Desert life update

I hope everyone had a nice Fourth of July.  We had another hot day here in the desert – 103 – but we grilled hamburgers outside on the patio; however, we ate inside as we contemplated where we could live that it wasn’t too hot in the summer to eat outside.  Sigh…I don’t think such a place exists.  I think a person must endure the elements wherever they live. 

He has fat little cheeks

 

 All the comforts of home

We were visited by our squirrel that lives nearby.  He was making himself at home gathering nuts and seeds, taking in the shade of the patio and drinking water from the numerous water pans I have scattered all around the yard for the critters that happen by.

 I hope you can make out the two birds through this tree.  One is to the left and the other in the middle of this pic.

 

Around seven, I decided to venture to the lot next door to see what was new in the roadrunner nest.  It was still 101, but I have to do what I have to do.  As far as I can tell, no chicks have hatched yet, but I found both parents on the nest.  I hope you’ll be able to make them out in this picture.  As I stated before, I can’t get any closer because this tamarisk tree is very thick and thorny.

 Koki walking on top of the pots in the entryway

 

Koki was up to her tricks again.  She was trying to figure out how to get into the big pots in the entryway.  She hasn’t done anything like this in a while.  Raven was sleeping stretched out on the bed or he would have joined her I’m sure.  When he was little he got trapped in a pot.  I have it covered with a pizza pan now. 

I’m writing this on the Fourth, so if my fireworks shots turn out decent tonight I may post some of those later.

Is everyone crazy these days?

Okay, I’m talking about the massacre at a gay nightclub about a week ago in Orlando, Florida.  We were celebrating birthdays of four people that I know who have theirs on the 12^th and I came home to this forecast.  Why does this stuff keep happening?  It makes me wonder how good the upper echelons in the government are.  I don’t think any of us should ever feel safe from anything. 

Now I realize this is a gay nightclub and this terrorist was against all gays, not to mention everything else he was against.  I’m not in the gay camp but I believe all should do as they wish with their lives if they aren’t interfering with or hurting others.  It’s wrong to kill people just because you don’t agree with them.

 Omar Mateen - Shooter in Orlando, Florida 6-12-2016

If this kid was on the FBI questionable people list and was interrogated by them two years ago, why did they let him off the list and how was this guy able to buy weapons without being questioned?  I have very little faith in our government who is supposed to protect us.  That faith is dwindling more everyday.  I think we have to be responsible for ourselves and not expect to be protected by anyone else.  Of course a lot of this is luck by not being in the wrong place at the wrong time because you never know when a crazy person will take it upon themselves to kill a bunch of us unexpectedly.

It will never be enough to have some officials come to the microphone and express their “heartfelt condolences” to people who have lost family members in something that could have been prevented (perhaps) if they would do their job in the first place.  We’ve all seen this happen if there’s a tragedy.  This will not ever bring your loved ones back!

We are really going to hell in a hand basket quick because there are so many confused and deranged individuals out there.  These people are unstable and no one will heed the warning signs until it’s too late and yet another tragedy brings them before the microphone on the national news.

We need big changes now or we won’t be any better off than the third world countries overseas.  Is this the kind of country you want to leave to your kids and grand kids?  I don’t think so.

Schedules – How Rigid Should They Be?

Royalty Free Clip Art



This is a constant issue at my house, even though my husband is retired. I would like to know if anyone out there still keeps a tight schedule even after retirement. I know if you are working all day, you have to get to work on time, etc., or if you have a particular appointment that day, you have to be on time for it. Otherwise, how important is a schedule?


It seems I can never keep one, or am not that good at it. In my mind, unless there is something going on, what difference does it make to do things at a particular time? I think once retired, you can make your own schedule and things can be more flexible, but I am beginning to think I am in the minority of thinkers.

A couple of years ago I met a police officer who said he hosted a party at retirement to smash his alarm clock to smithereens. I had never heard about anyone going that far, but I loved that story and thought ‘what a great idea’.

I do freelance so I do set the alarm to get up early everyday, but you can bet the alarm clock would get lost if I were totally retired like my husband. After keeping schedules all your life, wouldn’t it be nice to have a more relaxed existence?

Why do you have to be up by such-in-such time daily? Will the schedule police come around to issue a reprimand? This clock watching gets to be all too much for me. An ideal way of life would be to sleep when you’re sleepy and eat when you’re hungry. I can still accomplish as much on any given day regardless of what schedule I keep. Am I alone here?