Saturday, October 16, 2021 (October’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

The Moon’s in the news. Tonight NASA and lunar enthusiasts will celebrate “International Observe the Moon 2021”. There will be live-streaming.

Today’s header photo is a NASA image showing rocks, looking as familiar as shoes on our feet. We Oregonians know fused rocks as bedrocks. In fact my house stands on solid bedrock, which disallows digging, say for a garden. An ongoing chore, to improve my property’s pathways, is digging up and moving lava rocks. It’s work often stopped cold upon bumping into bedrock. Today’s header image could be of a spot almost anywhere in Oregon.

It’s of bedrock, but on Mars. It’s in that planet’s Jezero crater, as taken by NASA’s Mars rover. Those rocks are layered in ways that prove to scientists that the crater once held liquid water. The photo reconfirms that Mars way in its past had rivers and flowing water.

I’m always looking at night moons. Today, I learned there’s a scientific field, called selenology, which studies the moon and strengthens NASA’s Moon knowledge. The latest knowledge comes from China’s sample-return-mission, which last December landed on the Moon’s largest lava field, Oceanus Procellarum, or the Ocean of Storms. After samples were returned to Earth, selenologists confirmed that the Moon’s lava field once was very stormy, and such so that storms created liquid rock. It covered the crater, eventually solidified into a dark plain.

To our naked eyes, that storm-formed dark plain is visible, in the Moon’s northwestern quadrant, a section that forever has been an object of human dreams and fantasies. In my childhood, that dark section had me nearly believing in “a man in the moon”. I always try to conjure my own theories, for surely the dark area has meaning. Now we understand, it’s a lava field.

Chinese selenologists have calculated the age of Moon’s lava field, as about two billion years old, or less than half the age of Moon itself. Throughout the existence on Earth of living creatures, those evolving with brains have been awed by the Moon and beheld it in admiration and wonder.

So now, although planets in our solar system like Mars and Moon, might not altogether be unfamiliar, our fascination with them continues. Tonight’s webcast offers both a scientific and cultural expedition to the Moon, with close-ups of the lunar surface.

NASA will host the hour-long event, starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT. We can watch on youtube, here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvHN18NQUM

You may go to that link early and sign up for a reminder. Here on the west coast, the event begins at 4:30 p.m.

Dear Friends: Hunter’s Moon still is waxing, and in five days will rise at its fullest. Diana

Friday, October 15, 2021 (October’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

At the register:

Me: What a cute toddler-shirt, it’s a sleeveless turtleneck. Who’s going to wear it?

Customer: A chicken. I have one with a wound and this might protect the spot.

Answering telephone:

Me: Good afternoon, Wilco, this is Diana.

Caller: Can your fresh crab legs be purchased with food stamps?

Me: Maybe you want to call Winco? This is Wilco.

At the register:

Me: What a cute dog!

Customer: Yes, he’s a mix, and mostly King Charles. Soon after we moved to Bend, my husband left me for another woman. I won (she smiles), got the dog!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dear Friends: I’m on today’s opening shift, leaving soon for work. Diana

Thursday, October 14, 2021 (October’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

Soon, I’ll be off and running to Redmond, for Day Two (final one) of my job training. That and working this afternoon at a cash register will get me closer to being a certified register operator. Might not seem like much, but actually it’s stepping on a path toward a modern form of job security. Many of today’s part-time entry jobs call for cash register operators. If ever again I’m job searching, I’ll give a wave, “Here I am!”

I like where I’m working for many reasons. It’s near home, for dashing during lunch to toss hay for the horses. There’s generous employee price-discounting for necessities in attending to animals and property.

Yesterday I winterized. Pulled and drained hoses, stored warm weather equipment, connected trickle chargers to batteries, and cleaned areas that might become snow covered. Not that we’ll get much snow.

My online weather calendar shows that historically at this time of year Central Oregon has been very wet, rained-on nearly 50% of the time. Although now we’ve no rain, there are rains scattering to the west and north. On radar they seem on their way here, but so far only damp mornings.

I’m about to head into today’s damp darkness and feed the horses. First, the dogs will raise a ruckus because I’m taking only my hound, Ranger. He’s the most likely to be quiet this early, but would sound off if something seems unusual in the darkness.

Dear Friends: Thanks so much for your encouragement, and have a wonderful day! Diana

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 (October’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

Yesterday, the first full day working at my new job. That afternoon another first, operating a cash register, in real time, and working through challenges.

Some challenges were learning which register keys do what, how to check-out products by looking up names and sometimes confirming quantities available. Of course, handling cash accurately is critical. The day was Tuesday, “senior discount day”, with lots of buyers offering cash.

Cash transactions are no-brainers with registers that compute how much change to provide. It’s a boon because brains sometimes “don’t do” numbers accurately. The most essential brainwork is memorizing. Before operating another register, I’ll be skipping a day and trying remember correctly enough details to re-hop into the process.

Aside from technology and memory challenges, the day was fun. On Tuesdays, the store is crowded with buyers seeking price discounts. Register operators must keep check-out lines short, to under three buyers. I waved waiters forward with confidence but stumbled sometimes, and customers were kind and encouraging.

The day went quickly, my co-workers were terrific, confident and smart. They were quick, and kind when correcting and answering questions. Getting to know them was pleasant, and same for the customers–fellow animal lovers and patient as a newbie checked them out. Some were leading dogs, freshly-groomed or their good buddies accompanying all possible.

For this post-retiree, going back-to-work seems like a moving-ahead. Ain’t it something, that getting through early challenges might introduce new opportunities!

Dear Friends: Scrambling today, to finish winterizing against periods of freezing. Diana

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 (October’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

These are glorious days despite that they’re chilly and windy. Yesterday, there dropped on my side of town light snow and tiny hail. I say, “my side”, because other sorts of weather occur simultaneously on this small city’s other side. Over on the west, rain could be coming down like cats and dogs, while on the east all’s bone-dry. If in a mood to ditch unwanted weather, I simply slip across town.

In real time, I’m hurrying to winterize the barn area while the weather swings aggressively toward freezing. At least now my animals are drinking water from heated containers. Tomorrow, I’ll refresh the goat shelter, will remove old straw and replace with new. The fence surrounding the horse area has me fixing spots here and there and discovering unexpected weaknesses. There are constant needs for attention that push me to stay involved. I carry tools.

But, these are fall months heady with strength. How will I focus on work, long enough to complete enough, while limitless beauty surrounds? How will I avoid staring at leaves, now fabulous with color, on trees and already fallen? How about ordinarily-ugly lava rocks, damp now and revealing unusually vivid shapes and colors?

Finally, in the southern sky, last night’s waxing Hunter’s Moon was a quarter-full. Already special-looking, it set me dreaming of days ahead when it’ll completely be waxed. Venturing out to greet that moon rising means being bundled-up against a cold evening, while hopefully, blanketed by trillions of stars under a clear sky.

As usual, I digress.

Dear Friends: Suddenly, an inner voice says, “Whoa! Get ready for going to work!” Diana

Monday, October 11, 2021 (Note: This month’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

Yesterday’s weather too-suddenly turned downright cold. I went to work early in a warm afternoon and in late afternoon emerged to freezing winds and dropped temperatures. Hurried home, changed from jeans to snow pants, added cold-weather gear and went out to feed horses. They dashed happily into the barn.

Although our water hasn’t frozen, the weather was right for setting new water heaters into the horse troughs. After plugging them in, I checked the GFCI (ground fault circuit controller). If it’s still working correctly, that’ll become a certainty this morning when I’m visually reassured of heaters producing warming bubbles.

Training for my new job has had me watching videos, about teamwork, customer service, and what to do in potential instances, like a store robbery, suspected off-the-shelves thievery, and various other work-related conditions. It’s interesting to find, so many years after my initial rounds with similar introductory trainings, that basic human interactions haven’t changed. What has is the manner in which they’re addressed, which is updated. For example, I’m hearing delicate situations spoken to with greater sensitivity.

This week, I’ll turn to Zoom for introductions to modern register systems. Online videos show register displays as very complex. In reality, they couldn’t be too daunting, for many sorts learn and operate registers. I’m looking forward to learning modern technologicies, how they improve communicating, sorting, and computing.

On the topic of cute pets, friends tell me it’s easy to create personal calendars with user friendly software available online. Some of my photos have captured terrific animal images, and a calendar would be a fine way to share them. It’s not too late to pull pictures together and play to create a 2022 calendar. It’ll be on my plate this week.

Dear Friends: This new job has me breathing in a known and likeable world. Diana

Sunday, October 10, 2021 (Note: This month’s fullest moon [“Hunter”] rises on the 20th.)

Sometimes I leap into activities before reading fine print. That happened while entering my donkey, Pimmy, in a “cutest pet calendar” contest. Sponsored by the local newspaper, the outcome will be a slick calendar. Very cute, are all the 253 contestants, mostly dogs and cats. The candidates include a cougar and my donkey.

It’s the newspaper’s clever way of supporting the local humane society. Available for purchase for one’s favorite pet are hundreds of “yes” votes. The money goes to a good cause, the local humane society recently closed because of inadequate staffing and funding.

I’m absolutely a supporter of the humane society. I’m not a supporter of a “pet contest” that forces multiple vote purchases to promote a pet throughout four weeks.

The contest runs for a month, begins anew weekly. Each new voting round ranks pets in the order ending their previous round. For Pimmy, the upcoming round will show her near the top, at #13. To maintain her rank, I’ll have to purchase votes. Already, the pets ranking above Pimmy have very high vote counts, some have thousands.

The cost isn’t a huge deal. For $20 one adds 500 votes. That may keep keep a pet in the running and will support the humane society. How about more? Contributing $100 weekly to add 2,000 votes each round could ensure an appearance in the planned calendar.

I’ve asked friends to vote for my pet. Many have responded, and yesterday I naively cheered Pimmy’s pop in the rankings. She moved upward, from a very low #219, to a very high #13. It didn’t register that her vote count was slightly over 500, until a dear friend texted about having added 500 votes by purchasing them. Wonderful support raising questions.

Wow, there’s no need to request votes from friends. Winning by funding is simple, and it’s legal. But another three weeks of voting will invite an unending process that actually is another contest: vote purchasers competing among themselves. I’m completely for supporting the humane society, but rather to help independent of an awkward “contest”.

What haunted me all last night boiled down to, “What’s best, to play the game or not?” I massaged the possibilities all ways and finally decided to pull Pimmy from the event. I’ll hope for more wisdom in the future.

For several years I’ve planned to create a “Pimmy Calendar”. The wish gets renewed, always fades, and again is on the table. With 2022 too near, my new target must be 2023. Pimmy’s calendar will have a December image of her in that wonderful holiday costume.

Dear Friends: Newbies are neophytes to community traditions and power. Diana

Saturday, October 09, 2021 October’s fullest moon “Hunters” rises fullest to Earth on the 20th.

One of Earth’s finest creatures, my donkey, Pimmy, currently is a candidate for appearing in Bend’s 2022 “cutest pet” calendar. She needs votes!

This contest allows for “buying votes”, and the money goes to a good cause. We won’t buy, and hope Pimmy may become a winner for deserving.

Pimmy’s contest photo, of her in Christmas costume, is just right for December’s page!

It’s of Pimmy a couple of years ago while ready to march in Bend’s Pet Parade. She was an enormous hit with viewers. Afterwards with little kids on her back, she posed as families took photos.

Below is a link to the online site. With over 200 images and Pimmy’s near the bottom, please scroll down to Photo #219. And vote!

https://www.bendbulletin.com/offers/cutest-pet-contest/

Dear Friends: Bought-votes for the shelter will slim winning chances, but she’s cutest! Diana

Friday, October 08, 2021 October’s fullest moon “Hunters” rises fullest to Earth on the 20th.

Wow, listening to Hill narrate her new book, I’m experiencing big-time déjà vu.

Fiona Hill was an official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs. She was a witness in the 2019 impeachment inquiry of President Trump, who was accused of trying to manipulate Ukraine’s president into reporting misdeeds by the son of Trump’s likely opponent in America’s upcoming presidential election.

Hill was riveting, knew her stuff and spoke confidently about world politics and conditions. That same confidence, experience, and directness have created a riveting book, much of it personal and about growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. She describes those decades of political and social transformation, the industrial and political changes impacting national and world affairs, and altering her own prospects.

The same years, heady, unique, and not repeatable, altered my life. In those days, young men were escaping drafts into the military. New birth control methods freed young women from a dedication to homemaking. The business world opened new jobs and occasionally let women wear slacks to work, and eventually, gave permission for professionals of different genders to travel jointly on business.

Similar to Hill’s experience through those years, and step-by-step I escaped a nearly hopeless future. Changes in workplaces offered better jobs, and I had the good luck to work alongside a constantly encouraging co-worker, a college-educated friend and mentor, Linda, who searched for night-time educational opportunities and pushed me toward them. Supported by her confidence, and despite having little myself, by taking advantage I learned and prospered.

Fiona Hill’s story reminds and celebrates an optimism that initiated accessible technologies, like desk-size computers and portable phones. That was before the world understood the scope and impact of a changing climate, before restless populations en mass began to depart their origins. Workers earned more, purchased sophisticated products, communicated better. It seemed that good times wouldn’t end.

Optimism slowed, however, in mid-1980s through the 1990s. There were early 2000’s worries about a new century having different digits. We were terrorized by the Twin Towers bombings. Briefly, there came a renewed optimism that ended at 2008’s economic crash.

Hill’s work reminds us of the politics, social conditions, and environmental issues that have influenced the modern world.

Dear Friends: This excellent, “don’t miss” read comes from a capable perspective. Diana

Thursday, October 07, 2021 October’s fullest moon “Hunters” rises fullest to Earth on the 20th.

For me, yesterday was back to work. The last time years ago, when I became oriented to a new job, it was a manager sitting an hour with me. She recited a bunch of do’s and don’t’s about working, explained what to wear, explained what not to wear. Immediately afterwards, I moved onto the sales floor and interacted with customers.

Yesterday in contrast, for hours I reviewed and signed forms. I read completely through, and signed off on having done so, a big employee manual. The company’s workers must dress appropriately, conduct themselves well, and interact with customers compentently. There also was online training to recognize and handle hazardous materials.

Next Sunday, I’ll start learning to operate an electronic register. That’ll partly happen in Redmond and later in the week conclude here in town.

I’m impressed by the organization and wish to perform well.

Today, I’ll attend a team meeting, a weekly event lasting a couple of hours. The store’s manager leads, and among other things introduces new products. Yesterday, that new world came more real as an environment where stock levels are critical. Equally so are concerns about slow or no deliveries and about dysfunctional supply chains.

Dear Friends: Old-world animals, like Pimmy, slow our metabolism and ground us. Diana