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Learned in February

Did I learn anything in February of this year?

Maybe.

  • Spectrum is giving Huge & Rude a run for their money. We want to switch: landlines, television, internet. As with everything, it is easy-peasy when you talk to a salesman but muy complicated in reality. So far, we are still with Huge & Rude, and our phones have been out multiple times in 2019. Plus, the internet is too slow to send my wildflower book to the printer.
  • Books are never quick. Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names is supposed to be in hand for an April 27 signing. No matter how many times I proof or pass it to someone else to proof, another error gets found. And it got bid as a black and white book instead of a full color one – ouch.
  • Parkas aren’t waterproof – nylon, goretex, nope. 4 different ones within the past 32 years. Polyester might be waterproof. Probably not. My walking buddy and I have had lots of opportunities to test various parkas during February.
  • Seaglass is getting harder to find and the pieces are smaller. This decline in availability will continue. I learned this from reading The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass by Mary Beth Beuke.
  • In order to better publicize a book, authors should have a website (oh-oh, my books are hitch-hiking along with my art sites) with a media kit. It took almost an entire day to write all the little parts and pieces required for this, but now I have one on my other website, The Cabins of Wilsonia. This is all required in order to be considered to make a presentation to the Fresno County Friends of the Library about my book The Cabins of Wilsonia. Yeppers, I have a Media Kit page on that site, which will serve as a model for Mineral King Wildflowers.
  • I am a Questioner. This is how I learn. Here is a question: Who wants to go from Bakersfield to Merced, or the reverse direction? That’s what California’s infamous bullet train is now reduced to. I will probably ride it, if they allow 100 year olds on.
  • Did you know that corn will kill us? I got snagged into one of those click-bait websites with the line of “which vegetable do you need to stop eating immediately?” Then the dude talked forever about his various credentials before finally saying it was corn. Sure, Mr., thanks. I saved you the temptation of following that link and waiting to hear which vegetable will kill you. You’re welcome.


Now I need soothing, and perhaps you do too. In fact, let’s change gears entirely and I’ll show you a lovely late afternoon of feeding cattle from the back of a little ATV with the Captain.

They heard the machine and all headed right toward us.
Can’t remember (or tell from this photo) if this was The Bull. I was so enchanted by the golden late afternoon light that I forgot to be scared. Besides, don’t bulls have horns?
I know nothing except that cow poo is very slippery.
I’ve been warned many times to not trust Brahma Mama, and now that she has a calf, to be especially careful. Not sure what that means when standing around tossing flakes of hay toward her.
Look at these little beeves! (Is that the plural of beef?)
This blondie might not have any teeth, which is why she prefers eating the little bits that have fallen into the back of the machine. Her ears look soft, but she doesn’t want them touched.
My view from the so-called “safe” place inside the machine. I love this light.

And thus we conclude another February, a month that I find way too short here in Central California.

5 Comments

  1. FWIW I’ll ride the bullet train with you — when it’s done in another 25 years. 😉

    • Melinda, we will need to decide which direction to begin, because there is no reason to go to either place. But it will be fast fast fast and if you are there, it will be fun too.

  2. FWIW, I am very happy with Spectrum’s service. Of course, it helps that there is an office a few miles away where I can show up and take care of things in person. I have Spectrum for cable TV and Internet.

    Clickbait is the bane of our existence. Dante would have a field day. Those, and hackers. And spammers. A special place in lower hell is reserved for them all!!

    High–in reality–Slow Speed Rail is our former governor’s Browndoggle. The smartest thing to do now is cut our losses and scrap the whole thing. But since when did politicians do anything smart?

    I’m sure–no, I KNOW Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names will be worth the wait, no matter when it is published! Will you offer autographed copies?

    • Sharon, I don’t know the acronym FWIW – if you tell me, I can include it in things I learned in March. Good to know that you are happy with Spectrum. I ignore clickbait most of the time, but was waiting for a Victor Davis Hanson interview to come on and decided to try. Politicians, sigh. And yes, I will probably autograph every single copy of MK Wildflowers!

      • Ah those lovely acronyms! FWIW = For What It’s Worth.

        Looking forward to my autographed book!

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