This, That, and the Other

Fast Times

I was reading an article yesterday and it referenced an actor who was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Caused me to think back. I taught at a different southern CA HS around the same time frame. I used to drive by Clairemont High (school Cameron Crowe based the movie on) many times on the way to the beach. He completely nailed it. Some of the most hilarious things happened during the four years I was there. Then I went to grad school and became a university and SLAC prof. Young adults stressed about grades and careers instead of just being their goofy selves like high schoolers. But it was fun in other ways. Great times!
 

Brother Coyote

Was trotting down the wash with a companion coyote. The dry washes are the main traffic paths for so many desert animals. These two were moving fast but one stopped and looked at me on a bike path bridge. Then turn and kept moving.

Last summer I heard a commotion over the fence and took a look. Two coyotes were on the pedestrian path and the one closest to me was standing over a dead cat. She took one look at me then picked up the cat and tossed it to the other coyote and they trotted away. I didn’t know they could toss prey to each other. Learn something new everyday if you’re lucky.

I did get this photo in a hurry…

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Race Over

“El Tour” is over. Bike path is settled back to normal. It was quite warm on the path yesterday. About 83F. I don’t remember a November this warm in the last thirty years. Not good. But my bike is happy. It likes to roll through the miles.
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EmptyCup said:
I Got Carded

At the library. I forgot my card. I then opened the app on my phone and logged into my account. No QR code or bar code. I asked the desk person what to do. She said I really need to bring the card, but she entered my account number anyway and checked the book for me. Lesson learned.

I recently started using the physical library again (stopped in 2019). It pleases me.

This has been a theme of my retirement. Doing the things that please me. Nobody to answer to. Remembering things I like and also finding new things. I’m finally off the hamster wheel of school, work, marriage, kids, etc.

Also, disposing of the things that no longer serve me. I have any ongoing project of getting rid of stuff that is of no use to me any longer, and my children would not want. It’s very liberating. We come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing. It’s all just stardust anyway.

Be Bold!

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Oh I know: since I retired all I do is read, and get most of my books at the library. Love it.
 
Lately

Haven’t posted anything since 11/24. Wow. Not inspired. Waiting on my renewed passport to come in the mail and then will start making some travel plans. Need the stimulus of a trip or two. I was in constant motion for so many working years. Was in the top mileage group for one airline and not far behind with a second one. Retired one year before the pandemic and that was an awesome year. Need to get back to that level of engagement.

My goofy ginger cat…
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The Spectrum

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I worked three and a half decades in academia and knew many that I suspected were on the autism spectrum and some who actually identified themselves as such. Both professors and students. It can be a safe space for them.

But to the point. I would sometimes be frustrated by the lack of eye contact, over-sharing, endless monologues on special interests, rude manners (no filter), and sometimes, poor hygiene. But on the other hand, some (most) of them are quite brilliant. Society needs them. They have an almost unbelievable capacity to focus on their area of interest. I envy that since ADHD has been my personal struggle. Even at this age, I can still modify my attitude and be more tolerant of the differences.
 
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A Pass(port)ing Grade

I tried the new online passport renewal website. It took 15 days from submission to receive my passport in the mail. Wow! I would recommend it. Grade equals A-plus.
 
Extremes

Went from the warmest December I can recall to a very cool January. Not the coldest, but cool/cold. Around 60 during the day and dipping into freezing some nights. Did some big damage to several of my plants. I covered some of them and they still got partially wrecked. No matter. I’ll just cut them way back the end of next month. They will regenerate. Too bad it doesn’t work the same for people.

There was a big freeze about twenty years ago and the temps went below 20 degrees three nights in a row. It killed one of my bougainvilleas and a 35 foot acacia tree. That was a very hard freeze. Could be worse. And it’s been sunny almost every day. No complaints. I’ll take it over the summer heat. The only suffering going on are the poor plants.
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Grand puppy?

I don’t have any grandchildren, may never have any. But, my daughter recently obtained a new puppy. It’s a little female golden retriever. This is the first dog she will be raising/training on her own. Good for her.

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