Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Big One

I listened to NPR this morning.  They reported that on this day, December 30,1906 113 years ago is the anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake.  

They played a very rare wax cylinder of a studio reproduction of the quake.  It was quite exciting. They estimate that the quake measured 7.5 to 8 on the then nonexistent Richter scale. 

Margaret LaVann (Charlies great grandmother) was then age 6 living in Mendocino county.  She remembered seeing trees whip back and forth touching ground on each side.  I don't think she saw redwood trees, they have a very small root ball and would have been knocked down.  They had black walnut trees growing the compound and she probably saw those trees whipping about. 

I have written about her before but it bears repeating.  Margaret was born in St. Louise in the year 1900.  Her father was postmaster there.  He wanted to move, so he packed everyone up and headed to Los Angeles probably by train.
They stayed there for a while.  Margaret remembered riding on a trolley car way out into the country. She watched the gentlemen on board take potshots at rabbits and what not. 

I am not precisely sure how they traveled to the Mendocino coast.  There were ships and boats available.  I am thinking that the railroad may have been more expensive and not very close to the coast.  

At any rate the family settled in for a lifetime.  Her mother thought that she had been brought to the ends of the earth.  Medical care was nonexistent.  But they possessed a book written in the original German "Father Knieppes Water Cure".  This book was written by a German Catholic priest.  He was very famous in Europe. 

The cure consisted of the patient being wrapped in well damped flannel.  Then the patient was wrapped in a rubber sheet and allowed to gently steam for the night.  This was very effective for congestion and pneumonia.  I have seen Margaret wrap herself up to  the clear out the toxins.

One of her four brothers fell into the fireplace and burned his face.  His mother used cream to treat the burn.  It healed perfectly.

One of her older brothers, Tony Faushaur, grew up and shot a total of 365 bear for which the state paid a small bounty. 

One day a man named Charlie Hageman came to the ranch to buy a pig.  He got acquainted with Margaret and proposed.  She reasoned that it would be very pleasant to work for one man rather than four brothers and her parents. She was a very pragmatic person. 

The couple operated a dance hall across their main road and advertised food.  She would hide behind a counter to accept money and to hide her pregnancy.  When she went into labor she caught a local stage coach and traveled alone to Ft. Bragg.  The driver stopped at one spot for lunch but she didn't let out a peep.  They proceeded and she was admitted to the laying in hospital. She delivered and stayed there for ten days, probably the longest period of inactivity she ever had. 

Their home was located a few miles inland on a ranch of about 100 acre. There they raised three young children.  They lived in an area known as Little Italy because there were four or five small places owned by Italian families who grew vineyards and made wine.   When the market crashed in 1929 most of the families  quickly sold out to Hageman. He inherited a 500 gallon redwood wine tank.  

 Charlie  drank all 500 gallons of wine and developed dropsy (edema). Margaret had the job of tapping his legs to drain off the fluid. He eventually died.  Margaret was left with three young children. 

The wine tank was converted to hold water. It still exists sitting near the road.  One of Margaret's task was to periodically empty the tank and give it a good scrub.

One of the young men still living in Little Italy, Victor Giovanetti, began courting Margaret.  Finally he proposed to her and told him she would never marry a Giovanetti.  So they compromised on a name.  He changed his last name to LaVann and they were married.

They eventually divorced.  When ever people would ask Margaret where Victor was she would wave vaguely and say he was out to sea.

She was pure matriarch and marched her children and grandchildren around in a no nonsense fashion.

During one visit she had assigned my brother-in-law, Pat, the job of emptying her trash.  She used a 100 pound bag of cat food for her well washed empty cans and bottled.  He was told to take the bag to the old Fratti place and dump the bag down the well.  When he returned she demanded to know where the empty bag was. Pat replied that he had thrown it into the well.  Well go bring it back.  Pat went to climb down into the well, empty bag and bring it back.

Over all she was a bit imperious and brusque amongst family gatherings.  I, however, was to learn that in a one-on-one basis, she was a sweet as pie.

I had never known any woman, family or friend like her. What a woman.

Monday, December 30, 2019

Letter to the State Senator

DATE: 10-19-2019

TO: Senator Ron Wyden
       310 W 6th St #118, Medford, OR 97501


      fesguganah.blogspot.com

Dear Senator Wyden;

On nights that I am having a bit of insomnia, I have a lot of time to think.  I had an idea which may be completely original. 

I wish to talk about taxation of ammunition as well as the components.  I will speak about limitation of the campaign season and Puerto Rico.

1.  CIVIL AMMUNITION TAX: I propose an ammunition tax beginning with one dollar per cartridge going all the way up to five dollars a piece for 50 caliber bullets.  This in no way impacts the Second Amendment.  This law will apply to civilians, the military and law enforcement are exempt.
    Each component of the bullet is taxed as well; fifty cents each cartridge, one dollar per lead bullet, one dollar for powder.
    I would encourage annual tax on ammunition creating devices; perhaps 50 dollars.
    All taxes for the Civil Ammunition tax is deductible.
    Potential results:  There will be more theft.  I propose the government sponsor free storage devices and gun safes.
    I predict that gang activity will be reduced to drive by shooting with sling shots and ball bearings.  Therefore, I suggest a registry for ballbearing purchase.
    I estimate approximately 300 billion dollars in revenue.


2. Limit Campaign season.  I propose that campaigning be limited to six weeks prior to the vote for any and all offices.  I think only people who stand to lose money will be against it.  Fund raising can certainly continue.

3.  Puerto Rico.  During the coverage of the hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico, I noted a very brief piece showing a drilling platform being anchored in the harbor.  My question is this; how well developed is the oil field?  Does Puerto Rico receive money for what ever fees would be charged?  Is there corruption? 

Lastly, while I did not vote for President Trump, I wish him well God Bless and protect the president.  Because I would be very angry if one of the magnificent Secret Service took an untaxed  bullet.

Sincerely,

Ms. Royce I. Alden
925 North Elliot Street
Coquille, OR 97423-1536

Sunday, December 29, 2019

I had a idear

DATE: 12-29-19

TO:      Jeffrey Lang CEO
           Coquille Valley Hospital
           940 East Fifth Street  97423


          Auxiliary

Dear Mr. Lang and Auxilians:

I have had an interesting idea regarding fund raising.  I think it is original and has the potential of becoming a steady income stream.

I suggest that the Auxiliary offer a service and invite the public to have their yard sales in one of the unoccupied buildings downtown.  This will increase foot traffic.

I suggest a committee consisting of yourself if you wish, any auxilians, wound care nurse, a doctor, a teacher, a banker, a real estate agent.

I list the wound care nurse first because perhaps the first project is thus; I saw an advertisement that reported BAH's new bariatric chamber treatment.  If there is room and the hospital meets all regulations,  I think this would be a valuable service.  I was thinking that siting the chamber in one of the side surgical suites would work.  I am unsure of the cost of a medical grade bariatric chamber but a commercial grade goes for approximately thirty-five hundred dollars.

Things to do:

1.  Have real estate agent contact building owner to negotiate      as low a lease as possible if not free.
2.  Ensure the property for liability.
3.  Organize students ( Tell them this will look good on their        college resumes) Garauntee that volunteers will  pack up       and move peoples yard sale goods for a small fee.  Allow       the first yard sale free, next time 10% of sales.
4.  Advertise the yard sale, ask for donations.
5.  Hold Auxilliary gift shop sales.
6.  Suggest year round ornamament decoration to stock the        shop for Christmas sales.


I have probably missed a few things but that is why God invented committees.

Sincerely,

Ms. Royce I Alden
925 North Elliott
Coquille,OR 97S423

Saturday, December 28, 2019

COINKYDINK, HISTORY, CURRENT EVENTS AND RANDOM THOUGHTS

Last evening husband said he had a coincidence.  These usually consist of weak to not even close to nope.  His coindicdence was a number 1789.  He keeps seeing it.  He maintained it was an important date.  Maybe the Declaration. of Indepedence.  Um nope that was 1776.  You know you could Google that.  (repetitive cricket chirp)

This morning I Googled American history 1789.  It took me to a nifty web site where you enter any date or name and lookee there!  So what popped up was Inauguration of George Washington and ratification of the Constitution.  Wow what took so long, longish ramblish chat about the big 13 not being all that agreeable about a great many things. Guvmint is complicated.

I Facebooked a message to my youngest brother, Jim.  He has been living in the Phillipines for several months.  He makes money by flying to work in Alaska at any variety of things usually mechanic.  

Christmas is his birthday so I sent Birfday happy happy.  Did hear back for a couple days.  Couple day later, brother Phil posted that the Typhoon with winds to 118 mph hit central PI.  He and his young lady drove two hours to Cebu to purchase a generator.  Infrastructure won't be back online for two months.  He also had to get his phone fixed.  The house was not damaged so they are not in a shelter. Phew!!!

Here is a thought.  NRA is defending the second amendment vociferously.   Why not tax ammunition?  Make it sliding scale. 22's a buck a piece. Larger caliber the wons most ofteb used in crime including murder, cost more MUCH MUCH more.

Such a tax would create a few things.

Sudden market restriction would prompt hoarding, thus less random shooting in Chicago for instance.  As ammunition gets more expensive and harder to steal, I predict the gangs will convert to sling shots using marbles or ball bearings.

Bullets will even be used in barter for food, alcohol, drugs and sex.  Some free health clinics will accept bullets as a fee for treatment.  They will in turn make it clear pulic policy that no ammunition will be kept on site. Only in position of the bouncers.  

Could be a weirder world with fewer deaths from lead poisoning.



Friday, December 27, 2019

Getch yer angels here

I have decided to split up my angel collection because
I have a cat.  Even if I hung one from the tree, Charlie would made suicidal leap in an effort to bring it down. This would not sit well with his human boss.

Therefore I shall distribute them among my relatives great and small, near and far. Except Jim I will leave his in the attic until when ever. I don't think I have a fishing angel but I have time.

To Charlie and family;  I don't have star wars, Legos or horse angels.  Just close your eyes.  

I'm thinking  I will give all of my Hallmark angels (In boxes) to Ellen.

I have a cowboy angel that needs to fly to Oklahoma  along with a miniature Cabbage patch doll who received her wings and some sort of college professor angel, may have to fake that.

Melody and family will get my glass angels two of which are nice heavy hand crafted  ones.  One of the nurses at CVH was selling them as a fund raiser for Dornbeckers  children hospital in Portland.

Carlah-dee-dah must have my bell angels. Best ones are the set from Mom and Dad for one of my birthdays.  She will share with Mitch. I also think she will like the one made in Haiti, it is very colorful but is not angel themed.

Justin is going to get the angry angel who is outwardly serene. See how I got out of that one?

Gale will get an entire collection of tree toppers, some are gorgeous.  She will share with Jennifer.  She will also get the very large cloth angel.  I gave her string hair and pink ribbons.  She fly on Gales pillows.

Phil and Jody will get my cook angel.  Don't know if I can find a Shaklee angel but I will keep an eye out.

Richard and Cathy;  Hmm, I don't think I have an angel hanging out of a car or any dog angels, so SUPRISE!!

I have a collection of 12 cherubs playing instruments, very classy.  I have to superglue on set of wings that snapped off.  These will go the CVH Auxiliary.

The rest will be a mish/mosh.  

If anyone wants the ONE handmade angel that I made from an actual pattern, let me know. Poor thing needs a home.

If any of the California folk wish an angel let me know by messaging current physical addresses, I lost those addys long ago after multiple moves. ] 
Love, R aka Hoarder of unhung angels (Sniff)

Thursday, December 26, 2019

A list

This is a list:

1.  Well that was disappointing.  Mail lady did not accept giftie. Food in fridge, bag in corner.  Perhaps some other occasion will occur and I can hand over the goods. Not a wasted gesture.

2. Mythbusters. I loved that show.  There were a couple Myths they tried that I felt they could have tried ONE more time.  Speed trap/car.   They actually beat this one with speed.   They outran the radar gun.  Who would have thought it? My thought was this, cover the license plate with one of those computer screens, the ones there you have to be right exactly squared up with it in order to view it. 
    The other one was hounddog pursuit.  They sent Adam off to hide from the hound dog.  Jamie sent the dog. The dog found them each and ever time no matter what they tried because we shed skin that that is what the house smells.  My thought is one needs to refrain from shedding skin. One way would be to slather up with Vaseline.  The other method would be to wear a space suit.  Pretty sure the last one would work.


2. The seat cushion came and it works very well.  It is the kind where you put a  egg on it, sit on the cushion and does not break.  Cool.

3.  Found yet another Morgan Freeman movie called "Chain Reaction".  He and Keanu Reeves and another scientist lady invent cold fusion.  They are framed for a murder and terrorism and they are off trying to exhonorate themselves.  Wheee!

4.  Think I want a KIA.

5.  I used the Facebook demo on cleaning my oven.  Heat oven.  Turn off, pour on mixture of baking soda and water.  Scrub off.  No smell. 

6.  Must use the clean oven selection on oven.  There goes the power bill.

7.  Visited Bree's. Purchased two turtle neck sweaters, two pairs of warm pajama bottoms.  12 bucks.  Warm.  Oooh.

8.  Most recent kidney value of 18 somethings.  This is a good thing.

9.  Husband does my laundry, cuz it is downstairs and he doesn't want me going down those stairs.  Thank you, Darling Man!

10.  Trump got impeached.  Meh.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

THIS IS WHAT I DID YESTERDAY

The network news reported on tipping.  Postal workers not allowed to accept money.  ??? Hey!  I have never....better get busy.

Post Mistress:

A couple days ago, one of the network news program was talking about Christmas tipping.  They said that post office workers were not allowed to accept money.  Ah hah!  I have clearly been remiss and decided to assemble some of my favorite things.  Do not return ANY of them, please.

So books:  I have always loved Jude Devereaux. She moved to Fort Lauderdale a few years ago.  There is a web cam on a local hotel.  I can watch the bridge raise and lower the 17th street bridge.  Some truly huge yachts are parked there. Occasionally I spot a commercial ship that specializes in shipping barges hither and yon, the Med to here. Jeez.

The next couple of books are two Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz.  These are not his scare you out of your shoes books. Odd Thomas is endearing. 

Perfume.  I have a small collection of perfume bottles.  I have filled the bottle with Lilac.  I cannot use it because husband complains.  Urk.

Food:  I made stuffing. I always challenge my husband to guess the secret ingredient.  This time it was almonds.  I have discovered that cashews get all soggy, ugh.  

The chicken is a version of Chicken Parm.  I use two chicken breasts sliced into small collops.  I covered it with buttermilk, then layer of Italian Bread crumbs.  It tasted slightly odd to me, later I realized that I had forgotten a cup or so of mayo.  It tastes okay but I do like it baked with the mayo. Bake 25 minutes at 350.  Turn off the oven, pour on frozen peas.  They thaw perfectly by the time you are ready to serve.  Not soggy!! 

     The salad is a concoction of pineapple tidbits, small marshmallows, shredded cheddar cheese and two sliced bananas.  It mixes well.  We have had this recipe since I was a teenager.

     One summer Dad took summer vacation from Idaho Power and we headed to Arizona to visit with family friends who were living in the Mogolon rim country, it pronounced moo gee on strangely enough.  We had an adventurous summer. I begged dad for money and bought up every scifi book they had in the small grocery nearby.  My brother decided that he would take an ax to a can of black spray paint.  He spray painted his glasses black and received a case of accidental blackface.  The friends wife prepared some food for our return journey to Idaho.  She also fried up some luscious chicken.

If you are so inclined, please be welcome to read my blog.  I yak about many things. Fish around, when I lived in Barrow, I kept a diary thing I called (Well crap I just realized I forgot to include my URL. Will add by hand duh).

I was recruited to work in the hospital in Barrow, Alaska. I wrote "The Bush Diary".  Once I moved to Coquille I decided that I would transcribe most of all nine years.

I have documented funny stuff, tragic stuff etc.  Christmas is special up there,   The native population shares muktuk, Tex/Mex version.  I have also eaten boiled whale intestine, it tastes faintly fishy and surprisingly crunchy like a radish. 

     
A tragedy comes to mind, it was during one of the spring whaling a 40 ton whale was struck and towed to the beach.  Everyone in town went to haul it in.  An O ring broke and whipped into the crowd. Several people were struck, four people died. One of them was Daphne Perez, wife to one of the local doctors.  They were so in love, truly incandescent. I can still see Daphne's brilliant smile.  The Inupiat don't use living relatives or friends names for their children. One of the girls in the medical record department where I worked, named her little girl included Daphne about third or four first names.
     
Speaking of names, there some unusual names. Many first names of Captain as it is the ambition of many to be captain of a whaling crew.

Other odd things have been: a guy known as the canary bird killer appeared to work.  All of which was discovered later.  Another odd one was this odd kid hitching up Dalton Highway.  When ever he saw a truck coming he would fall down pretending to have a seizure.
    
I am also on Facebook.  Friend me if you like. I get all smart-alecky from time to time.  Last comment was "Trussia, you needs Marie Condo. She will help you fold your sock, your undies and your tent."


Merry, merry! Speaking of merry. Did you know that a couple of Coquille residents are Wiccan?  Yep couple guys I know. What little I know comes from a book entitled "Dies The Fire" by S.M. Stirling.

The plot is roughly thus;  a mysterious event occurs March 1998.  Mike Havel is flying a charter out of Boise with the Hansons on board.   Suddenly everything electrical stops working.  He must crash land in near dark.
     
Junie McKenzie is gigging at The Hopping Toad when a large jet crashed in downtown Corvallis.  She is the High Priestess of the Triple Moon coven.      

Norman Arminger is a professor and author in Portland who quickly negotiate with local gangbangers to take over. He and they are major bad guys. 
    
The story is all about survival how people figure out work arounds for missing tech.  There is also starvation. Millions of people die.  This a  terrific book.

Thank you for your service.
Sincerely, Royce I Alden    

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Christmas


I was reminiscing about Christmas parties which I have attended. There have not been many parties, mostly family stuff.
One of the actual parties I attended was the annual children's Christmas Party put on by Idaho Power Company.  Richard and I each received a stocking with mostly hard candy. I think we watched a cartoon and endured Santa.  

One of the best seasons was as a young teen.  Richard and I had been "invited" by our neighbor to help fill baskets for the Elks Club.  Then we went out to distribute the gifts.  We stopped at one little old ladies house. She was so happy, she cried all over us.  I really enjoyed the visit. 

As an adult I worked in Barrow.  They threw a mean party. there was blinking ties, goofy gifts, great food.  The filipino population made lumpia and pansit, yummy stuff.  The native staff brought muktuk, plain the Tex/Mex version and pickled. The native association had pretty spendy drawings. A friend won a good sized brand new outboard motor. 

When I moved to Coquille, the place had the best darn potlucks.  Remembering back to WKMH I remember one of the department managers brought paper plates.  I remember thinking she would sell you the shirt off her back.  CVH had a terrific party.  Tables lined the hallway. Kitchen supplied ham or turkey and all the fixings.  There was  a gift exchange. Once the new hospital was built the pot lucks simply sponeaneously stopped.  Sad.

Last night I just happened to watch Storage Wars.  It was a Chrismas special.  Dan and Laura threw a party.  Every one was invited except Hester. The guests were all of the usual suspects.  Each guest was to bring a wrapped gift for a exchange.  Rene brought a lump coal. The gambler thought  his gift was an asteroid (no meteorite),  He thught he had millions. The show was quite amusing. I am pretty sure it will be playing again soon.  Careful what you wish for. 

Lastly, the picture above reminded of a conversation husband and I had at a local restaurant when we went out for breakfast.   We were chatting over the choices on the menu, other places we liked and favorite dishes.  He mumbled something.  What did you say? Gordon Golden Steak Sauce.  Um I think you meant Gorgonzola steak sauce? We laughed so hard the waitress wanted to know what was funny, we explained badly but she laughed as well.  Check  please.  Can I get a box?

Saturday, December 21, 2019

THAT just happened

Yesterday was my run around day, pick up meds, get some breakies and shop for a few groceries.

The pharmacy opens at 9 am.  I parked in front of Frazier's thrilled that I had plenty of space to park.  I had missed the seniors, I like to think of myself as a juniorish senior.  The workers were still hard at their place of employment and I was not.

I got out of the car and noticed a young woman.  I thought she was one of the polite churchy folk who nod politely ready to offer up tracts if the need should occur.

As I got closer it was apparent that this unkempt 30ish woman wearing dirty clothes was possibly not taking her antipsychotic meds.  She said, "Lady, I want to talk to you. " I replied "I don't want to talk to you. She continued to speak saying she was in the witness protection program etc etc.  I kept walking to the pharmacy. 

I got my meds and started to go into Frazier's.  I saw Crazy Lady down a couple of stores talking to a couple of little old ladies.

I went inside, sat at a table and perused the paper.  In a few minutes the two little old ladies and Crazy Lady came inside.  Oh, this should be interesting.  I settled back to watch surreptitiously over the edge of a well worn Register Guard. 

It was a good five minutes before the slower of the two wait persons came by to give me a menu.  The one egg breakfast with hash browns looked good.  I waited. Some people came and went. I waited.

I noticed that Crazy Lady got up and wandered off to the bathroom in the back.  More waiting.  Slow wait person took order of someone who came in after me.  I waited to be noticed.

After about five minute Slow person headed to the back because Crazy Lady had not come back.  She was gone quite a while.  Eventually Crazy Lady was escorted to the front and out of the establishment  I waited to be noticed.  A good ten minutes went by.

The other little Wait person was whizzing around handing out water menus and cutlery as she poured coffee, chatted, delivered dishes, checks and picked up the empty tables.  She was moving so fast I could not catch her eye.

Sigh.  I checked to see if the menu had a phone number on it, ooh yes!  I dragged out my wind up phone and called the number.  

A voice answered, "Frazier's."

I said,"Um I would like to get some service."

"Okaaaay, what do you need."

"I am sitting at the table just inside the door. I would like to order breakfast."

"I'll be right there."

She scurried over very apologetic. She explained that she was so busy with Crazy Lady that I got lost I the shuffle.  She also said using the phone was a good idea. She took my order and it was not very long before breakfast arrived with coffee. Yum!

I reflected that is was very good thing that husband had refused the offer to have breakfast with me.  He would have stomped out well before Crazy Lady even showed  up.  Phew; disaster one, husband zero.


Thursday, December 19, 2019

SURPRISE!!!

Yesterday was a painful day of disappointment.  I was determined to find out how to use Alexa to read my books to me.  I went to KaSa app and after a very lengthy loading process, arguments with Alexa about supported devices (never could find them).  Floundered around fruitlessly for advice regarding any or all of the above. Nuthin'.

I was laying in bed last night and finally yelled at Alexa, "Read me a book!"  Sun of behotch, she opened a book in my library and began chirping along.  I can tell her talk faster or slower.  I actually had read that in the 1001 hints but misread the direction  Advanced duhhh.

Well!  I asked her to read "Tau Ceti"  She couldn't find it. Frickety, frackity, fork!!!  I tried over and over pronouncing the title as many ways. as possible. That title did not work and spelling it does not work.

While Alexa is a fabulous improvement over the Kindle voice, here a few things I have notices. Alexa pronounces the period at the end of a sentence as "tilde" but only seldom.  Some, not all, same spelled words are used wrong.  She has a tough time with Latin marinaris is pronounced "marinus". Another thing that bothers me is the lack of pacing, everything is read at the same interval, Same pause between sentences that just sounds odd.  Lastly there is no inflection changes to indicate various emotional states.  
\
If you need to get to sleep, turn on Alexa and she will read you right to sleep. Lights out!!

And generally speaking one must use very clear diction or she will  tell you that she does not understand right now, please try again later. I shall experiment with West Virginian "Lexa, can y'all play a book?" or "Lexa play more ike at"  Um hmm. 

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Books, Tech, Fort Lauderdale church? and medical musing


I love my books.  I actually wish my living room wall consisted of floor to ceiling cabinets that hold nothing but books.  Sigh..

I have about 3000 actual books and about 1300 eBooks on my Kindle.  The Kindle function has a voice reader option.  Click on the icon at the bottom the page and listen to a mildly robotic voice with odd pronunciation.  I love to listen to  my audible books but I only have about 20, many of my books are not available.  

Yesterday for no particular reason I asked Alexa if she could read one of my books.  Nope.  Alexa do you have a book reading app?  She recommended KaSa.  I found the app, opened it, entered State, entered phone number and hit return.  It stated loading, I let it run about 12 HOURS.  I figured it was loading all 1300 books perhaps by voice file.  I finally shut it down at 10 pm.  Felgercarb!

Early that morning I asked Alexa how to load this program, no joy there.  I downloaded a free 1001 Hints for Kindle that included many Alexa how to's.  Every direction I tried not worky because I don't have a recognized device, apparently that includes the Kindle. If I purchase an Echo, there is the promise of getting Alexa to read my books through that device.  I looked at the directions, promises to come on immediately on plugging in.  At this point I want a friend or relative to sound off on that.  So.....

A while back, on the assumption that someone on Kindle was listening, I yelled, "Jeff!  Make my Kindle into a phone!"  Well, whaddya know?  As I was going through my 1001 tips there was a whole section on turning the Kindle into a phone!  I must not have been the only person yelling into my Kindle.  I perhaps did not give this app enough thought. "Jeff!  Let me unplug my Kindle so it operates on any 5G network." Not gonna happen.

Lastly sort of, I have been watching my favorite web site in Fort Lauderdale.  The empty field next to the bridge has been developed.  I cannot find out what purpose the building assembled actually served.  I have seen lots of cars parked there on Sunday, maybe its a church?  The building is square and does not display a cross.  Google! What church's do not display a cross, oh, modern ones, uh thanks. 

Lastly, I noticed yesterday that I could no longer hear an occasional pause in my pulse.  This has bothered me a while back and was seen by my doc who said, let us schedule an echocardiogram.  Dr. Crane scribbled on the report a little of this valve, a little bit of that valve, keep blood pressure under control.  Ok, working on that, no change in meds.

When I noticed that I could no longer hear the missed beats, I wondered how come?  Lemme see Google what are the symptoms of prolapsed mitral valve?  Of the ten symptoms I only have two and a half.  Prolapse mitral valve is treated with a beta-blocker.  Oh got that covered with Metoprolol.  I will merely mention to my doc next time and ask her what she thinks.  Just call me Dr. Whut?


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

CANCER

I was listening to NPR this morning.   They reported that CDC had found 16 rare melanoma malignancies of the eye in a small town in Virginia.  No idea of the cause.  These malignancies occur 1 in every 7,000.  Ugh.  

Then they found a large occurence of Thyroid cancers.  Those are easily treated with thyroidectomy.  The side effects are a drop in body temperature and lethargy as well as replacement doses of thyroid.   Annoying but not fatal.  Again there did not seem to be evidence of any cause.  There was a potash plant nearby that processed the ash.  The company claimed there were no carcinogens created in the processing.

Hmmm, I sez to myself.  Have they though of radiation?  In particular Strontium 90.  When I was a kid there was a nightly local news report with a Strontium 90 count because Idaho was downwind from Hanford nuclear facility.  

Emmett had a wave of thyroid cancer when kids my age came into adulthood.  Approximately age 28.  Strontium 90 has a half life of 28 years and 7 months.  Hello! CDC?  check it out.  Could be a leaky atomic power plant lurking in the neighborhood.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Anniversary



It has been 69 years since Julie Andrews sang The Hills Are Alive.
Guess how old she was then?  30!  Well cast as a very young novitiate/governess.

The picture above is a picture of Maria Von Trapp.  She was a gorgeous young thing! 

I have no idea if the young Maria was indeed a novitiate, but here are a few things the film got wrong or portrayed for more drama.  

The national anthem is not Edilweiss.  The song was written specifically for the movie.  You can Google the anthem it sounds very hymnal, very beautiful sounding.

The family emigrated not by way of sneaking off in the dark of night to hike over the Swiss Alps.  They took the train.

While Austria no longer has a navy, Mr. Von Trapp was captain of a WWI submarine. 

When the film was released in Germany, the ending was either omitted or shot differently.  Hmmmm.

I actually saw the film in 1965 somewhere in Marin county.  I wen with my first roomie, Sue.  I enjoyed the film immensely.  She also dragged me to see "Mary Poppins"  While juvenile, I did enjoy that film as well. 

Julie Andrew started early the 1957 production as playing the lead in "Hello Dolly".  Hear! Hear!


Sunday, December 15, 2019

Picture!?

Here is a picture of my new hair color, it is not actually this light brown.  I yam a light blond with a hint of leftover pink from this summer's blazing red do.  The baleful look is me concentrating first how to FIND the camera to face me and then trying to aim withhout shaking although that would have workin a pinch. Uh I am smiling and happy inside my face.  Really.  No depressy, no gloomy.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Commuting and long road trips

For all of my working life, I have been blessed with a fairly easy commute.

My very first job at Fairchild Semiconductor was from Petaluma to San Rafael for the graveyard shift.  My cousin Carl dropped me off at 11:30 pm and by morning I had made friends with a woman who commuted from Petaluma and she had room in her Itty Bitty ancient Carmenghia.  Thus I rode that away until I found a closer pick up.  Second person I commuted with was Jo, she and her lover girl lived close enough that I walked to her house.  

Eventually I got an apartment closer to work and while still on graveyard drove from Novato to work and my roommate rode along.  Sue was hard on vehicles.  They were always breaking down, or she was wrecking them.  I learned how to change one of Sue's flat tires. 

My fastest trip to work was with a girl friend.  We had visited her gentleman friend in Sausolito.  We had 15 minutes to make it before shift change.   I was driving the 65 Barracuda then and hit 90 on the way. I may have accidentally straightened Kris's hair. And we did get to work by the skin of our teeth. 

The next commute was after I moved to Emmett.  After two years of  a relatively benign commute to Boise State University, I worked in Emmett and drove less half a mile to work.  That went on for eleven years.

I was recruited to work in Barrow in 1989 an by late December was commuting by bus or taxi less than 2 miles.  One time when there was a taxi strike and my regular driver called to let me know, so I walked to work and prayed that any Polar bears were far far away.  

Last commute was when we left Barrow and moved to Coquille.  Four blocks south, up a couple hundred yards to CVH.  Wheee!

:Made a couple dangerous/long trips  One Christmas I decided to save money flying home and drove.  Started off and the roads were clear.  I slogged through Reno, it started snowing and I carefully followed the truck tire prints in the very fluffy snow.

I decided to get a room in Winnemucca.  Next morning I slithered into the gas station next door to get chains put on.  I was dressed fit to kill. Had my hair done, wore my new coat with fake fur collar over a new dress and took off.  About 50 miles later one of the chains broke and some farmer stopped and helped wire the chains back together.  He also told me that my chains were on upside down.  I continued to slither further north, through Jackpot  The snow had melted off shortly after that so I stopped to remove the chains.  After a mile south of Burns Junction I hit a patch of black ice and slid of the road ever so gently.  Some people stopped and helped get back on the road.  We putt putting away. Went sailing by Rome, Oregon, got half way up the hill and car stopped, no worky.  Yet another farmer stopped and took me and my wounded duck of a car back to Rome.   I met an older couple who let me call home.  Dad came and picked me up.  Once all repairs had been accomplished and the visit was finished, he very kindly drove me back to Novato. 

The longest road trip was with Judy Jones, her little girl and myself.  We had borrowed her sister's big old Bonneville Pontiac for the trip to Judy's home in West Virginia.  We had Triple A send us a map with the straightest route marked out and off we went.  We drove south and it took us 33 hours with only one brief stop along side the freeway in Mississippi, big old semi's whipping us awake.  We gave up trying to sleep and just kept on slogging.  We drove to Gossip Bottom and visited with her folks.  Very nice people.  

One other memorable trip to West VA involved a flight.  There was Judy, her daughter, her sister Betty and her daughter, at least one dog.  We looked like the Gabor sisters on tour.  The last leg of the flight was on a plane so small that human passengers went on one flight and the luggage came on the next.  Betty had brought her wig mounted on a Styrofoam head.  That took up one mid sized suitcase.  But at least I got to see the fireflies.  So pretty.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

THREE THINGS

TRIPLEX

Yesterday I had to make a run to the post office to mail Christmas cards.  It is spendy to send a registered card to a foreign country...phew!  At any rate the day was raining intermittently; tiny drops, tinkles and splashes and TORRENTIAL!.  I decided to pick up a box o donuts for the guys working the wet next door on the triplex.  I got a guided tour!  They are getting close to being finished.  The downstairs unit closest to us is a one bedroom.  The bathroom is in front right off the living room. They took down a wall and door into the kitchen, put up an island and the counter is a dark blue ceramic, gorgeous.  White cabinets.  Sink under the window which looks into one of our downstairs windows  There is a nice large bedroom in the back. Next to bedroom and next to kitchen is a laundry room.  I would have rather had a bathroom in the back. The flooring is a very nice wood like tile.  These units will be rentals and this one will go for $700. Not bad.  

The unit on the other side is  two bedroom, refinished in a similar style.  There is a small deck off to one side.  

Upstairs is not finished yet.  I commented that the parking would be really good.  Nope they are going to build a small  house to replace the nasty one that was torn down. 

DOLLAR STORE

I have never shopped much at a Dollar Store, I thought they only sold cheap decorations and party supplies.  Had no idea they sold groceries.

CBS Sunday morning had a piece about Dollar Stores.  There about 50,000 Dollar stores in the USA  There 5000 stores popping up on a monthly basis.  A lot of these stores are built in small towns with only one grocery story.  The Dollar stores stock in bulk anything, canned, boxed, bottled, in jars, jugs or bags.  The prices are cheap.  The balance of the goods are high sugar, high sodium, high calorie.  The Dollar stores do NOT sell bread, dairy, fresh vegetables or meat.  When the little grocery goes out of business, the residents must drive 30 miles to a store that sells those items.  

A Dollar General store just opened in Myrtle Point within one mile of the McKay's store.  I worry.  I will ask Joe, the local McKay's manager if he thinks there will be an effect.  One good point the folks in Myrtle Point can drive 11 miles to Coquille or about 60 to Roseburg  to the exotic Trader Joes. Erk.

MISS UNIVERSE

I saw where Miss Universe 2019 is from South Africa. She is beautiful.  Then the show reported the other major beauty pageants had black women win those crowns. It made for quite a picture.  Got to wondering about the racial ratio's between black and white.  I tried asking Alexa what the world population of black people was.  She answered, "Hmmm. I'm not sure."  grump. She was able to answer that the population of Africa was 1.2 billion.  This was way too complicated. Giving that query up I asked the population of Canada 36 million. Population Australia 25 million.  Huh.  Sumpin' to ponder.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Shakespear!?!?!?!?!

SIDDOWN!  SHADUP!  SHADUP SHUTTIN' UP!!

My very first encounter with Shakespear was in high school.  As par of either a speech class or an English class one of the tortures was to read aloud a Shakespeare play in class.  As you may imagine, the reading was deadly dull delivered in at worst a monotone and at best clear diction but much hesitation over the unusual word usage and the convoluted sentence structure. It sure wasn't as much fun as "Little Women".  As fortune would have it, we were not expected to produce any of the play.  Eesh.

My next encounter, one of many, was attending Shakespear In The Park with my very good friend, Barbara Whelan.  One very memorable occasion was "Twelfth Night".   It was the fashion in the 80's to stage the play in different genre's, such as the 20's and the tennis set.  There was also a tart wench and of course, we wished to partake.  

I took mom to see "Troilis and Cressida" which is a play all about Helen of Troy, and Athens and Troy.  Trojans were dressed as rock stars and the Athenians were dressed as Bikers.  Or the other way around. There was even partial nudity.  There is a scene where Helen is  being admired by one or another of the group.  Helen was wearing a leather mini skirt with a front zipper. One of the guys knelt in front of her and pulled down the zipper with his teeth, snatched the skirt and stood up. Helen turned away and revealed that she was wearing a thong.  I wished I had a bottom that nice.

Yesterday morning I was listening to NPR.  The narrator was reporting that in 1667 all of his plays were published posthumously.  That collection is known as the First Folio.

The play Hamlet was being discussed in particular the death of Hamlet is considered the most beautiful death scene of all.  (I must digress for a moment. I and Barbara attended a celebration of Shakespear In The Park held at BSU.  There was a compilation of all the death scenes from all of the plays and there lot of them.  Each actor would come out to give the last line and fall to the floor.  This went of for quite a while until there were about 30 bodies piled up onstage.  We found it hilarious.

Which brings me to this point; Hamlet's last line in his death scene which "All is silence".  The folio actually has and additional line: "O, O, O, O."  There is argument that this is not spoken because "all is silence".  Then thev actor played it perfectly flat.

O (heh!) C'mon!!!  Give it a little interpretation.  Such as:

First O  "uh oh"
Second O "Oh no!"
Third O "uh uh"
Fourth O "oooh"

Mo bettah.




Saturday, December 7, 2019

12-7-2019

Scott Simon of NPR fame interviewed the oldest living survivor from the sinking of the Arizona.  He is 98, Mr. Potts, living in Utah with his wife of 85. He was asked how he had survived.  He had been on shore and headed immediatly back to the ship. He could see the Oklahoma had already rolled over.  He was almost there when the last big bomb exploded.  There were only300 some survivors of the Arizona.  He was asked what he wanted to remember and he replied "Nothing, I wish it hadn't ever happened, I want to forget it."   He also said that he was amazed at how quickly the Navy recovered to get most of the battleship ready to go.  That was first hand from the Greatest Generation.

One of my long time friends,May Clarke, was just a kid living on the base at Pearl Harbor on the morning of 12-7-41.  It was Sunday morning, everyone was up having breakfast.  They say the planes and stayed in the house.  The did not get sent to the mainland for a few months.  They came back on a ship.

Lastly and most silly, I have a joke that is in highly questionable taste.  

Have you hear about the half black/ half Japanese man who goes out ever December 7th and attacks Pearl Bailey.  

If you do not find this amusing you may have to Google such cultural references as Pearl Bailey, December 7tht as well as the Art of the Pun and the appropriate groan response. 

I'm really really sorry.  Apologies.

Friday, December 6, 2019

Medicine and statistics

I was watching one of the network news programs and they were reporting about a guy who was a paraplegic.  He had been in some sort of accident, had a very high vertebral fracture which severed his spinal cord.  He had been confined to a bed or wheelchair.  He was considering killing himself.  

His Neurologist did some research and found a trial of stem cell injections in animals which had some good results.  FDA had allowed a human trial.  

Short explanation about T-cells.  Early research was done on fetal cells  Due to the public outcry and government regulations, the scientists discovered that fat carried T-cells.  It was also discovered that the fat T-cells worked better than the fetal cells.   The best thing about T-cells is that they can become all sorts of cells; the T-cells injected into the spinal lesion settle in and develop into neural cells which turn into nerves and all that lovely useful stuff.

The gentleman was recommended for the trial.  He had his own fat cells harvested from which the T-cells were processed.  He was then given a direct injection of T-cells at his spinal cord lesion. He had some promising results immediately.  He suddenly had sensation in his toes.  He had not been able to move or feel anything since his injury.  It got better, the sensations came back and then some partial muscle control in his arms.  The report showed him getting up from his wheelchair and taking a few steps. The really cool part of the report, the investigator is the son of Christopher Reeve, paralyzed in a horse riding accident. 

While the patients recovery is miraculous, the doctor cautioned that he was a fast responder.  Not all patients will have such a good response.  

Almost the same day and program there was disturbing report from a statistician taking a look at the census.  He discovered that the numbers were pointing out that generally more Americans were not living to retirement age.  They were not living as long or longer than their parents.  (Before he went any further I was going to say it was bad diet) But what he said was that for the first time ever in America deaths outnumbered births.  What!?  

The study was from 1995 (I think) to 2017.  The deaths were mostly attributed to four states; Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. There were also high spikes in the Appalachian states.  The most deaths were low income white people, equally distributed between men and women.  The man further revealed that most of these deaths were due to the opioid plague.  

Stop and think about this for  a minute.  With big Pharma in so much trouble already, that trouble could  possibly get worse.  The drugs must be better monitored and controlled. But that does not help with the drug cartels providing product.  

Some of the other implications of those numbers would eventually lead to accelerated increase of non-white voters.  Those folks in charge (old white men?) will want to prevent that happening.  Therefore it is important to keep voting registration regulations just as strong and fair as possible.

In summary I talked about T-cells, the opioid problem and the plications which I probably got all ass-backwards.  

Have a nice day....


Wednesday, December 4, 2019

FAMILY GET TOGETHERS

Set the way back machine (if you do not know this cultural reference you could always Google it) for circa mid 20th century.

I come from a relatively large family.  Nearly all of my aunties and uncles married either during or right after WWII.  This resulted in the glorious presence of COUSINS. Occasionally we would have to ride to some house  for the folks to visit.  We would ask plaintively if there were any kids to play with?  If the answer was no we knew the chances were 5050 that we could even be allowed to some inside the house depending on how well behaved we were.  Behaving well was pretty much chancy as well.

However if we drove to Boise we got to play with the Boise cousins. If we drove to either the Cow camp or Prairie City we got to play with the Oregon cousins.  We had Mormon cousins in other Southern Idaho homes but visits to those homes were where we had to behave and pretend we were well schooled little Christians, and there was always a bit of a social strain.  But we sucked what fun we could out of every occasion. One time it was decided that we would drive to Brush, Colorado to visit with the Kast cousins.  They lived on farm and the sun came up in the summer at 4 am.  They had pigs.  Some of the better times was when out of town cousins came to visit.  

Some of the better gatherings were for the big seasonal events; Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We had two sets of grandparents in the Emmett valley so would visit them either the day before, the evening of or the day after Christmas.   This ensured guarantee of more presents.  This was so much fun.  Some of my most treasured presents were books. I received a greatmany Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twin books. 

The other occasions were funerals.  This involved people coming to visit.  There would be a huge dinner, a big table for the adults and a smaller table for the cousins. It was unbelievably noisy.  After wards the table got cleaned off and a large puzzle might get put together or even better we begin playing endless game of Monopoly, it went on all day.  Like some people we changed the rules a little bit.  Everytime someone landed in jail that fine was placed on Go.  The next person to land on Go would collect that money.  I do not remember exactly if that was the modification made but I have siblings who may remember better than I.

The adults did not watch the football games. There would be huge gab fest and a couple card tables would go up and they would play Pinocle.  I swore I would never play that game, but 30 year later I did so and learned to appreciate a good partner.  Dad taught me to play five card and at one times I played Double Pinochle with some folks in California.  I hate double, too many cards and outrageous bidding.

I remembe a huge discussion about whether or not wine should be served at a Thanksgiving dinner.  The wine being considered was Mogen David.  Pleae remember that this was way WAY before anyone ever planted a vine in Idaho.

Now the gatherings are for the next generation as far as I can tell the fun still continues.  God bless cousins.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

CATALOGS!!!

It's catalog season.  From Harry and David.  The last time I blithely ordered goods from them the prices were in the 50 to 100 dollar range.  Spendy but worth every delicious bite.

When we lived in Barrow, the onslaught of catalogs began in January and arrived steadily from thence forward.  The most important one was the barge order  catalog.  

The goods were all shipped from Seattle and it took several months for the barge to arrive sometime in August.  I shared an order with Judy Coltrin the first year and got mostly canned goods.  The next year when I was feeling a bit braver.,.. I discovered that one should NOT order cereal of any kind.  BECAUSE what ever critter was living inside the box would hatch and fly up into your face upon opening the box.  OK, I will buy my cereal at Stuakpaq from now on.

To get back to the most recent Harry and David their most expensive deluxe package costs an eye watering 500 bucks!!!  It does include meat, cheese, fruit, nuts, cookies, jam, jelly, candies, with your choice of cabernet and pinot noir. Pretty sure it is Oregon wine.   Phew!  No caviar or truffles, but maybe they will get to that at some point.  They sell the ham, turkey and steaks separately.

One of my favorite catalogs is Gumps.  This establishment is located in San Francisco and my most favorite item was a nativity scene made of Limoges images of each figure at about $150 each.  Each figure was made to open.  Last time I checked they were going for about $300 each.  It comes with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, camels, sheep, donkey, the three Wise Men and as many angels at you may wish. It was exquisite.  I should probably Google whether they are still in business and if they have added a manger, a stable and a Star of Bethlehem.  

Remember this was well before the internet and Cyber Monday, which I resisted this year. 

Happy shopping be careful out there.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

FALL BACK ONE HOUR! or Time Travel as Albert never saw it.

As usual we got a late start setting all the clocks back one hour.  For some reason the TV station announcements failed to impress the urgency with which this matter must be dealt.  I scrawled a note on the white board where all the doctors appointments get scribbled along with the grocery list and other sundry items. 

Husband made the appointed rounds to the analog clocks, the digital clocks.  Fortunately the computers, radios and TV's do all of that automatically.  However, the time on the telephone is still unchanged...weird.

All of which brings me to this little item.  Earlier this year all of us registered voters in Oregon agreed that daylight savings time was to be discarded. Hooray!  Hooray!  Then I promptly forgot about it.

Until yesterday evening.  The local news announced the upcoming time change on Saturday at 2 a.m.  and then added that the Oregon vote was CONTINGENT on Washington and California agreeing to do the same thing.  

Washington is on board.  However, the law in California is stuck either in the House or in Committee.  I forget which.  Well, crap, with that California is dealing with right how, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!!!  I think maybe the daylight savings time thing will be a tad delayed.  Gah!!!

Given that southern California seems to be geographically within Mountain Standard Time that Nevada and Idaho should just jump on the bandwagon and bring in Arizona which already eschews DST in some parts of the state.  Could Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico be far behind?

Come on all you conservatives,  here is your chance to beat the liberals on something.  Get rid of that Socialist Notion of saving time for the farmers to complete the Summer Harvest.  Or the Farm Bill or something awreddy.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Book Recommendation by Scott Simon and a dream

Last weekend on Saturday morning Scott Simon interviewed John Kenney.  He wrote a small book of poetry entitled : Love Poems (For People with Children).

Mr. Kenney read Baby Wipes.

If you had told me
in my twenties
that I would do this,
I wouldn't believe you.

But this morning,
the baby's poop
shot out like a cannonball
and some of it landed in my hair.

Well, I was pretty tired
and too lazy 
to shower.
And I was late to work.

So what I did was
take a baby wipe
and clean it out of my hair.
Most of it, anyway.

Then I went on with my day.


@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I also woke from a decidedly odd dream.  In that dream, Mom (Yes Virginia B.) and I were strolling through a small mountain town.  We walked down a pathway that dead ended in a fenced back yard.  We turned back to get back on the roadway.

Eventually we ended up at a building that looked like a medical office.  I seemed to have some lab tests that needed to be delivered.  I was sorting the papers by name.  Them Mom told me about one time she was getting a pelvic examination and she got aroused by the doctor.  WHAT!?  I thought about it for a minute and thought to myself that THAT explained the seven kids.  Obviously in another timeline and universe.

 Dream interpretation site says as near as I could find:

To see your parents having sex (or talking about sex??) in your dream indicate that you are seeing similar aspects between their relationship and your current relationship. Most cringe at the thought of your parents having sex, so this dream imagery is really trying to get your attention. Consider your parents' real life relationship together and what you can learn from it.  Hmmmm.  Not sure WHAT to think...

As a complete aside, I grew up changing CLOTH diapers on the little sisters.  I also learned how to prefold the cloth into a kite shape so that there was extra padding in front.  This added to the wash load immensely.   Also sturdy diaper pins were used very carefully.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Chilly Morning


We have been having a week or better of low temps at night which leads to very cool mornings.

I have been accustomed to going on line and I like to check out the webcam for Fort Lauderdale.  It is fun to watch the freighters come and go as well as the big old cruise ships. 

 You can also listen into the chatter between captains and the harbor master lining up for bridge openings at the 17th street causeway.  Ever since I began watching there has been an undeveloped parcel of land next to the north end of the bridge.  Nothing was there.  

On the waters edge was of course a pier where very, VERY large yachts park, for very long stretches of time. I began watching the webcam because one of my favorite authors moved there and I liked to read her blog as well as enjoy the weather vicariously.  I have been lurking at the webcam for about four or five years.  

As I watched, I noticed ALL OF A SUDDEN that that patch of land was being sort of developed. First thing that went up was a very large four or five story structure with interior walls of glass like substance which were covered in a tent like structure.

Then full grown palm trees appeared around the building.  Then more tent like pavilion structures until I think I can count 17 or 18 of them.  And more palm trees.  Eventually there was a drive way lined by palm trees.  There has also been scads of big trailer trucks delivering supplies.  There are all sorts of fork lifts carrying supplies hither and yon.  I LOVE work, I could watch it all day!

After a while I became curious enough to make enquiry about what was going on  Nothing through the Chamber of Commerce.  I finally Googled Fort Lauderdale 17th street Park project and I think maybe I found something below.  Only thing is I really hate to see a state of art parking structure go up in that land.  So I may be mistaken.

Join the City of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Las Olas Marina for a groundbreaking ceremony to officially launch the Las Olas Beach Park Project, a $49 million initiative that will bring two new waterfront parks to Fort Lauderdale Beach, along with more green space, open and inviting gathering places, a tree-lined promenade, landscape and streetscape enhancements, pedestrian connections, and a state-of-the art parking facility.