CATCH UP -- PIP TIME -- SERENDIPITOUS TIMING

CATCH UP

VAC TIME -- Received my 2nd Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination -- I had only a slightly sore arm at the injection site for just a few days.   Neither of my shots caused any objectionable reactions and pain. 

TRESPASSER -- I unexpectedly discovered a discarded blanket on my back patio which I reported to local authorities.  This is a second, possibly third trespassing occurrence of which I have become aware and described here in the previous post.  Police will accelerate their activities in our community I was told.   I'm considering that some additional security may be warranted.

PIP TIME 

Big Bear Bald Eagle 1st egg produced with peeps heard this past week, but the eaglet was unable to complete the hatching process, dying in the shell.

The 2nd egg is now being monitored for pip (first eggshell break), any day now.

Consider that scientist experts report only about 50% of these raptor baby birds usually survive in the wild as we are seeing with these Bald Eagles since I started viewing them in 2019.

Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) report:                                                                                                    "Due to the extremely high volume, chat will be closed until further notice.  We will post updated recaps of the daily events throughout the day right here".  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7utMaDb1W08

SERENDIPITOUS TIMING

My recent need to contact local authorities prompted my recollection of an instance when my life might have been changed had my timing been different.

I was in the process of helping my mother to continue living independently in her residence.  She had been legally blind for a number of years.  She had been using large size checks so was able to continue to mostly manage her own finances.  In more recent years her vision had been slightly decreasing so I was gradually assuming more responsibility.  Even then I talked through with her everything I was doing, consulting her for decisions.  Feeling we have control over our lives as much as possible when we get older is very important, I believe, so keeping her involved mattered for reinforcing her positive attitude, confidence and bolstering her morale.   

One particular day there were some business matters to transact so rather than just handling them myself I had arranged that she go with me to the bank.  I drove to her residence, sat down on her sofa and we chatted a bit.  There was no hurry since neither of us had plans until much later in the day.  The longer I sat the more comfortable I became and I just couldn't seem to get started.  For reasons I can't further explain I persisted in just sitting there despite her beginning to become impatient with my delay, first questioning, then much more strongly urging that we get on with our bank business.

Finally, I arose, and we drove to the bank which was only five to ten minutes away.  On entering,  I noticed there were an unusual number of men in dark suits busily moving about in addition to the normally few tellers in this never-very-busy bank branch.  I thought maybe they were having an audit of some sort from my years earlier experience working in a bank elsewhere.  We were the only customers.  We were quite surprised to learn there had been a hold-up not long before and these were FBI agents.  Bank employees said they were relieved there were no customers in the bank at the time and no one was hurt.

After conducting our business, then leaving, Mother and I both marveled that had we gone to the bank earlier instead of my just vegetating on her sofa we would have been customers in the bank, or might even have walked in on the robbery in progress.  Who knows what might have transpired, but even if nothing, I'm very glad we did not have the experience of finding out.

I've reflected on other instances in my life when serendipitous timing might have altered my life's experience or path in other ways -- for better or worse.  

Do you recall any instances when unexpected timing could have made a difference in your life?

DST RESET -- 2nd VAC -- PIP TIME WATCH

I trust you remembered to move your clock time forward one hour effective Sunday 3/14.  I reset my manual-needing clocks the previous Saturday evening lest I forget as I did one year.  The rest of my clocks automatically reset the time.  Then, we have to turn our clocks back an hour in the fall.  I'm so tired of doing this.

There's hope we can once and for all eliminate even having to think about clock resetting one of these years.  Beginning the necessary process once again, the Sunshine Protection Act has been reintroduced by a bipartisan group of Senators to make daylight savings time permanent as announced in a press release from Florida Senator Mark Rubio.  Never thought I'd be supporting some political action of Sen. Rubio's, but bipartisan legislation is possible as the current presidential administration desires.  

"The bill reflects the Florida legislature's 2018 enactment of year-round DST; however, for Florida's change to apply, a change in the federal statute is required [Congress must first amend the Uniform Time Act] fifteen other states -- Arkansas, Alabama, California, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming -- have passed similar laws, resolutions or voter initiatives, and dozens more are looking."

This bill simply means if passed that we can finally eliminate having to yearly reset our clocks twice a year.  Arizona and Hawaii have long since had one time year 'round.  What is your opinion about adopting DST year 'round?

VACCINATION TIME

My second Pfizer vaccination is scheduled the first of this week.  I'm not expecting any adverse reactions, but like those of us who live alone generally try to prepare for the unexpected, think I'm ready, just in case.

PIP TIME IN BIRDVILLE

We had quite a storm move through our area bringing some much-needed rain below the foothills where I live in northeast Los Angeles County California.  We're still way below our needed rain levels for the year.   Even the mountains above me are covered in snow.  Unfortunately, mud slides occurred in other fire-ravaged areas of Southern California.  Higher mountain elevations east of where I live brought the snow you see in the video below, courtesy of the Friends of Big Bear.  A live camera on the nest 24/7 can be accessed with a click on that link.  

Cali Condor, one of their web site monitors, shares interesting information on this video's web site including "Snow is one of the most amazing insulation materials in nature.  It limits heat exchange.  It stabilizes temperature.  It even muffles sound".  No need to worry about Jackie being cold with her usual 106 F degree body temperature, also.

We see Jackie's partner, Shadow, fly in to share parenting incubating duties while she takes a break, possibly for breakfast and to stretch her wings.  

Though not in this video, but in others a few sunny days earlier, Shadow brought her a large rainbow trout, still alive, for mealtime.  Later that night when she needed to relieve herself a direct PS (poop shot) that hit the camera hood was filmed.  Despite subsequent snow, sleet, the live camera still reveals the slowly diminishing but still obvious remains on the screen.  This is the first time I've known of this to be a potential visual-limiting problem, but am glad it hasn't been an issue before. 

The unwelcome sneaky visitor, Fiona the flying squirrel, periodically continues to attempt to sneak up on the nest, often in the wee hours of the night or morning arousing Jackie's ire, eliciting a few lightning-fast wing slaps.

Unfortunately, West End Catalina Bald Eagles left their nest with three eggs unguarded just at their pip time and Ravens devoured them all this past week.  

Big Bear Ball Eagles Pip time watch begins Monday 3/15 for the two eggs to begin hatching Jackie and Shadow are incubating.   They may not begin to hatch until three days or so later with timing varying.

AMERICANISM -- OLDER OLDS VACCINATION

The scourge of the world, coronavirus, continues to assault humankind.  Just when our scientists create vaccinations to protect us the virus mutates with a variety of viral variants evolving.    The threat covid-19 has presented should be enough to unify all our nations, dwarfing our differences as we seek to preserve human life.   Such does not seem to be the case as many of the issues dividing us from one another persist.  

Meanwhile,  our scientists strongly urge us to receive a vaccination to protect us in this pandemic.   Even if we still may become infected, at least we are told we'll be armed to prevent severe life-threatening illness.   Here in Los Angeles County California the distribution of any of the vaccines has been quite limited, necessarily resulting in difficulty obtaining an appointment to receive the injection.   

While groups were assigned, often in various age segments as eligible, the release for inoculation was rather erratically, sometimes confusingly changed at times.  Even those who were being permitted to receive inoculations were suddenly unable to do so at the only drive-thru in our area, for example.   I questioned an instance of this on behalf of the older old people 75 years and up, of whom I am one, who live in our community, alone, without family, when that occurred here affecting me, too.   They had importantly earlier provided vaccinations for only aged in group homes.

I conveyed my concern to our local senior center and county officials.     I suggested they needed to consider needs of those in this age group living outside long term care for future emergency events planning since we're told we may well expect such in the years to come.   

Unexpectedly to me our local senior center submitted my name to a local group for which I could qualify to receive a vaccination who had suddenly received a vaccine allotment.   There was no certainty I would be added.  I alerted a 90+ year old friend also living alone in her home with no family.  Ultimately she declined getting the vaccination thinking, erroneously, it would be different than the one she wanted.  

Much to my surprise I was contacted to schedule an appointment so I decided to follow my doctor's recommendation to take whatever vaccine might be offered whenever available.     The first of this past week I received a Pfizer vaccination and am scheduled mid-March for the recommended second booster shot.  Now I hear talk there might even be a third shot to protect against the latest variant.  

The injection caused no immediate reaction just as occurs with my yearly flu shot.  The only difference was about twenty hours later I did begin to experience swelling, then aching with increasing intensity at the shot site.  This lasted for only a few hours, then abruptly ceased.   I will continue to mask, wash my hands following protocol, using sanitizers and observing recommended safety measures to minimize this coronaviruses odds of infecting me.  

I'm not sure why but I seem to be in a philosophic pensive mood as I write this.  Perhaps it's partly a reflection of thinking about all the lives needlessly being taken around the world, especially in this United States by this pandemic.   

As if that isn't enough, I know I am distressed to hear news reports of so many mindless vicious attacks on individuals of a national heritage other than what some few perceive to be the criteria for being American.  Those violators attacking frequently older individuals are the ones who are unAmerican.   

I can't help thinking as I have through the years and expect you may have, too, what wonderful progress could be accomplished in this world and in our United States, if we could all focus our time, energy, finances simply on making this world a better place.  Seems it would be so much easier for everyone than all the dissension, anger, fear and hate that prevails with the lies deliberately told to perpetuate devious ends. 

I guess the best we can do is for each of us to live our lives to minimize humankind's worse qualities and concentrate on those that bring out our better selves.    We will be wise to make certain we choose only leaders to govern us who speak truth, defend democracy, reflect our values, optimizing mutual cooperation, tolerance,  peace, love, genuine caring for one another.