Chronicles Continued

12 o’clock the first Monday of the Month indeed like clock work, the sirens sound. When a child in the US* we had Air-Raid sirens that sounded for a time. This feels like the continuation of that. The First-Monday-of-the-Month-Drill is to be certain that the system is in working order should the emergency arise that the folk needs to take action. It certainly would involve rising water levels.

*In response to perceived Cold War threats, on February 20, 1950, [Portland Oregon] Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee appointed Charles Pray as Portland’s first director of Civil Defense (CD) in accordance with Chapter 434, Oregon Laws 1949. Within a few years, the department had become a national model; and in 1956, Portland opened the first completely underground CD facility in the country. Just seven years later, Portland achieved another CD milestone when it became the first city in the nation to dissolve its program.

On September 27, 1955, at 3:05 in the afternoon, sirens signaled the start of the exercise. By 3:59, 29,423 vehicles and 101,074 people had evacuated the test area; the majority of downtown had been cleared within thirty minutes. The exercise, the largest evacuation in the nation to date, received national attention because of its efficiency. Based on the success of Operation Green Light, in 1957 CBS filmed a documentary, A Day Called X, highlighting Portland’s program. Actor Glen Ford narrated the documentary, and Portland Mayor Terry Schrunk and other city officials starred.

Thought it was a nice, neighborly things to do. A bowl of chocolate eggs for the passerby out for a bit of air. A touch of goodwill and all those other positive vibs that come with the weekend of Easter. By chance sent this photo to a near-and-dear who immediately reacted. “And you are thinking this is a good idea? All that metal on those eggs? All those hot spots? Either put out a spray bottle of disinfectant and paper towels….

OR

bring them in and throw them away. Who knows who has already touched them!” Well well well, indeed the foil wrapping never registered as metal where the virus likes to hang on the longest. Googled to see if I could feed them to the crows, but though they would love the shiny metal, the chocolate would make them ill. An idea gone wrong!

Mid-April and this is 21:00 hours. 23 December it was dark at 16:00 hours and sunrise at 9:30 am. How quickly that changes. It gives me a lot more daylight to get things done!

When I happened upon this meme it made me laugh aloud and seemed so apropos of the lock down/quarantine situation that is the world-wide lot of everyone.

Imagine my surprise when coming across what is apparently the original, not related to the pandemic at all. Made me laugh even harder.

Thus, my current response to stupidity, unbelievable acts of lack of onus and some days, just life…. “Pass me the hairdryer!” [knowing the consequence!]

If you have a chance, on Netflix there is a series titled: Explained. Seasons 1&2. It is surprising that this series has not drawn more attention, or maybe it has and I missed it. Season 2 has an episode ‘Pandemic‘ broadcast November 2019. The man-of-the hour is Bill Gates. Why is the only question left after watching it! Why did the powers-that-be not do something in the period of filming this episode! Is there not a huge culpability among ALL involved?

After the shock of watching this, try Billionaires. That will finish you off!.

Found them in the green grocer and instinctively reached for them. Don’t know what drew them to me, as not often do I buy potatoes. They now compete with rice for my daily diet. I looked up on line to see if there was some medicinal reason… here you go…

*Red Potatoes: “Red potatoes contain the highest levels of vitamins, minerals and healthy phytochemicals. They’re high in quercetin, a flavonoid with powerful anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. They also offer more lutein (for eye health) and choline (for brain health) than any other potato… One large red potato supplies half of the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B6, which aids in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and lipids and helps in the formation of red blood cells. A single red potato also supplies 30 percent of the recommended daily intake of niacin, which is essential for energy production from food and helps digestion. Niacin also helps lower LDL cholesterol — i.e., ‘bad cholesterol’ — and supports healthy skin and nerves. When it comes to the mineral potassium, which is vital for heart, nerve and muscle control, most people think of a banana as the go-to actually, a banana only contains 422 milligrams of potassium, compared to a red potato, which contains a whopping 1,670 milligrams of potassium. Increased potassium intake allows the body to excrete more sodium through the urine, which may help lower blood pressure. Also, much of the nutritional value of the red potato is found in its skin, so never peel them.”

Perhaps in this time of… this is the reason for the choice…

*Melmagazine.com

I chuckle at myself. A murder of crows appears in my back yard when I put out bread/whatever for them. They are able to spot if from afar and descend immediately. This winter I wrote they had found the coconut shell filled with lard prior to my offering it. After they had emptied it, I left it hanging and now fill it with whatever the daily bread is. However, it is inconvenient for them; it hangs from a trellis against a wall. They are not adept at that position as I watch them make it work. Am I really such a ? at heart to make them ‘work for it’? Apparently!

Asparagus from Limburg [the southern part of the Netherlands] White asparagus. 20 euros a kilo. If you purchase the spears from the green grocer, they are butter soft. You may also buy them already peeled from the grocery store. The traditional way to prepare them: cut off the end, stand in water. the following day, steam. To serve: lay out on a platter, serve with very thin ham slices, hard boiled egg and melted butter. The guest mashes up the butter and the egg, smears it over the spear and eats it with the help of one hand and a fork. Nothing quite like it.

In this “love in the time of..” generosity is so thrilling. K a long time friend, living in the US sent a surprise package to my house here in The Netherlands!! What a surprise! What a difference it makes to a day! Among the contents was a real book! I am appreciative of Kindle, it affords me access to books otherwise out of reach. But occasionally I miss the proverbial ‘roar of the greasepaint…. turning the pages; flipping to the end if I can’t wait to get there in proper order.

if you know someone who is shut in, alone, older, send them a card? Send a book? there is a great Post Office Book rate within the States. You will make their day. I know. I have experienced Gobsmacked!