Feb 7, 2010 by Naomi.

Obviously I am not the only one bothered by clouds. NASA stopped the launch of the space shuttle because clouds prevented viewing the shuttle’s progress. Why should that matter? Folks who control technology have an obligation to assure success if possible. Some important equipment will be delivered to the space station. NASA must be able to follow the shuttle’s progress to predict safety just in case the mission would have to be aborted. No sense in opening Pandora’s Box if somebody cannot prevent total disaster. I want success. My dream is for me to make the trip someday. The launch will take place on Monday. No clouds are expected over Florida.

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Feb 7, 2010 by Naomi.

Maybe earthquakes are an outward sign that the earth is alive and breathing but when one hits and destroys as it did in Haiti, that seems like big bad breath to me. Yesterday as 6.2 shook the waters in the South East Indian Ridge, which is in the middle of deep water between Australia and Antarctica, it probably didn’t make a ripple on either continent’s shores. Or if the land areas were unpopulated, nothing about the incident was noticed. When a quake hit Mexico City the many deaths were well recorded. What the Heck? The earth can breathe and shuffle its plates all over but the point is, it matters not - if there are no humans to make a note of it.

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Feb 5, 2010 by Naomi.

What a change from sunbathing weather. Where has the sun gone? Beyond the clouds. I am not surprised. Rain is falling just as predicted. Forecast insists rain will continue for another day. Rainfall in Oxnard is consistent and deliberate. The dog pulls in his ears and visits the grass because if he does his thing on the carpet his nose gets rubbed in the wet. So out he goes. I have the option of sitting by the window to watch the raindrops. So many more than I usually see at home in Richland. That fact doesn’t make for excitement but I will not sit outside with my coffee this morning. Nor with my bean soup at noon. Probably not with whatever goes on the table for dinner either. But I have good company for conversation, and many books for diversion. Not to mention this close companion, my laptop computer.

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Feb 3, 2010 by Naomi.

From a patio in California I see birds going about their business. Actually all I see are birds perching on the roof tops nearby or flying from or to somewhere. Pigeons move from one roof to another, mostly in small flocks. Starlings erupt in small bunches not landing at all to flit beyond my vision. Crows flap lazily over head occasionally stopping to perch and push out a ca-a caw that appears to be a terrible effort by the look of its ruffled feathers. Gulls fly overhead watching the flow of traffic ready to report accidents and suggest alternate routes. English sparrows peek out from their compound in the round tiles on nearby roofs.

These species I watch: pigeon, starling, crow, gull, sparrow - are consistent, adjusted to the presence of humans. I see no food source but birds must eat, and often, so a cache is around somewhere beyond my sight. None of these birds are meat eaters and will not attack live animals nor one another. Pigeons hunt and pick seeds on the ground. Starlings go from tree to tree, perch on branches and devour all vegetable matter matured in season. Crows and gulls come down and greedily clean up scattered fast foods. Sparrows twitter among pedestrians and are delighted with every crumb. Everybody happy? Well I should say!

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