March 2020

March 2020

I've been staying home except to take a friend to pick up her prescriptions. We both stayed in the truck and they brought her meds out to us. 

I've been all set up for the big earthquake the geologist keeps telling us to prepare for. We've been waiting over 50 years for the damn thing to hit, so I have a whole lot of food stored away and don't need to go shopping. I only go to town maybe 2 or three times a month if that. I have always kept myself busy doing something as you can tell reading my online journal.

There was a quote I heard once... I think it was in an old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movie. When asked “how does he find the time to do all the things he does”, Sherlock's simple reply was, "You don't find the time Watson, you make it." 

Sunday 01- very windy.

Monday 02- 59/46 windy and rain.

Tuesday 03- 73/47F still windy with clouds.  

Wednesday 04- 75/48F nice. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies. 

I finished, hopefully, and published my book...

Wednesday night Cassie was barking and I went outside to investigate and saw in the sky to the south an orange glow like an orb with brighter yellow dots in a circle inside this orb. It moved in the direction of the Constellation Canis Major near the star Wezen. It was brighter than Venus. There were other aircraft in the vicinity of this orb. I watched this for about a minute or less. All of a sudden the orb kinda vanished and I saw what appeared to be a light of some craft shoot skyward from it. This was followed a few minutes later at 7:09 by two loud deafening booms. I have no idea what it was and haven’t read or heard anything about what I saw.

Thursday 05- 78/49F very nice day. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies.

Friday 06- 80/50F a little cloudy. I was mighty sick last night. Must have been something I ate. I didn’t get to sleep until early morning and woke up around 2 pm. I went to the post office to pick up a package and went straight home and back to bed.

Saturday 07- 72/46F with clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies. 

I did the poop patrol. 

I did my nightly exercises.

Sunday 08- 67/43F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

The hummingbird is back and visits me about this time every year. I put out the feeder filled with sugar they seem to like.

I did my nightly exercises.

Monday 09- 73/57F and overcast thick clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took a long walk with Cassie. 

I did my nightly exercises.

Tuesday 10- 63/49F with rain all day long. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a short walk.

I did my studies and worked on my books.

Wednesday 11- 71/49F lots of clouds coming in. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies and worked on my books.

I tend to like everyone... The Jehovah's Witnesses came to my gate... they're good people... they come every week...

They know they're not going to convert me... Out in the desert, it's rare people drop by anyways so we chat about solar panels and electric bikes.... they hand me one of their flyers and leave...

This time they came by and I got on their case for being out and about with a Pandemic and told them to come back in a month or two and to stay at home. 　

Thursday 12- 64/44F heavy rains and thunderstorms. Winds are kicking up to 50+ MPH. Lake Lucille had made her appearance to unknowledgeable drivers to our area getting stuck in the mud. I did my stretches and took Cassie out for walks between showers. Worked on my book most of the day until I had to disconnect my inverter because of lightning storms coming through. I did my studies.

Friday 13- 62/46F  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took a mile jog with Cassie. 

I got calls from Stevie Valeralle and Kjtel.

I did my studies and worked on my books.

Saturday 14- 56/42F with cold wicked winds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and Cassie and I went for a mile jog. 

I did my studies and worked on my books.

Sunday 15- 68/43F nice day. I did my stretches

I did my studies

Kjtel came by and we walked the dogs.

I did my nightly exercises.

Monday 16- 67/44F windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

Dyan called and we decided to cancel the potluck. First time in 20 some years there won’t be a last Saturday potluck.

I did my studies and worked on my books.

Tuesday 17- I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

I did my studies and worked on my books.

I did my nightly exercises.

Wednesday 18- rain and drizzle all day long. I did my stretches.

I did my studies and worked on my books.

Thursday 19- 59/39F cold winds. I did my stretches.

I did my studies and worked on my books.

I did my nightly exercises.

Friday 20- 62/45F overcast. I did my stretches and took Kelly, my guest, down to Joshua Tree to get her prescription filled.

Where we live out in the desert isn't so bad as to infections, not like the rest of California. I have a good friend who is in a nursing home on hospice I cannot visit.I've been staying at home. I don't go out much anyways, so I do my writing and editing, watch movies, do my studies and exercises. I had to drive Kelly my guest to the pharmacy to pick up some of her meds. I made her wear gloves and asked them to bring out her medicine, which they did. We drove right back home. I ain't taking any chances. I have enough food to last a nuclear winter. I even have enough toilet paper. Be careful and stay safe. We'll get past this pandemic.

I worked on my book.

Saturday 21- 68/51F cloudy with light winds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

I worked on my books.

I did my nightly exercises.

Sunday 22- 72/51F cloudy. I did my stretches.

Monday 23- 77/58F some early morning rain cloudy with winds.

Tuesday 24- 73/46F a nice sunny day. I did my stretches. I wasn’t feeling very good so I just took the day off and edited my book.

Wednesday 25- 67/41F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

Kjtel and Bodie came by for a chat and a walk.

Went to work on the book.

Thursday 26- 61/43F cold and windy. I did my stretches.

I worked on my book and I believe I finished the editing. I just have to format it correctly and resubmit it.

Friday 27- 64/40F sunny but very windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. Me and Cassie saw our first Tortoise this season.

I did my studies.

Kjtel and Bodie came by with some groceries we ordered from Stater Bros. I got coffee, eggs, bread, and butter.

I did my nightly stretches.

Saturday 28- 68/46F a little breezy but sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

I did my studies throughout the day.

I did my afternoon yoga and 10 pound dumbbells. Took Cassie for a walk.

I worked some on the roof of the garage.

I did my nightly stretches (which hasn’t been too nightly) and exercised with the 15LBS dumbbells.

I practiced my guitar.

Sunday 29- 69/47F a little rain and wind. I did my stretches.

I did my studies.

I did my evening stretches. 

I'll be taking some time off from FaceBook to work on a couple of books I need to get done: one to edit and publish, another to write. The past two months have been stressful for everyone with the Pandemic and Politics and I feel the need to step away from FB and the News Media and refocus my mind. I'll still be doing FB Birthdays. If you want to say hi Message me.

I also hang out at FaceBook Goes to Mars and Beyond... :)

I love each and every one of you and will see you at the other end

Monday 30- 76/50F nice and sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Dore Wilhoite called and we chatted. Then Bonnie Khan called and I chatted some more.

I did my studies throughout the day. Practiced my guitar.

I did my afternoon yoga, exercised with the 10lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk. 

Kjtel came by and we went for a nice evening walk. She left her iPhone here and I had to walk back to her house.

I did my nightly stretches and exercised with the 15lbs dumbbells (I found out they weren’t 20lbs after all)

Tuesday 31- 80/56F. I did my stretches.

No poems this month... just ain’t feeling it with the pandemic and all the craziness going on.

February 2020

February 2020

Saturday 01 76/46F. I did my stretches.

I worked on my garage roof.

Sunday 02- 79/50F very windy with clouds. I did my stretches.

Monday 03- 50/30F windier and cold. I did my stretches.

Tuesday 04- 55/31F windier with clouds. I did my stretches.

Wednesday 05- 59/40F still windy. Back to my routine: I did my stretches, core trainer, and weight bench, and walked a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast episode 541. Weird issues: The expansion rate of the universe.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Thursday 06- 71/41F clear.

I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast episode 541. Weird issues: The expansion rate of the universe.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Friday 07- 74/42F clear. 

 I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 558: Supernova SN 2006gy

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I finally practiced playing my guitar after banging my fingers with a hammer when building the new roof; I think I need new glasses!

I spent over 2 hours of editing. I decided to put all my Copper Mountain series books together in one paperback, even the Sci-Fi ones.

Saturday 08- 56/ 45F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book and then I burned out and went to rest.

Sunday 09- 54/41F and windy. Taking it easy today.

Worked clearing out old paperwork, old tax forms, old crap I didn’t need anymore and stuck it in my wood stove and burned some of it and it warmed up the house pretty dang nicely. I will do the same tomorrow. I have a lot more stuff to go through.

Got sick with stomach cramps

Monday 10- 50/32F rain, wind, and clouds.

As I was going through the old papers I came across lots of old photos that I ain’t going to throw away, ah the memories... chances with women I should have follow through on, many people I should have stayed in touch with, many friends I’ve made, and people who had nice things to say about me... makes me wonder if I returned the thanks to them; I hope so.

Tuesday 11- 61/36F overcast and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a walk.

I went through some more papers to burn; this time it was envelopes of birthday and holiday cards.

 Wednesday 12- 70/38 nice and sunny. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I went to pick up a prescription for my guest who is ill and went to WalMart to get food and Home Depot to get more roofing supplies.

Thursday 13- 68/43F sunny. I did my stretches... kinda feeling burned out today.

Went to visit Mack at the continuing care place, but his bed was empty and I found out later he went out to lunch with Sara... good for him. I hope I am able to catch him next time.

I made the trip to Star Pharmacy again. Her doctor in his incompetence didn’t fill one of her prescriptions and it was the one she needed.  

Friday 14- 70/42F and sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I spent more than eight hours editing my books trying to get them finished...

Saturday 15- 71/43F and sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book.

I spent many long hours of editing. I finished Book one of the sci-fi series and started on Book two.

Sunday 16- 73/47F. I took the day off.

Monday 17- 71/45F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Tuesday 18- 71/43. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I trimmed the large desert willow tree.

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

I spent 8 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Wednesday 19- 73/42 intermittent clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a bike/run.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

I spent 8 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Thursday 20- 71/45F with high clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, and almost jogged a mile when I noticed my guest’s chiwawa running beside us. I had to take him back to the yard.

Kjtel came by with Bodie and me and Cassie walked over to her house and stayed for a short spell yapping. 

Went to work on chapter three for a few hours.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Friday 21- 75/49F with a bit of clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

Installed outside lights on house

Saturday 22- 63/40F it rained and was windy all day. I did my stretches and took Cassie for her walks. I also worked on my book.

I finally got the dang cover right for “Azure Seas of Dreams” and Amazon accepted it. Now it’s available for purchase.

Sunday 23- 72/47F cloudy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

Monday 24- 73/48F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

Tuesday 25- 69/38F and overcast. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

Wednesday 26- 74/41F sunny nice.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a bike/run.

Thursday 27- 77/46F with clouds, no wind, nice day.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a bike/run.

Friday 28- 76/48F overcast. I did my stretches.

Saturday 29- 77/47F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I went to potluck. It was a beautiful day for our little community potluck and it fell on a leap day too.

For some reason, only ten hungry folks showed up out of the usual 20 to 25. I had to laugh at myself; so few folks and there sat in front of me a table plumb full of food and goodies we hardly made a dent. Plenty of second helpings to go around and lots to take home. Christ and Mary brewed up a taco and a vegetable soup casseroles, and pumpkin brownies. Pretty Patti Huges served us her famed meatloaf, cupcakes, cookies, and bread. Dyan Carroll prepared a fantastic Chicken Divan, Shepherd's pie, blueberry dump cake, fruit salad, and fresh green beans. Steven Stuart arrived with a yummy onion dip and chips. We found bliss in Sequoia Smith passion salad. Amanda made a wonderful broccoli salad. Yvonne Francis waltzed in at the last minute, her apron on, carrying a big bowl of spaghetti. 

Like my dear friend Stoney Stonebraker used to say, “It ain’t how many shows up, it’s who shows up that’s important.”

******************  Poems for February 2020 ************

There's a girl in the desert, pink bows in her hair, modest and sweet she be. So close yet so far, a gap I had widened, my mind I cannot fathom this secret I keep for my love is so great for her. Being a bit humble and somewhat shy not knowing just how to speak those words I flounder to say. Will she run away aghast by my words of affection... or accept my love for what it is, a hole of loneliness to be filled by her love for me.

~RD

I see your image, a likeness that passes, a silhouette in a sunset, radiant, beyond my grasp. Tears from the heart have washed away laughter. Sorrow fills what is left of me. Sweet memories of you flow softly and gently, come visit me in my dreams tonight, my angel, come dance on a moonbeam with me.

~RD

Beautiful colors waving proudly its stars so bright. Carried in battles of freedom for which we fight, draped across caskets of our brave, folded ceremoniously in a triangular shape, and then presented with honor to loved ones at the fallen's grave. Our flag is more than a piece of cloth, it stands for who we are and what we can become.

~RD