Thursday, September 14, 2023

Yesterday, my friend Mike Holmes showed up during his one-day pause between hunting trips and repaired my tractors. With them again running properly, I took off. I mowed the weeds growing alongside the roadway on the little lawn tractor. On my bigger machine, I tidied areas of the property by digging lava rocks and leveling pathways.

Always, this place needs work. Doing all that’s needed requires discipline. Usually, I must force myself to get going, but doing the work can be fun once in motion. Take the tractor, for example. I enjoy operating it to tackle the bigger challenges. My place isn’t a farm that needs lots of tractoring, so my machine often sits for long spells between startups. Regardless, it usually cranks up and goes right away.

Except when it doesn’t. And then, I call on Mike. He’s an experienced mechanic, now retired, with livestock and his own large property east of town. His professional work of repairing machinery acquainted us years ago. He still does repairs for me–if he’s not busy, planning for, or simply away on fishing and hunting trips.

Mike’s wife, Debbie, was my co-worker at Wilco. An expert at retail selling, she taught me about merchandising and remains a good friend. She works part-time at Lowe’s, and periodically, I go there to find her, and we catch up.

Speaking of Wilco, I must pay a visit to its associate manager, Donna. She gave me my first retail break by hiring and training me to be a cashier. After leaving Wilco, I disappeared from the store. Donna and I are FB friends, but not in closer touch, and soon I hope to fix that.

Today, my tractors are waiting, and I have plans for them.

Dear Friends: I might horseback ride today or tomorrow; it’s perfect weather. Diana

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

The plumber arrived yesterday to fix a frost-free hydrant, critical for filling horse troughs. He found messy pipe connectors and couldn’t reach them adequately. He called for backup support to correct the problems. I saw those plumbing trucks rolling toward my place as I was leaving it to keep a dental appointment.

Upon returning home and having missed the corrective activity, I immediately tested the newly installed hydrant. Water flowed from it perfectly–a huge relief after months of experiencing very low-flowing water. With just a little coming out and very slowly filling the horse troughs, I was forced to hang around, waiting and watching for the troughs to be topped. That might not seem as frustrating as it felt, but with other critical chores needing attention, waiting for slow waters created angst.

At the dentist’s, my hygenist Susan and I caught up with one another. She told me that her husband had been a career Safeway guy; he dreaded Kroger’s takeover. switched jobs and works now for another large retailer. She described some of his new headaches, like too few candidates for open jobs and great revenue losses from theft. My experience at Home Depot let me relate completely. She and I discussed our growing-up years and shared commitments to working and being productive.

“The Times, They Are A Changing.” (Bob Dylan, 1964)

Dear Friends: This one’s a-rambling about experiences that satisfy. Diana

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

I discovered today’s header photo while perusing photos saved on my iPhone. Weeks ago, I snapped the mountain as a throwaway test of the phone’s camera. An accidental capture–how about that?

This morning, a plumber will arrive here and replace a frost-free pump that fills the watering troughs. Right afterward, I must hurry to Redmond to keep a dental appointment. And then, on to a friend’s in that area; her son has shaken from their generous tree a bucketful of apples for my horses.

Lots of needed repairs occupy my mind this morning. On coming home, I’ll play addressing the rest of my needs list by ear.

Do you remember from years ago this once-popular line, “A summer cold is a different animal”? Well, I’m recovering from one, and thankfully, after an early couple of yukky days. Despite that, I continued going to work, wore a mask but spoke with the recognizable voice fogginess that heralds a cold. The one person who seemed to notice a difference was my coworker, Laurie. No surprise because she notices everything anyway.

Laurie’s career was in the fast food industry. She was a manager and accustomed to ensuring orderly processes, and she trained employees to perform in orderly ways. I have responded to her training skills by starting to focus on keeping our shelves full of products and placed correctly. It’s my tribute to her training talent, as never before have I paid attention to such needs.

It would be grand if I took home those skills to organize my household better. No dice, at least up to this point. I can hope in the future to discover myself doing better at keeping house. One of the wonderful things about learning is that it sometimes sneaks up and brings changes.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this beautiful fall day. Diana

September 11, 2023

Today’s the anniversary of an unspeakable horror that a madman and his henchmen wielded on the U.S. We remember that day today, while also focusing on more modern madmen. Some have nuclear weapons and are teaming with Russia to assist in pounding out Ukraine’s independence and turning that territory into a Russian-dependent state.

The horror of 9/11 is beyond description, and it might not have been the worst assault on humanity during my lifetime. Other unspeakable episodes include America’s destruction of unlucky citizens in WW II by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki; McVehgh’s not-so-long-ago domestic destruction of Oklahoma City’s Federal Building; and Ted Krazinsky’s bomb sending through the mail.

McVeigh and Krazinsky’s exploits encouraged other madmen to act on their idealistic fantasies, and such craziness eventually brought us to mass shootings–now many and so often that newspapers no longer headline the “routine episodes.”

It’s old news, Stupid!

A continuing Russia vs. Ukraine conflict, aided by modern destructive technology, intensifies the world disorder, that on 9/11 re-awakened everyone.

“I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?” (Rodney King)

Dear Friends: This Wednesday, I’ll start learning to speak in Yiddish. Diana

Sunday, September 10, 2023

It’s getting close to my eldest sister’s wedding anniversary. She and her husband are gone, but the date stays in my mind. Back when they married, I was little more than a toddler and was their ring bearer. My bits of active memory from that occasion are few but strong enough to nudge me each September as their date draws near.

Memories are interesting, and I try to be very careful with them. When I was young, I seemed to remember accurately everything that happened and all associated details. However, over time I learned to recognize that wasn’t so, that memory is a very tricky business. I find that my memories often alter reality and slant more toward reflecting my wishes.

Right now, remembering that wedding and my role in it, I recall being dressed in a fancy white outfit and feeling pretty. However, years later, my mom told me that while I was marching that ring down the aisle, I obviously needed badly to visit the bathroom, causing viewers to chuckle. Well, that isn’t in my memory!

So, remembering always makes me pause for not being able to count on accuracy. Yet, I love having memories, slanting as they may toward whatever I might wish. Right now, remembering as best possible, my child-self at that long-ago wedding, I am seeing myself all gussied up in a fancy white dress and being completely adorable. Why not?

Dear Friends: Our memories age and alter in step with all else. Diana

Saturday, September 09, 2023

My dogs slept soundly without even a peep from early evening yesterday clear through to this morning. That’s because earlier, they had run their buns off with Ryder, a young Aussie belonging to our friend, Rachelle. She and I were strolling and chatting while our dogs raced without pausing for more than a few seconds occasionally.

Rachelle is athletic–a devout, dedicated swimmer. She’s ridden horseback in the past and is interested in riding again. That’s welcome because I mostly ride alone. There’s so much to discover every second in nature that a riding companion sharing the “finds” increases the fun.

Riding horseback can bring “new sights” in very familiar surroundings. A new sight might be because the weather has changed or natural lighting has shifted. What appears new, different, and pleasurable creates special moments out in the open spaces.

Today, my dogs will continue sleeping off yesterday while I’m back to work and indoors.

Speaking of equines, my donkey Pimmy has healed and is walking normally. I must learn more about why her hoof has a tendency to abscess and how to prevent that from happening again.

Dear Friends: Enjoy these perfect fall days and this gorgeous weather. Diana

Friday, September 08, 2023

Yesterday, the super handyperson, Gustavo, demonstrated how to repair my sagging horse fencing. He chose one section and undid all the staples on the top rail and posts. Then, he stretched the fence fabric upward and pounded in new staples. That made the previously sagging section tight and secure.

I didn’t know old fencing could be renewed. Fencing folks have given me estimates for re-fencing without mentioning making repairs instead. Gustavo nods and says that’s what they do in their business. Well, ahead, my fencing needs are mapped and understandable.

There are alternatives to replacing, regardless of the issue. Recently, while feeling forced to consider rebuilding my failing septic field, I learned the area could be cleaned and renewed. That process proved beneficial and saved thousands of dollars. I’ve been advised to replace the septic tank itself to avoid its slow collapse on itself. To that, Gustavo says, “Baloney!”

Well, okay, G! Even if only for now.

My point is to become more educated about alternative possibilities. At work and talking with customers at Home Depot, many refer to their learnings from “YouTube University.” Even the customers HD refers to as Pros sometimes describe their gains from online learning.

It’s one thing to know and another to do. Today, I’ll tackle a portion of the horse fence myself to learn if I’m knowledgeable and robust enough for the work. I’m primarily curious, for knowing and doing can stand separately. Knowing enables searching for alternatives, and doing could be about addressing personal goals.

Dear Friends: I’m on my way outside with a nail-puller and hammer. Diana

Thursday, September 07, 2023

Today is one off from my part-time job. The very handy person, Gustavo, will be here to finish repairing the horse fence before shifting to another project.

Yesterday, I wrote about “spider wrapping” but skipped explaining what it is, and a reader has asked. The wrap is an unbreakable and uncuttable string with an alarm. The string has a lock and secures a package. Before a spider-wrapped product can be purchased, a store employee using an unlocking device must remove the spider.

In today’s retail environments, theft is a huge issue. Some of our most iconic businesses are reporting lower sales and/or closing their brick-and-mortar stores, reporting high theft rates as a key reason. The three main categories of theft are insider theft, outsider theft, and internal mistakes in the accounting of inventories.

We who work in retail focus on potential theft and carefully avoid slippages in our “accounting activities.” Those include returning customer-tossed items to their proper places, reporting broken packages with missing or empty pieces, and staying alert to customer behavior.

I’m learning that theft is a huge driver of rising prices. Stealing by individuals seems as much about personal inclinations as ring theft is about “free money.” It’s astonishing to see tossed small packages holding two screws or bolts and costing about a dollar, broken into, and having one piece missing. Who needs to do that?

It’s about human nature, stupid, and if that’s true, the thieving part is on steroids. Our pocketbooks feel it. Businesses try fighting back by putting products under lock and key, and yes, making spider-wraps endemic. Some ideas for retail’s future suggest having all products available upon request and sliding from remote holding areas in a chute. Sounds fantastic?

Dear Friends: Product locking and spider-wrapping are costly and unpleasant. Diana

Wednesday, September 06, 2023

Yesterday at work, I practiced putting a “spider wrap” on boxes of high-priced new tools. The process wasn’t easy for me, because manipulating bendy spider wires to fit correctly and lock securely needs one to visualize abstractly. My coworker/trainer, Laurie, was reassuring, saying that at first she found working with the spiders very confusing, and adding, “You’ll get it.”

Using many physical and mental skills in my part-time job makes me feel more rounded. For example, putting away parts forces me to stretch and reach upward and exercises neglected muscles. Learning to navigate the store’s complex array of nails, screws, tools, and parts, and discussing them with customers exercises my brain.

All that and more is helping me feel stronger and capable, also feeling younger than my years. It’s a big deal because, in my post-retirement jobs, I’ve been confronted often with negative ageism, and surprisingly, more from people who are elderly. Individuals outrightly have demanded that I shouldn’t be working at all. Or have asked, “Does standing on your feet hurt,” or “How do you read without glasses?” The list of negativity is unending, and whether it’s delivered in demands or as questions, highly dislikable.

That’s given me insight into being in public and reminded me of being “different.” The physical symbols of being elderly among the young, black among light-skinned others, identified as following a non-Christian religion, and others, are unavoidable. Unfortunately, many differences activate old learning and habits in watchers, stuck mentally in their pasts and learnings.

Those include me. Yes, I long ago thought of “old” as being Old. No longer, and I always try to avoid being openly critical of differences visible from the norm.

Dear Friends: Ha! Learning to spider-wrap initiated a rant. Diana

Tuesday, September 04, 2023

I finally have downloaded the photos that Susie and I snapped evenings ago as we watched the Super Blue Moon at its fullest rising from behind a dark ridge. A moon’s first glow breaking the darkness is a magnificent sight. This moon’s appearance was extra thrilling because of its added “Super” and “Blue” components.

Here’s an associated fact: another fourteen years will pass before the next Super Blue Moon shows up.

Here’s the view from one of our favorite spots for seeing the moon rising over a distinctive ridge.

Getting into position has had us parking and waiting among discarded vehicles in a small, isolated-appearing field. We take lightweight portable chairs and wait to cheer and capture. To our surprise, this time, the field’s owner came to question our presence and fortunately allowed us to stay in the special spot and photograph.

Meanwhile, the cameras we had were fairly new and unfamiliar. We practiced with them while awaiting the moonrise. Last night, while I downloading the evening’s images, turned out that one isn’t a photo at all, but is a recording–a hilarious capture of us trying to decide how to operate the cameras.

Suddenly though, moonlight appeared and little else mattered. We simply clicked away, and the resulting images actually are good. Thanks, cameras!

Today’s header photo, from our zoom camera, captures the moon, then high in the sky. Luckily, images from our non-zoom camera, although small do look good, from the moon’s first light over a barely visible horizon, and through its ascent.

Yes, we’re at it again–your moon-chasing photographers. With thanks galore to a kind landowner.

Dear Friends: Later this month, we’ll go capture the annual glorious Harvest Moon.