Science

I was going to go shopping today, but IT'S A FIFTY FRICKIN MILE DRIVE to do so. (and fifty back)

Couldn't sleep for two nights with the wind howling all night. Fortunately, I reinforced the gutter ends with solid wood bolsters because they kept parting company with the fascia. Geez, at 76 years, climbing a 13 foot extension ladder, I really aim to live to be 77 or more. Lots more.

Neighbors fire rifles every day. At least in the city, it's illegal to do so, and I've collided with more deer than autos by far. Cost me a pickup truck and the right front of my SUV.

Stress is not intermittent. It's constant, wondering if the well pumps are going to fail today, or if those weird sounds are those predators we supposedly are adapted to deal with. I'M NOT. Rattlesnakes and mountain lions, fuggedaboutit.

When the power goes out, I hope (sadistically) that the downtown (all three blocks of it) is out, because that means that power will be restored in a few hours instead of a few days, because merchants go ballistic and hound the fire department. whereas us shitkickers really don't count. Only time we see the city and county "guardians" is when someone nearby has a pot farm to raid, because in this county, weed is illegal.

Seriously, I took photos of our county cops helicoptering in, dangling 30 feet on a wire to raid a pot farm. WHO DOES THAT?

I suggest "just enough" When I lived in suburbs, let's say all but 10 of my many years, I visited the shore, wineries, mountains, parks, arboretums, all nearby, and being a photographer, was totally absorbed by the beauty. When I was back east, I'd make an annual foliage tour with large format cameras for the duration. And then it was gone.

All without chainsaws and weed-whackers with 20 hours worth of batteries.

I have evolved.

It is still a world of people (despite AI trying to replace us with server farms) and in the backwoods,

THERE AIN'T NO PEOPLE.

And have a great day! Enjoy your short drive to Trader Joe's. And friends you can invite for coffee and tiramisu.



And friends.