Hummingbird After the Rain Showers

Sunday morning dawned grey and cold, a far cry from the usual May weather in the inland areas of Southern California.  Snow was falling in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles by 7AM, and I’m sure the same was happening in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains here near me.

By mid-morning Mother Nature was gifting the valleys with a rare treat — liquid sunshine!  Not just a drop here and there, but enough to leave puddles and to require windshield wipers.  While I was out doing errands I was so glad I had spent 2 hours on Saturday thoroughly washing Putt-Putt inside and out. 

After getting home and putting away all my goodies, I noticed that something outside the family room window had kitten Skittles’ attention, in a major way.  I sat next to him and gingerly moved the vertical blinds.  I caught my breath when I spied the hummingbird sitting just a couple of feet from me…err…us!

I grabbed my camera, replaced the regular lens with the zoom then started snapping away.  Watching this tiny bird was entrancing.  Rarely do I get to see this bird sitting – its usually hovering at a plant as it eats or flying past me at warp speed, the noise from it’s blindingly fast fluttering wings sending me on a search for the bird.

I was giddy with excitement at my photo opportunity even though I felt a wee bit voyeuristic.  Why?  My little flying friend was busy with her personal-care post rain shower cleaning ritual.  But it was awesome to watch…and photo!  A silver lining to showers that beats a rainbow any day!

And now…I’m going to share some of the 44 pictures with you!  Enjoy!!!!!

Uh-Oh, My Kitten Is Growing Up

I knew this would happen but I thought I had a couple more weeks before the real problems started.

I didn’t. 

I was busy blogging this morning and not paying attention to the fact that Scarpetto and Skittles weren’t playing.  I don’t know why it wasn’t registering, it should have since the house was so quiet, but it didn’t.

When it did finally register I moaned in resignation then grabbed my camera and took these pictures.

Not only was he up here, but he started exploring…

OH NO!

I put the camera down and grabbed Skittles, asking him how he managed to get up there.  Fortunately for me he didn’t know it was a rhetorical question and he showed me!  Seems the recliner was in the right location to be a launching pad!  The 16-yr old kitty I had to put down this past summer used that same path, but I thought Skittles was still too small.

I was wrong.

BUT…

I corrected the situation…

I turned the recliner sideways! 

This isn’t a permanent solution, just a temporary one until I get home from work tonight.  As you can see in the picture of Skittles’ exploration adventure, I need to do some kitten-proofing of the counter.  And not only in that part of the counter, but also this part…

…and one area to the right of the stove that is just way too embarrassing to show.

Since Scarpetto has been able to access the counters since we moved into the house they have lost their appeal for him, so it was okay if the counters got cluttered.  But now with Skittles on the prowl?  OY – the counters need to be spotless!!

Now the big question…how many other surfaces that I thought were safe are bordering on reachable??  I think I should take the hint and clean off ALL surfaces.

So much for the hang-out-and-do-nothing evening I had planned for tonight!  Of course there is a silver lining — my house will be cleaner than it’s been at any time in these past 3 trade show preparations and front yard conversion months!!!

Topsy-Turvy

Those are the best words I can think of to describe my plans for the next 9 days.  Due to circumstances beyond my control, my plans have undergone a wee bit of a change (to put it mildly).

ORIGINAL PLAN

River rock, boulders, mulch and decomposed granite would be delivered Saturday morning the 20th.  All the mulch and decomposed granite would be in place by noon on Sunday and the balance of Sunday and all of Monday would be spent building the dry creek bed (I took Monday off from work as a sort-of comp day for working through the weekend at a trade show).  If it wasn’t completed I would finish it sometime over my four-day Thanksgiving weekend.

Speaking of said long weekend, I was going to cook my turkey Thursday morning and make stock Thursday night.  The afternoon would either be spent outside on the dry creek bed or inside making the annual tri-colored vanilla Christmas cookies.  Friday my car would go in for a timing belt/water pump replacement while I spent the day making meals with the turkey then freezing them in individual portions.  Saturday would be Santa’s Bakery as I made the traditional Anise Christmas cookies — a 9-10 hour project that nets 24+ dozen cookies.  Sunday would be spent on the dry creek bed or the vanilla cookies – whichever I didn’t do on Thursday.

Now for the two issues which have turned my plans topsy-turvy.

First – Mother Nature.  As I stated in yesterday’s post, it’s going to be a rainy weekend.  Fortunately, the majority of the rain is scheduled for Saturday.  Sunday is supposed to be showery (50% chance) and Monday even less showery.

Second – death.  Assistant’s brother-in-law passed away rather suddenly on Thursday.  She’s not going to be in the office at all next week as she needs to fly to Kansas for a wake and funeral.

My subconscious spent a goodly amount of time Friday re-arranging my 9 day schedule so that I’m able to get everything done in a timely manner based upon “real” priorities as opposed to “desired” priorities.

PLAN B

I’m not even going to worry about whether or not the rainy Saturday forecast is correct.  I’ll welcome all the new additions to my front yard, watch the boulders be placed and cross my fingers that the forklift can get the river rock into my garage.  I will cover the mulch and decomposed granite in my driveway with leftover black plastic weighed down with blocks, then ignore all of it and spend the required 9-10 hours baking the anise cookies. YES – for the first time EVER, the cookies will be made BEFORE Thanksgiving!  But don’t worry – they last for a whole year without going bad 

Sunday I will start moving the mulch and decomposed granite, ditto for Monday and Tuesday afternoons after I spend half a day in the office.  Boss told me I could still have Monday off, that I have more than earned it, but the work-me doesn’t feel comfortable with that since I now have to cover the customer service aspect of things Assistant does.  Sooo…I told Boss I would work Mon and Tues mornings and leave around 11:30AM both days.

Thursday and Friday will remain unchanged, but next Saturday will be spent in the front yard working on the dry creek bed…ditto for Sunday (if necessary).

If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m a major planner.  I have to be since I’m single and responsible for everything.  At the same time, I know that I need to be as flexible as possible, definitely NOT my strong suit.  The front yard conversion to drought tolerant landscaping and the holiday preparations are both HUGE projects, and the fact that they are happening simultaneously is stressful on their own, never mind adding in the double trade show chaos AND missing Assistant next week.

It took my brain nearly 20 hours to rearrange and accept the new schedule (Assistant had called me at home Thursday night) but by mid-afternoon Friday I was totally fine with it.

Besides…there are three silver linings!  Honest!!!

1.  The storm that is bringing rain to the So. Cal. valleys will be depositing snow in the mountains!  Once the clouds disappear on Monday I should have awesome views of snow-capped mountains (these views NEVER cease to catch my breath).

2.  My work-me halo is shining for being responsible and going into the office both Monday and Tuesday

3.  The reduced front yard hours on Monday and Tuesday are a HUGE benefit to me as they prevent me from overdoing it!

Don’t congratulate me on the way I’ve readjusted my schedule…at least not yet.  Should I have to make any additional changes you will most definitely NOT want to be the reason.  If you are, you will be the target my flexible rubberband self hits as it sails across the room from the finger/thumb launching pad.

So, What Do You Do If…

…you’re wide awake at 3:15AM without the use of the alarm clock?  Not wide awake as in “I’m out with friends and I haven’t gone to bed yet” but rather “I slept for 6 hours and am wide awake and ready to start the day”.

If you’re me this is what you do.  Seriously, this is how my morning went.

I woke up, looked at those neon red lights, sighed when they announce 2:58AM, turned over and waited.  By 3:14AM I knew more sleep was an impossibility so I got up and went into the family room.  I booted up the laptop, checked e-mail accounts, my blog, Twitter and Facebook then decided I really was awake for the day so I made my morning pot of coffee.  I put on ABC World News Now with Vinita Nair and Rob Nelson, surfed the web and played a couple of computer games while enjoying my morning brew.

Unfortunately I was very fidgety by 5AM so I hopped in the shower and by 5:40AM I was pulling into my local Winco parking lot.  Yep, I decided to get my weekly food shopping out of the way!  It’s so awesome to do it this early as the store is less than busy – totally fine by me!  All I had to dodge were shelf stockers and 2 other shoppers!

I was done within 20 minutes and upon leaving the store was met by the first hint of daylight!

Driving up the street to my house I was greeted by the Harvest Moon pleading for its photo to be taken, so I pulled over, stuck my camera out the window and obliged.

Once in the house not only did I unpack all the groceries and put them away, but I had time to cut up the celery and the 2 cantaloupes I bought!  All are now 100% ready to eat!

Early morning shopping can result in some less-than-stellar decisions, but so what?  I needed some seasonal flair so I bought candy corn and harvest corn in the bulk food section.  After cutting up the fruit and veggies I climbed up and retrieved my awesome Anchor Hocking glass pumpkin and filled it up.

Next up was pulling lunch out of the freezer (homemade beef stew today) and making my portable breakfast (2 banana and peanut butter sandwiches – hot dog style).

It was now time to head to work so loaded up the CRV.  Did you know it was national “Bring Your House to Work Day” today?  That’s the way my silly self felt by the time I climbed into the CRV!  The backseat had my briefcase, lunch insul-sac, Canon Rebel Camera, old computer tower (work I.T. guy is gonna fix for me) and all the programs for said tower.

Not to be outdone, the front passenger seat was occupied by my purse and my porta-breakfast.

As I was heading north on the main road for the second time in 90 minutes I noticed one of the hot air balloons was out playing so I fished in my purse, came up with my pocket Canon Elph camera and snapped away!

One street later the Harvest Moon was calling again…

The rest of the ride to work was uneventful, but I did stop and pick up a caramel treat for me!

Yeah, I know, you’re all probably muttering something along the lines of “like she needs sugar and caffeine”…but I did…and it was YUMMY!

And did you notice the time and date in the lower right corner of my computer monitor?  Not only was I at my desk by 7:31AM, but the computer was up and functioning and I was taking pictures!

Are you tired yet?

Not me…not really anyway.

I am having a bit of difficulty with my attention span (hey – it’s noon, I’ve been up for 9 hours), but my productivity has continued through the morning work hours.  There’s better than 75% chance it will continue this afternoon too, but tonight?  All bets are off…I’m hoping to find a second or third or fourth wind somewhere along the line, but who knows…

Sooo…now that you know what I do when I’m wide awake at this hour, what do you do?

What Assistant Wants…

…Assistant gets, at least in the weather department!

Two years ago she was complaining that she missed thunderstorms — and wanted a “good one” (we rarely get them out here in my valley area of So. Cal.).

We got a doozy…

…and it brought tornadoes (no damage)!

A month or so ago Assistant was again complaining that she wanted thunderstorms.

We got another doozy…

…and it sparked several brush fires.

*sigh*

For the past week Assistant has been complaining that the summer has been so cold that she and her husband had to haul out the solar blanket so their pool water would warm up enough to make swimming enjoyable.  Air temps in the upper-80′s thru mid-90′s just aren’t warm enough for her or her pool water.  Nope, she needs the triple digits in order to be happy.

To be fair, it has been a cool summer so far with only a handful of days over 100, but that is changing…big time.

Assistant has once again gotten her way.

We’ve been over 100 all week with forecasters saying that “tomorrow” will be the last day of high temperatures.  This morning they’ve finally given up and have admitted that the magical “tomorrow” won’t be coming any time soon.  We’ll get a day or two reprieve of temperatures only in the upper-90′s, but after that?

Assistant will be annoyingly happy. 

There is a silver lining of sorts.  Though we don’t often get thunderboomers here in the valley, I do have a front row seat to the thunderheads over Big Bear.  And it is kewl to watch the storm develop against such a bright blue sky…

…while in the house with the A/C running…!

I’m Living In A Bat Cave

There aren’t any flying residents but it is dark, very dark, and semi-cool.

Okay, it’s not so dark that you need lighting assistance to see where you’re going, but in the middle of the afternoon you cannot sit on my sofa and read without turning on a light…which kind of defeats the “keep the heat down” purpose of the bat cave.

Right now Southern California has a large high pressure system sitting over it, one that is getting larger and moving east ever so slowly.  Yesterday’s high temperature in my neighborhood was 102 with today’s scheduled to reach 106, and tomorrow’s?  Even higher.  Saturday’s high should match Friday’s then the temps will start to fall…to a “cool”  95 or 96.

So, back to the bat cave…

My New England conservatism is in higher gear than usual right now.  During the day all my windows are closed and the vertical blinds are pulled across the windows and closed completely.  I leave a ceiling fan on in the family room so my furball can have a breeze, but the central air conditioning is off.  Keeping the blinds drawn does a great job at preventing the heat from seeping in; well, that and the fact that my house is just under 5 years old so it is very well insulated.

Though it’s over 100 outside, when I get home from work the temperature inside is 80 or 81.  It’s a bit warm, but not so warm that the kitty is stressed from the heat.  For the next three or four hours the bat cave gets some cooling help from my central air conditioning, the blinds remaining closed.  I love these hours, just like I love when darkness falls at 5PM.  I feel snug and comfy and peaceful, like I’m wrapped in a favorite blanket.

When I went to bed last night it was still very warm outside so I left the windows closed after cooling the house down to 76 degrees.  This morning the house was 79 when I got out of bed so I opened all the windows, wide, and turned on the ceiling fans.  The house has cooled a whopping 2 degrees in an hour-and-a-half. 

On a positive note, there are two silver linings to this heat.

First, I don’t live in Palm Springs.  It’s 6AM and they’re already 90 degrees with an expected high of 118!  And second, my air is running tons less than my neighbor’s – theirs has been running 24 hours a day for nearly a week now.

Time Management

If you know me at all you know the one thing I cannot stand is wasting time.  I’m so adverse to it that I multi-task constantly, even while at home enjoying my “me” time.  I may be watching a movie and knitting, but at the same time my brain is most likely in overdrive making lists of things that need to be done, should be done, etc.

And work?  That multi-tasking level makes my “me” time level amateurish at best!

The next thing I cannot stand is waiting until something has to be done in an emergency state.  I much prefer being proactive and getting things done because they should be done.  For example, a couple of years ago I had a nail in one of my tires.  I went over to the local tire shop the morning after discovering it so the tire could be fixed.  The mechanic asked me how often I had to put air in the tire.  I said I hadn’t added any yet, I just noticed the nail and wanted the tire fixed.  He said most people wait until it goes flat, to which I responded that a blow-out at 70-80mph on a freeway was not something I wanted to experience.  He shrugged and fixed the tire while I tried to recover from the knowledge that people really risk their lives over a $20 tire repair.

I’m still trying to recover…

Guess what?  These two most detestable things are now clashing — big time!

My CRV has recently passed the 100K mile mark which means the timing belt should be replaced.  Today I received a flyer in the mail from the Honda dealer I always go to for needed services (not oil changes) complete with a coupon for a timing belt replacement for $270!  I called the dealership to get the low down and of course, a couple other things should be replaced at the same time since they are very easily accessed when the timing belt is off, thereby saving serious $$ that would be involved at a later date should I not replace them at the same time.   Grand total?  $525.

I cringed a bit but that proactive side of me bubbled to the forefront.  The very last thing I want to deal with is a non-functioning vehicle because the timing belt went ‘cuz you know it’s going to go at the most inconvenient location at the absolutely most inappropriate time.

Then I asked THE question.  How long does the service take?

5-6 hours 

I’m all for sitting in the dealership waiting room for 3 hours while a service is done, but camping out for 5-6 hours  with reality being closer to 7?  HUGE waste of time!

Yeah, I can multi-task while I’m there – compute, knit, cross stitch, blog, tweet, Facebook, work on my novella, watch TV, eat lunch, etc, but there would be people around…all the time…and annoying announcements…and kids running amok…and TV programs I have no interest in…and people talking loudly on cell phones…

ICK!

To be fair, the dealership does offer a shuttle service.  Unfortunately it doesn’t go anywhere near the office, but if I went on a Saturday, as I usually do, it would shuttle me to Ontario Mills.  Hhhm…too bad I am NOT a shopper!  But…there’s a movie theater there…and I really do want to see Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me (stop laughing at my movie choices!!!)…and the Joann’s Superstore IS within walking distance of the mall…

Or maybe I could convince Assistant that she needs to get up early one morning, drive 35 minutes north of the office to pick me up, drive us back to the office then after work, reverse the entire process.  I’d pay for gas and breakfast or dinner, and since she also wants to see Despicable Me, we could make an evening of it…

The latter option is optimal for me, but the former is more than likely what will occur…

Unfortunately the next two Saturdays are tied up with garden workshops, but on the silver lining end of things, the coupon is good through August 15th so I don’t have to make a decision this minute, and I have time to “work on” Assistant. 

Sometimes I hate that proactive side of me!

It Was An Awesome Birthday!

Yep, I’m one year older…physically…but emotionally?  I’m a decade younger!!!!

Who helped me celebrate?  Hhhmmm, far too many people to list for fear I’d forget someone.  BUT I can give you a quick overview.

The day was full of snail mail, e- and hand delivered cards, there were lots of Facebook wishes and even a Tweeted wish!  Phone calls were a plenty and presents were opened!  And these were just the direct birthday events!

There were also lots of indirect events…Mother Earth let me feel the tail end of the 5.7 earthquake on the CA/Mexico border (you do remember I think they’re kewl right?); our local ABC weather guy, Garth Kemp, who ALWAYS has a dog/puppy up for adoption on his weekly a Pet of the Week segment had a kitty; a huge sign announced that a nearby neighborhood that had been under development before the economy nose-dived has a new builder/owner so things are looking up; Mother Nature gave me a crystal clear day with views that stretched as far as I could see, and on the drive to work I only hit 2 red lights out of 11!

Early in the afternoon, Boss’s daughter’s dog Charlie came upstairs to visit.  He rarely does this and in fact, startled both me and Assistant by showing up on the scene.  He came right over to my desk so I promptly sat on the floor and petted him everywhere.  Then it dawned on me.  I asked Charlie a question and sure enough, he leapt out of my lap and started doing helicopter jumps (he jumps in the air while doing a 360 degree turn).  Seems he had to go “out” and everyone downstairs was ignoring him (his “Mom” was doing a work errand).  I chose to look at this as a small present because he knew that I would figure out his problem… 

Just to keep my birthday balanced, there were three negatives.

The first being that the Lakers routed the Celtics so we’re on to game 7.  It’ll be a great game because it’s a do-or-die couple hours but it would have been an awesome birthday gift if the Lakers had received their second comeuppance from the Guys in Green last night.

The second was that I decided that it was a perfect day for some tasty but not healthy treats.  First up was some Doritos with lunch.  They were soooo yummy but by 1:30 I’d had it with the taste in my mouth and chewed a piece of Spearmint gum for the rest of the afternoon.  Dinner was part of a pizza from the local Pizza Factory – pepperoni, mushroom, hamburg and black olives – and 2 glasses of Yellowtail Chardonnay.  A super yummy dinner that can be repeated tonight…or maybe tomorrow night when my stomach feels better (yikes age caught up quickly on that one).

Lastly, for the next 365 days I have to announce that my age is the same as Jimmie Johnson’s car number.  I didn’t mind being equated with Marcos Ambrose’s car number, he’s a kewl dude from down under, but JJ?  UGH!  He’s a snooty GQ kinda NASCAR driver that rubs me the wrong way…and now I have to live with my association to him for a whole year! 

Three non-major reality checks aside, yesterday was an AWESOME day for me!  Thanks to all who made it so special!!

Way Too Stressed Out

That’s me this morning.  Actually it started late Friday afternoon, was quelled Saturday, began to rise again mid-afternoon Sunday, interfered with life on Monday and peaked very early this morning.  It has settled into a slight annoyance level and will remain there until early tomorrow morning.  At that time it will either escalate again or maintain status quo until next week.  Let’s hope this is not an indicator of how long this short week is going to be!!! 

You can read all about the cause of the stress tomorrow…

In the mean time, there are two good things about today.  First, look what’s on my feet today!!!!

Ummm…yes…in fact I DID lay on the floor, put my feet up in the air and take this picture.  I had plenty of time to do that this morning, but more on that tomorrow. 

And second, look who came to work today!

Yep, that’s Valentine, the boss’s wife’s puppy!  Boss’s wife is visiting her parents out-of-state so this beyond adorable and lovable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came to the office today…and tomorrow…and maybe all week!  Um…please don’t tell Scarpetto about my love for Valentine, that would make the end of my day just as bad, if not worse, than the beginning of it.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Early Start To The Weekend

The Boss was very nice yesterday.  At 2:40PM he yelled up the stairs to me to say that everyone was leaving at 3PM.  I yelled back “I’ll be staying a bit longer to finish up an instructional layout, but thanks!”.

Five minutes later he yelled up the stairs that he was leaving and that Receptionist was leaving at 3PM.  I yelled back “OK – have a great weekend!”

Since Assistant was out sick I’d had the feeling all day that this would happen.  Friday afternoons are very low-key at the office even when Assistant is present.  The warehouse closes down at 2PM and Boss usually leaves by 3PM.  That leaves me, Assistant and Receptionist.  Monday through Thursday I leave shortly after 4 while Assistant and Receptionist work until 4:30PM (same as the warehouse).  On Fridays I boogie at 4PM sharp and since Assistant and Receptionist don’t have keys/alarm codes, they leave when I do (but get paid their full shifts).  It goes without saying that at 4PM on Friday I am their most favorite person ever!

History has proven that when Boss says to clear out at 3PM the drive home is so stressful that leaving early isn’t always worth the hassle.  Hence my willingness to delay my weekend and stay put in the office.  Besides, a few extra minutes arguing with computer programs meant that a big project was done.

I backed out of my parking space at 3:15PM (hey – I was willing to give up some of my extra weekend but not much!) and turned Putt-Putt towards home.  It took all of 30 seconds for me to rue leaving early.  That’s how long it took me to get to the main street where drivers were lazily meandering in each direction.

*sigh*

I did okay for a whopping 2 miles then my eyes spent so much time rolling back in my head I was amazed I got myself home in one piece!  Seriously — the speed limit is 60 mph and the lead cars in each of the two eastbound lanes were going 45-50 mph!!!!  SCREAM!!!!  I actually wondered if they were purposely keeping pace with each other to see how badly they would screw up the traffic behind them!  It took 8 miles of “friendly coercion” by the Volvo in front of me before we could snake through the traffic, me right on Volvo’s rear end (um…a respectable distance behind).

The next 8 miles of the commute was the mindless pleasure it usually is.  I was soooo close to home…yet still 2 miles away.  What could happen now?

Oh my gosh!!!  It was amazing and an absolute silver lining reward for the first half of the commute!!!!

What was it???

Multiple dust devils!!!

Here’s the first one that I saw as I approached the stop sign.

If you’re not familiar with dust devils and you didn’t click the link I added above, all you need to know is that they are lightweight tornadoes that are a result of contrasting air temps/wind directions and most of the time they occur on a sunny day like yesterday.

When I neared the intersection the first one went away but the turbulence was still there.  Tumbleweeds and trash were airborne and the dirt was flying in an unorganized way.  Unfortunately the flying debris was gone by the time I snapped this picture and just the dirt remained…

Look!!!  Here we go again!

Ahh, sorry…that mid-air stuff isn’t debris, it’s my dirty windshield 

By the time I found myself at the stop sign the dirt was gone but the cyclonic winds were not.  The overhead wires were bouncing incredibly fast, the stop sign was shaking like the videos I’ve seen of hurricanes and the motorcycle rider opposite me was hunched down in his seat.

This display of nature so erased that sporadically stressful commute!  I really do love all the kewl things that Southern California has to offer — and I’m soooo thankful my camera is always handy!