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

Worries To Rest

Friday, October 04, 2024

A considerable problem is solved: my puppy Chase won’t again escape a new “inescapable kennel” where he will stay when I must leave home. His driving instinct to follow me triggers escaping skills, which he specializes in.

Thanks to a bit of luck, and special thanks to my kind neighbors, Frank and Annette. They have sometimes rescued Chase, brought him home, and re-locked him into my big, sturdy kennel. (For many years, that structure was inescapable by dogs, but recently, Chase–super athletic and too-smart–managed to escape.)

The solution was a happenstance. Down by the barn near my chicken coop stood a wire structure where I occasionally isolated hens needing special attention. That structure has been unused for many months. It’s fully enclosed with wire, with a human-size walk-through wire door, and roofed completely by heavy wire. It looked perfect for safely and securely enclosing Chase but needed to be dismantled, relocated, and reset onto a concrete base.

That structure is large enough to accommodate a dog’s movement and would fit inside my larger standalone structure, which Chase escapes now.

My kind neighbors donated their time and turned the possibilities into a reality. Frank and Annette dismantled the structure, loaded its sections into their pickup, and moved everything uphill. They reassembled the new dog kennel inside the big standalone. We all viewed the result as inescapable.

The new kennel is set securely on a concrete base. Heavy stall mats laid over the concrete increase residents’ comfort. Finally, Chase will be secured; he’ll be in an inescapable smaller kennel within a safe and larger enclosure.

Dear Friends: I cannot begin to adequately describe my enormous relief. Diana

Still Chasing

Thursday, October 03, 2024

My puppy from hell, Chase, has figured out how to escape his escape-proof kennel, and he did that twice yesterday. I was at work when my neighbors let me know that Chase was running loose. They kindly captured the dog, returned him to his kennel, and repaired the spot where Chase had managed to exit.

Arriving home for lunch, I found my doggoned dog, again loose, bounding happily down the driveway and greeting me. A glance at his kennel revealed that he escaped by breaking through a “corner guard” opposite another corner guard he had broken through and my neighbors had repaired.

That escape-proof kennel is large—10′ x 20′. It is set on a concrete base surrounded by heavy wire fencing 6′ high, and its door is lockable. Over the years, I’ve kenneled many dogs there, and until now, none have managed to escape.

Chase is 2 1/2 years old and a mixed breed. When I adopted him, he was an adorable 8 weeks old. His rescuer promised he’d stay tiny because she’d seen his small parents.

Liar!

Chase has grown to 50+ lbs. and is visibly a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix (among other genes). His genes promote muscular strength and sheer-dogged determination. He specializes in leaping highly and digging unstoppable. Worst, he can climb up and over wire fencing.

As long as I’m at home, Chase may run loosely in the dogs’ sizeable common area but must go into the escape-proof kennel when I’m to drive away. My departures trigger his escape button. He has often managed to dig his way out of the common dog area, which is why he’s kenneled separately. For many months, the big kennel has kept him safely confined.

Finally, Chase managed to figure out a way of getting loose. I’m disappointed but not overly surprised because, clearly, he’s always thinking.

Today, I will try to out-clever this dog (again somehow) by escape-proofing the standalone kennel.

Dear Friends: I must keep Chase safe and never raise another puppy. Diana

Watching, Planning

Wednesday, October 02, 2024

Yesterday at work, I sold an expensive watch and had to figure out how to remove three links from its bracelet. A coworker who usually does that is on vacation, and I’d never altered linkages. Luckily, my customer was cooperative, helpful, and a fun collaborator with the task. She departed wearing her well-fitting watch.

I’d been concerned about someday having to adjust a watch band linkage. Yesterday’s event made my day. Now, I can do it!

With a coworker on vacation, my schedule will assume more hours. That’s okay, but what isn’t is that the store plans to start opening and closing one hour earlier. I dislike the earlier starting times because tasks at home need attention before I can leave for work. The store’s new hours will begin next week.

Since my donkey Pimmy has been separated from her horse buddies, I’m becoming her new best friend, and we are growing closer. I am enjoying her one-on-one and discovering that she has surprisingly puppy-like behaviors. I’ve begun thinking of Pimmy as my “other puppy.”

She could use a barn buddy, and I wonder about introducing my elderly goat, Breeze, to Pimmy. Breeze has lived among my chickens; she is sweet and doesn’t mind having chickens perched or riding on her back. She could be moved into a safe stall to start getting to know Pimmy and the barn.

I know that a horse and a goat can become bonded buddies, but I am uncertain about a donkey and a goat doing the same. My sense is to give it a try.

Dear Friends: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Diana

Transitions

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

Happy debate night. Thankfully, it’s the final debate. We need this election season to end because the campaigning swallows news and critical resources. It is expensive and consuming, drains critical support and energy, and diverts America’s focus on helping to end two (at least) real-time nation wars.

Putin is a nut case, as well as his buddies leading other nations. Besides ongoing news about the escalating destruction in Ukraine, information arriving is about Iran’s intent to make a missile attack on Israel. It’s unlikely accidental that Putin personally is visiting in Iran.

Finishing this campaigning season and voting will free more of America’s attention, energy, and resources. America will be able to return more attention to helping settle critical world crises.

Dear Friends: Events causing lots of worrying often become absorbing. Diana

Fall Beauty

Monday, September 30, 2024

Yesterday, Central Oregon’s weather turned colder; that’s how it happens. We have days of steady heat or light chill, and suddenly our weather shifts. In one day, a new mode can take hold.

We’re experienced with this. We know to start readying sweaters and jackets, with another short-range goal of readying heavy coats. Later today, I might find myself closing windows.

Fall has arrived, with early October arguably the prettiest time of year. Recently, I’ve been hypnotized by the lovely changing colors of tree leaves. They’ve had me feeling very in the moment, yearning to rush beyond the city to be immersed in nature’s art.

This afternoon, I am off from my part-time job. I will fulfill my wish to seek solace among nature’s visual feast, autumn’s colors, light, and textures. Beyond visual splendor, I want sensory experiences: crisp air, earthy scents, and sounds of nature.

Lately, I feel stressed by the approaching holidays, pressures in my part-time job, and shorter natural light. I need a break and want to be among the grandeur of nature’s fall display. I wish to sense the awe and wonder of feeling connected to something larger than myself.

Dear Friends: Seasonal transitions are reminders of impermanence and beauty. Diana