Tuesday, November 09, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

I shouldn’t care if GE is planning to break up into three separate companies, with only one, the engine-manufacturing plant, keeping its tried ‘n true moniker.

These days, I don’t know much about what’s been happening at GE. Plus, I don’t hold its stock.

But, and this feels like a biggie, GE has seemed one of the few unchanging threads in my life, always having “been there”. My main associations are electricity and light bulbs. Years ago, while working in the aerospace industry, I learned that GE produces aircraft engines which rank with the best.

Actually, as I’m writing and giving this more thought, memories are popping up.

Way back, right after high school when I was a teenager, I landed a job at a GE branch, the one dealing with finance. I vaguely recall sitting on a tall stool and arranging pieces of paper. I was beginning to face a problem though: I wasn’t a high school graduate.

High school is another story, but quickly, I didn’t graduate. I flunked gym and home economics. Truly, I hated both courses, was an uncooperative student.

GE was my first job out of high school. A week after being hired, someone brought a paper for my signature authorizing the high school to release proof of my graduation, a typical formality for new hires. I became worried, expected the worst, and in a few days simply didn’t return to that job.

Boy, memories are flooding back!

Lack of a high school diploma dogged me through several job starts and got me fired a time or two. Eventually, I took remedial courses at a night school and received that diploma. What’s odd is that, with a diploma in my hand, going forward, no employers ever asked to see it.

Anyway, I digress. Why GE’s breakup is impacting me is that it’s a long-time thread. Today, cultures and business seem to be less steady than when I grew up. Nonetheless, memories aren’t accurate. Some serious research surely would reveal many errors in my casual perceptions.

Dear Friends: Back then, high school was a tough gig for a child, angry, rebellious, and broken. Diana

Monday, November 08, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

Yesterday morning, the set-back clocks confused timing and routines. That evening seemed worse when daylight dimmed very early. After the initial plunge into darkening days, the norm will be weeks with ever-lessening natural light.

And finally, capping these changes will arrive deep winter’s darkest day, the solstice. Actually, that day encourages joy. It offers a reality-based anticipation that light and warmth conditions will change. Immediately after the solstice, will occur bit-by-bit and daily, lengthening natural light. We can begin anticipating more natural warmth arriving also bit-by-bit, but much more slowly.

Thus, the very dark day of winter solstice does enlighten our spirits.

Between now and then, many of us will begin “scrambling in darkness” or participating in events referred to as Black Fridays. That’s when the commercial world in its way tries “enlightening” our days. It’s an opportunity for commerce, with shorter daylights inviting more online time, upcoming holidays inviting gifting, and we feeling encouraged to spend.

I’m carefully considering this compelling period, hoping to “get a handle” on it. Maybe it’s possible to get in front, so to speak, by sensibly planning a path through darker weeks ahead, that avoids being tempted by excessive over-commercialization, Maybe it’s possible to welcome winter solstice, having obtaining everything needed and still with some cash.

Dear Friends: Winter brings big challenges for impulse buyers, and I’m in their ranks. Diana

Sunday, November 07, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

I slept my usual number hours and awakened to discover it wasn’t 5 a.m., but just 4 a.m.! Okay, I knew it was time to turn back clocks, but my deep sleep dulled any sensitivity to that change. Now while writing, I’m anticipating our collective “reward”, a glimpse of earlier daylight.

Earlier daylights won’t long make a difference to us, because anyway, natural light will continue to shorten. For many people earlier lighting isn’t at all important. For all living beings, however, something does become significantly different. It’s that artificial time changes confuse our internal clocks.

We’ve come to appreciate that our natural clocks trigger performance. We don’t appreciate having their work interrupted by artificial time changes. External clocks take over, forcing us to do what’s needed despite our feelings of “time being off”, or “…wrong”, to do what’s needed.

After many years of making semi-annual time changes wouldn’t ya think they’d be easier? Doesn’t it add up, that becoming accustomed to altering time could make adjusting feel more natural?

Nope, and here’s an example.

Now at 6 a.m., in the beginning first light, I’m still writing. A nearby external clock shows I’ve more time to write. Meanwhile down at the barn, my horses seeing this light rightly expect me shortly to appear with hay. Sorry, equines, despite daylight you must wait longer for breakfast.

Time-changing periods are bummers. But living beings will adjust, they/we always do.

Dear Friends: It’s unusual, but now early on the move and thinking horses, I’m going straight to them. Diana

Friday, November 05, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

I pulled up the membership of a customer waiting to be checked out and stared at her name: Elaine May. I teased her, “Are you THE Elaine May!”

She shook her head, “I’m often asked that.” A pause, “Was she really good?”

“Better than good, more like an incredibly pure-genius.”

I didn’t suggest that the woman check the internet for May’s work and simply finished checking her out. I couldn’t quit thinking about May. Remembering her meant remembering, too, her once-partner in comedy, Mike Nichols. The two worked together wonderfully to improvise comedy routines. Their creative sketches, and combined talents in acting them out, achieved near mega-genius.

They were a wildly popular team, onstage and in recordings. Their innovative work inspired many young comedians, like Lily Tomlin, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, David Letterman, and others. At the height of their popularity as a team, May decided to break the team apart and go in new directions. The split devastated Nichols, but himself a genius embarked on an appropriate and rewarding path.

I loved those two, and their split devastated me! In time, I easily followed the work of Nichols. As a movie director, he made memorable hits. In my early viewing days, I disliked foreign films. They seemed grittier than Hollywood movies and often too poetic. After my senses matured, foreign films were my favorites. That led me to discover Elaine May’s film directing work.

Like Nichols, she had became a Hollywood movie director, no small achievement in those days. Women didn’t have directing roles, and perhaps May was the first in Hollywood to follow Ida Lupino as a woman director. May’s movies were more “foreign-like”. They starred innovative actors, searched for the “inner-person”, and called for thoughtful viewers. Americans then were less prepared to embrace May’s works than those of Nichols.

Today’s sophisticated viewers better perceive earlier, highly-creative work. May’s directing has earned worldwide recognition, with high regard for insight and brilliance. So has her writing work, for example, her terrific script for the hit movie, “Birdcage”, directed by her friend, Mike Nichols.

Still thinking about her work and finding it’s impossible to run out of memories doing with her creative talent and innovative boldness. Elaine May was, and since she’s still alive, is a sheer genius!

Dear Friends: Remembering May, with love; remembering also, sans love, to reset clocks tonight. Diana

Friday, November 05, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

I’m excited to learn that the wonderful singers/musicians, Allison Krause and Robert Plant, will this month release their second collaborative album. Their only other recorded collaboration came out 14 years ago. That spontaneous and almost casual collaboration became a great hit and earned a Grammy.

I long have loved Krause’s folk-style singing, and her equally-excellent string band, Union Station. I knew nothing about Plant who was famous as lead singer for the rock band, Led Zeppelin. A friend introduced me to “Falling Sand” and explained Plant’s background. My first listen to the Krause-Plant album captivated me with their excellent musicianship, rhythms, vocalizations.

I long had considered Krause as a terrific musician. She writes songs well, sings them perfectly and communicates emotions. On “Raising Sand” she was fine and compelling, and equally so was Plant. I discovered his tenor voice, youthful and light, sounding sweet on one song and becoming totally rock-oriented on another.

Although a late-comer to their combined talents, I found all their musical moments totally satisfying. And I’ve hoped for more!

Now again, they have collaborated! From YouTube, here’s a sample from their new album, “Raise the Roof”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sPS9y7y5c&t=153s

Dear Friends: Artistry offsets the current monotony of discomforting political/economic news. Diana

Thursday, November 04, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

This morning, a quick hello. I’m on the store’s early schedule, must be at work when the doors open for business. In a few minutes, I’ll be hurrying outside to deliver hay for the horses. At noon I’ll come home to provide more hay. They’ll be good until I’m off work in late afternoon, when they’ll greet me with high anticipation.

Today is interesting regarding the Moon’s phases. It’s the first day of a “new moon”. Known so, because the Moon’s orbit around Earth will have moved it directly between Earth and Sun. Tonight, we might be able to see a very thin Moon sliver, as it’s mostly-illuminated side will be facing away from Earth.

Our new new moon now will begin to wax, and in a couple of weeks will rise at its fullest. So cool!

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day, locally we’ll be welcoming much-needed rain. Diana

Wednesday, November 03, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

I’ve been spending weeks at learning my new job of cashier in a busy retail store. My co-workers are young people, all quick, smart, and kind. They’re teaching me how to operate electronic cash registers. The register keys are identified with common symbols, but have no other recognizable relation to the known world.

The young folks helping me at the registers are a team, effective, productive, and willing to help a learner. To me, the youngest one stands out. She’s twenty years old, smart as a whip, and best is a natural teacher

Like my other mentors, she explains, while demonstrating hands-on, a process, say one that calls-up details of a customer’s past purchase. She does more than others who show me. She jots on a sticky note some key step for me to recall, attaches each sticky note onto a page-size piece of cardboard and creates an easy reference tool. It’s a “learning board”.

I wonder aloud that she seems to “know everything!”. She disagrees, explains “It’s a trick that I use. I tell myself, that for sure, I can accomplish something difficult. I repeat this continuously and with confidence to myself. Soon, I start to believe it, and meanwhile, become better and more capable of doing.”

Casually, she adds, “My mom taught me to think like that.”

She’s a wunderkind, young and fun, confident and planning. She’s enrolled online to study real estate, hoping eventually to team with her mom who has an agent’s license. Whatever course her journey lets her complete, whatever she sets her mind to, I’ll wager on her future success.

Ha, my young mentor’s wisdom has crawled into my brain. I’ve begun to practice telling myself, firmly and repeatedly, that “I can do!”

Dear Friends: Chore it is, but learning is fun, can be helped by “borrowing” from creative thinkers. Diana

Tuesday, November 02, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] rises on the 19th.)

A customer brought to my register a bag of pigeon food. While checking him out, I asked what pigeons he would feed.

“My own. I raise them.”

That seemed dear to my heart. “I love pigeons! I live with a retired racing pigeon.”

The man smiled, “Retired pigeon?”

“Well, he’s a failed racer. He landed in a friend’s barn while racing across the state.”

“How’d anybody know he was a racer?”

“My friend traced his leg tags. They took him to a pigeon racing association… “

The man interrupted, “To the bird’s owner, and that owner didn’t want him.”

“Yes, exactly.”

He shook his head sadly, “The bird probably wasn’t tired and didn’t fail. More likely, he got off course and landed to reorient himself.” He sighed, I used to race pigeons, and that can happen, but isn’t a reason to discard a bird’s potential.”

My turn to nod, “Gilbert has taught me lots about pigeons. I think they’re super birds.

He smiled, “They’re also sweet birds.” He picked up the bag of food, “And they’re calming.” He paused, “Don’t you find them so?”

“Yes, I love their sounds.” He nodded and I couldn’t help adding, “But then, don’t forget molting seasons! Gilbert raises his wings and shakes feathers, by the billions, in all directions.”

We laughed. The man held up a hand, saluted slightly, and left the store.

That got me considering more about my bird. Gilbert mostly is quiet, but early in the mornings, like now as I write, his sounds provide a gentle background–not owl-like and hootie, they’re more like little rumbles.

That kind man was correct. Gilbert is a relaxing housemate.

*Pigeon is French for dove, both refer to a single bird type.

Dear Friends: Pigeons are gentle and accommodating, and small wonder often well-loved. Diana

Monday, November 01, 2021 (November’s fullest moon [“Beaver”] will rise on the 19th.)

This year’s Daylight Savings Time will end after this week. I consider that each evening while out feeding the horses. Already they’re entering feeding stalls at 5 p.m.. In another hour or so, it’s dark, and I’m on my way to release them. Soon, what’s now 5 p.m. will be 4 p.m. on the clock. Although earlier by clock, it’ll be darker.

All’s to say, I’ll be revising the horses’ feeding schedule to accommodate earlier darkness. On Standard Time, they’ll enter feeding stalls at 4 p.m., an hour earlier but still in near-darkness. In just weeks, the early 4 p.m. near-darkness will become a very-darkness.

My part-time-job’s varied working hours will interrupt planned 4 p.m. feedings. Working around that obstacle will mean accommodating to feeding times. Horses gotta eat, which leaves no choice but to work later in the barn.

Hey, c’est la vie.

For a horse ranch, even one small like mine, work is unending. The essential goal is keeping big animals healthy, by ensuring their good weights and exercising them appropriately.

This week begins with me planning for the upcoming time change. All week, I’ll be adjusting schedules for nearly everything on that ranch that regularly needs doing.

Dear Friends: Yet again, why oh why, can’t a single time be adopted for throughout 12 months! Diana

Sunday, October 31, 2021 (November’s full moon [“Beaver”] will rise on the 19th.)

Happy Halloween!

Where did October go? So quickly it passed, and trying to recall its days seems empty. Except that I managed to be hired again, and am working. Now in training, I’m learning to operate a modern cash register.

This current position is a job that once ranked several levels below my position in a large corporation. I used to train the supervisors of key subordinates responsible for managing front-line workers. Now, I myself am a front-liner, needing to memorize computer keys that don’t make sense to a writer. For example, my register’s asterisk key won’t create a reference or ellipsis, it opens a “return for credit” option.

I concentrate on trying to memorize the register keyboard. That’s helping to keep my brain vigorous, has me wondering less about my memory capabilities.

Moreover, I’m concentrating on not seeming “too smart”. Experience has taught me much about the challenges and best ways to manage various levels of teams and individuals. My now-role isn’t to criticize or suggest “better” ways, but to focus solely on interacting with customers, handling a keyboard, and knowing my scheduled work days and hours.

Recently, I found that sounding too-smart can feel threatening to a low-level supervisor. I had hoped to help educate a supervisor overseeing me, and instead, managed to alienate that person. I learned yet again that everybody gains new learning in individual ways, and few in lower management chains may be open to learning from someone who ranks lower.

I get it, and intend to keep my opinions private. Mouth’s shut!

Nearly all humans run into a key challenge of coping, that of needing to focus on staying within one’s prescribed role.

Dear Friends: Blogging is a challenge-off-setter, it lends opportunities “to hear” one’s inner-self. Diana