First full week without Kamille and Paul.
~~~
My presentation at the WaterMaster Board meeting last wednesday didn’t improve over the May presentation. I get very anxious whenever I am faced with a situation requiring a challenge to “authority”. As a consequence, I had a desert mouth and (in Paul’s terms) the tremor checked in at a full 6 point handquake.
But I got through it and I’m still here.
~~~
Five of us from the south county went to the SCARA (Siskiyou County Amateur Radio Association) meeting last Saturday morning. The head honcho from the ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) in Trinity County was there to talk about becoming an ARES operator and/or forming a Siskiyou County ARES group.
It had been tried here a few years ago, but personalities and politics got in the way. Mark was active in ARES back in New York and knows we need it here. Some folks seemed interested and there was input from CalFire as well.
It may happen this time.
Shirley is still waiting table at Poor George’s and, as I have told you before when George and I were regulars there, the ham and cheese omelet is great.
~~~
Weather has been almost HOT with relatively high humidity. It isn’t humid by some measures, but 33% is wet for here in the summer. Nearly every day we have had a sky full of cumulus clouds and breezes. There has been lightening and thunder around us but not here, and we have had smoke but not overwhelming.
In spite of the humidity, the local fire company has been busy putting out residential and lumber mill fires, doing smoke checks, responding to medical calls (some due to heat), working a string of I-5 median fires, and aiding with traffic accidents.
Because of problems in the past on our private dirt roads, if it is a “get-there-asap” situation, Mark has been using the siren on his way out during daytime hours. I know that out here sound carries, so folks all over the Ranch now know when the fire company is toned out in a hurry.
There was a medical call last week for one of the “old timers” on the Ranch. It set me to thinking. Of the folks who were the core community in the early years (Lowry, Stewart, Allen, Komrij, Rayburn, Barline, Ramey … to name a few), the one who was the reason for the call and I are the ones still here.
Oh well …
~~~
Every summer COS (the local community college) puts on a Theatre Arts Camp which exposes students to all aspects of theatre, both onstage and backstage. This year their “graduation” production (they call it their “Annual Broadway Summerstage”) was a musical from 1992 Broadway using Gershwin music. Of course I had to go.
I grok Gershwin.
It was very much a “high school” production. The oldest participant was 17. The youngest 7. There were some good voices which will benefit from training. High enthusiasm. More girls than boys, so girls in beards. A Broadway showgirl style chorus line (complete with pink ostrich feather fans) ranging in age from about 8 to mid-teens and from really skinny to plump … and remarkably good, if a little hesitant a times.
As I said, I grok Gershwin and the kids did a good job. Well worth the ten dollar admission.
~~~
Next to last children’s lunch preparation for this summer was yesterday. I was asked to do one more prep tomorrow. The summer food programs for kids are ending, since school starts the 20th, and hence no more free lunches.
Wow … where did the summer go?
The other food share programs are still functioning. My next “gig” is scheduled for later this morning. Then it will be back to only the tailgate parties (until autumn is done) and the sharing days at the church.
Volunteering with these programs has given me a chance to meet some great people of all ages. I have a clutch of new “friends” aged from late teens to nearly as old as me.
Well worth the time it costs.
~~~
I have an appointment with a surgeon later this morning. She will be doing a minor procedure for me in a couple of weeks … an outpatient procedure. I had originally planned to have it done in September 2017, but then George …
At any rate, chances are good I will be home by evening the day of surgery. Then I get to play invalid for a day or so. One of our neighbors is a home health RN. Maybe he’ll be assigned to me for follow-up.
That could be interesting.
~~~
Occasionally, on FaceBook, I see stuff like “Nora is having seafood at the Deep Sea Bar with Harry in Newport”. I’m afraid my reaction is usually along the lines of “So ???”
Then a few days ago, FaceBook asked where I was. Caught me off guard. I should have answered.
I am currently reading “Who Fears Death” by Nnedi Okorafor … so I am often in a small village on the eastern edge of the Sudanese desert. Once I was in a big sandstorm and I’ve eaten beetles and lizards.
Last week I was solving a murder spree in west LA and the Palisades with a police detective and a child psychologist.
Next week I’ll probably be in England with Eleanor wondering what (or who) Henry II will be up to next … or maybe in Germany with a blind detective who works with the BKA, the Federal Criminal Investigative Office.
I read books. I know things. I go places.
~~~
In closing for now, some reminders for us all …
We all know there is a lot which can go wrong, so watch for things which go right. … Unknown
and …
What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary. … Rabbi Hillel
And …
If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.
So … ‘til next week …