Tuesday, October 09, 2023

I’ve become highly aware of retail theft, a massive problem that worsened with the Pandemic and continues. It’s a serious topic among Home Depot managers where I work. Theft awareness always is visible in the many for-sale items that are caged and locked. Current newspapers name key businesses that have moved or are moving from downtown locations, to combat high theft. Major retailers listed on the stock market report significant income losses from theft. Many brick-and-mortar sellers are fighting back by beefing up their online businesses.

I am at least somewhat informed, nonetheless, my jaw dropped recently when newspapers reported that last year’s retail losses from theft totaled 112 trillion dollars. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a front-page story explaining how, over time, Home Depot helped authorities bring down a major theft-and-resell ring. The thieves and their disposal of gains had been active for ten years.

That ring leader ran a church charity organization, and on the side paid thousands of dollars to groups of thieves. They worked for him throughout the U.S. providing stolen goods. He in turn sold the stolen articles on eBay. EBay suspected him of selling stolen merchandise but couldn’t move on an assumption. Home Depot’s 2200+ locations have cameras; they made a difference by gathering enough information to launch and assist a police investigation. The story is a fascinating read.

I can’t provide a link because the Journal will require readers to subscribe. However, the story is available in many forms for searching online.

Dear Friends: How many rings are needed for thefts amounting to $112T? Diana

Monday, October 09, 2023

After three days away from my part-time job and doing property work, today’s return to work will be my relief from physical labor. I worked setting fence posts, moving large rocks, hauling discarded old concrete to the dump, and in the evenings fell exhausted into bed. Those hard-earned accomplishments are visible, and so are the differences they made.

Our gorgeous Indian Summer has held on, but there’s a warning that it might rain this week and could start this afternoon. On returning home from work, I’ll tarp anything with an engine that must stand outside. I’m optimistic that our nice weather will continue a while longer, but it’s impossible to count on old weather patterns holding. Last autumn, very early and following many days of Indian Summer, suddenly freezing and snow occurred. Winter’s hit lasted and didn’t let up.

I remember clearly, for not preparing early for a weather change. Many problems confronting me were frozen horse watering troughs, broken guttering, and non-operative snow blowers. Unlike years ago when we could count on the weather changing about a week before Thanksgiving. That’s when we could anticipate the first snow. Now, regarding weather, what changes and when they might happen are up for grabs.

Dear Friends: Okay, let’s start this day, this week, and see what the weather brings. Diana

Sunday, October 08, 2023

It’s one of the funniest sightings in Home Depot. This guy leads a large pit bull and following them, scampering loosely at full speed, a teacup Chihuahua. The guy says he was in Mexico a couple of weeks ago and on a street corner found some people with a basketful of tiny puppies. He brought home this eight-week-old ball of fire.

She couldn’t weigh over a pound, and she’s incredibly cute. Typically, Chihuahuas grow to weigh between three and six pounds, but a mature Teacup usually tops at three pounds.

Here, she’s saying hello to me.

Already, I have enough dogs, and in fact, too many, but suddenly, I want another–a teacup Chihuahua!

The guy explains that Hank, his six-year-old, and calm Pit Bull, tolerates Tachita well. All my dogs would like her, too.

A year and a half ago, I adopted eight-week-old Chase, an adorable puppy that I expected to blossom into a small dog. His rescuer reassured me that he’d remain tiny. Right then, I should have paused and done some homework, for Chase has grown into a muscular mix of Rottweiler/GSD/&etc.

Months ago, a customer in HD asked me, “What would people be without dogs?” I often find myself reflecting on that, and am gobsmacked while imagining us without pets.

Dear Friends: In this gorgeous weather, have a wonderful day. Diana

Saturday, October 07, 2023

Around midnight, after giving the dogs a few minutes of outside time, I could not return to sleep. I laid awake and tried everything; I counted sheep, made lists, and planned ahead. Nothing worked. Finally, I just got up and went to read the morning papers. Now, as this day dawns, I am sleepy.

My easy-to-feed donkey, Pimmy, has never refused any treats until now. She recently was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease and now must take two medications. She hates both, and I hate them, too. Trying to give something to a donkey that the animal doesn’t want is miserable. She has always adored offered apples, but after accepting a slice with a pill buried in it, now refuses to touch another apple.

One of her meds is a powder, and I must learn how to administer it. My starting technique has been to dissolve the powder and a bit of warm water in a syringe, to which I add some yogurt and drops of pancake syrup and shake the mixture. As with the pill, she’s caught on and turns away. When I hold her head and just squirt the mixture into her mouth, much of the liquid (and powder!) winds up on the ground.

In a month or so, after a bloodwork recheck, medicating the twice-daily powder will cease. But, for the rest of Pimmy’s life, the evil-tasting daily pill must continue. Oy very.

I will add that Pimmy is about twenty years old. Healthy donks can last into their forties.

Dear Friends: Now, I’m off to mix her morning brew; wishing I could hop into bed. Diana

Friday, October 06, 2023

Peggy Noonan used to be a key speechwriter for President Reagan and afterward became an editorial columnist for the WSJ. She’s an excellent writer and I often read her columns, viewing her as a thoughtful (“thinking”) conservative. Today, her column seemed extra surprising.

She is distraught over the House Republicans for having ousted Speaker McCarthy and apparently declining into chaos. She declares that today’s House Republicans desperately need a rational, very strong leader, and she specified “a Nancy Pelosi.”

I agree with her and will opine further. To me, in modern years, two American women particularly have demonstrated great bravery and redefined perceptions of excellent public service, thoughtfulness, and leadership. They are Ms. Pelosi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In these years, American political perspectives greatly conflict; and that affects even my little daily choices. For example, I keep resisting wearing my favorite pair of socks, each sock boasting a clear image of Ginsburg’s face over her favorite lace collar and Court cloak. My socks represent a political perspective that could make me a target of the many bullies that still roam, way beyond those serving in our House of Representatives.

Hindsight is great, but we wonder if McCarthy’s resignation was his best or correct choice. Regardless, it’s left chaos, which anyway had been poised to erupt. We can only hold our collective breath and hope for a reasonable outcome, and we must plan to vote!

Dear Friends: It’s less about creating balance than pleasing mega-cash sources. Diana

Thursday, October 05, 2023

I am surprised to find myself enjoying the work I’m doing with concrete. All I’ve done so far is to mix and fill post holes, but I’m interested in more using the flexible material, and even becoming creative. Those thoughts have me watching how-to videos showing concrete mixing techniques and projects. I’d need to ramp up some mega courage before tackling a bigger-than-post-hole project. There are chances of a novice making construction errors, and dried concrete can’t simply be erased.

I’ve found while fixing broken fence posts that the hardest part of repairing is to haul from a hole in the ground the broken post bottom totally encased in old concrete. If I manage to get the post-bottom and concrete from the ground, there are more cumbersome steps ahead, to rid the property of an unsightly and heavy chunk of trash.

Concrete holds great attraction. When used correctly it’s very flexible in wet form, and very sturdy once it dries. As a beginner in this type of construction, I sense the potential of becoming creative with concrete. There’s so much to learn, and I’ll be on it.

Dear Friends: Today, another early-in to work, so it’s goodbye for now. Diana

Wednesday, October 04, 2023

The days are getting shorter, and my chickens are laying less. After gathering some fifteen eggs daily throughout summer I’m now finding only six or seven. Fewer eggs seemed a relief as summertime production was larger than I could handle for lacking an adequate egg storage facility. I busily searched for egg-takers, after learning that thinking about discarding excess fresh eggs goes deeply against my grain.

It’s because my flock consists of twenty chickens, a bit crazy without others at home to help consume lots of eggs. Also, I don’t cook much. However, I enjoy the chickens themselves–their unique personalities and reasonable smarts. Best, I love that my days start with poaching a freshly laid egg and enjoying it on toast.

I gathered my flock while working at a local farm supply. I was its “baby chick seller” and was great in that role, encouraging many first-timers to start flocks. However, I discovered my weakness of caring too much, and so adopted nearly every infant in the chick sick tank. Most of those adoptees survived–winding me up with twenty birds.

Two were roosters, and early on, the dominant roo threatened and chased the lesser. They finally have worked out a separation that’s held. The lesser stays over on the coop’s far side, away from the dominant, and the hens travel to and fro in enough numbers to keep both boys happy.

If there’s a “next time” flock, this will be what’s different. I’d adopt only chicks labeled “sex links” because they’re bred to have gender-specific colors. Thus, my all-hen dream flock would always be fully feathered, beautiful, and productive.

Dear Friends: Chickens are smart and handled with care, they will trust and learn. Diana

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

I’m waiting for a cup to become filled with coffee and looking through a kitchen window at my favorite satellite. I am astonished again, at myself, for feeling fond of that which isn’t a natural star or moon but a people-made satellite. In my heart, in these early mornings, I’d love to see a natural sky element, having it be as bright and equally as in place, and as steady as this satellite.

Daily, I spend moments gazing at that easy-to-locate satellite; it’s my morning buddy. From way up there, it shines clearly, easily is sighted, and reassuring in an always-position. That satellite is a continuous factor, it’s dependable and unchanging. Those are pleasing to sense nowadays when such attributes lean unsteadily.

Dear Friends: It’s another early to-work morning, and I must be off. Diana

Monday, October 02, 2023

Yesterday, I spent the day working on my horse fence. I set two new posts using this recipe: (1) dig a hole, (2) add gravel and a concrete form, (3) measure for a post height, (4) cut the post, (5) set the post and attach to the top rail, (6) mix concrete in a wheelbarrow, and (7) fill the form with concrete. Finally, leave and let the concrete mix harden.

Yes, it’s all physical labor and more than I’m accustomed to doing. But I have learned how to do the work, and especially know that it’s doable by me. That frees me from finding and hiring workers to repair my horse fence, which is under constant pressure from the big animals.

That evening, I fell into an easy chair and streamed a couple of movies from Amazon Prime. That surprised me as I’ve not sat watching a movie in many months. Also, it was unusual that I decided to choose the light comedies: “Ticket to Paradise” and “Eighty for Brady.”

I’m no fan of light (or “romantic”) comedies, but in these had experienced and capable actors making them attractive, and indeed they were. In their roles, I enjoyed Clooney and Roberts using silence and facial expressions, as well as being capably physical. In the “Brady” movie, each actor understood how to handle her character; as an ensemble, they delivered laugh-out-loud moments.

Also interesting is that Clooney and Roberts produced their “Ticket” movie, and Tom Brady produced the other. And that both movies employed the talents of great actors. Hollywood’s processes of funding and making movies are very complicated, and going forward, Hollywood’s current strikes’ outcomes likely will boot up the complexities.

Dear Friends: Today, I’m returning to work, and having early shifts all week. Diana

Sunday, October 01, 2023

In the header photo and in a Home Depot aisle, I’m saying hello to an Akbash. The Akbash is a Turkish-originated herding dog known for intelligence, loyalty, bravery, and independence. This fellow is the first Akbash I’ve met in person. He’s totally sweet and about five years old. His person said he’s not a working herder but has every “good” attributed to his breed.

I’ve been interested in the Akbash since learning that they’re known to be absolutely great herding dogs. Most breeders let only those needing herding dogs have their Akbash puppies, as an Akbash isn’t a particularly good couch potato. The breed has a very strong herding instinct and a highly independent streak.

Years ago, I adopted a Kuvasz, a Hungarian-originated breed known for intelligence, protectiveness, clownishness, loyalty, patience, and independence. The Kuvasz looks much like a Great Pyrenees, which originated in France, but a Kuvasz lacks the extra rear toes.

I can’t speak to my dog’s clownishness, but she had everything else. It was tough living with a highly focused herding dog who was nonworking and experiencing her high independence. She could not be off-leash in an unconfined area unless I was willing to let her go off and on her own way, leaving me behind. Early on, and more than once, I climbed into my Jeep to follow her and worked hard to entice her to load up to come home.

She was an amazing dog, and I can tell stories explaining how great she was. Nonetheless, my experience with such an independent herding dog has prevented me from exploring the possibility of acquiring an Akbash. But I sure fell in love with that guy in the aisle.

For the record, here’s my fabulous, challenging “Alpine.”

Dear Friends: Outside it’s sunny and warm, have a great day. Diana