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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Chalk Festival 2010

Every summer, Bellingham's Allied Arts Festival has a chalk festival, with people of all ages drawing their creations on the downtown sidewalks, with the roads closed and lots of booths set up, selling every manner of art. Prizes are awarded in the chalk festival for each age category. Today I walked around taking pictures of them all, many of them in progress. (Click any to enlarge.) The day was overcast, so the colors showed up really well. Last year, the bright sunshine cast shadows on many of them, but not this year. Sometimes cool, cloudy weather can be beneficial.
This lady was just finishing up her rooster, crowing in the brilliant sunshine. I love blue and purple, my favorite colors, and they are set off perfectly by the bright red, green, and orange, don't you think? This is one of my favorites.
The artist and her friends were admiring this intricate maze, which she had just finished. She was covered with chalk dust, from smears on her face right down to her toes. It must be really challenging to work on these without smearing them, and still making the art, which only lasts a few days, as beautiful as you possibly can.
This owl, with stars and fish, attracted me, too. (Looking at it now, I realize it also has my two favorite colors figuring prominently.) This one has the flavor of the area to me, with all the birds, the fish in the beautiful Bellingham bay, and the brilliant stars of summer.
This one also has the flavor of the area, looks like Mt. Baker to me! It was finished by the time I took this picture, but the nine-year-old artist was probably cleaning himself (or herself) up after the effort. It is amazing that these budding artists are so accomplished. And this last one was created by a 13-year-old artist, which to my eye is every bit as good as any of the others.
There are so many others I could show you, but I restrained myself to concentrate on my favorites from this year. There was also one of Snoopy with the message "Peace" on it that I liked, along with many abstract designs, some promoting organic gardening, and so on. This group is a good representation of the talented artists of all ages from my neck of the woods. Enjoy!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Excelsior via Damfino Lakes

Today, seventeen Senior Trailblazers drove from the Senior Center to the trailhead to Excelsior Ridge via Damfino Lakes (click any picture to enlarge). After driving a ways to the turnoff, we then had to drive on a long winding road for 15 miles before we reached our destination, the trailhead. The hike ended up being almost nine miles long and up and down over 2,300 feet of elevation, so we had all day together. The picture (above) shows us walking the plank over Damfino Lakes. (Why that name? Well, I was told that someone in the distant past asked for the name of the small lakes or ponds, and someone said, "Damn if I know," which of course morphed into "Damfino.")
Whatever. By the time we had trekked through the shady parts, we emerged onto a flat area that led on a gentle uphill to glorious views of my two favorite mountain peaks: Shuksan, seen above, and Baker (still to come). Note that the day was clear, after morning fog and low clouds, and the wildflowers were beyond belief. Stopping to take pictures wasn't easy, because we were anxious to get to the next views.
At lunch we stopped at a place that had views in just about every direction, a nice gentle breeze to keep the bugs to a minimum (yes, they have finally invaded our hikes), and I asked Ward to take a picture of me to show I was really here. This one was snapped as I realized I was entangled in my gear, but you see Peggy laughing on the left and Cindy laughing right above my butt. Some of us wanted to stop in the sun and some in the shade, so this was a perfect compromise.
After lunch, the consensus was that we would hike farther out on High Divide before turning around to return to the cars. Some of us weren't thrilled to keep going, so after a while three of us decided to just stop in the trail and wait for the others to hike out and return to us. While there, I took this glorious picture of Mt. Baker and friends. One person, Pete, was pretty new to me, so we three (including Linda) spent some time learning about each other while the gentle breeze kept the bugs away and we waited for our friends to return.
After a while, I saw, through my trusty telephoto lens, our friends on their way back to us, and this picture shows them heading back, the mountains in the background and the wonderful wildflowers in the foreground. I cannot tell you how magnificent the day really was, but I can't imagine how it might have been a better and more renewing kind of day.
Once we had all returned to being a group again, all seventeen of us disparate and different Seniors headed back to our cars. I snapped this picture just to show you the sky, the trail, the friends, and the flowers that graced my day today. I am overwhelmed with the wonderfulness of today, and I hope I've communicated at least a tiny bit of it to you.

Namaste, my friends.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Dirt dives and skydives

Yesterday at Skydive Snohomish, I made four really wonderful skydives. The first two were with Linny and Christine, along with Smart Guy. Somebody showed me these three little guys, barn swallows who have not yet fledged, who have a nest right above the entrance to the bathrooms. Aren't they cute? Soon they will also be in the air showing their stuff. I'll bet they would love to know about "dirt dives," but for them when they leave the nest I don't think they get to come back. It's learn to fly or die.
The next two skydives were a 9-way and a 10-way. When you get as many as nine or ten people paying $25 each to ride up to altitude, we like to see the skydive succeed, so we do what is called a "dirt dive." What skydivers do to help this process is to have a mock-up of the door of the Caravan, as you see here. We learn who will be in what position to create the best exit position to build the first formation as quickly as possible. Here you see the organizer telling each person when to climb out of the airplane, and those left inside the plane are gathered near the door in order to leave as little time as possible between the first and the last to exit. Remember, we only have about a minute in freefall on each skydive.
Now you can see where each person should be when the person in the middle gives the count, so we can all leave together. (That's the person with his leg out.) When the climbout begins, everyone's eyes should be on that person. And if all goes as planned, we should have minimum separation. The formation always builds from the inside out, so once the middle is complete, the others can take their position in the formation.
And then we run the dirt dive out onto the grass, making sure there are no traffic problems to get into your slot. Hopefully the dirt dive will help the skydive to be successful. That guy with his arms out is the camera man; you can see him in the previous picture hanging on the back of the "plane" so he can capture the exit. He has a camera mounted on his helmet that he turns on before leaving the plane.

If the dirt dive is well planned, you can imagine how much it helps the skydive to succeed. On our first one yesterday, we were able to build three different "points" (i.e., make three different formations) before it was time to break off, separate, and track off before opening our parachutes. The second one was ten people, and we made two different formations before it was time to leave.

Today I am a little sore and tired from jumping and packing my parachute four times, but it is a good tired. Ninja Linny and Christine stayed to make probably another three jumps after we left, but I knew we had a good hour and a half drive back home, and I wanted to be sure I wasn't too tired to watch the season premier of "Mad Men." After all, I DO have my priorities.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Farmers' Market 2010

Here in Bellingham during the summer, we are blessed with two days to attend the Farmers' Market, Saturday in Bellingham proper, and Wednesday afternoons in Fairhaven (south Bellingham). This morning, Saturday, I got to the market before the opening bell at 10:00, because my favorite kale is usually gone within minutes from this stand. More than half a dozen people were lined up to get their organic veggies, I was not the only one.
Once I purchased the veggies I could afford (they are not cheap, these organic goodies), I headed over to the fruits and bought a quart of these blueberries. They come in two varieties, and the vendor let me taste them both. One is sweeter; the other is more tart. I went with the sweet ones, but they are both very good. The sun is shining brightly, and I saw this little guy with his parasol, gracing the sunflowers and sign. (As usual, you can click any picture to enlarge.)
As I wandered around the market, snapping pictures, I was told to look for a booth handing out free hugs, but I couldn't find it. I did see this picture, which shows in the background how busy the market was beginning to get, and it had only been open for half an hour. Most people were there to buy, not just to look, judging from the the packages in hand. I was tempted by these tomatoes.
In the far corner, a group of young girls were playing their string instruments to a receptive audience. I stayed and listened for awhile but soon felt it was time to make my way home with my groceries.
On the way out, I saw my friends Gene and Greg, looking like silverbacks with the sun behind them. Gene's parrot must have missed him while he was in Alaska fishing for six weeks (Gene was fishing, not the parrot). Now all seems right with the world with the sun shining, a light breeze, and very pleasant temperatures in the 70s.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Heliotrope Ridge

See that wall of ice behind my fellow hikers? That's Coleman Glacier! Today 14 Senior Trailblazers hiked up three miles or so, close to 2,000 feet in elevation, to the base of Mt. Baker and this incredible glacier on Heliotrope Ridge. The weather was overcast but mostly dry as we made our way through numerous stream crossings (some of which were pretty scary, actually) and up to this glacier. Here's what Ken Wilcox's book says about this hike:
This popular route for hikers and climbers alike offers one of the best places to get up close and personal with a river of ice, namely the Coleman Glacier. For just moderate effort, the scenic rewards are plenty: ancient forest, wildflowers, mountain streams and waterfalls, the Coleman and Roosevelt Glaciers, Mt. Baker, and the Black Buttes.
Well, we couldn't see Mt. Baker or the Black Buttes because we were pretty much inside a cloud for most of the hike, but it made the hiking temperature pretty comfy, especially when compared with last week's nine miles in the sun with twice the elevation gain. Other than the stream crossings, which I found to be a bit daunting, it was a wonderful day! And to share it with thirteen of my most favorite people, well, I do feel quite re-created.
On the trail, I spied some plants with what looked like diamonds right in the middle, when I realized it was the dew and rain congregating right there, giving the impression of jewels. (Click any picture to enlarge so you can get the full effect.) Every time I stopped, even briefly, to take a picture, I was in danger of being left behind by my friends, who have been here before, wanting to get a glimpse of that glacier.
Here's a good picture showing the kinds of decisions we made today. See the tracks through that snowfield? Well, nobody went that way, being pretty sure that the snow underneath has melted enough to make it possible to fall through, and that would be very unpleasant. We either crossed above it or below the snow bridge, hopping across the rocks, with some of us getting our feet wet.
Once we gained the ridge, however, and the glacier was in full view, the fog began to close in! Before long, we had no view of anything, not even of each other, so most of us stopped to have lunch while the braver and more adventurous (all men, I noticed) hiked on a bit farther in the fog. While we sat and enjoyed our break, the fog was so thick that I began to worry about how we would get back down.
After a short while, however, the fog began to lift a little. I got this picture of flowers in the foreground, a waterfall, and the edge of the fog in the background. This beautiful and almost desolate landscape felt so much less so with my companions around me, all seniors, all people I trust and enjoy being out there with. On the way back to the trailhead, we heard a screech and people pointed out to me our visitor: a marmot!
This guy was posing, I swear! Look at the size of him (click to enlarge). He was looking right at me and I think wondering about these two-legged interlopers who keep showing up, looking, and leaving. All in all, it was a wonderful day, and I'm happy to be home after a shower, a glass of wine, and my dinner beside me! I hope you all had as good a day as I had.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Uncertainty of life

This has been another one of those tough weeks for me, with life's uncertainty again making itself known at every turn. First, I put this picture of wildflowers and creek in the meadow from last week's Church Mountain hike in here, because it makes me feel so much better when I look at this delightful scene.

Two days ago I learned that a notable scientist that I had worked with for years in Boulder, Stephen Schneider, died suddenly in an airplane while returning home from Sweden. He was 65. In that "Six Degrees of Separation" mode, I also found that Cliff Mass, whose Washington State weather blog I read daily, was one of his students and wrote a beautiful post about their relationship. Cliff was a summer student at NCAR just before I began to work there in 1979.

And then, today at the gym, I learned that an acquaintance I know from class died when he fell from a ladder. Ben and his wife Karen were regulars at the class, three times a week, and rarely missed unless they were off sailing in their boat. Another couple had missed them and wrote an email to Karen to see if everything was all right. No, it isn't. It was the talk of the class today, and I just can't believe it happened so fast. Karen's children have come to help sell their boat and house and plan to take Karen away to Portland to live with them. It's all so sudden!

It's like the beauty of life, and the fragility of our hold on it, is being driven home to me, just in case I might get complacent and forget that no one is assured another day of life, another breath even. So it makes sense to give thanks for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

And just now I read Nancy's wonderful post about the power of prayer. I'm not sure this is a synchronous event, but it sure feels warm and welcome in my heart.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Toy Story 3

I just got back from the movies with my friend Judy. We saw Toy Story 3, which amazingly got a 99% freshness rating from Rotten Tomatoes, the highest rating of any movie I've reviewed. I read many of the reviews, and I have to say it was truly an enjoyable movie and I'm not the only one who thinks so. I found a review I especially liked, by Christopher Smith, who said, and I agree,
“Toy Story 3” also is about leaving behind one’s childhood, the knowledge of doing so, and the heartache and exhilaration that can come from it when a way of life is lost and a new one is found. It’s a movie that highlights abandonment issues for the toys in question, and it’s a movie that emotes all of those complex emotions with such sensitivity, you’re once again left with a groundswell of admiration for the skilled people at Pixar, who have an uncanny way of balancing all of this emotional weight with outrageous moments of comedy and action.
I saw the two previous Toy Story movies, enjoying each of them, but this one, to me, perfects what was begun in the first two. I couldn't believe that I was crying over a bunch of plastic toys as they joined hands in what seemed their inevitable demise. But I was, and I truly enjoyed every minute of the time I spent enthralled in their world.

I especially loved the part where Buzz Lightyear was disabled, and while trying to get him back to normal, Woody and the others flip the wrong switch, turning Buzz into a Latin lover, speaking fluent Spanish and doing the tango with Jessie. That and the scenes between Ken and Barbie are my favorites.

If you want to see a movie that will make you laugh as well as shed a tear or two (or more), you will not be sorry if you see this one. We saw it in 2-D and didn't miss anything, but I suspect it would be lots of fun in 3-D as well. If you go, I'd love to know what you think of it.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Four out, four up

Yesterday, ten Senior Trailblazers set out for Church Mountain. Although it had only been three weeks since hiking this trail, our options are still very limited because of the snowpack around some of our favorite hikes. Plus the amount of snow that has melted in three weeks is amazing. I wasn't with them then (I was busy with the dentist), but they didn't make it this far, and you can see that the trail ahead is pretty clear of snow. We hiked up 4,000 feet and covered a little more than four miles, so that's the reason I named the post "four out and four up." (Click any picture to enlarge.)
When we reached the meadow, some of us stayed behind to recuperate, as we had hiked three miles and covered almost 3,000 feet. Here's a picture of Dan sitting by the creek with Mt. Baker behind him. The rest of the group forged on ahead, and we followed them after a quick snack. The area where Dan is sitting has not been clear of snow for long, because everywhere we saw glacier lilies that crop up for a few weeks when the snow has cleared.
This is the first hike this summer where I saw a profusion of wildflowers: phlox, violets, columbine, and what I think are marsh marigolds. False hellibore were everywhere, and I swear they had just burst out of the ground in the last few days. (They are the green broadleaf plants in the first picture on the side of the trail.) After our rest, we followed the other hikers up the last mile.
If you enlarge this picture, you can see the trail we had climbed on our way to the old lookout site. We did cross some snow, but nothing like last week. Oh, and by the way, I had no problem with heat exhaustion yesterday, as it was much cooler, and I was fortified by an electrolyte drink to be on the safe side. The last fifty feet or so of the hike are quite exposed and are really a scramble to the top. But once there, of course I had to ask Al to take my picture.
I am standing where the lookout station used to be. Thinking about how it was constructed all the way up here at 6,100 feet was a little daunting. No trace of it exists any more. After hiking back down to join our cohorts who decided not to make this summit, we then had a little more than four miles and 4,000 feet to descend to the trailhead. It was a long day, but very satisfying and just about perfect weather. A light breeze blew all day, but not enough to make us cold. And, as you can see, the view was just stupendous.

On a side note, about Phoenix, I am still grieving for his loss, but one of the people who lives down below the nest (she calls herself "boonibarb") posted this video on YouTube for us Phoenix lovers who need closure. An arborist braved the tree and got the body down in a backpack (needing both his hands to climb), and if you watch this one-minute-long video as he is lovingly removed from the pack, you can see he was already fully grown and ready to fledge. The body will be sent to a lab to see if the reason for his death can be ascertained.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

My last eagle cam

Last night, for no reason that anybody knows yet, this beautiful 11-week-old eaglet died. I have watched his progress since he was born at the end of April, and I loved him. Nobody knows for sure if he was a he or a she, but Phoenix will always be a guy to me.

I showed many of my followers this eagle cam back when the egg was first hatched, because I was thrilled to watch Mom and Dad Hornby, two mature eagles in their twenties, care for this tiny little life, and try to bring him to fruition. Last year, I watched another eagle cam that had three eaglets, and I began to worry about the safety of each one. I stopped watching just before the first eaglet fledged, because I had learned that fledging is a very difficult time in the life of any eagle.

Today I went on a wonderful hike in the wilderness, and I saw, twice, two bald eagles flying overhead, and I thought of Phoenix and the trial awaiting him in a week or two. Then, as I was getting ready to write a post about today's hike, I read my email and found that Phoenix died in the nest last night.

I went to the Facebook page for the Hornby Eagles and learned that his body was taken from the nest and will be autopsied to try to learn the reason for his death. About Monday he began to lose interest in eating, and, well, that was the beginning of the end. I found this page on Vancouver's Time Colonist to give the latest, as of now, that anybody knows.

I'm done with eagle cams. I cannot deal with this, because I've got tears streaming down my face for an eagle I watched grow from a tiny little egg to this beautiful eaglet. I have enough loss and change in my life, and for all of you followers who feel the same as me, I am sorry that I caused pain in your life. As someone said a while back in the chat room on the website, this is not a Disney movie. You can't make it all come out right in nature.

Goodbye, my beautiful Phoenix. May you rise again from the ashes in my heart.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

What makes a day special for you? Is it waking up feeling good, with the sun shining but not too hot? Or is it smelling the coffee as a loved one makes a surprise breakfast?

For me, it's easy. I love to wake up and get a cup of tea, then come back to bed to read what my blogging friends have been up to since I last visited at their place. Today I am recovered from last week's exertions, and the sun rose without any of the marine layer that has affected us since we left the heat wave behind. It was even cold (48 degrees F) on the 14th day of July!! Yes! And by the time I caught the bus to town for my daily workout at the gym, it was almost 60 degrees. Now it's 70 and perfect.

But the best part was finding some of my blogging friends who don't blog every day had put up some new posts. Vagabonde over at Recollections of a Vagabonde (one of my favorites) wrote about what July 14 means to her, being French and all, about her grandfather, and about a song. The post brought grateful tears to my eyes, and I hope anyone who doesn't already know her will visit sometime. You won't be sorry.

Robynn over at Robynn's Ravings is lamenting the way our children up and leave us, with nary a backward glance. She does this with such humor and even a little pathos that I also teared up. Maybe it's just me, today, happy to be alive and counting my blessings. Things sometimes get to me, in a good way.

Even though she's gotten into the habit lately of writing almost every day, Linda at A Slower Pace has become a friend whose journey toward health and wholeness fascinates me, and I smile when I see she's got a post I haven't read yet. What is it about some people who can come through the written word and make me CARE so much?? It's a mystery, but it's another reason I love blogging.

I didn't feel like coming home right away after my workout and shower, so I caught the bus to Fairhaven, a short ride to the southern part of Bellingham. It's always fun for me to go to the Village Bookstore. I hardly need an excuse, but I rummaged around for books that have been recommended on blog posts. Somebody (I don't remember who at the moment) suggested Harlan Coben, a mystery writer I've never read before, so I picked up a used book to give him a try. I ordered 7 Secrets of Synchronicity after reading Trish and Rob MacGregor's blog for a while (they wrote it).

My life is very full for many reasons, not the least of which is my connection to the blogosphere and to my many virtual friends around the world. Some people use Facebook in the same way, but to me it's not the same at all. I also have a Facebook page, but I use it to catch up with old friends and family members, not new and deliciously exciting new acquaintances. I've only given you a taste of some of those who are over on the right-hand side of my blog, "Fun Places to Visit."

You light up my life. Really.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Weekend recovery mode

After spending Saturday and Sunday at the Drop Zone jumping out of perfectly good airplanes (a total of six jumps, three each day) mostly with these two women, Ninja Linny on the left, and Christine on the right, I am pretty darn wiped out.

You might wonder why I called Linny "Ninja," but here's why. She's only five years younger than me in years, but the stamina this woman has would wear out most people, not just me. On Saturday she made seven jumps and packed her parachute in full sun, and made another five or so on Sunday. I'm not sure, because by the time I had made three, I went home, sore and tired, with my parachute unpacked. (I just got it packed up for next weekend.) Christine told me yesterday that she would not be jumping nearly as much as she is if it weren't for Linny. This amazing woman not only works two jobs, but she never shows up at the Drop Zone without homemade goodies, usually still warm from her oven. And then she organizes skydives and rallies the jumpers (I'm one of the happy recipients). She will jump with anyone, no matter the skill level, without even the tiniest bit of recriminations when things don't go as planned. She doesn't have a competitive bone in her body, she just goes like the Energizer Bunny while the rest of us run down around her.

Today I'm in recovery mode and figure I'm probably not cut out for two solid days of hiking and then two solid days of jumping in the same week! Tired does not adequately describe it. So it's taking it easy until Thursday when I'll be out with the Senior Trailblazers again.

On another note, I received the beautiful picture I got for making a donation to Ripple on Friday. I didn't have time to post it earlier, so I'll show you now. I went to the International Bird Rescue Center and made a $10 donation and sent Kelly at the information as required, but I heard nothing back from her. Sharon Wagner, the artist whose picture I wanted, thinks Kelly is probably overwhelmed by the response, so Sharon sent me the sketch and a sweet note to me:
I love the black sand dollar, as it suggests the tragedy in the Gulf without showing the oil-covered wildlife that are suffering and dying. Sharon is a children's illustrator and has a wonderful blog over at Sharon's Paws Create. Check out her lovely website for more.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Abundant sunshine

What a day we had yesterday! Another day of cloudless skies, and record high temperatures set all over the state of Washington. Nine Senior Trailblazers went up the Goat Mountain trail, after having found out on Tuesday that we should be able to get to the meadow, if not all the way to the summit, before being turned back by snow. The picture above shows yet another view of Mt. Shuksan, quite a different vantage point than on Tuesday's hike.
I also found out that I am not invincible, or even as young as I used to be! This picture shows Al on the snow-covered last few hundred feet up to our destination. As we were trekking up this part, I noticed that I was slowing down, feeling awful, and getting rather nauseous. The brilliant sunshine was reflecting back onto me from the snow, and sweat was just pouring out of me. I doggedly put one foot in front of the other and finally made it to the meadow.

Once we had reached our destination, a rock outcropping, it was time for lunch and we had covered almost four miles and gone up 2,700 feet of elevation. As people began to pull out their lunches and seat cushions, I drank more water and tried to pull myself together. I knew I wasn't myself when I didn't even care to take any pictures. I figured resting would help, and it did, but when I pulled out my lunch I could not eat it, I was feeling so sick. Basically I kept this to myself and snapped a few pictures. It was so beautiful up there!
This is a mountain I don't see very often, I believe it's named Seifert, with Ward gazing around at the view (click to enlarge). After Fred and Mike took off for the actual summit of Goat Mountain, we agreed that we would stay and wait for them until 1:00pm, when we would all head back down the trail. Since the rest of the hike would be downhill, I figured I'd be just fine. But it was not to be: once we began down, I knew I wasn't feeling well at all and could not figure out what to do. Several people thought I might be dehydrated, although I was forcing water even though I wasn't thirsty.

When we stopped about halfway, I confessed to everyone how bad I was feeling, and Mike generously offered to carry my pack (along with his own!), which I gratefully accepted. Fred commented that I looked pale and kept a close eye on me. Still pouring in water, and now without my backpack, I began to feel a little better. Once we got back to the cars and I was in air-conditioned comfort in the back seat, I felt almost normal.

The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower, and then collapsed with the book I'm reading. This morning I went to the gym for my regular workout and realized that I was weak as a kitten and still have little appetite. When I got home, I looked for my symptoms on line and found this:
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Aha! The symptoms include heavy sweating, nausea, paleness, and tiredness. I think that this hike in full sun, so soon after Tuesday's, contributed to my condition. Now, a day later, I am feeling quite normal, although still a little weak, but I just finished a light lunch and am beginning to get my appetite back. I really don't like to think about myself as "elderly," but I guess I am, at 67; I take high blood pressure medication; and I had finished two strenuous hikes in three days in a hot environment.

So, before my blogging buddies tell me to slow down, I hear you! I will be more careful from now on, and I won't push myself so hard. I am willing to admit when I'm wrong, at least sometimes. Believe me, I won't soon forget that experience!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Cougar Divide

Yesterday, I set out from Bellingham with two other Senior Trailblazers. We met at 11:00 am in the morning to head up to the High Country. We hoped to get over to the Canyon Creek road, which has a crew working on it every weekday, except during their lunch hour when you can gain access to the road. But after stopping at the Ranger Station and asking about the conditions, we decided not to try it.
Instead, we went up the Wells Creek road up to Cougar Divide, a long, one-lane road winding up over 12 miles, which descends first to Wells Creek and then starts a long climb up to Cougar Divide. We were stopped on the road by snow before we gained the trailhead, but we left the car and set out with our trusty packs and trekking poles. We slogged up over two miles on snow, with full sun and no wind.
When we finally started up the snow, we could see that eventually we would have an incredible view. Little by little the view got more and more amazing, and we could see all the mountains around plus Mt. Baker. That's Mt. Shuksan behind us to the left. I took this picture with my self-timer and tripod, which are now indispensable parts of my backpacking gear. Although there were only a few little clouds now and then, we were so happy when we got any break from the sun at all. Occasionally a light breeze kept us a little cooler as we trekked up 1,000 feet to the ridge. It was snow the whole way until we got to this rock outcropping. (Click any picture to enlarge.)
Here's a picture of Karen sketching Mt. Baker. We didn't even start our hike until after 1:00 pm, so as we were heading back down the snow, the shadows of summer began to lengthen. But with such a clear sky, lots of daylight, and with little to no wind, we didn't hurry back to the car.
Al took this picture of me while we were looking around at the 360-degree view. I thought it would be fun to put some words on the cloud that look like a thought balloon, but I didn't get around to it before deciding to write this post. Tomorrow we will be heading up for another hike to the High Country with the full group, so this would have been lost if I didn't get it up today.
On the way back down the highway to Bellingham, we decided to stop for dinner at the Beer Shrine. As you can see from the sign, it's a beer joint and Wedding Chapel, all in one. We got there a little after 6:00pm and it was quite busy already, on a regular Tuesday night. They make their own local beer and we had a smashingly good pizza (which I didn't get a picture of, darn it). As Al said, we were all hungry enough to eat anything that wasn't fighting back. But I would be happy to eat here again, since it was outstandingly good beer AND food. Tomorrow, another day in the woods with the whole group! With the weather expected to be hot, it should be a good turnout.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Peace and love

I just read this article on the New York Times about Ringo Starr of the Beatles fame, who is turning 70 on Wednesday! As a child of the sixties myself, I listened to the Beatles and actually learned to appreciate their music a little later, in my thirties and forties.

The amazing thing to me is that everywhere I go, I still hear their music, and it's been almost fifty years ago that they were on the scene. Back when I first started this blog in March of 2009, I wrote a post about my musical journey and talked about the Beatles.

It continues to amaze me that often when walking into an elevator, a grocery store, to name a few, I will hear some old Beatles song being played. Even if the song has been re-worked to sound more like true elevator music, the song is still familiar to my ears: "All You Need Is Love," "Let It Be," and so many others sing to me of an earlier more hopeful time. I'm happy to be reminded of it.

Peace and love is what I would like, too. If I could make it happen all over the world, I would. So I will shout "Peace and love" tomorrow at noon and think of how wonderful it will be when the world is showered with it. Here's a brief excerpt from that article linked above (also where I snagged the AP picture of Ringo):
Mr. Starr is also continuing a tradition – one that started with this 2008 Access Hollywood interview – of asking fans to say the words “Peace and love” on his birthday at 12 noon. (Much easier than shouting the lyrics to “Octopus’s Garden.”) If you need to preserve your voice on Wednesday, you can also leave a message at the Beatles’ Facebook page.
Peace and love to you and yours!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Cool here, not clear

They say flower pictures are better when taken in overcast conditions. Well, guess what we have here in Bellingham? Cool, cloudy, windy conditions this morning, the temperature not even 60 degrees. Taken yesterday at the Farmers' Market, I thought this picture of the red, white and blue (and yellow, purple and pink) bouquets was quite lovely.

I am almost finished with the book, Biocentrism. (This link will take you to the author's page about the book.) I've been reading about quantum mechanics, Zeno's paradox, entropy, the Time Train, and much more. Here's an excerpt from the chapter entitled, "No Time to Lose":
That time is a fixed arrow is a human construction. That we live on the edge of all time is a fantasy. That there is an irreversible, on-flowing continuum of events linked to galaxies and suns and the Earth is an even greater fantasy. Space and time are forms of animal understanding -- period. We carry them around with us like turtles with shells. So there simply is no absolute self-existing matrix out there in which physical events occur independent of life.
When I was younger, I read quite a lot of science fiction, and I especially loved stories where people in a spaceship would travel to a distant world at close to the speed of light. They would return home to find that all their contemporaries had died long before because of the time differential. This was fascinating to me, particularly when I learned that is exactly what would happen if we could indeed travel at near light speed. To learn that the galaxies and stars sent their light to Earth billions of years ago and they no longer exist as I see them boggles my mind.

At the end of each chapter, Lanza presents a Principle related to his theory of biocentrism. The farther along in the book I travel, the more interested I am. He also tells stories about his childhood, how he got to be a doctor, and about his family dynamics. He'll inject a little unexpected humor now and then that makes me laugh out loud. Although I have a few more chapters to read, I'll be a little sorry when it's over.

Although none of the ideas in the book are completely new to me, they are all put together in a way that has expanded my idea of consciousness, time and space, life and death. It's actually comforting to look at things through the lens of biocentrism. It allows for the possibility of the death of loved ones being something other than what I have experienced. Lanza's sister was killed in an auto accident not long after she had married Ed, the love of her life, and things were looking up for her. From the chapter "Death and Eternity":
Christine had recently lost more than a hundred pounds, and Ed had bought her a pair of diamond earrings as a surprise. It's going to be hard to wait -- I have to admit -- but I know Christine is going to look fabulous in them the next time I see her . . . in whatever form she and I and this amazing play of consciousness assume.
The book also has two appendices, one on the Lorentz Transformation and the other on Einstein's Theory of Relativity. They look a bit daunting, but I will make my way through them in appreciation for the author's ability to take me into his worldview.

Friday, July 2, 2010

If a tree falls

I took this picture of myself with my trusty self-timer, sitting in my favorite chair (as you can see, a simple reclining lawn chair), a glass of wine (just below the purple water bottle), and the red Super Soaker on the floor behind me.  As you can see, I've started reading Biocentrism. And I have already learned, just on Chapter 3, that if a tree falls in a forest and there's nobody around to hear it, it does not make a sound!

Yes, you heard that right: no sound. You will have to take my word on that, until you yourself read the book and discover the incontrovertible truth. So far, the book is absorbing on many levels, not the least of which is that the theory it presents, well, it just feels right. I am nowhere near finished with it, and I'll write a real book review when I'm done, but I did want to write down something that has been percolating within me for a few days now.

I'm going to write fewer posts in the near future, and here's why. First, I find myself casting about for blog fodder all the time, looking at my life events through that lens. I think I actually need to change my focus to discover why I wanted to start blogging in the first place. Second, I really function well when I have a framework within which to work. My other blog only has one post a week, and I spend the week thinking about what I'll address. The desire to be honest with myself, to look at who I used to be and how I got here is the main focus, not some urge to get interesting posts up whether I feel like it or not.

No, I will put one up for sure every Thursday that I go hiking with the Trailblazers, because all of them, including me, like to share it after the fact. Everyone who has internet access visits my post to see what the day looked like according to me (and my camera). I'd also like to have another weekly post that I would label introspective, for now anyway, and one other post to be determined by desire. It would be great if I got to a place where I actually couldn't wait to write it, rather than looking for pictures, ideas, something that would be of interest to my friends.

If I want to, there's nothing to keep me from breaking my new rules, but I'm wondering about other bloggers who have gotten to this juncture. Is there some maturing process that has been at work within me? Smart Guy said it's like when you're a young skydiver, everything is a certain way, but you can't have a hundred jumps forever: you mature as you spend increasing time in the environment. Maybe it's like that. What do you think?


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Monday, June 29, 2020

The Supremes in June

A rainbow of flamingos
Spoiler Alert: I am going to venture into a minefield of political musings, something I rarely, if ever, do on my blog. But this has been quite a month of incredible rulings made by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). It started off in the middle of the month with a ruling that makes it illegal to fire someone because of being gay or transgender. Not only that, but the argument supporting the ruling was written by Neil Gorsuch, a conservative. (Read this CNN Opinion article about it.)

And then SCOTUS disallowed the Administration from throwing out DACA (Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals) as currently written. But it held out hope for the administration to fix it and then re-submit it, which would then allow for the immediate deportation of all 7 million DACA recipients. (Article from The Hill about this one.) For now, though, they are safe from deportation.

And, today, SCOTUS ruled that Louisiana's abortion law is unconstitutional. They pointed out that many hospitals in the region are religiously affiliated or conservative and don't allow abortions to take place in their facilities in any event, which severely limits the number of doctors who can carry out the procedure.
The law required that doctors providing abortions have admitting privileges to nearby hospitals, which the justices said led to an undue burden on women. Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberal justices in the 5-4 decision in a blow to anti-abortion groups. The court struck down a similar policy in Texas in 2016, the opinion noted.
There is one more bombshell ruling still to come, and that is whether or not Congress has a right to get ahold of Trump's tax returns. Although it seems to be mostly related to our current president, it will also establish the boundaries between the executive branch and Congress that are not at all clear at the present time.
The court is expected to determine the scope of congressional power to issue subpoenas in furtherance of its legislative function, and whether the President has "absolute immunity" from even being investigated criminally while in office.
I'm not sure when this ruling will be given, but I am hoping it will show that we voters should definitely be given that information. But hey, three out of four isn't bad. I know I may be upsetting some of my long-time readers with this post, but I simply couldn't resist writing this after today's ruling.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Interurban trail

The Interurban trail
Today three of us (and Joe, Dianne's wonderful dog) went out for a walk on the Interurban trail. I have never been on it, since it is the starting point for many walks on Chuckanut Mountain, and I never realized it was there. I was actually surprised to find it so enjoyable, because much of it looks just like this: flat, wide, and surrounded by trees.
Lots of ferns and emerging sunshine
It was really nice to see all the ferns and beautiful fir and cedar trees, many of them regal and mature. There are also many homes along the trail, with signs marking restricted access, but it is mostly a very agreeable walk, with little that will challenge anybody's sore knees or back.
The sign says, "K9 H2O"
There were lots and lots of people on the trail, and everyone, almost without exception, wore a mask, even if it was (like us) mostly to pull it up to cover one's nose and mouth while passing by. One gentleman pointed out this water stop for dogs. That's his dog coming up after a drink. I looked at it: a small bowl with water filling it slowly from a spring. I put my hand in the water and found it to be very cold. Joe took a quick swig himself.
Our turnaround spot
Although it was cool and foggy when we started out, by the time we got here, to our turnaround point after more than three miles in, the sun had come out in full force and the temperature rose a bit (it was perfect, in the mid-sixties, or 18°C). That's me in the picture with Dianne and Joe; Melanie took it).
Melanie, Joe, and some cheese
Joe is a well-mannered three-year-old poodle, who doesn't bark or attack other dogs, and sits when asked. He loves cheese, and Mel pulled out a small snack she tried to eat herself, but she ended up giving most of it to Joe, after having been seduced by those pleading black eyes.
Chuckanut Bay
We had some lovely views of the bay, with Lummi Island rising up and looking quite impressive. I see that contrails from jet planes are returning again, after months of their absence. We returned to our cars by retracing our steps, having walked almost seven miles with little elevation gain and loss. All in all, just a pretty perfect day, even if not a challenging one.

Monday, June 22, 2020

Front porch flowers
Yesterday was the first full day of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. That means that one of my favorite blogging friends who lives in Canberra is experiencing her first full day of winter. It is very curious to me to realize that our beautiful planet has such lovely seasons, and that they are opposite on either side of the equator.

We still haven't had any real heat, but that will be coming in future weeks and months: our warmest days are usually in August, and even then it's usually not all that hot for long. My front porch faces east, and the bright sunlight poured in this morning. At this time of the year I get full shade on the porch from noon on. It makes for such a pleasant place to hang out when the lawn mowers and leaf blowers are quiet.

The long-term forecast for the summer is for the US to be warmer than normal. But that's an  increasing trend as the global climate warms. I just saw on the news that it's even warm right now in Russia:
A heat wave in Russia on Saturday sent temperatures in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk soaring to 38°Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Meteorologists say that would be the highest number ever recorded north of the Arctic Circle. (from VoA)
Yikes! And it's just now summer. Hopefully it's an anomaly and it will cool down a little once the heat wave breaks. The entire article is fascinating (linked above). I will be spending my days on my shady front porch admiring my petunias and giving thanks that I'm not in blistering hot Siberia!

Thursday, June 18, 2020

After the rain

Lake Whatcom
Today we awoke to blue skies and relatively warm temperatures. As I write this in the late afternoon, the temperature is 68°F (20°C), and after plenty of rain and cloudy skies for days on end, this seems like a wonderful change. To some of my readers, it's still on the cool side, but for me today, and my friend Melanie who also hiked with me, it was just about perfect.
Foxglove and plenty of greenery
We walked the entire Hertz trail, which meanders from the parking lot to the end 3.1 miles one way. It's almost flat, with less than 100 feet of elevation along the wide and gentle grade. It was once the site of a railroad, the Bellingham Bay & Eastern Railroad, built in 1902, but nothing of it still exists, except for the lovely trail.
The old railroad bed, now a trail
The entire trail, early in the morning at least, is in shade, and walkers with their dogs and kids are also frequent users of this beautiful place. We saw probably a dozen or so other people who were out early on this gorgeous Pacific Northwest day.
Not being very experienced about our local mushrooms, I just took a picture of these guys. To me, they look similar to the ones I buy in the grocery store, but who knows whether these are safe to eat or not.
Lake Whatcom almost back at the start
Just as we were finishing our walk, we saw something swimming across the lake. We both laughed and said, "could it be a shark?" It was traveling quickly and suddenly we saw what it was: a young deer!
Tuckered out
We saw a tired and very wet deer emerge from the water. It was pretty worn out, and it didn't try to run away, but just watched us as it continued to shake water off its back. Those wobbly legs then carried on, walking by us and heading down the trail. He didn't look back. I hope he's alright by now. I have no idea why he was swimming across the lake, but he was so far out in the middle when we first spotted him that I figure he came from the opposite bank. But I don't know for sure.

Anyway, we finished and since it was almost noon, we decided to have lunch at one of the recently opened restaurants nearby. We enjoyed quesadillas together but skipped the margaritas, since we both had to drive and it was still early in the day. No matter, it was a truly wonderful day and I'm happy to be home having walked a few miles in a beautiful place with a dear friend.

Monday, June 15, 2020

The rain continues

Lunch break
Yesterday, I was able to have a nice walk and saw these local residents out for their lunch, it seems. The little one is still has spots, but they didn't show up all that well in the picture. Today, however, I'm inside, staying dry. Last Thursday we walked in the rain, but by late afternoon the skies had cleared and the sun was shining. And it was also lovely all day yesterday.

It doesn't look like that will happen today, however. I'm reconciled to getting my daily exercise, if I decide to, in a Health and Fitness video from my local Y. Somehow it's just not that much fun. I'd much rather be outdoors. But I'll survive.

I got a call from the office of a hematologist, which had received a referral from my doctor. That was a little bit of a surprise, since she suggested that I see one, but wanted me to first get another blood test a couple of weeks after the original one. Since I was able to ascertain that I only need to pay my usual co-pay to see this mysterious doctor, I'll go ahead and do it all. Apparently my doctor is concerned about my low white blood cell count and wants to rule out any underlying conditions. I appreciate her thoroughness, but it was still a bit surprising, since I had already decided that the second blood test would be perfect. Ah well, who am I to turn down a visit to a new doctor?

When I tried to add the above picture, I again had difficulty finding a way to insert it. I tried lots of stuff and then went online to see if others are having problems. One person suggested clearing the cache on my browser, which I did without any success. Then I went over to the HTML tag and was able to add a picture using that work-around. Sigh. If anybody out there has any other ideas about how to fix this problem, I'm all ears.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Drippy but satisfying

Boulevard Park once the rain let up a little
When I went to join Melanie and Dianne for a nice walk along the Interurban trail, the 20% chance of rain seemed to be minimal, certainly do-able. But once we arrived, the rain started and was heavy enough that we didn't really want to head out. So instead, we drove to Boulevard Park and went inside the recently reopened Woods Coffee to wait out what we thought would be a quick shower.
Melanie, Dianne and Joe
Not! It didn't let up for quite awhile, but finally we decided we could brave the rain and headed towards Fairhaven and the Interurban trail from another vantage point. We didn't go far, actually, maybe five miles tops, but we enjoyed being out on the trail and each other's company. I also enjoyed getting to know Joe, Dianne's three-year-old poodle. Quite a different day than any of us expected.
Green and lovely
I'm not sure, but I think this is a constructed salmon ladder that is used by salmon as they swim upstream to spawn. There are several along this stream, and I remember once long ago seeing a picture that had volunteers helping the salmon get up the ladder. Anyway, it was a very nice day in its own way.

Now that I'm home, warm and dry, it even looks better than it did before, when I was wet and rather chilled. I hope next week will have a bright ray of sunshine or two, rather than the liquid sunshine we had today.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Best time of the year

Melanie took this
Last Thursday, Melanie and I walked twice around Lake Padden. It was a bit cloudy but it didn't rain, and the cool breeze kept us comfortable as we journeyed our 5.2 miles. It was just what I needed, what the doctor ordered, so to speak. I've been unable to do long hikes without injury, so this was just right.

Then yesterday on Facebook, I saw that Mel had gone on a much longer and steeper hike with two of our Trailblazers, and I realized that I've been holding her back. I don't think I could have done the 9+ miles and 2,500 feet elevation. It's a bit jarring to realize that if the Trailblazers were to begin hiking together again right now, I couldn't join them.

We have just moved to Phase 2 in the reopening plan, and that means now some establishments are allowing people to come inside and enjoy coffee while remaining and not having to leave right away. Yesterday I went looking for someplace to get my hair cut, and every single place I went had no openings until the middle of next week. Apparently, I'm not the only shaggy-haired person in town. I did eventually go to my regular hair salon to find out why I haven't been getting through. Same story, but she promised to call me and get me on the schedule. She's booked through June 17th!

When I got home, she called me and said she'd come in early on Tuesday if I were willing. Willing? I can't wait! Tomorrow at the crack of 8:00 I'll be there. And she knows I'll give her a hefty tip for getting me in.

Thursday I'll see my acupuncturist, and then on Friday my first massage in three months! For someone who has been getting one every 3 weeks for years, it will be a real joy to finally, once again, put myself under her capable hands. Phase 2, here I come!

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Shorter walk today

Ducks relaxing in the grass
Today I asked Melanie if she would be willing to join me for a couple loops around Lake Padden, rather than try anything more difficult, considering my back. It's so much better than it was last week, but I realize that I'm pushing it by going on any long excursions these days. That said, I am hoping that eventually I'll be able to join my fellow Trailblazers whenever we are able to start our hikes again. She and I set out early and took lots of pictures along the way.
We saw this little guy holding very still as we took pictures of him. I think he thought if he didn't move, we wouldn't see him. There were plenty of people out with their dogs, so I suspect he didn't stay here very long. It was cool and breezy, with us wanting to keep moving so we wouldn't get too cold, but we enjoyed walking and talking as we covered the trails.
Lots of pretty flowers
June is such a lovely time of the year, and flowers are abundant everywhere one looks. I don't know what these are, but they come in several different shades of pink and lavender.
Think he knows how to catch a fish?
We saw these two fishermen, who have been joined with someone who knows what they're going to be pulling out of the water. I wish I'd been around to see who ended up with the first catch. Wonder if they even know he's back there.

It was nice to be outdoors today, even if the temperature could have been a little warmer. We saw lots of people with their dogs, and perhaps half of those we saw were wearing a mask. Although it's certainly easier to walk and hike without one, it just seems like a thoughtful thing to wear, just in case.
Sign of the times
Hanging on the rear view mirror, something that the owner of the car probably uses when inside. Masks are required indoors, while we are still in Phase I of our reopening strategy. Our county has petitioned to move to Phase II, which hopefully will happen soon. Then I will be able to go spend money at REI, as well as see my acupuncturist and massage therapist again. In any event, I had a lovely time today with my friend Mel.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Little pleasures

A repurposed little library
The owners of this home used to have a little lending library outside on their front lawn. With the circumstances of our lives being what they are, they changed it to a place where people can take and/or leave items that people might need during a time when they are out of a job and can't afford to buy food for their pets, and more. I especially like that they are offering masks in their cupboard.

It makes me happy to see people helping neighbors in my little community. At this time in our history, it's awfully hard to find something to be happy about. With the ongoing pandemic (and our continuing lockdown), along with the awful events of the past week with enormously large protests in every large city (with no social distancing), I am worried about what our immediate future holds. However, it does no good to concentrate on such things; I need to find positive things to focus on. Hence, the little kitchen cupboard on the street.
What a flower!
At this moment in time, myriad rhododendrons are in bloom. This is a very different one, but I do think it's a rhodie. I walk by it on my daily walks and yesterday I had to take a picture to remember its unusual beauty. Now that it's June, just about every flower around is deciding to show off its gorgeous blooms. It makes me very happy, being able to enjoy the sunshine, which has returned after a couple of very wet days. I've turned off the TV and the incessant noise emanating from the talking heads. It's easier and less redundant to keep up to date reading the news on my laptop.

And there are plenty of uplifting movies and series to lose myself in, should I be so inclined. Just another one of the little pleasures I have available to enjoy. What are you finding to keep your spirits up these days?

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Foreclosure Homes in Jamesport Ny 11947

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Herricks Ln
Jamesport, NY 11947

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Home Value Estimator For JAMESPORT, NY

There are currently 119 real estate properties in JAMESPORT, NY, with a median automated valuation model (AVM) price of $559,700.00. What is an AVM? It is a smart computer program that analyzes and predicts the approximate value of a home, property or land in JAMESPORT, NY, based on current market trends, comparable real estate sales nearby, historical data and, of course, property features, among other variables. These automated home estimates are often very helpful, providing buyers and sellers with a better idea of a home’s value ahead of the negotiation process. For example, the average home price in JAMESPORT, NY, is $677,573.00, with the most expensive house in JAMESPORT, NY, topping out at $3,884,500.00 and the cheapest home in JAMESPORT, NY, clocking in at $318,100.00. In other words, there’s something for every potential homebuyer or savvy investor in JAMESPORT, NY!

Rent Prices In JAMESPORT, NY

With the expiration of certain local, state and federal housing-related restrictions and mandated programs, the rental market in JAMESPORT, NY, is on a rollercoaster ride. The average rent price in JAMESPORT, NY, is $2,694.00. Indeed, when looking to rent in JAMESPORT, NY, you can expect to pay as little as $1,590.00 or as much as $4,370.00, with the average rent median estimated to be $2,650.00. The good news is that finding an affordable and desirable property to rent in JAMESPORT, NY -- whether it’s apartments, townhomes, condominiums or single-family homes -- is made easier with knowledge of the local market and, of course, a little patience.

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Rent To Own Homes in Melrose, NM

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3 East-avenue-a-Melrose-NM-88124

East Avenue A
Melrose, NM 88124

2 Bed | 1 Bath | 750 Sq. Ft.

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Home Value Estimator For Melrose, NM

There are currently 57 real estate properties in Melrose, NM, with a median automated valuation model (AVM) price of $170,400.00. What is an AVM? It is a smart computer program that analyzes and predicts the approximate value of a home, property or land in Melrose, NM, based on current market trends, comparable real estate sales nearby, historical data and, of course, property features, among other variables. These automated home estimates are often very helpful, providing buyers and sellers with a better idea of a home’s value ahead of the negotiation process. For example, the average home price in Melrose, NM, is $182,228.00, with the most expensive house in Melrose, NM, topping out at $562,300.00 and the cheapest home in Melrose, NM, clocking in at $77,500.00. In other words, there’s something for every potential homebuyer or savvy investor in Melrose, NM!

Rent Prices In Melrose, NM

With the expiration of certain local, state and federal housing-related restrictions and mandated programs, the rental market in Melrose, NM, is on a rollercoaster ride. The average rent price in Melrose, NM, is $920.00. Indeed, when looking to rent in Melrose, NM, you can expect to pay as little as $620.00 or as much as $2,050.00, with the average rent median estimated to be $860.00. The good news is that finding an affordable and desirable property to rent in Melrose, NM -- whether it’s apartments, townhomes, condominiums or single-family homes -- is made easier with knowledge of the local market and, of course, a little patience.

Foreclosure Homes in Melrose, NM

Find the best foreclosure homes listings for sale — bank-owned, government (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, etc.) and others — in and near the Melrose, NM area at Get information on foreclosure homes for rent, how to buy foreclosures in Melrose, NM and much more. Save thousands at closing with home foreclosure listings in Melrose, NM — up to 75% off market value!

Top Reasons To Live In Melrose, NM In 2021

Melrose is located in Curry, New Mexico, with an estimated municipal population of 629 residents. All of the best foreclosed homes for sale in Melrose are located in the following zip code areas on 88124. The estimated population per square kilometer (.62 miles) in Melrose is 143.

Cost Of Living In Melrose, NM

So, about how much do homes cost in Melrose? The most recent median value of resident-owned homes in Melrose is 76,076. An estimated 87.7 percent of households in Melrose own their homes, with an average family size of 2.51. The median household income in Melrose is 51,103, with9.7 percentage of households earning at least $100,000 annually. For working parents and professionals who are searching for cheap homes in Melrose, the median commute time of resident workers (in minutes) is 26.3. And last, but certainly not least, are you looking for homes to rent in Melrose? If so, the average rent price paid by renters in Melrose is 642, according to recent statistics.

Diversity And Demographics In Melrose, New Mexico

Where a home is located is almost just as important as the home itself. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or are relocating to Melrose, it is essential to take a deep dive into your potential future neighborhood. Homeownership is often a long-term relationship; therefore, be sure to do your due diligence to ensure that you make the best long-term decision.

The median age of residents in Melrose is 52.9, split between 47 percent male versus 53 female. The percentage of residents who report being married in Melrose is 55.5, with an average family size of 2.51.

The percentage of residents who report their race in Melrose is as follows:

White 89.2%
Black / African American 0%
Asian 0%
American Indian / Alaskan Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacifc Islander 0%
Multi-racial 1.5%
Other 8.8%

Looking for family-friendly neighborhoods in and/or near Melrose? Or maybe you are searching for 55+ active adult communities in and/or near Melrose?

The percentage of residents who report their age in Melrose is as follows:

Under 10 9.7%
Aged 10-19 9%
20s 10.3%
30s 4.7%
40s 12.3%
50s 20%
60s 16.4%
70s 8.2%
80+ 9.5%

Best Schools In Melrose, New Mexico

It was a rollercoaster ride for academics in 2020, with school districts throughout the nation transferring their classes online because of the global pandemic. Numerous school districts will continue online courses, while others will welcome students back to campus. Regardless, homebuyers are shopping for homes in Melrose with dedicated in-home learning spaces, as well as for homes located within the best school systems for in-person instruction in Melrose.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Melrose, New Mexico

How do you know that living in -- or moving to -- Melrose is right where you need to be? Perhaps you grew up in Melrose or already live nearby; therefore, the decision to buy a home in Melrose is a no-brainer. For others, however, it may not be such a straightforward or simple decision. Whether you are relocating to Melrose for work or just looking for a fresh start, getting a read on a neighborhood from afar (online) can be tricky... and exhausting.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when shopping for foreclosed homes for sale in Melrose:

  • What type of neighborhood environment (suburban, urban, rural, etc.) do you prefer?
  • What types of shopping (mom and pop, mall, big box), restaurants (fast food, chain, local) and businesses (small, big, mixed) would you like nearby?
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In short, it always helps to create a “Pros vs. Cons” list of what you need in a home and/or neighborhood like Melrose.

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text:
David M Littlefield

David M. Littlefield

is a multi-disciplinary Web and Graphic Designer, and Photographer with over 10 years experience creating user-friendly websites, UI/UX design, web and print based design solutions. David has worked with artists, soloprenuers, businesses of all sizes, educational institutions, and non-profits as a freelancer and in-house designer.

David recently spent four years living in Beijing, China; exploring much of China, and other Asian countries, as well as several countries in Europe. He has circumnavigated the world at least twice since 2016.

When not building websites David works on his photography and travel blog dmlphotoworx.com and a graphic novel.


text:
Quality Management System

An effective quality management system, from raw materials to handling complaints. Absolutely leads to lower production costs and ensures repeat sales.

Easy implementation

Our QMS is easily adaptable to any enterprise

20 years of experience

Our QMS has already been implemented at enterprises and has brought tangible results

About the service

At any enterprise, the moment when the management is forced to reconsider their attitude to the quality of products and the organization of quality control work. Here are some reasons for this:

  • increase in production volumes;
  • requirements and wishes from customers;
  • QMS certification of the enterprise;
  • increased relevance for greater competitiveness.

In this regard, the enterprise has to solve similar problems of staffing the required number of specialists, their training, the development of quality management documentation, the provision of the necessary equipment and the organization of work with complaints.

When it is necessary?

For those who are preparing the release of products for the world market

Market value

To achieve an increase in the value of an organization in the stock market

For those who are planning to attract foreign investment

For those involved in government and corporate procurement

For those who do business with ISO customers

To undergo an assessment of compliance with high European quality and safety standards

To expand competitive advantages, improve the image

ISO standards

For membership in organizations where ISO is required (e.g. SRO)

QMS makes products competitive

and improves company processes

Your customers

They will see your company as a reliable business partner, keeping up with the times and following European quality and safety standards. They will be confident in the consistency of the quality of work and products

Your company

Demonstrates business viability and sustainable development. Receives an effective management and executive staff. Increases profitability by reducing costs.

Technologies with minimal impact on the environment are used. The use of natural resources used in production is minimized

Do you need a diagnostic audit of the enterprise?

We will conduct an on-site audit and offer recommendations for elimination before starting the design of the QMS

The main stages of works

The organization that develops the QMS determines the policy, goals, and commitments in the field of quality. A working group is being formed, which includes specialists from leading production departments. To get started, you must have a special plan for the implementation of the QMS at the enterprise. This plan contains a list of planned works, a description of the results and the timing of their achievement. A typical plan is usually drawn up for 12 months.

A comprehensive analysis of the quality management of products or services at the manufacturing enterprise is carried out. An audit of the management system is carried out, a search for strengths and weaknesses in the field of quality is carried out, a QMS model is being developed. The audit should show how the enterprise documentation meets the minimum requirements and can be used in the QMS. Next, a conceptual model of the enterprise QMS is developed, in which business processes are determined and their organizational and technological block diagrams are created.

Documentation Development

The main QMS documentation is a quality manual, which contains the policy and objectives of the enterprise in the field of quality, the composition of the system and a description of the implementation of all requirements. In addition, documented procedures are needed to coordinate the various activities that ensure the effective functioning of the QMS, as well as quality records.

QMS implementation

At this stage, the personnel of the enterprise are familiarized with the QMS documentation and trained to work in the conditions of the functioning of the quality management system. Since the implementation of the QMS, all departments work according to documented procedures and keep records of the quality of products

QMS certification

The final stage, at which the organization chooses an accredited certification service and concludes an agreement with it. The enterprise submits the necessary package of documents to the certification body

The bottom line

You will receive a working quality management system applied to your business, trained personnel and developed documents for use in future work. The enterprise will be prepared for certification, and production processes and management work in a transparent and harmonious manner.

Is this right for you?

Regardless of the field of its activity, the number of employees and the branch of the economy, any company can implement a QMS. This step will allow your company to confirm the high level of product quality and earn the trust of consumers and partners!

Request a consultation

Tell us about your company

Get a checklist to start the improvement process!


text:
Child pages
  • Sample Usages and Specifics

Versions Compared

  • This line was added.
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  • Formatting was changed.

In multistore mode, some of the PrestaShop administration pages feature a prominent drop-down menu, titled "Multistore configuration for". This menu gives you the context of what you are doing: it enables you to set the shop or shop group to which the changes you are making are to be applied.

For instance, when creating a new product, the selection in this menu will determine whether the product will be available for all shopshops, only one shop group, or a single shop.

When editing a product, PrestaShop displays notifications to help you understand the scope of your changes. For instance, when editing a product while in the "Shop A" context, the notification will say "Warning, if you change the value of fields with an orange bullet, the value will be changed for all other shops for this product", with said orange bullet appearing on all the implicated fields, such as "Type of product", "Reference", the package's size, etc.

Likewise, if you change a product while in the "All shops" context or in the context of a shop group, some fields will be disabled: since they have a global impact, you cannot edit them. If you really need to edit this content, each field has a box that you can check to edit that field in all the shops under this context.


text:
Vineyard Haven Moorings & Launch Services

Not Offered

Day Trip
Not Offered
30A Beach Road
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Check-in after 01:00 PM
Check-out before 11:00 AM
VHF 72
Book faster with the free Dockwa app
Marinas dark
35 Reviews

by alexhutch on Aug 26, 2021
The marina is convenient and nice but was overpriced.

by wendyc on Aug 22, 2021
We really enjoy the prompt response for mooring reservations! The view outside breakwater is great. The launch drivers are friendly and skilled pilots and also add a touch of charm to the island visit. Also concerned with safety and patiently allowed us to discuss our options prior to the storm. As luck would have it we has 2 day window of beautiful weather and favorable tide to get back to RI. will always return to the friendly and skilled people at Vinyard Haven Launch.

by rhjerauld on Aug 18, 2021
Moorings outside have gone to an "absurd price". $70/Night for a 'rock & roll' mooring. Are you real ??? Plan on anchoring at best and save $70/Night. There are a LOT of open areas for anchoring if you can take the VH environment.

by sailingvesselkalon on Aug 17, 2021
Very nice place. Communication could be better with the moorings. When we arrived we couldn’t get anyone to answer our hail and when the office finally answered the phone they said it was because they were busy with the Alabama (charters?) but the mooring field was so full and the Haven mooring balls were not marked as such (they are marked G&B Rentals??). Anyway it was a bit hairy moving for a while through the mooring field to find our mooring. As it stood there were poachers on all but one and so our friends had to wait u til a patrol boat came to move people who were not supposed to be on balls that we had reserved -they dont “assign” you a ball it’s just “pick up a mooring ball” and finally the. I’ve woman on the phone said “oh they are the ones closest to the break water rocks” so we could have used that info right away. But for the most part it was very nice. Nice city. The fact that it’s a dry Island made it a bit different for us as tourists. As my friend said “you shouldn’t have to work this hard to sit on the water and have a beer” But we lucked out to be there for a “first Friday” a city party I would recommend. Bonfire in the beach , live music, kids running all around. Very fun and nostalgic.

by ajbenet on Aug 15, 2021
Launch driver needs lessons

by stimabida on Aug 15, 2021
Nice Mooring - Great Spot! Convenient for exploring the island and nice for relaxing ⛵

by sailingbcl on Aug 13, 2021
Great time in harbor

by holiday on Aug 12, 2021
VH village is a bit of a madhouse in August, but otherwise perfect!

by bssb88 on Aug 11, 2021
Launch service captain missing when trying to return to boat. Had to wait 1-1/2 hrs on the dock. Lost the evening. Their launch service is the only one in the harbor.

by edflores624 on Aug 09, 2021
Quiet morning with mostly calm water. Enjoyed the stay here even though you have to pay each time you have to go ashore $4 per person.

by gwittich on Aug 08, 2021
Good launch service otherwise information was suboptimal compared with other marinas. Not sure where their facilities are.

by dpritzker on Aug 03, 2021
Very confusing to figure out which mooring to get and no one to talk to. We were also told there would be launch service for an additional fee. There was no launch service.

by caweather on Aug 02, 2021
Staff was great, very, good directions. Launch service worked well

by ebudelmann on Jul 30, 2021
Launch service isn’t what it used to be. Large parties going to and from the Alabama caused long delays. Perhaps they should post times of the “rush hours” so other patrons could plan around it.

by motomindy on Jul 27, 2021
The mooring field is exposed to a north or north west wind. Luckily it was a south west wind while we were there. Even at that it can be choppy as there is a breakwater and the water is funneled in from the harbor and bounces off the breakwater. Other than that it was fine!

by rworley101 on Jul 26, 2021
Great location for hearing VH music festival!

by mmielbye on Jul 25, 2021
Did not have a mooring despite me booking here and reserving one. Had to wait a bit for them to find one on the other side of the harbor. In addition, waited an hour for the launch service and finally gave up and had to borrow a ride from someone on the beach who had a dinghy. There was a woman on the dock who said the launch service was not available and was reserved for another company. No one ever informed us this would be the case.

by joeschorle on Jul 25, 2021
Nice harbor and town. Had fun.

by pguy on Jul 24, 2021
Excellent mooring gear in great condition. Launch service was also first rate.

by dzbarlow on Sep 05, 2020
Great location very easy to find. Very peaceful at night

by starboardcfo on Sep 01, 2020
Fantastic response on VHF when arrived and very easy access to everything just off breakwater. We will be back! Thank you.

by plvrw33jc3fqwxcry9gb on Aug 23, 2020
The weekend was Great!

by jdrinane on Aug 10, 2020
Very nice- launch operators friendly and helpful

by chumpchange2 on Aug 03, 2020
Beautiful marina with excellent staff!! We’ll be back.

by foreveryoung37 on Aug 02, 2020
Our mooring was great and the Harbormaster’s were very helpful helping us get a second mooring for our friends. Great location. Pump out was great and they were even able to help me get a document printed. Great being so close to town and Stop and Shop. Thank you. We will be back.

by curtinboys3 on Jul 24, 2020
Great spot and the launch folks weee courtesy and helpful! We brought over our bikes and there was no issue loading it into the launch! Thanks Vineyard Haven Launch!!

by ksfdgn8hf5fqijynjq_k on Jul 20, 2020
Moorings were easy to find and well placed. Not all have pendants. Launch was timely and very polite. Price is very reasonable.

by happyfish on Jul 10, 2020
The mooring had lines that were easy to bring aboard and tie off. The only issue is their launch service. They are using an old work boat which is very low. It was very difficult to get off my boat and even more difficult to get back onto my boat. I had to stand on a large ice chest so that the step was high enough to get back onto my boat as well as my husband pulling me. It was windy and the boat was rocking. Anyone with health concerns such as bad knees, backs, elderly should not consider using their launch. It should not be called a launch boat.

by steve02540 on Aug 12, 2019
Our two days at VH were excellent. The launch service was very professional, personal and timely. I'd definitely come back.

by duggerrw on Aug 09, 2019
Moorings well managed. Pendants in great condition. Launch reliable and timely.

by lamanb on Aug 06, 2019
Gave us a mooring just outside the outer harbor, the Launch Drivers were great!

by djrobertson on Aug 02, 2019
The Vineyard Haven Launch Service (VHLS) portion of this trip was outstanding. They easily directed us to our assigned mooring and provided prompt launch service when we decided to go ashore. The discounted launch service charge because we were using one of their moorings was a pleasant surprise. The mooring outside the breakwater was fairly calm once the ferries stopped running and was never very bad, but then we had southwest winds for our entire stay. Winds from the east would be a problem. Vineyard Haven as a town leaves much to be desired. The area within walking distance of the launch dock was pretty dull. It was a hot, humid day and there was no shade to speak of. The shops on Main Street sold mostly clothing. There were two ice cream parlors that both had interesting flavors. Our frustration with Vineyard Haven resulted from an inability to find a restaurant that was air conditioned and offered reasonable prices. There were a lot of take out places or restaurants that offered outdoor seating. We needed to cool off - but couldn’t. The Stop & Shop is handy if you need groceries. One major attraction is the new Martha’s Vineyard Museum on Lagoon Pond Rd. It’s new, cool and offers a good history of the Island. As a bonus, on Tuesdays after 5pm admission is free. Definitely worth a stop.

by captaground on Jul 29, 2019
Good mooring, good communication, fair price.

by peterk on Jul 27, 2019
Moorings are outside breakwater so lots of wakes and swell. Easy to get to and plenty of swing space. Launch service is not included but you do get a break on the price. The launch operators were very courteous and helpful. Nice free Town showers and water at Owen Park. Showers open until around dusk (no posted hours). There is also a town dinghy dock at the beach at Owen park. Stop and Shop an easy walk from launch dock. Don’t leave without eating breakfast at ArtCliff diner! There’s a line at 7 am when they open but it’s totally worth it.

by selene on Jul 01, 2019
We love being here. Beautiful all around. Shep and the launch drivers are exceptional in every way: thoughtful, courteous, reliable and fun to talk with. Lots of beautiful wooden sailing vessels to watch. And ashore good restaurants, shops, grocery steps away as well as bus service to rest of island.

About Vineyard Haven Moorings & Launch Services

MOORING RENTALS: We have 10 transient moorings in the outer harbor (outside of the breakwater). Availability from July thru Labor Day. Our outer harbor moorings are the cone shaped mooring balls marked “G&B” and “Rental”. Accepting Reservations via Dockwa or in person on a first-come-first-serve basis. No inner harbor moorings. No dockage/slips. No rafting of vessels.

Please hail the Vineyard Haven Launch Service driver upon your approach on VHF Channel 72.

Transient Mooring Rental Rates: 24 Hours: $70 / 4 Hours: $25

LAUNCH SERVICE: July 1 - September 2: Launch service to and from the outer harbor is available on our VHLS launch vessel, "Patrol ii" from 8:00am to 11:00pm, seven days a week, payable by cash or check to the launch driver.

  • Electrical

    • Launch Service
    • Medical Facilities w/in 5 Miles

    Vineyard Haven Moorings & Launch ServicesVineyard Haven Moorings & Launch ServicesVineyard Haven Moorings & Launch ServicesVineyard Haven Moorings & Launch ServicesVineyard Haven Moorings & Launch ServicesVineyard Haven Moorings & Launch Services


text:
LayoutView.Assign(BaseView, Boolean) Method

Copies property values and, optionally, event handlers from the View specified as a parameter.

Namespace: DevExpress.XtraGrid.Views.Layout

Assembly: DevExpress.XtraGrid.v21.2.dll

public override void Assign(
    BaseView v,
    bool copyEvents

Name Type Description
v BaseView

A BaseView descendant representing the View whose settings should be copied to the current View.

copyEvents Boolean

true to copy event handlers; otherwise, false.

If you copy settings to a grid control’s View before this grid’s data source is initialized, certain column settings (e.g., GridColumn.UnboundExpression of unbound columns) do not automatically take effect. You can use one of following solutions to resolve the issue:

  • Set the target grid’s data source after the Assign method is called.
  • Call the target View’s View.DataController.RePopulateColumns method after the Assign method is called.

More details can be found in this support ticket.

See Also


text:
Hex Editor - Binary File Editing Software for Windows
Download Hex Editor Neo Hide this button

Shift Operations

Shift operations include Logical Left, Logical Right, Arithmetic Left, Arithmetic Right, Rotate Left and Rotate Right. All operations require an integer operand that specify the number of bits to shift or rotate. Arithmetic shift differs from logical shift in that it saves the sign of the operand. Only right logical and arithmetic shift perform differently and only if the value is negative.

Shift Operation Window

When you execute a shift operation, the following dialog appears:

Shift Operation Window

The operation you executed is automatically selected, but you can change it if you like.

Enter the number of bits to shift or rotate.

Non-byte size operands are always aligned.


text:
Skip to content

Overview of ANSYS Products

SVS FEM as ANSYS Channel partner for the Czech Republic provided all ANSYS licenses for our clusters and supports all ANSYS Products (Multiphysics, Mechanical, MAPDL, CFX, Fluent, Maxwell, LS-DYNA, etc.) to IT staff and ANSYS users. In case of a problem with ANSYS functionality, contact

We provides commercial as well as academic variants. Academic variants are distinguished by the "Academic..." word in the license name or by the two letter preposition "aa_" in the license feature name. Change of license is realized on command line or directly in the user's PBS file (see individual products).

To load the latest version of any ANSYS product (Mechanical, Fluent, CFX, MAPDL, etc.) load the module:

$ ml ANSYS

ANSYS supports interactive mode, but due to assumed solution of extremely difficult tasks it is not recommended.

If the user needs to work in the interactive mode, we recommend to configure the RSM service on the client machine which allows to forward the solution to the cluster directly from the client's Workbench project (see ANSYS RSM service).


text:
10. Module: Online Resources

When considering data sources for a map, there is no need to be restricted to data which you have saved on the computer you’re working on. There are online data sources which you can load data from as long as you are connected to the Internet.

In this module, we’ll cover two kinds of web-based GIS services: Web Mapping Services (WMS) and Web Feature Services (WFS).


text:
Sign In

Verified Listing

Message Vendor

    Preferred contact method

    International Patient Centre (IPC) of KPJ Group of Hospitals is a one-stop service that opens doors to specialists’ expertise, personalized patient care and advanced technology at our hospitals. Dedicated at experienced patient care teams provide genuine care and comfort and attend to the needs of patients before, during, and, if necessary, after their visit.

    With the latest addition, the Group now has more than 1,022 medical consultants offering a full range of medical and surgical services from all disciplines. It has also benefited tremendously from the presence of 13,422 team members made up of management, nursing, allied and support services.

    Only guests who have booked can leave a review.

    error: Content is protected !!


text:
To Every Season

Kage Baker hated change.

That’s not so peculiar, really. Most people dislike change, when you get right down to it. When there’s some vast problem, some injustice or societal harm going on, then people want a change – but in everyday life: not so much. It’s normal to resist change until you can be sure of it. It’s a survival technique, not a bug but a feature.

Of course, you need to make your mind up eventually, whether to embrace or resist change. That’s where most people get fouled up. They have difficulty making those hard, hard decisions. Is warmth and cooked food worth the danger of setting yourself on fire or angering the sun?  Is it appropriate to eat the neighbors or might they be people, too? Should we really give up paper bags for plastic? Especially if, 50 years later, we have to decide to give up plastic bags for paper?

This stuff can be tough for people. To Kage’s credit, she was not afraid when it came to making decisions. She disliked change, especially small personal-level change; but when a choice was demanded, she buckled down and made it. Lots of folks can’t get over that impediment, but Kage had an iron will.

It’s how she learned to survive editors. I never, ever believed she would be able to manage the third-party editing process – though I knew she could write, I always feared she’d founder when it came to time to make changes to her stories. But she faced it clear-eyed and brave. She was brave enough to make the changes that were needed, and also brave enough to say NO when it mattered. She was blessed by extraordinary people in her first few editors, but still – that stumbling block for many new authors was simple for Kage.

She gibbered and wrung her hands for months, though, when I wanted to change our music system to CDs, She never did give up her beloved vinyl and turntable.  And, of course, it has eventually turned out she was right about those …

But Change Happens.

Today, I terminated my business relationship with Kage’s old agent. The necessity has been growing for 3 years, now; I’ve avoided the decision because – well, she was good to Kage and I wanted to honour the association. These aspects no longer pertain.

And then, there was the element of arrant cowardice. When Kage died, she told me to keep writing – and to rely on her agent. If I parted from Linn Prentis, would any other agent want to consider my stuff as well as Kage’s Estate? I confess to considerable doubt and sniveling about this point.

So I hung on. But this … has not worked well. Linn kept both me and Subterranean on track to get Nell Gwynne II published: it was an heroic task, and I will always be grateful for that. However, the 2 short stories I’ve produced (under my own name) have been published through my  own efforts, and the good will of Tachyon Publications and Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine.

Projects since Nell Gwynne II  have tended to founder, unless I took them over myself. Since most of these were sales of Kage’s own work to new markets, they should have been relatively easy sales; but they’ve been delayed, mismanaged and misrepresented to the point where I am getting letters from polite but desperate foreign publishers begging for contracts … their inquiries, and mine, have vanished into the Void. Repeatedly. I get emails dated 2 and 3 years in the past, demanding action on projects settled months ago. Checks have been delayed, or arrived without payment details. The 2014 1099 never arrived at all.

So it’s come to the point where I gotta cut some ties and cast off in a new direction. Or maybe it’s in the same old direction, but with my own sail and rudder now. Can I find a new agent? I don’t know. But I know I will be able to do more work, more calmly and successfully, when I’m not worrying about whether or not – and how – Linn is answering the mail.

I may have shot myself in the foot, but I’ll be able to do a better job on Kage’s legacy. It’s just … making changes makes my stomach hurt.

SO, I will self-prescribe 50 grams of theobromos. Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Belgian Milk Chocolate – 5 squares should do it.  It’s supposed to stave off strokes …

About Kate

I am Kage Baker's sister. Kage was/is a well-known science fiction writer, who died on January 31, 2010. She told me to keep her work going - I'm doing that. This blog will document the process.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

9 Responses to To Every Season

  1. Medrith says:

    You can do it! (I wish I had some of that chocolate.)

    • Kate says:

      Everyone should have good chocolate at demand. It would make the world a happier place. Are there Trader Joe’s Markets where you are? Their Pound-Plus bars are astoundingly good and economical.

      • Medrith says:

        When we lived in Indianapolis we could walk to Trader Joe’s. Before we moved back to NC, 2 were built in this area. The closest one to us shares a parking lot with Jerry’s Artarama, my favorite art store. It’s just down the road from my younger daughter’s office. Unfortunately it’s a 45-minute drive so it isn’t an impulse thing, but we go when we’re over that way. Trader Joe’s has a lot of good things at good prices. I’m just out of their chocolate right now.

  2. Marc Bailey says:

    Good stuff, that. I also have a fondness for TJ’s 85% Dark Chocolate Lovers Bars. but I’m not…addicted. Really. Honestly.

  3. mizkizzle says:

    Taza Mexican chocolate is da bomb, IMO.
    And agents are harder to find and capture than unicorns.

    • Kate says:

      Kage loved drinking chocolate – especially the whole mixing and frothing ritual, with the interestingly carved wooden stirry-things. I don’t recall that we ever tried Taza, but there are some wonderful English drinking chocolates, too: designed to be drunk cold as well as hot, and just wonderful. For a while, Starbucks made a special, deadly-good sipping cocoa: Kage adored that stuff.

  4. maggiros says:

    I’ve never managed to bag an agent at all. I’m hoping the next time I try it will work out better. You at least have the body of Kage’s work to dangle in front of someone, and and you’ve started to build a track record of your own – getting things finished on time, and in good order, and all that. And that should make a difference. Good luck!

    • Kate says:

      Well, Maggie, you dodged a bullet when Linn passed on the opportunity to represent you. And while it would be kind of comforting to have a fellow sufferer to bitch to in this leaky boat in which I now find myself, I would prefer my friends NOT be sharing my travails. You’ve been doing excellent well without an agent, and have missed a lot of grief.

      As it happens, there is another agent that may be interested – not just in The Estate, but in my efforts, too. And if not – well, I have managed so far alone, and I see no reason to stop. This is just one of those horrid things you really, really wish you didn’t have to sort out!

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