tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32503335070425477032024-03-18T02:47:48.687-07:00Allison's Post Work Thinking - now that I have time to thinkAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.comBlogger2592125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-84534724431515632902024-03-14T19:44:00.000-07:002024-03-15T14:35:07.815-07:00Hike and No Justice Yet<p>Today started out sort of on the gloomy side. We were both a little tired. Yesterday I sat on top of the shed, in the gusting wind, caulking around the vent fan. It was very disconcerting being that close to the rotating blades of death. Then at one point I shifted my position and put my foot down in a pile of caulk. Good times! Hopefully this will stop rain from getting in to the shed. If not, I'll be up there with another tube of caulk.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoBKgMBKENS3ddgCHoxOlLALLjZaJ8El51TwAG7a2dBEa1XiMT6Mfik1cKGqZEL6QnIUg4c_7Ik7V1vsR5RizILoSOr9HlHOi1Y-6n2ZGOLKVCt_mxXyFRAUOcKuPVhjcTvQG5b_ciSMa0cb0PcW7auG5CAUtRSQiQiF_a5sfkPfJks0RauwQ83WajDA/s800/20240314_181955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="800" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoBKgMBKENS3ddgCHoxOlLALLjZaJ8El51TwAG7a2dBEa1XiMT6Mfik1cKGqZEL6QnIUg4c_7Ik7V1vsR5RizILoSOr9HlHOi1Y-6n2ZGOLKVCt_mxXyFRAUOcKuPVhjcTvQG5b_ciSMa0cb0PcW7auG5CAUtRSQiQiF_a5sfkPfJks0RauwQ83WajDA/w640-h344/20240314_181955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We decided to hike. Biking does exactly nothing for a person's bone density, so hiking is required to keep us from moving in to full blown osteoporosis. The weather improved, the clouds lifted some, and was actually a nice day. This is what we saw.</p><p>This is a yucca in someone's front yard. This is smart landscaping, they're very hardy, they can live without being watered, and they take up a lot of space. Look at the flower spikes he's putting out. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjseJjACtF8VVRUjF9HFTWDPEV5NLw1Cw8Hky6R070X2v-uiyfUQjwfF-IrBEzPSftKRzr9JmFeZub8ypAYLhyphenhyphensnNUi_Lsptptvh2qpgj1vM98oWXWUF2NbS53JmwvqgBU7Fx7D7dj12356fJas0dsvTF5yHjkTdmUDkwng9ly-IaYQ3ck2EsLGQ3Ld0A/s800/20240314_130940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjseJjACtF8VVRUjF9HFTWDPEV5NLw1Cw8Hky6R070X2v-uiyfUQjwfF-IrBEzPSftKRzr9JmFeZub8ypAYLhyphenhyphensnNUi_Lsptptvh2qpgj1vM98oWXWUF2NbS53JmwvqgBU7Fx7D7dj12356fJas0dsvTF5yHjkTdmUDkwng9ly-IaYQ3ck2EsLGQ3Ld0A/w370-h640/20240314_130940.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><p></p><p>Out in the Tucson Mountain Park.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyapRxYm1YjFPE24o3f0SFbMzVtp9rnXzG8iRrw7xNu34GvaBg-M4iskwc6rNoEXDX0rI2GBPzr0WsXiMIKNqt5qLLecaQ9tiTPozSIBT_Miq8xZ79zDUJvlAhwAfIr9yQAJVTRPEaU9f8Re5Zve0uaEAS8zSsI4ZUKIVk7jmb-GC-hXdhLuKQnOKsyY/s800/20240314_145202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyapRxYm1YjFPE24o3f0SFbMzVtp9rnXzG8iRrw7xNu34GvaBg-M4iskwc6rNoEXDX0rI2GBPzr0WsXiMIKNqt5qLLecaQ9tiTPozSIBT_Miq8xZ79zDUJvlAhwAfIr9yQAJVTRPEaU9f8Re5Zve0uaEAS8zSsI4ZUKIVk7jmb-GC-hXdhLuKQnOKsyY/w640-h288/20240314_145202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9ZSBm8BpC9-anoeWy48JqreCzixAv-w4gt2MbC9xYNTDVrXtZjTIe17O_PB1jSt-fQ81Bfr30fiL-HYOIrRdmkUFbeyZP1YUL8xtq3likj17QQ7YWhauPB661YBnzICvFuTSG8xMbUSMov7G_kgV7ULqTqJnsn6czAPP85UgDAoLKW7NvJaoDcxpQy0/s800/20240314_135419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9ZSBm8BpC9-anoeWy48JqreCzixAv-w4gt2MbC9xYNTDVrXtZjTIe17O_PB1jSt-fQ81Bfr30fiL-HYOIrRdmkUFbeyZP1YUL8xtq3likj17QQ7YWhauPB661YBnzICvFuTSG8xMbUSMov7G_kgV7ULqTqJnsn6czAPP85UgDAoLKW7NvJaoDcxpQy0/w640-h288/20240314_135419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1RscxcHoZJI9bpsDJWDVTSk5I7qkDOhVPgDwL6GY60v95Ykz17R3ixetpnTUA4TMgBKn_hZBlrZcHWnF5ofwNJfUh8ONnPc6oacEWxJQo9otOlUR7pZFFcWjTKC3yRQtwZrXdBVDQOr1GjOkvWap0FZmcJtTAfoqZA7c9KYnnzH8Jh-C5VtvuljzbjQ/s800/20240314_131504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1RscxcHoZJI9bpsDJWDVTSk5I7qkDOhVPgDwL6GY60v95Ykz17R3ixetpnTUA4TMgBKn_hZBlrZcHWnF5ofwNJfUh8ONnPc6oacEWxJQo9otOlUR7pZFFcWjTKC3yRQtwZrXdBVDQOr1GjOkvWap0FZmcJtTAfoqZA7c9KYnnzH8Jh-C5VtvuljzbjQ/w640-h288/20240314_131504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Today, the orange menace and lawyers saw Judge Cannon to argue that the Espionage Act is too vague as to be enforceable. @CalltoActivism posted this:</p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;">MAJOR BREAKING: In shocking twist, Judge Aileen Cannon has just REJECTED Trump’s arguments that the central statute in the indictment, the Espionage Act, was impermissibly vague and should be struck down entirely.
Trump is LOSING his mind. Here’s why. </span><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"> </span></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;">The two page decision by Judge Cannon followed a nearly daylong hearing in Federal District Court in where she entertained arguments from Trump’s legal team.
Jack Smith says the former president violated that law 32 times by removing a trove of highly sensitive classified material from the White House after he left office.
Trump’s lawyers had claimed that certain phrases in the text of the law — for instance, its requirement that prosecutors prove defendants took “unauthorized possession” of documents “relating to the national defense” — were so ambiguous and open to debate as to be unenforceable. </span></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;">Bottom line? Judge Aileen Cannon has shocked Trump world who thought they’d have an easy time getting the case dismissed.</span></p></blockquote><p>Update to post 3/15/24: @JoyceWhiteVance has a rebuttal tweet up, which sounds terribly plausible. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWhiAFYld8e05ykty7FpxmGAcb4diMxJy0DXGhrisoqgJm76KqetpeS6OL0RRoSrtTo0hG9MYDRWQ6deu8E-vTBtJTMdTU6ako9fOLLA8t8Pr6i87nGzjvfd2PfLaV1MRDTmLFy0KnncZhCfwtUwRip50lo05rTadO6QdSEU7hco2AO7MjohF0qQeldY/s815/joyce%20vance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="815" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWhiAFYld8e05ykty7FpxmGAcb4diMxJy0DXGhrisoqgJm76KqetpeS6OL0RRoSrtTo0hG9MYDRWQ6deu8E-vTBtJTMdTU6ako9fOLLA8t8Pr6i87nGzjvfd2PfLaV1MRDTmLFy0KnncZhCfwtUwRip50lo05rTadO6QdSEU7hco2AO7MjohF0qQeldY/w640-h544/joyce%20vance.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"></span></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;">In other news, Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, received 30,000 pages of documents from Merrick Garland <b>12 months</b> after requesting them. For twelve months Garland sat on this material. Apparently there is more coming next week. The Stormy Daniels hush money case was supposed to start March 25, but in light of the massive document dump, Bragg would not mind a delay of up to 30 days. Of course, the orange menace wants 90 days. President Biden did not make a good choice when he picked his AG.<br /><br />So, that's what's happening in Ye Olde Pueblo.</span></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-27201656481470599882024-03-12T18:01:00.000-07:002024-03-13T09:13:28.429-07:00Riding and Malfeasance (with an update)<p>March 9 we rode, and on the way back there was serious concern about getting rained on. I did not have the protective baggies for the cell phones, so I <i>really </i>did not want to get wet. This is one of the lakes at Christopher Columbus. They dye it blue, which makes it very attractive.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTWQ3p4EbiZLb74u6mBXjMkwETJ7kQGm3WB21oAm9Gp6XyDrvx7oVTTfeD8WnpWT7OGdviZMS3C7mNRHA3uuR2pe_CEFsvPQ-wcsXoywJw7S2L6GE_52pSqtXMG8k5EgmKrsWWMxdJG5STs5p43gr6r4-HoeWZ3Z_7Y8MTZ-JsfAx8txbCgTPmTtJDL4/s800/20240309_150612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTWQ3p4EbiZLb74u6mBXjMkwETJ7kQGm3WB21oAm9Gp6XyDrvx7oVTTfeD8WnpWT7OGdviZMS3C7mNRHA3uuR2pe_CEFsvPQ-wcsXoywJw7S2L6GE_52pSqtXMG8k5EgmKrsWWMxdJG5STs5p43gr6r4-HoeWZ3Z_7Y8MTZ-JsfAx8txbCgTPmTtJDL4/w640-h288/20240309_150612.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>As we left Christopher Columbus to return home, the wind picked up and gusted a little. There was an ominous cloud. He followed us for awhile, but eventually it ran out of steam. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv_7DqpkXilgK_ebjboMFQDTY7G9v87h1OANMkuFN5aPeDDJ8bWNRIiM34uCqzbG4jNJFzNFCkMFxTbhRa3UxbW6sJEYWm2nN7QZXMvLMEqxL9MAAOdpfEukUhkjRtMCseRczoSpq4MWc0POpVUIdfxY7k06Q4tr46oUFVDWtRtzYGxnjbQ5hMDQT2CI/s800/20240309_144715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv_7DqpkXilgK_ebjboMFQDTY7G9v87h1OANMkuFN5aPeDDJ8bWNRIiM34uCqzbG4jNJFzNFCkMFxTbhRa3UxbW6sJEYWm2nN7QZXMvLMEqxL9MAAOdpfEukUhkjRtMCseRczoSpq4MWc0POpVUIdfxY7k06Q4tr46oUFVDWtRtzYGxnjbQ5hMDQT2CI/w640-h270/20240309_144715.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Today it was warm, and we drove to Christopher Columbus so we could ride further north. We wanted to see how the sewer line project is going. As you no doubt recall, I've been complaining about trail closures since we got back here in November. Anyway, they have reopened the section north of the nice park we usually stop at. The entrance to the nice park is blocked because they are still digging. Now we have a longer ride in the direction of Twin Peaks, so called because there used to be two small mountains, but they ground up one to make concrete. It's not an attractive bike path because both sides have been recently scraped and excavated, but it does provide more mileage. Note the clouds, rain is coming on Thursday.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wPJNu4JPew2cHjKqejnBRSCj6d_0SVh-nWyXNoqVjd2cmRVJBYIHTaVPHH_rNPZkij5Z9UnmSwtVIeo2w4Itm9O2WLtyyeNk5V22UapA0hRCXM4-dfkmVMKS4NsKmgiYz6jbUa3Tktcqps-8CC3PQK6sUJCZ5PZMs-EzpoClzAC6KaWZ2OsMFXXtqhM/s800/20240312_135314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wPJNu4JPew2cHjKqejnBRSCj6d_0SVh-nWyXNoqVjd2cmRVJBYIHTaVPHH_rNPZkij5Z9UnmSwtVIeo2w4Itm9O2WLtyyeNk5V22UapA0hRCXM4-dfkmVMKS4NsKmgiYz6jbUa3Tktcqps-8CC3PQK6sUJCZ5PZMs-EzpoClzAC6KaWZ2OsMFXXtqhM/w288-h640/20240312_135314.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><p>Here is an Acacia which is blooming. My phone camera can't see the blossoms that well, but we could smell them, they're very sweet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ6YnDUpSdy2mTHIK2fZgc4G-fbOBYaUhoOPFMIsyH4RhOqcN9d-APuhgzu90-C6BmbErFXrlS9S6GHrVuuD_-2Ek5abdvO8NI_2AN_EWm0ZoRiVZHWwFBPiFo0NQEitroC5TH25g8L7WeXpzrwF8ocdKdUmvshJNBgrx2VNt3IV4l-bTnNjHZ9P9f6s/s800/20240312_130207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="800" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ6YnDUpSdy2mTHIK2fZgc4G-fbOBYaUhoOPFMIsyH4RhOqcN9d-APuhgzu90-C6BmbErFXrlS9S6GHrVuuD_-2Ek5abdvO8NI_2AN_EWm0ZoRiVZHWwFBPiFo0NQEitroC5TH25g8L7WeXpzrwF8ocdKdUmvshJNBgrx2VNt3IV4l-bTnNjHZ9P9f6s/w640-h504/20240312_130207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Poppies by the path. I'm not sure if they're Mexican or Californian, but they are cheerful. The photo is a little blurry because the wind was jostling them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrG3NU7GQgViOopcaMmrKRez0BDdZwvPtC2npgluXJvrUTCxZZcyYJcoRLzlRVjOQ2DJzsEtiXmM8-WdPyhVbeoJIVoDC92SSA7_57V06jUxdy0oZt2PQDdG5qDeGojra8RO8ASr3gIzMMFKvvtVFJbTHKfUlRPFjRi1cl8S78mYEhGNaR8Ff11kmLEM/s800/20240312_124635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrG3NU7GQgViOopcaMmrKRez0BDdZwvPtC2npgluXJvrUTCxZZcyYJcoRLzlRVjOQ2DJzsEtiXmM8-WdPyhVbeoJIVoDC92SSA7_57V06jUxdy0oZt2PQDdG5qDeGojra8RO8ASr3gIzMMFKvvtVFJbTHKfUlRPFjRi1cl8S78mYEhGNaR8Ff11kmLEM/w640-h208/20240312_124635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Lara Trump, married to Eric Trump, son of the orange menace, has been appointed to head the RNC, the Republican National Committee. That organization collects money and organizes support for down ballot candidates as well as the presidential race. That's what they used to do. Under Lara, 60 members of staff have been laid off. Operations are being moved to Florida to be closer to Mar a Lardo. All money collected will go the the orange one's legal bills. No money will go to down ballot candidates as well as no organizing efforts. Jaime Harrison, chairman of the DNC, was giggling about the whole thing because it is so bad for the republican party candidates.<br /><br />Representative Ken Buck, CO-4 (Colorado legislative district 4) is quitting as of March 22. He has had enough of this congress. Representative and total wing-nut Lauren Boebert, currently CO-3, had filed to run for CO-4 since Rep. Buck had decided not to run again. Plus, Boebert was getting her butt kicked in fund raising in CO-3. However, now there will have to be a special election for Buck's seat. Boebert WILL HAVE TO RESIGN her current seat in CO-3 to run in the special election in CO-4. That will leave CO-3 open, where Adam Frisch is polling and fund raising very well, and perhaps he will win that special election. Speaker Johnson's slim majority is shrinking by the day. Couldn't happen to a worse human being.</p><p>Update to post 3/13/2024: Today Boebert said, “I will not further imperil the already very slim House Republican
majority by resigning my current seat in Colorado’s 3rd District,”
Boebert said on Rumble, adding that she will “continue on” with her
campaign for the full term in Buck’s seat. “I’m not going to put my
constituents in the 3rd District in a bind, leaving them also without
representation by resigning.” This is interesting, it puts her in the position of running against a CO-4 incumbent, albeit one recently installed.<br /><br />Once again, the orange menace has defamed E.Jean Carroll. He was stupid enough to do this while being televised on a station based in New York city, so yet another defamation suit can be filed in front of Judge Kaplan, who apparently has had enough of the orange dude defaming women he sexually assaulted. </p><p>Orange Menace is facing a trial for Federal Elections laws violations. This stems from his attempt to have Michael Cohen bribe porn star Stormy Daniels to not disclose the sexual encounter orange and Stormy had. The bribe should have been logged as a campaign contribution, and it was not. Hence the lawsuit. Anyway....... orange wants the court case delayed while waiting for the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. This is astonishing because he was not yet president when this crime took place. I guess he should be asking for whole life immunity. </p><p>There are other cases pending, but I do not have sufficient memory to recount them all. Needless to say, the biggest deal is the SCOTUS ruling on presidential immunity. <br /><br />That's it! That's all I have to say.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-47683148605989501422024-03-08T16:36:00.000-08:002024-03-08T18:27:55.927-08:00Mainly the Weather<p>It's been kind of a weird winter. Last winter was really cold, it snowed, and received the dreaded "worst winter ever" award. This year hasn't been all that cold, but it has been wet. Yesterday it pretty much rained all day, and then most of the night. Today it rained in the afternoon. The desert is eerily green due to the amount of water received. Today may be the last day of this weather pattern, with highs in the 70s on the way.</p><p>The skies have been impressive. This was today, coming back from the grocery store. Look lower right, those people are getting wet.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5omSL3-SpZBzYVMUMcsvFW2A6-Eblo7H9m0OA3BqeD8jR95pT0rbqqTptXmOpub85Ch8pgV0rKbhjEAnTKEto2f1epyqSu8ZXaP8r_IhdgGtOMq53Ye0Euv5zsjkELyWJ-LUajwbHA39w44RPPbuoeAGx6endw42uD-dZekG2IWThnY2_1QwhudxgcI/s800/20240308_143211.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="800" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5omSL3-SpZBzYVMUMcsvFW2A6-Eblo7H9m0OA3BqeD8jR95pT0rbqqTptXmOpub85Ch8pgV0rKbhjEAnTKEto2f1epyqSu8ZXaP8r_IhdgGtOMq53Ye0Euv5zsjkELyWJ-LUajwbHA39w44RPPbuoeAGx6endw42uD-dZekG2IWThnY2_1QwhudxgcI/w640-h302/20240308_143211.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Tuesday we had a sun dog over the park model. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey2iatGG8EOSIYMffXHFGyFUGSqEG8CjaWoPOU_6De6R7W8ab9D2fFsSZdRMnQdkUs-HnOXHM9ZVGfCvtQ7-HvvHbwy0ImI3-SkhdcEVDZ2gzlj2np9mF6yUg_TOk0G_JvXTATyMbap2zV-ns1aOhphZSdW-aRO0A4JwKYFX9eEMJqfOUjpRT2caLBvw/s800/20240305_093226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey2iatGG8EOSIYMffXHFGyFUGSqEG8CjaWoPOU_6De6R7W8ab9D2fFsSZdRMnQdkUs-HnOXHM9ZVGfCvtQ7-HvvHbwy0ImI3-SkhdcEVDZ2gzlj2np9mF6yUg_TOk0G_JvXTATyMbap2zV-ns1aOhphZSdW-aRO0A4JwKYFX9eEMJqfOUjpRT2caLBvw/w640-h416/20240305_093226.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>There was a short hike one day. Notice how colorless the sky is. The ocotillos are very juicy at present, and some are starting to bloom. It's nice to see. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ju8qDukrcajV6ojaaRnUUY9vivnoi_fe8EwWiDI7S1Re9sZ6veuA2Bl0U-Y2fVuhWMX77xgUF0TcglGa7Lq4w57_wGOqtXzD2uDua8Nl6hwKfmK5g38CIt-03fVEKJZom20csuPwFS_n8LWWvosQcVWUcMFVJKnGOJ4l__prYF32j0oBrHk5bBBzCTU/s800/20240306_152854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="695" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ju8qDukrcajV6ojaaRnUUY9vivnoi_fe8EwWiDI7S1Re9sZ6veuA2Bl0U-Y2fVuhWMX77xgUF0TcglGa7Lq4w57_wGOqtXzD2uDua8Nl6hwKfmK5g38CIt-03fVEKJZom20csuPwFS_n8LWWvosQcVWUcMFVJKnGOJ4l__prYF32j0oBrHk5bBBzCTU/w556-h640/20240306_152854.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br />The round tail ground squirrels are out. They're early this year. We think we've seen juveniles above ground, so they've been busy in their burrows.<br /><br />Tuesday Century Link came out again. That was tech number four. He spent a lot of time with test equipment listening for noise on the lines. The lines are laying on the ground and they're hard to see because the light was so harsh. Tech number two also spent a lot of time out here, but accomplished nothing. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1vxtTn6mdkGWVM_yxqKkHSf5xnLoXCblbZpXg_aZe6F1Z_kj_noO4VFIHblIWHflwj9TRMSRb7gbRishKgOVAhNzzLm5p6Mf6jF9OnPSfQlYf6nB5-qgFtGfl1w_jEWavIe2SDzh46C180VBLyIvzq5EtifyNVh6NXM4BBPXVbAhL20ehxCJV_1HCCU/s800/20240305_102827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="496" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1vxtTn6mdkGWVM_yxqKkHSf5xnLoXCblbZpXg_aZe6F1Z_kj_noO4VFIHblIWHflwj9TRMSRb7gbRishKgOVAhNzzLm5p6Mf6jF9OnPSfQlYf6nB5-qgFtGfl1w_jEWavIe2SDzh46C180VBLyIvzq5EtifyNVh6NXM4BBPXVbAhL20ehxCJV_1HCCU/w396-h640/20240305_102827.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />At the end, he came and talked to me and said our cable to the main switch at the office was "shit." All the lines have noise on them, which accounts for slow speeds and internet dropping. So he put us back on the pair we had been on and said he would notify the department that digs up the road to come out and replace the cable. Wednesday we got a text from Century Link saying that Dave was coming out. We never saw him. Thirty minutes later, Dave was done and leaving. Since tech number four was here, we've had close to 40Mbps, and zero dropping of the internet. I have no idea what, if anything, was fixed, and whether it will stay fixed. For now, we are happy campers. It does not seem to me that it should be this difficult. <br /><br />Who watched State of the Union last night? We saw about half of it. President Biden did good. The Republican rebuttal was just pathetic and Senator Britt has been completely and thoroughly dragged on twitter for sitting at her kitchen table over-acting.<br /><br />Here's another troubling thing we can't do anything about. The country is running out of electrical transmission capacity. Between bitcoin, AI, and cloud computing, the grid is running out of capacity. It's one of those things that can be ameliorated by a large application of money, but the question remains of who will pay. <b><a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/07/amid-explosive-demand-america-is-running-out-of-po/">Here is an interesting article</a></b> on the subject.<br /><br /><br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-35377341998165724932024-03-04T16:36:00.000-08:002024-03-05T11:49:49.894-08:00An Article Dump<p>I have read much recently, links and stuff that I want to keep available, and thus it goes in to a post. You might find some of it interesting as well.<br /></p><p>Who thinks about AI? I do, some of the time. What I think about a lot is the fact that when developers are "training" their AIs, they're doing it with other peoples' content. By scraping published or copyrighted content, they're stealing other people's work to make an AI. Eventually, the AI made with others' work will put those people out of a job. On twitter the other day I saw a reference to a product called Nightshade. It's AI poison, and this is so dang clever, it just hurts me. This is what it does.<br /><i><b></b></i></p><blockquote><i><b>Nightshade</b></i> works similarly as Glaze, but instead of a defense against style mimicry, it is
designed as an offense tool to distort feature representations inside generative AI image models. Like
Glaze, Nightshade is computed as a multi-objective optimization that minimizes visible changes to the
original image. While human eyes see a shaded image that is largely unchanged from the original, the AI
model sees a dramatically different composition in the image. For example, human eyes might see a
<i>shaded</i> image of a cow in a green field largely unchanged, but an AI model might see a large leather
purse lying in the grass. Trained on a sufficient number of shaded images that include a cow, a model will
become increasingly convinced cows have nice brown leathery handles and smooth side pockets with a zipper,
and perhaps a lovely brand logo. </blockquote><p>The <b><a href="https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html" target="_blank">article is here</a></b>, and they go deeper into the weeds, but currently I'm entranced by the AI believing cows have handles and a logo.</p><p>Google's AI, Gemini, has come under fire as of late. <b><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-gemini-app-image-completely-unacceptable-pichai-letter/" target="_blank">From CBS</a></b> and others we learn the following. "The new search tool, which the company has <span class="link">touted</span> as
revolutionary, came under fire after some users asked it to generate
images of people drawn from history, such as German soldiers during
World War 2, and popes, who have historically been White and male. Some
of Gemini's images portrayed Nazi soldiers as Black and Asian and popes as female." "AI-powered chatbots are also attracting scrutiny for the role they might
play in the U.S. elections this fall. A study released on Tuesday found
that Gemini and four other widely used AI tools yielded <span class="link">inaccurate election information</span> more than half the time, even steering voters head to polling places that don't exist." This is not good. Pichai, one of the Google leaders, is taking considerable heat for all of this.</p><p>Marriage is not doing so well in these United States. Women, who often as not, work full time and yet are expected to keep the house, make the food, take out the trash and shoulder the mental load of making sure things run smoothly have had it. Lyz Lenz <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/28/lyz-lenz-this-american-ex-wife-divorce/" target="_blank">published an excerpt of her book</a></b>, <u><i>This American Ex-Wife</i></u>, in the WAPO. One of the things that sent her over the edge was this. <br /></p><blockquote><p>I shut myself in the bedroom and called my husband. "Come home,” I sobbed. He
did. He got the kids, and I refused to come out of the bedroom until it
was the baby’s bedtime. I simply could not face them. When I did come
out, I found my husband had fed the children. There was Chinese takeout
waiting for me. <i>This is good</i>, I thought. <i>Maybe he sees</i>.
That night, after I put the baby to bed, I scrubbed my daughter’s poop
off the carpet. Then my husband told me I needed to get it together.
Maybe, he suggested, I should sleep more. And I realized he didn’t see
me at all.</p></blockquote><p>What must it be like for her ex-husband. He's in the book, he's in the excerpted section in the WAPO. He's referenced in <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2024/03/02/wives-are-not-all-right/">another article</a></b> that discusses a slew of new books out on divorced women. This man, as well as other referenced men, is now in print as being self-absorbed and oblivious to the situations of their marriages. I would find it humiliating. It would be interesting to see a follow up on how they're doing. Ms Lenz is doing just fine. One of her more interesting points is that quite often men don't realize they're about to be left, only when she doesn't come home do they twig to the situation.<br /></p><p></p><p>And then there is water. In Arizona, we're frequently thinking about water. Restoration Cowboy Style recently <b><a href="https://restorationcowboystyle.com/2024/03/03/a-finish/" target="_blank">published a post</a></b> about the drilling that is going on where they live. To this day, Arizona does not have a coherent water management plan in place. Governor Hobbs sent the Saudi farms packing, so they are no longer draining an aquifer, but it still goes on in the state. Alfalfa and nut trees use too much water. You know who else uses too much water? <b><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/microsoft-arizona-water-ai" target="_blank">AI training facilities</a></b>. Microsoft is cooling their data centers in Goodyear (near Phoenix) with water. I don't know if they're recycling or not. Then there is the chip fab being built in Tempe which will also use a ton of water. This is a desert, why do people treat water like it's an infinite resource?</p><p>Who is aware of the ransomware attack against Change Health Care? Who has ever heard of these people? This has been going on and today is the first day I've seen any MSM coverage. Change Health Care is a switch, doctors and pharmacies submit charges, Change Health sends it out for payment, and then remits to the billing party. The ransomware people have encrypted Change Health's data and are holding it ransom for money. They have also stolen a lot of patient data and put it out on the dark web.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFlo4kAgXFybsf1z7FW_cJOc99_AkY9JRSRwntPwZSaSrn065PM8kp0hiTLogimfcZpAa7OgxDYr3jxoWOECJe_R139g8GQGmq5ethLj2rfvrIWAWQlcv9Mf-k_YDiAtyhWezgdNogfwJHrDaUpEoXfdQ7gXZNNgMjfhqCm9Oz1AbeEhA50u0IOwiuWo/s876/cyber%20attack%20on%20Change.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="876" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFlo4kAgXFybsf1z7FW_cJOc99_AkY9JRSRwntPwZSaSrn065PM8kp0hiTLogimfcZpAa7OgxDYr3jxoWOECJe_R139g8GQGmq5ethLj2rfvrIWAWQlcv9Mf-k_YDiAtyhWezgdNogfwJHrDaUpEoXfdQ7gXZNNgMjfhqCm9Oz1AbeEhA50u0IOwiuWo/w640-h488/cyber%20attack%20on%20Change.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>WAPO finally put up <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/03/03/change-health-care-hack-hospitals/?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=gnews&utm_campaign=CDAqDwgAKgcICjCO1JQKMLfRdDCe1PQB&utm_content=rundown" target="_blank">an article</a></b>. <b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-cyberattack-hospitals-pharmacy-alphv-unitedhealthcare-521347eb9e8490dad695a7824ed11c41" target="_blank">Here is something</a></b> that's not paywalled. Anyway, this is bad. People can't fill their prescriptions, the PBMs are impacted, doctors can't bill, patients can't be released from hospital because their prescriptions can't be filled to go home with them. I follow angrypharmacist on twitter, he also has long form writing. <b><a href="https://www.theangrypharmacist.com/posts/2024-03-01-change-failcare/" target="_blank">This piece</a></b> is worth reading, I will warn you that he uses language that some people will find objectionable, but it captures the situation very well.<br /><br />Century Link is sending out technician number four tomorrow. The will require us to be home the entire day and wait for arrival. Thus far I have remained pleasant to the techs, but tomorrow I may have to deploy my tone of exasperation to express how much this is pissing me off. I have a new phone cable, a new modem, and a new phone cable wall plate. Since all the local stuff is new, perhaps they could go to the DSL switch in the office and jiggle some wires there.</p><p>Ok, internet is down again, I'm publishing as soon as it comes back up, so sorry about any undiscovered typos. I'll get them later.<br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-31967306442447286502024-02-29T08:20:00.000-08:002024-02-29T08:27:27.824-08:00A Small Rant<p>Greetings Earthlings. It's been awhile since I've posted. Part of it is ennui, and part is, once again, I am so dang angry. May I vent? I will now vent.</p><p>We've had a run of not great weather, until Tuesday. It was a good day. How did we spend that day, you wonder. We spent it waiting for Century Link. Internet has been going down frequently, speeds are as low as 7 Mbps. So, I called, got a tech out yesterday. Unlike the last two techs that have been out, he said the wire from the pole to the house was faulty. Because it touched the house, I would have to pay $100 for fixing. Never mind that it's not my wire, I did not install it; because it goes to the phone outlet, I must pay. So, fine, we can't live like this. He did the work and left and not FIVE MINUTES LATER the internet dropped. I got on the phone to complain to Century Link and Jim went and tracked the guy down because he was still in the park. After significant whining, Century Link agreed to knock the $100 off my next bill. The tech went and got a new modem, and things were good for awhile. Last night it went down again, twice! I have no idea if it was the new wire, or the new modem. Nonetheless, it's their stupid equipment, and they should fix it, and I should not have to pay for them to do that. The tech said he's in the park every day, which gives you some idea of reliability of the product.</p><p>Look at those skies, we totally missed out on that day.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAh7VWNmTMRjqhexGc-szFNZ-WnvCWEr_sfXqqoFONgZqS2ojUqAPYrsyQdRsdNBnsXMNQOBXtbPl_FBFF4zINcoZ0WO3gDOOWTFwa-ZWdSWBufvk4FFEHfxZ4tCee3pxYhyphenhyphenWMd_zinnCHpyC5pw-3Ugh-3EBxj-Pu7XxL6NbVprVAWewWk4awtI1wAI/s800/20240227_164549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAh7VWNmTMRjqhexGc-szFNZ-WnvCWEr_sfXqqoFONgZqS2ojUqAPYrsyQdRsdNBnsXMNQOBXtbPl_FBFF4zINcoZ0WO3gDOOWTFwa-ZWdSWBufvk4FFEHfxZ4tCee3pxYhyphenhyphenWMd_zinnCHpyC5pw-3Ugh-3EBxj-Pu7XxL6NbVprVAWewWk4awtI1wAI/w640-h410/20240227_164549.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We're trying to get the front door on the park model replaced. Whoever installed it must have been drunk at the time. Getting a contractor to give us a bid, and do the work is proving to be nigh on impossible. They're all booked, they don't return phone calls, and they are wearing on my very last nerve.</p><p>The post office has not been forwarding the mail. Jim's RMD check was returned to sender, that's a required minimum distribution from your 401K. IRS punishes you severely if the correct amount of money is not withdrawn every year. So, having that check sent back was bad. We called the pension people, they told us not to worry, that even though we don't have the money, it's technically withheld. Here's the thing, primaries in Washington state are coming up. We vote by mail, everyone does. They mail out information, then they mail the ballots. The PO is disenfranchising us. So I filed a form that complains to the USPS. They actually called me yesterday, and they are looking in to it. I have not gotten a New Yorker in months, I do wonder where they are, and where are my voting materials?</p><p>Yesterday SCOTUS said they would consider Dump's claim of presidential immunity - in April. This slides all the cases to the right. They are complicit in trying to get him elected. The entire republican party is giving me a giant headache. Today in Phoenix, the republicans voted for a bill that would allow homeowners to shoot and kill migrants, or anyone else, crossing their property. Let's think about this. Governor Hobbs will veto it, but what kind of people are these?</p><p>The Heritage Foundation, the group of reactionary old white men who miss the 1950's, is trying to deport Prince Harry. Do they not have anything better to do with their time? Dump wants him out of the country, as well. These people are just detestable. <b><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-donald-trump-could-get-prince-harry-kicked-out-of-america?via=newsletter&source=DDAfternoon&user_emailA=732220a65b3325b73b413becca893846&user_emailB=426df02dd009f2838dc87c99aeb35cad54696f1cdf8a6705dc9742506d1fc306&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=240228-Digest%20PM&utm_term=G%20List%20Daily%20Beast%20Newsletter%20PM" target="_blank">There is an article</a></b> in the Daily Beast. <br /></p><p>When President Biden was elected, I thought we were in for four rational, peaceful years. Boy howdy was I wrong.<br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-71471373578989117072024-02-18T15:33:00.000-08:002024-02-18T18:18:48.882-08:00Unlimited Hydros, Scraping and Shoes<p>This will probably be short because the wretched internet has gone done about every five minutes since we got home. Monday I am calling Century Link and asking for a supervisor, and asking that person if they could pretty please possibly send someone out who could fix this. The last guy said it was slow because of a short at the power pedestal, and we did get 40 Mbps for about 5 minutes. Something is wrong somewhere and I'd like it fixed, immediately. Well, good luck with that. </p><p>Anyway, we rode from the house up to Christopher Columbus. We were greeted with the sounds of radio controlled boat racing. We haven't seen the boats for a few years, and technology has marched on in our absence. They're bigger, louder and faster.<br /><br />This is how they're launched. Start engine, throw in the water.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzb_CRvVDg_Heo37OE0FUlI6cKLadFarzyEx6wwwpjYMwf4MLvR6HoCMZt2OOwnvOS4nampxivMZkxuAMgVFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Here we have team Whataburger. These are miniature unlimited hydros. Hydroplane racing used to be very popular, but as of late has fallen out of favor. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTx0rgz8XqZHVh7QNqqyty8m5DOnQsmaOlTtRopTcKAyKm6TpNb__YYzB2N-POYUzaHjRJxXqnIfkTTgcRFj66UwHgVVaAk8JCE4FB6Epn0XZp_n9gAabbZh6LCIGc9KwFgILsGDYcPE_SMS4cgDRmsUsPhPL7qQ2UjX3H-3u7-6h7MplbqfJbnxBLgU/s800/20240218_133014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTx0rgz8XqZHVh7QNqqyty8m5DOnQsmaOlTtRopTcKAyKm6TpNb__YYzB2N-POYUzaHjRJxXqnIfkTTgcRFj66UwHgVVaAk8JCE4FB6Epn0XZp_n9gAabbZh6LCIGc9KwFgILsGDYcPE_SMS4cgDRmsUsPhPL7qQ2UjX3H-3u7-6h7MplbqfJbnxBLgU/w640-h288/20240218_133014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Where the pit crews work.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh3EXVuBkN6pyVUnkMybeiTaJ1wUVpUCPQHqtFxcFnSmlz2jAcu_TUhSadcotTfcdOgySmeXzOfuW0Pra4JryN-otxvPlJl0-Q-4Yffj8UAsUlgAEcFRaEfpUys0Py3luaEaFZjfz7RNco_ql85mXMx12ThJpl7BYOQgK79b83CVuxV8fi1hOstBM8jw/s800/20240218_133456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh3EXVuBkN6pyVUnkMybeiTaJ1wUVpUCPQHqtFxcFnSmlz2jAcu_TUhSadcotTfcdOgySmeXzOfuW0Pra4JryN-otxvPlJl0-Q-4Yffj8UAsUlgAEcFRaEfpUys0Py3luaEaFZjfz7RNco_ql85mXMx12ThJpl7BYOQgK79b83CVuxV8fi1hOstBM8jw/w640-h288/20240218_133456.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Yesterday was the first calm day in a long time. Instead of riding, we elected to scrape and wire brush oxidized and cracking paint off the shed. Because we are idiots, we didn't put on sun screen. At least we got the bandanas out to protect our necks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmAdL_c272fghJrtpObQQR85f3uL_eeydidubIVxRuVnkSL40Er3zs2yhRhyphenhyphenBPZbHoE0g5f45wtm9myyb3lO7EwJQyO9dNLmZn3jj8IBw-iK0av94k8gfbcyfVfk6ydbixHoESr3hn-VLgK-WF_DIj_E5pHjzUEpF5EyvJuslvFClbRyPCw2Op_bcLgc/s800/20240217_122313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmAdL_c272fghJrtpObQQR85f3uL_eeydidubIVxRuVnkSL40Er3zs2yhRhyphenhyphenBPZbHoE0g5f45wtm9myyb3lO7EwJQyO9dNLmZn3jj8IBw-iK0av94k8gfbcyfVfk6ydbixHoESr3hn-VLgK-WF_DIj_E5pHjzUEpF5EyvJuslvFClbRyPCw2Op_bcLgc/w288-h640/20240217_122313.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginmrPvclSbLgVr0WEVKdhVsmTahLBqVUcyNeUumRUE4WWnOd7DFH-0lu0nqcq-z5bPgbH83keafMV2pd-sgzuTD9ZnWykBAExPewPlFtqrIv7CTOt5Ukk00yh4B8WRMUGCpEDvX-gP66QeGptsxrRkwhm0xk-iJ2lGlheFOSYFXK4oSemMCjxLmhyzDo/s800/20240217_132040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="409" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginmrPvclSbLgVr0WEVKdhVsmTahLBqVUcyNeUumRUE4WWnOd7DFH-0lu0nqcq-z5bPgbH83keafMV2pd-sgzuTD9ZnWykBAExPewPlFtqrIv7CTOt5Ukk00yh4B8WRMUGCpEDvX-gP66QeGptsxrRkwhm0xk-iJ2lGlheFOSYFXK4oSemMCjxLmhyzDo/w328-h640/20240217_132040.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><p>I am scraping, Jim is caulking the gaps.<br /><br />Yesterday, staff of the orange ectoplasm decided that in order to connect with the youth, he should go to Sneaker Con. Sneakers are a very large deal. If you go out to sneakers.com you'll get the idea. Kids actually buy, hold and collect sneakers. I have lost touch with that part of my culture. He was scheduled to speak for an hour. An <i>HOUR</i>!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDf-e74x6dNJIesezz5TCsE_60QcY8tf6Bc9tswP0lRiX2Kv7cG0Vt3OH_EABnJ1OBLbDqhTMzKNtTKlgADvrpHs1KXKu7J8d6QtD6sQICdcOcHkABRptQSdXxCPNKBvKTP6fB9D7LCX-MZEzO6gZ2i5TXdy_bTnXtHmePMlaBF4kULgPY_UTC_xAh-k/s621/trump%20sneakers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="621" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDf-e74x6dNJIesezz5TCsE_60QcY8tf6Bc9tswP0lRiX2Kv7cG0Vt3OH_EABnJ1OBLbDqhTMzKNtTKlgADvrpHs1KXKu7J8d6QtD6sQICdcOcHkABRptQSdXxCPNKBvKTP6fB9D7LCX-MZEzO6gZ2i5TXdy_bTnXtHmePMlaBF4kULgPY_UTC_xAh-k/w640-h630/trump%20sneakers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>You can get same shoe on QVC for $18. It won't have the T on it, but there you go. Anyway, he came out, the audience started booing, and chanting "let's go Biden." Less than a minute later, ectoplasm oozed off the stage. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.<br /><br />Saves are taking longer, I think the force of the internet is weak, so I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-84883204827516073542024-02-16T16:55:00.000-08:002024-02-22T08:25:30.630-08:00Justice, Justice Denied, and a Tree<p>Well, it has been a day for the Orange ectoplasm. He immediately said he would appeal the decision, but he'll have to post a bond equal to 120% of the fine. Good luck finding a bail bondsman that will take on that risk. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf_4r5GHpIX9RACOsrakoHvLkJTh3-BOZIyEPS_hgKGmQsi6Gr73pajh1V_Zh52jVfDIwll-Cq0MaBeObCEsZ0bTa0RdT6s2YVUdIG3YwGkxfEQa5o7ouoxFaGPfSV9b3pm8X0hyphenhyphenv1_4NV8tNpWBjsaKbntMvL72Iupl54vfM0i5XRY3kAPWSWR1kN5w/s771/trump%20gets%20big%20fine.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="771" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf_4r5GHpIX9RACOsrakoHvLkJTh3-BOZIyEPS_hgKGmQsi6Gr73pajh1V_Zh52jVfDIwll-Cq0MaBeObCEsZ0bTa0RdT6s2YVUdIG3YwGkxfEQa5o7ouoxFaGPfSV9b3pm8X0hyphenhyphenv1_4NV8tNpWBjsaKbntMvL72Iupl54vfM0i5XRY3kAPWSWR1kN5w/w640-h160/trump%20gets%20big%20fine.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />From the WAPO we learn that, "Engoron also said Trump could not serve as an officer or a director for
any New York company for three years. Trump has denied all wrongdoing
and assailed the case. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who were also defendants in the case —
were fined $4 million each. Both men were also blocked from serving as
an officer or director for any New York corporation for two years." He's also banned from borrowing money from any bank licensed in NY for three years, most large banks need a NY license to have access to capital. Eric and Jr. are banned for two years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqOOm3ZkhG7fPbpq176HKnLQB05gOBKU6Aj8LfULkxS8GCbccdQMpq7YO7skM59609Qz7ccMjwi0RZeEhDlfBgrWOG6VKedckNlEhI6hxFDnJJoIVfuPZwFYJ87qars-E8Td9zP2bNsSVfPp9ChhNnqygumPdL41uMH4ILAcQtrYPoZ0K6guFvDo_uks/s791/trump's%20interest%20problem.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="791" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqOOm3ZkhG7fPbpq176HKnLQB05gOBKU6Aj8LfULkxS8GCbccdQMpq7YO7skM59609Qz7ccMjwi0RZeEhDlfBgrWOG6VKedckNlEhI6hxFDnJJoIVfuPZwFYJ87qars-E8Td9zP2bNsSVfPp9ChhNnqygumPdL41uMH4ILAcQtrYPoZ0K6guFvDo_uks/w640-h132/trump's%20interest%20problem.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love this.<br /><p></p><p>In news of the sad, Navalny has died in prison. No doubt he was murdered at the behest of the republican party's new hero, Putin. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O1_qRz_w4ch2p0cM1AFc_7ZluA5-gKZPPQAXI8cfJQdaHmrWFZ7Lx2_RYiUMvnZ5JGsna7GYt3bGETcT1sj3bLaDTRgJSIqUbYab6zd8-tAYUsGgS31hggI-Fdhx8M6VE2xEmahq98S3jqW2yWthmBpOVuiCYTA5DKo2bSyWTy8ZioLTQ2UI_cf5c1Q/s598/navalney%20has%20died.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="598" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O1_qRz_w4ch2p0cM1AFc_7ZluA5-gKZPPQAXI8cfJQdaHmrWFZ7Lx2_RYiUMvnZ5JGsna7GYt3bGETcT1sj3bLaDTRgJSIqUbYab6zd8-tAYUsGgS31hggI-Fdhx8M6VE2xEmahq98S3jqW2yWthmBpOVuiCYTA5DKo2bSyWTy8ZioLTQ2UI_cf5c1Q/w640-h342/navalney%20has%20died.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Have you followed the "trial' in Georgia to determine if Fani Willis should recuse herself from the RICO trial she has brought against the people trying to steal the election. Apparently ectoplasm's lawyers have spent a lot of time questioning Ms Willis about her habit of keeping cash in the house. Who doesn't have cash in the house? I have cash in the house. Senator Bob Menendez has hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash as well as gold bars in his house. This entire trial has been about good old white boys trying to take down a successful Black woman. They're just disgusting people. I don't know why the judge has allowed these intrusive and offensive lines of inquiry to proceed. There is more <b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-fani-willis-nathan-wade-fulton-county-f03734cfd3d27ba34fba4cbbba621355" target="_blank">here</a></b>.<br /><br />We have been doing the rounds of doctors. Monday I saw my PCP, and Jim saw his dermatologist. The dermo dude did not spare the liquid nitrogen. When Jim was a kid he spent a lot of time on the water. That was before sunscreen. The damage was done then, and it continues to percolate up to the top of his head. These days, that head is <i>never </i>in the sun uncovered. This Monday there are two more appointments, and then we should be done for awhile. When we moved to Spokane I firmly expected to find a better level of health care available, and I was totally and completely wrong. Doctors are better, and more plentiful here. It makes a case for not staying in Spokane after we are well and truly decrepit. I guess doctors like the desert more than they like eastern Washington.</p><p>There has been bicycling, since it warmed up. The wind is still howling, but it's warmer. Today we went to see if the sewer pipe project is nearing completion. That would be a big negatory. The small green and white machine is joining two sections of sewer pipe. This will eventually be buried.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYPMcSVVOtwSjawLTATf9Q3Khkw5ASNK2g27ftoYAFi-m6ZT41pNrEdxT2NWmMRd8QztEUtPEzMrzj-eABCFZwsGs3jw2f_K2DBgl8VhIuu9LSwhq3Lp0F598wexsL-43ysynCSy9fULEKssAC33B65UbX1Ze-oyZQc7mylXEwrcE1PuFgllb27swRjs/s800/20240216_141417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="800" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYPMcSVVOtwSjawLTATf9Q3Khkw5ASNK2g27ftoYAFi-m6ZT41pNrEdxT2NWmMRd8QztEUtPEzMrzj-eABCFZwsGs3jw2f_K2DBgl8VhIuu9LSwhq3Lp0F598wexsL-43ysynCSy9fULEKssAC33B65UbX1Ze-oyZQc7mylXEwrcE1PuFgllb27swRjs/w640-h226/20240216_141417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is outfall from the sewage treatment plant. The trees love the water.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4eM-lNXMaqzzoOgpIdgsOCMe6LV5UKZ4Z7oCzW_L0oip6dzC3q9-042mSqB7tOTVY52zIOsEtcnnVTBvBFS94pZEGou6upN9ykFZkdgFTMiAL8JlbdZzFqi6XhXQmY6u3BDmJuYaoeKZHYZXXaK7LSfXIRt1nUOOQglt9eKBwTHT6Mhws7JaPW08SKk/s800/20240216_140042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="800" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4eM-lNXMaqzzoOgpIdgsOCMe6LV5UKZ4Z7oCzW_L0oip6dzC3q9-042mSqB7tOTVY52zIOsEtcnnVTBvBFS94pZEGou6upN9ykFZkdgFTMiAL8JlbdZzFqi6XhXQmY6u3BDmJuYaoeKZHYZXXaK7LSfXIRt1nUOOQglt9eKBwTHT6Mhws7JaPW08SKk/w640-h348/20240216_140042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is a big tree at Christopher Columbus park. Google lens does not know what it is, other than a tree. It has a white trunk at the base. Look at that sky. Winter sky is the best. Update to post: It's a Eucalyptus.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZjGA61CpesJEEXqaaJINjdMSscjQmFSTbp8C5Hd_yLrCjDolmzNQ7W_RkxWXzbMqXd6-7TqcExtYGVt-y1DkQypnghWOPe7KrGtsYzS9ncQagDLZxwr9ndGdLiuj78SbuzyIDmFH-1KYS5AQtwW4NkYRN6jfVO1RvzS_WRpKFWrrgFGR50UO5N3kdn8/s800/20240216_150602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="422" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZjGA61CpesJEEXqaaJINjdMSscjQmFSTbp8C5Hd_yLrCjDolmzNQ7W_RkxWXzbMqXd6-7TqcExtYGVt-y1DkQypnghWOPe7KrGtsYzS9ncQagDLZxwr9ndGdLiuj78SbuzyIDmFH-1KYS5AQtwW4NkYRN6jfVO1RvzS_WRpKFWrrgFGR50UO5N3kdn8/w338-h640/20240216_150602.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br />Other than this, I have not a lot to say, other than I hope the ex-president loses everything he owns.<br /><br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-1579582278445693492024-02-14T15:55:00.000-08:002024-02-14T16:59:14.090-08:00Happy Valentine's Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygl03i4el_2axQqD3Bh4gpn9MkoKPe79HiRcdxN5ac6BuLdA2ieDWZkdwNraGnPxuEUTA3oe1jQ6quQ9eTfsKgG8pGrFhmKGOfEWAtsAgUpwa0_fIz1WSGN1Kx2gXIq7gDyjZ7mbtBn2jGtpF3B97mGDymn9GpSXlO9-gcTXDUxebEIK5jsAAerOnKQU/s885/hvd.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="885" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygl03i4el_2axQqD3Bh4gpn9MkoKPe79HiRcdxN5ac6BuLdA2ieDWZkdwNraGnPxuEUTA3oe1jQ6quQ9eTfsKgG8pGrFhmKGOfEWAtsAgUpwa0_fIz1WSGN1Kx2gXIq7gDyjZ7mbtBn2jGtpF3B97mGDymn9GpSXlO9-gcTXDUxebEIK5jsAAerOnKQU/w640-h472/hvd.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />That is all I have to say about that!<br /><p></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-301944934705007382024-02-09T15:16:00.000-08:002024-02-09T15:16:31.378-08:00Wind and Walking With Sticks<p>Yesterday was cold, and windy. Riding was not part of the church of what's happening now. By the afternoon it was gusting to 24 mph. So, we hiked. We did not wear sufficient clothing. But we were there, so we went. It was not a typical beautiful day, but the skies were impressive.</p><p>On the way out we saw this. I'm reasonably certain that this is part of the Tohono O'odham nation. We saw State Police cars, but no reservation police cars. We also observed that two of the officers were carrying long guns of some sort, probably shot guns. They all headed out to the desert on foot, and we did not see them anymore.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgCqQmcSyqKUlk8RRdvbU5P2TSsK-oAUuEvYcFkYVJrttjx668TXeyr_UmY0XL8KEOEMePgg43H4WYWCqh-BI9JJJdRWA3hsmdGF-4pGG5zpDOPgTmNysRgosXdmRhdQFK55Xk8liljngznE9Zl4jZTiOPNi8_ObGPUaXuUdClIaXBuc7o0XiK75Ih1Y/s800/20240208_130014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="800" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgCqQmcSyqKUlk8RRdvbU5P2TSsK-oAUuEvYcFkYVJrttjx668TXeyr_UmY0XL8KEOEMePgg43H4WYWCqh-BI9JJJdRWA3hsmdGF-4pGG5zpDOPgTmNysRgosXdmRhdQFK55Xk8liljngznE9Zl4jZTiOPNi8_ObGPUaXuUdClIaXBuc7o0XiK75Ih1Y/w640-h272/20240208_130014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Then it was off to Tucson Mountain Park. We went up the Krein trail, to Sarasota, and then back down the curvy trail to Krein. It's not a long walk, which was fine, because we kept wondering if we were going to be rained on. The dark area between Golden Gate and Bren kept getting darker and more ominous, but it didn't rain on us. That came later, and it was quite the storm.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbqMOiurtjc-_vNBY_Sw3IODCE2aPXvStgxmSkrAj72QbxB9fIPLl9HEbA5MUt3YTnHXSiDOF_xQdtpU51rnpqyrutr_J1CupSoqts4sDjrc0sS-cHNXdqInQ6d3mxQ8xIbmEDgUYx93ibS6-aNdmDSCDorioLNKKznMJg7kASQHTIHXJyAqXbnhHVIo/s800/20240208_140700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbqMOiurtjc-_vNBY_Sw3IODCE2aPXvStgxmSkrAj72QbxB9fIPLl9HEbA5MUt3YTnHXSiDOF_xQdtpU51rnpqyrutr_J1CupSoqts4sDjrc0sS-cHNXdqInQ6d3mxQ8xIbmEDgUYx93ibS6-aNdmDSCDorioLNKKznMJg7kASQHTIHXJyAqXbnhHVIo/w640-h288/20240208_140700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Last summer's monsoon was not great. It wasn't all that wet. It did have a lot of hail, wind and micro bursts. The saguaros really took it in the head. There are many down, and many with their tops blown out. I hate to see that, the ones with arms are generally 70 to 100 years old. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiYNzu1uUxCn5E57Y0Qtvi3okCTBlpWl4f2ts14rlXWaqt1q9A0vFwPr_EkrPEwTPKXTPJctPoJDhQscfafqAGtTb1MfFiFS4qV6iOWKc7Dxtf3oKtGDEiEFTLmmEJU_iAez_UZRdp8sG3N7ESAwN-8rbEA5gKa1Ztn_7qBYbjmJRvocfjfU4uAKxo10/s800/20240208_141625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="800" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiYNzu1uUxCn5E57Y0Qtvi3okCTBlpWl4f2ts14rlXWaqt1q9A0vFwPr_EkrPEwTPKXTPJctPoJDhQscfafqAGtTb1MfFiFS4qV6iOWKc7Dxtf3oKtGDEiEFTLmmEJU_iAez_UZRdp8sG3N7ESAwN-8rbEA5gKa1Ztn_7qBYbjmJRvocfjfU4uAKxo10/w640-h258/20240208_141625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX4PnCItm-qJQRZehC6CF2utd1wbwAHDTz1GmFF6gDNf6bLDMtycWDSte0GDjiXoDOx9h0RcQJMTIZ7oYNrVRJiZoiCXLzCcITKP38q4XFRVRAiJGwfSEZ-9PAGok9IY43vi7VDGJNmrbeF0W56oO1zy7mWp19w231hrqf44cgo5deoP6iIxHtd-__kI/s800/20240208_142338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="800" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX4PnCItm-qJQRZehC6CF2utd1wbwAHDTz1GmFF6gDNf6bLDMtycWDSte0GDjiXoDOx9h0RcQJMTIZ7oYNrVRJiZoiCXLzCcITKP38q4XFRVRAiJGwfSEZ-9PAGok9IY43vi7VDGJNmrbeF0W56oO1zy7mWp19w231hrqf44cgo5deoP6iIxHtd-__kI/w640-h312/20240208_142338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8XwOPKeNVzsyfGS9UiMA-XoK8VCTdC0kvkmRMibWpdLCuWPzmZTURiQvrEC9TdNybqKxOvO6872BgMokc7oWSqWJKXEDqBtZuFjSbbd4HKSJFFKVhHgYFTulELfFckwUBWcdAxwGKz6J8Qe5ORZSGDbs8Hw0VcjhFDEOMyQ3M9BcYKFref1TiCFxBY4/s800/20240208_141617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="800" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8XwOPKeNVzsyfGS9UiMA-XoK8VCTdC0kvkmRMibWpdLCuWPzmZTURiQvrEC9TdNybqKxOvO6872BgMokc7oWSqWJKXEDqBtZuFjSbbd4HKSJFFKVhHgYFTulELfFckwUBWcdAxwGKz6J8Qe5ORZSGDbs8Hw0VcjhFDEOMyQ3M9BcYKFref1TiCFxBY4/w640-h334/20240208_141617.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The AZ legislature, in its infinite wisdom, wants to <b><a href="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/02/07/bill-to-ban-satanic-displays-advances-after-heated-debate-on-religion/" target="_blank">pass a bill banning Satanic images</a></b> from public buildings. Right, because there's nothing else in the world that needs to be addressed. What they have apparently forgotten is that ASU sports teams are the Sun Devils. Their mascot is Old Sparky, who is a devil with a pitch fork. One wonders if the alumni are aware of this threat to school spirit.<p></p><p>As we all know, sea levels are rising, and salt water is making incursions into fresh ground water. It's even worse than that. The sea water is corrosive and is eating the underground infrastructure. Honolulu has been studying this for quite some time. There's an article <b><a href="https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/sea-level-rise-groundwater-flooding-basement-broken-pipes " target="_blank">here</a></b>.</p><p>So, that's it, that's all I've got. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-77649918315550017162024-02-07T09:55:00.000-08:002024-02-07T09:55:47.472-08:00Republicans in Disarray<p>Yesterday was a bad day for everybody. After the republicans held a gun to the heads of the Democrats, tying border reform to funds for Ukraine, the Senate wrote a bipartisan bill that gave the republicans everything they wanted. Everything. Then the orange ectoplasm started making phone calls, telling the republicans not to support the bill. Apparently there really isn't a a crisis at the border, it's all talking points for the orange guy. Even Minority Leader Mitch the spineless reptile McConnell withdrew support three hours after a closed door meeting telling his people to support it. Spokesman-Review <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/feb/06/analysis-on-the-border-republicans-set-a-trap-then/" target="_blank"><b>has a good article</b></a> on it.<br /><br />So, the border deal is dead, as is aid to Ukraine. </p><p>In news of the positive, the vote to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas failed. In a stunning failure to accurately whip the number of votes available for impeachment, Speaker Mike brought it to the floor and lost. Lost! Apparently they will bring it to a vote again once Rep. Scalise returns from life saving stem cell treatment (funding for which he voted against). Reptiles! We're surrounded by reptiles. WAPO <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/06/house-republicans-yell-gallagher-impeachment-vote/" target="_blank"><b>has a fascinating blow by blow</b></a> of how things went south for Speaker Mike.</p><p>So, that was yesterday. Today it's windy, and it's cold, and it's supposed to rain. While this winter hasn't been as steenking cold as last winter in the AirBnBs, it has certainly been wetter. December is supposed to be the wet month, but I suppose what with climate change and all, and California being hit with <b><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/californias-atmospheric-river-delivers-torrential-rain-fierce-winds-2024-02-05/" target="_blank">rains and flooding of biblical proportions</a></b>, Tucson weather will change, as well.</p><p>This was taken Monday, the last good weather day. It was windy, but the skies looked good.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzKi3i4iEvQ5r35dDLRRKxqnL28-uv83k2Ye_a8AQvVxVZzhViioG_gD4h4Lcc3bHUMOMHWfKhy0TAnwGuvNPbIhSX8WFNhlUkuoko2PRCC-tAXt3VObqGhNVvChc4Yjc5afs29TXUDPS-40FSmRVE4pSC-Ybjcx-sKe3ML09_5ZWmWNXHlr2rM8OFks/s800/20240205_132604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzKi3i4iEvQ5r35dDLRRKxqnL28-uv83k2Ye_a8AQvVxVZzhViioG_gD4h4Lcc3bHUMOMHWfKhy0TAnwGuvNPbIhSX8WFNhlUkuoko2PRCC-tAXt3VObqGhNVvChc4Yjc5afs29TXUDPS-40FSmRVE4pSC-Ybjcx-sKe3ML09_5ZWmWNXHlr2rM8OFks/w640-h288/20240205_132604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is today. Dark, gloomy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhao9bHX54yLx4tjSOTvHKAwuywBNnG1XNokfLJJVOIOfV9-UnHyKY3k10dEa-9XPgShYcyQNyLg9fJflZQM5MpRh2OrOzM34T_63w6mEooyxL4209XpgIikee2KJsVTWRjo2FxcA8BfKzFSeQo5cquT5euoYLolVcF_er0aiKrJ0bQ5Ch-5zg9CkGuEY/s800/20240207_103603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhao9bHX54yLx4tjSOTvHKAwuywBNnG1XNokfLJJVOIOfV9-UnHyKY3k10dEa-9XPgShYcyQNyLg9fJflZQM5MpRh2OrOzM34T_63w6mEooyxL4209XpgIikee2KJsVTWRjo2FxcA8BfKzFSeQo5cquT5euoYLolVcF_er0aiKrJ0bQ5Ch-5zg9CkGuEY/w640-h288/20240207_103603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I feel bad for the propane guys. It's doing to be wet and miserable for them today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pe1aE-zUNqCW42JUNan6sJgNEAdAtxJBmLkdSOAmeUF-BbKluPuz8syTPTHZ2Nf_wrI3o-Bhcp0usg4uPw9AQB3rASOJYMsXiQrO4evbvzJ3q1_Q6bjDihHmms5E2RclPIYl2wbLklyK_3rMBsOiFVER2dEX4gY0XgnG_0JZ3dYDA8wfAsGdaGeWFlg/s800/20240207_103608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="800" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pe1aE-zUNqCW42JUNan6sJgNEAdAtxJBmLkdSOAmeUF-BbKluPuz8syTPTHZ2Nf_wrI3o-Bhcp0usg4uPw9AQB3rASOJYMsXiQrO4evbvzJ3q1_Q6bjDihHmms5E2RclPIYl2wbLklyK_3rMBsOiFVER2dEX4gY0XgnG_0JZ3dYDA8wfAsGdaGeWFlg/w640-h354/20240207_103608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>My six bags of coffee just arrived from Amazon. Yay! Behold my giant bags of Cheerios, with two more in the bedroom closet. We have achieved peak breakfast cereal.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3SUSwb904zoD4P87yI9iSpFedQTZB-N28XmaxF52sxyvR511f7P-8l-c3QOvcr750_cYTPmhF703CpQVLPElnlJNPQgiNisq8XxcPez0OCzDnLwbJACgCIvfeUlhdIftpzJISF3-wzC_h9RK_yr_5VpXjx9ybll-z0d9Oty-WyTixCCC0jOfuqvDbZw/s800/20240205_105900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3SUSwb904zoD4P87yI9iSpFedQTZB-N28XmaxF52sxyvR511f7P-8l-c3QOvcr750_cYTPmhF703CpQVLPElnlJNPQgiNisq8XxcPez0OCzDnLwbJACgCIvfeUlhdIftpzJISF3-wzC_h9RK_yr_5VpXjx9ybll-z0d9Oty-WyTixCCC0jOfuqvDbZw/w640-h288/20240205_105900.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>So, that's what's shaking in Ye Olde Pueblo.</p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-39379816627284100852024-02-06T18:06:00.000-08:002024-02-07T08:57:47.918-08:00Lost Jacket, No Immunity and the Grammys<p>The weather has just been dismal today. Thick clouds, dark clouds, a brief wind event and a little rain was our lot. We set out to go to the grocery store; before leaving I reached in the closet for my light weight fleece jacket that I have had since the mid-2000s, and it was not there. It was not in the car. It is nowhere to be found. I am bereft, it was the perfect weight for Safeway air conditioning which is very cold. It really is going to be a tough act to follow. It's difficult to find practical clothing for women these days, no pockets, shirts are too short, the list goes on. I ordered a men's microfleece jacket from Amazon, hopefully it will be adequate. However, I really miss my jacket.<br /></p><p>The DC Circuit has ruled that the former terrible president does not have immunity. It was unanimous on the part of the three judge panel. It was a long decision, and hopefully written so well that the Supreme Court will look at the appeal and just say Nah. The lawyers have until Monday the 12th of February to file. <i>Monday</i>!</p><p>Laurence Tribe put up these and several other tweets today. I like the fact that precedent goes back to 1882. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexGvRdOhygTbopIb1RL_ifsefUY3tDyeReLuhfm0cWrBJImhvPZKHSPZAfYXtrTm5bYhVtBljTQJ8lXj5VVeXtI51oJ0QKrjQbJKNxX2uVYpaxDl-9qtL_HGq3C1dAEYRw9L4qDsZCDuHMfLIhSsrqiprZn8PeUWV4EpEED9REv7NGEbUHGw7KnAq4ME/s898/tribelaw.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="898" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexGvRdOhygTbopIb1RL_ifsefUY3tDyeReLuhfm0cWrBJImhvPZKHSPZAfYXtrTm5bYhVtBljTQJ8lXj5VVeXtI51oJ0QKrjQbJKNxX2uVYpaxDl-9qtL_HGq3C1dAEYRw9L4qDsZCDuHMfLIhSsrqiprZn8PeUWV4EpEED9REv7NGEbUHGw7KnAq4ME/w640-h228/tribelaw.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLDkVELmJO3Gw62ACiKt14thAOYucXOKcZSBAgEn-pD5JQ5QhYLOwezZT2p_XXkbR8dWtyh7nXLijIQepzbI25d3dGJ5BCnSwmaq5XthJSJ6MAreKmWmArmJuXn-hLEuPr6NXw5av-IW1-rS-BDcQh3OKSi4FUuyf7KdSD3CtB23ZnrErCBQFS6NpfG8/s855/tribelaw2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="855" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLDkVELmJO3Gw62ACiKt14thAOYucXOKcZSBAgEn-pD5JQ5QhYLOwezZT2p_XXkbR8dWtyh7nXLijIQepzbI25d3dGJ5BCnSwmaq5XthJSJ6MAreKmWmArmJuXn-hLEuPr6NXw5av-IW1-rS-BDcQh3OKSi4FUuyf7KdSD3CtB23ZnrErCBQFS6NpfG8/w640-h490/tribelaw2.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"><br />And finally there is this. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, of the current Supreme Court, have already said no one is above the law. </span></p><p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteF4zDEB_bHxXT_SK4QPpA95JW3VTgA1USp_Le86FQm5T3cLaCe_ra4cjpqFg6BERvgGecYQnspZgbnO1hP4_f8OiBdEWY6gokPUepXiztSM09Ie85hBTKwMz6r-4aOI6Ya0ia-OzMLZuD0boWcyfGPgesejOt8kvGvH-GLJYxQH8t6VwuIQEwRFsyAU/s869/tribelaw3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="869" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteF4zDEB_bHxXT_SK4QPpA95JW3VTgA1USp_Le86FQm5T3cLaCe_ra4cjpqFg6BERvgGecYQnspZgbnO1hP4_f8OiBdEWY6gokPUepXiztSM09Ie85hBTKwMz6r-4aOI6Ya0ia-OzMLZuD0boWcyfGPgesejOt8kvGvH-GLJYxQH8t6VwuIQEwRFsyAU/w640-h188/tribelaw3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Cross your fingers. He could be indicted for something, anything, before the elections.<p></p><p>Who watched the Grammys? I did not, but after the internet was flooded with Tracy Chapman, I paid attention. She released "Fast Car" in 1987. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_number_ones_of_1987" target="_blank">Given the state of popular music at the time</a></b>, her music was brave. She had lyrics that meant something. Luke Combs, a country singer, recently covered the song, won a country music award, and the two of them played the Grammys. It was a magical performance. Rolling Stone has a brief article <b><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/tracy-chapman-luke-combs-fast-car-2024-grammys-performance-1234957795/" target="_blank">here</a></b>. There is a Wiki page <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Chapman">here</a></b>. <b><a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/tracy-champan-luke-combs-grammy-performance-of-fast-car-is-a-master-class-in-emotional-intelligence.html" target="_blank">Inc magazine</a></b> has an article with the video. The thing that was so cool was the audience's reaction to her, they were happy to see her. She looks like she was happy to be there. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmLE0pQIjNzhkb8rCCg14gr3R8SE0LHL6jVbyn8dTTuoqQIiLhk7nayPfH5CPoM_UJcLd6bLrMCGF0LVSEVXAzXA4gLlrzMN8tznA92ozlH1MD5tjIH0h7A_K3tqJ00E4VI8VgJnt0mdwf__xW1hLDj3qq1YoUgYLN71CHfByUiRxyuubZb_dAH1f-FE/s1234/tracy%20chapman.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1234" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmLE0pQIjNzhkb8rCCg14gr3R8SE0LHL6jVbyn8dTTuoqQIiLhk7nayPfH5CPoM_UJcLd6bLrMCGF0LVSEVXAzXA4gLlrzMN8tznA92ozlH1MD5tjIH0h7A_K3tqJ00E4VI8VgJnt0mdwf__xW1hLDj3qq1YoUgYLN71CHfByUiRxyuubZb_dAH1f-FE/w640-h394/tracy%20chapman.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>That's it, that's all I have to say about these things.</p><p>Oh wait - here is some weird science here about how if you microwave halved grapes they release plasma. <b><a href="https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-a-grape-turns-into-a-fireball-in-a-microwave?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us" target="_blank">It's very interesting</a></b>. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-6054747912344077432024-02-04T16:49:00.000-08:002024-02-04T16:51:47.309-08:00It's Feburary<p>It's February already. Jim has already started working on the departure checklist. At present the great unknown is should we turn the air conditioning off, or leave it set on 90 degrees. The previous owners turned it off. I am of two minds, one being that leaving things turned off in 110F is not good for the seals and what not. We continue to vacillate on the subject.</p><p>Yes, it is February, which is the big tourist month of the year. First there is the gem show. There is an amazing construction effort of huge tents and many small tents of people selling stuff. The infrastructure involved is just amazing. It's hard to see, but that building stretches almost the entire width of the frame.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOp-VBEKDzsFzSSMDP_Ath-ULWeB0pJpqugugVfu5Xu3jFxHGY09aC4e0CQs2l1hmmmRBY_K5VkzJceMzXTw4zZYCMdY0IG-0iZmIHQVFjzwN7YUeMajjFJUeR6UuvQoYwisHciHI-lQOaOkjvS_1Ib1BNsG2B4fx3yixy15z03OujKiAUE_dorRxT_E/s800/20240130_131104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOp-VBEKDzsFzSSMDP_Ath-ULWeB0pJpqugugVfu5Xu3jFxHGY09aC4e0CQs2l1hmmmRBY_K5VkzJceMzXTw4zZYCMdY0IG-0iZmIHQVFjzwN7YUeMajjFJUeR6UuvQoYwisHciHI-lQOaOkjvS_1Ib1BNsG2B4fx3yixy15z03OujKiAUE_dorRxT_E/w640-h178/20240130_131104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The same building closer. Look at the traffic. 22nd is off the navigational table for the duration.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gTTYzuenoOQV_s3dbabkS6yGLSdYOY9FHbc3_qGVKRcRJppoiRXGwU6p5KKgkqNG7qVJiGDn8DiYkPsXGYA67Kx_iGmTaz42FRLRTnUHhEe2GFBE1jAVIax5HiwkSL8IiHGq_bJgbFlOGHDWfHddBNxVX1bBALtYEWSR9Y11Njq1w66yaebLlLNcvRo/s800/20240203_131613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gTTYzuenoOQV_s3dbabkS6yGLSdYOY9FHbc3_qGVKRcRJppoiRXGwU6p5KKgkqNG7qVJiGDn8DiYkPsXGYA67Kx_iGmTaz42FRLRTnUHhEe2GFBE1jAVIax5HiwkSL8IiHGq_bJgbFlOGHDWfHddBNxVX1bBALtYEWSR9Y11Njq1w66yaebLlLNcvRo/w640-h288/20240203_131613.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We've been in the past, but it's always the same and it's not that interesting. People that are in the jewelry trade come to buy raw materials. You can see previous posts <b><a href="http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/2012/02/tucson-gem-show-hope-depot.html" target="_blank">here</a></b> and <b><a href="http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/2011/01/plague-and-tucson-gem-show.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>.<br /><br />There will be a rodeo parade. It's non-mechanized. There is also a rodeo, which is a fairly big deal. It goes for several days, as people are eliminated from their specialty. We went once, and did enjoy the little kids riding sheep and the teenage girls doing barrel racing. This is a <b><a href="http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/2009/02/february-is-over.html" target="_blank">past post</a></b> of the parade and the rodeo. </p><p>All of these events bring in many people, and their money, and they gum up the traffic. I felt really badly for the gem show, the rain the day before yesterday was horrendous, as was the wind. The people in the little open tents probably did not get that much foot traffic.<br /><br />Yesterday we went to the restaurant supply store for a melamine bowl and a pair of tongs. We drove by my favorite church, which you all have seen many times.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplvLuqLSFgrDxWW5R1sZo7Nv15C_3J1yLs9PZARG0CdOAyo1g36UuAMhlkKcXJKtd1Hf7S5tQZy6JHjUbyo0aoix-MKbBzBhioBdNcjenXvAazQxe4f5lg3cydbPaBsUR1irfcEYmWvDvY6ImX3zHQDK3AkpjTjIIXa5MXw141Xaf1OHPvYVZZwbrWio/s800/20240203_131812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplvLuqLSFgrDxWW5R1sZo7Nv15C_3J1yLs9PZARG0CdOAyo1g36UuAMhlkKcXJKtd1Hf7S5tQZy6JHjUbyo0aoix-MKbBzBhioBdNcjenXvAazQxe4f5lg3cydbPaBsUR1irfcEYmWvDvY6ImX3zHQDK3AkpjTjIIXa5MXw141Xaf1OHPvYVZZwbrWio/w640-h496/20240203_131812.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This is the melamine department. There is much to choose from.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdqXT14uTwy3tmqpcDGqAajw0KpBUcC5pNlokpaYxpjufe_wQ1Z_UFyzx4PVRoQm2nfIfV85jG9wbG7aduhAAdSfTr2tKruOvIWwsD6SLCnRzETpEGNQbiaofNVe-tGjn4uDlutC_XZur1N2sdWvAp587qGP2ry73meVUkoVQHaNTZCbJ5kiy3U2ePiA/s800/20240203_133418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdqXT14uTwy3tmqpcDGqAajw0KpBUcC5pNlokpaYxpjufe_wQ1Z_UFyzx4PVRoQm2nfIfV85jG9wbG7aduhAAdSfTr2tKruOvIWwsD6SLCnRzETpEGNQbiaofNVe-tGjn4uDlutC_XZur1N2sdWvAp587qGP2ry73meVUkoVQHaNTZCbJ5kiy3U2ePiA/w640-h288/20240203_133418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Today it warmed up and we decided to hike. We probably could have ridden the bikes, but tomorrow is supposed to be better, so we hiked. Today's route was a clockwise circumnavigation of Little Cat. The mountain bikers were out in droves. It never ceases to amaze me what terrain these people can ride and live. There was a really strong young woman out on a gravel bike with dropped handle bars who was impressively strong. We're seeing more young women out riding alone. It pleases me greatly that they're out there.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ozJsAN3e-m8bwsjuOQB7cXb_LwtAtKPRJ8PysxOi7yC-hLPOtCQwynOixzFI-idgHPSl7ZK__Wh2p0zd2eN_rDye44gp_tlIu9gEUu7jodw_AQTbHITsJJCSx_vqHivDEiNstbVkZ1B12Bd4Fq3JJCZ6ZZFRf6UYnBMQ9_bxqPshRgq9ax3OSb1jKiA/s800/20240204_133653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ozJsAN3e-m8bwsjuOQB7cXb_LwtAtKPRJ8PysxOi7yC-hLPOtCQwynOixzFI-idgHPSl7ZK__Wh2p0zd2eN_rDye44gp_tlIu9gEUu7jodw_AQTbHITsJJCSx_vqHivDEiNstbVkZ1B12Bd4Fq3JJCZ6ZZFRf6UYnBMQ9_bxqPshRgq9ax3OSb1jKiA/w640-h288/20240204_133653.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw-ve5V4NWLmLb7Dp7AaeIIsMfpWjT20NDIgYYof2gMIRzJVlWVizwWz3DnXt2mRM031sS3SPDp6DgQqZ5Lcwhmm197QBvhVmbtmQs2yQkScNJALmrcAzRa1udT9p1c-Dvt_jqIbXc0Zu5zK8Ly6KIciaZ-4LNoOxZxaRAbJu1ymRHJQ5lbbntehHRK8/s800/20240204_135432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw-ve5V4NWLmLb7Dp7AaeIIsMfpWjT20NDIgYYof2gMIRzJVlWVizwWz3DnXt2mRM031sS3SPDp6DgQqZ5Lcwhmm197QBvhVmbtmQs2yQkScNJALmrcAzRa1udT9p1c-Dvt_jqIbXc0Zu5zK8Ly6KIciaZ-4LNoOxZxaRAbJu1ymRHJQ5lbbntehHRK8/w640-h288/20240204_135432.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Teddy Bear Cholla - bringer of mass pain if you touch it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjy48IxPQ5J-BGUrdANw0Y8d1zSpw6X-_hhZSA7JTw-ea1YIEkXg0njQ_lXF0zcKYR-gN5L1i81jEOFUNVteDLpIwhY0OLUsApJkZ5iXxRAhxzA50Mzjr-jh8dGqQbuSdM9YAmzOZKcR_9wGjedz1b1E_HHIqRTH6G7qixXM9dhTk9CtlFk9VHrCRLH8/s800/20240204_140633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="548" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjy48IxPQ5J-BGUrdANw0Y8d1zSpw6X-_hhZSA7JTw-ea1YIEkXg0njQ_lXF0zcKYR-gN5L1i81jEOFUNVteDLpIwhY0OLUsApJkZ5iXxRAhxzA50Mzjr-jh8dGqQbuSdM9YAmzOZKcR_9wGjedz1b1E_HHIqRTH6G7qixXM9dhTk9CtlFk9VHrCRLH8/w438-h640/20240204_140633.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><p>The nights are still chilly, and since park models have an R value of about 1, it's cool in the morning inside. Here is Jim, wearing his Mandalorian pants, which are very warm.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherhIq7PRzUEcicFE477VNomGLjDrGB9kFitY9dSvN6T50AIo0O6rEUPtZ3z56ChktSOxT7Yhh1N_JznZQa9SCmO7ZZbQ5lCb0Ka3GMSkefqaL60SJz7sAJ-4xVvyda8nN5Z4Rpyh5FLzhuZMJKTPcXIaDRPcdvJDdTY94H4z2tv7jWZYISM1Ud4U-MLA/s800/20240204_113310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherhIq7PRzUEcicFE477VNomGLjDrGB9kFitY9dSvN6T50AIo0O6rEUPtZ3z56ChktSOxT7Yhh1N_JznZQa9SCmO7ZZbQ5lCb0Ka3GMSkefqaL60SJz7sAJ-4xVvyda8nN5Z4Rpyh5FLzhuZMJKTPcXIaDRPcdvJDdTY94H4z2tv7jWZYISM1Ud4U-MLA/w640-h288/20240204_113310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Other than this, I have nothing much to say.<br /><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-426594432849228452024-02-02T14:40:00.000-08:002024-02-02T15:42:44.406-08:00The Weather!<p>Yesterday the wind was howling. All day - howling! Last night it rained like heck. We're getting the first storm that hit California. Today it has rained like heck off and on with wind. Then there was hail. I was outside caramelizing onions when the hail came - it made pretty impressive noise on the carport roof. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzgtpHCFsi30bCH7FT1O7P54tO1Ajmv3wFFeY8RbjATA41ewTds4D1lDOp05whlGhMAIv00ofXK3bukl92zIw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br />We went to Costco yesterday and bought five pounds of cheese ($13). The shredded cheese we've been buying (8 oz, $5) has taken to going off very quickly, and it doesn't taste as good anymore. We also bought a new laptop for me. I think the hinge on my current on is broken. When I carry it open, the screen jiggles a lot. We're going to have to work up the courage to do a shut down and close it and see what happens. The new lap top is Windows 11. I was really hoping to die of old age before upgrading. Laptops don't seem to be as robust as they once were. Our work PCs ran forever.<br /><br />I think the link I have for Picasa is still viable, so I'm happy about that. <br /><br />By this point, it should be obvious that I have zippity doo-dah all to talk about, so I guess I'll call it quits on this post.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-90236191657175399582024-01-26T16:48:00.000-08:002024-01-27T16:19:53.215-08:00$83Million and A Hike Plus Socks<p>Today the jury in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case awarded her $83M. According
to the lawyers on Twitter, in order for him to appeal, he has to post a
$83M bond. He doesn't have that kind of money. He is so pissed about
this, it's just delightful.<br /></p><p>May I vent? Century Link has to be the worst tech company in the world. Because we're in an RV park, we either get park supplied cable, which is terrible, or DSL. DSL is internet via phone line. When it works, it's fine. We're paying for 40 Mbps, we're getting 22 Mbps. It really becomes evident when you try to upload a bunch of photos, or scroll rapidly. It has been as low as 5 Mbps. They've sent techs out twice. The first guy improved it slightly for awhile, but then it went back to crashing repeatedly, and slowing down. So, I had them come back. They guy yesterday said we had a short at the phone pedestal. He was here for quite awhile, but when he left, we were getting 40 Mbps. This morning it was back down to the mid 20s. I am very unhappy with this, clearly something is wrong, but they're not in the business of doing organized trouble shooting and fixing. Every time I call I have to wade through yet another menu of them telling me they don't recognize my account number, or my zip code, it's so annoying. Worse, their service window is 7 am to 4 pm. If they show up and you're not here, they leave and charge you $100. I hate these people. Since we have internet TV, it's important to have internet service. First world problems, yes, I know.<br /></p><p>Update to post 1/27/2024: This morning we're down to 13 Mbps. Amazon died last night due to internet slowness and instability. Century Link is <i>closed on weekends</i>, so have your emergencies M-F.<br /><br />It's warmer than it has been, but the air is still fairly cold. Given that I am a weather weenie we decided to hike today rather than ride. Not to mention, it's good to have weight bearing activity - keeps the old bones from crumbling. We picked the go out Hidden, come back Bowen trail route. I think we are never doing that again. It's been a few years since we did that, and the trail has really deteriorated. Very rocky, very hard on the feet. Here are scenic photos.<br /><br />In order to get the resort approved, Marriott had to guarantee access to the trails into Tucson Mountain Park. So, one is allowed to park on the street, which is convenient. Look at that sky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVNNHendkDLGh7Ub4t90Z3n7HTe4Qyki2-HCVAFgdxD2JID78Spdf7Ug2-XlxALuhZ7fkq4XW2Y6VVEtBInSwXydmEL9UDmFLypAnqB6F6uXdwVCfgrVjJpcc0hXO-OsY-_Y2ZPRJ9s5r838rfv2fs0RrZ-AtpOCkGyn1LEkluXzUtLhSOF-2Pm3q6Fo/s800/20240126_124640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVNNHendkDLGh7Ub4t90Z3n7HTe4Qyki2-HCVAFgdxD2JID78Spdf7Ug2-XlxALuhZ7fkq4XW2Y6VVEtBInSwXydmEL9UDmFLypAnqB6F6uXdwVCfgrVjJpcc0hXO-OsY-_Y2ZPRJ9s5r838rfv2fs0RrZ-AtpOCkGyn1LEkluXzUtLhSOF-2Pm3q6Fo/w288-h640/20240126_124640.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><p>This is going out the Hidden trail. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJLkm1lpcY3il6vVaaDjH1Usdyq9ufqjYxEiDypIHnwv9t-I-R0sWRnflH2wdrm7o_E8l8SUBtQ5t6VDex2zA-UirUFwrZoPVAZBgzQbCJ5AbYSiPRuMvEv-NfCu6EE1MbC1bGMqGxutH2kONSxm7EJ20BdsvZlInPQk_lZWa1NCx9mGyq5CQe1aPJAA/s800/20240126_131135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJLkm1lpcY3il6vVaaDjH1Usdyq9ufqjYxEiDypIHnwv9t-I-R0sWRnflH2wdrm7o_E8l8SUBtQ5t6VDex2zA-UirUFwrZoPVAZBgzQbCJ5AbYSiPRuMvEv-NfCu6EE1MbC1bGMqGxutH2kONSxm7EJ20BdsvZlInPQk_lZWa1NCx9mGyq5CQe1aPJAA/w640-h288/20240126_131135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br />This is what passes for a trail.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh4qWQYXLvy58ZNyJaIaiYesiWhAFgHtxb6qx9ydOV0x13tPB09W6i6I9P7-ie20czFsK1hFX1kshbbvUSV3Z0AnUKbi_b8EhwgKfHv3Q6gSYDb5Cbz1irSxlEhnf6WlX-yYgzeQE2UvEOpZ6Gu1ezL_1PDOtf4sXRVpqSD0lRmtWWzqqtl-o9FXDMKU/s800/20240126_131432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh4qWQYXLvy58ZNyJaIaiYesiWhAFgHtxb6qx9ydOV0x13tPB09W6i6I9P7-ie20czFsK1hFX1kshbbvUSV3Z0AnUKbi_b8EhwgKfHv3Q6gSYDb5Cbz1irSxlEhnf6WlX-yYgzeQE2UvEOpZ6Gu1ezL_1PDOtf4sXRVpqSD0lRmtWWzqqtl-o9FXDMKU/w288-h640/20240126_131432.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />Now we are heading down the Bowen trail. I think this is one of the prettiest parts of Tucson Mountain Park.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9vHrQY6w0zk6QMr9sNOuVZ1vfntLf4Wxl0ypT-ej4KH2ioGJleXiHWOxKUZ96DQIo9_GmZleLzRv5cx88Aw60AfGWVRFNSBvbf7jOYLaNHez_JC84r9oUqdt7_skvbnszyN5zFMNXZ9GZry10PVI8XfRFY-_fetIgUOXyiBGxrd9KuxOT7BQE2C2Sfw/s800/20240126_135035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9vHrQY6w0zk6QMr9sNOuVZ1vfntLf4Wxl0ypT-ej4KH2ioGJleXiHWOxKUZ96DQIo9_GmZleLzRv5cx88Aw60AfGWVRFNSBvbf7jOYLaNHez_JC84r9oUqdt7_skvbnszyN5zFMNXZ9GZry10PVI8XfRFY-_fetIgUOXyiBGxrd9KuxOT7BQE2C2Sfw/w640-h288/20240126_135035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> Finally, we are back at the Marriot, almost to the car. My feet were screaming at this point. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJ2tGmhkl-mAqNcMUytQiJ54z1HWaOk7Exf46xptu-L8qP_fB9Cuzpg2o7Pky2wtgh9sBST7Y1-oUDftoL0b4U_kpltJqWcWDpIKM5dzhXFLu_TCyI09z2EB0sejMxpLrJpcAGsf2Bfl8G660L049BMzu7AwROSrxH7AIQvDfrDIVSvb_Oz6RovP-WA/s800/20240126_141759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="435" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJ2tGmhkl-mAqNcMUytQiJ54z1HWaOk7Exf46xptu-L8qP_fB9Cuzpg2o7Pky2wtgh9sBST7Y1-oUDftoL0b4U_kpltJqWcWDpIKM5dzhXFLu_TCyI09z2EB0sejMxpLrJpcAGsf2Bfl8G660L049BMzu7AwROSrxH7AIQvDfrDIVSvb_Oz6RovP-WA/w348-h640/20240126_141759.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><p>It was good to get out on a glorious day. Tomorrow we're back on the bikes, no matter what.</p><p>In news of the good, I have new socks. The same woman who made my first pair made these. One can never have enough flip flop socks.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvVyDNIsvFkJp8sYSs8euDmBPJXf9_6U-qGbZ1nccUNFDVq7IdyOtv098mNK7SfP-rnJVh_MvYvqj77qaAdhSvcnRBwThu6TYVfhu_ePQDrO6hho0ABeEZNHJPHEg5R3XXV9nfDJXxcJQDFVS2XAGzUuVEdDWBu_jnzzan2rS7N99iRWcHRQu3L1WF-I/s800/20240126_173746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvVyDNIsvFkJp8sYSs8euDmBPJXf9_6U-qGbZ1nccUNFDVq7IdyOtv098mNK7SfP-rnJVh_MvYvqj77qaAdhSvcnRBwThu6TYVfhu_ePQDrO6hho0ABeEZNHJPHEg5R3XXV9nfDJXxcJQDFVS2XAGzUuVEdDWBu_jnzzan2rS7N99iRWcHRQu3L1WF-I/w640-h640/20240126_173746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Other than this, I have nothing intelligent to say.<br /><br />Ok, well there's this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluPV-C_KOsCtiG6-S5dJDSB3zOtCcXC6wqiwN4GMtWyGAYuG9-kt-KueXsONqtpeeEZWYXz7lTXu4u2QsyAHSBqaPmxQ7sLwYxDG7KNMu-jA9V8rv9yyWA6LgsVZ0IpOoGSKoP77fOvmQoyQQz0EcEZ96SnakjmL1bO6aBv_1dwTaMyiqWpyJi9wAVfo/s770/carrolls%20plane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="770" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluPV-C_KOsCtiG6-S5dJDSB3zOtCcXC6wqiwN4GMtWyGAYuG9-kt-KueXsONqtpeeEZWYXz7lTXu4u2QsyAHSBqaPmxQ7sLwYxDG7KNMu-jA9V8rv9yyWA6LgsVZ0IpOoGSKoP77fOvmQoyQQz0EcEZ96SnakjmL1bO6aBv_1dwTaMyiqWpyJi9wAVfo/w640-h362/carrolls%20plane.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-54044308334689292112024-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:002024-01-23T17:02:54.591-08:00Toilet Paper, the Orange Guy and Inclement Weather<p>There has been a great leap forward in toilet paper manufacturing. Actually, it is kind of a big deal. Charmin did research on how to best perforate the paper squares so they would tear cleanly, instead of leaving the dreaded hanging section of the square. After much testing, it was discovered that a wave pattern was most effective. They retooled their plants to change the perforations. It actually does work well. See? American ingenuity at its finest. You can <b><a href=" https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/10/04/new-charmin-toilet-paper-drops-square-edges/71060659007/" target="_blank">read more here</a></b>.</p><p>The republican candidate for the presidency continues with his program of shock and awe on how awful his speaking has become. In New Hampshire he was heard to say this, ".. which is incapable of solvin’ even the sollest smallest problem. The
simplest of problems, we can no longer solve. We can’t do anything. We
are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on." I give up, what was he trying to say. <b><a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-slurs-out-incoherent-sentence" target="_blank">See more at Meidas Touch</a></b>. His family clearly does not love him, or they would get him help.<br /><br />Our weather continues to be undesirable. It's not nearly as terrible as the rest of the country, so one can't complain, much. </p><p>There was a ride north from Christopher Columbus park. Our first stop was to see if the ball fields rest stop was still open. That would be a big nope. It's unfortunate, it's a nice stop, the water was good, and the toilets are clean. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHDzdptmkDG84tH11-FcRgKaad0SgGhU6WBFx-Y7WQa9yQGnyE0p0xGWf0GiiiEcK6I2f9EHjNu_GtbOfoEgFmd1xHODXg0piDCHwiEHD2Ztt_kgDlz1XPRXxNbasmaB07PP6U64dMkQ0HdBwppFLUqqA9mpJrHYb9ogWBjhf13oLs6VK02Pf5p5moRE/s800/20240119_125544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHDzdptmkDG84tH11-FcRgKaad0SgGhU6WBFx-Y7WQa9yQGnyE0p0xGWf0GiiiEcK6I2f9EHjNu_GtbOfoEgFmd1xHODXg0piDCHwiEHD2Ztt_kgDlz1XPRXxNbasmaB07PP6U64dMkQ0HdBwppFLUqqA9mpJrHYb9ogWBjhf13oLs6VK02Pf5p5moRE/w640-h288/20240119_125544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> Then it was farther north to check on the sewer pipe project that was supposed to be done by now. Nope. Doesn't look like that will end any time soon. While we were standing there, a walker came up and we spoke to him, as one does. Big mistake. He talked, and he talked, and he talked. Worse, he had zero sense of personal space. He was within three feet of Jim's face. I kept backing up, Jim kept backing up, and he advanced. Hopefully he didn't have Covid, We're still testing, so far so good.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls8_Op9DTmUli7fY7iCB7qQZF48tx8cs5OVk0zZNRZlPevoybQQ61y5uert2lLICMwq0_LSsglhC5EAu5tiIV-2dwK2TAtve7xKBdKLanPIGlwPgSKaRR5a3wCnkiw9ERunWmWGR6DE-9guHTONdGUVvn_AkokGTQ16WpDg0vUAzp8BfhQ1LSmGF6M_0/s800/20240119_134212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls8_Op9DTmUli7fY7iCB7qQZF48tx8cs5OVk0zZNRZlPevoybQQ61y5uert2lLICMwq0_LSsglhC5EAu5tiIV-2dwK2TAtve7xKBdKLanPIGlwPgSKaRR5a3wCnkiw9ERunWmWGR6DE-9guHTONdGUVvn_AkokGTQ16WpDg0vUAzp8BfhQ1LSmGF6M_0/w640-h288/20240119_134212.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>We saw this when we got back to Christopher Columbus. Someone spent a lot of time putting things on this car. That will not help resale value.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwQC-XEBQ4yZSyI8o1MxOb7JxSEBfKQj9Cls4vwbAVAovSltmIFqbxIqj_mnVU7Ru3CUnW-mY6VvxCDicXsDWjUixgaYYFYViHtXfiINFu5RNTeoSeEwPpJqdDtaFUGqCBUnVlRAjgWVi8Fqp58hNkzJ0qMozzk3P1e6XIXArJI0-nR1EAbHiS8xMdjw/s800/20240119_144302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="800" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwQC-XEBQ4yZSyI8o1MxOb7JxSEBfKQj9Cls4vwbAVAovSltmIFqbxIqj_mnVU7Ru3CUnW-mY6VvxCDicXsDWjUixgaYYFYViHtXfiINFu5RNTeoSeEwPpJqdDtaFUGqCBUnVlRAjgWVi8Fqp58hNkzJ0qMozzk3P1e6XIXArJI0-nR1EAbHiS8xMdjw/w640-h272/20240119_144302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpKw-VuRgJ8kBLQX-PMN_MBsuGcWOUG6LVlOV_Vtqj9r3oucz8jOPH7Tscv16Zt1cnLwVV8vS9B7HzVGjtyehocX3kfHIkvdpV3dnoDNAK3WOc5ikF77vUDvSYzeVJe8CFZX4L4m-Z61e3LF3KMiZ2NvvwY5AeZ7L4vSfskfBPvbQFrfvx7pINDZr0xo/s800/20240119_144326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpKw-VuRgJ8kBLQX-PMN_MBsuGcWOUG6LVlOV_Vtqj9r3oucz8jOPH7Tscv16Zt1cnLwVV8vS9B7HzVGjtyehocX3kfHIkvdpV3dnoDNAK3WOc5ikF77vUDvSYzeVJe8CFZX4L4m-Z61e3LF3KMiZ2NvvwY5AeZ7L4vSfskfBPvbQFrfvx7pINDZr0xo/w640-h288/20240119_144326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Since the weather was cold and wet yesterday, we went out to buy food. Things were getting dire in the pantry. The Catalinas were wearing clouds. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_nKl0G3sDOOV2H6RDo9voi4aGRjON-xdZbNnb06x2sVH33v77kpkpw0OhGqShWy_licxE9EwPuRP1C_53LvY_17kEhyphenhyphen5yBMGTfSyCo3CODCBcUVt6Sgbcq7F_Uvd31g_69nNzE0rp_Ubpk6f4i8BlcFLCCkS91v-9TH128Nd37_g6r1HNgAuwphpPaU/s800/20240122_125051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="800" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_nKl0G3sDOOV2H6RDo9voi4aGRjON-xdZbNnb06x2sVH33v77kpkpw0OhGqShWy_licxE9EwPuRP1C_53LvY_17kEhyphenhyphen5yBMGTfSyCo3CODCBcUVt6Sgbcq7F_Uvd31g_69nNzE0rp_Ubpk6f4i8BlcFLCCkS91v-9TH128Nd37_g6r1HNgAuwphpPaU/w640-h176/20240122_125051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>One thing the inclement weather encouraged was a deep cleaning of the upper cabinets. Simple Green works well for ancient deposits of unknown materials that have petrified. Good thing. Look in the cabinet on the left, see the wall paper? That's what used to cover the entire park model. The painting job that was done isn't great, but it's better than the flowered paper.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gNJiWaUPgr9NQ9FNyNgIDpL0W3gF4aRBdW6J00G07nD0TLR3aIqnsPMFegM4o7HcxRLpJ15vA7QrVOj4yczrx6GFcdstOI-NSz-PINbQRhUp_4RvEvBx0ewtyZaT_LrtXXrfqueZFyhts3qEINJLeG4943ZAFlnZMGS8nPCCVLyVO-wY1JoBtoSa3BU/s800/20240121_131301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gNJiWaUPgr9NQ9FNyNgIDpL0W3gF4aRBdW6J00G07nD0TLR3aIqnsPMFegM4o7HcxRLpJ15vA7QrVOj4yczrx6GFcdstOI-NSz-PINbQRhUp_4RvEvBx0ewtyZaT_LrtXXrfqueZFyhts3qEINJLeG4943ZAFlnZMGS8nPCCVLyVO-wY1JoBtoSa3BU/w640-h288/20240121_131301.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So that's it. That's all I've got on offer.<br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-91214997827837291972024-01-18T15:46:00.000-08:002024-01-18T15:46:49.619-08:00A PSA, The Ectoplasm, Local News and a Hike<p><span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;">Yesterday was Lichen Sclerosus Awareness Day. This is an under diagnosed condition that can lead to eventual cancer and death. Women get it way more than men do, and so, therefore, precious little time is spent on it in medical school. <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AshleyGWinter/status/1747731515914748082" target="_blank">Play this video</a></b>, it is definitely worth a view.<br /><br />New from DJT-land, we have "de-banking." Who knew? They're trying to debank us. <b><a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1747818968549634411" target="_blank">GO HERE</a></b> if you want to play the video, it's very amusing. Much of twitter thinks he has tertiary syphilis, which is when it ends up in your brain. <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUll6VkGIJi3TqyB13CTxsh1AOoQGIIsBtUwRBdPY-zqGvL-EWHvHUYAsnef411epkcv1IpcVxcKC8CyPhyphenhyphenrdhHGY7C6FWPAwo5zRkMKFXsHqBLiDuLDOJsFeefRbOEo2wwUrx77IzxyVxSRim-1I4MmL2FtJCe7uwLrz2cFW8pzUDRQuGSFLpHEoh4lY/s785/trump%20and%20debanking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="785" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUll6VkGIJi3TqyB13CTxsh1AOoQGIIsBtUwRBdPY-zqGvL-EWHvHUYAsnef411epkcv1IpcVxcKC8CyPhyphenhyphenrdhHGY7C6FWPAwo5zRkMKFXsHqBLiDuLDOJsFeefRbOEo2wwUrx77IzxyVxSRim-1I4MmL2FtJCe7uwLrz2cFW8pzUDRQuGSFLpHEoh4lY/w640-h530/trump%20and%20debanking.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here is something from Meidas Touch. They post a lot of stuff, have pod casts and make fun of the republicans - nicely of course. They were talking to Charles Barkley about Nikki Haley's statement that America is not racist. He laughed and replied, "She's 100% correct. If you forget about slavery, Jim Crow, segregation,
anti-semitism, asian hate ... America's been smooth sailing." You can read the article and see the video <b><a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/news/charles-barkley-bursts-out-laughing-at-haley-claim-that-america-has-never-been-racist" target="_blank">here</a></b>. He's talking about taking many Black people to Nikki Haley's town hall in New Hampshire, I would truly love to see that.<br /><br />So, what have we been doing since I last posted on January 11? We've been testing for Covid since we spent time in St. Mary's hospital, so far we're negative. Tuesday I got a new crown. Technology has moved on from the old porcelain bonded to metal crowns. They're now solid surface, sort of like Corian. They put a camera in your mouth, photograph everything, and then send it to the milling machine. Forty five minutes later, the crown is ready to be installed. Being at the dentist's will extend the time frame for covid testing. Fortunately, I brought many kits. There has been riding and rowing on the machine and all of the usual stuff. </p><p>We're instituting a new shopping paradigm. As much food as possible will be coming from Costco, and not Safeway. We used to eat corn flakes, an 18 ounce box had hit $8. For cereal!!!! Forty ounces of Cheerios at Costco is $6.89. I like Cheerios better than corn flakes; Jim doesn't, but he's adjusting. We bought 2 pounds of shredded parmesan cheese for $11.89. Seven ounces at Safeway is $8. Even if we throw half of the two pounds off cheese away, we're still money ahead. Food prices are just becoming ridiculous. We may venture into Food City (the grocery store that caters to the Hispanic community) and see how much they're charging for roasted chilis. I'm pretty sure we're getting ripped off at $2.89 for four ounces. Every time we go in to Safeway, we leave really pissed off.</p><p>Today there was hiking. It was a glorious day, it was in the 70s. It won't last, four days of rain are in the forecast. Here are pictures of the hike out in the Tucson Mountain Park.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtJvPr6Nn1y0epx3kvaxoRr0LQdck8hduFzXR5JsoyA2FdwdC2abTo4-SRUIgo75YVblzA3VkCqz8tW4WeeG0XFrENyunwE1icLa2ePVsY6-Kdcx4NKEFrsvVfqynlYM3Rdwm6HARvo0OK2oVrPG27H3NpT0XUyz2tWyzMreqqNSaTPtZIm_YWshRlWw/s800/20240118_130630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtJvPr6Nn1y0epx3kvaxoRr0LQdck8hduFzXR5JsoyA2FdwdC2abTo4-SRUIgo75YVblzA3VkCqz8tW4WeeG0XFrENyunwE1icLa2ePVsY6-Kdcx4NKEFrsvVfqynlYM3Rdwm6HARvo0OK2oVrPG27H3NpT0XUyz2tWyzMreqqNSaTPtZIm_YWshRlWw/w640-h288/20240118_130630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRerFcjz2RlKV_WiOfrCVecy96lFlmAsT48FWWYQFsZuTCaf4Joq9j4q43O46ai8dhRSySWHSM3Y1slvCWk5TKIdllDhCc__z-GKKjjKgDTk2W1mcwVKLhsaFpPzMr7eDrIgo13-560IzI3e61JkydOPzfnlIvJq2-EPpzRToaaXBJCVkZC-sjYFiUXg/s800/20240118_133338-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRerFcjz2RlKV_WiOfrCVecy96lFlmAsT48FWWYQFsZuTCaf4Joq9j4q43O46ai8dhRSySWHSM3Y1slvCWk5TKIdllDhCc__z-GKKjjKgDTk2W1mcwVKLhsaFpPzMr7eDrIgo13-560IzI3e61JkydOPzfnlIvJq2-EPpzRToaaXBJCVkZC-sjYFiUXg/w640-h288/20240118_133338-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6C92-6D7JEWtscVmD2eYcZAcC7azns1008FHzK-vXTqxlntqe3JbMz7w9nk_c70UVY0jyiw74QWBtRQ_InnxxqrF3l6nUG3GbhpVygLKwx-rNq6gCXwnS_MiaPpfyNjm0DinT9y_Xq68P_e9RMH0cJD7pbY0df6se7pi-nWUsC5hE8heTTKTTg3R7wY/s800/20240118_133655(1)-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6C92-6D7JEWtscVmD2eYcZAcC7azns1008FHzK-vXTqxlntqe3JbMz7w9nk_c70UVY0jyiw74QWBtRQ_InnxxqrF3l6nUG3GbhpVygLKwx-rNq6gCXwnS_MiaPpfyNjm0DinT9y_Xq68P_e9RMH0cJD7pbY0df6se7pi-nWUsC5hE8heTTKTTg3R7wY/w640-h480/20240118_133655(1)-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvezDzcJgeSCPqavAN7BcWtJappJEQppv9NFVZpLGxaMMHU7qAVN6b-6zXxAjmTTBkHh5rwH0mGVpypy20DDHHECskyhHzwIsRNDbzJm03oMWiaw8pw4Jk0kC-9BoY5CHvpi0gwx2wvvReJvLiJ9yBxQ5WH9Jc4QNlDZHHMHB1G6IQ7ScOJJfd7vUzpA/s800/20240118_135216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvezDzcJgeSCPqavAN7BcWtJappJEQppv9NFVZpLGxaMMHU7qAVN6b-6zXxAjmTTBkHh5rwH0mGVpypy20DDHHECskyhHzwIsRNDbzJm03oMWiaw8pw4Jk0kC-9BoY5CHvpi0gwx2wvvReJvLiJ9yBxQ5WH9Jc4QNlDZHHMHB1G6IQ7ScOJJfd7vUzpA/w640-h288/20240118_135216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Here is humor. It's a seal photo bombing a bunch of penguins. He looks really happy to be there.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecQPjwlItAxWLP1tTWQXX_t1INta2WuEUqXeJJb_HELJI8i5jTHTQc3O77xkXOGeyWssrcTle7PW9X6WbOWK5rB5QM8mymR4qjM7VDE8_f3hr2X31G8iE9wvLhA3wrfxEraOJUS6hWnJbi6YkQD-jj4dAsmWbCmgT8OV2dhDUyrSuXGynphqPdAkjfGk/s708/seal%20photobombing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="705" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecQPjwlItAxWLP1tTWQXX_t1INta2WuEUqXeJJb_HELJI8i5jTHTQc3O77xkXOGeyWssrcTle7PW9X6WbOWK5rB5QM8mymR4qjM7VDE8_f3hr2X31G8iE9wvLhA3wrfxEraOJUS6hWnJbi6YkQD-jj4dAsmWbCmgT8OV2dhDUyrSuXGynphqPdAkjfGk/w638-h640/seal%20photobombing.JPG" width="638" /></a></div><br />Other that this, I have nothing else to say.<br /><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-274765202523732122024-01-11T16:01:00.000-08:002024-01-11T16:04:50.345-08:00Windy and Cold-ish<p>Like most of the lower 48 states, we're cold! Yes, you're colder, but we are cold enough. Monday we awakened to discover there was no water. The dang pipes were frozen. We think the freezing occurred at the faucet, because the rest of the path of the water is covered in pipe wrap and then goes underground. We'd get heat tape, but there is no 20 amp plug on the power pole. The RV sites had them, but these do not. Nothing burst and after a few hours they thawed. The key learning here is to have a gallon of water hanging about so that coffee can be made.<br /></p><p>Today the winds are gusting - a lot. It's supposed to rain later on. Then there will be another hard freeze. We will be trickling water through the night to avoid another case of frozen pipes. Saturday the highs will return to the 60's and we can venture outside once again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI5TJOON4oeLqsPg6Ipq4SO4vbPOfEbFeDTKCX0Dt4IrPd2_PY1yebUu9zmntXZ0gZpOXKXcumVtprDYTiRLRUMKz15X1U7JCbmmVd3VeRrxRh6Qoy6wYpnRsy3Oolj4fEMXAIDe-ydrM7dxfJ4miy5qPPWsXYBj2QKHiZ5wB1-fr0foYxeX4gJehRw4/s800/20240111_124536_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI5TJOON4oeLqsPg6Ipq4SO4vbPOfEbFeDTKCX0Dt4IrPd2_PY1yebUu9zmntXZ0gZpOXKXcumVtprDYTiRLRUMKz15X1U7JCbmmVd3VeRrxRh6Qoy6wYpnRsy3Oolj4fEMXAIDe-ydrM7dxfJ4miy5qPPWsXYBj2QKHiZ5wB1-fr0foYxeX4gJehRw4/w640-h256/20240111_124536_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELWXElTZhZcPQsfV7Md6OkWjSMw4EW6R9nWs4Pc7EhQuqstsE3DmfQKckm6dnWctsn3cL9lbKuga8unXrXEdvxqcX2pS8bxMMWpvzOAE0L362Bp0eLHlkavk_AygamOuUMG-YzSaEB3xe7hMHxw3BBlirb2db-zL7fePCggESoFSW9qJNRb4ubdDtB4Y/s800/20240111_124525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="800" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELWXElTZhZcPQsfV7Md6OkWjSMw4EW6R9nWs4Pc7EhQuqstsE3DmfQKckm6dnWctsn3cL9lbKuga8unXrXEdvxqcX2pS8bxMMWpvzOAE0L362Bp0eLHlkavk_AygamOuUMG-YzSaEB3xe7hMHxw3BBlirb2db-zL7fePCggESoFSW9qJNRb4ubdDtB4Y/w640-h350/20240111_124525.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Juan Perez came today and put up the new awnings for the south side of the park model. First, however, he showed me the photo of his first grandchild. He is so happy about this. We took the foil backed bubble wrap out of the windows, so there is more light in here now. There's still nothing to see, since we're in small spaces, but the extra light is good. <br /></p><p>This was taken the other day. The setting sun made gold tones in the park. Look down the street at the red light on the arbovitae, the dead ones. Today they're taking out the corpses and hauling them away. This is bad for the park model they were growing next to, they've lost their protection from the setting western sun which is <b><span style="color: red;"><i>HOT</i></span></b>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFmnVaNTshIC2-6ODObV8Cb4o41ECWp_-9_mwbAMe_MPz4GWbPxUEFo0jJ7LLWbH87Dc62w8Sgx_M7-6hxx8h_qWgkK3VmgA7ibF8xTpI9MrPTOiZX3Nx_Q8q4oGDGuXmSO78LSbnC0gR84GD0SabnXb3mix1_AhcSb2lz3qcnlFJkFWO66SN6_pOklk/s800/20240107_172114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="800" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFmnVaNTshIC2-6ODObV8Cb4o41ECWp_-9_mwbAMe_MPz4GWbPxUEFo0jJ7LLWbH87Dc62w8Sgx_M7-6hxx8h_qWgkK3VmgA7ibF8xTpI9MrPTOiZX3Nx_Q8q4oGDGuXmSO78LSbnC0gR84GD0SabnXb3mix1_AhcSb2lz3qcnlFJkFWO66SN6_pOklk/w640-h362/20240107_172114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Since it has been so dang cold, we've been burning propane at a prodigious rate, and so has everyone else. This is our poorly insulated stove, which caused us to go buy a Breville counter top oven because the heat from this thing just about drove us out of the park model. However, it makes a great little area heater, and we think it uses less propane than the giant furnace out back. Anyway, we had a propane delivery yesterday, and they did not arrive until about 9:15pm because they are so busy because we're all cold.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpN16XyN6h1lhW4kG-NrzFGSMvnL-iFq1iRYqo__SiVulC_Ya-2fNi2hK0czivhTa4Fbd8M2E2in1J6g6c1m7bP-KCWJ1L3WSag_s9agZ0QyHB7i8EdSUy6lhVle7mBkADLHLZswP9BiCxjn84LOriWKskqS-hY7xtt4rnm_OgTtSrzOszI3eV_j7oq4/s800/20240107_173442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="800" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpN16XyN6h1lhW4kG-NrzFGSMvnL-iFq1iRYqo__SiVulC_Ya-2fNi2hK0czivhTa4Fbd8M2E2in1J6g6c1m7bP-KCWJ1L3WSag_s9agZ0QyHB7i8EdSUy6lhVle7mBkADLHLZswP9BiCxjn84LOriWKskqS-hY7xtt4rnm_OgTtSrzOszI3eV_j7oq4/w640-h604/20240107_173442.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Yesterday, Jim had an elective out patient procedure that required anesthesia and intubation. I was pretty weirded out about the prospect of him being around unmasked people, breathing on him during a surge. From twitter I learned that if you want your mask replaced as quickly as possible after extubation, <b>talk to the anesthesiologist</b>. They will make it happen in recovery. When Jim woke up, he had his mask back on, and his wife was happy about that. Saturday we will start testing for Covid to see if the worst has happened. The procedure went well, Jim is fine.<br /></p><p>In news of the US postal service, this is what we received today. They sent the front and back cover, but the inside of the magazine is missing. This is so annoying. I guess their equipment mangled the issue, and rules and regulations said they had for forward the remains.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6ZZKdPv0if1mLNvfVNJKy2NWPFEgl-RyaBd2vfm6qSCxVgQxID8v3ix5yTK-_dwUm31DFKenJx79vDpYo4WtdhE3fICOqpVcn27g09SJn7WHV-Q2QlvROydj0z8F70tGYGaaK5VeMbBz9t_fJMMhyphenhyphenYmSvHnVJz9h41U7yrwzgt4_8uUk8zAj7Mh-JkQ/s800/20240111_130703_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6ZZKdPv0if1mLNvfVNJKy2NWPFEgl-RyaBd2vfm6qSCxVgQxID8v3ix5yTK-_dwUm31DFKenJx79vDpYo4WtdhE3fICOqpVcn27g09SJn7WHV-Q2QlvROydj0z8F70tGYGaaK5VeMbBz9t_fJMMhyphenhyphenYmSvHnVJz9h41U7yrwzgt4_8uUk8zAj7Mh-JkQ/w494-h640/20240111_130703_2.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />So, that is all I have to say about anything.<br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-7594664198441262492024-01-06T16:32:00.000-08:002024-01-07T16:46:11.524-08:00A Hike and a Rant or ThreeGreetings Humans. We have not shuffled off this mortal coil, I've just been disinclined to write anything. There has been riding and some hiking. The weather has taken a turn toward colder temperatures. We must gird our loins, dress appropriately and get back out there on the bikes. Today we wussed out and hiked. It truly was a glorious day.<br /><br />This is a straw bale wall. It's made out of stacked bales of straw and then coated in plaster. They'll last for a long time IF the straw is protected from water intrusion. When we were living in the house here, the owner had a section repaired because it had gotten wet and rotted. The advantage to them is they look so much better than stuccoed cement block walls, and you can make curves and other attractive shapes. Behold, a straw bale wall.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-pZDNW7l9CJWBx8_wmzGuLI7uZVIX1C5tjtJ973uwn-tRcph1Nufibslilw6HiB6BdqgIaclMwpRVfzz3u29T7SM1WsCfj_H5uuhXjfacL7B6KQTJ91Dwj0y2VitoHpdf7EW2CHK_i1Z8mD4LshHRg3RVRCCAdG4XUpELPPtgNuW54BACWAMCoyQJLs/s800/20240106_131735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-pZDNW7l9CJWBx8_wmzGuLI7uZVIX1C5tjtJ973uwn-tRcph1Nufibslilw6HiB6BdqgIaclMwpRVfzz3u29T7SM1WsCfj_H5uuhXjfacL7B6KQTJ91Dwj0y2VitoHpdf7EW2CHK_i1Z8mD4LshHRg3RVRCCAdG4XUpELPPtgNuW54BACWAMCoyQJLs/w640-h288/20240106_131735.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The always lovely Tucson Mountain Park.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PPcGMhdzW_ewf9KbvWFzoNhVqizmOTFSnmUMouNfVBOR4Q7nViBm07YF5fJIp7EGV1iITN4wm7yay51EcpJ_NjL4CS3UNmOJs49eDvpUlvT_5iqwvbHdN0Y9IV1L7BEhe0Q9QmrbtNH5lEk58WYCLbAjOUUOQwOAVSs8MJqHEyekRWIdFdThVQKxh1k/s800/20240106_133541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PPcGMhdzW_ewf9KbvWFzoNhVqizmOTFSnmUMouNfVBOR4Q7nViBm07YF5fJIp7EGV1iITN4wm7yay51EcpJ_NjL4CS3UNmOJs49eDvpUlvT_5iqwvbHdN0Y9IV1L7BEhe0Q9QmrbtNH5lEk58WYCLbAjOUUOQwOAVSs8MJqHEyekRWIdFdThVQKxh1k/w640-h250/20240106_133541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UBqfTX43LvrgKc-14bfQtfQD-pkX8AjsFZM0R9IgYO7kabkKeWHHRDaMFLCpvFG_e-c9zS4sSyHBbUrk12JdchpKrKGvghbm9R6vhR-2zZ4JI-rQv9XWS_EhdBuErzk4-4oFpm9d7cVXNRFuoo4VqoV8j8aNSxH6LWznx9MTFXzcpal2EHYIejfMqo8/s800/20240106_140551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="800" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UBqfTX43LvrgKc-14bfQtfQD-pkX8AjsFZM0R9IgYO7kabkKeWHHRDaMFLCpvFG_e-c9zS4sSyHBbUrk12JdchpKrKGvghbm9R6vhR-2zZ4JI-rQv9XWS_EhdBuErzk4-4oFpm9d7cVXNRFuoo4VqoV8j8aNSxH6LWznx9MTFXzcpal2EHYIejfMqo8/w640-h308/20240106_140551.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxVYZBv0JNxw-WQujcHFou08-u7ItKWuBg7ERnS0mPCd3dMy7DBBy5KCA8w7QJ0iUaHn3Ypl4gL2eSPO1PxXCMK1yZYTYSrzUlaisJm2LeTKMvZEn5ESZQsvIX3uvqa7dXztUlgEearPNksStL8cpMVpfnTpeq2vDz1OnD9sHkFi0ygQO8JY3j522d3w/s800/20240106_135520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxVYZBv0JNxw-WQujcHFou08-u7ItKWuBg7ERnS0mPCd3dMy7DBBy5KCA8w7QJ0iUaHn3Ypl4gL2eSPO1PxXCMK1yZYTYSrzUlaisJm2LeTKMvZEn5ESZQsvIX3uvqa7dXztUlgEearPNksStL8cpMVpfnTpeq2vDz1OnD9sHkFi0ygQO8JY3j522d3w/w640-h288/20240106_135520.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Part of my lack of writing anything is that I am so dang <b><i>angry</i></b>. I'm pissed that the orange ectoplasm is successfully stalling any and all attempts to prosecute and jail him for something, anything. He has never been held accountable for anything, and he's still not. Yesterday he attacked E. Jean Carrol on his social media site 40 some odd times. She's on round two of defamation lawsuits, maybe it's time to fire up another one.<br /></p><p>The Supreme Court has allowed Idaho to continue to enforce its draconian abortion law that was appealed and stayed. Essentially this means that if a woman walks in to an ER bleeding out from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, or septic from a dead fetus the body can't clear, it's ok to tell her they won't help and perhaps go somewhere else to die. Don't want to scare the other patients, don't you know. I can not tell you how angry this is making me. The Biden administration had argued that EMTLA requires emergency treatment for septic/bleeding women, but the Supreme Court has decided that death is a valid option. I just can't stand it. It really is a good time to be old and infertile.<br /></p><p>It appears that Covid is back with a vengeance. It also appears that the CDC and our current administration are asleep at the switch and are offering no, none, not any public health guidance. Two data modellers were on the Today Show, trying to get the word out. Now is the time to be masking. The projections are startling. Estimates are that 1 in 3 people in the US will catch Covid during the surge which started just after Christmas. The surge is predicted to go through February. The US population is 331 million as of 2021. Not all cases will be terrible, but 1 out of 10 people are likely to develop Long Covid. The odds of developing LC are not related to the severity of the initial infection, even an asymptomatic case can appear months later as LC. The acute stage of the infection is not always the worst thing that can happen to a person. <b><a href="https://www.today.com/health/news/covid-wave-2024-rcna132529" target="_blank">Here is the Today Show link</a></b>.</p><p>Eric Topol, a doctor and scientist, has an<b><a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-04/covid-2024-flu-virus-vaccine"> op-ed up in the LA Times</a></b>, which is an interesting read. The salient points are that the most recent X.B.B booster does have cross over with JN.1, which is the current primary circulating variant, and that NOW is the time to be masking assiduously to avoid the high Covid levels, as well as RSV and flu. <br /><br />In news of the good, Jim got his stitches out yesterday from the Mohs procedure, the dermo guy complimented Jim on his excellent wound care, and now we're done with this.</p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-80535516039276926472024-01-01T19:35:00.000-08:002024-01-01T19:37:20.828-08:00January 1, 2024<p>Happy First Day of the Year. Our NYE was sedate, to say the least. We're watching Vera on Britbox on Amazon Prime. We had started the series, Commander, but after two episodes and 10 minutes into the third episode we moved away from it. It was just creepy and stupid with a high ick factor. However, <i>anything </i>would have been better than this.</p><p>From Meidastouch we read the following. <br /></p><blockquote><p>Donald Trump's hosted his annual New Year's Eve Party at Mar-a-Lago last
night and it was quite a scene. The festivities opened up with Trump
walking out on stage to his rally theme song, Lee Greenwood's 'Proud to
be an American.' But this time it was performed by a Guy Fieri lookalike
fronting a Lawrence Welk band while Trump struck his best Mussolini
pose while a graphic light show was raging behind them.<br /></p></blockquote><p>The headline singer was Vanilla Ice, accompanied by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. The article can be found <b><a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trumps-bizarre-new-years-party-at-mar-a-lago" target="_blank">here</a></b>. It's worth a read, if only for the photos.<br /></p><p>The fireworks were astonishing last night. At midnight it sounded like being in a war zone. Mercifully they ran out of ammo about 1:00 am. During the years we stayed here in the RV, it was never this bad. Oddly enough, we had not seen any fireworks stands; perhaps because they're illegal in Tucson. </p><p>Carry on. This year will be something.<br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-47638837456024010632023-12-30T18:38:00.000-08:002023-12-30T18:38:51.809-08:00Not Much to Report Post Christmas<p>Greetings Post Christmas Earthlings! How was your chosen observation of your chosen holiday? Ours was successful, we bought a veeeeeeery expensive whole chicken at Sprouts, spatchcocked it, and grilled it. It's good chicken, it has a very clean taste, unlike some supermarket chains' products. So that made three dinners and a lunch. Not cooking is good.</p><p>There was a ride on Christmas day. It was a cold ride, undershirts, tights, arm warmers, jackets, head socks and glove liners were involved. Actually, I wore my long sleeved slightly fleeced jersey because I hate arm warmers because they won't stay up, and they were a pleasant alternative. That ride was from the house, up to Christopher Columbus park. </p><p>Yesterday we had planned to ride from the ball fields up on Camino del Cierro. We discovered that the road in is barricaded, and is in the process of being removed. If you refer back to the December 18 post, and scroll down, there is a photo of the desert behind the ball fields parking lot that had recently been bladed. Our first thought was that what we thought was new housing was going to subsume the park, but this is not the case. They are adding new places for the playing of softball. It's going to be big. I'm still not clear on why they had to dig up the road in. The restrooms are still open, accessible from the bike trail, so it's not a complete loss. We can park a Christopher Columbus which is a mile south. Here is the site of the new fields being built.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CxcYWbm2eIxAWFySJKSN4cko30Qtm09qIHuF0DBhwTdC57F7izakr3T8yqi0ZHBtlUKLCuuXtHY0W8NZHbTfuWf6Ul2e5ZvX7XOaejIWkNk-K-37HKoXHU6vZ1PNJBMkYIwROTOf-s2QbUHCak1Ik5tzfzMfWF08OtOSXrTjn6sm9_O24lINwReToa8/s800/20231229_134338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CxcYWbm2eIxAWFySJKSN4cko30Qtm09qIHuF0DBhwTdC57F7izakr3T8yqi0ZHBtlUKLCuuXtHY0W8NZHbTfuWf6Ul2e5ZvX7XOaejIWkNk-K-37HKoXHU6vZ1PNJBMkYIwROTOf-s2QbUHCak1Ik5tzfzMfWF08OtOSXrTjn6sm9_O24lINwReToa8/w640-h288/20231229_134338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We rode north to check on the sewer pipe project that has closed the northern part of the trail system. Their website says it will complete at the end of 2023. Somehow, I do not think this will be the case.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AdZDLRZ5oXhdDHT9S8qTVbF6-WoBFYrJGmdFqrwUNgD0t-S73DDoNg8LQwapF0yfSZgeXFM325128FOq3BBEi-xZIwwqnvu5NBuhDeGQlPJEJTNsgXtAYyBSusKgcCETMHJ1qPnRWrDyB7TOvQ2yfHEb_JUk6fJNLuMLzbYVG-LVJqO-i1j2sJbaHTg/s800/20231229_142444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AdZDLRZ5oXhdDHT9S8qTVbF6-WoBFYrJGmdFqrwUNgD0t-S73DDoNg8LQwapF0yfSZgeXFM325128FOq3BBEi-xZIwwqnvu5NBuhDeGQlPJEJTNsgXtAYyBSusKgcCETMHJ1qPnRWrDyB7TOvQ2yfHEb_JUk6fJNLuMLzbYVG-LVJqO-i1j2sJbaHTg/w640-h288/20231229_142444.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If you're wondering about our insistence on riding bike paths, it's because we're old. Getting hit now would be the end of us. When you're hurt in your old age, you're never the same. Plus, the hospitals are over run with Covid, flu and RSV and we do not want to have to be taken to one via ambulance. The days of us riding on the road with traffic are officially over.</p><p>Today we went to Lowes to buy an inexpensive garden hose. We need to flush the hot water heater, and a hose is required to move it out to the street. The one left by the previous owner is rotten, which suggests that it may have been awhile since flushing happened. On the way home we saw this car. It's a Plymouth Barracuda. They're pretty cars, nice lines. Being next to one makes me grateful for emissions controls. Their exhaust is just bad.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4K9-Wkx2wqFeKVpV8hPkVJUepj9cCO-o8SpfJjh1qvtW4FjnrFI0vFxDm4I6mdYzbzUA39QyeivitSfQ9-93E7ql-qo7f9YElII3OkbxyLJlZd7Si4eoqIo9hvTztHZnCzIdZbYULcmVPGIZFraoAq_nDcu_qfddPcl2wJeI5E3M-JiyX7w9qpfi7ZE/s800/20231230_140811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4K9-Wkx2wqFeKVpV8hPkVJUepj9cCO-o8SpfJjh1qvtW4FjnrFI0vFxDm4I6mdYzbzUA39QyeivitSfQ9-93E7ql-qo7f9YElII3OkbxyLJlZd7Si4eoqIo9hvTztHZnCzIdZbYULcmVPGIZFraoAq_nDcu_qfddPcl2wJeI5E3M-JiyX7w9qpfi7ZE/w640-h288/20231230_140811.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk428MJuY8QPLrRN_BPLPOQuZEF6E_4Cq2NdXxjd-W1HHLs31L8DWctyPc3neWGxWcdJggB50wVGlcnX2SXlgCzSAdyrEVeTuCg2IIx0BknUW31iEnXsPA_A69yWO99LT3IOBpbS1mC7cIfcYnJx9atmtGySmh_4RuVd1EHMQJqKOL-xFuOnZJB8vipxE/s800/20231230_140817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="800" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk428MJuY8QPLrRN_BPLPOQuZEF6E_4Cq2NdXxjd-W1HHLs31L8DWctyPc3neWGxWcdJggB50wVGlcnX2SXlgCzSAdyrEVeTuCg2IIx0BknUW31iEnXsPA_A69yWO99LT3IOBpbS1mC7cIfcYnJx9atmtGySmh_4RuVd1EHMQJqKOL-xFuOnZJB8vipxE/w640-h362/20231230_140817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There were interesting clouds later on.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZJqxPCUMTxqeQEvre6wXdzfIM2pwuqCpPXhZiRvi1r7kQ2msO4dhQv0bbPBaUpDeogT-iRYNCCVqHcCEXaOVvHag0h5RwMLjcQAFeih7MM8peN7k0NpSHfpzfOB8GhcXGjv-4LriIKhTMFxS35NW63E_lNK3vhp9jfhQ-kxV4ok6gQ7RdQZYqxu99wQ/s800/20231230_155546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZJqxPCUMTxqeQEvre6wXdzfIM2pwuqCpPXhZiRvi1r7kQ2msO4dhQv0bbPBaUpDeogT-iRYNCCVqHcCEXaOVvHag0h5RwMLjcQAFeih7MM8peN7k0NpSHfpzfOB8GhcXGjv-4LriIKhTMFxS35NW63E_lNK3vhp9jfhQ-kxV4ok6gQ7RdQZYqxu99wQ/w640-h288/20231230_155546.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I will be glad when the holidays are over. We need to go to Costco, and the grocery store, and I do not want to do these things until people go back to work. I will also be happy when our neighbors quit firing their guns in the air and shooting off fireworks. They're making it difficult to sleep. See? I am officially old.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-27090736154901936152023-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:002023-12-25T09:59:46.443-08:00Christmas Day<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Here's to a happy seasonal holiday of your choosing. How ever you spend the day, I hope it's a good one for you and yours. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneORERJOD2rxnAYLy0zLKeCTOr6SBfgMfF7JUqrNddn2EphSfjQL2FMUhdVXVmDupNXQ9DDLKVhrUkuLDj-Fu1xgkTxdqLJ_PGBG3uMuIt9fc6zbYsBgwsmR6AuPGd-mUKRyuKl8HGbVMRZJn3OGh8SJkWP9pbYeG7X16EldUMJwRKB2Jd5VyQf5cfc0/s826/20231224_135100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="826" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneORERJOD2rxnAYLy0zLKeCTOr6SBfgMfF7JUqrNddn2EphSfjQL2FMUhdVXVmDupNXQ9DDLKVhrUkuLDj-Fu1xgkTxdqLJ_PGBG3uMuIt9fc6zbYsBgwsmR6AuPGd-mUKRyuKl8HGbVMRZJn3OGh8SJkWP9pbYeG7X16EldUMJwRKB2Jd5VyQf5cfc0/w640-h318/20231224_135100.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i></i></span><br /><p></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-3584706843929485012023-12-23T14:44:00.000-08:002023-12-23T14:48:35.329-08:00Rain and RSV<p>Today is day <b><i>TWO </i></b>of rain. Yesterday it rained like heck all day, really rained, heavy crazy rain. Today there were a few sun breaks, but looking out to the south west, one can see ominous skies. With any luck, tomorrow will be better. I think the days of temperatures in the 70s are over. It is, after all, winter. Behold, a sun break.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw21mXjqO7H2fp0tuh4lBTWDpv_WHEcEszy-x2bCaWJW45y6l_fzXC1w-pIGmGxTrtBaUzQS-4u_2ehIPU5BVI7onub25Boc0eDo8XC7tfQJroFK2noJ86bSAo9aG-eFDJBw6G8Hjez63LWJuqHCnyq8DpxGvpEDmd3mR4DixIWLtw0vLpjdGo3_7rljM/s800/20231223_132807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw21mXjqO7H2fp0tuh4lBTWDpv_WHEcEszy-x2bCaWJW45y6l_fzXC1w-pIGmGxTrtBaUzQS-4u_2ehIPU5BVI7onub25Boc0eDo8XC7tfQJroFK2noJ86bSAo9aG-eFDJBw6G8Hjez63LWJuqHCnyq8DpxGvpEDmd3mR4DixIWLtw0vLpjdGo3_7rljM/w640-h288/20231223_132807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Thursday I did a ride alone, since Jim is beached. It was the last good day. It was a good day, warm and not a lot of wind. These are new apartments being built on the other side of the Santa Cruz river. They're in the midst of a giant retail clot. Spectrum, with Home Depot, Target and Food City, was the first commercial clot. Now commerce has spread to the other side of Irvington, and there is a Planet Fitness, and a Sprouts Market and other smaller businesses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboj4xRI0Pv2nCYqgDpFeVkLZ5NTwgPJ-iVSSH1Xt1bFys0QUBYx15Wcb8XldHU0bO1OPsRMcRAih7hOLWolxg3tPVHqpc4hgsiqy6PxTy9qr4FaTOlGplLQtvwEzSzFjHAPMkfhF0mtBU83oLpN4m_AX-Hx8aGldRxrcLtbww5o1GS_WFeuwHa3EEhIM/s800/20231221_130837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboj4xRI0Pv2nCYqgDpFeVkLZ5NTwgPJ-iVSSH1Xt1bFys0QUBYx15Wcb8XldHU0bO1OPsRMcRAih7hOLWolxg3tPVHqpc4hgsiqy6PxTy9qr4FaTOlGplLQtvwEzSzFjHAPMkfhF0mtBU83oLpN4m_AX-Hx8aGldRxrcLtbww5o1GS_WFeuwHa3EEhIM/w640-h232/20231221_130837.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It was an interesting choice to put a Sprouts in the south end. We're in an economically disadvantaged area. The Food City grocery store caters to the Hispanic population, signage is in Spanish, and they sell things that anglo stores don't carry. I will add that their stores smell wonderful. There is also a Cardenas, which recently came here from California. Sprouts is like Whole Foods. Produce is organic, meat is grass fed, chickens are free range organic, and it's all priced accordingly. This particular offering struck me as out there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIoZH7oX2ReshFsxOc7Ln3qlV1OvlxYICgCCUj4R-yW-hMSLjQdwiAY_JSf_U89jHRZ6rSToFdLF6Eshdv07ke-NT3zcPYlZIkjH1tLa6DLySJnyGfe9pHPmdKx9xdOBP85GSXSnFoOMwjBqE0HHAQBOujiLq2FluqbG6DqzBcoOmCR7vy2oveNKpXjc/s800/20231221_151545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="800" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIoZH7oX2ReshFsxOc7Ln3qlV1OvlxYICgCCUj4R-yW-hMSLjQdwiAY_JSf_U89jHRZ6rSToFdLF6Eshdv07ke-NT3zcPYlZIkjH1tLa6DLySJnyGfe9pHPmdKx9xdOBP85GSXSnFoOMwjBqE0HHAQBOujiLq2FluqbG6DqzBcoOmCR7vy2oveNKpXjc/w640-h384/20231221_151545.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br />How hard is it to bake two or three sweet potatoes, peel them, and then apply a potato masher to them? $6.99 seems awfully expensive for this, in any store, in any socio-economic strata. I hope Sprouts can make a go of it, nothing would please me more than to quit shopping at Safeway, where prices are high and quality is low in the produce department.<br /><br />Yesterday we got the RSV vaccine. Out of all the recent immunizations (Shingrex, TDAP, Covid and Flu) we've had recently, that one hurt the most going in. Jim had a terrible headache last night, mine was not terrible but I was aware of it. Today it hurts to reach over our heads. Anyway, I'm glad we did it. Hospitalizations of the elderly due to RSV are significantly higher than in previous winters. One of the guys I follow on Twitter was sick three weeks with it, and the pharmacist at Costco reported that he'd had it and it kicked his butt. So, we finally did something about it. Medicare Part D will pay for it.<br /><br />Other than this, I have nothing else of interest to tell you.<br /><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-67276683241240893132023-12-20T16:47:00.000-08:002023-12-20T16:49:25.034-08:00It Has Been a Day<p>Jim is very fair skinned, and develops a lot of growths that require freezing with liquid nitrogen. Up until today, there have been two squamous cell carcinomas that required removal. Today was number three, and was done via a Mohs procedure. Basically, they excavate until they see clear margins with no cancer cells. Thank the gods and goddesses there was only one excavation required, there is a lot of waiting on the part of the patient while they prepare the tissue sample and then look at it. Worse, it was waiting in a small room, with other people, on terrible furniture, no air circulation and no HEPA filter. We were masked, they weren't. It was on the scalp. Scalp wounds bleed like stuck pigs under the best of circumstances, but Jim is on blood thinners, so it bled a lot. So, he's on house arrest for a few days to clot thoroughly and not ooze. Next time, we're holding Plavix before doing one of these. Please make a note of it.</p><p>This is Jim with a pressure bandage on his head. I have decided to spare you all the picture of the later bleeding, even though it was impressive. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVnlMyxsKWWegxgcO4-jtRYllex1ycJZTA5QhLYte3_7CMv7uXWui_AaxBdLMV0kjF7PwS4FceefqhALWVjN83fS1YWNYLJRHLziaMK6dUyWcjf1YHADMMgyDkNQsUlK1Whf4EiyQMZgAbzgC-ti493JiZUdD9oRuOxD4ibcpgJ6HqctnCFsCbC5o_PE/s800/20231220_152124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="518" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVnlMyxsKWWegxgcO4-jtRYllex1ycJZTA5QhLYte3_7CMv7uXWui_AaxBdLMV0kjF7PwS4FceefqhALWVjN83fS1YWNYLJRHLziaMK6dUyWcjf1YHADMMgyDkNQsUlK1Whf4EiyQMZgAbzgC-ti493JiZUdD9oRuOxD4ibcpgJ6HqctnCFsCbC5o_PE/w414-h640/20231220_152124.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />On the way home we saw this. It's blurry, moving car and the phone could not decide where to focus. The question is always, how do people get up enough speed to do this on busy streets with stop lights every block? How does this happen? This car is totaled.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisW4apGJ-RRukFjjRT0djWa66f-Eil0lmMsWGdU_m33AQYSLQvq-8l736DHsjbpTzFzRd7UIbEDcm-26W54PX-2WpFiKYmB-cboW4kaPnwlWBP88r9IV5JylwpH8i7peZqsGd2fjRyDgE3bgRNHn9SmIHRK4XExGFmMaKQd_zx_8qJgwLCfeOLuxpmp0/s800/20231220_163518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisW4apGJ-RRukFjjRT0djWa66f-Eil0lmMsWGdU_m33AQYSLQvq-8l736DHsjbpTzFzRd7UIbEDcm-26W54PX-2WpFiKYmB-cboW4kaPnwlWBP88r9IV5JylwpH8i7peZqsGd2fjRyDgE3bgRNHn9SmIHRK4XExGFmMaKQd_zx_8qJgwLCfeOLuxpmp0/w640-h230/20231220_163518.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yesterday we rode from the house. The weather was not all that inspiring, and so we did not load the bikes and drive them up to the ball fields. This is the entrance to Christopher Columbus park, it's a nice looking tree. Notice the cloud cover.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4tU5c9NjJ4kCGFnECK50aR_OVd6pa47ADFWd89cuSyvvRuzhf7IGW6rND1ZW3znBwHlLJtTHr5keOwNEbR_EpQwiwaJP_6tas72B851PK9QzpChgepqZaV5uQKqvEFNW67TYcQ3jTs6PzLoo9e-zRGM6AtPLFNLdK7gdRw5S5cJ7ugJpLncJPckOXDk/s800/20231219_132901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="800" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4tU5c9NjJ4kCGFnECK50aR_OVd6pa47ADFWd89cuSyvvRuzhf7IGW6rND1ZW3znBwHlLJtTHr5keOwNEbR_EpQwiwaJP_6tas72B851PK9QzpChgepqZaV5uQKqvEFNW67TYcQ3jTs6PzLoo9e-zRGM6AtPLFNLdK7gdRw5S5cJ7ugJpLncJPckOXDk/w640-h378/20231219_132901.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So, that's what we did today, it was exhausting.<br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-24451517018894399222023-12-18T15:06:00.000-08:002023-12-18T15:06:21.418-08:00Riding North on the Weekend<p>Yesterday was much better than Saturday. It was warm, and not windy. There aren't going to be many more of those days. The ridge of high pressure is collapsing and a storm from California is coming up to rain on us. The forecast is for 2.5 days of rain. It will be interesting to see what actually happens. <br /><br />We rode north via the trail that is closed week days. Refer to the fourth photo in the post just prior to this one. This is the other side of Sunset. Still closed. I'm not sure the sign really needed to be placed there.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJJFri814j5ie0KfYOKpghtP0rb3e9EqC0JHx28Q0bKkT37PiXIeoZhTOVlRiEkSJf8dVEVIPdRT4y9EE0yW2z65MQU2XuoBjyVSZlzbGu3LMFuDsryMPvxd791rXbKKp5h2iYTCgJxxsvOGiqo-5xjlHtbfp4hgjsteZ4JNSVrTkB5pRgrHFvHaSDjg/s800/20231217_132844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJJFri814j5ie0KfYOKpghtP0rb3e9EqC0JHx28Q0bKkT37PiXIeoZhTOVlRiEkSJf8dVEVIPdRT4y9EE0yW2z65MQU2XuoBjyVSZlzbGu3LMFuDsryMPvxd791rXbKKp5h2iYTCgJxxsvOGiqo-5xjlHtbfp4hgjsteZ4JNSVrTkB5pRgrHFvHaSDjg/w288-h640/20231217_132844.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />Based on this photo, I don't think the week day closures on the trail under the freeway are going to end anytime soon. They're putting in an entire new bridge span due to widening the interstate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UZ4zcZ14n0tijLiv2kKn4N2MzgqoIDOiIO6eg3sS_n29Ot9CQ-1v57uiDXnwWa2yS52XJxDunj8asBmyX7EhRBmviVMgqCHTJzYPAPPBelJopOm8vb5qCoUHn2mFOwzqg7_HU6ise_8ercACdcruseYHeaeIEqEyMflyTRgyErGoz1EK6nikYZoqxW8/s800/20231217_144248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UZ4zcZ14n0tijLiv2kKn4N2MzgqoIDOiIO6eg3sS_n29Ot9CQ-1v57uiDXnwWa2yS52XJxDunj8asBmyX7EhRBmviVMgqCHTJzYPAPPBelJopOm8vb5qCoUHn2mFOwzqg7_HU6ise_8ercACdcruseYHeaeIEqEyMflyTRgyErGoz1EK6nikYZoqxW8/w640-h288/20231217_144248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Look at all of the new apartments. It's not just here, they're everywhere. We always wonder, where did these people come from, where do they work and where is the water coming from. Tucson does not have a manufacturing based economy, it's primarily the University and tourism.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO_z6JQLZ_JQkADMrsi_L0bum8XS1SAniI3SuUb3_KYq2f6yAYaRvzPOYb28z6C_XpqnicqAFfABQNO2_09lOslOumo8BhP8ESdbT86jJvl6dZfnQOsozWYHxd5WPiNV1fq_VIQ1AJzgMd6w38BlX1EHhudKD4EsuGAzAylqm4SedZapp1bPq7IEKs78/s800/20231217_134241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO_z6JQLZ_JQkADMrsi_L0bum8XS1SAniI3SuUb3_KYq2f6yAYaRvzPOYb28z6C_XpqnicqAFfABQNO2_09lOslOumo8BhP8ESdbT86jJvl6dZfnQOsozWYHxd5WPiNV1fq_VIQ1AJzgMd6w38BlX1EHhudKD4EsuGAzAylqm4SedZapp1bPq7IEKs78/w640-h268/20231217_134241.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>A prickly pear in a trail head along the trail.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnuCkumBEoozvSnf3uHHaJcoNP471fJlAvbl8Z5g3u9vAVhmuNiJQlEpx6pdnfjXyw3NOVNAaDwjbce8BwJnrRXNcgpA8fMs9VRRATzMyaDFV26J5UYaMGe5fY1KunYZxnwh4w21n8Uny2GrYUq2H3isrW29tNT5rme9f-agiCnpxK9hXmTx39k9xsNk/s800/20231217_140036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="800" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnuCkumBEoozvSnf3uHHaJcoNP471fJlAvbl8Z5g3u9vAVhmuNiJQlEpx6pdnfjXyw3NOVNAaDwjbce8BwJnrRXNcgpA8fMs9VRRATzMyaDFV26J5UYaMGe5fY1KunYZxnwh4w21n8Uny2GrYUq2H3isrW29tNT5rme9f-agiCnpxK9hXmTx39k9xsNk/w640-h334/20231217_140036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Catalinas were lovely, as always.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpXZcSJ26-rxnpsIHMXOACSEyJsIOkLBZrapcmZ-iaxanW2gV7Ep-Grtsfq2eGtN9o6ne88zfxEcsNIJ5hDRBCphkWzArxfeKpJ35RY9fjcCjCf_lMNJEUOVSSYLFeXshdlumesnZorMZUluF0Wb8SWzMy7u8UqRwuPrycA5Man3HEioacsu6SfDklNI/s800/20231217_141959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpXZcSJ26-rxnpsIHMXOACSEyJsIOkLBZrapcmZ-iaxanW2gV7Ep-Grtsfq2eGtN9o6ne88zfxEcsNIJ5hDRBCphkWzArxfeKpJ35RY9fjcCjCf_lMNJEUOVSSYLFeXshdlumesnZorMZUluF0Wb8SWzMy7u8UqRwuPrycA5Man3HEioacsu6SfDklNI/w640-h268/20231217_141959.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the Christina-Taylor Green memorial park. Nine year old Christina was killed January 8, 2011 in a mass shooting that killed and wounded several others, including Senator Gabby Giffords. This park was established to remember her short life. There is a Wiki <b><a href="https://localwiki.org/tucson/Ca%C3%B1ada_del_Oro_Christina_Taylor_Green_Memorial_River_Park" target="_blank">here</a></b>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS10BDIOU_n010bJq2BHs5hY6QYNTFyGKBvKQ_TRjARfjZ7sy6IFsGIsC9ueQ8a9B0lFp4dnZl1LArK85GPe7h9tGrx7_FG7l0ZGcxhYo_YZKxKtY6p4MOPbhcb5E4MIip5qoPheUFf9qkwZ9BO5Eiv9ivPuObKfWk78IDjEsBLRipCDB4n7vVygZJv9g/s800/20231217_143149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="388" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS10BDIOU_n010bJq2BHs5hY6QYNTFyGKBvKQ_TRjARfjZ7sy6IFsGIsC9ueQ8a9B0lFp4dnZl1LArK85GPe7h9tGrx7_FG7l0ZGcxhYo_YZKxKtY6p4MOPbhcb5E4MIip5qoPheUFf9qkwZ9BO5Eiv9ivPuObKfWk78IDjEsBLRipCDB4n7vVygZJv9g/w310-h640/20231217_143149.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><p>When we last parked at the ball fields, which was last Thursday (12/14) the area behind the parking lot was desert. When we parked yesterday, this had happened. There will be yet more housing. There's no signage yet, so it's unknown if it will be multi-family or single family.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKIQeUD3y7nkM926SRloUQsg8AhMOJ567_0mLrPjVGjH9E3NkPGbt1AgoRs9jiSWuJWPpJKMn4Q66qfteploq98YIs7P8CQJkEsUbcl-rCXFnIglR0GfMaEKTZ7E6nShpp6xd4nsRQ0u2EWmw3K598zmsNl3lKNcIvKeegcUcpKmJm9eVznUneK2N-1w/s800/20231217_131048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKIQeUD3y7nkM926SRloUQsg8AhMOJ567_0mLrPjVGjH9E3NkPGbt1AgoRs9jiSWuJWPpJKMn4Q66qfteploq98YIs7P8CQJkEsUbcl-rCXFnIglR0GfMaEKTZ7E6nShpp6xd4nsRQ0u2EWmw3K598zmsNl3lKNcIvKeegcUcpKmJm9eVznUneK2N-1w/w640-h288/20231217_131048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />That's it! That's all I've got. Gotta post while the steenking internet is still up. Today has not been a good day for it.<br /><p><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250333507042547703.post-26905050048956881862023-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:002023-12-16T16:32:07.226-08:00Windy, Closed Trails and the Cult<p>The skies were yellow-ish today. It was really windy, throwing dirt and sand into the air. Although it was a scheduled riding day, we wimped out. Getting sand in the eyes is really painful when it's blowing that hard. Instead we cleaned house. The mystery of the universe is how do the floors (laminate) get so dirty, so fast? I vacuumed, and then removed dirt with the Bona pad and cleaner. Then everyone's indoor flip flops were washed with soap and then with clorox wipes. We'll see if that helps with the dirt, since all surfaces are now clean.</p><p>Tomorrow is supposed to be a little calmer so riding will happen then. Last Thursday was the first day we rode from the ball fields using the recent successful bike rack. We were expecting to ride north and check on the construction project that had the trail closed at Cortaro when we were here last winter (which was the first three months of this year). We got to the park where we always stop and saw this. There was a "trail closed" sign, which we rode around to see if the trail was really closed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBy9oQPk5JK6YVVjrTI34b5H-huAjj2fEieWBFfrvoPlARX1FddheBkTqUygAEIJy5J-fYTAMzdDfgSnAH3GaGHKpvA3hffX0aVMahplw56pF0th1sXU7IBN03SfJxAFhK-QsIf0uS3jkyl-7ojz01LMNGAyxM8QFvK6a55MeAQUJLuR-O6Bz9NFjBiA/s800/20231212_133854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBy9oQPk5JK6YVVjrTI34b5H-huAjj2fEieWBFfrvoPlARX1FddheBkTqUygAEIJy5J-fYTAMzdDfgSnAH3GaGHKpvA3hffX0aVMahplw56pF0th1sXU7IBN03SfJxAFhK-QsIf0uS3jkyl-7ojz01LMNGAyxM8QFvK6a55MeAQUJLuR-O6Bz9NFjBiA/w640-h288/20231212_133854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Yep, I would say that this qualifies as closed. This is the same sewer pipe project that was farther north <b><a href="http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/2023/03/rain-ride-articles-to-read.html" target="_blank">in March</a></b>. So, there will be no riding further north than the park this winter.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwa-VPxUsi7V577pg6jp5VA9D1MVdlk5jSkmVX3dt1N5O1Fs79nunZjX4s4qdSj14dk3BjScLE89N16FweV9XYvheZWC00K0vy8l7xul-vwI8hYn6DoDZBqjoo7VieYa_NzeCu041WUoJOSXPhFyxwjRgwDjbn7YihGMDlxpbSXguzavMvLOYtMl-8c8/s800/20231212_135202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="800" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwa-VPxUsi7V577pg6jp5VA9D1MVdlk5jSkmVX3dt1N5O1Fs79nunZjX4s4qdSj14dk3BjScLE89N16FweV9XYvheZWC00K0vy8l7xul-vwI8hYn6DoDZBqjoo7VieYa_NzeCu041WUoJOSXPhFyxwjRgwDjbn7YihGMDlxpbSXguzavMvLOYtMl-8c8/w640-h244/20231212_135202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>So, we thought we would go check out the other route to the north. Nope! This trail is open only on weekends. We don't know how much longer the during the week closures will continue. It's related to the fact that they've dug up several miles of the freeway for widening, and are redoing a rail road grade crossing to an overpass.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SJEI1zcjbC0o7s0NXTBIZLqiR1oorccw3nYm7kMHMNHOfOQdvPZ3YSeNKhJ167LVRsfxa7OQm1NmMYFiaDiJj3VGYA6mNKLhAsOs50v32P4nirhFXgeNLQd7AaQVlu_nt9ZGqWSCOUv6c64iFbIJWPhtXdpdFYZKig3qHDA4pqviQrXbbT9XOwfvVEk/s800/20231212_141537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SJEI1zcjbC0o7s0NXTBIZLqiR1oorccw3nYm7kMHMNHOfOQdvPZ3YSeNKhJ167LVRsfxa7OQm1NmMYFiaDiJj3VGYA6mNKLhAsOs50v32P4nirhFXgeNLQd7AaQVlu_nt9ZGqWSCOUv6c64iFbIJWPhtXdpdFYZKig3qHDA4pqviQrXbbT9XOwfvVEk/w640-h288/20231212_141537.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is another casualty of the interstate project. Sunset has been mainly closed for several years now. The road is gone, and the trail is cut off by the pile of dirt.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKfpcATlFJ-40x-KXyQ50pby-p2cei1leAzbeO_kJVBmW5lF0Nf2thJXM7s66mUsWak84phmDpW8ezJqNAf3T7CRThM8jJw8t00zt8o_EWBajPmROknijLLzGUgZiOE4a_VQ-qxRtd4VyhJmWiUPTaISQTtZyDQbxHfcWSeGbShufXK6TmzW2fwbTi-4/s800/20231212_142751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKfpcATlFJ-40x-KXyQ50pby-p2cei1leAzbeO_kJVBmW5lF0Nf2thJXM7s66mUsWak84phmDpW8ezJqNAf3T7CRThM8jJw8t00zt8o_EWBajPmROknijLLzGUgZiOE4a_VQ-qxRtd4VyhJmWiUPTaISQTtZyDQbxHfcWSeGbShufXK6TmzW2fwbTi-4/w288-h640/20231212_142751.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><p>Doesn't this look great? Doesn't this make you want to leave your cold climate and come bike the 131 miles of car free trails? What this doesn't say is that the picture is of riding up Mt. Lemmon, which the septuagenarians can't do anymore. It also doesn't say that much of the loop is actually on the road, on lanes painted green, hence the name Greenways. It also doesn't say that at any given time, large swaths of the trail will be closed for road construction. It's aggravating that when they do construction, virtually zero attempt is made to provide work-arounds for the bikes. Some people actually bike commute, so this is a bigger deal for them than for the cranky old people. Tucson spends a lot of ad dollars based on the bike trails, at the moment it's feeling like false advertising.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wb4vbfL7HOMfg069d9D-CH_kz8FVq0BAOxvSoZeMzqdhttOsOrlYmvXWjnqUX4HXqFBbwukvtiFirFeQwrcmf3xcJn_UgaFFRO5hoJZeHkeEp9z8P6mKc74OGk619iy1fmHY0QIQakTUZNDrEHOolEkiQDZpnJOTxEYtyh0yjhyphenhyphenGLyAi2luYJKmC6U8/s1776/bike%20arizona.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1776" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wb4vbfL7HOMfg069d9D-CH_kz8FVq0BAOxvSoZeMzqdhttOsOrlYmvXWjnqUX4HXqFBbwukvtiFirFeQwrcmf3xcJn_UgaFFRO5hoJZeHkeEp9z8P6mKc74OGk619iy1fmHY0QIQakTUZNDrEHOolEkiQDZpnJOTxEYtyh0yjhyphenhyphenGLyAi2luYJKmC6U8/w640-h256/bike%20arizona.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Last summer was horrible. There has been a lot of tree death in the park. It's odd to me, because there is irrigation everywhere. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2vmxHyeCWVazjA_ZfsXovbgnbB8Da1fveeZQnCcLdfgF9d8FM3tA8fCVa6meXkB08CU7NnlEgTuPEWlGV7eCcH8izKzNKY4BkQa78TkNeS-t8k1LYKgqh3-Jah8TFuI4HQajogJoU2BnShzOsRulU0sXL5UDyaYjeotJkafZbZ993CM2W_yslWJv9b4/s800/20231206_162635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="800" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2vmxHyeCWVazjA_ZfsXovbgnbB8Da1fveeZQnCcLdfgF9d8FM3tA8fCVa6meXkB08CU7NnlEgTuPEWlGV7eCcH8izKzNKY4BkQa78TkNeS-t8k1LYKgqh3-Jah8TFuI4HQajogJoU2BnShzOsRulU0sXL5UDyaYjeotJkafZbZ993CM2W_yslWJv9b4/w640-h290/20231206_162635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>This one will need to be removed soon before it's touching the park model.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLKilxpMfRdSvD0ezVr9Un7BXE9EcDkamMRDdqBsQ2ROBz-HEFu0F4uqCndPAiuJt1WxGKsLSPmyPM5EXs06YoprUmhoMuRByhSQ-S9TI9C3QFWW9s84gT3fAmIti3_82MF2qz_hVPKd0-NVM3AfvaGg4SASK3-IX55wy2JNrb27SYTzIvKyOsLBPvhg/s800/20231206_162709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLKilxpMfRdSvD0ezVr9Un7BXE9EcDkamMRDdqBsQ2ROBz-HEFu0F4uqCndPAiuJt1WxGKsLSPmyPM5EXs06YoprUmhoMuRByhSQ-S9TI9C3QFWW9s84gT3fAmIti3_82MF2qz_hVPKd0-NVM3AfvaGg4SASK3-IX55wy2JNrb27SYTzIvKyOsLBPvhg/w288-h640/20231206_162709.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><p>This was seen somewhere while stopped for a red light.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpUEi3ZiMCHHbhfAKFFp2GKsQT7ReflTMPPPM9QQVqAFZCN6IQjaJRqdONRMCcAPpHn3EOk2Ee2rM4pSEdSOqHxZ8P1dVZar5p8Am5Os-mxEADXPbD2Q8IlltpLGsV0NCV9-CU1lG945YjFiAnLW_rJVT7OvfBeSYYZb2VNtOybIZGpUUPmkiREL6ZnQ/s854/trump%20lunatics.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="854" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpUEi3ZiMCHHbhfAKFFp2GKsQT7ReflTMPPPM9QQVqAFZCN6IQjaJRqdONRMCcAPpHn3EOk2Ee2rM4pSEdSOqHxZ8P1dVZar5p8Am5Os-mxEADXPbD2Q8IlltpLGsV0NCV9-CU1lG945YjFiAnLW_rJVT7OvfBeSYYZb2VNtOybIZGpUUPmkiREL6ZnQ/w640-h582/trump%20lunatics.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />These people are in a cult.<br /><br />That's it! That's all I have to say.<br /><br /><br />Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.com8