In Motion

Friday, March 01, 2024

March is blowing in and, no surprise, bringing new snow. Here in Central Oregon, we had a very mild winter that kept us dozing. We weren’t dreaming of a coming spring so harsh as this one. For weeks now, we’ve almost constantly battled snow–this is a tiring spring.

March is the transition month. We’ll return to DST, happy, happy! Then, natural light will linger longer. It’ll get warmer, drying the ground so it’s easier to walk in my “dry” lot. Finally, and joyfully, we who watch for greens will start seeing them pop.

Yesterday’s Leap Day was snowy and the department store where I work practically had no customers. Understandable, for in this weather I’d not have gone shopping myself.

I’ve been enjoying my part-time job, but working lots of hours, and I’m feeling a little burned out, especially while anticipating summertime. My chickens, responding to the changing season, are starting to lay. I’m responding to changes, too, starting to adjust my wishes.

I want lots of time to be out and smack in that coming sunlight. I want to refresh my horses’ dry lot and want to go horseback riding. I’m eager to take walks with my dogs and to photograph the waters starting to run and the springing greens.

Dear Friends: Seasonal transitions generate urges to rethink and reprioritize. Diana

From Time Immemorial

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Happy Leap Day!

I was having “the dickens of a time” recalling what Leap Years are all about. Soon, I began wondering what “dickens” may mean. I assumed it refers to Chas. whose stories contain worlds of woe and wonder. After some research, I learned that the origin isn’t that Dickens, because way prior Shakespeare had used the phrase.

It turns out the general assumption is that “dickens” originally was a euphemism for the word “Devil.” Back in the history of time, ‘What the Devil” or “the Devil take you” were very serious curses, however, in those very old days, “the dickens” could be freely used.

My mom often muttered, “What the dickens!” The phrase became woven into my learning DNA, and I have loved it. The words perfectly highlight my confusion and struggle to comprehend something complicated or make difficult choices.

Yesterday, somebody at work pointed out to me, that I “overthink things.” Well, maybe so, and maybe that prevents me from quickly processing some kinds of information. From one perspective, it’s a disability, and from another, an asset.

I overthink, indeed! Now, an equally famous phrase, “Face the music,” comes to mind. I am okay with processing thoughts slowly. That lets me separate the thought elements, turn each upside down and around, and examine it from various perspectives. Upon reweaving the elements, I wind up with a decent handle for taking them forward or dropping them.

Dear Friends: What the dickens–it’s snowing again! Enjoy this leap day. Diana

Ice Glass

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

This dawn is lighter, and it’s cold outside with winds moving tree branches. “Oh, wind, If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” (As a note, I love Percy Bysshe Shelly’s poem “Ode to the West Wind;” but its famous line evokes ongoing curiosity about: How can spring be “far behind”?)

Consider that an introduction to the header photo. It’s one of my more artistic captures. “Ice Glass and Shadow on Ice Blanket.”

While treading on the icy ground near the barn, I managed to tip over a little bowl. Something fell out looking like a partial glass. Made of ice, fragile and pretty, evoking potential and my imagination. My favorite view is the glassy form and its shadow on icy ground.

Now, balancing things by shifting from poetry and art; here’s my little Mitzvah.

Mitzvah doubts she will dare to climb all those steps to the loft where I’m running the Singer. Ultimately, sorry she was stuck on the scary steps, I went down and lifted my wannabe shadow, and carried her up to hang out beside me.

So, those are early thoughts ranging from the rare to the mundane. That sort of thinking will continue all day for self-amusement while I’m at work.

Dear Friends: Oh, where is the coming spring! Diana

Past “Magic”

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Long ago, in my career as a learning and development specialist, I designed employee training. My goal was to help various levels of employees understand better and embrace an organization’s goals, and work to achieve them.

Yesterday, I learned that the department store where I work as a part-time clerk must address some challenging goals. Meeting those goals calls for boosting the energy of front-line staff. When our store manager told me about this, my mind activated my training brain.

Last night, I drafted a couple of proposals to address some training-related challenges. For me, that was duck soup: I could create training and development routines in my sleep.

There’s a problem in modern organizations. They don’t offer in-person training and development activities. Companies today provide online goals and skills training. Although perhaps well-presented, hours on the receiving end of computer-generated training can turn learners into brain-dead, unabsorbing beings.

Today, I will take my training proposals to work. Hopefully, the Store’s management team will discuss the suggestions, and all or some will resonate. Improving ways of training staff would help line personnel more fully understand and focus on key goals, to achieve more of them.

Dear Friends: Regardless of the outcome, finding my mojo again is fun. Diana

Music! Moon!

Monday, February 26, 2023

My friend, Julie, joined me at yesterday’s concert by the High Desert Chamber Orchestra. An excellent event. The Chamber Orchestra is perfectly sized for playing and being heard optimally in Bend High’s large auditorium. The Orchestra’s active community support group provides free tickets to concerts with a first-rate program guide detailing musical choices, composers, and guest performers.

An audience of all ages packed the house; nobody made a peep through the performances. The house exploded, however, at each segment finish, with vigorous applause and appreciative cheering. Well deserved by the ensemble!

Its maestro, an accomplished, animated conductor (on whom Bradley Cooper as Bernstein has nothing), encouraged and supported excellence from musicians and guest artists. All guest performers were young and also very accomplished. The double-bass soloist and the viola soloist adroitly handled complex compositions highlighting their instruments. A ten-year-old piano wunderkind perfectly played Tchaikovsky on a concert grand.

Yes, there was “the dress” that, several weeks ago, its wearer purchased over my counter. Yesterday, she wore it while narrating DeFalla’s “Three-Cornered Hat.” I didn’t know that very familiar music has narration; the words and music worked together well. The very active piece draws the audience’s attention to all onstage sections. Drums work almost constantly, brasses stay busy, and strings, including a harpist and pianist, go nearly non-stop.

Last night, a nightcap, as the completely full Snow Moon visibly rose and moved upward in and out through scattered clouds. My view became today’s header photo. I hoped to explore AI and enhance my capture, but other unrelated “evening needs” sidetracked me.

Dear Friends: I will become a season ticket holder for these fine musicians. Diana

Agenda

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Today will be my first time attending a performance by the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra. This event will be more delightful because the group will perform a woman’s composition, by the Nineteenth-Century French Composer Louise Farrenc. The piece is her Concert Overture No. 2.

I’m eager to become acquainted with this highly praised chamber group. Besides, the concert today represents double fun for me. A talented person will narrate today’s performance and she’ll be wearing an elegant, fancy gown. She purchased it at my register and was excited, talking about the concert and performance group.

A huge perk in my job–operating cash registers in one of this little city’s few large department stores–is meeting interesting people. The area’s population has grown by leaps and bounds and new residents seem to hail from Everywhere! I have fun learning about people’s backgrounds and activities, and best, am feeling more integrated with this area’s growth and potential.

Dear Friends: Today, a concert and the gown, and this evening, a full Snow Moon! Diana

Soon, Snow Moon

Saturday, February 24, 2024

“Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning!” Except when the moon is filling to its uppermost and setting over west before dawn, and is visible from my deck. Today, I sat on the deck in a comfy chair drinking my coffee and watching that moon’s hopeful brightness. It moved quickly as I considered my plans for today and linked them to tomorrow’s. I thought about ways that whatever’s ahead links to happenings yesterday and earlier.

I have learned that allowing myself to enter a state of “moon-watching beauty” is awesome. Our little planet’s huge physicality, so far away and always dependably on schedule, is reassuring. These modern times are turbulent and worrisome. Giving oneself a few vegged-out-sort of minutes to watch the moon while reflecting on whatever’s on one’s mind is comforting.

Tomorrow, our February “Snow Moon” will rise and set and be at its fullest. Enjoy and be thoughtful, even if its moments in your sphere exist only while you’re driving home from work. When that happens to me, it’s a kind of treasure that I remember fondly: an friendly overhead presence with a guiding light.

Dear Friends: I’ll be with a camera and tripod, hoping for good images. Diana

Seasonals

Friday, February 23, 2024

Yesterday was summerlike in Central Oregon and that felt good, but there wasn’t enough sun to dry the deep and slushy muck around a gate where my horses hang out, anticipating me showing up and bringing hay. They hang out and wait, increasing the slush and forcing me into knee-high rubber boots to deliver hay. My boots are tall, but the sucking slush sucks nearly pulls them off.

February’s fullest moon is approaching and I awakened this morning as the almost full version was setting in the west. I took a camera outside and snapped away.

The setting photo I most wanted was that moon with its little cloud hat. This image is unclear, but you’ll get the vision.

My new tripod has arrived. I’ll try it out in real time on Sunday with the moon being at its fullest.

Here’s hoping this great weather holds out and keeps the sky clear for good nighttime captures. I’m seeing some warnings about a sudden deep temperature drop coming, but if the sky remains clear, that coming full moon should be a great photo op.

Dear Friends: Its morning settings are exciting, a wonderful first sight of the day. Diana

Sew-Ups

Thursday, February 22, 2024

I am always searching for the “right towels” for after-showering. The easily available plush, lush, and oversized towels are beautiful, but their soft fibers simply move water dampness around. I search among towel stacks that I stumble on for a type that immediately best absorbs water. That has existed, for I have such a towel.

This good towel has been with me for years, does its job perfectly, and has become irreplaceable. I bought several of “it” long ago–cheap towels–when I was starting out on my own with very little money. Over time, some of those first towels became ragged and got tossed, or became lost, or whatever. Now, I find myself left with just a single really likable one.

In wintertime especially, stepping while still wet from a shower compartment can kind of freeze a body. When sudden colder air hits, there’s less discomfort if a “good towel” has done its work before one leaves the stall.

Yesterday, I was a checkout clerk in the Home Department. That Store stocks new towels for sale in plush and beautiful stacks. I went around feeling fabrics between my fingers, and no surprises, every towel felt too soft to do good work.

I might be an anomaly because yesterday many customers bought those plush, soft towels. Some even raved about the beauty and wonder of soft towels. I did my job by agreeing with them, finally recognizing that it’s high sales of plush that prevent finding rougher towels that (to me) absorb better.

I might have to create “good towels” on my own. There might be available toweling fabrics of various densities and different thread types. I’ll start researching and learn what’s possible. Maybe I could become a self-starter towel builder.

Dear Friends: Someday, I’ll share my ideas for improving bra designs. Diana

Western Horizon

Wednesday, February 21, 2023

Around now, each February, I’m eager to see pauses in the dim and snowy atmosphere. I want clear sights of the Cascades peaks. Last week, one day was perfect for capturing the Middle and North Sisters. In the header photo, they’re snow-covered and gorgeously vivid.

Here’s what things looked like before the sky cleared and made those peaks visible. It’s an annual drama this time of year and often what I see.

I know there are Cascade peaks in that mist, and start watching for an opportunity to make an optimal capture. A clear photo represents a double win for also hinting of more favorable weather coming for those who don’t ski.

Extending the perspective a little are Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top.

There’s more because between the Broken Top and Middle Sister, a South Sister still is hidden from my camera.

Dear Friends: I “heart” alike clear images and the approaching warmth. Diana