Tuesday was a bit more fraught than planned

The failure of the landscapers to move snow, see management's story on this.  

Possibly quite true, but I saw only two guys working. Both white. I think our nice Guatemalan crews, lived and worked here for decades, many with family refugee status from the 80s, I remember, were afraid to come in.  Here's management speaking 

Speaking of ICE, please sign up for Chop Wood Carry Water newsletter. Jess Craven produces it at Substack, https://substack.com.

It's packed with well researched information and suggestions on actions to take. I've forwarded today's email to several people who may want to do some of the actions 

I emailed the CEOs of Enterprise car rentals, Target who are letting ICE stage in their parking lots, and Hilton who are housing them.

And I emailed both my senators to remind them to vote NO on funding DHS, which contains ICE.  About the crypto Bill, my senator on the committee, Cory Booker, is already on side about it, I was in touch last week.
 

Now that Minneapolis has scored a bit of victory is the time to push harder, not let up. This is where we can crush it. 

Do it for Renee. Do it for Alex. Do it for Keith. Who? He was a Black man killed in the street LA a few days before Renee in Minneapolis. Notice most of us only heard of the white people. 

If you've never done this kind of protest before, now's the time. Hilton is international, so you can aim for your own segment and email. The other issues are pretty much a US responsibility.

Then Handsome Son got his bumper torn off last night in the work parking lot, I don't know the deets, but it was an ice rink with mountains of snow. So he spent the day dealing with insurers, body shop, dealer, fitted in a dentist appointment to all this. He's now driving with his license plate on the dash. I was very anxious about whether he could manage, but as often, he showed me he certainly can cope. 

I didn't go to my knitting group, despite having a ride, because the ice and frozen snow between my door and the nearest spot to pick me up made it a hazard I thought I wouldn't risk. See the hazard in question. The road is out there beyond the mounds.

And the severe cold doesn't work for me too well. After complaints and pictures to management they finally cleared the lot this evening.

I did finish the cowl and modeled it for you.

It can be worn with one button fastened, like a collar, or two or all,  whatever the wearer likes. I hope she does like it.

Then this evening Gary called urgently in search of aspirin. Chest pain, digging snow, his doctor said two aspirin right  away. So I found and provided them and will call in a while to check.  After a little chat he felt better. I think it was mainly muscle strain and fear, but I'll check anyway.

I have not responded yet to a lot of your comments, and  I think you see why. 

But there's always room for a light note. Here's one

Happy day everyone, let's all do our bit. This is the bit of history we're called on to live through and do our part.  

Much effort, small results

Today I got my nerve together to keep my auto dealership appointment. I'm trying, still, to get the state inspection decal showing I'm legally driving this car. The agency has put a couple of postponements on the deadline, but nearing the end of the second I thought I'd go in. 

After three months of home, it's become intimidating to drive anywhere, need to get my chops back.

 Is this the lady who thought nothing of driving to Virginia in a glackity State car, eight hour one day round-trip for a business meeting?? Or a trip way up to Ithaca, own car, to meet friends?? Connecticut likewise?? Where are the chops of yesteryear, aye, where are they? Villon would never have written that if he'd known what the likes of me would do with it.

Anyway, booked the service, full explanation of what's up. They acknowledged it all by email.

 Got there, steaming hot day, customers outside only, and they tell me they don't have the state decals. They searched, just in case, but no. Would have been nice to know that ahead, that being the main event.

 So I also cancelled the maintenance order the screen tells me I need, too hot to wait outside indefinitely, their shuttle too chancy, high touch.

 And settled on just getting the key duplicated., a 20 minute job, they said. Three hours later, I got out, got down the road, found the temporary State doc was gone from the dashboard. U turn, back to ask where it went. This is a vital piece of paper, if I'm stopped for lack of a decal.

Manager, supervisor, mechanic all get involved. Two of them search the car, nada. So I looked, found it buried under the back offside seat. 

So I finally left, and at home met my neighbor, great audience for this story.

 There was  a nice customer sitting out near me under the one tree, primo seating, and we had a nice grumble while we waited all morning. The kind where you say, well, can't complain, really, then complain at length.

Finally home, haven't even tested the new key yet. I'll croak if there's a problem.

But, after talking plants with neighbors and handing over two clumps of tomato seedlings and some of those marvelous squash seeds, I felt better.

Then I looked out and saw on the patio a male Downy with a baby! The baby hadn't got the hang of the feeder, slid right down the pole to the ground. Then he jumped onto the Adirondack chair, and Dad flew down with a beakful of suet mix and stuffed it in. Baby then tried to climb tree, got stuck in a little fork, Dad brought more food, while the baby kept going. 

Reminded me of a toddler who wants to get back to playing after a couple of bites.

So nature returned me to a better frame of mind. Also being in the ac helped. I don't do well in heat. 

So that's where we are, hydrating busily, pleased to have got out bravely. Falling down laughing at my current idea of brave.