Greetings Earthlings. How are things in your neck of the woods? We see that Montana has received a lot of snow. This amuses me because I recently read an article about how people in California are flocking in droves to Montana. They're driving up real estate prices and forcing the locals out. Many rentals are no longer available for service workers because the owners are converting them to AirBnBs. It's happening all over the state. One wonders how many of those people from California, where the weather is generally good, have any conception of what winter in Montana will be like.
Anyway, life during the pandemic continues. I've been seeing articles on my Google news feed about what shortages will be manifesting as the virus worsens. There will be a shortage of patio heaters, so if you want one of those, go buy it now. There will be food shortages as well. We did a little hoarding shopping yesterday at Costco; canned chicken, Aidelles smoked chicken sausage, pasta, canned corn. Canned corn (which we never eat) is vanishing. It's a particular strain of corn, grown specifically for canning. It's grown, harvested, and canned. That's it for the year. So when it's gone, it's gone. Costco is completely out of Kirkland canned green beans and corn. We bought a case of Del Monte corn, I'm really hoping we don't have to eat it. Maybe we'll hoard some more rice. It's a weird mindset, never in my life have I been concerned about the availability of food.
It would appear that the stubborn ridge of high pressure that has made it so hot is breaking down. The weather heads have not said if it will stay down. Look at Monday and Tuesday. Looks like it will be time to break out a blanket.
We voted. Monday we drove the ballots downtown and dropped them off at the county Registrar's office. It was a drive through event with no waiting. That was good.
Tucson has construction cranes everywhere. The thought had been to drive around a little and take some blog-worthy photos. However, given the number of closed streets, we bailed and went home.
This is our filing cabinet. See how the top drawer is open? It has refused to close for months. Then the bottom drawer started doing the same thing. Replacing the cabinet would be difficult because it holds up the end of the corner unit. After unloading the bottom drawer and learning how it can be removed, we discovered that the screws holding the runners on to the drawer and the cabinet sides were backing out and preventing the drawer from closing. So after months of leaving the drawer open, it was an easy fix and life is better. The ironing board in the background is for making masks which I started and have not finished.
Yesterday was good. The morning was cool enough that we didn't have to get up at oh:dark:thirty to ride. A slight cloud cover further improved conditions.
A hawk visited the agave for awhile. I wish he/she would eat all of the Gila woodpeckers.
One has to wonder what the hell happened to the education system in this country that has removed critical thinking skills from a large section of the population. QAnon is gaining ground within the Republican party. They actually believe in lizard people running the government and that Hillary Clinton, TV actors and Democrats are running child trafficing rings. This was on twitter today.
In other news, Jim was out blowing bougainvillea petals out of the back yard and discovered a desert tortoise peering into the sliding glass doors on the patio. We made a box and put him in it along with a plate of lettuce and watermelon. He/she is hungry. Right now we're waiting for AZ Fish and Game to call us back, tortoises must be surrendered to them for proper care. Mid November they dig a burrow and spend the winter in it, waiting out the cold.
So that's what's happening in Ye Olde Pueblo.
Glad to see you rescued and fed the tortoise. I hope he gets back home safely.
ReplyDeleteIt really bothers me to read all that crazy stuff the Q people are saying about Democrats. I have vivid memories of learning all about the horrible stories of people being persecuted for their religion, nationality and race. I never thought I'd see it with a political affiliation. Good lord people, use your brain.
The mornings have bee so pleasant lately. I hope it lasts.
We had a terrible winter in Montana back in the 90s. Jim had to rake snow off the roof constantly to keep it from collapsing. The truck rentals and movers did not have enuf trucks to move all the people back to California that wanted put of there. Really quite funny.
ReplyDeleteLoving our weather right now. Turn off the air and open windows.
I'm just really sad to see what a mess our country is.
The tortoise has the right idea....
ReplyDeletedon't you think if you had left the tortoise be it would have ventured back into the desert and burrowed in? I've read that box turtles are very territorial and if you find one and remove it to another location, like your yard, they spend the rest of their lives trying to get back 'home'.
ReplyDeletethe entire south and west is going to be migrating north and east as global warming continues. I've seen images showing my area is going to get hotter and drier which will be a big blow as my country at least is agricultural. rumor is we are going to have a mild winter, perhaps even no freezes. not sure how I feel about that as it is still hot and humid here.
my filing cabinet got tossed out after the flood, full of soggy paper. I have yet to replace it.
I got distracted cause I meant to comment on the level of stupidity in this country. Once the Republicans get in charge they start defunding public school, then they instituted 'no child left behind' with funding tied to test results so teachers started teaching how to pass the tests instead of teaching. And in Texas at least, the state Republican platform had in it at one time (don't know if they still do) that they were against teaching critical thinking in schools because it made children question adults in charge...politicians and religious leaders and, gasp, their parents!
DeleteI have a granddaughter at Univ of Montana. She says it can snow as early as September and as late as May. Pretty pictures of the desert and it's inhabitants. Box turtles are very cool - wish we had them here, but not so much.
ReplyDeleteSweet turtle. I have actually met people who believe that Q-anon idiocy. Once I realize who I’m dealing with I silently judge them and get the hell away from them. Nov 3 can’t come fast enough. Have you watched Totally Under Control on Hulu? Mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will follow up on the tortoise in a future blog post. Hope the powers that be in AZ know what to do to give him/her a good life. We used to see Gopher Tortoises in Florida on our bike rides with some frequency, really large ones, and just let them be. They know where they live. The election just can't end soon enough. These last few weeks have just dragged and dragged. I sent our mail-in ballots back to Florida 12 days ago now. Barry's was received three days later and counted two days after that. Mine has still not been received. So, I have requested another and, assuming I get it in time to mail it back (Priority or Express, depending on which day), I will do so. It shouldn't be so $%&*#@ hard to vote! I blame DeJoy for my lack of ballot joy with the USPS.
ReplyDelete