locusts flipflop through winter beach walks with fish tank
Winter has arrived in Santa Barbara!
“How can you tell?” Nazy asked.
“The days are short.”
“But warm.”
“… and sunsets come early. And it’s cool.”
“Isn’t winter supposed to be cold, Dan?”
“In some places. But here, I know that winter has arrived when beach walking in flip-flops is uncomfortable.”
“You’re not going to be popular in New England, Dan.”
On a warm afternoon, Nazy and I went to lunch with Melika and the local grandchildren. We enjoyed hot dogs and fish tacos at the Shoreline Cafe and then walked along the ocean. Tiger and Arrow drew
“ …. A, B, Cs in the sand, Dan.” Arrow announced.
In August, when we moved, I arranged to have the ocean conveniently placed within walking distance of the new house. Nazy and I have taken full advantage of that fortuitous decision…
“… but we still have to be aware of the tides, Nazy.” I explained. “Remember when we got drenched a year ago.”
“I remember it well. You even lost your footing.”
“The tides will be very big near the super blood wolf moon eclipse..”
“Super? Blood? Wolf? Are you making this up?”
“It’s a big deal,” I claimed. “The moon is close to the earth and the eclipse will be very dark red.”
“What’s that have to do with a Wolf?”
“The Wolf Moon is the name of January’s full Moon… which this year will be eclipsed when it rises in Santa Barbara.” The eclipse was spectacular: the Moon was deep red and the skies were dark. One thousand miles north, in Bellingham, Washington, Darius was…
“ … not very excited, Dad. The Moon looks the same as it always looks.”
“Do you see anyone nearby with a flashlight pointed at the sky?” I asked.
“That makes no sense, Dad. But while we’re on the subject, what do you know about the locust plague of 1875?”
“While we’re on the subject?” I thought. “I know that locusts ruined my grandfather’s farm in Nebraska in 1931 just before the dust bowl. My Mom told me that the skies turned black and the grasshoppers ate everything.”
“That’s more than 50 years after the midwest plague of 1875. I need to know exactly where the locusts destroyed the crops for a paper I’m writing.”
“Have you tried the internet?” I asked smugly.
“… Dad..”
“Oh, right! Facts vanished from the Internet when the current ‘president’ was elected.”
“I need detail, Dad. Believe it or not, there is very little information about the specific counties that were hit.”
“I’ll ask my loyal readers for 1875 grasshopper information.”
“Thanks Dad.”
Nazy and i have continued efforts to eliminate everything stored in a box inside or within walking distance of our home. Nazy is toying with interesting sunglasses, and I’m doing everything I can to help. When we discovered a box of rocks, I rearranged my aquarium to…
“You rearranged your aquarium?” Nazy asked. “We had an expert come and redo the aquarium after you killed all the fish.”
“I did not kill all the fish.”I replied indignantly. “Just most of them.” I thought.
“Thirty Neon Tetras, Dan.” Nazy remarked.
“Yep,” I replied. “Forty,” I thought.
In spite of more than 50 years’ experience with aquariums, I relied on a professional to set up this one because “Santa Barbara water, very hard, mandated special attention”. It didn’t work. The mess was so bad that I needed another expert to fix it. We’re back to normal now:
“…. fish that swim instead of fish that float.” Nazy interjected.
“Some of them sank,” I replied.
Aquarium looking good now
Aside: emptying boxes does not automatically clear clutter…
“You’re just moving debris from box to staircase,” I said in response to Nazy’s ‘suggestion’ that I carry things upstairs.
“I have places to put that stuff,” Nazy claimed.
“Me too,” I replied. “The Dump,” I thought.
Tiger continues to progress in his swim lessons. He is in early stages of learning how to surf; Arrow, meanwhile, is happily splashing. Dylan, his teacher, is ..
“Trying to get him to make ‘bubbles’, Nazy.” I explained.
“I saw that.”
“But Arrow simply sticks his tongue out.”
“He’s thinking of Trump,” I replied. “A cartoon bully.”
“Trump caved, Dan.” Nazy observed.
“Like the site of a nuclear weapon test,” I agreed.
“He thinks he won.”
“So do the New Orleans Saints. The only difference is that the Saints should have.”
Azelle has been introduced to solid food. (Assuming, of course, that rice cereal can be characterized as ‘solid’. Tiger, with his new haircut, is happily helping feed Azelle.
For last week's letter, please click here
Santa Barbara Sunset
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