The canine crisis is over.

The canine crisis is solved. About 2 hours after I posted the notice the owner called. Honestly they had worn out their welcome. They got into my garbage can and scattered the contents over the back yard. The weimerana never did calm down. But they were nice dogs and were in good condition. They were not on the street when I passed this morning. The visit was worth the cleanup.
The walk started in severe ground fog and was clearing when I finished.
Severe ground fog always illustrates that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

A change in my routine.

Well, for the first time in quite a while I have had a significant change in my morning routine. A few blocks into my morning walk I was greeted by two enormous dogs. A Weimarana and a Great Dane. After they protested my entry into their territory I stood my ground and they warmed up enthusiastically. Then they proceeded to follow me on my walk. After a couple of blocks I decided to retrace my steps and see if I could find an open gate or other evidence of escaped canines. They followed me home and they are safely in my back yard. Someone has been taking good care of them so I guess their owner will respond to the flyers I put up right away. They are not well trained but are friendly and enthusiastic. . They wouldn't pose nicely for me so I have a rear end shot of them both.
Enthusiastic dogs remind me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

A day I won't forget soon.

December 28, 2007. One year ago today. A day that will live in famy. A day that changed my life forever. It had started out as a day much like today. One can see 100 miles once one is above the ground haze layer. On the walk this morning one small plane passed overhead. For just a moment I felt pangs of jealousy. I envied his adventure. I still remember vividly being on short final then hanging upside down in my harness. I remember crawling out and leaning against the plane as Dick Deboer came a running. I remember him stabilizing my neck and being on the gurney to the ambulance. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital which is a story in itself.
That this day will live in famy is a reminder that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Well, my accusations against GWB made in the last entry have paid off. It's at least 20 degrees warmer this morning. I can still see my breathe so it's still jacket weather.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott is performing around San Francisco over the next few months. Another reason to miss San Francisco.
I used the iPod on the walk this morning. The walk took an hour. That's 15 minutes longer than my normal time. Oh well, I finished. Warmer forecast for the week end.
Finishing the walk reminded me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Random Ramblings in the cold.

Cousin Betty chided me in a recent email for not making entries on a more regular basis. Point taken. This is the second remark of this ilk. I'll try to do better. Yesterday was Christmas and by the time I had walked my walk and meditated my meditation, I was running late to drive to Deb and Rick's place in Studio City for a visit and a fine dinner. A good visit.
George Bush is going down hard. The weather all across the country is cold; 2 feet of snow in the East and look at the frost on my lawn in the attached photo. The color is true and due to the frost.
Less than a month left and he still won't quit. This cold weather is a metaphor for the entire Bush administration. He has frozen out those who don't agree with him and sucked the warmth from our national politics. Then come the hurricanes to finish what the cold weather couldn't.
My dislike for GWB proves that we're all (mostly, anyway) on this flight together.

Dick

Twas the morning before the morning before

Twas the morning before the morning before Christmas and I was ready to walk. It had rained the night before but had stopped by morning. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to remember that Boy Scout adage "Be prepared" and carried my handy fold up umbrella that time. Half way through the walk the weather changed from heavy mist to steady downfall. I got home mostly dry.
This morning the frost was on the lawn again. Yesterday was fairly mild but it's cold again today. I could use a few 80 degree days.
The rain showed me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

At least there's a reason!

It's still cold in the morning but at least there is a reason for it. This is the first day of winter, the shortest day in the year. No we can look forward to longer, warmer days. The rain over the past week cleared the air. The photo shows the morning on Commonwealth Ave. It doesn't do justice to the real colors. But beautifully clear.
Music, music, music. The iPod started off with Kris Kristofferson with his gravely baritone. Ahhh that's good music to walk to.
Another plane crashed last night north east of San Diego. No one walked away.
Clear crisp mornings prove that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

The frost is (still) on the pumpkin.

Again, this morning, as I stepped out the door for my morning walk, the lawn was covered with a sprinkling of frost. About half way through the walk I met a new friend. A wiggly beagle anxious to make friends through t he fence. An enjoyable few minutes.
Iii carried the iPod today so I took 15 minutes longer than my fastest time. But I love the music. Joan Baez singing the classic "Wildwood Flower" or Johnny Cash singing Bob Dylans "Don't Think Twice". I get so engrossed that I can't hear any planes as they fly over.
But it's a beautiful, clear day. A great day for flying.
It's weather like this that convinces me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Brrrrr! It's cold!

Brrrrr! It's cold! I stepped outside the house for my morning walk and was greeted by a carpet of white on my lawn. There was a layer of frost on the grass, white on top and green below. The clarity of the atmosphere was startling. The walk would have been warm had I maintained a brisk pace. Alas, I had brought the iPod instead of the metronome. I'm beginning to think I'm loosing it.
Tears came to my eyes as Dolly Parton crooned 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'. Written as an anti war song during the Civil War, it remains topical today. Then she followed that with 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone'. Written during the 60's with a similar sentiment. I believe it's based on an old Russian folk song. It ended up and emotional trip, in more ways than one.
One plane headed East and no animals.
The lack of animals today reminded me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

I ain't goin out there today either.

Yesterday I took my morning walk since the rain had stopped temporarily. I had taken the iPod so I was slower than usual adding 5 minutes to the walk. The weather was what pilots call 'severe clear' and the music only added to the magic. Today the rain is back and I'm concerned about melting in the rain.
Brother Bob with cohort Dennis is expected to stop by after lunch so let's hope the rain has stopped by then. Bring back the sunshine!
The threat of landslides after the rain reminds me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

I ain't goin' out there today!

It rained last night pretty hard, stopped for an hour or so this morning then started in again. Right now it's been raining like I haven't seen very often. The only problem is that rain this hard interferes with the TV from the satellite. I've read all my magazines so maybe it's time to read "The Elegant Universe " again. Something new every time I read it. This will bee my fourth time (Trust knot thy spell checker).
This rain just verifies that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Snoopy is a beagle.

Overcast again. Only this time it's because rain is in the forecast. I managed to duck between those raindrops that never came. But three hours later it's still threatening.
I did meet two new beagles on my walk. They inhabit a newly purchased house on my route and were eager to meet me at their fence line.
If it ever gets warm again I'll take out the bike for a foray on the beach. In the meantime, I'll sit by the fireside. Beagles together show that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Every day I pass several examples of 'street art'. The pattern of sprinkler through a picket fence is an example. I don't claim to interpret what this artist is saying but the image is GWB for sure but he still hasn't apologized. Sometimes I think he believes what he says. Anyway, here it is. The intrusion at the left side is the tip of my cane for size comparison.
It's been cold enough in the mornings to necessitate wearing a jacket. Ten more days to the shortest day of the year and than it starts to get warmer again.

The morning cold gives a little zip to the truthiness of street art.


Dick

Am I great.... or what?

Last week there was a show on the electric TV about Steve Fosset, the pilot lost over California last year. Steve held 116 international records for speed, distance time and other parameters. He crashed his airplane on a California mountain side and only his femur was found 10 months later by a wilderness hiker. Scott Crossfield rode rockets to the edge of space before the astronauts. He was lost when his plane was destroyed when flown accidentally into a thunderstorm. Both pilots with tens of thousands of hours flying and they've gone to that Great Hangar In the Sky.
I survived my incident. Am I great.... or what?
Having survived a broken neck corroborates that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

A day that will live in infamy.

December 7th... A day that will live in infamy. To quote from a Pete Seeger song, "When will we ever learn?" The Japanese lost a pre-emptive war in the Pacific, The Germans lost a pre-emptive war in Europe, GWB lost a pre-emptive was in Iraq and is on the way to losing the pre-emptive in Afghanistan. Throw in the Brits and Israelis and I ask again "When will we ever learn?"
Having to ask the question "When will we ever learn?" guarantees that that we're all on this flight together.
The picture is of a pattern made by a sprinkler spraying through a fence. I liked it so I took this picture. At lower resolution it looks like airplane contrails.

Dick

It's downright cold.

Friday was cold so I had to wear a coat for the first time on my daily walk. I was really dragging the last three blocks. That's got to improve. But this morning it was worse. My ass was dragging from the half way point. I couldn't keep up 93 steps per minute no matter how hard I tried.
But the sky was clear. A beautiful day for flying. One plane heard and two planes seen. One black and white cat crossing the street in the distance.
Next week the forecast is for weather in the 80's. At last. This winter does me no good.
Black and white cats remind me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Fullerton Fall foliage follies

It was cold this morning for my walk so my heart really wasn't into the walk. There was a high overcast which kept the sun's warmth from reaching me. But I did pass one cat black as night who checked me out and passed on by when he found out he didn't know me. And a single light twin airplane leaving Fullerton airport flew overhead.
Fullerton is not known for it's Fall colors but since I had my camera I took this picture of the Fall foliage. Just because it's not on a tree shouldn't detract from its beauty.
I had hoped to go for a bike ride today but since it's a sin in my religion to ride upwind, uphill or when it's cold or wet, I'm choosing not to go today. But Venus and Jupiter were still visible at twilight last night and probably will be for the next few evenings in the Southwest sky.
The Fall colors decorate this flight that we're all on together.

Dick

This is a photo taken from my back yard last night about dusk. The brightest object is a crescent moon way over exposed. Down and to the left, the second brightest object is is Venus. Then up and to the left is Jupiter, the dimmest object visible.
This was taken with the camera I carry in my pocket and was hand held which accounts for the fuzzies. But I tell you that to tell you this... tonight about dusk go outside and turn to the south west. Look up to see the brightest object out there and you'll see Venus and Jupiter. I'm not sure where the moon will be but you can see these two beautiful objects together.
I didn't walk this morning. I'll take a rain check, thank you.
Seeing those two faraway objects proves that we're all on this flight together.

Dick