Take your Meta and sit on it

 

I used to work for people who lived by magical thinking. They changed the names of stuff and told everybody the stuff itself changed.

No, it didn't.

Dear Dorky Mark: You're filthy stinking rich because your Facebook eats the souls of children. Because your minions ignore the parts of the world that doesn't speak, read, write English.

Change names of your umbrella company every 30 seconds ... it will still be Destructor of Democracy, Poisoner of Facts, Mind-sucker of the Globe. And not in a good way.

-30-

 

Early-warning System Charley

 

I participated in the two-day deluge of rain across Northern Nevada by cursing about water running in where it should not have.

The Truckee River went from rocks rinsed by a garden hose to an actual river, in about four hours. Fast flowing, chocolate water, foam. It's still got water in it today, but a couple feet less.

About two hours after the rain started on Sunday, Charley Le Chat Noir asked for my attention. He's 17 pounds and sounds like a squeeky mouse.

We visited the entry way, where he stared at the ceiling, then at me, then at the ceiling, where rain on the skylight was fast and loud. He accepted my claim that it was all OK.

But a couple hours later, he led me there again, and sniffed a wet spot on the carpet. Yep, the skylight was leaking. Again. After being repaired at least four times.

Out came plastic bowls. By Monday night there was maybe an eighth of an inch of water in them. Peeling paint overhead. Very wet cobwebs.

I was not surprised by water appearing in the garage, since the patio's not properly sloped. There are sand bags, but the friend who moved sand into undamaged bags last month filled three so full that I cannot lift them. They don't lie flat, either. I had to move one to roll out the garbage bin and didn't put it back.

My bad. Lazy, lazy bad.

Someday I have to move the cat carriers off the top of the packing box where the water flow ends to check what's in it. The recently-wet bottom's caving in. 

 And probably toss out the contents.

-30-

Hold your hat!

 
I want to be a good neighbor, but come on!

Rolled the trash bin to the curb this morning, in gusty winds.

National Weather Service reports wind gusts in the Truckee Meadows this morning from 21 mph to 32 mph. Wind speed’s got to be higher here in the Truckee River canyon.

Spotted trash blown onto my lawn, and into a rose bush.

Recovered 6-bottle crates, flattened: 3 Kona brand beer, 1 Modelo. Plus 2 pizza boxes.

I stuffed them back in the bin next door, which had its lid open. I’ve seen the nice people who live there enjoying bottled beer in hot weather.

Didn’t glance outside again for 1.5 hours. That bin was on its back, lid open. The next bin was also down and open, with stuff fallen out.

For a laugh, I tried to set them upright. Nope. Way too heavy. I did stuff a couple bags back into one.

Garbage pickup occurred a few minutes ago. Both of them are upright and empty.

Way to go, garbage guy!

-30-