23 March …
Radio Club report …
This was the view on the way into town that evening …
Then at the meeting we learned one of the members will be teaching a class for obtaining a tech license. He plans on the first two saturdays in May and asked members to help. George and I will be participating. I’ll be talking about the importance (and fun) of public service events (surprised?).
We still don’t know what George will be doing.
On another note, we may have only five public service events this year. The use of bicycle events for fundraisers may be past. The TinMan Triathlon was cancelled two years ago due to smoke and the drought. Now word is that the Mt Shasta Summit Century Bicycle Event in which riders climb four of our peaks (Parks Creek up to the Pacific Crest Trail in the Eddys, Mumbo Crest in back of Castle Crags, Castle Lake above Lake Siskiyou, and THE Mountain) may be cancelled. It had been impacted by wildfire smoke the last two years and participation was down. If it is indeed cancelled, that will leave our August free since I just got word that the Headwaters Run has moved from the end of August to the first of October.
The first planning meeting for the Castle Crags event was last monday so that event is still on track. That event is sponsored by the Mt Shasta Rotary and they had a surprise for us. They appreciate our help, especially in tracking participants and the SAG wagons, and wanted to help increase our efficiency. They gave us enough money to create another GO Kit, i.e. a self-contained grab-it-and-go radio and location tracking kit. The club now has three such kits available to members in case of participation in an event or, more importantly, an emergency. WooHoo …
Even though the times in regard to bicycle events seem to be a-changin’, the club will still have enough training chances, so we’re not worried.
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I was at the Family History Center last thursday. There were three people waiting for us when we arrived at 1100.
It turned out they are all working on the same project … a history of Catholics in south Siskiyou County.
Marty and I spent interesting time listening to the information they have so far as well as looking at some really interesting pictures of the area from as long ago as before the Civil War. We did some brainstorming concerning where there might be more information available.
The first BIG problem we had to get them past was the one we run into a lot … “I looked and couldn’t find anything so there must not be anything to find.”
We did some encouraging, some suggesting, and even some teaching such as that asking for a “plOt” map is not the same as asking for a “plAt‘ map. By the time they left they had three places to search further and seemed ready to do it.
And two of them were showing interest in doing their own family history.
Marty and I were a bit proud of ourselves.
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One evening last week. George and I watched “Still Alice”. We’re both nearly 90, so chances of us developing Alzheimer’s is not great … it usually hits before this age.
Years ago, during a discussion about death in which I cited my Nana, who lived to be within in week of 107, I decided I’d prefer to lose my memories before I became physically disabled rather than be clear thinking while trapped in an inert or unmanageable body. Sort of like not remembering isn’t too bad as long as you don’t know that you don’t remember.
Nana spent the last several (maybe the last 5) of her years living back in 1916 when her husband was hale and hearty, she had a nice house which he had built for her, her mother and sisters lived nearby, and her daughters were 8 and 6 years old. She no longer knew me other than as a nice grey-haired lady who came to visit. But she was content.
“Still Alice” pointed out that ultimately Alzheimer’s may not be bad for the one with the disease, but it can be devastating for those who love them. It is such a heartbreaker.
At any rate, it is a well-acted film and well-done. I was struck by the lead-in to the closing credits. They were preceded by the film’s original title which gradually faded away.
No wonder it won awards.
For next week’s films we go back to Regency England (Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”) and to the roaring twenties (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”).
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Here’s a bit of kitchen advice …
Don’t let limes sit too long before you try to slice them.
I got a bag of Persian limes at CostCo last time we were in Medford. I used some in salmon cooking. I juiced some and froze the juice for summer drinks. and I sort of forgot about the rest.
A few days ago, I saw them and realized I needed to use them. I decided to zest and juice them for a pie and some curd. Things went well for the first five or so … then there was one with a more solid skin than the others.
The peel on all the limes had gotten dry and hard, but this one was super hard. When I took it in my left hand to hold it while I sliced it, I was a bit more cautious … just not enough more cautious.
My nice sharp chef’s knife bounced off and I now have a small nick near the nail on the long finger of my left hand … and a rather severe, uncomfortable angled slice over the first joint of my left thumb. It is a good thing that cut wasn’t straight on or I might have damaged a joint and/or tendon.
I managed to not bleed into the zest or juice, so if I give you any, you don’t need to worry.
George is rather awkward with bandaging but he was able to help get the thumb wound covered to stop the bleeding and push the flap down to seal. It is healing nicely.
Lesson #1 … As when you break a small toe, you don’t realize how much you use any small digit until that digit is out of commission.
Lesson #2 … When you have a lot of limes, do something with them before their peel gets hard.
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A young couple I know have been living through a normal part of existence which is one of the hardest parts of life … one which we normally need not face until we are much older than my friends.
I have not blogged about it at any length since it is not yet my journey. However, she has been posting about their journey and I feel a need to share.
It is a heart-breaker which she is handling (and sharing) with grace and strength, so be aware that if you choose to read … you’ll need tear catchers.
Buds are showing on the lilacs, the red maple, and the apricot. Iris leaves are popping up in the front and back yards, and out where the driveway meets the road, but it is way too early (and chilly) for iris buds … yet.
The ladies are beginning to lay again.
There is no longer appreciable snow in the meadow. Canada geese are back on the reservoir. No sign of robins or the sand cranes … yet.
Now that there are some daffodils showing, I think it might be time to put out the first of the hummer feeders and take up the stones in the walk between the back door and the courtyard so the path can can be redone … if we get a stretch without rain or snow.
Onward …
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This morning the air is clear and the sun bright …
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I recently saw this idea on the net and knew I have to plead guilty …
I am no racist. But I am prejudiced, if not bigoted, toward and against ignorant people regardless of race, religion, political, or sexual orientation. I do not tolerate fools well.
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So … ’til next week …