Flash Pash

Monday, October 14, 2024

I have off from my part-time job today and tomorrow. Goody! Today, my goal is to winterize critical elements on my property. An electrician is coming to help. My part-time job is tiring because the store hasn’t enough employees. After working extra hours, I crave fun. Completing the most demanding work today will free me for horseback riding tomorrow.

Yesterday, my friend Bill surprised me with some pairs of campaign socks. Before writing this morning, I grabbed today’s header from Amazon’s site (quicker and easier than photographing my socks). Bill already had provided me with yard-style campaign signs; the fun socks are pièce de résistance.

I haven’t staked out those yard signs, fearing they might be stolen, and I won’t wear the campaign socks to avoid being categorized and challenged. However, I will add all these campaign pieces to my growing collection of “social and political change” souvenirs. Those include magazines’ and newspapers’ original announcements of Obama’s first Presidential win, socks carrying the image of RGB, and now, my Harris/Walz campaign signs and the image socks.

Thank you, Bill!

This campaign season will end in a couple of weeks. Regardless of who becomes this nation’s president, we’ve witnessed evidence that its mass population actively wants social and political changes. We’re all woke, for better or worse, and undoubtedly will experience changes. For reasonable reasons, everybody’s on edge.

Dear Friends: I might carry a sock pair in my pocket for flashing when appropriate. Diana

Word-Worthy

Sunday, October 13, 2024

That’s me, helping to celebrate the Beauty Department’s “pink day” yesterday at the department store where I work part-time. I am assigned to work near Beauty in Jewelry, and someone suggested I wear pink and help support Beauty’s special day. I don’t have much pink clothing, but I chipped in and did my best.

Hanging from my neck are keys to my kingdom, the Jewelry Department. Looking closely, you might also see a golden Aspen Leaf hanging, a gift from my Cousin Mary years ago.

Mary lives in Southern California, where I lived before moving to Central Oregon. We are close and love autumn. We’re awed by nature’s color-changing and its power in general. The bright pendant speaks volumes, and everybody “gets it.” To me, it represents my cousin’s nearness and support.

Aside from the pink color, those keys, and that shiny pendant, my facial expression is vague. Maybe it’s my surprise at being photographed. Nonetheless, the image works overall. It captures a moment of the “special Pink Event” and my “Cousin Mary connection.”

Dear Friends: More evidence of a single image being worth 1,000+ words. Diana

Dozers

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Today, I must be at work by 8:30. This early shift is mine, hopefully only temporarily, while a colleague who usually works early shifts is on vacation.

Besides, the shift is earlier than usual. The store has suddenly changed its opening and closing times, moving them back by one hour. So this eight-thirty shift start, before this week, was a nine-thirty start. The colleague on vacation won’t be a bit happier about it than me.

This is as much blogging as I can crank out quickly. My remaining free early hours will be spent feeding the animals and preparing to leave for my outside job.

I’ve considered taking a hiatus from my part-time gig, but with the holiday season beginning, the store’s business has picked up. Like other large stores, ours has too few dependable employees, and it wouldn’t be right to leave my job now, not even for a while.

Dear Friends: I’m Old School worker, appreciating employment and sticking with it. Diana

To-Do’s

Friday, October 11, 2024

I’m busy preparing my property’s outdoor elements for winter. My daunting to-do list must be completed before winter’s icy grip forces me indoors. Today, I will kill weeds, clean more in my woodworking shop, and reinforce several dog kennel wire welds broken by my puppy Chase in his determination to escape. Later today, I will work in my outdoor job.

Whew, that’s plenty! With more ahead on my list, maybe “daunting” is an understatement. Today, I will stay on track by focusing on the identified tasks. Tomorrow, I will challenge myself to select other to-do items and get them done.

Aside from the work I must do, I enjoy bundling up slightly against our cooling weather. I have missed wearing sweaters and light jackets. They keep me warm now before the sun rises and after it sets.

Here in Central Oregon, anticipating a coming winter or coming spring usually is a big deal because this area’s traditional weather can be harsh and lasting. These days, however, I’m adjusting my perspective because of the killer weather that’s hitting the East Coast. Our local weather is complex but less fearsome. I wonder if we might experience our weather ahead as hugely different from what we’ve known.

Dear Friends: Let’s cherish what’s good, available, and affordable–while still they’re so. Diana

Hunter!

Thursday, October 10, 2024

My “Little Mitzvah” is fifteen pounds that finally grasped a skill that increases her value to my property. Her cuteness is always a given, but in the barn earlier this week, she used innate skills and caught a tiny mouse.

My barn hasn’t had a resident mouse hunter since my kitty Maxwell began preferring to be an inside cat. I’ve not introduced a new cat to the barn. There are roosters and often dogs around, and I have lacked free time for hanging out with a new cat and ensuring its safety.

Mitzvah is a Jack Russell Terrier mix. She discovered her skill set on catching that mouse and loving every moment. To more of Mitzvah’s credit, she has recognized a distinctive trail that mice use for entering and leaving the chicken coop. She’s been watching that trail intently.

For me, seeing her terrier spirit in action was pleasing enough. Yesterday afternoon, more of her terrier instincts became apparent.

We were in the shop/barn. My part-time job keeps me too busy to be in the shop playing with woodworking. After discovering that pack rats were in the shop, I entered it yesterday to work on clearing rat debris. Mitzvah, sniffing around, suddenly became very excited at a cluttered spot. I removed some of the clutter and out ran a large rat.

Mitzvah was ready, she chased it to another cluttered spot. Her constant sniffing and circling there communicated the rat’s hiding area. I peeked and saw it squeezed between panel boards. I pulled on one panel and the rat ran with Mitzvah hot on its trail.

She caught it, the rat got loose and hid again. We repeated our process. Mitzvah identified the hiding spot and I pulled away protective items. Before long, I saw that my little dog was exiting the shop with a large rat hanging from her mouth. What followed was au natural.

Mitzvah made sure that the rat was dead.

She rolled repeatedly on the lifeless body.

Mitzvah just needed to be in the right spots. She’s now a working dog, knows her job, and it’s a welcome one. Now, she’s even more pleasing company while we’re out and about on the property.

Dear Friends: A once-ornamental pooch’s true, transforming nature. Diana

Morning

Wednesday, October 09, 2024

With a light blanket covering my shoulders, I ventured outside onto the deck (“my part” that the dogs can’t get into). I sat in today’s early light, contemplating the hours ahead and sipping from a mug of steaming coffee. I was relaxed, and something tapping deeply inside encouraged me to reimagine the drifting steam as new art.

Quiet moments like those remind me to keep a sketchpad or a camera handy. Routinely carrying a shoulder bag is one way to have one or both nearby, but bag-carrying is cumbersome.

This morning became more special after I realized I was not scheduled to work today in my part-time job. There’s no telling why I didn’t notice that today I’m off; maybe because much work to do at home is on my mind.

It’s not just work; I plan to build a lightweight and portable table. It’s primarily for my sewing room but will be easily moveable to other areas.

Dear Friends: I’m still visualizing that rising steam; have a wonderful day! Diana

Workplace Training

Tuesday, October 08, 2024

Today, I am off from my part-time job; however, I must go there anyway for an hour of special training related to my role in jewelry sales.

In my pre-retirement career, I was a learning and development professional in the corporate world. I specialized in group dynamics, line communications, and organizational goals support. In my couple of years working in retail here in Central Oregon, employee training has been a matter of brief rallies, quick instructions, and lots of pressure.

We get it: retail is highly competitive. Improvements in technology are changing the game. Retail has become a nonending competition of online vs. in-person sales. Worker availability and hiring processes are changing.

I have learned that, regardless of an organization’s goals and economic pressures, it needs to provide more effective employee training, which has been designed for specific roles and for group learning. In-person trainers can deliver and teach better than computers. People sitting and learning together, asking questions and discussing, will do better work and can help each other more while performing their jobs.

Yesterday, a young employee newly working in the Intimates Department rushed over, confused by having been asked for help to “find a brassiere.” That sales clerk’s job was to sell bras.

Dear Friends: These are stressful times, with mine a voice in the wilderness. Diana

Caballeros

Monday, October 07, 2024

I asked my coworker Adrain for a photo of himself minus his full-face beard. He said he’s been bearded nearly forever and would look for a picture. So, I got the capture that’s today’s header, young Adrain, adorable and irresistibly huggable.

The modern Adrain sports a beard covering much of his handsome face. The beard “speaks volumes.” For one thing, he’s a salesperson–easily spotted and remembered. For another, he’s reflective and decidedly an individual.

Here’s Adrain doing one of his favorite things, fly-fishing.

He’s still loveable. If you happen into whatever space Adrain might occupy, he’ll be instantly recognizable. (Tell him, “Diana says hello.”)

Adrain’s fun photos sidetracked me. I had planned an update about my puppy Chase; he might be captured for a while.

Early yesterday, I spent much time attempting to secure his kennel door, which constant pawing can rattle open. That kennel is built to house chickens, not a strong dog. My “fix” had to be quick and easy, for I’m usually hurrying to kennel the dog and leave for work.

The solution became four strategically placed bungy cords tight against the door, keeping it still. That’s successful, at least for now. Yesterday, after getting home from work, I found Chase still kenneled. Whew!

Dear Friends: My earlier working hours force me to quit writing now. Diana

Houdini Dog

Sunday, October 06, 2024

Soon after I left for work yesterday, my dog escaped his new escape-proof kennel. He immediately visited my neighbors, Frank and Annette, who brought him home. They got the now-resisting dog into his new kennel and re-secured its too-loose door.

When I returned home from work, Chase was in that kennel and perched atop his Igloo. Thanks again to great neighbors, Chase didn’t become lost or harmed in vehicle traffic.

We’re closer to confining Chase safely when I’m away from home. Today, I will secure his kennel door. He’s very smart, strong, and determined, and it’s a toss-up to him finding new ways of escaping.

I an concentrating on taking everything one day at a time.

My donkey Pimmy is on a diet. She’s losing weight and looking good. I’ve not yet moved my dwarf goat Breeze into the barn with Pimmy. One reason is that Breeze isn’t on a diet and needs separate feeding, which isn’t worked out. Another reason is that my two horses often enter the barn, and they must be pre-introduced to its newest resident.

Lots of thinking and too little action–simply, one day at a time.

Dear Friends: Now it’s a new day to solve old problems and face new ones. Diana

Changes & Challenges

Saturday, October 05, 2024

Yesterday, I worked the late shift. Before leaving home for work, I introduced my puppy Chase to his new kennel and left him in it. Later, returning from work, I saw him still inside; Chase didn’t escape. Oh, Happy Day!

He must wait longer for me today because my schedule has more hours. I will face a bummer: the store’s new hours are effective today; it will open and close one hour earlier. I won’t find it easy to clock in an hour earlier; there’s much to do at home first.

I’ll try to accommodate the change. On a bright note, I won’t have to worry about my puppy escaping and roaming. However, ahead for a couple of days, my schedule shows me arriving to work TWO hours earlier than usual. I’ve no idea why and am hoping the scheduler made a mistake.

The store has been quiet. Coworkers tell me to expect Black Friday to start a business boom that lasts until Christmas. Over my year at the store, I have learned to expect shopping spurts during popular partying and traveling times. The last Christmas season was busy and successful for our store which must repeat that this year.

Dear Friends: I’m already running late; “So much to do, so little time.” Diana