Cherries

Episode #804 June 29, 2024 My house came with a cherry tree. It was 12’ tall with full 4’ wide dormant branches.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRDWEVQTH98 There was a promise of fruit in the bud covered branches. In March the buds became leaves and in early April the cherry tree bloomed. “Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Across the spring sky, As far as the eye can see. Is it mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the air. Come now, come now, Let's go and see them!” —Sakura (Japanese folk song) Japan is well known for the radiant, delicate and transient beauty of their country...

Conundrum

Episode #803 June 22, 2024 Even someone as analytical and systematic as myself can overlook the obvious. Sometimes no amount of analysis will solve a mystery.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCJlaJNuj14 Of course, a problem may not seem obvious in the investigation. It may hide in the minutia until its discovery makes it apparent. An old client-friend of mine complained that the sound in Safari was very quiet and could not be made louder. I knew the speakers were operational, since I was connected remotely and she could hear my voice clearly. I began my troubleshooting from the least invasive to the most....

Fly In

Episode #802 June 15, 2024 I live in a mountain valley just west of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians nation.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOzEeJZ92X8 The Cahuilla have lived in this valley for 5000 years, since they migrated south to North America with the Shoshone tribes. From my house on the western ridge of the valley I can see Cahuilla land as far northeast, east and southeast as the eye can see.  To my south, the valley is bordered by the Palomar mountain range dotted with the white dome of Palomar Observatory. The southeast valley boundary are the Beauty Mountains....

Water Weather Rain

Episode #801 June 8, 2024 I used to talk to my best friend Pat about where to retire. We were both looking to buy our last house.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeDylD8dV7U Pat argued that due to global warming, southern California will succumb to drought. He believed that the water would run out. He focused his search on northern California, Oregon and Washington. I have lived in SoCal all my life and did not want to leave.  Heeding his warning, Paula and I searched as far north as Bend, Oregon and as far east as Colorado. Most of these places were too remote...

Dream a Little Dream

Episode #800 June 1, 2024 When I was in school or working at a job, my dreams would not resolve themselves. A dream's loose end would loop back to my job or my classes ending in another loose end.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs069dndIYk After I had already graduated from college I had a recurring dream where I forgot where my university classes were. I was late to classes or never made it at all. One by one I failed my classes until I did not have enough credits to advance. I was doomed to return to the same grade night after night....

I Fell For It

Episode #799 May 25, 2024 The Post Office lost my Notre Dame University class ring. I mailed it to Balfour (the manufacturer) to be resized.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IU1ZdDfXTY Four days after mailing my ring the tracking stalled. Eight days later I reported the problem to the USPS. I heard nothing from the Postal Service for 10 days until they sent me an email survey asking what I thought of their service regarding my tracking number and claim. Since my ring was still missing, my review was not stellar. About that time I was expecting another unrelated package via USPS which was...