Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Interestingly, there’s little evidence of individual political interests among my several hundred co-employees. Many have visible tattoos illustrating their affinities for nature, wildlife, and such, but none particularly are controversial.

I’ve considered this while rummaging mentally about wearing my favorite pair of socks to work. Each sock’s top sports a clear image of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s face. She’s one of my favorite public figures and her image suggests my political learnings. I love the socks but haven’t worn them to work. Recently, I realized that such caution is wise.

I work with a woman who has an admirable understanding of the construction industry. She is able to weld, grade classes of wood, and can comprehend more construction-related technicalities than women in general. She explains that her dad had managed a welding company and got her started welding when she was a small child. He emphasized attention to technology and safety and always supported her. She became adept with skills that led her, on turning twenty, to join the military. There she spent a couple of years before becoming pregnant, a condition that in those days forced her to retire. Her skills and knowledge had lifted her from the rank of Private to that of Master Sargeant.

I have admired all that, but this week working more closely alongside her got an earful of her politics and world views. They’re draconian! She’s a solid Trumpian, believes the world is close to collapsing, saves fresh water, and stocks long-shelf-life foods. She loves her many guns; doesn’t hunt with them but goes out and shoots.

I listened not feeling completely astonished but disappointed, to learn where her working skills journey had taken her, politically and socially. At least, my socks didn’t initiate her disclosures. Maybe she was curious about my personal world-related views, but I never opened my mouth. I did, however, grasp the value of not wearing my RGB socks to work.

Dear Friends: The 3,300 cells in our brains guide us on unique life journeys. Diana

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The header photo, taken yesterday for my “Dogs In The Aisle” collection, is a mini-Labradoodle. That’s how his person described this total cutie. He’s super friendly, and irresistible, and his coat is as soft as a bunny’s.

I enjoy playing with the dogs Home Depot customers bring into the store. Look, here’s an adorable pair of mini-Aussies.

Most dogs enter the store expecting treats that many employees carry. You can see those little Aussies totally anticipating my hand to dip into my apron pocket. Of course, it did.

Yesterday, my favorite hugger might have been the Rottie, Brutus. He’s a super sweet giant.

Brutus is much larger than my part-Rottie puppy, Chase, but there’s a resemblance in their looks and personalities.

Dear Friends: Ya gotta love shopping and working where dogs are allowed. Diana

Monday, October 16, 2023

This week our local weather will warm up. That will create a window of accommodation for a couple of horseback rides I’m planning. This change is serendipitous luck, as locally and lately, there’s been more overcast and gloom than sunshine. Heralding that upcoming change is this morning’s gorgeous rosy dawn.

Throughout this week, I’ll work in the afternoons and, later, come home in darkness to feed the large animals and medicate my donkey. So far, the news about medicating isn’t good. In the first place, she is refusing medications by avoiding me. That’s not my biggest problem. It’s that syringes tend to become vapor-locked, which locks a plunger and prevents liquids from releasing. My attempts to strong-arm locked plungers had made meds suddenly spurt into the air. Medicating the ground is expensive learning.

I’ve asked both AI and YouTube University how to combat vapor-locking in syringes. Their responses might satisfy typical human medical needs using small syringes but not my veterinary needs with large syringes. The alternative for medicating equines is mash dishes, which my donkey steadfastly refuses to touch, regardless of how attractive they are with grains, pancake syrup, and etc. She smells and/or tastes buried medications. So, I’m stuck managing her meds with syringes.

Anxiety-ridden as this conundrum may be, it too will pass. Because I’ll learn, so help me.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this beautiful start to the week. Diana

Sunday, October 15, 2023

“Crisp air, golden leaves, Nature’s beauty surrounds me, Autumn’s warm embrace.”

I didn’t conjure up the opening phrase; it’s an AI-generated haiku. In experimenting with the technology, I sometimes receive pleasing results, but more often, they’re disappointing. Getting the best from AI requires wording each question or comment correctly or exactly to achieve the desired response quality. If I ask the same question multiple times and reword my request slightly each time, the responses increasingly become pleasing.

I wonder what draws me to this, for I can independently imagine and write. Maybe it’s because AI is a bigger component in modern communications than could have been imagined. It makes sense to learn at least a little about accessing the technology.

For starters, I felt that poetry and weather were a good combination. I had to revise my question several times before AI could generate that likable little haiku.

I want to mention that researchers have discovered that there are 3,300 cells in the human brain, and those are grouped into 461 clusters. That’s our individual “smarts” capacity, which becomes used however one does. All that’s confusing anyway, and oh, by the way, “Howdy, AI.”

Today’s header photo shows Peaches with a grilled cheese sand, one of his favs.

Dear Friends: Everything’s about preparing to roll with the punches. Diana

Saturday, October 14, 2023

It’s a new day and back to work for me. A wonderful thing for a part-timer is the option to choose to have days off in a string. One can get lots done at home in three days, making returning to work a vacation from being off.

Returning to work will be a vacation, however short, from my obsession with news of the wars in Israel and Ukraine, and no less, America’s dysfunctional House of Representatives.

As a young woman, I perceived that economic and political news were distant, little affecting my daily patterns. Certainly, there were inconveniences like temporary gasoline shortages, but soon my accustomed patterns of needing and having returned. I didn’t perceive a slow and cumulative gathering of periodic interferences to daily living. However, progressive communications technologies today bring a common understanding that all past economic and political stumbles remain relevant and affect us today.

As an example, we remember 9/11 while observing distant developments worldwide. We have learned to be keenly aware of differing perspectives among the inhabitants and leaderships of various nations. While watching what’s going on, we worry that another unexpected dreadful fallout might occur close to us.

Yes, while working at a non-military job, my worries might ease a bit.

Dear Friends: Three days off allow a stretch, for focusing and obsessing. Diana

Friday, October 13, 2023

Happy Friday the 13th. Unless you’re superstitious, and then beware.

Donkey update: I have begun twice-daily to use a syringe and force Pimmy’s twice-daily medicines into her mouth. As anticipated, some liquid spills onto the floor, but knowing there’s some in her is better than the alternative. Practicing with the syringe will lead to delivering her meds more effectively.

War in the Middle East: A disheartening situation. It compounds our anxieties over other military situations, mostly Ukraine, and here nationally, those crazy mega-shifting social, political, and economic dynamics.

Maybe one of the weirdest stories today is in the ongoing trial of young Sam Bankman-Fried, who, in his twenties, built an FTX mega-goliath. For a while, Bankman-Fried grew extremely wealthy with FTX, and his associated company, Alameda Research. His recognized business smarts attracted major patrons. Everything, however, was a facade. He was illegally laundering money, had created a method of borrowing and moving massive amounts to spend however he wished. Testimonies now from former business colleagues who knew he was cheating, would be laughable if their stories weren’t tragic. They had been vulnerable to showers of cash from Bankman-Fried, who was anticipating becoming the nation’s president.

The saga of FTX and Bankman-Fried is comparable to the earlier debacle of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. Theranos was a healthcare company founded in 2003 by then nineteen-year-old Holmes and touted as having breakthrough technology. For years, it attracted high profile investors. In 2018, Theranos was dissolved upon a public recognition of cover-ups to serious shortcomings in its core technology. Holmes subsequently went on trial and was convicted of defrauding her investors and the public.

Today’s economic and technical worlds may be suckered up by the young, bright, and beautiful, at least regarding Holmes. As to beautiful, Bankman-Fried, not so much. And, we can travel on a short trip to the past and not forget the master of thievery, Bernie Madoff. I could go on, but you get it.

Dear Friends: Much ado nowadays confuses human situations and rationality. Diana

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Yesterday, I practically starved my donkey, Pimmy. Recently, she was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease and requires twice-daily medications, but refuses any food except the hay she’s always eaten. I have combated this by mixing her meds with delectable grains and molasses, even topping my offerings with Cheerios. Pimmy won’t touch a thing, even though she hadn’t received hay all day yesterday. I gave up and forked out hay in the evening, and she dived in.

I will prepare a vial containing warm water and medicated powder this morning and squirt the mixture into her mouth. Experience assures me that most of the liquid will spill to the ground. With the donkey, only practice will let me better control the process.

Medicine waste is a big deal because her meds are very expensive. I gasp unhappily while tossing a too-stale mixture she has refused or seeing medicated liquid spill to the ground. My friends with “Cushing’s horses” describe similar problems in getting their animals to accept the meds. The pill they must forever take daily is very bitter-tasting. I get it, but my situation adds a wild card–the donkey, an animal significantly different in many ways from horses. Pimmy’s willingness to remain hungry might be one of those differences.

Whichever way it might happen, by free- or force-feeding, I must learn. She needs two daily meds now, early on in her treatment cycle.

Dear Friends: Another day with the “different” animal and tackling challenges. Diana

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Today begins a new string of three days off from my part-time job. It’s blustery and rain-threatening today, which could interfere with the hope of riding horseback. This weather also might be a put-off to starting some still-needed fence work. I want to stretch new hot wiring to dissuade the horses from backing and leaning into fencing to scratch their behinds.

Those are minor compared to my biggest need: getting my donkey to consume foods offered with needed medications. She has Cushing’s disease, and so far, with a nose that has her refusing anything, even very tempting with a medical odor. Her big nose seems able to detect everything. I will try another tactic this morning and keep up my hopes for success.

The donkey is a creature of habit. This new way of feeding, by separating her from horse buddies, upsets her. But if she’s offered palatable food while out among the horses, they’ll confiscate it. My only option is to keep marching forward in trial-and-error modes.

Such local challenges are less perplexing and disturbing than those reported in the national and international news. The Washington Post is about to lay off 120 employees because its subscriptions are down. Interestingly, it has tried to balance national and international news, reporting local (D.C.) news and providing advice on social situations. It’ll be interesting to see this famous old newspaper evolve anew and maybe with a changed focus.

For my friend, Ava, who recently moved to San Antonio: Reports today assert that TX homes are rapidly increasing in price because of the many transplants arriving there from CA. The stats now are spotlighting San Antonio as having escalating home prices. You got there just in time!

Dear Friends: Have a great day. Diana

Tuesday, October 09, 2023

I’ve become highly aware of retail theft, a massive problem that worsened with the Pandemic and continues. It’s a serious topic among Home Depot managers where I work. Theft awareness always is visible in the many for-sale items that are caged and locked. Current newspapers name key businesses that have moved or are moving from downtown locations, to combat high theft. Major retailers listed on the stock market report significant income losses from theft. Many brick-and-mortar sellers are fighting back by beefing up their online businesses.

I am at least somewhat informed, nonetheless, my jaw dropped recently when newspapers reported that last year’s retail losses from theft totaled 112 trillion dollars. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a front-page story explaining how, over time, Home Depot helped authorities bring down a major theft-and-resell ring. The thieves and their disposal of gains had been active for ten years.

That ring leader ran a church charity organization, and on the side paid thousands of dollars to groups of thieves. They worked for him throughout the U.S. providing stolen goods. He in turn sold the stolen articles on eBay. EBay suspected him of selling stolen merchandise but couldn’t move on an assumption. Home Depot’s 2200+ locations have cameras; they made a difference by gathering enough information to launch and assist a police investigation. The story is a fascinating read.

I can’t provide a link because the Journal will require readers to subscribe. However, the story is available in many forms for searching online.

Dear Friends: How many rings are needed for thefts amounting to $112T? Diana

Monday, October 09, 2023

After three days away from my part-time job and doing property work, today’s return to work will be my relief from physical labor. I worked setting fence posts, moving large rocks, hauling discarded old concrete to the dump, and in the evenings fell exhausted into bed. Those hard-earned accomplishments are visible, and so are the differences they made.

Our gorgeous Indian Summer has held on, but there’s a warning that it might rain this week and could start this afternoon. On returning home from work, I’ll tarp anything with an engine that must stand outside. I’m optimistic that our nice weather will continue a while longer, but it’s impossible to count on old weather patterns holding. Last autumn, very early and following many days of Indian Summer, suddenly freezing and snow occurred. Winter’s hit lasted and didn’t let up.

I remember clearly, for not preparing early for a weather change. Many problems confronting me were frozen horse watering troughs, broken guttering, and non-operative snow blowers. Unlike years ago when we could count on the weather changing about a week before Thanksgiving. That’s when we could anticipate the first snow. Now, regarding weather, what changes and when they might happen are up for grabs.

Dear Friends: Okay, let’s start this day, this week, and see what the weather brings. Diana