We got through “summer” without the fires of last year. Then September happened. Report was “Dangerous lightning strikes have firefighters in Northern California working at more than a dozen sites in Siskiyou County.”
One morning Mark was called out at 0200 for a lightning fire (the Butte Fire) on East Butte Valley Rd, in East MacDoel which is quite a way from us at the top of Butte Valley on the way to Klamath Falls.
While he was gone, another lightning fire was spotted on Mussolini Point which is less than six miles north of us.
He didn’t get back home until around 1800 … dirty and tired. He had been manning the Hammond Ranch Fire Company water tender, the big truck that supplies water to the pumper trucks. The Mussolini fire wasn’t a danger since the wind was blowing it away from us and it was fairly easy to get under control.
We’ve had rain lately and there is new snow on the Mountain, but no more lightning. At the moment, the sun is shining and there are a few puffy, white clouds.
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I’ve heard from a few of you asking where I’ve been. Well …
The surgery went well … I suppose. It was a bit rougher than I had anticipated. I don’t know where my expectations came from, but I had a very sore belly. Were you aware you use belly muscles to merely turn over in bed?
I’m sure I’ve had spells of aches similar or maybe worse that I just don’t remember. Soon this past week will fade and be “oh yea … that week”.
One difference is that my belly button is twice as deep (at least twice) as it had been.
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This is the second time California has formed a Board of ordinary people, rather than politicians, to do redistricting following a census. I applied and made the first cut. I had to write four essays for the second round. It was like being back in school. Mark, who has written grants, helped me with the wording.
It is a bit different from writing fiction.
One of the questions was: Please describe why you wish to serve on the Commission and why you think it’s important
I wrote:
Californians trust the promise of equality and fairness inherent in several well know documents. Ten years ago, California made a step toward insuring that trust was honored. The state is now forming a Board to do it again. Doing the best job possible to insure that every citizen of California who has a right to vote, and does so, can trust that vote will be given equal value with all other votes cast is a project worth the time, money, and effort it will require.
Applying for a position on this Board follows much thought, conversations with my children, and introspection. As a result I think it would be an extremely interesting project in which to get involved. Having a good time, meeting people, traveling, and doing all of that while working toward a noble goal of value to California and her people … who could ask for more?
Now I have to round up three letters of recommendation.
Some of the statistics are interesting …
Initial Applications Submitted: 20724 and Supplemental (i.e. second round) Applications Submitted: 498
Third round will take it down to 120.
Anyone want to make book on my chances of being chosen for the Board?
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It is getting chilly. I am still sleeping with one comforter, but with the east window nearly closed.
The red maple has begun dropping her leaves. Dogwoods are showing some red. Oaks are beginning their show with yellow, orange, and brown. The iris are looking sick but I won’t clip them. The roots are storing energy for the winter.
I am still gathering and drying herbs … lemon balm and oregano. My store of salves and oils isn’t as big as in the past. I neglected that aspect of my life this past year, but I am beginning to decide where I will commandeer for growing space next year and what I will make sure is available.
Oregano has become important. It is invasive, but since we now need it fresh and dried and as a spray for the chickens, I am not so ready to pull it out.
And I realized last night there was little or no feverfew available this summer.
Oh well …
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There was a sudden drop in egg production last week while I was nursing my sore belly. Mark kindly said the hens missed me. A more likely reason was changes in weather … atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature, and winds. Paul and I will be picking up fresh straw this coming friday and the hen house and nests will be getting winter preparation. Kamille is again working the lunch program at school, so the flow of leftover garbage will continue. We have little household garbage, but what she brings home is a gift for the hens.
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Yesterday’s big event was a meeting with a representative of the Neptune Society. Taking care of George’s final needs went well, but I wanted to spare the kids some of the worry. I am now taken care of leaving little or no problem for them.
I looked at other plans for what is euphemistically called “pre-need” and decided on the Neptune Society. I’m covered no matter where in the world I choose for my departure.
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I’ll end this back-to-the-grind with a note adapted from Rabbi Ariel B. Tzadok.
Life always has its ups and downs.
There are always good times and bad.
Why complain?
This, after all, is life!