Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 27 October 2019

Lynette:  A visit to the Grand Canyon instead of a party?  Just how big was that party going to be?!   :-)  Hope your eye doc appointment is sooner than later and they come up with a good alternative to a hard table.  

Heather:  Just saw on the news that more than 90% of the grapes in the Kincaid Fire area have already been harvested and are safe!   Phew!  (Some actual wineries have burned though.)

Went a bit mad in the garden again today, but two long--planned 'to-do's' are finally done  Also got an e-mail from Mike, the researcher who founded and ran the Gray Whale Count for the last 15 years saying that he's retiring from the project, which is so not what I or any of the other volunteers want to hear!   It's been challenging though for the last few years in terms of funding plus fewer reliable student interns after a decade of really good people, which meant that Mike ended up having to do all the paperwork in addition to monitoring the actual migration and photographing the whales and calves.  (Interns were on site all day every day; volunteers' shift were just two hours).  Apparently, another local group is taking over the Count and we'll hear more about that later; still, it really won't be the same without our fearless leader. :-(

AQ:  At least we're at the end of the fire season. LA and Ventura counties are bracing for very strong and super dry winds tonight with hurricane-strength gusts of 80 mph expected. It's the most serious warning the national weather service has ever issued for the area.  We meanwhile, are expecting normal temps and breezes.

I see the UK  is having an election in December.  Wonder if it will make a difference.  I can imagine the mere mention of the word Brexit is enough to raise blood pressure at this point.

Lindy: I hope you have a lovely time in Wales as you close up the caravan for the season. I'm sorry about your family difficulties. Safe journey.

Lynette: I hope you can have your op soon.

AQ and Lindy: Sorry the family has been ill. I hope you don't catch it.

OG: I'm glad you're getting your new freezer. Wonderful that your winter birds are gathering. I saw R.T. Hawk last week for the first time in quite a while. I walked up the hill to town, and he soared above me. He looked healthy.

Annette: Some of India is blistering hot. I'll bet your husband suffered in the heat while in the Peace Corps. I'm too old to join now. I just don't have the stamina, physically or emotionally, that I used to have. I'll explore other ways to restore a sense of meaning and purpose to my life. I'd like to write a book--if I ever get out from under my current freelance deadlines. I hope you stay in the Goldilocks Zone and are safe.

No fires here in Indiana. We have hard rain coming in tonight through Thursday, and then Thursday night it's predicted to SNOW!

Take care, all.

ANNETTE – How sad your whale group is changing. I guess it is inevitable when the mainstay retires. Much harder too these days to get people to volunteer.

I “passed” my eye test, sailed through the field test which I hate as it is up to me to see the mini flashes. Unlike a blood test or such. It was very hot out, 34 C, worse tomorrow. Hey, weather gods, it’s not summer yet.

I see some people have an election in December. Cynical me suggests that it won’t solve anything, just another hung parliament. I would like to bang pollies heads together to knock some sense in.

AQ; Congrats on passing your eye test.  Getting volunteers for the Gray Whale Count has never been an issue; there are loads of us, but most if not all don't want 8-hour shifts.

Just popping in, sunny dry day here so working hard outside. Most of grapevine done, mosskiller sprayed.
Thanks to all for posts!

Just reporting in: (my tablet wanted to put "mustered loo etiquette in!!!!!)

Went with my OH to sit in boring waiting room and eventually, had his name called for the small procedure. Tried to wake myself up, as we had to rise just after 6.00am in order to battle with the hordes of commuters on the same route. I read some clothes brochures while I waited, mentally spending hundreds of pounds. He was OK, and says he feels alright, although he had to have stitches put in which will have to be removed later.

AQ - Your daughter must dread it when they all catch things at school. Sorry to hear it's so hot already.

Annette, what a shame about your leader of the Whale Watch. But everyone deserves their rest, and it sounds as if he's done his bit. Hope the new arrangements are suitable for you, when the change comes.

We are all heartily tired of the Brexit word. Sadly, it's not going to go away and will now be joined by the Election word. All of the political reporters on TV look excited, and say we've never lived in such exciting times. All the electorate are sighing, and I suspect many will take no interest in proceedings, having been burnt out by too much discussion already. I predict a low turn out on Polling Day.

Edit:  Oh, and Yes, it will probably not make much difference to the pickle we're in. 

Lindy - I am inclined to agree with you. I'm certainly fed up to the back teeth with anything political. At the moment I wouldn't vote for any of them. I know I should use my vote, but unless someone says or does something quite exceptional, I will be staying at home this time. Interesting you say the TV reporters look excited. Most of my news comes from the radio, so I can't see them, but the consensus of their opinions seems to be that we have never been in a more dangerous or confusing time! Wish I could go on another long holiday and get away from it all ...

Like most people I am heartily sick of the whole embarrassing thing. The shenanigans, the filibustering, the everything.
AQ - I hope that you haven't picked up any bugs from the sick family!
LINDY - good that all went well this morning. Also to hear that your financial issues are getting sorted out. As for the family situation - Well yes, you will get used to the new normal. In my extended family, over the years there have been divorces, folk coming out as gay, early deaths, bankruptcy......and that is just what comes to immediate mind.
ANNETTE/DIANE - I'm going to admit that I will have to Google the Peace Corps.

I was about to go back outside an hour ago, to the grapevine. As I got to the back door I spotted my resident robin pecking at grapes which had fallen as I was pruning. So I left him to it. Tomorrow is another day!