Weather, day lilies, and the police

Where is the sunny warm weather? I’m starving for decent temps and some nice warm rays I can bath my aching joints in! Not to mention, I have chickens I need to get in a chicken coop. Of course, I need to get the coop finished first, which means I need some decent weather! Wait, I’m dizzy. It feels like I’m running around on a hamster wheel.

I got a nice email for my friend (hi Wendy) to say she had left me some day lilies on my back porch. (Thanks!) I’m hoping I can get them into the ground this evening when I get home, and I’m really hoping I don’t to do it in a down pour! They should look lovely very soon when they bloom.

My cat is also panting to go outside. She has managed to get out a couple of times under the covered patio in back, but that is about as far as she is willing to venture in the rain. Of course if the rain is too hard, that just freaks her out and she has to run back in and hides under the bed. That’s my fearless kitty!

I am currently in a tug of war with my local police department over my volunteer status. After being approved for volunteer training, I have been suddenly denied with no explanation. To say the least I’m shocked and have asked for an explanation, and been told pretty much, -- tough noogies we don’t have to tell you anything. Since I have been background checked for employment and volunteer work in the past with police and schools, I’m quite taken aback by this development, and stunned by the hard line I’m coming up against. I was a crime prevention specialist for Portland for over 6 years for pity sake! I had a key that allowed me access to every building they occupied. I trained officers in various subjects involving community policing, and routinely sat in on mission and daily briefings. Now Vancouver has a problem accepting me, after I’d been approved?!!

My fear is that this has all arisen as the result of my recent resignation from the board of my neighborhood association, which I have not wanted to make a big deal over. One of the board members is a member of this program, and I think that person has, in some way thrown a wrench in this business. It is just a bit too coincidental that my sudden denial came just after my resignation. I can not let this matter go since there is a very good chance that I will need a background check from the police department in the future related to volunteer work or even future employment, and I can’t have an incident showing where I was denied. This means I may have to drag some issues out of the neighborhood closet I really didn’t want to have to drag out. I’m really hoping someone comes to their senses before this has to get really ugly, that would not do certain neighborhood board members, or the police department, any good.

More over, I really believe in the value and effectiveness of community policing. I have often wished that Vancouver had a program like this one. I have been very eager to recommend this program to people up to this point, but now I don’t think I can in good conscience do that anymore, and that really sucks! I will now have to warn people off, for fear they could end up in a similar situation. I hate this! I could just spit!!

Woes and wonders

As anyone who follows my blog knows, I have a real love/hate relationship with the weather. It’s a big factor on my overall general mood at any given time. In a lot of respects I’m like a cat. I don’t want to be wet, I don’t get how anyone could enjoy snow or ice except through glass, and the dog days of summer are NOT my cup of tea.

The last few days we have entered the first phase of the coat – no coat season. This is when the temps are cool enough in the morning to need a coat, but by 9:00 you’re looking to shed the coat and some clothes. Of course the problem is in the afternoon when you have to lug all your coat and clothes to the bus stop, and try not to look like a bag lady. I live in fear that someone is going to offer me a handout.

This is also the hack and hack some more season. This season is much longer and will in fact last until next summer. It starts with the nasty nose that all of a sudden needs to be blown every hour on the hour, then progressed to a much more frequent schedule. Your snot are long and stingy and could in fact be used as an industrial adhesive. Then comes that nasty little congestion in the back of your throat that causes you to do that cough and spit thing that is sooo attractive. You’re basically in a state of constant Kleenex readiness. You may leave home without a coat, but you always have Kleenex!

There are some things that balance this pesky season. For instance, we have already had a few mornings when the fog gathers in the low areas and depressions of the landscape to give the world a mystic flavor. This morning we had an incredible sky show of velvety purples and neon oranges, that lightened to a perfect Tequila Sunrise. Soon the leaves will be turning in mass, giving us a colorful landscape with wood smoke scenting the air, its enough to make Hallmark envious.

I guess Mother Nature really does know her business. To distract us from our blowing, hacking and shivering woos, she gives us a show we can’t take our eyes off of.