Jan 10, 2011 by Naomi.

Be very fortunate, indeed, if we could always avoid those things that complicate our lives. I try to keep a positive attitude. Not that that guarantees everything will turn out all right but expecting the best never hurts. At any rate, I am extremely lucky. I am in good health. I cannot take the credit for the genetics of my ancestors but I appreciate what I have. I do not smoke. I do not drink alcohol - much. I have to be careful not to overeat. Everything tastes good. I control grocery shopping and limit fattening foods. I love sugar and the things it sweetens but I have developed will power and only occasionally bring home a quart of ice cream, sinful chocolate cake, or a candy bar. I volunteer at a wildlife refuge to stay active and get me out into the fresh air. So maybe my well being is not entirely a result of luck. Then again, maybe I make my own.

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Jan 10, 2011 by Naomi.

Two travel bags were loaded into the neighbor’s red car at 2 pm this afternoon. Looks very much like Wade’s are headed off, probably to Hawaii. Buena was dressed for winter travel but Dan looked as he does when he goes off in dial-a-ride every day. He locked the house which is different but then one or the other usually is a home. The luggage looked like more than what Buena would need and besides that, Dan took control of a travel bag as if it was his. They will arrive at PSC airport with the allotted two hours for check-in. I will be alert later to see if the young man returns at all and if he is alone. (Oh how tough it is to keep tabs on the neighbors.) I spent 4 hours at McNary NWR this morning and swept into Fred Meyers on gas fumes. After filling I picked up milk and salad and will hunker down to rest. The predicted snow/rain did not arrive but other than picking up two books I have on hold at the library, I have no place to go for the next couple of days.

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Jan 9, 2011 by Naomi.

Looking westward at eight pm I noticed the moon. The calendar notes that it is moving toward the first quarter phase. The visible part is on the bottom of the sphere, the edge is like that of cattle horns, curved upward. When I was a kid (ever hear me say that before?) one of our cows that gave the milk richest in butterfat was a Guernsey. Her horns gently curved in toward the front. Nothing like the bull calf I rode whose horns protruded straight to the side like a Texas longhorn. The moon doesn’t always wane in such a way that it resembles the silhouette of a bowl or horns. Lucky for me the sky is clear enough to view it and at a time when I am up to my elbows in soap suds in the kitchen sink doing such a mundane chore and I can gaze out the window. I am often moonstruck. When Armstrong set his foot on the moon I had expected that shuttles would be making regular trips and I wanted to be one of the first ones to go. But our goofy politicians have other things on their minds and I realize such trips will not happen in my lifetime. I will imagine the trip every time I see the moon.

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Jan 7, 2011 by Naomi.

That is just fine and dandy. I would like to play it by ear except I do not know what “it” is. I have tried to play both the guitar and the piano with my ears, the left and the right, but neither one strokes the strings nor the keys so “it” must be something else. Back in evolution of complex mammals some animals could move their ears separately but that was necessary to hear the enemy before the arrow or the trigger was cocked, merely a sound to clue the correct fight or flight response. One’s life could be confiscated with the wrong choice. In the present society that choice is not one I have to make. So where does that expression come from? If it is to learn to play music by simply listening to it I guess the expression makes sense. Some rare folks do have the talent for replicating musical sounds but their vocal chords are much more agile than mine, or maybe their brain connections are better wired. At one time I had access to a piano and learned to play “Sweet and Low” and “Juanita” but that was in the dear dead days beyond recall and sadly quite forgotten. My ears have lost all but seventy percent of the ability to hear so I resort to coasting through life with the use of high priced artificial magnifiers to play “it” by ear.

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Jan 6, 2011 by Naomi.

Now I’ve been home almost a week moving around looking into nooks and crannies to see if every thing is in order. Not having been home for the “Holidays” there were no decorations put up so none to put away. Haven’t found a dot out of place, although I am sad about the way the little sugar ants love my kitchen. They were inside before I left so I am not surprised. How will I ever get rid of them? They haven’t gotten into any food but their presence is very annoying. The weather remains on the wintery side, after all spring doesn’t come for two more months. The temperature today is not only above freezing but the precipitation is very liquid. Misty rain. Kinda nice, actually. I manage to wear my “looking forward to spring” attitude which is upbeat if not wide and sunny. After getting past the shortest day and then some I am ready for longer days and if we, around this arid Columbia Basin, are lucky the sun will also shine more frequently. In the morning it takes a lot of stretching to get in gear after I get out of bed but since that is what it takes that is what I will do. I am pondering the coming year. What to do? Where to go?

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Jan 1, 2011 by Naomi.

Today is the first day of a new decade in another year. I had the most quiet New Year Eve in memory. Way years past Ron and I would stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square on television and nearby rockets shot off by neighbors. At Ruth’s we could see from her window the neighboring offerings. But that was many years past. I went to bed about 10:30 pm after shutting the cats out of my room. If I didn’t have the door shut I would be awakened by a cold nose sniffing at mine. I did look out the window around 3 am and noticed the stars shining so I knew the predicted sunny day would greet me when I did get the impetus to get out of bed. A bright and sunny day for sure. Thomas planned to be back in Seattle today although I do not know what time. Their car is at the airport and they will start the drive home as soon as they retrieve it from long-term parking. I have my movie camera charging and will be able to take movies to keep. So far the cats have not been active but I will be prepared when they decide to play. Nancy tried to get pictures on her camera of their antics but they move too quickly for still shots. I have a day to practice and hope I have better luck.

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