How can we leap into the future...

HEN NOTHING IS NEW?

 Another rain delay in my life so it was house chores, yada yada, won't go into it,

I just saw on the news a Elon Musk Space X craft is going to be carrying an all civilian crew on a trip to  outer space, I guess just into orbit. 

These are planets I created...back in 2005 when I first started to tinker with digital art.  Ball of Fire and Aquaris1 

From NBC NEWS:

The mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will feature a four-person crew led by Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a Pennsylvania-based payment processing company. The flight is expected to launch sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, according to SpaceX.

Isaacman said in a statement that the mission, dubbed Inspiration4, is “the realization of a lifelong dream and a step towards a future in which anyone can venture out and explore the stars.”Anyone, that is, with millions of dollars to spend on the ride. SpaceX did not disclose how much Isaacman paid for the flight.

So this fellow is a billionaire...and you know that Space X expoloded a rocket not long ago, and who is to say it won't happen again.   There is so much we need to be doing right here on Earth why in the world should anyone think space exploration is a priority.  I have never been a fan of NASA.  I do find the Planets fascinating we can find out more via Satellites like Hubble we have up there than a manned crew...so not necessary. 

Something New I support:

So here is the deal...so by 2030 BP says it will cut the production of oil and gas by 40% and concentrate on Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Energy Storage ..they will cut one million barrels a day from their production compared to 2019 levels. 

So see it's like this...the ridiculous idea that the Neo Cons have that America is a stand alone nation is just plain stupid...so what do they do stomp their feet keep Blaming the left for trying to keep us caught up with the world, or fall behind, if we are not right there developing  new technology to bring us up to par and keep up with other nations, then where would we be??  We'd go back to horse n buggy days whilst the rest of the world is zooming around in electric and hydrogen run vehicles...and Trump thinks he could strong arm China and bring back the steel industry here he was dead wrong...see all it did was put us behind the rest of the world...that is how a Fascist Government works...and why all attempts at it have failed.  

We must keep up with the Joneses or the Joneses will control all the future technology while we fall desperately behind...this is why Biden's announcement to make all Federal Fleet vehicles NON Fossil Fuel or EV fleet is such a great thing.  This will spur new jobs, new technology and thrust us into the future we won't be the last one jumping on board and that is so important, Trump tried to make us a LAG behind country and Joe is Springing us into the future...

As I see it Trump would have US as a third world nation as he called them "shit hole' nations, as long as his kind were on top of the shit pile...

JUST the fact that the senate is already tying to block the Biden Covid Relief bill by giving billions to Big Pharm for R&D and jilting the American workers who have no job and are threatened by foreclosure...shows me all I need to see...they don't know HOW to work toward the future.,.they don't want to raise the Minimum Wage cause this will mean one less Yacht in the driveway of Corporation Billionaires...
THEY are not the people party, they are in it for their Political Donors, I really don't care what happens to their party I hope the Dems walk all over them.

I hope Joe turns them down FLAT and springs people of this nation out of poverty by paying them what they need to  survive on,...new jobs with good wages sounds like a dream future to me, why can't they be in it for someone else for a change? 

I say get out of the way or get run over.  We are on a train bound for 2022 they want it to be a steam locomotive, we want it to be a Bullet Train that runs on electricity, produced by solar and wind. 

what do you do,

HEN ITS NOT UP TO YOU,,,

I absolutely love watching this one lady's Youtube channel...she is a mature lady, she has an adventurous spirit, and I enjoy her hikes and camping videos so much...I always watch but there is this one little thing that I just wish I could fix about her.  It's completely superficial and none of my business to be honest.  

So I just want to reach into the screen and put her hair in a pony tail or comb it or smooth it back away from her face...ITs constantly in her face. Sometimes she wears a baseball cap and then it's  great the hair is not hanging in her face.  I would never say anything but that brings up this point....why are we so easily bruised that it would be considered an insult for me to say, Please pin your hair up while you're on camera....I mean trust me I know it would be way out of proper manners.  BUT I sure want to, LoL it would not be kind...and I don't think I'd want a complete stranger to say that to me...I don't even know why it bothers me.  But I find myself obsessing over it each time I watch.  I think it's me who has the problem. 

Anyways the news of the day, if there is any, I met the mobile vet, now their new policy is they don't carry full boxes of the heartworm  pills with them, only single pills.,,,SO I had to pay for the pills but they will arrive in the mail....Hopefully!!  Another thing out of my control. 

And I found one headlight retainer ring at Auto Zone, but I need 2 so I will check O'reily's maybe they have one... that's the plastic ring that holds your headlight into the socket of the housing.  Both mine were so brittle they disintegrated when I removed them...the last time I changed the bulb when I thought maybe the bulbs were bad and that was causing my headlights to go off...so I taped them in place.  Hopefully the one I got will fit and if it does then I will order an second one or go look for a second one. TOO Hot to deal with it today it was 82 outside with 61% humidity.  WOW from Winter to Summer in one day. When you've gotten used to 40F  80 is like WAY too hot.   I think tomorrow will be more normal.  I did get a few things done when I returned from the errands.  

I planted some onion sets in my garden pots, and rescued a Goldfinch.  A blind bird sitting on the birdbath...SO hope his eyes are not too far gone that I can save his sight and therefore save his life.  I gave him the first treatment and made him comfortable in the "infirmary"...so I will check on him but not disturb anymore today.  The thing is to keep the contact to as little as possible.  Generally I will only need to administer the salve to the eye once a day at the same time I will clean the cage, and refill the food and water containers...I do all this while holding the  little fellow safely in my hand. 
He is one of the batch that showed up during last weeks cold blast and they are mostly still here, all the Goldfinches and the Pine Siskins too. 

I will have to take down my feeders and bleach clean each one...tomorrow I can try to get that done. I still feel really tired from my camp trip I over did the walking and it has taken me longer to bounce back this time.  Age is starting to reflect in my daily life...I have not been daily walking all winter.  At first I used all my energy to cut firewood, then the rains came and I could not cut wet wood, so I just stopped, no chopping no walking....a hike 2 or 3 times a week while birding is not gonna cut it, So in the morning weather permitting I'm gonna go for a walk.  I like to go early if possible.

The Daffodils opened up last night they look so pretty, they have good stems so I hope no storms come to knock them over...So those are the things on my mind and plate today.  March tomorrow and before you know it I will be saying it's Friday again. 

 

Was this a

ASTED DAY....

The sun never showed, it rained all day and it looks only grey outside.  I worked on organizing my photos all day and it made me feel so blah...

BUT It means I got more done on that project.  I haven't had dinner yet because I got hungry about 1 and ate a sandwich so I need to eat yet, the dogs had theirs..

I just looked at the last  photo of my mom Alive,.,sure broke my heart so I'm not really in a very creative mood...somber is what I am so this is just a place holder sort of post.

Floss  continues to not eat unless I stand around and encourage her I do not understand it.  

So I think Im gonna spend the rest of the day lounging on the couch under a blanket and watch some youtubers see how they spent this day...

I hope the gloom is gone from the sky and my mind tomorrow...no promises. 

Happy February...and now lets see what that Ground Hog has to say...

Spent my day at...

ALLACE LAKE, 

...and it was a nice day sunny but cool.  I enjoyed it, takes me about an hour to get there, an easy drive. to the town of Bennettsville, in Marlboro county.  It's not far from the NC line.   I was happy to see lots of ducks FOY for me,,,Coots, Buffleheads, and Ruddy Duck.  There must have been 1000 Coots...hard to photograph on the huge lake.  I brought a picnic with me, took a nice long walk there and got back home about 5 pm just in time to give the dogs their meal...

I had my own meal and now Im going thru my photos, didnt get many good ones but sure tried.  I hope the camera I returned gets refunded soon, because I am eager to try another one.  I need to track it, should have been delivered today according to the Tracking on Fed Ex.  As I have said before FedEx is my least favorite carrier to ship an item, but Walmart sent the label so I guess they have a contract with FedEx. 

I had a nice long chat this morning with my mailman, I chased him down as he went around the block delivering the mail I just missed him at my box...He is new to my route.  My old mail lady finally retired.  She had been my mail carrier for most of the time I've lived here  more than 40 yrs. 

He has a left had drive Jeep the same year as my sisters, a 2000.  He says he enjoys traveling and  his 6 yr old was asking him if they will ever have a vacation again, it must be hard to be 6 in this world today.

Heck it's hard to be 6 times that...Anyway he told me that 3 people in his family had Covid and all 3 had different symptoms and different durations.  Now the new strains are already in the population so we shall see...Anyways I like the new guy hope he is not a Republican! If he is, no more chats by the roadside.

Tomorrow it may rain so I will probably hang out at home and get some things done it's time to set up my bill pays for the month, and some chores inside need to be done, today I ran the dishwasher but I was too beat to empty it, so I will do that first thing tomorrow I normally run it once a week, and on light wash cycle.  My dishwasher is 32 yrs old...AND still works great when I redid the house it had a tiny leak at the spot where the pump attaches to the inlet hose, so I purchased a new connector and redid that connection and it has not leaked since.  "Knock on Wood." 

Have a good Sunday. Next week Ground HOG DAY. 

Make Hay

HILST the sun shines...

 Is an old saying, so I am not making hay but I want to get in some birding while the sun is out its very hard to ID birds when the sky is dull and no light is on them...So Off I went today back to Lee County and to check the Eagle Nest I've been watching for about 3 years now.  They have at least one chick, last year they had one, and the year before that they had 2 successfully fledge from the nest.  

This is the area I call the Beaver Pond, there was an active beaver there but the US Dept of AG killed him.  I have no power to stop them when I wrote to Trumps Sec of Ag, he said that is the Dept of Wildlife who does that..NO it is not..the notices put up close to the dams  are posted by the USDA.  The pond was high enough due to all the rain we had, but if we hit a dry spell that wetland will drain...the beaver was doing his job creating open space by drowning trees...People are so STUPID...and govt people seem to be the stupidest.

I spent the entire day out until it just got really too cold to enjoy being out...and then home to fed the girls get the heat going and make myself a veggie burger sandwich. 

There is a deer in my pasture who has a malformed or more like an injury that healed all wrong on a hind leg.  The ankle  seems to have been broken, and it healed in a strange way,  it did heal but she has some trouble walking....Poor thing I hope she hangs out in my field cause she is safe there I will get some corn to put in there and put some water and a salt lick she actually goes into the old barn stall it has no roof, I pulled the roof off when it went bad and  did not put  a roof back, undecided as to what I want to do about that I no longer need a big barn I have no horses, a lean to 3 sided shelter is all I need but I have this, the cement walls that are still strong...so I would  have the old one torn down and removed.  A lot of work I thought of asking if anyone wants the blocks they can tear it down and take the blocks...BUT I doubt anyone will want the blocks they're old. 

The South African strain of the Covid has been found in my state, 2 people had it.  They both recovered and they say the vaccine will handle this strain.  The thing seems to be mutating pretty fast.  I am staying away from people as much as possible, when birding I rarely see anyone, let alone speak to someone. 
Soon the trial of Trump will start in the senate Lindsey Graham has assembled a legal team...you can be sure they are the most crooked lawyers money can buy...BOY Trump must have something really big on Graham...some people suggest he is gay and trying to keep in the closet, I would much rather people know Im gay than know Im an jackass and a liar. 

Anyways that's just some of the "gossip" I heard...And now there are all sorts of angry white people riling up the "right wing" who seem hell bent on being mentally disturbed and I hope they find an outlet for their disgusting hatred...One woman Rep Greene from GA, threatens others in the Congress...and they want her out..  I hope they can get her out...she is insane said one of the GA voters when asked. 

Not my words Im just passing it along....

Tomorrow More birding maybe.,,I wanted to check the waste water treatment ponds in Lee county and I ran out of time so that may be next. 
This morning before I got out of bed I turned on the tv to see the weather but Bugs Bunnhy cartoons were on so I watched that instead just like being a kid again...

Thhhhhhhhat's all Folks.

SO Friday is over.

COLD frigid,

IND ALL DAY...

Went birding anyways...I birded in a nearby cemetery.  There is always birds in open grassy areas and lots of trees for cover...So I enjoyed myself.  It was so cold tho...I had to go in and out of the van to warm  up...Ask me why didn't I make a nice thermos of hot cocoa?  

I DON'T KNOW...sure would have been smart...lol. 

I forgot a couple things, I had plans to stop at a post office and mail a letter I had no stamps at home or I would just put it in the box, forgot to go get a stamp...

SO I will mail it tomorrow..

I will never forget one birding trip with the Carolina Bird Club that I once belonged to.  They hold 4 meeting per year as well as many field trips...I normally did go to the meeting each season.  A host hotel, meetings in the evening, with refreshments, speakers, workshops and field trip sign ups...I always signed up for Simon Thompson, and Lex Glover because I knew them...so one field trip Lex Glover was taking us to Huntington Beach.  Nothing is more cold than walking a mile on a beach in February when a stiff wind is blowing.  We got back after seeing very little on the beach...and we were so bundled up...

When we returned to the parking area Lex had arranged a catered lunch for us...and she gave us HOT sandwiches with Hot Cocoa...OMG I've never forgotten how good that was, its so nice sometimes to have someone else take care of you.  BUT tomorrow I will make a thermos of cocoa and I don't know how I could keep a hot sandwich warm but I could try.

Hump day over...

ednesday shopping trip...

Was raining when I awoke, so I really didn't want to do anything  I rolled back over and slept another 20 mins then the rain stopped.  The girls got immediately into their routine of sister play they do that each morning, normally Annie starts it, she walks over to Flossie and starts to play, and they roll around on the floor and they snort and make weird noises, and if I don't get up Annie will come rear up on the bed and basically tell me "its time for breakfast'.  

My dogs are not allowed on the furniture, they have never slept on my bed, or been in my chairs, and they won't get into my seats in the van, they will jump up on the bed in there so I keep it covered with a sheet just for that purpose it gets folded up at night so I don't have a dog slept bed to get into...even Casey who was small was not allowed up on the furniture...I just don't need the extra wear and tear and dirt in my living space.  They are great dogs and they have always been. 

They get their breakfast asa I make my coffee, then out the back door they go.  Flossie stays out most all day but Annie follows me in out and around where ever I am in the yard or in house.  Today tho I got dressed and out the door to grocery shop.  I grabbed my shopping bags, my mask, my pocketbook, keys and gone...

Gased up the van I stopped pumping at $42..that gave me 19 gallons...it holds 25 gallons.  

Then I stopped and got my oil changed, the usual guy he has been in business for a long time just one guy with one lift.  He has 3 goats out back he bought the building next door and rents it out to an antique dealer.  I know his sister who was head librarian at our town library but she retired last year.  When he was a younger guy he used to work with my Mom at BF Goodrich.  He charges me $34 and that included the oil, filter and he fills the fluids under the hood if they need it. He said he will sell soon and retire...Gosh I hope not I will miss him. 

Walmart today, because I also needed an SD card for my camera.  OK I bought another camera did not like it....so I dropped that off at the Walgreens drug store it's s drop off spot for FedEx...I thought I'd be able to return it to the store I bought it via Walmart.com...but not this time I had to rebox it and ship it...they sent me a label to print.  SO when it arrives I get my $500 refund.  I can tell you the 3 factors that made the decision for me..

1. The view finder is too small
2. the zoom motor is too slow
3. the on/off button poor design 

So back it went....I will keep looking.  Im considering a Nikon D3500 

The store was not too crowded today I was able to get what I wanted without too much trouble one lady did blow her horn when she nearly collided with me...OK  It was her voice horn, "BEEP BEEP" we were in the store...lol...

I don't know about some people. 

 

I took my time when I came out of the store, it was raining...Great.  So I got wet.  But by the time I got home it had stopped and now it's cooled down and it's cloudy.  Dinner is over I ate right away because I was hungry.  The dogs are waiting for theirs now.  I have not had to build a fire the past 3 days it's been warm but now I have the gas on it got chilly in here.

So it's just a Wednesday, Im trying to stay clear of most political talk for a couple weeks, I am letting Joe, Kamila, and the New Democratic Senate handle it all for me...lol Im so happy to know they will do what is in my best interest and the best interest of the country and not what makes them richer or shows some favor to some big donors, or to some crap media mogul.  It has freed up a of space in my head. 

Hope the sun comes out tomorrow.