Tuesday, January 16, 2024

We’re still freezing, deeply, with single-digit temperatures. Predictions are for a warm-up bringing rain today or tomorrow, and afterward, a refreeze bringing icy slickness. I’m electing to avoid driving far and canceling a long-held dentistry appointment in Redmond. Instead, I will drive to work, relatively nearby, and again leave the dogs inside my house where it’s warm.

To my absolute delight, yesterday warmed enough to naturally unfreeze my frost-free pumps. And I filled the horse troughs! For days, I worried about having to haul house water down to the barn–heavy work as a gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. and filling a horse trough could take mega-gallons. All made worse for transporting the water through deep snow in a four-wheel drive, not to mention dragging containers from Jeep to troughs, plus lifting each and pouring. Thankful for the slight thaw, a relief!

Horses are wonderful, and also, they’re all about working and worrying.

Now, here’s more about my donkey, Pimmy. Her fan club is growing. I’m finding that bunches of people simply love donkeys. Folks meeting this donkey at the veterinarian’s or learning of her in my workplace are becoming new followers to Pimmy’s FB page, which I’ve been ignoring; but now, seeing how this donkey delights so many people, I’ll update it. New images of Pimmy will entertain her community of followers and provide photos to pass around.

How true, that from little acorns, strong oaks may grow.

Dear Friends: Pimmy is an entrenched IAMASIAM and couldn’t care less. Diana

Monday, January 15, 2024

Into 2024, and now, too, we’re halfway through January!

Last year, at this very time, I was becoming hired by an international hardware store. I expected working there to be transitional, helping me develop a retail resume. The position represented a significant leg up. That turned out to be a fine place to work. I considered staying there but moved on ten months later to learn about modern clothing sales.

What I learned is that clothing sales, these days, aren’t very different from hardware sales. Most buyers pre-shop and order online, and those near a physical store may go there to compare merchandise or simply to pick up their discoveries.

The department store that hired me as a temp through the holidays rehired me yesterday as an official member of its workforce. My new role isn’t full-time, but it makes me a candidate if any position becomes available. I might continue working part-time or want more responsibility; more experience will tell.

The transition represents a warm spot in this freezing, snowy weather. It’s difficult for any reason to leave home and battle slick roadways. Once inside the store, I find there are customers–brave folks, out and about–targeting after-Christmas sales and buying coats and socks. We discussed the harsh weather and how our city is changing.

This morning’s temperature is up a bit, to 4 degrees. It needs to become much warmer and thaw my frozen frost-free pumps. I can’t fill the watering troughs. Luckily, there’s adequate horse water; however, unless it warms soon, I must start hauling house water to the barn area. I used to do that work–it’s hard!

Dear Friends: Speaking of work, I’m off to consider my job’s potential differently. Diana

Sunday, January 14, 2024

The department store is hiring me as a “flex,” a part-time and permanent position. The store hasn’t yet received a renewed budget for personnel, but even so, it wanted to keep me. The managers explain their hard work for an early approval of my new role. We’re all happy.

As a permanent hire, I’ll be in a position to apply for jobs in the store that become available. There’s not much employee turnover, but opportunities do arise. I had wished to sell shoes, and that role opened. Upon inquiring, I was warned that working in the shoe department is very hard, requiring many ups and downs on a ladder and handling huge, heavy boxes of new shoes for stocking. I remain interested in selling shoes despite warnings to avoid that role.

Shoe selling is in my DNA. Many early family members were shoe professionals. My affinity for shoes doesn’t stretch to climbing ladders and hefting heavy boxes. Another DNA area of affinity is jewelry; I could sell the stuff. Of course, the dress department has many lovely articles attracting me, too.

The common theme is personal: fantasies about shoes, jewelry, and dresses–the stuff of old Hollywood movies that informed my growing-up days. So was make-up, but selling that doesn’t interest this horseback rider with her often gritty face. Incidentally, I prefer to avoid selling fragrances for disliking them.

So guess what: I’ll sell whatever is needed because working in that store is more than dreaming and selling. Being there is about family. Simply put, this small city’s large department store is a family place. I’ve felt that and it makes me happy. Customers, too, are family-like, and it’s so interesting.

The header photo captures a couple of GWTs that belong to a customer. The other day, as I checked her out, we discussed our dogs. Soon after leaving, she returned and carrying the little bag with her purchase. She said the bag was too heavy and asked me to carry it out for her. After an instant of surprise, I understood she wanted me to meet her dogs.

The two are beautiful, well-trained hunters. The customer herself trained them and actively hunts with the two. She, on the left, is 14 years old, and he, on the right, is 1-1/2 years.

Dear Friends: Delightful moments crop up and create a yummy workplace. Diana

Saturday, January 13, 2024

This morning, my neighborhood is way beyond frozen at 2 deg.F! Inside of my kitchen refrigerator is warmer than the outdoors. Late yesterday, my frost-free hydrants were frozen for the first time ever. I worked hard to get their levers lifted, and no water came out. This morning, hopefully, the horse troughs won’t need topping.

Maybe my crazy hen, the one that worries me by preferring to roost outside alone, had enough smarts to awaken and go find shelter.

Last evening’s confrontations with sudden weather-related challenges made me fail to blanket my oldest mare, Rosie. She’s plenty fuzzy and in good weight, but a blanket reduces the caloric outputs necessary for maintaining enough body heat. Today, I will blanket her. Last night, too, I carried into the house Rosie’s half-frozen halter, so today, it’ll be flexible enough to get her into.

Incredible that we’re still at only 2 deg., and the hard snow that’s begun to fall likely will become ice. Oh, how I don’t want to go outside in this weather, and worst, I’m scheduled today to work in the department store. I expect traveling to be slow on snowy roads and through slick roundabouts.

Sometimes we’re faced without a choice, and now that’s me. Without question, my outside animals need feeding and I must suit up and go outside. Later, on this cold and snowy morning, I could make a choice by listening to my inner self calculating the pluses and minuses of leaving home and going to work.

Dear Friends: Harness, feed, blanket, and water, hardships now and over in a few days. Diana

Friday, January 12, 2024

Coming today to Central Oregon, and through this weekend, it will be colder, snowier, and wetter overall. My snowblower’s big batteries are charged, and my winter coats are hanging ready. I’ll be at work today and tomorrow, leaving my dogs inside waiting for me.

Yesterday, I carved through our earliest snow and created paths leading to the barn, with more paths down and around the barn, to facilitate feeding my outside animals. I’d claim to be ready for the oncoming harsh weather, but lessons learned are reminders of past surprises. Currently, I’m cautious about predicted snow and rain and, simultaneously, a deep temperature plunge to 5 degrees. Those, including potentially strong winds, challenge being outside and feeding animals.

I know all that because similar conditions occur annually. I’ve coped numerous times, and we’re all still alive and well. These are human, worrying, assessing, planning, and coping. Now, in the prelims, I’m pre-coping and expect all to turn out okay. Regardless of how I fear in advance, being outside in inclement weather usually becomes a positive experience, because good planning can assure adequate warmth (less so for my fingers).

Upon returning to the house, I usually feel invigorated and pleased for successfully handling the outside chores. My horses’ bodies were warm inside their fuzzy coats, and my chickens were well-feathered and coping.

Ahead, I focus on driving safely to and from work. In inclement weather, my average speed is 20 mph or less, depending on road conditions, and the rare nighttime lighting in this dark-roads city.

Dear Friends: Maybe more tomorrow about the weather, it’s a hot topic. Diana

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Yesterday, after we received a big snowfall, my neighbors discovered that their gas and string-pull snowblower wouldn’t start. They borrowed mine, a battery-powered model that starts at the push of a button. Snowblowing is wet work and often windy with snow blowing back into an operator’s face. Facefuls of snow are a necessary evil for snowblower operators. A battery-powered machine is easier to follow and blows as efficiently.

They did their driveway and mine, too. Arriving home from work late, I didn’t have to battle deep powder. Today, I’ll be using that blower down around the barn area. Since yesterday, I’ve been kicking pathways through a foot-plus of snow. Thankfully, I had the foresight to keep a big sled handy. Even using a sled to move hay to my horses in deep snow is hard work. Blowing the barn area’s rough pathways will make maneuvering easier.

Despite our cold weather and wet underfooting, it’s beautiful outside. I understand there are possibilities of more cold and snow coming through Sunday. Beautiful is good, as long as snow doesn’t pack and then just hang around. That happened a few years ago, when deep snow stayed on the ground, for weeks!

Dear Friends: At home on this day, I will be working and playing in the snow. Diana

Wednesday, January 19, 2024

Snow! Deep enough to prevent my truck from pulling a trailer out and hauling Pimmy to the vet. Deep enough to keep department store employees from driving through it, which got me called in to work. Today, similar road conditions are making me again invited to work.

Workplace, you can count me in. I can depend on my little all-wheel drive getting me there and bringing me home. Yesterday, the store wasn’t busy, giving me time to search for bargains. I scored a couple: a faux fur jacket for $20 and a dressy sweater for $10. It’s fun finding inexpensive and likable articles.

The store plans to hire me on a permanent and limited-hours basis. That would keep me working there but for short hours. I would be in a position to apply for an available job that may offer longer hours. I’m learning that among my key assets is a now nearly ancient work ethic: When I say I’ll show up and work, I do show up and work.

From a distance, it’s difficult to comprehend the enormous changes in today’s social and workplace attitudes. One must be out there and experiencing first-hand to recognize and understand. That way, it becomes more logical and real to value the potential of artificial intelligence to replace some workers. That could reduce the management stress of no-show employees.

I’ve veered off on a tear and will stop now, but I will say more about AI ahead.

Dear Friends: Off now to feed my critters and get ready for the workplace. Diana

Tuesday, January 09, 2024

Huge wind gusts starting yesterday continued through the night, occasionally rattling the house and awakening me. This morning, gusts continue to swirl tree branches. Also, snow is predicted to start falling soon. At last, the winter is showing up in Central Oregon.

This afternoon, unless the weather worsens, my donkey, Pimmy, will visit the veterinarian for an assessment of her hoof now being treated by oral antibiotics. The vet will direct me on how to move forward to treat Pimmy’s larger condition. It’s Cushing’s Disease, now affecting Pimmy’s hooves by causing abscesses.

Going forward, to control Cushing’s potential for doing greater damage, requires daily, very lousy-tasting medicine, orally delivered. Pimmy hates its smell and taste; she vigorously resists treatments.

Right now, snow is falling densely and might interfere with today’s plan to haul Pimmy. The Clinic will understand and reschedule our visit.

I must stop writing and start gearing up to go outside. Enough snow is on the ground to force me to wade toward my horses and chickens. Best that I go now, and complete round one of today’s outside-animal feedings.

Dear Friends: Locally predicted is a whole week of freezing weather with moisture. Diana

Monday, January 08, 2024

Yesterday, my friend Julie and I were at Whispering Winds, hearing classical pianist Dan Chaiken playing several pieces beautifully. The event, arranged by Dan’s sister, Rachelle, was in honor of Fay, their mom. Fay resides at Whispering Winds, and today is her 100th birthday.

About Fay, on being introduced to her one day before her 100th birthday. She is lovely, still beautiful, and has a very good mind and memory. Several weeks ago, Rachelle and Fay traveled by plane and car to mid-America for a reunion with long-time and dear friends.

About yesterday’s event, Dan introduced each piece with some history about its composer, its era in general, and its creative impact. His playing was excellent, and the acoustics were fine. Years had passed since I heard live classical music, and I remembered how very expressive a piano is, and how a pianist’s techniques create different moods and textures. I closed my eyes, and as he played, my imagination accompanied the themes, rhythms, and tones.

After Dan’s program, Julie and I agreed on a readiness to resume listening to classical music. Back at home, I opened a closet containing many long-unheard CDs, selected a few, and began listening. Very enriching and rewarding. Where have I been!

Dear Friends: Stepping away slightly from all-busy and technology-filled moments. Diana

Sunday, January 07, 2024

Yesterday while strolling through my neighborhood, I discovered these pretty girls. They were nearby, watching me and cautious, but none seemed very frightened.

Deer are beautiful, and seeing them migrate through my neighborhood is a treat. They come around less because new construction blocks many of their habitual corridors, and there’s heavier vehicle traffic.

This year, I see fewer wild birds. After restarting my photography, I’ve been searching for birds. They were my inspiration to go walking yesterday, and luckily, in an hour when birds were active.

Wintery skies also are beautiful and nice captures when framed by trees.

This unusually mild and pleasant winter draws my attention and invites participation. During my current unemployment period, I will go out, often with a camera, and frequently with my animals.

Here’s a reminder about today’s free concert at Whispering Winds, in its main dining room at 2 p.m. Classical pianist Dan Chaiken will be performing, to celebrate his mom’s upcoming 100th birthday. Months ago, I missed an opportunity to hear Dan play, but today, I will be there listening to gorgeous music.

Dear Friends: A major personal win is embracing what makes one happy. Diana