Wildflower Super Bloom hides on Mars with United de-electing staff
The California drought has ended — just as final tests of the desalination plant are ending. The last time this happened, the desalination plant was placed in ‘standby’ mode for 20 years. They are likely to mothball it again this year. And, to mark the end of the drought, the City Council has declared that it is no longer illegal to water lawns. Note, however, that a substantial number of people have replaced lawns with drought tolerant items — cactus and Astroturf synthetic grass.
The heavy rain during Winter (the rainy season) has resulted in an epic super bloom for California wildflowers. Since this happens at most about once a decade, Nazy and I have already expended substantial effort to see the remarkable spectacle. We’ve
“ … driven to Figueroa Mountain three (3!) times in search of the (purportedly) beautiful display of orange poppies,” Nazy noted.
“To no avail,” I replied as I thought about the landscape views we’d seen there.
“But, the local news had beautiful pictures taken from the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The flowers are in bloom there.” Nazy replied.
“Where is Carrizo plain?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, but the newscaster said that it was 56 miles from the nearest gas station.”
“That’s reassuring,” I replied. “This place isn’t in the middle of nowhere,” I thought, “it is nowhere. The only attraction more remote is the Tharsis Bulge on Mars.”
Unfortunately, Heidi, the auto’s navigation computer had not heard of Carrizo Plain. (We should have said Soda Lake, California.) Siri was likewise ill-informed. We relied on Google Maps as interpreted by Nazy. I was skeptical as we headed South on The 101. (Carrizo Plain is North of Santa Barbara.) Then we took a wrong turn in Ojai.
“We took a wrong turn?” Nazy interrupts.
“You’re right, it wasn’t a turn. We went straight toward Santa Paula — which was in exactly the wrong direction.” I reply.
“I asked you, Dan, to look at the map and the driving instructions. You looked and then you went the wrong way.”
“We went the wrong way, my dear.” I replied.
“We? You were driving. You were Captain of the Ship.”
“Far be it from me to shun responsibility,” I replied. “20 miles the wrong way.” I thought. “I wonder if we’ll get to Carrizo before sunset,” I muttered.
“But we saw some pretty flowers, on the way,” Nazy noted.
The drive, through valleys and mountain passes, was beautiful. It would have been more relaxing if Nazy hadn’t been gripping her seat while she whimpered something about slowing down.
Incredibly, we arrived in Carrizo Plain well before sunset. The road deteriorated to a pot-holed macadam trail and then a packed dirt path.
The drive home was quicker (because Heidi knows where we live.) We stopped in San Luis Obispo for a great dinner at a Northern Italian restaurant. (How can you go wrong with Italian food?) We got home with no problems.
Regular readers are aware of my challenges with United Airlines. (It once took three days to get home on a ‘flight’ from Geneva; for details, click here.) This week, however, I discovered that my travel travails were minor compared to what United has done to others. A doctor was dragged out of a United airplane because they needed the seat for a non-paying Flight Attendant. In a related story, a Police here in Santa Barbara were called in to drag someone onto a United flight.
“There is, however, a possible good side here,” I asserted.
“Good?” Nazy replied skeptically.
“Yes. The current ‘administration' wants to outsource governmental business to private industry. Maybe they’ll give Air Force 1 to United Airlines.”
“Dan..”
“They can toss the current office holder out of the airplane —and then announce that they’re re-accommodating a disgruntled electorate by involuntarily de-electing the dolt that is occupying the Presidential office.”
“Not a bad idea.”
We also celebrated Easter with Tom, Melika, Tiger and Arrow. Tiger found a lot of hidden Easter Eggs. He really likes sweets.
“It’s not a good idea to tell him about Halloween,” I suggested.
“No more Jelly Bellys,” Melika insisted.
Note to self: Anyone who’s said: “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” has never tried to take candy from a baby.
In the last week, Arrow has learned to crawl. Mobility brings new challenges to grandparents.
Tiger, of course, continues to amaze — as only a two-year old can do. He inherited a plethora of ‘stubborn’ genes. He knows what he wants and is not shy about stating it.
“Sometimes, Dan,” Nazy interrupts. “He ‘knows’ what he doesn’t want.”
“Precisely,” I reply.
Currently he’s fixated on jelly beans and the solar system. Mitra brought him a Hot Wheels Mars Rover. He can also identify Betelgeuse and Rigel in the Orion constellation.
The heavy rain during Winter (the rainy season) has resulted in an epic super bloom for California wildflowers. Since this happens at most about once a decade, Nazy and I have already expended substantial effort to see the remarkable spectacle. We’ve
“ … driven to Figueroa Mountain three (3!) times in search of the (purportedly) beautiful display of orange poppies,” Nazy noted.
“To no avail,” I replied as I thought about the landscape views we’d seen there.
“But, the local news had beautiful pictures taken from the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The flowers are in bloom there.” Nazy replied.
“Where is Carrizo plain?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, but the newscaster said that it was 56 miles from the nearest gas station.”
“That’s reassuring,” I replied. “This place isn’t in the middle of nowhere,” I thought, “it is nowhere. The only attraction more remote is the Tharsis Bulge on Mars.”
Unfortunately, Heidi, the auto’s navigation computer had not heard of Carrizo Plain. (We should have said Soda Lake, California.) Siri was likewise ill-informed. We relied on Google Maps as interpreted by Nazy. I was skeptical as we headed South on The 101. (Carrizo Plain is North of Santa Barbara.) Then we took a wrong turn in Ojai.
“We took a wrong turn?” Nazy interrupts.
“You’re right, it wasn’t a turn. We went straight toward Santa Paula — which was in exactly the wrong direction.” I reply.
“I asked you, Dan, to look at the map and the driving instructions. You looked and then you went the wrong way.”
“We went the wrong way, my dear.” I replied.
“We? You were driving. You were Captain of the Ship.”
“Far be it from me to shun responsibility,” I replied. “20 miles the wrong way.” I thought. “I wonder if we’ll get to Carrizo before sunset,” I muttered.
“But we saw some pretty flowers, on the way,” Nazy noted.
The drive, through valleys and mountain passes, was beautiful. It would have been more relaxing if Nazy hadn’t been gripping her seat while she whimpered something about slowing down.
Incredibly, we arrived in Carrizo Plain well before sunset. The road deteriorated to a pot-holed macadam trail and then a packed dirt path.
“I just saw the remains of Martian rover,” I said as the car bounced over a pile of rocks.
“You’re going too fast,” Nazy replied.
“Do you know where they tested the Curiosity Rover that landed on Mars?” I asked, undeterred by Nazy’s lack of interest and fixation on speed.
“There are no flowers on Mars,” Nazy replied.
“There are no roads either,” I noted. “It’s just like here.”
This time we were not disappointed. The hillsides were covered with yellow sage flowers. There were splashes of color everywhere.
The drive home was quicker (because Heidi knows where we live.) We stopped in San Luis Obispo for a great dinner at a Northern Italian restaurant. (How can you go wrong with Italian food?) We got home with no problems.
Regular readers are aware of my challenges with United Airlines. (It once took three days to get home on a ‘flight’ from Geneva; for details, click here.) This week, however, I discovered that my travel travails were minor compared to what United has done to others. A doctor was dragged out of a United airplane because they needed the seat for a non-paying Flight Attendant. In a related story, a Police here in Santa Barbara were called in to drag someone onto a United flight.
“There is, however, a possible good side here,” I asserted.
“Good?” Nazy replied skeptically.
“Yes. The current ‘administration' wants to outsource governmental business to private industry. Maybe they’ll give Air Force 1 to United Airlines.”
“Dan..”
“They can toss the current office holder out of the airplane —and then announce that they’re re-accommodating a disgruntled electorate by involuntarily de-electing the dolt that is occupying the Presidential office.”
“Not a bad idea.”
We also celebrated Easter with Tom, Melika, Tiger and Arrow. Tiger found a lot of hidden Easter Eggs. He really likes sweets.
“It’s not a good idea to tell him about Halloween,” I suggested.
“No more Jelly Bellys,” Melika insisted.
Note to self: Anyone who’s said: “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” has never tried to take candy from a baby.
In the last week, Arrow has learned to crawl. Mobility brings new challenges to grandparents.
Tiger, of course, continues to amaze — as only a two-year old can do. He inherited a plethora of ‘stubborn’ genes. He knows what he wants and is not shy about stating it.
“Sometimes, Dan,” Nazy interrupts. “He ‘knows’ what he doesn’t want.”
“Precisely,” I reply.
Currently he’s fixated on jelly beans and the solar system. Mitra brought him a Hot Wheels Mars Rover. He can also identify Betelgeuse and Rigel in the Orion constellation.
For last week's letter, click here
Two pictures below
Dan and Nazy and Yellow Sage
Dan and Arrow
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