Saturday, August 05, 2023

I am gathering that evolving AI programs can assist effectively in the design, writing, and editing of a novel. Years ago, I created a book-length story I still like and hope to complete someday. I am creative but lazy and short on the technical skills and the patience needed to do the complex editing to finish a work.

I intend to re-involve myself with that story by experimenting with AI writing-assist programs. Maybe that could complete it without finding and hiring outside help.

Over the years, and especially in writing this daily blog, I’ve faced challenges. I’ve had to learn to introduce ideas in ways allowing for quick comprehension while keeping topics brief for readability.

My long-ago story has good bones but is overwritten, wordy, and with awkward transitions. Its finish has needed two outside assistants: a professional story editor and a skilled illustrator.

Perhaps AI could fill both needs. I often tap AI for blog illustrations and usually am satisfied with its outputs. If current AI text editing actually helps, my story may again come alive.

I will find out by initiating a learning experiment, that teams my good story bones with today’s AI capabilities. That could enable illustrations that are integrative and, with editing assistance, improve my story’s readability.

Ohmigosh! If successful, my improved story might become a candidate for self-publishing, and by then, with assistance from even newer AI.

Dear Friends: There’s always hope for better options for those with patience. Diana

Friday, August 04, 2023

Yesterday, my last day off from work this week, all the family–horses, dogs, and me–spent some time on the horse trail with a dog-accessible canal. My dogs, trail-weary, hot, and dusty, eagerly refreshed themselves with dips ‘n sips–including Little Mitzvah. Each time following my horses, she lowers more to drink, becomes wetter, and someday might dip totally.

My farrier, Russ Bennett, a skilled and capable hoof expert, recently moved from CA to Central Oregon. For years, he took long drives to be here every six weeks and trim for long-time clients, including me. He planned over a couple of years before making the move. Yesterday, he worked on my horses and said he’s gaining new clients. So the change is working out well, and it’s good having him nearby and handy.

Central Oregon locals: Here’s a rare opportunity. On Sunday, there will be a free piano concert at Whispering Winds. That’s where Rochelle Chaiken’s mom, Faye, lives, and everybody is invited.

Rochelle’s brother, Dan, a classical pianist, is visiting. He will perform this program:

Recital at Whispering Winds Daniel Chaikin, piano, August 6, 2023, 2:00 pm 

Prelude and Fugue No.2 in C minor Johann Sebastian Bach From the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 

Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor Frederic Chopin Opus 31 

Voices of Spring Waltz Johann Strauss II Opus 410 

Children’s Corner Suite Claude Debussy: 

Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum

Jimbo’s Lullaby

Serenade for the Doll

The Snow is Dancing;

The Little Shepherd

Golliwogg’s Cake-Walk

A lovely program!

Dear Friends: Equally compelling to physical needs are touches to feed our inner spirits. Diana

Thursday, August 03, 2023

I’ve promised myself for years to attend a Bend Elks baseball game. Somehow, that’s never happened, but will this evening. On a whim, now near the season’s ending, I bought a ticket. It’s kind of exciting–looking forward to being in the stadium watching a game and eating a hot dog.

It seems very cool that a busy training team is based here. Knowing little about baseball, I secretly think the game might be boring. But I want to learn. My lingering intent to attend a baseball game owes appreciation to the Ken Burns baseball series. It also owes appreciation to my long-time CA friend, Susie Jasper, whose forever and all-out love for the Dodgers fuels interest in the game.

Today is my last one off before tomorrow, returning to work.

I’ll take the critters out this morning and ride horseback with the dogs following. Yesterday, we were in the National Forest, where every one of us got a giant workout. I had anticipated the ease of riding on known trails but hadn’t ridden there for a year, and the trails were slightly confusing. Worst, having lost their manners, my horses constantly tried stopping to eat grass and were handfuls, especially Sunni, the grass-grabber that was being ponied.

All the dogs covered the distance despite eating lots of dust and having no water. It’s time to put a bell on Mitzvah’s collar to alert me that she’s following. A big bell on the halter of my donkey, Pimmy, reveals her presence. It limits my twisting in the saddle to know if she’s following and okay.

Dear Friends: A busy day, with horseback and baseball; wot’s happening? Diana

Wednesday, August 02, 2023

I hope to be out early, enjoying today’s coolest part with my horses and dogs. I’m considering where to ride; there are wonderful choices. I’d like a change from where we’ve already roamed several times, but my dogs make it hard to resist a nearby trail with an available water source. Whether we return to the “canal trail” will depend on my energy as we leave home.

Yesterday, I spent an hour on the phone catching up with my longest-time friend, Stephanie. We were best buddies back in our Burbank High School years. These days, we enjoy recalling mutual memories and catching up. She lives in AZ and described her difficulties in coping with the intense heat that has been striking there.

Also, yesterday, I heard from another long-time friend, Jan, who lives in Kansas City, where she’s witnessing climate change bringing consistent and hard rains, and winds more intense than in any past season of her lifetime in that city.

Here in Central Oregon, we’ve been fortunate having this summer’s nearly perfect weather. We worry plenty, however, because our area increasingly suffers drought conditions. This locked-in high desert community critically needs water availability. Lingering drought bodes no good.

The survival of our booming community depends on adequate moisture. That’s controversial when, for example, this area’s numerous resorts routinely divert huge gallons of water to maintain their large golf courses. Unfortunately, a list of water disuse controversies could go on.

Dear Friends: Heat, rain, wind, and drought, now are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Diana

Tuesday, August 01, 2023

Yesterday, the PBS new series, Amanpour & Company, introduced its viewers to a culture that’s both old-world and modern and uniquely fascinating.

The culture consists of Haenyeo women who have for generations lived in South Korea’s Jeju Island. And almost forever, those women have deep-dived into the ocean to collect shellfish, like abalone and sea urchins, for nourishment and to sell for a living.

They dive suited up but without the assistance of oxygen masks. Each has great body control and in a dive can hold her breath for one full minute. They deeply understand the sea and marine life, and dives to harvest can last as much as seven hours daily, for 90 days a year.

When resurfacing each diver takes a breath and makes a verbal sound unique to her that the group recognizes. Her sound advises the diver has resurfaced and is well. If an individual’s sound goes missing the other divers notice, and immediately, all dive and search for her.

It’s the way of life in a close-knit community. Some of those women have reached their eighties and nineties and still are active divers.

The divers fall into three groups based on the level of experience: hagun, junggun, and sanggun. The sanggun diver provides guidance to the others. Before each dive, all pray to the Jamsugut, goddess of the sea, for safety and an abundant catch.

Their knowledge of the sea and diving is passed down to younger generations by families, schools, and local fishery cooperatives which have the area’s fishing rights. There are Haenyeo associations, a Haenyeo School, and a Haenyeo Museum.

The culture is impacted by commercial activities that are associated to increasing global warming and altering the ocean. Amanpour & Company explores with Haenyeo divers their culture and work, and their attempts to create healthful changes to save their community.

Dear Friends: Lovely and informative journalism that lets us see and learn. Diana

Monday, July 31, 2023

These days are noticeably less smoky with the weather more cool. I’ve been riding horseback, and yesterday, went again, this time taking all of my horses and dogs. The whole family is now better acquainted, having all traveled together on a horse trail.

Starting tomorrow, with three days off from work, I will take us out more. August is the last month before hunting season begins, and experience teaches that hunters reduce safety in forested lands. My animal family and I will go traveling on local national forest trails in August.

I always have fun horseback riding in our local forest. Back when a large domestic horse population existed in this territory, the forest sported many well-defined horse trails. Those old trails are dim, and I have enjoyed seeking and discovering a few. Upon identifying an old trail, it becomes my routine during subsequent rides to move my horse over the faded trail to help redefine it.

A plan to find trails keeps me missing my old hound dog, Ranger. He made hunting old trails easy because he always found trails. He loved them, and I followed. Recently, outings with my puppy Chase give me hope he might mellow into trail sleuthing. He loves racing all over the territory but always winds up on trails ahead of my horse.

Dear Friends: More starting tomorrow; for now, I’m off to work. Diana

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Are ya seein’ the current moon? It’s a beaut.

Yesterday, all four dogs joined me on a horse trail. Little Mitzvah came along. I hoped she’d be unafraid of being close to a horse and thus join Chase on future trails. She faithfully followed my horse the entire distance with just one problem; traveling behind my horse had her swallowing trail dust.

Our route began by following a canal and then moving toward a dry loop which gradually returns to the canal. After we were close to completing the loop and nearing the canal again, Mitzvah started coughing lots, to rid her throat of trail dust. Soon as we neared the canal, the dogs raced to it. The big ones dipped in; Mitzvah tiptoed to its edge and drank. She then seemed fine.

My two older dogs are twelve years old. Osix still is in good enough shape to follow a horse, but Miles has arthritis. The constant moving causes him pain. I could leave him at home, but it breaks his heart to not be allowed on a trail. I hope the current trips are slightly less hard on him. My horse just walks, we’re on short trails, and close to available water.

Dear Friends: At last, I’m on horseback again, and have super companions. Diana

Saturday, July 29, 2023

The header image captures Chase on a horse trail. He’s pausing until my horse catches up.

I went again to a horse trail with Chase, and the horse and dog still got along well. We were traveling in an area of mostly desert but with a large active canal running through a portion of it. On that hot day, Chase had opportunities to take dips, often plunging into the water and staying relatively cool while tracking with my horse.

I’m returning to work today and have another odd schedule, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., helping to close the store. I have fed the horses this morning and hope to get away for an early horseback ride.

I wish to ride with two dependable trail dogs, and this time will take Mitzvah and Chase.

Maybe Mitzvah will run with my horse and Chase. On a trail, perhaps her small stature is a bit of a gamble; however, she’s smart and also partly a Jack Russel. She loves to run. Maybe she’ll be just fine. If she resists trail challenges, she must wait in the horse trailer while I ride and Chase tracks.

Dear Friends: Miles wants to go, but running will give him arthritic pain. Diana

Fifteen months ago, Chase came home with me.

Friday, July 28, 2023

The puppy, tiny and cute, was very tired. His rescuer had promised he’d grow into a small adult dog, as she’d seen his parents. Several months later, she obviously had been lying about the puppy’s potential size. I accepted having been a sucker and swallowing the bait.

Chase began to grow, becoming a 50+ pound, easily identifiable Rottweiler/Shepherd (and whatever else?) mix. Soon, he also became a source of great stress. First, he was a capable escape artist; he quickly climbed and cleared 6-ft.-plus fencing. Moreover, he became aggressive toward my older, weaker male dogs.

Those were severe strikes against attempting to rehome Chase. Nobody (including me) wants an escape artist or an overly aggressive dog. On the other hand, Chase had redeeming qualities. He was very smart and quickly could grasp what I wanted (although he could ignore much). Also, I was becoming “his person,” and he didn’t leave my side when loose. Another hesitation about rehoming my too-smart, too-big dog is that, having only lived with women, he’s a little suspicious of men.

I elected to try keeping Chase. My housemate helped, and we worked long and hard to adjust fence heights and prevent escapes. We accustomed Chase to wearing an e-collar to gain instant communication with him. In the months he’s worn that collar, I’ve had to beep it maybe three times.

Finally, I began taking Chase to hike in public spaces, wanting him better socialized and adjusted to meeting unexpected dogs and humans. He is better, too. For example, the day before yesterday, we hiked with Rachelle, our friend, and Ryder, her young Aussie. Chase and Ryder had never met before and played happily nonstop.

Those experiences are upping my courage. I planned to accustom Chase to running on trails with my horse yesterday and took him, my dog-savvy mare, Sunni, and my trail-experienced Border Collie, Miles, to a trail. Miles might help Chase learn to run safely with a horse by staying appropriately distant.

To my great surprise and delight, there were no problems at all! Both dogs tracked dependably and safely with Sunni for miles. Running with a horse seemed an activity Chase had been doing since the day he was born.

Dear Friends: My boy is maturing; I like him and might dump his e-collar. Diana

Thursday, July 27, 2023

The header photo captures new buddies, Ryder and Chase, in a canal doing one of their many wallows. Ryder’s person, Rochelle, is a long-time friend, and we were hiking with the pack.

Her dog, Ryder, is three years old. He and my energetic puppy were unstoppable. Rochelle and I walked about a mile with our racing dogs probably covering 20 miles. They frequently dipped into and out of the water.

I was surprised to discover that Osix wasn’t delighted over an unexpected pup joining the pack. At first, but not for long, she was unwelcoming; cool Ryder took her curled lips in stride.

Protective little Mitzvah worried early on, too, but recovered quickly. She needed to focus on dodging the roughing-it-up pups. Rachelle and I found ourselves dodging, too, whenever Ryder and Chase came roaring into our path.

Although the area’s earlier, beautiful spring plants are disappearing, and being replaced by sprouting weeds, the canal still appeals. It has sections of rushing water with colorful plants and draws attention. I enjoy capturing images.

Miles loves to take dips, and he sometimes ran with the younger dogs. At twelve, he still has lots of go but arthritis curtails his longer runs.

Mitzvah oversees the waders.

Dear Friends: There isn’t much that beats sharing quality time with pets. Diana