Gerald Re-Do

Monday, March 18, 2024

My puppy, Chase, is turning two years old and is still a handful. I adopted the then adorable eight-week-old in a whimsical moment that, on reflection, was more like craziness. After a few first weeks of purely cute ‘n cuddly, Chase began to evolve into what became a nearly unending handful.

He soon started to Boing (remember Gerald?), easily making high leaps that hoisted him upward and onto any fencing. There, his toes found grips, and Chase simply climbed and escaped. I spent many weeks adjusting my six-foot fence into anti-escape corralling.

The ever-growing Chase (Rottweiler/Shephard mix) became heavier, remained very muscular, and continued his boinging. So far, my corralling has reduced his successes. Once foiled, Chase turned to digging. With the high energy and determination letting him leap, Chase up-earths spots throughout a fenced half-acre. I cautiously tread there to avoid holes.

These days, Chase escapes through holes under the fencing. In sudden freedoms, the one place Chase knows to go is to our neighbor’s. There, so far, and luckily, Frank leashes and brings Chase home. After each escape, I haul as many rocks and heavy junk as possible to set alongside the fence, anti-escaping material.

In the past couple of months, Chase has had to cope with frozen earth, slowing his digging. Now warmer days make me start looking again for what he’ll do next.

As he approached turning a year old, I seriously planned to rehome Chase. He seemed very adoptable–was lovely in temperament, super-smart, and a devoted buddy. Interrupting my intention was knowing the great efforts needed to contain him. I doubted others would have enough patience and resources to ensure his safety.

So, he’s still here, and I’m more hopeful. FB postings and my readings in general teach that there’s a “magic time.” It’s when a dog turns three years old and settles, finally, into maturity. I keep reminding myself that Chase’s maturity is only one year away. If I remain patient, all signs point to him being a perfect companion by then.

Dear Friends: He’s an anomaly; otherwise, none of us would do any puppy-raising. Diana

Tipping The Scales

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

Yesterday, I was assigned to the fancy dress area in the large department store where I work part-time. We stayed busy helping folks and checking out dressy items for those with big plans on this day. Typically, we in retail assist many who wait until the “last minute” before rushing out to find special-event clothing. Yesterday, many of our customers tried on lots of clothing. We were hurrying back and forth, doing lots of rehanging.

One customer surprised me by pointing to a dress and saying, “Isn’t that a snake print?” I turned and looked at the dress’s mottled pattern, which I liked but confused me. We moved closer and examined the fabric. She was correct, and the pattern was “snake.” The woman suddenly pointed to my blouse and said, “You’re wearing a snake pattern!” I looked down, shocked to see my blouse closely matching the snake dress.

This blouse! For a long time, I had wondered about its mottled pattern, which I liked and didn’t. As usual, I was reminded that discoveries mostly come from living and learning. Now understanding the fabric, I suddenly felt a genuine affection for my snake blouse and pride in wearing it. At that moment, too, my customer, loving that snake dress decided to take it home.

Later, while checking out another customer’s selections of very expensive clothing, I asked if she was preparing for an occasion. She said she’s soon going to Indonesia to attend a conference on wildlife biology; she is a career biologist and studies amphibians. I told her about seeing a partially albino Robin and wondering why it steadily followed a normal-colored and unusually fat Robin. My customer’s take made more sense than my assumption yesterday that the albino was a fledging.

She pointed out that, in fact, it’s now the spring mating season. Maybe that’s why the albino was following the bigger bird. It also suggests that the fat Robin was full of eggs.

Dear Friends: Mundane workdays may offer learning opportunities. Diana

What’s That!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The other day, I spotted a partially albino Robin standing quietly on the ground near a fat Robin I’d seen the previous day and had paused, wondering why that Robin was so fat. When Fat Robin spotted me on this day, it didn’t fly but started hopping away. To my surprise and curiosity, the albino immediately followed the bigger bird, tenaciously. The two hopped away in ever-larger curves into the distance. Maybe that albino was a fledgling, still somewhat dependent on its mom or pop.

I love birds and enjoy watching Robins, which I consider the “Border Collies of birds,” stalking and rounding up worms. Thousands of Robins thrive here annually, with more in the summertime and fewer in the wintertime. I’ve never seen an albino Robin before.

This year, to my surprise, area bird photographers had mentioned albino Robins in my FB feed and even posted a photo or two. So, fortunately, I was slightly informed, but nonetheless, a bit shocked to see the albino Robin.

Since then, I have waited, hopefully, for a reappearance of the fat bird and/or its companion, but so far, no dice. That instant in time confirmed my recent learning, that it’s true. Albino Robins do exist, and are active in this area, at least for now.

Some research informs me that an albino’s unusual coloration is due to a lack of pigments. Ornithologists call the albino condition “leucistic” and say the key, most lacking pigment is melanin.

Dear Friends: We might think we know it all until we learn (again!) that we don’t. Diana

Transforming

Friday, March 15, 2024

I am watching the rising sun, my eyesight protected by several big trees that splinter and diffuse the brightness. Yesterday was a warm, light-jacket day. Predictions are that today will become even warmer with tomorrow bringing more of the same. This spring’s early weeks of heavy snows and freezing rains have us primed to greet warmer weather joyously.

Spring’s arrival is powerful for sure. I am sensing these brighter and warmer days increasing my optimism and making my outlook more positive. The changes are heightening my mood and energy levels; I’m eager to go outdoors and play, to go enjoying the changing scenery.

The changes influence even more by heightening a common sense of community. Sure, we’re still in pre-spring, but many folks have begun speaking about new excitement and expressing hope for a future that’s less confounding. It’s doubtful that these changing spring attitudes arise from any physical phenomenon, but for sure, they do exist–culturally and psychologically–and are very welcome.

Dear Friends: By now, the sun fully is up, and a bright world invites us outside. Diana

Pi In Yr Eye

Thursday, March 14, 2024

This is Pi Day, an annual celebration of π. As a logical association, it’s also A. Einstein’s birthday.

Pi Day is a recurring reminder of my attempts over many years to grasp mathematics beyond its fundamental elements. I’ve studied (it feels like in classrooms ad infinitum) to learn higher math. What’s weird is that while learning, I “get it.” For example, I survived Statistics and earned an A. But weeks later, couldn’t recall about stats enough to continue working with them.

After attempting to learn in various mathematical areas, I discovered that my math problems aren’t from “not learning.” They’re from “not retaining.” That’s odd, for my memory is generally good.

I’ve appreciated and, while learning, enjoyed math. I wonder what’s driven me to remain challenged by a subject area too difficult while ignoring areas of learning easier for me to grasp. I’ve decided it might be from an element in human nature that’s maybe related to survival mechanisms. Perhaps some of “what comes easy” gets set aside by an essential need to overcome “what’s more difficult.”

Anyway, have a happy π Day.

Dear Friends: Always this day re-invites thoughts of learning vs. non-learning. Diana

A Moon Mood

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Yesterday evening, after driving up my driveway and reaching its top, I saw the moon, a mere sliver of its fullest self and crystal clear among many dark clouds. I felt instantly attracted to that sliver, sensed it as free-floating, and wanted a photo. I hurried into the house to become organized, get equipped with a camera, and hurry outside again. By then, the sky was full of dark clouds obscuring the light sliver.

I walked around while looking skyward to glimpse even a tiny bit of light. It was a no-dice situation that denied any possible hint of a moon presence. I couldn’t just give up, and so wondered why I’d been compellingly drawn to that sliver.

As a personal baseline, I love full moons. From earliest human history, they have affected all beings’ senses of emotion, intuition, and growth. Humans have latched onto the times of full moons to conduct rituals, release energies, and renew beginnings. The sliver moons might influence humans more subtly. Last night’s sliver seemed to encourage me toward introspection, internal growth, and maybe seed-planting for future endeavors.

There’s evidence that the moon’s phases influence all living beings. In humans, full moon periods align with our physical activities and emotions—external and internal. We are also influenced by slivers, constantly changing by waxing and waning.

Waxing crescent moons (sliver growing) encourage beings into modes of excitement and anticipation; waning crescent moons (sliver shrinking) encourage beings into modes of internalization and reflection.

I’ll add that any perceived powers of moon phases aren’t scientific. There are common perceptions (including mine) that draw from long-time observations of cultures and traditions.

Dear Friends: Today’s header photo is from the internet. Diana

Enlightenment

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Yesterday was rainy, and this morning is foggy. The afternoon drizzle began when I was in Costco’s parking area, transferring a month’s worth of supplies from my shopping cart into the Jeep. I shielded several of the more vulnerable items against that misty air and cool dampness but got everything loaded, slammed the trunk shut, and headed home. I unloaded there, thankful for having completed the shopping and getting everything home, mostly dry.

The current changes, both to daylight savings time and the visible start of spring, are mood-boosters–and also a little disorienting. I’m surprised to sense that some “routine things” are slightly out of whack. For example, yesterday evening, I found myself adjusting as the sun dipped low, but daylight still lingered. It seemed forever since I had fed horses without needing a headlamp or flashlight. I can become accustomed to longer, lighter days and routine chores becoming more effortless. Welcome changes!

I try to understand better the ways routine light and time changes affect us. I’ve learned that decreasing daylight encourages our bodies to produce more melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness. That makes us feel more sluggish during shorter winter days. In contrast, longer spring daylights decrease our melatonin production and make us feel more energetic.

It’s a cold and gloomy spring day outside. I must get ready to go to work.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this welcome transition, ahead of all bright and warm. Diana

Pot Stirring

Monday, March 11, 2024

The fate of day traders is making money or losing money—either or both. Today’s market is losing, falling quick as hot stones leaving bare hands. These are turbulent (AI) times, and stock picking is a wild play-escapade: place bets on a few horses and watch ’em go! A fun ride when potential losses are affordable.

During our lifetimes, we gamble constantly; our choices can make us happy, or less so, or ugg, leave us not at all. Reflecting backward, I find that major life events have evolved from a series of small choices. The smalls that accumulated eventually offered major choices.

Being clear-headed about the pros and cons of making decisions is essential. An advantage of aging is having experienced many decision pitfalls, failures, and successes. Those experiences help with understanding more decision elements that require full consideration.

It feels like I’m always trying to decide something; it could be as simple as what’s for dinner. Decisions, decisions. The bigger decisions, like riding on the stock market, force our emotions swiftly upward and downward. On the bottom line, we’re rarely certain about any decision outcome. We’re placing our bets and going for whatever may happen next.

Dear Friends: Trading, gambling, and deciding–one-pot stirs. Diana

Changes

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Finally, I understand why I’m writing this blog later than the unofficial, typical timeline. You’ll be guessing right: I forgot to change my clocks. Not really, because only two don’t change themselves, and so I think little about time changes. Today, however, I emerged from beneath my comfy comforter wondering why it was so late. I wandered through the house, befuddled by the too-bright early daylight. Finally, cranking up my computer reminded me of DST.

That means I’ll be late for work unless I start moving quickly. I’ll pause to share a bit of fun. On Friday, the department store where I work hosted its annual employee recognition event. I couldn’t attend because I had to stay home with a crew fixing a serious furnace issue.

Throughout last week, the department store’s employees cast private votes identifying employees they considered the best in various categories. Yesterday, I showed up to work and learned I’d been very narrowly beaten for “best dressed” by a long-time employee who’s won year after year. To be fair, she always dresses fashionably and she deserved to win. Everyone, including her, enjoyed that she had serious competition for the first time.

I especially feel this way because working in retail clothing has returned me to fashion. That’s what I hoped for after years of riding horseback and wearing rags. Last summer, I attended an event where I didn’t have the “right clothing.” I was unsure about how to improve my wardrobe, felt out of touch, and didn’t know what looks are in fashion or where to find help.

I decided to search for work in retail clothing, to learn. It happened I chose the right place. The company’s motto, Own Your Style, inspires and invigorates me. I examined women’s clothing racks, decided what I liked, and before long, bought pieces of clothing. In that workplace, I started practicing wearing them.

It’s important to feel comfortable in one’s clothing, and practicing has helped me get used to being in my choices. I’m not trying to be a fashion plate; I simply wish to learn how to mix and match contemporary pieces. The playing has brought encouraging feedback from coworkers and customers, and to my surprise, earned those fun votes.

I’m glad that my coworker won again; I’m also pleased to be voted a nearly as good dresser at work. The upside of this story is that I have appropriate wearables for most occasions. Unfortunately, it also has a downside; after months of working, I’ve brought home little money.

Dear Friends: I’m still recognizable for continuing to wear beloved rags otherwise. Diana

Spring Rushes

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Yesterday, a crew arrived at my home to install a new furnace, replacing a “broken system.” The new heater is working well and is less noisy. My failed furnace was a big issue for occurring and lasting throughout weeks of bitterly cold weather. Now, my home heating problems are history, and other repairs are ahead.

Well, I’ll think about them tomorrow. If the weather is warming, I must crank the tractor and drive into the horses’ dry lot to clean the area. These weeks of nearly unending snow and ice have prevented safe tractoring. Harsh weather and the constant presence of horses have made the space muddy, sloppy, and stinky.

Best now, don’t let me start talking about more cleaning needs, those at my chicken coop. Sweet little beasts are just doing their thing, happily greeting me as I enter their area, and without any complainers in the bunch, except for maybe my two roosters, sounding off and unclear whether they’re greeting me or challenging each other.

Anyway, my coop mess resembles that dry lot mess. Also, don’t let me get started about my puppy’s sheer determination to dig himself out of the yard. I have fortified my dog fence with all the items I found that I could grab and move. Those include tree stumps, lava rocks, paving stones, and concrete blocks. Somebody suggested laying pallets outside, along the fence line, and I’m leaning toward that.

Dear Friends: Resolving one problem releases waiting others to rush. Diana