Crazy Behavior

Logically, I know that "crazy behavior" has been around since the beginning of mankind.  While I was growing up, much of the madness was never heard of because we were then still relying on local newspapers and local news stations to report events.  The national evening news was tightly edited and gone over with a fine-toothed comb before being broadcast.  Telephones were the fastest way of communicating - there was no Twitter, no Instagram, no internet or world wide web, no Facebook. I've looked at several collections of small town local newspapers, and seen a lot of news items that would have made headlines today.  But that was years ago, when we were all still relatively insulated from the world as a whole, and before today's almost instantaneous news and gossip dispersal via new and trending technological  devices.
    I was appalled to hear of the shooting, yesterday, in the Fort Lauderdale Airport.  I was even more surprised to find that the young man accused of this crime had checked his gun and ammunition through baggage, and had loaded his weapon in the men's restroom, before going out to kill and injure multiple people.  But what really stopped me short, and made my jaw drop in wonder, was that the accused was being prosecuted in New Jersey for domestic violence - that he had partially strangled his girlfriend after striking her in the head.  Anyone who has been charged with domestic violence should not be permitted to carry a gun...
   The other day, I received a friend request on Facebook.  I looked at the name, and couldn't recognize the man.  I then looked at his Facebook page - the only information listed was that he was from Pittsburgh, PA and that he now lives in Boston, MA.  There were no photos of the man, himself.  There were multiple images of the Steelers football team, and a couple of photos that were, I guess, his dogs.  I declined to be the man's friend.  For two reasons: no photo and no information regarding himself; and the fact that he is a Steelers fan.  I know I have a bunch of friends out their who are fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  It's because I know you that I ignore your team affiliation.  I simply can't stand the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers - and all of the rapes that he has gotten away with, due to his star football status.  There are several other "sports stars" that I denigrate for the same reason.  -  But the poor man who asked to be my friend has no inkling as to why I turned down his request...  Oh, well.
   I'll soon be heading out to buy cat food, kitty snacks, and kitty litter.  Then off to  pick up Donn's mail, followed by a stop at the library.  I've read all my books, am halfway through the last one, and need new reading material.  I think I'll pick up some ancient British history while I'm at it - my latest delvings into the family tree keep taking me back to the twelfth century, soon after the Norman invasion, and I keep seeing names I know from previous history readings.  I have to say, family trees are always fascinating.

Technology

I've been thinking... which is a strange and disastrous state for me... but I've been thinking about machines, technology, and personal space. I've never been a "people person" - if I'm in a large group, I have a tendency to sit quietly and watch everyone else, or to find one person I know and stay attached to them (using them as a shield). Maybe I lack a gene, or maybe I have sloshed my brain one too many times with concussions, but I do not have the urge to, or feel the need to, be "connected" to the current world at all times. I don't really like the telephone - I use to to speak with friends far away, and to make appointments... but I don't have a cell phone and I don't want one. I dislike it when the phone rings and disturbs what I'm doing.... reading, researching, crafting, playing, whatever. I pay a company for the use/privilege of using the phone, so why do I have to listen to all the recorded messages that are so prevalent? - I don't. As soon as I hear a click and a canned voice comes on, I immediately erase any such message without listening to it. - I dislike being on the bus, or walking down the sidewalk, or being in a theatre and hearing cell phones ring and other people discussing their personal business at the tops of their lungs.

I remember back in the 1960s when some of the new (at that time) technologies were becoming available to the public. A computer? That was enormous, with memory banks taking up the basements of several buildings... A microwave oven? That was miraculous - but you couldn't place a "TV dinner" in one to heat up, because then the food trays were made of aluminum foil....
Every item was touted as a wonderful new invention that would give us "more time for the important things in life..." But it seems that the more Americans have, the more they want. - I grew up in the outer suburbs of a town that has a state university; we were on the very outskirts of the town, the next to last street of platted quarter-acre houses before a large area of wild oak and slash pine, streams, swamps, and wildlife. I grew up in what would probably have been considered a poor household - but my parents always had time for my interests... and I went to softball games and other things that I wasn't particularly interested in as a child, but to which we went as a family. We always seemed to have plenty of time to do what was needed, and what we wanted (and could afford) to do... I was a member of the Brownies and of 4-H (my sister, older by 6 1/2 years, was a Girl Scout), and we attended meetings, camps and jamborees.

Ten years ago, I found myself living in northern Virginia and commuting to work near the Navy Yards in Washington, DC. I got up at 3 a.m., showered, dressed, made my lunch and my husband's, and laid out his medications for him to take during the day. I also removed from the freezer whatever I was going to cook for supper. I caught a bus at 5 a.m., then switched to the Metro (subway) system, and arrived at work just before 7. I worked from 7 to 3:30, and then commuted back home, arriving, if I was lucky, by 5:15 in the afternoon. Then I cooked supper, washed dishes, talked with my husband, played with the cats, and went to bed to begin another cycle. We had a car, a condo, a microwave, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, TV, VCR and DVD players, stereo system, and computer. As my husband was ill, I had to work and be gone those long hours even though I didn't like it. And even then I thought about technology and how it was supposed to give us "more free time." My job in DC was working as a government contractor, and reading , answering, and returning e-mail questions sent to the Environmental Protection Agency. I soon found that the computers created more work than seemed necessary...

In using new technology, America has always promised "more time to do the important things in life" - but what is important in life? I think it is being able to rest and relax; to be able to visit a park or meadow and listen to the wild birds sing; to be able to hike or camp in the woods (or wilderness) without thinking about how one can get back "in touch" with other people; to be able to listen to the music you like, and watch he films that you like, in the privacy of your own home. Maybe I'm an old-fashioned throw back to an earlier time... maybe I should be classified as an "anti-social" type... maybe I should be classified as an "anti-technology" type... I do enjoy using my computer to communicate with people all the the world (but I also dislike Instant Messaging); I enjoy being able to speak with friends spread across the country at the touch of a few buttons, but I dislike recorded telephone messages; I like the fact that technology has, indeed, given me more leisure time.... But at the same time, I dislike what most people have let technology do to them.

Acclimatization

Today is the Colorado Buffaloes Homecoming football game. I came home early from Brighton, have fed my kits, let them out to roam a little bit, and cleaned their potties. Banichi has opted to lay on my forearms while I'm typing this blog, burrowing his head into my chest and purring away. Lovey is sitting in the patio doorway, observing the loud trucks and buses at the Millennium Harvest House.

I might need to rethink my acclimatization ideas... I am, again, wearing a T shirt and shorts, but driving back from Brighton, I passed a field of horses that were all wearing their blankets. Maybe I'm getting too used to the coolness? I went to the top of Flagstaff Mountain yesterday and tried taking "scenic" shots with the new camera... you can judge them next week.

Kohlbi did not get any points toward his Championship at Topeka this week. He was in a class of 57, and made the cut of the top 10; but that was as far as he progressed. I don't know how his relatives fared in the judging. I had to call Michael yesterday afternoon - they have DirecTV satellite and while I could get the TV screen to show the guide and what was supposed to be on the channels I entered, the TV screen stayed a pale grey; I tried all the tricks I knew, and finally decided I need to reboot the satellite system, but thought I'd better check with Michael first. He had me press a few buttons, and then decided it needed a reboot - especially since he was planning on recording "Sanctuary", the new series with Amanda Tapping. I was able to reboot the system, which made Michael happy. Then I watched Sanctuary. It was an enjoyable 2-hour premiere, but it's not something I'd go about screaming how special or tremendous it was.

Probably won't blog until late tomorrow evening.... I'm unsure when I'll get home tomorrow - that is, I'm unsure when Michael and Jane will return tomorrow (from Kansas)to bring me home again. Banichi has gone to cover the food dish and Lovey has decided to come keep me company on the desk. It's supposed to snow above 9,000 feet tonight, and they're expecting 10 or more inches of snow on the western slope around the Vail area. I know that 2 resorts already have their snow machines going and hope to open to the public on October 10. Have a great weekend!

Technology

First, thank you, cousin Sarah, for telling me that I could see NCIS on line! I had completely forgotten that ability, and I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I took another leap forward into technology by purchasing a digital camera yesterday. It has auto-focus and anti-shake modes, and it will even record a video sequence - now, that's frightening! I'm still figuring out it's quirks and have taken all of two photos - one of Connie's pond, and one of Ooch drinking from the pond. And I've downloaded the software so I can share photos on the blog... Maybe I'll make it into the 21st century sometime - but I still do NOT want a cell phone.

It was below freezing in several towns on the western slope this morning - we were down to 45 and our high is expected to be in the low 90s today. I've been in my T-shirt and shorts and don't plan on changing outfits at all today - Ooch has been eating up the attention I've given him, and tomorrow I'll be taking care of Ooch, Suki and Boo. Ooch's mom is due back on Saturday; Kathy and Jim are due back Monday evening; and Monday morning I start taking care of the herd out in Brighton - Nikki, Abby, Shadow, Boris and Natasha. Kohlbi will be at the Samoyed Specialty Show in Kansas in Kansas, hopefully getting his final Championship points.

In mid-October, I'll have all of the Brighton herd, plus Suki and Boo, as both families go to see the space shuttle launch in Florida. Both families have folks who have worked for 30 years at Ball Aerospace, and this launch will be carrying the last of Ball's instrumentation up for the Hubble Telescope.

In the meantime, my kits are having a wonderful time out prowling in the early mornings and late evenings. Ooch, as I said before, is eating up the attention he's getting, and it's absolutely beautiful up here right now. The leaves are changing and the whole landscape is just gorgeous!