are sending shoppers out, and the upcoming holidays are on people’s minds. Some customers were seeking Christmas gifts early while there still were many choices.

Our store doesn’t have enough employees to cover the upcoming holiday needs. I have offered to help fill the gap and work more hours. I don’t know if that will happen, but I would roll up my sleeves, so to speak if it does. Our relatively small store must do a landslide business this holiday season to remain viable in the brand’s chain.

The retail business is changing dramatically and must be creative. Sellers are working hard to attract more buyers and to keep their interest. Sometimes, our store environment seems a whirlwind, even if the place isn’t busy. There’s lots of pressure in the air.

Dear Friends: Some customers are very interesting and make my work fun. Diana