Whether Weather

Have you ever wondered whether the weather will be nice? Or, whether it was freezing outside. Or weather the winds were gale force? I have.

I used to gauge the wind by the bend in the trees. I used to measure the rain by setting out two buckets, one which I emptied every day, and the other left to catch the daily accumulations over a period of time. That all worked fine in their day.

But no more.... Now I have a real weather gadget. One of my daughters gave it to me as a gift, while the udda daughter gave me a gadget to plot the stars, that same Christmas. They were both great gifts, but it goes to show what they think retired life must be like.

Anyway, no more buckets, checking for signs of ice, or looking to the trees to judge the weather conditions. I don't even have to empty the rain collector every day. It's all automatic. I have it all instantly available right in my office. There are outside sensors that collect the samples, then relay that information wiredlessly to an inside display, that in turn, feeds it to my desktop computer by wire, and records it on a giant spreadsheet every so often (although I haven't got that part working quite yet). So ask me anything. I know it all about our local weather.

And the other gadget fares just as well. From anywhere in the world, and at any time of day, I can determine where to look and find any star in the galaxy that is visible at the time.. I love gadgets.

But, for best results, you'll need a dark, clear sky, like the one I have from the dock.

She is the Boss

Back in 2002, we scouted this Central Oregon Coast for a place to retire. Actually, over a period of several years, we scouted most every city within 100 miles of the coast from the Mexican border Astoria, the northern most coast of Oregon. And prior to that, we looked all over the inland areas of central and norther California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. But the best spot for us was the last spot. So we were led here....To retire (I thought)..

It was really easy for me not to work any longer. Easy not to shave unless I want, easy to get up early and fish, or sleep in late only to ride the Harley, easy to walk the countless trail, and easy just to relax.

Not so though with my perfect wife. I call her that because everybody thinks she is perfect, and everyone likes her better than me. And I do too. She's keeps me going (and going, and going). She actually misses working, and has from the start. So, to fill her void, she took up volunteering and went just bout anywhere someone would take her. Finally she ended up at our local Animal Shelter.

First she did a day a week cleaning cat boxes, but what was supposed to be a 4 hour gig, worked into about 8 because she just had to play with the kitties while she did their cleaning. She loved it, and soon it became several days a week, plus a Saturday a month to run the adoption clinic at the local grocery store. Then she was elected to the Board of Directors, and later offered a full time paid position. Now, guess what? Today was her first day as the Chief Administrative Officer. I'm very proud of her, although this was not the plan. I just go where I'm led.

So much for retirement...

No Mas Mud

Where I live, from the sea to a bout 5 miles inland, is one giant sand pile. And that means there is no mud, no mud puddles, no mud to track into the house, no muddy tires on your car, no muddy hands while tending a garden, no mud period...

You might say, "Now, I like it like that!" That's because you've had mud all your life and you just don't appreciate it. Now, I haven't had muddy hands for several years now, and I miss it.

Mud is good. Without it, soil is bad. Ah, it's nice to walk along the beach, then just dust or rinse and your mighty clean, but try growing or building something without mud. I miss mud..

Here you can leave a water hose running full open on the ground and you might get a puddle 1 inch deep and a few feet wide, but it disappears as soon as you turn the supply off. And as soon as you do that, it returns to soft, flaky sand. Just like at the beach, you can build a castle out of sand, but as soon as you add too much water, or it dries out, it simply returns to what it was, just flat sand.

So to get anything to grow, or build anything in it, you have to make mud out of the sand. Now that's really hard and expensive to do. So, building that simple berm to hold the water around the base of your bush, or terracing a hill, is impossible because as soon as it all dries out, it flattens out. Everything must have some sort of retaining system to prevent the soil from washing away.

So, appreciate your mud. And when you come to visit, leave the mud on your shoes. I'll be glad to have it. But for now, I gotta go try and make some mud.. Imagine that!

Incredible Edible

About 7 years ago, I discovered the Oregon Coast for the first time, and a few months later my life (wife) and I returned for her to see for herself. We stopped in a small coffee house in Old Town and we chatted with the proprietor. Some how it came out where we were from and my occupation (but not specifically for whom I worked). She asked if I knew Lloyd O'C. and I politely brushed her off to another subject.

But that name did sound familiar and months later I realized that I worked with a kid by that name in the late 70's. I lost touch with him because he left the job rather suddenly, and I soon forgot all about him.

Well, the other evening we went to the local casino, and were at the Welcome Booth to redeem some freebee coupons, when that clerk asked me if I knew her husband, Lloyd. She said that she recognized my name from the stories he had told her years ago. So, after exchanging a few e-mails, we met for breakfast today.

Seems he was visiting the coast about the time we first began coming here, and had a cup of coffee at that same place in Old Town. He too had a casual conversation there, and that lady must have remembered him when I came in.

Who would ever think? Some thirty years later..... In a small town so far away.... Friendly people.... A casual conversation with a stranger who actually heard what you said....And a chance to visit a friend from the past....

I think that is incredible, although I did get hooked for the edibles.

Making a Bunyun

Oregon really has many, many, and lots and lots of trees. But the trees on the Oregon Coast are not really pretty. Even Bakersfield has prettier trees, at least when they decorate the oil dereks. And Tehachapi has beautiful fir trees, and then there are the gorgeous trees in the redwood areas of NoCal.

Our trees, at least where I live are called Coastal Pines. They grow very tall, but they're built like telephone poles, not very thick at the base, and about the same diameter from the base to the top ( I remember my 2nd grade crush having a bod like that). Most of the branches are at the top of the tree, and the roots are shallow in the sandy soil.. So, when the wind blows, the tree bends, and bends. Some don't make it, as either the tree snaps off near the top, or the roots give way and the tree capsizes. It's pretty common all around here, and I have a few that scare me that are growing on my property. Some have all ready come down, which makes me do mounds of work chopping it all up.


So, today, I took a tree falling lesson from a friendly logger. Actually, they call it tree "felling" here. But anyway, we cut one down together. It was pretty awsum. So, on Sumday, I'll get up the nerve to fell a tree of my own. Well, maybe not.. Might just wait for mother nature to take her course.

Sure wish someone would visit me so that I could teach them this stuff in person.

Parsnips

We were invited to a friend's house with other friends for a dinner on the Love Day. Beef Wellington was served with fresh asparagus and parsnips. Now, I've had asparagus but never beef wellington or parsnips. The beef wellington was delightful, but the parsnips were even better.

I don't think I've ever even seen a parsnip in a store, let alone eaten one. I didn't even know what I was eating and I was afraid to ask. Thankfully someone else asked for me. I guess they are a root kinda vegie that looks like a white carrot. Really tasty. If you've never tried one, I encourage you to do so. Google says you cook 'em up just like potatoes, or carrots. Boiled, baked, fried, or eat them raw. I think you'll like them. And the Wellington was great, but I think that's beyond my means.

Yum..Yum..

Who dis?

For history is who we are, and why we are the way we are. I know you crave for more, but no. Not today.

It's the weekend. But every day seems like a weekend for me. I only track the days because it's necessary to tune into my favorite tv show. Yesterday, I tuned into Friday Night Lights.

One of my sistas wished me a Happy Valentine's Day and you know who you are. Ta Tah

What's This Thing?

Maybe I'm weird, but I don't get this. Perhaps someone can help me understand.

I've noticed the symbol at the left on some blogsites. In particular, on my udda Sista's site, whenever I leave a comment, a secret word appears, and I must type it into the secret word box to leave my comment. I know that it is some kinda security thing, but my site doesn't have it. But, shouldn't I have one? My blogs do contain some pretty deep stuff you know.

Now, I don't mind typing in the secret word into the secret word box, but it's that symbol that confuses me. I assume it has something to do with the sight impaired people. Because when I click on it, a voice gives some rambled numbers that I can then type into the secret word box in lieu of typing the word that appears above it. That part, I think I get.

What I don't get is how a seeing impaired peson can see that little handicapped graphic, or for that matter, put his cursor into the secret word box in order to imput the set of numbers they hear. And, it also assumes that the sight impaired person is not also hearing impaired? What then?

Wiredlessly awaiting from somewhere for someone to help me with this.

Weird and Wireless

Well, most (actually all) of my known, active followers have called me weird at one time or another. But now they can call me weird less often, because I'm wireless, which makes me more like them, thus weirdless.


I've always wanted to be wireless. Or less wired, because those systems do have a wire connecting them to the telephone system. So, they're really just wiredless. After seeing my favorite son in law's system, I really wanted one (actually he's my only son in law so he has to be the favorite). Until recently, I never had a need for it because the Lan cable could easily span the 8ft distance all the way cross my living room, and I could remain weired and wired. But things changed.


Now my living room is downstairs from my office, and of course there is a Dock and decks. So, I went wiredless yesterday. The G-routers are quite cheap now, and with the openness of my house (as is this entire state) it works really swell. Now need for that pricier N-router. And it was really simple for me to set up. I didn't employ the security features though, so most anyone could steal my signal from a boat on the Lake, or from the bushes across the street. Yes, my street is paved, believe it or not. But it is hard to find, especially in the dark, and there's bears in those bushes. That's my security system.


So, now I can be connected wherever I go around here, even at the Dock. And if I get that laptop carrier that opens into a dome tent to cover my computer, I can even sit in the rain to connect wiredlessly if I want. I just need better rain suit though. Maybe the kind that the crabbers wear on Deadliest Catch, because it rains hard here.


I'm actually connected now, wiredlessly, as I sit in the comfort of the recliner I got from the thrift store. I do plan to replace that chair, but unlike my udda Sista, I'll wait for my handout check to clear the bank before I stimulate myself and my country. I might even watch that Sista's retirement celebration from here as well.


Right now, I have to check my wiredless signal strength at the Dock of the Lake.

Everyone Else

Well, I'm about to leave this subject for something anew. Maybe I'll just blog about nonsensical things that won't test your minds at all. But before that, think about this.

Do you realize that over 40% of us work for the government, either Federal, State, or Municipal? Add to that the 12% that receive some kind of government aid, and another 10% who get unemployment. Now who's actually working after you subtract the wealthy who don't work?

Of course government is necessary, but by the government providing the income to over 50% of its population, it is able to control us. Most everyone now earns the same money when compared to another in the same region of America. Cops make the same as nurses, as do teachers, as do firemen and all the other everyday kinda people around. Even those on welfare, the unemployed, and those on disability have similar incomes to those who actually work. Only the few in private industry, like CEO's, doctors, and attorneys make significantly more than everyone else.

Government programs like Minimum Wage brings everyone even closer. Oregon just raised it's minimum wage again, but no one that I know that is working above the minimum wage, received an increase in their pay. So we are just another step closer to all being the same. Soon we will be either in the "Everyone Else" bracket, or the Wealthy bracket. That is what Socialism is. And I don't think that was what our founding fathers envisioned.


So, I'll be social, and drop another bread crumb to the fish in the Lake while I relax and ponder from the Dock.

Tone My Bell Easy

It's history folks, not politics, that I've been blogging about. I've only recapped what has occurred in my country during the past 40-60 years, which is history. I have only pointed out our our slide into socialism and that has occurred regardless of whether our leadership has been Republican or Democrat.

I'm sorry for the confusion, or if you find history boring. But to me, it's both fascinating and rewarding. I know that learning history better prepares one for what will be in the future. Like knowing your how your company came to be, its failures and successes, and what their direction is, enables one to have to a more successful career. Now, imagine how difficult it would be for a Christian to go forward, if he didn't have the Bible to tell him where he came from, what is expected from him, and what his future will be?

Now, I'm not a radical advocating a rebellion in America. I'm only encouraging you to understand what has happened, watch what's going on now, and prepare for your future. I have. Now, I'm going to the Dock and wait for my check. And, there will be no need to pack a lunch because it is coming soon. I'll bring a snack though. Just in case...

Capitalism

Should people be allowed to follow their dreams as they please? To be all they can be? To develop their minds and keep the rewards of their hard work? That's called free enterprise, or capitalism, and that is what America was. Compare the progress of America and Japan, each having capitalism, to those counties that have socialism, and determine the results for yourself.


Capitalism encourages being smart, innovative, and taking risks. Those that master that are entitled to reap the rewards. And for those that fail, sink to the bottom and are quickly consumed and replaced by those continuing ever to climb.


Now, suppose one gets the great idea to feed his quarters endlessly into a Keno machines. Now he might have thought that his idea was innovative, and smart, and could lead to a healthy reward. But he also knew there was risk. Now, suppose his idea paid off when he hit the Big One, but in his effort to do it again, he lost all of his quarters, and then some.


Now suppose his government took money from other people who were also successful, and reimbursed him for all of his losses, then encourage him to try it again without any supervision from the government. Would he do it? Sure he would! Now that's socialism at it's best. Well, that is what our government is doing. Is that what you want?


Many people took risk in investing in banks that made risky loans in an effort to get ahead. Many more people took risk and purchased homes, cars, and toys using credit in their effort to enjoy life more. Most failed. That's free enterprise and capitalism at work. Socialism seeks to refund these losses from the earning of those that did not lose, so that everyone is again equal?


I'm saddened that so many have lost so much. But there will be others that will rise in their place, to fill their void. And some of those losers will recover to emerge even stronger. Woolworth's, Gemco, Montgomery Wards, and Edsel all eventually failed but were replaced with the likes of Target, Walmart, Costco, and Toyota. And they too might fail only to be replaced by something even better. Not a novel idea. It's been happening for years, and the cycle will continue if allowed.


But we are going social, so I'll go back to the Dock and think of how best to spend my handout.

Going Social

So, what do you think the role of our federal government should be? I think our founders intended it to be quite simple. As a Democracy, we were given a voice in our government. Our government was to guarantee our right to worship as we choose, to pursue life and happiness in the way we choose, and to protect our borders from outside aggressors.

There were still the rich and the poor, but unlike the previous dictatorship, the poor had the opportunity to become rich. A middle-class began to emerge from those that lost their riches, and from the poor that bettered themselves. But there was no guarantee that once rich, one would remain rich, or the other way around. That was capitalism.

The government's role evolved as time passed. People demanded more. No more rich. No more poor. Just one class with everyone being of equal wealth. That is socialism, and over the past five decades, our government has been going farther and farther in that direction. The government collects taxes from the rich and middle classes (because the poor can not pay taxes), then gives it back to only the poor and the middle class. Social Security, Medicare, and Welfare, are the examples I see.

But does socialism really work? I'll kick it around more later....I'm going to the Dock..

Dock or Deck

I guess, I've been misleading my followers because sometimes my thoughts originate from the Deck, not the Dock. So what's the difference? Well, the Dock is at the water, and the Deck overlooks the water. I get a different perspective depending on what platform I'm doing the thinking from.

Anyway, yesterday, I was on the Deck when I saw a Great Blue Heron wading at the water's edge. The locals here call them GBH's, so now that I've been here for several years, I will too.

This GBH, like the one at the above, it stood about 3 feet tall, and had a wingspan of about 4-5 feet. Kinda like a pelican, but without the flabby chin, it stands perfectly still in the shallows and feeds on fish as they pass by. Now, I could never see their feet and presumed they were webbed like a duck. I watched as this giant caught a fish, then few away and landed in a tree to eat it. I was very amazed that he could perch himself on the branch with webbed feet. I scrambled for my scope (no, not a rifle scope, but a real spotting scope that I got for Christmas) to get a bird's eye view of things. But I was too late.

So, much like my child does to find quick and simple dinner recipes, I Googled it. It was only then did I realize a GBH has regular bird's feet. That's why they don't land on the water like the ducks do, but rather on a log or something and step into the shallow water.

Flip Flop, Tick Tock, like a Clock, from the Deck or Dock.

It's Alarming

I'm sure you've been startled by alarms. You know, like the sound of an auto horn as you pull into someones path, the ear piercing sound you hear when dinner is smoking in your kitchen, or the frantic cry of your child. Those types of alarms are effective because they are unexpected.

Here, at the coast, we have an alarm to warn of a tsunami. It's a siren, much like the air raid sirens we had in the 50's and 60's, and it is tested weekly. Much like police sirens (unless you're the one the cop is after), ambulance sirens in a big city, or my piece of crap truck's backfire, we tend to grow accustomed to those alarms. And those alarms tend to lose their effectiveness.

Such is the same for bedroom alarm clocks, like the one my wife uses most mornings because she works. But I don't, because I don't work any more. Problem is, her alarm goes off for an hour before she responds to it. But I do, even though I don't work anymore. And that is annoying.

So this morning, I explained to her that her alarm clock has lost it's effectiveness to her because she has become accustomed to it. So, I offered to wake her myself when I hear her clock go off. But I told her, to keep it from becoming ineffective, I would jump on top of her while she slept and beat her with the pillows should she not respond quicker to her alarm clock. I think that would solve her problem, and mine.

And then... I'd go to the Dock.

I'm Always Wondering

The skies were blue, there was no wind, and the temperature was heading to the 60's, as I finished my coffee on the Dock. But here is what I thought about today.

A few weeks back, I contracted with a local glass shop to have a shower door built. The design included clear glass, one fixed panel, with a door next to it. The was to be a metal frame to provide extra strength. The top of that frame was to be 75 inches, enough to allow 6'2" person to pass through.

A few weeks later, the installer came. I left him alone to do his job while I tended to other matters. When I returned, he was nearly finished and was standing inside the shower. Like me, he was about 5'8" tall. His head and shoulders were above the top frame of the as he looked over it at me. He seemed surprised when I told him, "Now that won't work. Take it out." He asked what was the problem, and I asked him to come outside to my vantage. He squatted nearly to his knees to get under and through the door opening. Once outside the shower with me, I asked whether he then knew the problem. And he said he thought it was an odd design, but surmised it was designed for a person in a wheelchair. Must have been a handicapped type that never has a assistant though, I thought to myself. When I showed him the design drawings that had a 75" top height instead of the 57" tall door that he had installed, he agreed that he should have inquired with me before waisting his time installing it.

Am I weird or do you wonder like me sometimes?

Saturdays

Well, I'll use this slot to describe the conclusions that I've come to this past week or so. Besides, I'm sure each of you have had experiences to similar to mine, and are bored reading about mine by now.

What I called Those Days, is my history. And I believe history is very important because from it, we can tend to predict the future. As each day of history passes, it creates a farther sight into into the future. I've realized that change is inevitable. For some, change is often called progress. And for some, progress is deemed good.

For me, life has been good and I love it. However, I don't believe in luck, or fate. I know that my good days, and the not so good days, were all provided by God. However, I do believe one can have significant impact on life by following God's lead.

I have realized this past week that all of my struggles, or not so good days, came at a time when I thought I was in control. When I encountered the not so good days, I felt as if I were losing control, and fought even harder to keep it. Only then, when I surrendered the control that I thought I had but never had, to God, did my struggles recede. That is what I call Faith, and my Faith continues to grow with each passing moment, knowing that I am under only God's control.


I am troubled though, with those that don't know my Lord, who continue to try to exert their control over others. Their efforts to oppress the people to maintain their control, results in greed, crime, corruption, and often genocide. They infiltrate our schools and government, and prey upon people that don't know God, to oppress them, and convince them to join their ways. Only those that know my Lord can stand strong to preserve His will.


I tend to like Those Days best. Perhaps it is because I was innocent and ignorant then. I know better now. The future is of concern to me. More crime, corruption and oppression will surely come, as populations grow. But I am at peace here on the Dock knowing that I know God and will always follow His way.

Fridays

In Those Days, I was the Firstborn Son of a six sibling family. Only a sister was older than I, and she, to me, was as beautiful as a princess. She could twirl on skates, and dance just like a ballerina. She taught me a lot, but soon left our family to build one of her own. Although I loved my childhood, I dreamed of the day that I too could have independence. I tried it once when I was 11 or so, but that lasted only a few hours. Actually, Mom saw me packing and followed from a distance, keeping her watch full eye on me. While overseas, a Sears catalog was my only source, and I used it to plan the hows of my escape when I returned stateside. By then, I'd be 15, and well prepared to be on my own...I thought.

And things did change. Wasn't long after, I became a legally emancipated person, married, and began a family of my own. My father was soon transferred to another part of the country, taking with him Mom and the siblings. And I was alone, to fend for myself, and to care for my family. With time, my in laws came to be more accepting of me, and I learned to trust and admire them, especially the one my kids called Pop. It was strange to me that he was called Pop, just as my father was. Although we butted heads occasionally, I leaned from him as well. Mostly economics and such, which I used to build a solid foundation for my future.

And now as I sit on this Dock, and reflect back to the Days that Were, I have recognized my roots and I know how I came to be me.

Thursdays

In Those Days, the winters were cold. Sometimes the snow would drift against the house, all but covering the windows and blocking the doors. The snowplows would run the streets, pushing piles into the driveway, or burying the car if it was parked at the curb. Pop always went to work early in the day, which meant I got up with him to clear the car of the snow. Many times, the car never even started anyway and he would have to call a Jeep from the base to come get him. Mom layered so many clothes on me that I could only walk like a Ginger Bread Man on the way to school. But after school, was fun. I stripped away most of the outer clothes so I could sled, skate, or have snowball fights. So much fun. By dinner time, I was so cold that Mom bathed me in cold water to warm me up.

Winters changed for me as time passed. It still seemed as cold as it was, but I think that was because I was older and couldn't take it as well. Things were pale and brown, and the winds always blew. Some people fashioned a likeness of snowmen from tumbleweeds. It was football season and I loved to play. The cold wind never bothered me while playing, but for my fans in the stands, it was another story. I found that out when I became the fan while my children played the games. Watching the soccer games were the worst, although I loved to go.

For me, it's not so cold anymore. Seldom do I wear much more than a sweatshirt now. If it does snow, it melts away very soon. And if the wind blows, it's not all the time. And when it rains, I adapt. There is never a time that I can't sit on the Dock and ponder.