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

Wednesday, October 06, 2011— October’s fullest moon (“Hunter’s”) will rise on the 20th.

It’s official, I’m newly employed, part-time in Wilco, this city’s only remaining farm-oriented, walk-in source for feed & supplies. Thankfully, this growing store will be around awhile, and I’ll happily be part of its activities.

Today is my first working day. It’ll center mostly on becoming oriented to the store. My regular work will be as cashier, probably on weekends. If you’re in the store, I can help you check out! Whether you’re shopping or just looking around, be sure to say hello.

I’m rearranging my early morning activities. I’ll continue blogging, but they may be brief until I have a clear and workable routine.

Dear Friends: Periodically, among like-minded others who enjoy plants and animals . Diana

Tuesday, October 05, 2011— October’s fullest moon (“Hunter’s”) will rise on the 20th.

My long-time friend, Linda, sent an article from “The Atlantic”, by Marina Koren, “space writer” for the magazine. Her article, entitled, “The Moon Is Leaving Us”, is subtitled, “And we can’t stop it.” Koren combines scientific observations with her sky-watching sense.

She writes how gravity’s unstoppable forces make the moon drift away inch-by-inch and mega-slowly separate from the earth. Over eons this has happened because our small moon has gravity that thus tugs at its planets. Our ocean-covered planet responds in a shifting of tides.

The moon pulling at oceans forces oceans to pull back. The oceans then make the moon’s orbit speed-up, and so it orbits farther away. Scientists call that distancing, “lunar retreat”. They can measure distancing, and have determined that since time immemorial our moon continually has drifted away.

I’m a relative newcomer to moon technologies, interested to know more about Earth’s relationship to the wonderful small planet that lights the nighttime skies. Scientists find that over more millions of years, the moon will become farther, and thus, much smaller, having many effects on Earth, including greater heat and shorter daylights.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/09/moon-moving-away-earth/620254/

Dear Friends: Constant, tiny, incremental shifts, in a mysterious outer world. Diana

Monday, October 04, 2011— October’s fullest moon (“Hunter’s”) will rise on the 20th.

I’d prefer to keep hitching and driving my horses through this beautiful month, but today our farrier will pull their shoes. Going forward, maybe I’ll have less time to drive, and an unshod horse shouldn’t pull a vehicle. Pulling requires heavy traction that wears-down bare hooves.

We began driving later than optimal this spring, because I had mixed feelings and hesitated for too long. The year before, through the pandemic’s worse months, I rode horseback and enjoyed it. Wanted to do that also this spring, because after a couple of years without driving lessons, I less felt motivated to harness and drive.

Shoeing them this summer was a plunge that began the driving. I actually remembered all the harness parts, and the correct sequences for fitting them onto a horse and removing them. Almost immediately on holding driving reins, I had a sense of how properly to handle them. Best, the horses remembered their jobs.

It’s fun to drive wonderful horses and maintain their excellent conditioning. Regular workouts, on roads and in our dry lot, have stabilized appropriate muscling and weight. Hard exercise lets them graze most afternoons on the sugary grass in my neighbor’s pasture.

Dear Friends: Bye-bye to shoes, howdy to saddles, and anticipating next spring. Diana

Sunday, October 03, 2011— October’s fullest moon (“Hunter’s”) will rise on the 20th.

I measure the speed of passing days by the brief time between one trash pickup day and the next in a week. I seem barely to turn around before it’s time to haul out trash barrels again.

Today begins a new week. It’s when I begin imagining how quickly the next trash day will arrive. They say aging, which accustoms us greatly to normal routines, makes time feel shorter.

My current thoughts about passing time’s ups and downs is because I’m suffering through a dragging time notch. Something new in my atmosphere pounds against my perception of time.

Recently I accepted an offer for part-time work, which made me start anticipating. But the offer isn’t final until after a background check. These waiting hours drag. With less than instant full gratification, passing time equals teeth-grinding. It’s weird, that on one hand I’m busy with time seeming too short, and on the other, anticipating with time lagging and dragging.

Yesterday, I wrote about the sport of freediving and later watched freediving videos. Personally, I’d never freedive, but it’s a sport with near-magical appeal. Consider three minutes of activity that’s all-encompassing, that consumes every fiber of ones being. The action sans breathing lasts 120 seconds, and for a swimmer feels absolutely concrete, finite, real, and meaningful.

I enjoy considering time as having actual meaning. Meaningful time offsets a sense of “taking too long, and “might go wrong”. Meaningful time poo-poos too slow, above-water “three minutes of waiting without breathing”. These ideas bolster me through this time notch.

Dear Friends: The two A’s, anticipating and anxious, interfere with wholeness. Diana