Sunday, February 25, 2024

Today will be my first time attending a performance by the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra. This event will be more delightful because the group will perform a woman’s composition, by the Nineteenth-Century French Composer Louise Farrenc. The piece is her Concert Overture No. 2.

I’m eager to become acquainted with this highly praised chamber group. Besides, the concert today represents double fun for me. A talented person will narrate today’s performance and she’ll be wearing an elegant, fancy gown. She purchased it at my register and was excited, talking about the concert and performance group.

A huge perk in my job–operating cash registers in one of this little city’s few large department stores–is meeting interesting people. The area’s population has grown by leaps and bounds and new residents seem to hail from Everywhere! I have fun learning about people’s backgrounds and activities, and best, am feeling more integrated with this area’s growth and potential.

Dear Friends: Today, a concert and the gown, and this evening, a full Snow Moon! Diana

Saturday, February 24, 2024

“Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning!” Except when the moon is filling to its uppermost and setting over west before dawn, and is visible from my deck. Today, I sat on the deck in a comfy chair drinking my coffee and watching that moon’s hopeful brightness. It moved quickly as I considered my plans for today and linked them to tomorrow’s. I thought about ways that whatever’s ahead links to happenings yesterday and earlier.

I have learned that allowing myself to enter a state of “moon-watching beauty” is awesome. Our little planet’s huge physicality, so far away and always dependably on schedule, is reassuring. These modern times are turbulent and worrisome. Giving oneself a few vegged-out-sort of minutes to watch the moon while reflecting on whatever’s on one’s mind is comforting.

Tomorrow, our February “Snow Moon” will rise and set and be at its fullest. Enjoy and be thoughtful, even if its moments in your sphere exist only while you’re driving home from work. When that happens to me, it’s a kind of treasure that I remember fondly: an friendly overhead presence with a guiding light.

Dear Friends: I’ll be with a camera and tripod, hoping for good images. Diana

Friday, February 23, 2024

Yesterday was summerlike in Central Oregon and that felt good, but there wasn’t enough sun to dry the deep and slushy muck around a gate where my horses hang out, anticipating me showing up and bringing hay. They hang out and wait, increasing the slush and forcing me into knee-high rubber boots to deliver hay. My boots are tall, but the sucking slush sucks nearly pulls them off.

February’s fullest moon is approaching and I awakened this morning as the almost full version was setting in the west. I took a camera outside and snapped away.

The setting photo I most wanted was that moon with its little cloud hat. This image is unclear, but you’ll get the vision.

My new tripod has arrived. I’ll try it out in real time on Sunday with the moon being at its fullest.

Here’s hoping this great weather holds out and keeps the sky clear for good nighttime captures. I’m seeing some warnings about a sudden deep temperature drop coming, but if the sky remains clear, that coming full moon should be a great photo op.

Dear Friends: Its morning settings are exciting, a wonderful first sight of the day. Diana

Wednesday, February 21, 2023

Around now, each February, I’m eager to see pauses in the dim and snowy atmosphere. I want clear sights of the Cascades peaks. Last week, one day was perfect for capturing the Middle and North Sisters. In the header photo, they’re snow-covered and gorgeously vivid.

Here’s what things looked like before the sky cleared and made those peaks visible. It’s an annual drama this time of year and often what I see.

I know there are Cascade peaks in that mist, and start watching for an opportunity to make an optimal capture. A clear photo represents a double win for also hinting of more favorable weather coming for those who don’t ski.

Extending the perspective a little are Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top.

There’s more because between the Broken Top and Middle Sister, a South Sister still is hidden from my camera.

Dear Friends: I “heart” alike clear images and the approaching warmth. Diana

Tuesday, February 20, 2023

I’m following X (formerly known as Twitter) on America’s post-Presidents’ Day. Many X site contributors speak to the unfairness of Navaldy’s demise, and they express admiration for his widow’s courageous plan. She intends to grasp her husband’s mantle and continue working to achieve his goal of reforming Russian politics. Whew!

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that maybe some people are born with a “risk-taking gene.” They tend to mature into such occupations as firefighters, law enforcement personnel, and professional military. Let’s toss in such work as washing tall-building windows and also hobbies, such as piloting high-flying engineless glide-airplanes. Many professions and hobbies require risk-taking, and lots of folks won’t go near them. Maybe risk-taking genes do exist.

If they do, Navalny was a prime example. Risk-taking drove his decisions and activities. His moves affected Russian politics and ultimately influenced the entire world. His wife, moving forward courageously, will illustrate and teach more about risk-taking and stamina in life-challenging situations. Her life will be/is being challenged already by Putin’s government.

Thanks to all the brave Russian dissidents who preceded this moment. You Go, Girl!

Dear Friends: Despite Putin’s mean, aggressive suppression, Pussy Riot Lives On! Diana

Monday, February 19, 2024

Yesterday, this beauty accompanied her person to my checkout station. She’s a mixed breed: Afgan Hound and Aussie. She has an Afgan’s head and that sighthound’s long coat. Her body is stocky, an Aussie-type. Her person adores her, and me, too, upon sighting her.

While working, I have fun saying hello to the dogs there in person. I also get to meet some not inside the store because customers being checked out tell me about their dogs. I’m a “dog person,” and that topic easily comes up. Many customers reach for cell phones, search for photos of their dogs, and share them with me. Those moments are among the best in my workdays.

It’s part of what makes this little city’s biggest department store a kind of family place for its customers and employees. There’s lots of familiarity; for example, regardless of whether I’m working in Intimates, Dresses, Juniors, or the Home and Men’s Departments, customers tell me vignettes, a little about themselves and their families, dogs, and travels, upcoming and past.

I try hard (and often fail) to remember faces and names correctly and who’s told which stories. Sometimes, I don’t recognize my ex-coworkers who shop up shopping. Usually, they identify themselves and we enjoy reunions. My memory distractions are because of focusing on technical elements in my working role. The store’s cash registers, populated with minds of their own, make major a goal of operating them quickly and accurately.

Usually, I recognize customers returning and bringing their dogs and recall their stories.

Dear Friends: This pet-friendly city puts dogs and horses right up there with sports. Diana

Sunday, February 18, 2024

I’m looking outside at the snow mounds on fence posts and dreading today’s drive to work. Yesterday, the roads were terrible, snowy-slick–and in late afternoon treacherous, especially while rounding the roundabouts. Coming home in the late evening was worse. Some big-truck drivers and risk-takers disliked my 20 mph speed. Despite the threateningly slick street conditions, some were aggressive, racing frighteningly close to pass my car. Finally, I felt lucky to reach my turn-off from the main drags.

Last night, the key streets became plowed and today’s driving might be less awful. The department store where I work faces too few staff in this weather. I resist calling to be out for almost any reason. First, I’m a trooper who doesn’t take working commitments lightly; and second, I tend to overthink situations but am a team player.

Coworkers who avoid driving today will short-staff the store. I’ll get ready to go in earlier than scheduled–and yes, will drive at my usual 20 mph, or slower–despite the threatening, nutsy Road Yahoos.

Dear Friends: This fierce February weather blast soon will become history! Diana

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Overnight, a little more snow fell, making this morning a freezer. Exactly as the current lousy February weather hit, an electrical component for the horses’ watering troughs failed, making the heaters quit. Since it’s too snowy and cold to work outside replacing an electrical bit, ice-chopping becomes, hopefully temporarily, another barn area routine.

The cold weather’s slick streets discouraged driving, so few customers entered the department store where I work part-time. My shift was quiet and boring, it felt way long. I’ll add that it will please my San Antonio reader, Ava, to know that her caution to “Stop buying!” stayed in my head, and I didn’t kill dull moments (as often happens) by shopping around for myself.

She works part-time at a Dollar Store, likely an optimal environment for us who shop where we work. That store carries most household needs, some food items on the cheap, and a few wearables on the sparse. A Dollar Store could be a wise alternative if I want to leave my current workplace to save more earnings.

Well, today is today–snowy and cold. Horses already are lined at the fence and watching for me coming with hay. Ahead, there’s hay to tow, ice to chop, and chickens to feed, and this afternoon, there are outside working hours–hopefully, not dull lags. But I see new snow falling again and curtailing potential department store busyness.

Dear Friends: The very beautiful outside mostly draws our area’s snow enthusiasts. Diana

Friday, February 16, 2024

A frozen morning, cold and snowy, a Christmas card image. Another day of schlepping outside for just long enough to feed my animals. The past two days, mine off from work became lost in the harsh weather. Today, returning to work might be a slower gig, post-Valentine’s.

In the header photo, my coworker, Johnnie, who works in Shoes, tries on a pair of knee-high crazy gold boots. The Store actually sold some of those; I can’t imagine who’d wear them, but my imagination has limits. I could barely grasp that high-schoolers attending February’s winter formals in very fancy dresses were accessorizing by wearing Converse Sneakers–the “in thing.”

Along that line, I have a pair of saddle oxfords. In my day, those were “the thing,” and I occasionally wear them to work these days. It’s surprising how many people notice and compliment me on those saddles. For many, the style triggers lots of memories.

There also were the old days of white buck shoes, with little powder pillows for dusting and maintaining the white. I might explore if white bucks are available still. Wearing them to work would be fun.

Dear Friends: Old and dated needn’t be awful; “from the past” so may delight. Diana