Jul 5, 2009 by Naomi.

My day began with a great meeting over hazelnut coffee. Several dozen freethinkers get together at Hastings booksellers to discuss whatever is on our minds and today it centered on Pasco where Planned Parenthood is proposing to set up a clinic just about women’s health. The residents are against it fearing that if young girls get educated about their bodies they will be more likely to engage in early sex. Ludicrous, in view of statistics that show Pasco Hispanics have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies anywhere in the state. Not to mention the dangers the very young face during childbirth because they don’t ask the right questions about reproduction.

One mother was concerned about how her girls were into making friends through email and wondered about urging them to get into TV. Well I was not the only parent that spoke up about how harmful TV is. I think it is a very bad baby sitter. Ads are clever and devicive. The mother defended the programs and complained that her girls did beg to buy the products. Advertising stuck in their minds way past the merits of program content. I would like to get girls (and boys) outside to consider their connection to nature.

But I put that aside at home and set about enjoying my sunny backyard. I applaud those who enjoy lazy days in summer with energy to run through sprinklers and play ball or chase bluejays. I don’t run my sprinklers in the hot sun, some of the water evaporates before it hits the ground and besides that I have sprinklers that keep the water spray close to the ground. Couldn’t get under the spray if I could run. I remembered that at Universal studios last week there was water spraying from many low fountains around the lot. No visitor had to suffer hot feet for long. Water was also delivered as mist through fans in many places along the streets.

Back to my day. After a hotdog dinner I went to pick up apricot windfalls. I cleaned and packaged 4 quarts for the winter. Good job. I noticed the sun had disappeared in a menacing black cloud coming up behind a cool breeze. Be very nice if the menace proceeded to float overhead and wring out water tonight. I decided to leave my car windows down to encourage a pleasant rain. Well it seems to have worked in the past, especially after I washed the car.

When I walked into the house the temperature was warmer than the outdoors. What a shock! So I opened the windows and doors to let the cool in. A neighborhood kid is popping off his leftover rockets. I hope he runs out soon.

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Jul 5, 2009 by Naomi.

Well it is 1 AM and the bang and spizzle of fireworks is still going on. What an end to July Fourth! Fancy displays around my house started just before 10 this evening and even now there is a popping of more in the distance. I don’t believe I could have had a better fireworks display in such comfort if I had spent the evening in Columbia Park where Toyota advertised the biggest and bestest show ever. I laid out there in my sleeping bag one year just to get that perspective. I didn’t feel like doing that again and it didn’t take any effort to decide against walking up Badger mountain to watch a community display like I did one year. I’m happy with the energy I spent working in the back yard.

A scorcher was forecast for today and it did come up close to the hundred mark on my shop thermometer so officially it was probably higher. I was out early raking and cleaning. Went to work with the weedeater about eight of the clock. I wear out fast so I only worked an hour or so at a time and did I sweat! No glowing for this old lady. Water poured off every inch. I worked and I drank and I rested. I was in and out a lot. What a productive day!

Turned on the water after dark so everything will get a drink overnight. It is interesting to see how far north the sun sets — way out of range of my west window this past week. I will always remember the summer solstice I spent in the arctic circle. What an energy boost that day was. We built bonfires and danced all night. And didn’t need any sleep the next day either.

Maybe it was the sunshine that gave me energy today. Suppose the morning oatmeal kept my energy flowing — cinnamon, bran, raisins and all. Apricots were a constant snack. Didn’t want to take time for freezing — too much other heavy work to do. Did make a hamburger — nuked it - for dinner and drank a lot of milk. All those good vitamins and such. I actually laid out in the sun just before noon so maybe I’ll show a little tan soon.

I stepped outside just now to watch more local fireworks and that brought out a glow this time — no heavy sweat. Those loud buggers sure leave a stink in the air. I mean there were a lot of rockets shot off just down the street and off beyond the apartments, too, all within my view above the trees. Will hit the shower and toddle off to bed. And when I wake up it will be Sunday and I can watch Osgood and even Stephenofelous. Someday I will learn how to spell George’s name but you know who I mean.

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