Opinion . . . and more

Tomorrow's post today because tomorrow we are on the road again, for at least three days, delivering children home to their parents in Washington.
There is some question if we will take the most direct route, as there is a serious situation¹ in the Redding area. So far I-5 looks okay.

The local daily (newspaper)
I won't mention any names.
I used to believe this one was better than the local in Redding.
My opinion has changed.

Actually I can't much comment on the paper itself.
Since I subscribed on June 22 we have received exactly one copy.
My issues up north had as much to do with content as with delivery.
Up there the complaint wasn't about receiving it.
It was about where I would find it.

So I was listening to a discussion on NPR the other day.
A senior editor from one of the major chains was lamenting how circulation, both hard copy and online, is declining.
The lament was more about the number of journalist jobs being lost rather than the cause of the decline, though some words about the importance of journalism transpired.
The local station also interviewed a "regional" [as in four western states] editor, of the chain that owns the local, about the loss of journalist jobs due to cost cutting measures.

Almost the entire time I was listening to these important newspaper people I got the impression they were sure they knew what the customer wants.
Not once did either mention timeliness or convenience.

The news in the papers is no longer new when it reaches the customer.
It has been hashed and rehashed again and again on TV and the radio.
The newspapers could provide some depth, but that would require research and research is expensive.

They talked incessantly about their websites.
I have yet to see a newspaper website that was user friendly or, for that matter, easily accessible.
I will be darned if I'm going to go retrieve my news if I have to pay for it, too.
They never mentioned home delivery [or if they did I missed it].

The newspapers have continuously given short shrift to their home delivery subscribers.
They have all but eliminated afternoon papers, which, if you treated your carrier right, you could find on your front porch.
There's nothing wrong with an early morning paper.
It's just that, in many cases the early morning paper is really a late delivery of last night's paper because the press run started at midnight [or earlier].
The real issue, though, is how poorly the delivery people are treated.
Reimbursement for what they do is borderline criminal atrocious appalling dreadful terrible and the hours really suck.
It's a seven day a week proposition, too.
I'm of the opinion that the journalism side of newspapers should do an investigation of how the publishing side abuses their contractors.

You might ask why I haven't contacted the paper about the missed deliveries.
I would respond that I have . . .   EVERY TIME IT WAS NOT DELIVERED!!!
I was reassured each time that the problem would be taken care of.
Unfortunately there was some kind of disconnect between the parties to whom I spoke and those who ensure delivery.
All manner of promises were made . . .

. . . and not kept.

I would be really miffed, since this was a prepaid subscription, but for one thing.
The subscription was purchased through an agent.

MB and I were at AT&T Park for the Giants game.
We were strolling through the area behind the Left Field Bleachers, where all of the amusements are, when the agent got our attention with, "Do you get the paper?"
MB replied, "We don't live here."
"Where do you live, he asked."
"Sacramento?"
"Oh, do you subscribe to the _____________?"
"Er . . .  no? We did but cancelled."
"Well, I can sign you up . . .   and you can have this custom Giants sweatshirt . . .   for $11.52"
Well, winner, winner, chicken dinner, it just so happened that MB had overlooked packing a warm wrap for the game.
If you have ever seen the prices of logo merchandise at a MLB stadium, you know what a bargain that is.

In case you're wondering, I am still going to have to get her a birthday gift.

feels better now

 that it's cancelled

¹I lived in the area for 44 years.
Maybe I can write about it when the crisis ends.

Just pray

Since yesterday's post the Carr Fire has expanded east to Redding and mandatory evacuations are in effect.
It has been reported that the fire jumped the Sacramento River.
Friends who live more than ten miles south have reported ash falling in large amounts.
Please keep the folks in Shasta County in your prayers.

Odds 'n ends

I missed yesterday because I was out of town . . .  routine dental appointment.
I found hideous smoke in the North Valley.
It appears the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has been overrun.

the point from where this picture was taken has already been overrun by flames

I have lots of friends and family in the area.
They could use some prayers.

Several friends in England make references to the Brighton area of Sussex [seems it's in neither East or West Sussex according to Wikipedia].
More properly, I believe, they refer to Brighton and Hove.
Then they'll correct themselves and say, "Hove actually."

I kinda get a kick out of that expression because I could theoretically have done the same over the past 40 years.
When I lived up north I would tell people who asked where I lived that I lived in Redding, even though I lived in Anderson.
Had I known my English acquaintances sooner, my response might have been, "Redding . . .    Anderson, actually." 
Today my response might be, "Sacramento . . .   Elk Grove, actually."

We have two grands staying with us and four others dropping in daily.
There are all of their various activities that create a revolving door, which currently happens to be either the garage door or back patio door, as the front door has been rendered virtually unusable because of the project, which is currently on hold.

I have seen numerous posts about temperatures and weather.
I will just say that it is almost uncomfortably warm.
That way I don't have to use either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

today will be 311.4833333 kelvin

Q: Uncle Skip, where've you been?
A: We went to pick up grandchildren.

That's the short answer.
The complex answer is that we met them at a location far removed from their home.
They were on the return portion of a three week cross country vacation.
We didn't do so bad travel-wise ourselves over the six days we were away.

The only part I might have avoided   . . . if possivle . . .   would've been Las Vegas [for too many reasons to count].
Then again, had we not been driving east from Vegas, we'd have missed seeing a Buff, and having the pie scared out of MB by a flyover by a fast mover just east of Nellis AFB.
That was not the highlight, but it was a punctuation mark.

There are pictures to be posted when the opportunity presents itself.
If I was married to the blog that might have already happened.

Here's a teaser from the first stop.

Looking south from the top of Hoover Dam

To paraphrase my swell friend, Suldog: "Sooner or later, with more, better, stuff."

 . . . or not

It's not cement

The concrete is gone.

I've a friend who is an engineer.
He worked for CalTrans¹ his entire career.
Any time he'd hear someone talk about cement, as in sidewalks, streets, driveways, curbs, gutters, or or other constructions, he would correct them by telling everyone present that it was concrete.
Cement is what holds the concrete together.

Anyway . . .   there's no front porch or entry at present.
As soon and the front door has been lowered some 5 ½ inches we'll see new concrete poured and be able to get on with our project.
Meanwhile company has to enter through the garage.

There will be a slight change in blog posting for the next few days.
MB and I are meeting family so we can bring two of the grandkids here for a week.
I will attempt to post some pictures from wherever we happen to be [key word: attempt — iPad limitations irritations].
This is the first trip in MB's retirement.

another in a week

¹California Department of Transportation, the road guys

It's kinda dusty

I mentioned there's a project.
The entry foyer to our home was raised [key word: was].
From the entry it was a step down into the living room on the left, the family room on the right, and into the hallway straight ahead.
It was tiled.
I have no BEFORE picture.

MB took some during pictures.

living room is behind curtain one

Step one was dust protection

looking from family room to entry

some labor is involved

. . . and hand tools

About 1/3 finished now

The tools remain because the next step, which begins this morning, is to remove the front step and concrete entry so it isn't a step down into the house.
Then we get to lower the front doors, after which a new concrete entry will be poured.

I have to stop before the noise of the jackhammer sends me to an audiologist.

Sunday fun day

The daily routine currently requires two sets of drops in the eye THE EYE, four times a day.
There's an antibiotic and a steroid.
The antibiotic is for one week.
The steroid goes on, tapering down to nil at the end of four weeks.
Fortunately it is not a strict regimen.
The tech's recommendation is, "breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime."
Since sometimes I only eat twice in a day I opted for when I awaken, then every 4 1/2 to 5 hours, or bedtime, whichever comes first.
That's when the hard, clear plastic eye patch gets taped to my face.
That's about the only discomfort I have, and it is minimal.
I would give more detail about the surgery itself, but there isn't much to say.
I was sedated, though not knocked out.
They threw a sheet over me, cut one eyehole and proceeded with the procedure.
It was over almost before it started.
Now I see better with the repaired eye than with the other.

There are limits

There’s a project taking place.

I can’t even hear myself.

I’m limited to posting from the iPad, which won’t cooperate when I want photos.

Grrrrr!

The outpatient procedure (okay, it was cataract surgery) on Thursday went well.

There was no discomfort at any time, unless you consider that I was starved all day long.

Afterward I had to have an eyepatch until the follow up with the Dr. on Friday morning.

The doc was really pleased, on two counts.

One, there was only a little inflammation and swelling.

And then, two, she said I was the best patient.

I’ll leave it at that.

Friday cat

. . . and friend.

Fasting

No . . .   it isn't a dietary thing.
Today's the day I get to have the left eye cataract repaired.
The downside is there will be anesthetics involved and that requires that I don't eat any solid foods after 5am.
I am. by nature, lazy.
So I do not choose to rise extra early to have a meal.
I'm not totally without.
I'm allowed clear liquids until 11am.
I've been told the actual procedure will be sometime around 3pm.
I am not pleased.
It makes me hungry just thinking about abstaining from eating.

Just in case anyone was wondering why there was no post on Tuesday.
MB, four grandkids [out of a possible 17], and I braved the traffic of the Bay Area and drove to Milbrae.

I have no idea who Sabrina Lane is

No matter what roads one drives to the bay this time of year or what time of day one drives them, the roads are packed and it takes longer than expected,
We returned by an entirely different route.
Is was not much better.

another untitled post

A 79-year-old man is having a drink in a bar. Suddenly a gorgeous girl enters and sits down a few seats away. The girl is so attractive that he just can't take his eyes off her. After a short while, the girl notices him staring, and approaches him.

Before the man has time to apologize, the girl looks him deep in the eyes and says to him in a sultry tone: "I'll do anything you'd like. Anything you can imagine in your wildest dreams, it doesn't matter how extreme or unusual it is, I'm game. I want $100, and there's another condition".

Completely stunned by the sudden turn of events, the man asks her what her condition is. "You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words."
The man takes a moment to consider the offer from the beautiful woman. He whips out his wallet and puts $100 dollars in her hand ---He then looks her square in the eyes, and says slowly and clearly: "Paint my house."

Our needs change as we get older, and we tend to look for bargains

Monday update

MB is 'offucuakkt' [that's what you get when the hands are placed in the wrong position on the keyboard] retired.
Yesterday after the first service there was a brief ceremony, with cake, where the pastors lauded her services as Church Business Administrator.
There were some tears and lots of questions about what plans are.
There are also those who think she will have more time available for committee work.
MB has been reminded that, "No!" is a complete sentence.
I'm kinda happy I have some experience with this retirement stuff and know what many . . .   but by no means what all of the pitfalls are.

Really?

The MoB¹ watches a lot of tv.
She does not hear well.
So we get to listen.
So the Hallmark Channel, or whatever it's called, is showing Christmas tales.
I'm just a little chafed by this.
Costco has hardly gotten it's back to school stuff out.
I don't do Walmart, and avoid Target and Kohls, so I can't vouch for them.
My only reaction [which I keep to myself to maintain domestic tranquility] is . . .

"Get Off My Lawn!"

 you're burnin' the grass

¹Mother of the Bride = my mother in law

Because . . .

I posted this because  . . . trains.
. . . and I moved 167 miles to still be inconvenienced on a regular basis because I am still on the main north-south rail line.
Now that I think about it, I have always lived relatively close to the tracks, just probably not in such a high traffic area.
So it isn't the trains so much as other drivers.

Almost works

Yesterday

 Li'l Teeny picked out the July 4 wear.
Big Brother went along with it.

We celebrate

In previous years I have posted a list on this date, Things I love about America.
I missed posting it last year and had to leave a link.
This year I had another idea.
I heard how John Adams was sure we would celebrate Independence Day on July 2.

 July 2 was the day the Continental Congress voted for independence. It approved a resolution that said: "these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have, full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do."

 On the day they took that vote, John wrote to Abigail: "It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by Solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

 I think the Congress screwed up another holiday.

YMMV

Catching up . . . kinda

Yep . . .   we (MB, the MoB, and I) made it to Minneapolis and back without any problems to speak of.

The MoB went, with her grandson (MB's oldest son) to visit where she was born.
The grandson drove from Milwaukee to Minneapolis to pick her up, then spent two days in Superior, Wisconsin not finding any landmarks with which she was familiar because she hadn't lived there since 1951.
She still has some cousins who they visited.

MB was busy at our venue because she's on about a million committees [two, actually] in which she is totally immersed.
I managed to stay occupied because there was always something going on, even if it was just making airport runs.
That was our only real challenge during the week.
A van had been reserved, but Hertz (remember "WE'RE NUMBER ONE!") lost that memo and only had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that barely accommodates five and some of their luggage.
We managed.

Flights were uneventful, even to the point that the meals for purchase were missing from the eastbound trip.
Fortunately we'd remembered some bananas.
For the return trip we stocked cookies and gummi worms.

It was humid in Minnesota and a couple of days the temperature was in the 90s.
We consoled ourselves by looking at the weather app and seeing it was over 100 at home.

We arrived back at Sacramento on Saturday afternoon to find triple digits and clear skies.
A few hours later those skies were impaired with a billowing smoke cloud to the west where the County Fire has now reached 70,000 acres and has become a multi-county fire.
It's more than 50 miles to the fire, but ash from the fire is reaching us.

it's always sumthin'

Books 7

Books 6