RECORDED MESSAGES FRUSTRATE

 Republic -- "If you can keep it."  [Democracy]

        Accountability for January 6th Insurrection

U.S. Select House Committee on Jan. 6th Hearings continue in the fall.

QUESTION:  Are more of the American people beginning to realize the threat to turn our form of government into an autocracy by using fear and intimidation of possible  violence by those inciting a civil war?

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms died at age 96 years, 8 September 2022, Balmoral Castle Scotland.  She reigned 70 years.

                

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

Dull moments seldom appear in my household.  I always have something to either demand my attention or I am attracted to engaging in numerous other activities that give me pleasure.

Wonders never change -- last week I was writing of our unusual excessively hot humid temperatures.   Now, thanks to that rare Hurricane Kay coming up our Pacific Coast from Mexico our heat wave ended.   Kay became a lesser tropical storm after colliding with a high-pressure system from the north resulting in our experiencing very welcome but unusual cooler temperatures.  Never mind, we're promised some hotter weather again before our summer ends.

The dreaded mud slides in previously burned forest fire areas have brought devastation but not to my community.   I shudder when I view TV news reports here and around the world of those driven from their homes or worse, thanks to the vagaries of climate change.

Long-promised and even longer awaited conversion to fiber-optic internet service has finally come to our neighborhood and more specifically my home.  Even my landline phone service transmission is now changed to the internet with an 8-hour backup battery should my electricity ever cease.  

The scenario wasn't that efficient leading up to the installation of this fiber-optic change but that only took several hours for the technician to accomplish one afternoon this past week.  Granted for that final actual change I didn't have to do anything, but somehow, I always seem to feel almost as tired as if I had done the labor.  I don't recall feeling that way when I was younger so wonder if that is just me, or is it an aging thing?   Oh, and another thing, why does everything always happen at once instead of occurring on different days?

The previous week I was busy getting exhausted as the young men working in my garage replaced by hot water heater.  In the midst of all this came my phone company agent to discuss my ordering installation of their fiber-optic system for internet and phone.   He had no printed material to leave with me to review and consider later.   We took a photo of his working rate form and particulars with my iPhone for my convenience.  

I phoned the agent the first of the week, discussed further installation matters and placed my order.  He immediately connected us with a third party to initiate the change portion taking place by phone which took about a half hour.  

As luck would have it, at the end of that process there was a glitz resulting in my having to call their customer service number.   I was apprehensive since I had gone through that process a week or so earlier which became one of those recorded message nightmares.  The message was:  "We're working quickly to answer your call, but it is taking a little bit longer than normal and someone will be with you soon."  

That time they eventually said there would be a 45-minute delay.  I could hold or they would call me when the customer service agent was available.  I optioned the call-back which came after 45 minutes but I still had to hold again.  No offer for a call-back as before.  Totally exasperated after another 45 minutes passed just as I was about to hang up a real live person answered.  What kind of weird system was that?

This time I wasn't offered the call-back option, had to hold 45 minutes again, became exasperated again and was ready to disconnect just as a service representative answered.  Turns out there was no need for me to call them but I had no way of knowing that then.  

My on-site installation occurred several days later as scheduled -- new line to my house and all the changes inside accomplished by the technician in a few hours.  

My landline phone now goes through the internet, has an 8-hour backup battery if the electric power shuts down.  I can't see that the internet speed on my computer is any faster than what I had, but I'll see.

Isn't progress wonderful!

HOT TIME -- KEEPING COOL AGING -- HEAT OFFICER

 Republic -- "If you can keep it."  [Democracy]

      Accountability for Jan. 6th insurrection.

U.S. Select House Committee on Jan. 6th Hearing continues in the fall.

U.S. Dept. of Justice and FBI deserving of respect for doing their jobs.

QUESTION:  What has happened to the documents missing from the empty file folders marked 'classified' found mixed into personal belongings of the ex-President -- items he allegedly illegally took to his Florida country club resort home -- documents he kept there even after all such records owned by our government his attorneys falsely reported had been returned as required?  

"TOO DARN HOT" from the musical film 'Kiss Me Kate' / 1953                                                Ann Miller dancing and singing Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter                                      Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn,                            Bobby Van, Tommy Rall, James Whitmore, Bob Fosse, Ron Randell 

HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN ... many days and nights!

HOT is a term describing the climate in many places around the world including my own here in Southern California, U.S.   People are flocking to our SoCal beaches to stay cool.   Monsoonal thunderstorms with lightning erratically roll through some communities (not mine) dropping short bursts of rain.  Bears seek humans' swimming pools in which to cool themselves.   

100+ degrees Fahrenheit (38+ Celsius) our thermometers have been recording beginning last week, continuing into this current week only to get hotter in some SoCal communities -- think 105 - 115 F (43 - 53 C). 

Earlier in the season, we received in our mail forms to submit encouraging those who can and want to participate in our utility power company's 'flex alert' program for which they give $$$ credits.   

We're now on 'flex alert'.  We're asked to eliminate using electric appliances like our ovens, clothes and dishwashers, turn off other devices, to not charge electric autos, between 4-9 p.m.   This is also the time period during which we are asked to conserve water due to our drought I've described here previously.  

Additionally, for several consecutive days we are being advised we could experience 'rolling blackouts'.  This usually means our power could periodically be cut off for an hour, then turned back on, during days and nights.  

Provision excluding such power outages can be arranged by individuals whose medical conditions require they must have electricity for their life-sustaining equipment.  

Our several years drought has aggravated our parched vegetation due to such extremely hot weather in areas here and in northern California creating even greater susceptibility to fire.  Our rationed water is also required to combat these fires.  The flames have destroyed acres of countryside along with some resident's homes, causing thousands to evacuate, injuring some and threatening, even taking the lives of people as well as other life.

The future our world is predicted to face includes increasing extreme temperature changes which we are just beginning to experience.  In simple terms, in each succeeding year to come, our summer days and nights are likely only going to get hotter.

Perhaps being aware of what others experience now may help inform some to think in terms of their own communities -- what they may be able or want to do in anticipation, if or when they have a similar situation.

Los Angeles has taken the actions so far by only two other cities, Miami and Phoenix -- appointing a Chief Heat Officer, Marta Segura, to "oversee the City's response to extreme heat events" described in a city press release.  She was previously director of climate emergency mobilization.

The L.A. city plan will include a warning system, interagency emergency response plans, also long-term strategies to reduce exposure.  Smithsonian magazine describes "Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S."

"Americans who are over the age of 65, Black Americans, children, patients with cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses and economically disadvantaged populations are more vulnerable to heat and face a higher risk of death, on top of the disparities in mortality reporting" reported by the Environmentally Protection Agency (EPA).

"The idea of Chief Heat Officers isn't exclusive to the US.  Since Miami announced its position, Athens, Greece, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monterey in Mexico, and the Santiago metropolitan region in Chile have all hired in similar positions."

The world in which we live now and will in the future is projected to be quite different from the one into which I was born more than three quarters of a century ago.  I think the expectation some seem to have that we can recapture life in the world as we once knew is not at all likely.

Resistance to the changes coming only makes the accommodation more difficult.  The complications of too much water, flooding, presents massive threats some in the world have already been experiencing  from which we need to be learning, then taking preparatory action now. 

Flooding washed out a major connecting freeway (I-10) between L.A.andPhoenix recently, so we are not immune to too much water in some drought areas also vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat.  Adaptation to our evolving new world now is our challenge.

Our energy source to power cooling, heating, and lighting our homes, our transportation vehicles, and systems to operate all our devices on which we increasingly depend in most other facets of our lives are central to our existence.  

Not all of us are able to incorporate all of the necessary changes into our daily lives but we might best do what we can.  Also, I'm no longer a candidate for taking on extra employment to augment costs of some recommended special projects as I might once have done when younger.  That situation becomes a fact of life for most at some stage in life.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping cool with air conditioning, doing all I can do in the way of conservation of electric and water usage as necessary.  There is more I know would help in overall conservation beyond these immediate special needs I would like to be able to adopt.  Some adaptive actions I would take but I'm no longer physically able to perform some of the required tasks that could mitigate upkeep.  In other desired actions the cost is prohibitive, considering given the unknowns of what my personal future needs may be I expect is true for others, too.

I wonder .....

..... if others reading here view the future as I've considered it to be?

..... if other readers here  have or will be doing all they think could or needs to be done to adapt to this future that is confronting us now?

..... if special action is being taken in your community to prepare and adapt to changing weather and/or environmental conditions where you live -- locally or in your state?

WATER ... WHERE? -- SPIRIT FLEDGED

May Gray ... June Gloom ... but no rain.

SPIRIT FLEDGED.....  the Bald Eaglet flew early the morning of May 31st in a video you can view on my previous blog post in case you missed the update.  She continues to return to the nest periodically but will gradually hone more skills, then ultimately fly away to live independently.  

WATER ..... WHERE?

Our persistent drought caused by little rain and meagre mountain snowfall resulting in water reserves depletion has necessitated restricted water use regulations in California.  SoCal where I live the restriction specifics vary from county to county, city to city.  Los Angeles, for example, has a different water company than my city so large swaths there are restricted to watering 2 days a week while further inland we are allowed to water only 1 day a week.

I'm sharing what mandatory water conservation and rationing presently looks like, at least in my city, with details for any who might be interested.  Possibly in years to come water shortages will affect more communities in other states, countries, besides those already affected.  So, you may consider what some of you might experience in the future.  

Our lakes, reservoirs, even mighty rivers like the Colorado feeding southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico have had declining reserves these past several years.  Read how our southern border neighbor Mexico challenged also is coping in this azcentral article HERE.

The U.S. share of the Colorado river waters is divided among four upper basin states (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico) and three lower basin states (Arizona, Nevada, and California).

The past year, 2021, California had to institute a Stage 1 voluntary 15% water reduction that regrettably wasn't met in too many communities.  My property was allocated to use 2 to 4 gallons less water monthly than I used the previous year.  I haven't reviewed every month's record but think I readily met my allocation, even using less water.

June 1st this year, 2022, our water company conservation plan had to move us into a mandatory Stage 2.   

(I can't help wondering if all those individuals so opposed to government prescribed "mandatory" actions i.e., wearing a mask, getting vaccinated will refuse to cooperate for the good of the community on water conservation, too?)

Here's a summary provided on the City of Claremont's web site:

 Level 2 Water Supply Shortage In Effect

New Outdoor Watering Restrictions Starting June 1, 2022

The next stage -- Stage 3 -- "mandatory" no watering outdoors.  I hope this stage not needed.   

[Water use is most commonly discussed in CCF (centum cubic feet) and gallons].       

 .     .     .Water usage -- 1 CCF  =  748 gallons.

My allocation varies each month.  (20% of my 2020 water usage.)                               

(The result is I am allocated 2 to 4 gallons less in all but one month I've determined.)  

        For example:  I'm allocated 17 CCF for June.                                                                                    (Rest of the year will be between 17-19, one mo. 20 CCF)

          April shows I used 6 CCF; previous month 11 CCF; April prior year 17 CCF.

          My current bill dated 5/23 (only 29 days) shows: I used 11 CCF well under my allocation.

[The yearly differences probably are due to the amount of rain we received allowing me to turn sprinklers off for a day, a week, or however long, or decrease the time water sprinkles in each of my 3 zones in front yard and 3 zones in back yard.  (The 4th zone to my parkway in the front yard I turned off several years ago).  Rain, temperature, and other factors affect how much water is used which is quite variable from year to year.]

There is a $2.50 emergency surcharge per CCF assessment if a customer uses more than their water allocation.

Repetitive water usage above allocation, then ignoring notices to cease will result in expensive installation of devices to decrease water emitted in addition to more expensive dollar fines.

No customers are being asked to reduce their water usage below 8 CCF per month.  Based on an average four-person household, the 8 CCF minimum accounts for daily indoor usage of 50 gallons per person.

[Interestingly, when I researched average at-home water usage I found a wide variation in the estimated gallons used from 60 gallons per person according to Water Footprint Calculator.  The U.S.Geological Survey reports 80-100 gallons average per person.

The Environmental Protection Agency 75 gallons per person based on average family use of 300 gallons per month.  Obviously, individuals' habits determine actual usage.]

Consult the EPA site for much more specific estimates on actual water usage in gallons for various functions, for example like the one item using the most water in households, the toilet -- using 3-4 gallons per flush with older toilets; 1-2 gallons per flush with newer toilets.   

There are indoor water conservation measures encouraged I've followed for many years with my washing machine, dish washer.  We're urged to operate them only when we have full loads which I always did anyway.  

Electric energy savings have been encouraged for some time here in So Cal.  We are urged to not use our electric appliances between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.   Now, we integrate our water mandates with our voluntary energy conservation measures.  

Fortunately, what could be considered conservation measurers have been common sense behaviors becoming second nature from childhood for me.  They simply continued being almost automatic throughout my adulthood.  Not much was ever wasted, including electricity and water, though I've never had water formally rationed like this before. 

The EPA link features an interesting pie chart of water usage items, also simple instructions for how to determine how much water you use.  

If you receive a water bill, it will provide a monthly CCF total.  Follow the example provided in the EPA link to determine your water usage.

I haven't yet figured out how to water special areas more than once a week since my gardeners who typically cut the grass only come once a week and likely won't need to mow grass that often.  Unfortunately, I'm currently not able to hand water myself and no teens in the area I could hire.  I need to obtain some of the special adapters described.  I had a hose shut off nozzle purchased some years ago but it seems to have grown legs and walked away.  I have a short soaker hose for one tree.  The longer one I had for years disintegrated.   As  you can see I'm not well-prepared for this so have to make time to figure it all out.  

I'm not really interested in incurring the expense of installing a drip irrigation system so I'll have to see what I can conjure.   

I'm concerned about various hedges, bushes, and several trees in my yard.  I hope my one remaining Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow bush I rooted that had grown so wonderfully survives.  The lovely petite white and lavender bloom was spectacular this spring.  I fully intended to photograph the scene beginning years earlier for permanent embedding on my blog given the connection which prompted my blog's name but obviously I've not done so.

Two young city trees in the parkway I'm responsible for watering but I capped the sprinklers to that area several years ago before the city even planted them.  The city did recently announce they will be surveying our city trees and provide extra water for any they deem in need.  "City of Trees" is our town's awarded designation based on the many quite lovely and majestic trees around town.

I'm prepared my grass will likely die.   Unfortunately, I'm no longer able to perform yard work to gradually transition my landscaping.  Years earlier long before any yards in our area had converted their grassy areas I had obtained a landscaping proposal I rejected since the whole approach which also contributed to excessive cost was not what I wanted.  I'll see when fall arrives what growth has survived and consider what is needed.

The climate changes affecting water availability we are experiencing vary within our country and around the world.  Drought, warmer temperatures, vulnerability for forest fires once mostly occurring only a few months a year are now a year 'round concern primarily here and in our western U.S. states.   Other areas of our country's residents do not experience water limitations and, in fact, have an over-abundance with flooding, more fierce storms.  Other countries experience this, too.

What sort of climate changes, if any, have you noticed where you live?  

Has your community had to make any adjustments, or have you had to make any personal adaptations?   

                     

    

LIFE GUARANTEES -- GANG AFT AGLEY

You never know what you're going to read when you come to my blog as my previous post evidenced.  Some bloggers write sequential posts describing their day-to-day activities, others writings cover over a week or longer; then some have themed subjects, explore other topics, memories and ideas. 

By comparison, my blog posts are probably somewhat of a hodgepodge of my meandering thoughts, some of life at any given time, some recollections and mostly whatever happens to be capturing my interest at the time.  I'm not sure there is ever a long consistent connecting thread that might serve to stimulate readers to return and read more.

One such short thread currently is my "smart phone" that was delivered when expected at the end of the previous week.  I think the iPhone seems to be rather like a smaller version of my iPad-Mini that I like so much.  The larger phone size is less desirable to me than my cell phone which fit nicely into a small pocket-like padded carrier.  There was a soft material handle I could hook my fingers through to carry about and still have the use of both hands, or put the cell phone in my pocket -- to have handy should I need to make an emergency call.  

My little cell phone was ideal instead of subscribing to one of those special services necessitating wearing a device to hang around my neck or a pin to affix on my clothes with a button to push should I happen to fall, for example.  But there are various smart phone features that I may gradually incorporate into using that exceed those offered by my now former cell phone.

Perhaps the next change I might make will be to use a "smart watch".  I remember when reading the Sunday newspaper's comic strip page was a regular activity I began enjoying when I was elementary school age decades ago.  I wasn't a regular fan of Dick Tracy, but I do recall being impressed with the fantasy aroused when he started wearing a 2-way wrist radio on which he could send and receive messages -- pictures, too!  That could never happen in real life --- could it?

A few decades later kids got a toy 2-way wrist radio as featured in this commercial:

Another longer thread I've been mentioning occasionally had been our unusual weather.  Climate changes here occupy the interest of most of us Californians since we have been jolted into ongoing drought conditions.  For example, as Thanksgiving approaches we've unexpectedly been catapulted back into summer with our temperatures pushing 90F degrees where I live.   Others in SoCal are presently having even higher numbers -- no rain, of course.

Periodically a thread of aggravations will reach a pressure point forcing their emergence into my writings.  So it is, I wish radio and television commercials were prohibited from using the ringing of doorbells in their ads to garner a listener or viewer's attention.  

When I'm only half-way attentive sometimes, I hear the doorbell and all too often think it's my house doorbell ringing.  Inconveniently, I make my way to my front door to discover no one there, cause that bell wasn't my house ringer, just some broadcast commercial.

Just as there is no surety about the source of some doorbell rings I hear, there are no other guarantees either.  Definitely there are no guarantees in life as most of us likely have learned in many ways through our years if we didn't already know that truth.  

There have been so many unexpected situations, unlike those we experienced when he was living, that I've encountered since my husband's death 15 years ago.  I sometimes wonder if such surprises will ever end short of my death.  Most recently, an unexpected letter arrived announcing a specialty supplemental-type insurance policy that transferred to me when he died is terminating mid-month.

The highly rated one hundred-year-old-plus insurance company that issued that policy experienced a deadly siphoning of their assets over time through a complicated setup by one of their trusted administrators through other thought-to-be legitimate company associated businesses.  When the criminal enterprise was discovered, the financial deficits were so severe that even several years efforts to save and rehabilitate this once highly respected insurance company could not overcome the damage.

Just as the company could not be saved, this policy we had paid into with its benefits are being terminated.  The individual premium was very modest, much less than one hundred dollars annually, and we did have the coverage those years which we, fortunately, never had to use.

The coverage was for a variety of incidental expenses one could encounter, beyond what regular Medicare and other supplemental health insurance policies pay for cancer and a number of other serous medical conditions.  The group policy had been available through my husband's employer, continued following his retirement, then transferred to my name when he died.   Now, in my older years might be when I could be more prone to issues qualifying for the benefits.  Hopefully, I won't ever need them.

My time has been absorbed recently seeking information, including clarification on this matter, pursuing possible options on related issues revolving around this policy and determining if there is the possibility of  a replacement plan through the employer from whom he retired.  Predictably, given how life goes, accomplishing all this was not simple, in fact, rather complicated and time consuming.  There was lots of navigating recorded phone mazes, leaving messages, being transferred to a seemingly never-ending number of others who were said could better handle my inquiry, referrals to call a different number, a few emails, and the beat goes on, but I finally obtained some answers. 

I still wonder if there might have been some negotiations (formal or informal) on this matter that were part of his agreement to take early retirement that could be pertinent.  Those facts may be lost in time, so there is to be no replacement policy.

So far, a similar medical reimbursement policy purchased privately with a company to which I was referred, revealed that in California, at least, they will not sell such a policy to anyone over 65 years of age.  I notice the original now terminating plan still appears on an internet search, but I've been unable to locate such a plan with other insurance companies to establish their requirements.   In fact, I haven't been able to find another insurance company even offering such a policy other than that one with the age limitations.                        (Please don't suggest other policies to me and I hope insurance companies don't start contacting me with their very different and much more limited and expensive policies either.)

This is one more instance of how some of the care we may take to arrange matters after our death can go not as we expect.  We plan as best we can, but even the most improbable things can happen.  I'm reminded of Scottish Robert Burns poem from which "gang aft agley" is often interpreted as meaning plans going awry.

Perhaps you recall instances in life that have confirmed to you there are no guarantees, eh?

MOTHER NAURE'S CLIMATE REBELLION

Life in Southern California right now makes it impossible for me to ignore the wildfires that national and world news are also reporting.  Beginning this past weekend and daily now the sun has only rarely broken through the smoke blanket covering our skies at higher altitudes.   Earlier this week there was a darkness when I looked outside which was unusual.

Gazing out my windows in daytime now the air can seem clear at ground level but generally there’s a slight haze present.  Local news tells us microscopic lung-damaging particles permeate our air.  They are not filtered out when we breathe even with the masks we wear to protect us from Covid-19, so we’re told to stay indoors.   

 

Last week forest wildfires erupted in the mountains many miles east and west of where I live during our record setting high temperatures.   Fires causes are reported in one instance to be accidental as a consequence of an ill-advised gender reveal event; another due to arson.  At least one small town is gone, other homes have been incinerated and lives have been lost with threats of more losses continuing.

 

Some residents in our city, perhaps in fringe wooded areas, reported receiving alerts to prepare for possible evacuation though they were not threatened nor is our city.    Some local areas experienced a rain of ashes but I’ve seen none where I live below the foothills. 

 

We’re sandwiched between two only slightly partially or uncontained wildfires but great distances apart with no likelihood they will join together.   The San Bernardino Mountains wildfire named the El Dorado is many miles east of here with many cities in between.  West of here, but closer is the Bobcat wildfire in the Los Angeles National Forest, also separated by many cities.   Fortunately, the unpredictable treacherous Santa Ana winds have not whipped up in late afternoon, evening or night to completely alter the fire’s direction and volatility as can occur.  Regardless, my city and I remain quite safe.

 

News accounts and photos of Northern California, smoke-filled orange and blood-red darkened San Francisco fires are awesome to view in photos but are indicators of the devastation that is occurring  elsewhere.  Oregon is experiencing incredible losses with dangers continuing.  Smoke is coming our way from those areas and now heads east with reports of being present as far as midwest Great Lakes state Ohio.

This climate change so many choose to deny or even recognize as a need to address is only just getting started.  Future years will be no less better and are expected only to worsen. 

 

Will we humans accept our responsibility for how we’ve corrupted our environment, continue to do so, and undertake to correct our planet’s self-destruction – if not for ourselves, at least for our children, grandchildren and future generations?    May all reading this remain safe, staying healthy as I am.    

 

RICOCHETING COMMENTARY

Spring is coming – eventually!  California poppy lemon-colored blossoms gradually are increasing their numbers in my light brown bark covered parkway – that strip of land between the sidewalk and the street.   I was surprised to see the first couple buds several weeks ago indicative of an early spring or plant confusion – flowers adapting to climate change, I think.   One of the more typical self-seeded poppies with orange blooms also appeared this week with others to emerge.  

The hibiscus I planted last fall, defining the property line at each end of the parkway, has continued to offer a few new buds, slowly progressing to adding several additional thin filmy light-bluish blossoms. 

In Southern California we have water reserve totals barely above what is needed.   We’re looking forward to an expected rainfall – maybe a quarter to a half-inch of the wet stuff; even a little snowfall in the mountains down to 3000 feet elevation one day this coming week -- then, perhaps a bit more moisture next week.  February is normally a high rain month so we want all we can get since there wasn’t much in January.  All too soon there will be no more rain, no humidity, dryness with lots more sun and heat.

***

For anyone who’s interested here’s the live cam link to the Big Bear Bald Eagles nest in the mountains east of here that I followed last year.  They’ve been keeping their two eggs viable and warm through several periodic freezing nights with expected hatching around Valentine’s Day this week.  Parents Jackie and Shadow will be challenged to keep the eaglets warm, fed and healthy.   

***

My yard has been absent the tell-tale signs grub-worm-harvesting raccoons have visited overnight for several years as we went through recent drought years.  When I first noticed the raccoons handiwork, I hadn’t recognized the significance of the yard’s upturned soil, as though an aerator might have slightly lifted the soil, until the wee hours of one morning.  I was up into early hours, went outside, walked past the hedge lining the side of the garage to come upon a raccoon family obviously headed by a very large Mater or Pater all hard at work hunting and digging up my side yard.   He/she raised up, fixing a look on me that immediately convinced me to return inside my house before the masked defender charged me to protect the family between us that was closer to me.   

***

There’s only so much heavy duty input I can take any more, but I am determined to stay informed and aware of all the issues we face in today’s world.   I begin to feel worn down from it all at times but resist the temptation to tune out the world – at least for no more than a few days or so to emotionally and mentally recharge.   This isn’t the time to abandon all,  just when our attention and whatever action we can take toward resolving some of these oppressive issues is most important.   If I ever lose that interest, I think it will be an indication my time has come to check out of this dimension.  

With all the news these days I take respite from reading any non-fiction books as daily life is much too real.   Biographies and fiction, I can handle – that and lots of humor for recreational reading.

***

I did view most of all the Presidential Impeachment sessions and continue the same with the Democratic candidates debates seeking their party’s nomination for President.  Too bad the Republicans aren’t having a contested nominating process.  I like to view them all as someone officially unaligned with any one political party, unlike when I was younger.

I often enjoyed viewing those old political nominating conventions, despite as manipulated as they were – the voting of each state (and territories) shouting out their great state’s attributes as preface to the number of votes cast for their chosen candidate.  There was such an air of excitement with the possibility something unexpected might happen. 

***     

We continue ricocheting from one deplorable event to another in the chaotic environment to which we’ve been subjected for the past three plus years.   I am encouraged that there still are a few individuals in our government with the ability to discern between right and wrong, what is ethical and moral, among career government employees, military officers, legislators from both political parties (though seems few in one party). 

Unfortunately, the misguided Senate majority party is led by a Senator who may have forgotten  or simply ignored that his oath is to all the people, not primarily just the President.  He gave us a farce of a Senate “trial”(?) denying witnesses to determine if our President had abused his power and/or obstructed Congress from their Constitutional mandated duties.  The argument against having witnesses was a specious one as was that of the Senator who justified her vote by saying the President would learn from this process, presumably to correct his behavior. 

Only one of the Senate leader’s  party members courageously reported he was voting his conscience, recognizing that this President was guilty of abuse of power, denying the desired unanimous acquittal, if not impeachment. 

The President’s State of the Union message did not impress me as the words of a statesman, instead more like a show or con man, closely approximating that of a reality show.  He made so many claims of accomplishment embellished with distorted facts, other warped interpretations, but then for a man who prides himself in being mendacious I generally discount all he says until I can verify what he says with reality. 

Introduction of so many individuals and their stories who were genuinely deserving people to be appreciated for their accomplishments seemed really to just be their being exploited.  The Medal of Freedom, awarded for all the wrong reasons, trivialized the actual medal’s significance, especially when I consider all of those deserving people who have previously received it. 

The day following the Senate’s decision to not impeach this President he spoke to a Prayer Breakfast audience using words embedded with pathetic self-serving comments that seemed quite inappropriate in that setting.  Later speaking from the White House to the nation he delivered an egocentric speech, as most of his are, that reminded me very much of the kind dictators preach to their captive audiences for extended periods of time. 

Most recently we see him flexing his power by firing or removing employees from their positions.  Some might speculate these actions as being vindictive retaliations against highly respected individuals who had sworn under oath to facts contrary to his claims which, incidentally, were made by the President under no oath of any kind.   Given his propensity for prevarication we might have reason to want further confirmation as to his protestations’ reliability.  He had even resisted all efforts to provide documentation or testimony from others that could have revealed or reinforced the truth. 

I think it would not be an overstatement to say our future this election year will likely be filled with more unexpected, unimaginable, undesirable chaos than what we’ve already experienced.  So, buckle up, hang on, and enjoy the ride!

WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

What a world in which we live with massive unpredictable changes turning life upside down for too many people.  

"The Neighbor's Window" -- An emotionally moving glimpse of life with a turn  -- Academy Award Nominated Live Action Short Film 20 mins. you can view for free here:   https://vimeo.com/376861194

Note:  This film’s snapshot of life takes place in the comfort of modern day life in a big city, quite unlike what many are experiencing around the world.

I think of all the peoples who have been displaced from their country due to fighting, other life-threatening, devastating circumstances in their land, who are seeking a peaceful life in a new country but find the challenges they face finding acceptance overwhelming. 

I am eternally grateful to live in the U.S.A. and mightily treasure this democratic republic’s freedoms from autocracy and theocracy that depress many in the rest of the world.  We are encountering political forces attempting to weaken our system in that regard.  This makes me especially attuned to recognizing those seeking to alter the nature of this great country in which I reside -- determined to ensure a strong majority to protect our freedoms.    

Some unfortunate people around the world we hear little about now, but will hear more in the future, are those losing their homes due to the effects of climate change with oceans rising, tides flooding beach residents’ houses and businesses.  My own country’s shores will experience this, too, though maybe not in my lifetime.

Here in Southern California the rain we typically receive this time of year so far is not occurring. Our promising water accumulation from the end of last year dwindles with each passing rainless or snowless day as our totals are now only one-quarter inch above normal.  Concerns continue that we not return to recent years drought conditions necessitating water rationing.  Increased destructive wildfires are a risk as we consider the devastation Australia is experiencing.   

Adding to environmental issues is the present health emergence of  the Coronavirus in China which has been associated with wildlife marketing there.   The World Health Organization has issued a Global Health Alert for this escalating medical emergency which has now also been specifically designated to be a Public Health Concern in the U.S.   

We can hope this virus will not mirror that of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic after WWI actually thought by some to have originated in China according to a Stanford University study.  My mother described that flu in the U.S. taking a significant toll on friends, neighbors of all ages in her quite uncongested rural Great Lakes state farm community where homes were scattered miles apart from one another. Reportedly 2-5% of the world’s population died.  Some still get the facts wrong about this flu as noted in The Conversation.

  

Last week with the Coronavirus rapidly spreading, a plan was announced for the U.S. Embassy staff and some others to be evacuated by plane from Wuhan, the virus’ city of origin, to nearby Ontario International Airport.  Los Angeles TV stations aired video of preparations to accommodate the arrivals who were to be quarantined there for two weeks.

Within a day or so of the evacuation plane’s scheduled U.S. arrival L.A. news reported the flight was redirected to March Air Force Base where the 200+ evacuees would be examined and stay for three days, then if cleared for release they could leave, but would continue to be followed for symptoms.  They could choose to remain on the Base for the entire 14 days for medical monitoring as some evacuees have suggested they might do.  

After the plane's March AFB arrival one of the evacuees reportedly attempted to leave the base prematurely but was prevented from doing so.  He was subsequently ordered to remain there the full 14 days. 

There have been a few Los Angeles area news reports in the beginning which have later not been in verifiable factual official accounts.  In fluid changing situations occasional misinformation can occur.

A succinct New York Times Coronavirus report current as of 2/02/2020 provides further details.

My earlier Internet searches for additional Coronavirus information resulted in my finding John McGory’s American Speech Company’s blog in which he describes Wuhan with photos.  John is originally from Columbus, Ohio, is 65 years of age.  He had to relinquish his seat on the evacuation flight due to passport problems as reported by UK’s Daily Mail news so he remains in Wuhan. 

I anticipated following John’s blog reports but have not seen any since January 27^th.  I’m left to wonder about the circumstances he may be experiencing including if he has food which is becoming scarce, if he may have been evacuated elsewhere, whether his reports might be censored since laws limit free speech in China, or a worst case scenario that he has become ill.      

Follow your stable reliable trusted news sources for current updates on the Coronavirus where you live and do not fall prey to other purveyors of sensationalism, rumor and alternate facts or false truths.

DEDICATION

I didn’t plan to cover our Big Bear area Bald Eagles again in 2020, but viewing recent unexpected TV news videos reminded me of them, resulting in my once again becoming enthralled with recent events there. 

Note:  Last year’s saga is covered in archived posts you can read for anyone interested. Parental eagles, cougar mother Jackie and younger father Shadow successfully hatched two eggs with one eaglet, Simba, maturing toward adulthood, but there was much drama during the interim months culminating in younger eaglet, Cookie’s death, later Simba's reluctance to leave the nest.   My first post was March 24, 2019 with periodic reports during the ensuing months before my last post July 28, 2019 with links on those dates.  Summaries, You Tube video links also available on the Friends of Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle site.

Since I didn’t follow the site after Simba fledged I only now learned there have been subsequent events seriously threatening their nesting location, even the eagles remaining in the area, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley Bald Eagles you can read about on their site.  Humans keep infringing on wildlife habitat.   Will this Bald Eagle sanctuary be protected?

Meanwhile the unsuspecting parental eagles, bonding for their second season,  have returned to their nest with Jackie laying an egg (1/8/2020) expected to hatch Valentine’s Day -- to be followed shortly by the second egg laid Saturday night (1/11/2020) as expected.    Hopefully, unlike last year, the second eaglet will survive and both eaglets will mature to safely fly from the nest.   

I wonder if climate change has somehow affected the parental eagles determination each season about when they start their family?   Perhaps temperatures vary enough from year to year now to result in their needing to adjust.  

These eggs are hatching about a month earlier than last years eggs which gives me some concern that if we have some fierce winter weather conditions whether the chicks will be strong enough to adapt.   Last year it was soon after the final really cold spell of the season with snow, may have been some rain, that the second-born chick ultimately couldn’t survive.  

Currently Jackie is being subjected to below freezing temperatures some nights, all-day and night cold feather-ruffling wind bursts, occasional icy rain or snow as expected later this week.   The nest is reportedly at 7000 feet (+/-30 feet); possibly with only one other California nest at that elevation or higher at Yellowstone National Park -- but no live video coverage there. 

Reports in "Chat" on "Friends" site are of Bald Eagle nests at higher elevations in Colorado mountains.   Nesting bald eagles there and in Canada tolerate temperatures to 30 degrees or  so below zero.  Snow, expected this Thursday, can serve as insulation but any freezing rain in the weeks ahead presents the more serious risk to the incubating eggs.  

Jackie is dedicated to keeping the incubating eggs warm, periodically turning them to aid proper chick development.   Shadow is equally dedicated, sometimes assuming the egg-warming task for several hours providing Jackie respite from the nest.   Periodically he also flies in to provide Jackie nourishment with freshly caught fish from picturesque Big Bear lake visible in the distance often featuring awesome solar-powered sunset videos.   

Here is the new Big Bear Bald Eagles YouTube live camera link: 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBQhLAIBTH0

.....for any readers who want to follow these dedicated avians in their wildlife saga, especially since this could be the last year these eagles will remain in Big Bear.  

* * *

I’m dedicated, too, renewing my personal commitment to myself to engage in more life enhancing actions this New Year.   I gave myself an exercise device I have yet to take out of the box and setup for use, so I’m not off to a very good start.  

It’s as though once I ordered the item, then received the box I had accomplished what seemed like a really good idea.  Nothing could be further from the truth as I well know, but what happened to the enthusiasm I had when I came up with the idea?  I even got a price “deal” adding to my motivation this was a wise action I was taking. 

Have you thought you were dedicated to doing something, then somehow didn’t follow through quite like you fully intended to do?  

The road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions as the saying goes.  Maybe it’s not too late to get my act together.  How about you?