Saturday, September 30, 2023

Today’s header photo was captured early yesterday, by my friend Rachelle Chaikin, showing this year’s Harvest moon rising. Afterward, Rachelle didn’t set aside her camera, and at midmorning we went hiking with our dogs. Afterward, she shared more fine captures.

Yesterday, rain throughout our hike kept us all damp. Nonetheless, our water-loving dogs couldn’t get wet enough. This fun capture has Rachelle’s Ryder and my Chase emerging happily from their umpteenth full-body dip.

This young and energetic pair constantly are on the run, going nonstop, except for diving frequently into the canal. Upon emerging, pausing only for quick shake-offs, they’re off and running again.

Here’s a nice capture and almost a mood piece. Little Mitzvah and I are going to the canal. I wanted to support Mitzvah, as she refuses to enter a body of water, but will tiptoe to its edge, drink, and let her paws get wet.

My friend and neighbor, Susie, and I had planned to drive east of the city yesterday evening, and watch the Harvest moon rise, and take photographs. But it rained all-day, bringing gloom and depriving our hopes of seeing anything in the sky. So instead, we settled at Susie’s, before a cozy fire, and sharing a beer and a jar of nuts caught up with one another. Good evening, even without the fall moon.

It wasn’t late when I started home, but a very thick fog created conditions of nearly blind driving. I moved slowly while feeling grateful for knowing the local roadways. In the heavy gloom, a newbie to our neighborhood trying to navigate its twisty roads would have been mega challenged.

Dear Friends: The rain was welcome and we need a great deal more. Diana

Friday, September 29, 2023

Senator Diane Feinstein, who appeared rapidly weakening, physically and mentally, passed away at the age of 90. Aging is a controversial issue today as more humans are living longer than ever. One of the hottest issues is comprehending the capabilities of those aging vis a vis those thought young by common health standards.

I am interested in a current article featured in The Economist, entitled, “Living to 120 is becoming an imaginable prospect.” The author cites known progress in using medications that are being understood as helping to extend human life and also describes new research designed to enable modifying and/or renewing aging body cells.

Recently, at Home Depot, where I work, I bumped into a former co-worker. She was pushing a cart and proudly said she’s 90 years old, hard for me to believe as we caught up with one another. For many years she had taught dancing, and to this day, she easily can isolate her body muscles. Soon, she began pointing out ways that I might better control my muscles to improve my strength and posture.

I was shocked to learn she regularly talks by phone with a mutual acquaintance, now 103 years old, and someone I had assumed had passed away long ago. Really though, that’s not so odd these days, for more people in that age range are staying alive and remaining cognizant. I have a book of excellent poetry I love, written by a woman who took a beginning poetry-writing class when she was 98 and published her poems as she turned 100.

The biggest hurdle to extending human aging might be the rescuing and/or rejuvenizing of brain cells. There’s still too little understood about how to treat Alzheimer’s. A future that provides care for people diagnosed with that disease and physically able to live longer presents huge issues.

Dear Friends: We humans are approaching a very brave new world. Diana

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Preamble: Last year, our winter season hit quickly. One day was warm, and the next was freezy-snowy. My horses’ watering pump froze immediately, and so did their water. I frequently had to be out chopping very thick ice.

Currently: A few days ago, I was shopping at the supermarket Winco, where for months last year I was a cashier. While checking out, I asked if Cindy, the HR Manager, was in the store and, on learning yes, went to Cindy’s office to say hello and was greeted with a big hug.

When I worked there, Cindy was fairly new in her HR role in that highly successful and busy market. Although always swamped, Cindy was kind and willing to make space to listen, advise, and help. We discovered ourselves sort of soul buddies–each named Cynthia (my middle name), and both determined Geminis.

Last winter’s weather shift caught me unable to care for livestock while working away from home, and I had to make a decision. Cindy tried, but unsuccessfully, to adjust my working hours. And so, I left Winco.

As winter lulled months later, I job hunted but avoided Winco for having left there suddenly. I even hesitated to shop in the store. Recently, Stacy, a long-time Winco employee, and I bumped into one another in a Home Depot aisle. As we were catching up, I realized how much I had missed Stacy and other ex-coworkers.

I had been in touch with one ex-Winco employee, Eva, who now lives in Texas. And, after meeting Stacy, I went shopping in Winco and was surprised to find friends still working there recognizing and greeting me. Thankfully, my sometimes screwball brain is returning me to folks I have enjoyed.

About Cindy: she has traveled full circle and mastered her demanding HR role. Moreover, she’s busy outside, preparing for her daughter’s upcoming huge wedding. I asked Cindy what she plans to wear at work on Halloween (a huge event in Winco). She laughed and said that she’s creating a special costume to be topped by a pink “Grease Jacket.”

Dear Friends: It’s fun these days, retracing some special footsteps. Diana

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

This is a short good morning because I must be at work early and am running late.

On a quick note, I have been waiting for Verizon Internet to arrive in this area, and this week it did. Yesterday, I set up the Verizon equipment and it works fine. There are details to work out before I am comfortable enough to dump the national internet provider I’m using, the one that bought Bend Broadband and changed its services, offerings, and pricing. Based on general feedback from local users of alternate internet providers, I understand the services often fail and repair waits are lengthy.

So, I have been waiting; ahead will be new learning.

Dear Friends: That’s the news from Eight Pines, and now, I must get going. Diana

Monday, September 25, 2023

These are the wee morning hours before I am to clock in for an early shift at work. I savor these early times of quiet for offering a sense of peace and solitude that’s rare elsewhere. While there’s the pressure of needing to prepare for work, there’s also a welcome offset. It’s the perk of being free in the early afternoon. That’ll gain enough light and time to construct more fencing or improve my photography skills.

The available light and time should allow some of both activities. I have enough materials on hand to construct a fence post and if uninterrupted could finish that task in an hour. Then, I could head out in my Jeep with dogs, a camera, and a tripod.

Hmm, maybe it’s poor planning to have dogs around while I practice using a tripod. They don’t cooperate well during needs for steadiness. I will plan differently, to progress in understanding the cameras and how to utilize more their vast capabilities.

On a related note, soon I will need a heated jacket so brought home a new one. Working at HD indicates that technologies improve rapidly. I expect my new jacket to be equipped with an improved battery and can heat more quickly and warm better for longer.

Dear Friends: Now a shift in focus will have me getting ready for work. Diana

Sunday, September 24, 2023

I was invited to an outside, around “the fire pit,” birthday party for Kelli, a close friend of our mutual friends, Ashley and John. Yesterday after work, I went to the event and was surprised to find an almost large gathering. I knew some of those folks and felt comfortable. Ashley whispered that a surprise was about to occur. At seven o’clock, a handsome bagpiper playing “Happy Birthday” came rhythmically toward us, and then continued to serenade with Irish melodies.

He’s a retired Bend firefighter and among a group of retired firefighters that meet and play their bagpipes regularly, and they march in firefighting- and police-related parades. He explained some history of firefighting’s complex evolving and learning about ways to protect this, then even more vulnerable growing community.

He described starting to play a bagpipe at twelve years old, and that he’s never stopped nor wanted to change instruments. A cool fellow. I’ll try to learn more about that group of ex-firefighting bagpipers.

The party was great. I found myself among a mix of horsey and unhorsey folks. Our farrier usually avoids such gatherings but is close to Ashley, John, and Kelli, and was enjoying himself. The group was interactive, talking and laughing lots. I made some new friends, and later, while driving home still felt delighted for having been there.

Dear Friends: I find myself in a “reconnecting period” and am savoring it. Diana

Saturday, September 23, 2023

This month’s Harvest moon coming alive overhead brightly is half-full and beautiful. Next week, Susie and I will go to the countryside to see Harvest’s first glow as it rises from behind the long, slanting, and dim horizon of Horse Ridge. Anticipating an always exciting moonrise draws my attention to cameras. Mine are too little being used.

For a long while, I have focused almost totally on improving my Eight Pines Ranch. Long overdue property needs seemed unending and now some big ones are addressed. With fixes apparent, other interests draw attention.

Photography is pleasurable, and I miss being out and shooting what draws both eye and imagination. Prior to next week’s moon run and our photographing, I will head out with cameras to regain my comfort, taking a tripod and practicing with it. Tripods might aid Susie and me in capturing that Harvest moonrise.

On another note, my donkey, Pimmy, has had blood work that shows her having a metabolic disorder. Cushing’s disease has made her vulnerable to those hoof infections. Cushing’s can be controlled by medications. Two starting meds daily administered soon will improve Pimmy’s health. Then, one of the meds will be dropped, and she’ll receive the other one daily for the rest of her life.

Dear Friends: All sorts of fixes, and now forward to doing work with cameras. Diana

Friday, September 22, 2023

Today, my list of to-dos is at the forefront, starting with an electrician. He is due any moment to set up a new outside pole light and repair an outside fixture not working as it should.

Yesterday, there was a surprising amount of rain. I did as little outside as possible.

Had a long lunch with my friend, Julie, and we caught up with each other. Coming home, I stopped at Safeway for a loaf of bread. Its parking lot was full and the store was packed with shoppers. Rainfall in this community is a popular excuse for shopping indoors.

It occurs to me that I’m doing most of my shopping online. That’s so easy! Yesterday in Safeway, while looking for a particular brand of bread and not finding it, I surprised myself by wondering if that or a bread similar is available from Amazon. Who’d a’thought of buying bread online! I’m not quite ready to explore that, but someday might. Lots of happenings start with notions.

I wonder how retail selling might change in the future. It’s been the “American way” to shop among easily available items, select, and find a register to pay. To avert ever-growing thefts, retailers often are making valuable items less easily available, keeping them under lock and key or in windowed cases. Employees will hand those items to customers and perhaps escort buyers to checkstands.

All Home Depot’s locations stock some 30-40 thousand items. These days, nearly every aisle has locked merchandise because of rampant theft. HD instructs employees not to try taking merchandise from a thief, and never to leave the store and chase someone. Those activities are too dangerous. Instead, employees must get the best possible description of the thief, and hopefully, a vehicle license number. Next, a theft will become a police case.

Not-chasing instructions have made thieves bolder and theft losses increase store prices. To respond, merchandisers are moving more toward selling online. And are becoming more efficient at that. So, what may happen to brick-and-mortar shopping experiences?

Dear Friends: Just one of many questions about the futures of everything. Diana

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Got a quarterly performance review yesterday and passed with flying colors. I’ve given some feedback to my manager in the form of a suggestion to improve the store’s customer response system. He said he has listened and will speak of it to upper management.

Currently, if a customer does (or doesn’t) like the service he/she receives from an employee, that customer can tell HD by going online to the store’s site later and explaining. Few customers do this, although the store encourages feedback. My suggestion was that business feedback about customer and sales relationships needs easier and quicker ways of assessing satisfaction. For example, cards with check-off questions about service satisfaction could be beside each cash register. A customer easily and quickly could rate experience quality and drop the card into a nearby collection box.

My manager says he plans to elevate my suggestion to the store’s upper management. That’s good feedback.

I will have this day and tomorrow off from my job. Today I’ll have lunch with my friend, Julie, to talk and catch up. Tomorrow, an electrician will arrive to repair an outside lighting fixture and to put a new pole light into place. The new pole light will replace a long-ago pole light that my Jeep knocked over and destroyed as I attempted to drive off quickly.

Dear Friends: Yesterday’s rain and cooler weather initiated our fall season. Diana

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Yesterday, all by myself, I did all this: Dug two one-foot+-deep holes, placed gravel in their bottoms; measured needed heights and cut posts, set the posts, attached them to a top rail; and then, mixed two batches of concrete in a wheelbarrow to secure the posts.

Needing those two posts in the horses’ area has kept me awake many nights. Recently, while a handyman was here to fix some broken posts, I watched, asked questions, and learned enough to think about tackling fixes for other needy posts.

Horses are hard on property elements. They lean, scratch, chew, and dig around. Over the years, pieces of fencing have sagged, and I’ve hired fixers. Well, today’s economy stinks, and capable fixers are expensive and often unavailable. Through the years, I have met women who own livestock and property and by themselves handle tough repairs and construction challenges. During my sleepless nights thinking about fencing, I wondered about doing more myself and seeking help less.

Yesterday, I moved on that. The post-related tasks demanded physical strength and a knowledge of basic physics. I lacked both but hoped, if needed, friends could bail me out. While working the various steps, I created workarounds for sheer physical strength. As to the physics, I made mistakes aplenty but managed.

Today, while at work, I will collect some tools to ease the handling of some jobs at home.

Dear Friends: Whatever made me wish for large animals and property! Diana