Wintery

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Our day with snow is history, and now the strong winds are visiting. And rainy days, too.

These are also shopping days. The department store where I work part-time has many customers inside, enjoying the beginning of Black Friday season. BF season will extend in our store to the day after Thanksgiving—the real Black Friday day. Theoretically, by then, merchandise would be well picked over, but since Christmas follows on BF’s heels, shelves will remain well-stocked.

I’m having fun at work among the season’s early shoppers, most of whom are in a good mood. They feel “ahead of the game” and are discovering preferable merchandise at discounted prices. Cold, wet, and windy weather helps businesses boom. People opting to be inside enhance the welfare of retailers by shopping.

In Central Oregon’s sharper weather, a comparatively large population opts instead to be outside. Many are skiers passionate about tackling the snow-packed Cascades. Others love treading deeply in the freezing landscapes to construct igloos and camp inside them.

Years ago, I opted to be outside more than inside during winter months. Almost daily (if temperatures weren’t under 30 degrees [so my fingers wouldn’t wholly freeze]), I rode on horseback. (Unshod horses find excellent footing in fresh snow and aren’t fazed by unexpected rain.) My dogs usually ran alongside and could stay with the action.

In inclement weather, horses and dogs are tolerant and hearty; they’re fabulous companions.

I have digressed again, this time from retail and Black Friday topics. Thinking about winter weather and enjoying pleasant memories made me do it.

Here’s one of my favorite images from past winters. My calm Sunni is in a snowstorm.

Dear Friends: Have a beautiful day. Diana

Early Snow

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

This season’s first snowfall with snow-sticking temperatures wasn’t cold enough to force me to stay inside my house, so I handled some waiting winterizing tasks. After lots of thinking about moving a few large containers of feed closer to my goat and my chickens, I finally did that. Containers beside their pen provide more efficient access to feeds, easing and quickening the daily feeding routines through colder and wetter months ahead.

In the afternoon, snow sightings captured my attention and distracted me from task mode. I was charmed by fresh white toppings on still-green plants and walkways and turned to photography.

Dear Friends: A lovely day with snow on the ground and a beautiful sky. Diana

Shifting Weather

Monday, November 18,, 2024

Yesterday, Central Oregon received a ground-covering snowfall in the late evening. That began while I was outside and just starting the routine of feeding my horses. Finally, when I could return to the house, the snowing was heavy. It made for dim sighting and covered my outerwear.

The horses were covered in snow, too. They eat in the open from hay nets hung from tree limbs. They’re not being blanketed because of their thick, fluffy winter coats. Their good coats usually carry them through the season. However, both horses are old, and I closely watch their weights. If my exploring hands start finding a protruding rib or body joint, I will blanket whichever horse it might be, or depending on overall conditions, blanket both.

Pimmy still has the barn to herself. Her hay is in an inside-hanging net; her coat is wintery-thick, and her weight is good.

I’m still leaving my dogs outside while I’m away at my part-time job. The weather will change that, however, when conditions demand keeping them inside. I plan to come home at lunchtime and let the dogs outside while I feed the horses. The dogs will stay inside again when I return to my job.

I really didn’t expect snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. That’s no longer usual as it used to be. Last year, our weather stayed mild until New Year’s Day. Then, conditions suddenly turned cold, and actually “colder than a well-digger’s arse,” staying as such until nearly mid-June.

Dear Friends: Making plans for coping well enough despite complicated conditions. Diana

As To Light

Sunday, November 17, 2024

The recent one-hour fall-back time change still confuses me. It’s about the light, stupid! There’s little daylight as I’m leaving my part-time job in the afternoons around four o’clock, and it’s dead-dark as I’m feeding my horses around five-thirty. Making matters worse, I sense it’s bedtime around seven o’clock.

None of that’s new; sudden light changes have happened again and again, year after year. I anticipate being equally confused about changing light months from now when we spring ahead. It’s a syndrome of “light angst” caused by manufactured conditions.

When did time-changing start?

It’s about daylight savings time (DST), turning back the clocks, first occurring in the U.S. in 1918, during World War I. The objective of extending daylight was to aid combat efforts. DST was repealed soon after that War, but revived during World War II and continued since.

Why do time changes continue?

Extending daylight into the evening theoretically reduces the need for artificial lighting and saves energy. Maximizing daylight hours was considered beneficial for productivity and military operations during wartime. Some arguments for extending daylight are how it assists with energy conservation, wartime efforts, economic benefits, and public safety.

Those favoring DST claim that extended daylight hours boost retail sales and outdoor recreational industries. Others claim that longer outdoor visibility reduces traffic accidents and crime rates.

In the continuing debate, what’s happening now?

DST is controversial, with ongoing debates about its benefits and drawbacks. Some (including me) argue that it disrupts sleep patterns and causes confusion. Some say those factors negatively impact health. Several American States have abolished DST, but most others continue to use it.

Aside from ongoing mega-talking, nothing indicates a reasonably soon ending to our semi-annual clock turnings.

Dear Friends: Anyway, earlier daylight lets me be outside now, feeding my horses. Diana

Dusting Off

Saturday, November 16, 2024

My brain is working now to overcome defeat. I can feel it transitioning into fighting mode.

I’ve been in fallout, depressed following the presidential election. It’s because of stress from learning how Trump’s Republicans are surrounding his presidency, from sensing the changes they may try to bring about in the future.

We who wanted Harris to win have joked about moving, to say, Canada, if she didn’t win. Of course, it’s no simple matter in real time to just up and move away. Besides, Canada nowadays also has broiling leadership issues.

In fact, it appears that Trump’s win has put many international leaders in turmoil.

I feel myself starting to think differently than moving away. I’m thinking about “fighting back” and something like this: “Now, we on the Left must show that we can hold onto our very human values solidly; we must demonstrate that we are tough and can gain more understanding of current needs to pivot, as needed, to reestablish and regain our Party’s strength.”

We, the unhappy, can’t simply pop up and leave America to avoid how today’s Republican Party might attempt (or succeed) to govern. We must again become active by reevaluating the current social, economic, and political landscapes. We must reidentify our Party’s goals and employ newer, more effective combative skills.

We can do it: “Get ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again.”

Dear Friends: We will regain the strength of shared human values for the common good. Diana

Snow Dream

Friday, November 15, 2024

I just realized that my schedule shows me arriving at work by 8:30 today. This must be an oversight, but in case it’s not, I must move quickly. There are lots to take care of before I can be on my way to work.

Last night’s full Beaver Moon, this year’s final Super Moon, was partially behind streaming clouds, a romantic, lovely sight. Unfortunately, a camera wasn’t handy, but seeing it is a pleasant memory.

I posted today’s header photo on FB yesterday. It’s of heavy snow here at home in 2014. That was back when we could always expect at least one significant snowfall here, beneath the Cascades, before Thanksgiving Day. The photo notes how much the local weather has changed; snows these days are more like random events.

I might have figured out how to keep my escape-keen dog confined inside the big open-top kennel with 6′ high fencing that he climbs and goes over instantly. On my next days off, I’ll work to adapt the fence and will photojournal to illustrate.

Dear Friends: With two weeks until Thanksgiving, maybe yet, a snowfall. Diana

Quickie

Thursday, November 14, 2024

This writing platform is behaving oddly again today. Experience has taught me that when WordPress isn’t stable, it will not likely save my drafts.

So, I will say “Good morning” and, for now, add ” Goodbye.” I’ll try to write again tomorrow morning.

Dear Friends: Have an enjoyable day of experiencing and learning. Diana

Woke Revisited

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

I am reading Bill Bryson’s The Body: A Guide for Occupants and Richard Dawkins’ The Genetic Book of the Dead: A Darwinian Reverie. These are making me very aware of being human at the genetic level.

Briefly defined, genes store and transmit information that guides an organism’s development and function. They don’t have brains or consciousness; however, they exhibit “intelligence” in how they respond to their environment and interact with each other. Genes can sense changes in their environment and adjust their activity accordingly to influence each other’s activity.

While absorbing genetic realities, I wish to comprehend the mechanisms that enable humans to self-perceive as individuals. I’m asking age-old questions about a “real reality” existing beyond whatever the genes sense, or in other words, is there “something real” outside ourselves?

It certainly seems that way and requires finding a beyond-the-gene-view.

A genetic perspective is limiting. It reduces our experience to biological mechanisms and doesn’t account for consciousness, emotions, or the subjective experience of being human. I wish to understand more about what creates the human realm of consciousness, awareness, and subjective experience.

The referenced books are easy reads and highly enjoyable. They are pushing questions about the existence of a reality beyond our physical perceptions. Ultimately, questioning “real reality” will prove to be deeply personal and philosophical, and there won’t be right or wrong answers.

I am an individual exploring. I might find myself forced to define my unique understanding of what constitutes “real reality.”

Dear Friends: I’ll keep reading and hopefully will gain more clarity. Diana

Quick

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Yesterday, this platform became unstable and destroyed a blog post I’d spent a long time writing. I was surprised, after not having been heartburned by WordPress in the last year. Around the time AI was erupting, WP’s often rocky platform seemed to stabilize.

To me, almost everything technological about the internet is mysterious. I can’t pinpoint why, when, or whatever regarding this writing platform’s behavior. I’m a simple user, and yesterday, I was angry to find my nearly-finished product disappearing–and was helpless. It was too late to recreate my blog.

Today, I’m a store opener in my part-time job and must soon leave for work. So, after explaining my absence yesterday, this is a quick hello today.

Dear Friends: Here in Central Oregon, this will be a lovely fall day. Diana

Early

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Today, I’m scheduled to help open the store where I work part-time. This is an early-to-work day.

A couple of notes:

Our store has a new top manager, and she’ll be great from all appearances. Fortunately, through the time our store lacked a top manager, its supporting management team was terrific, more than pulling its weight and keeping the sales personnel onboard and involved.

Next week, I will begin transitioning from my assigned role in the Fine Jewelry Department. I will be busier during working hours than Jewelry provides. The upcoming change will have me again working in general sales, assigned to various departments, and interacting with a wider variety of shoppers.

I must start getting ready to leave home and open Fine Jewelry.

Dear Friends: Either side of each day challenges me during the holidays. Diana