Snakes and snails and alligator lizards

Happy June 1.

Good Afternoon - It's a pleasant 82 degrees. 

Paid my bills - went to the grocery store - and then came on back home. I've been out every day this week and I need to stay home and get some work done. The husband is working his part-time job - every Thursday and Friday. He keeps saying he wants to quit - this job income did not go into our regular budget so it makes no difference to me. It was just "fun money". I tell him, it's fine with me - I do miss him on these days but I also like my own time. He's been saying this for a couple of months. 

He's doing well after the cortisone injection - next week he'll start PT. 

I haven't been doing much in the garden - I'm not feeling comfortable out there until the tall weeds get cut - we have at least 3 alligator lizards and 2 snakes. (not to mention too many snails and slugs)

My husband loves reptiles and I don't mind them if they are in someone else's yard - Oh no, that makes me a NIMBY.

Shasta Alligator Lizard

Those Shasta alligator lizards are big (mine are about 9-12 inches) and they are territorial. Not like the cute little lizards we normally have. These guys, think they own the place and will charge you. They bite - and when they do, they don't let go. They are out and about during the day - I opened the door to go out to the patio and 2 of them stood their ground. They move like a snake. 

Okay, you win - I went back inside. 

Oh why, oh why can't I have cute little furry cottontail bunnies in my yard?

No, I get the slimy, mean, and slithering critters in my yard. 

I feel I need to wear fishing waders that go up to the hip before I would feel comfortable weed-eating the weeds. 

So yeah, for the first time, I am not feeling like my yard is my yard. 

So far the front yard is still mine. 

I just love red geraniums - they remind me of my childhood. That distinctive geranium aroma - I know the snails sure love them. 

It shocked me when I heard that in colder climates, people have to take them inside the house, for the winter months. They are hardy here and withstand a lot of abuse - not that I abuse my geraniums! For those who have to bring them inside, do you re-pot them and do you check it out to make sure there are no snail eggs? 

Can you tell I can't stand slugs and snails??? 

I need to tell you my snail story.

In Pacifica, there is a lot of coastal ice plant. They grow and bloom even in the fog. Because of this, they attract snails and slugs. I guess I was bugging the next-door neighbor boy, Alyn - he had a fort he made and I wanted in and he wanted it to be NO GIRLS ALLOWED. I kept persisting and finally, he tore off a snail-infested branch of the ice plant and threw it at me. I had long hair and my mom had to pick out the snails and slugs that were in my hair. Let me say, I FREAKED OUT. 

Another time I stepped on one barefooted and the same boy, chased me around the schoolyard holding a snail. Word got out that Debby hated snails so, the boys would chase me or go as far as to throw them at me. 

In my younger days - I would have vivid nightmares of snails crawling on my bed.

Hey, what can I say - some people detest spiders (which don’t bother me) and I detest snails and slugs.  

Yesterday morning, we were invited along with other families, to FINALLY have a memorial service at the CalVeterans home for those lost during the pandemic. 

It was good to see the other families - we all agreed how difficult it was, to not have that "closure" from the home. They just whisked their body away and packed up their belongings and that was that.  I admit, I always felt that my dear Father-in-law and those who passed were just passed over. It hurt. 

They gave each of the families,  a folded flag that flew over the White House. They also are placing a tile with each Veteran's name, and placing it on a wall in the front of the building. That will be nice and they are hoping it will be completed by Veterans Day. 

They had a slide show - and so many that I remembered had passed. Not all of them died from Covid - most from just old age. The oldest was 105 years old. 

I don't do photos of my family or us -but came across this photo.  Taken about 12 or so years ago. The husband was the VFW Chaplain and I was the Ladies' Auxillary President. 

We've changed. 

The husband now has a white beard - and my hair has turned white. We’re old. 

That’s it for me -

“May June bring you joy, happiness, love, and lots of sunshine.”

Debby

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge - for May 31, 2023

It's EASY - If you want to join in the fun - Answer these questions on your own blog, then back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. 

Thanks to Janice for hosting these Hodgepodges every Wednesday. 

1. Do you know much about (or understand) Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Does it worry or excite you? 

I can't say I know that much about it nor am I following it. It doesn't worry me and I can say, it doesn't excite me either. I'm ambivalent. Anyway, Alexa told me not to worry about it. <smile>

2. What was the last song you listened to? Your favorite movie soundtrack?

Just an hour ago we listened to this - 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra Live

 

 What song always puts you in a good mood?  

I can't think of a particular song right now, but almost all Christian music and some oldies from my past. 

3. What were you doing ten years ago? 

It was 2013. Well, about ten years ago (give or take) our adult children (The Boomerangs) finally moved out after living with us for about 3 years. 

Navy had just gotten out of the military - was living in the San Francisco Bay Area because he received a bigger living allowance since that was his home area - he was attending college through the GI bill - but he was unable to afford the rent. We suggested he move up here - after living in fleabag motels - he wouldn't make as much since the cost of living here is less and he took us up on it anyway. It was a joy having him back home. 

 Then Foodie was unemployed, living in Santa Clara.  To keep afloat, he was living off his 401k but the rents and cost of living were eating through it very fast so he moved up here from Santa Clara - It was nice having him up here - 

Then Char and her husband were practically destitute in Seattle - no work and lost their apartment. They had moved down here and lived in our 34-foot mobile home in our side yard - A few months later, they split up/ divorced and he went back up to Seattle. 

At first, it was nice - having them all here but then it wasn't after a while. Seems when our adult children moved back home after living independently on their own, they didn't feel they should follow our rules.  Cooking late at night - leaving dirty dishes, laying around playing on the computer all day when they should be looking for a job. Let’s face it. If you’re young and single, having to move back home isn’t fun for them either. I get that but It started to be stressful and ugly. I believe they were stuck from being depressed. 

I had to get a plan - and slowly I inched them out without them realizing it. 

I started making them pay me rent - once they got meaningful employment. Really what we did, was save the rent money they gave us, to give back to them when they moved out - first and last month's rent and deposit can be costly. Then I started making them buy their own food. I was not going to cook for them anymore unless it was a family dinner. 

It worked. And the experience made us closer. They respected us for standing our ground - even though at the time, it got heated. 

Within a month, they all moved out. And it was like Heaven on Earth. It's like they all three got together and had a meeting -  Char moved out first and the guys rented a place together and moved out 2 weeks after she did.

 We had our house back. We painted, put on a new roof, replaced all the windows in our home, new kitchen, new washer and dryer, new stove and microwave, extended the hardwood floors down the hall - replaced the carpet in our bedroom and living room area. We bought a car - sofa, and loveseat - 

When they were living with us, we just didn't want to do anything to the house. I think we were depressed. They were depressed as well. It’s not normal to live with your parents when you should be living your own life. 

Years later they apologized and Navy even had the experience of his in-laws living with him and his wife last year, having to foot the whole bill while they did nothing all day while he and Sara worked. It wasn't until they gave them an ultimatum.  NOW he fully understood our stress. 

Funny how that happens. 

4. Your favorite no-bake summer dessert?

 - the best no-bake dessert is a lemon meringue pie from the bakery. 

5. Something you're looking forward to in June? 

We had a fairly expensive action-packed May. I'd be fine to just chill at home and do what we always do - go out to eat, take in a few hikes, go to the lake - go to a local festival, and have the family over. 

We are tentatively planning to take a dinner cruise on Lake Shasta, with Navy and his wife sometime this summer.  I'm trying to get them to pinpoint the best time ...if not the husband and I will go without them. It books up fast and this is the year to go with the lake so full.  

I tend to be a spontaneous person so making plans tends to stress me out. I like to get up and say, "Let's go here." and we do it. To me, that's what retirement is all about. Sometimes, like this Dinner Cruise, you have to make advanced reservations and so trying to coordinate their schedule with ours (we really don't have a schedule) can be stressful for me. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

She has me wrapped around her paw

Susie has been coughing up those fur balls - my goodness those must be awful. I used to buy Petro-malt which she used to like but am unable to find that anywhere so I bought some little nibbly treats that are for hairball control. 

She refuses to eat it. 

I then went out and found another brand - expensive - the store said they will accept a return. Well, looks like I will be returning it for a refund. Now we could chase her around every other day, to place it on her nose or her paw - she will lick it then. But as soon as she sees that tube, she takes off and hides. 

As I have mentioned in past posts, I am codependent when it comes to my animals. I don't want her running away from me. So the husband and I are at odds -  I've decided HE can run after her. 

This and That

We are further along with the rocks than in this photo 

The weeds in this area have been taken care of -

Sadly, more weeds to go - 

And due to the weeds on the hill, we now have snails and slugs. 

Most I have seen in years. Lord, God I hate those little suckers. 

The soap trick so far has worked with the grape vines and it looks like we just might have a healthy harvest this year. 

When you live near mountains, they affect your weather, so we get thunderstorms. Poor Laydee, trembles but she is better during the day. At night, she shakes so severely that we end up having to give her Trazadone. And even that doesn't do the trick. Last night she paced up and down the hallway. 

I haven't heard about any lightening induced fires - nothing has been reported so far - so I am hoping we were spared. Sometimes it takes days before the spotters can pinpoint the exact area through webcams and drones. 

Yesterday we drove on up to the Northern California Veterans Cemetery. So nice to see children there and many young families - There were those in the audience who brought photos of their loved ones, who died in foreign wars. 

Old Glory sure looked beautiful. 

One of the keynote speakers, a Marine told his story and broke down and cried. He felt so guilty that he made it through - 

The former Cal Veteran Home administrator also spoke, an Air Force Veteran and she too, broke down and cried. There was not a dry eye anywhere. Even the guy who sang broke down. 

I've made it my little personal mission, to find every young person who died in the last three wars, at the cemetery. I will then, for next year make up a list of them to hand out to people on Memorial Day. 

Years ago I was the VFW President of the Ladies' Axuilary here. They never wanted to do anything and this should have been something we as a group would do. As in many groups, it seemed to be mostly about potlucks and dances. 

Interesting note - the Auxillary folded a couple of years later. 

I'll contact the administrator of the cemetery for the names and then see if I can get a print shop to donate the paper and all to print up these cards. If not, it shouldn't cost that much. I believe we have a total of 22 young men and women - not all of them are at this Veterans cemetery. 

The cemetery is relatively new - built in 2005 so unless a family moved their loved one to this Veterans Cemetery, we do not have any that died in battle from the previous wars. The first one I recall was in 2009 and my son,  Navy, and I went to the airport, along with other crowds of people, as his body was brought back home. Then there was a procession to the funeral home. 

No, Dad did not die in battle - he lived for 75 years - too short if you ask me. 

These are the incredible views surrounding the cemetery

A month ago, those yellow grasses were green - it doesn't take long for them to turn golden thus one of the reasons we are called the Golden State, which can be traced back to the Gold Rush in January 1848.  "The Golden State" also refers to California's stunning natural beauty. California's diverse landscapes feature a variety of golden hues, from the rolling golden hills to the golden poppy, the state flower that blankets fields and hillsides each spring.

This morning, my husband had a doctor's appointment down in Red Bluff. A good 45-minute drive south of us. He's seeing my surgeon for his shoulder. 

Good News - He has a shoulder impingement. The Doctor gave him a cortisone shot and in a week he will start physical therapy. The weed-pulling and rocks will have to wait a few days. 

Oh, and I also volunteered to be the Literature person at my Tuesday meeting. I don't know exactly what it entails but will figure it out as I go along. 

Tomorrow we go to the Veterans Home for a ceremony for those who died during the Pandemic - and never had an acknowledgment or ceremony - or nothing. It's been three years since Pops died (not of Covid) and finally, his name will be placed in the memorial, along with many others. 

I hope this finds you all well and happy on this Tuesday. 

Debby

 

The Pacifica Boys -

Living in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury in the 60s started to be contentious for families with children so my parents opted to move 22 miles down the coast, to a small sleepy surfing town named Pacifica. Population around 20,000. 

As I am sure many of you from that era know,  -  how hard it was, to remain in an ignorant bubble when the Vietnam War was raging and taking our young men. IT was always the talk in school, and around town - everybody pretty much knew everybody through someone else.  I don't know if it was that we lived so close to all the anti-war protests at the time or what.

 It has affected me to this day - losing so many neighbors, schoolmates - 

Our town was rocked when the first young man was killed in Vietnam in 1966. 

I was 11 years old and I remember seeing my dad cry for the first time. 

My dad was in Korea - and he knew...

18 years old at the time of his loss

 Lawrence Eugene Foster

Private
D CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California

June 23, 1947, to May 22, 1966

Lawrence was in the Marines, for less than a year and he was a Rifleman.

21 years old

Robert Erven Curry

Lance Corporal
FLSU 1, 3RD SVC BN, FLSG ALPHA, FORCE LOG CMD, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 06, 1945, to December 31, 1966

It is said a man hasn't died as long as he is remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends, and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.

Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die

_______

21 years old

James Stanley Bernard Childers

Lance Corporal
HMM-263, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 29, 1946, to February 15, 1967

Stan was nicknamed, "Stan the Man" as he was a popular high school athlete. The Childer Family had a lot of children and extended family - while I did not know Stan personally, I did know his younger siblings and cousins.  It was starting to get very close to home. 

20 years old

** Medford Adarine Chrysler **

Private First Class
1ST PLT, A CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California,
January 25, 1947, to July 02, 1967

 It was a beautiful July morning - everybody was out in the front yard when we saw a black limousine slowly drive past - looking for an address. My Mom instantly knew - the neighbors gathered in the middle of the street - Then we heard the most awful sound I have ever heard - Med's mother let out an anguished wail. He was her firstborn son. 

I was good friends with his sisters - he was part of our neighborhood gang of kids  In the summer we would all play hide and seek, knock on doors and run away or sit in the back of a pickup truck and talk.

We had just seen him in December - I still have that last time etched in my memory. 

His was the first military funeral I had ever been to. It made a lasting impression on me as well as my other friends. At the cemetery, his mom threw herself on his flag-draped coffin -

You just don't forget something like that. 

And then it just continued...

21 years old

James Edward Walker, Jr

Private First Class
D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
February 26, 1947, to April 29, 1968

"They grow not old, as we who remain to grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them. We shall remember them."

19 years old 

George Angelo Cabano, Jr

Private First Class
G CO, 2ND BN, 26TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
July 25, 1949, to October 03, 1968

In Loving Memory ... PFC. GEORGE ANGELO CABANO, JR.

You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!

20 years old

Robert William Compton

Sergeant
C CO, 3RD BN, 1ST INFANTRY, 11TH INFANTRY BDE, AMERICAL DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 02, 1949, to May 12, 1969

Robert William Compton was serving his country during the Vietnam War when he gave his all in the line of duty. He had enlisted in the United States Army. He began his tour on December 6, 1967. Compton had the rank of Sergeant. His military occupation or specialty was Tactical Communication Chief. Attached to 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, C Company.

This was his 2nd tour. 

22 years old

George Francis Patterson

Specialist Four
A TRP, 1ST SQDN, 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
December 26, 1948, to April 01, 1970

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire. George Francis Patterson was killed while at an artillery firing position when the area came under attack by a hostile force. / On reconnaissance patrol. Engaged hostile force in the firefight.

19 years old

Johnny Bryan White

Private First Class
154TH TRANS CO, 4TH TRANS CMD, ARMY SPT CMD SAIGON, 1ST LOG CMD, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
January 21, 1951, to April 16, 1970

In Vietnam not even a full month 

CASUALTY DATA: Start Tour: 03/19/1970 Incident Date: 04/16/1970 Casualty Date: 04/16/1970 Age at Loss: 19 

19 years old

David George Mc Kay

Specialist Four
B CO, 53RD SIG BN, II FIELD FORCE, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
March 04, 1951, to June 04, 1970

_______

21 years old

John Al Premenko

Sergeant
CCS, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 11, 1949, to August 14, 1970

Sgt. Premenko was a Green Beret (Special Forces). That was quite an accomplishment. He also had a wife and an 18 month old son and a 4-day-old son. 

_______

Once I learned to drive, I would go over to the Golden Gate National Cemetery in the next town over on Memorial Day and visit Med's grave. 

I talked about him to my boys - and on Memorial Day we always went to visit before we did anything else. I always think of him on the 4th of July as well.

My parents went to the Vietnam Wall years later and etched his name on a paper that I still have. 

Today I will go to our Northern California Veterans Cemetery for the services. Med's not there or any of my Pacifica boys - but their spirit is all around, every day and especially on Memorial Day. 

It's my duty - 

TOGETHER AGAIN. 

Medford and his parents are buried together - they share the headstone - Medford on the front, his parents, Adarine and Vivian on the back.

Hodgepodge Wednesday - Oh Brother!

If you want to join in the fun - Answer these questions on your own blog, then back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. Thanks to Janice for hosting these Hodgepodges every Wednesday. 

1. May 24th is National Brother's Day. Do you have a brother? Older or younger? 

I had a "brother from another mother." We were not raised together. His mom and my dad were teenagers when he was born. He was raised in rural Eastern Tennessee (Appalachia) and I was raised in San Francisco.  He was 4 years older than me. We couldn't have been more different. He had a Southern accent and I don't. We came from totally different backgrounds. I met him for the first time in 2009. I flew to Alabama, where he moved his young family for work back in the '70s and never left.  It's funny because as different and opposite as we were raised there were many similarities. Almost like twins, we had many of the same mannerisms and our personalities were similar as well. How did that happen??? 

My sister-in-law said after a day or so of observing the both of us together -

"Yep, you are John's sister." 

I took that as a huge compliment.  John passed away in Nov 2021 at the age of 71 and I miss him. 

 I keep up with my sister-in-law and their growing family there in Alabama. It was nice having a brother, even if for a little while... 

Did you raise brothers? Tell us something about your brother or tell us something about your own children who are brothers. 

Yes, I raised 3 brothers. All I can say is, Fun fun fun! They are three to three and a half years apart. Very close. I put them in the master bedroom in our house because they were friends as well as brothers. Foodie and Navy are still best buds. They know each other's friends as well. That's not to say, they always see eye to eye.  

"Half the time when brothers wrestle, it’s just an excuse to hug each other."

James Patterson

2. A great book you've read or a movie you enjoy that features brothers? 

1. A River Runs Through It with Brad Pitt - 

2. Legends of the Fall another early Brad Pitt

3. Tiptoes (my son Michael was an extra in this movie with Michael McConaughey and Gary Oldman.) 

3. Something you think is overrated? There is so much that is overrated in our current Bazzoro Clown World but I'll keep it simple and say: 

Chick-fil-A is overrated. 

In 2020 one was opened here in my town.  After hearing all the hype, my expectations were too high - maybe we ordered the wrong thing - maybe it was just that particular day. It wasn't bad, just not as good as we thought it would be. We haven't been back. 

I hope I didn't offend anyone - I know how Southerners love their Chick-Fil-A and Cracker Barrel. 

Something you think is underrated? 

Oh brother...sure you want me to go there? 

Anything good and innocent and pure is underrated. Everything that was once cherished, is underrated and demonized. And of course, anything that has to do with the Bible is put down as rubbish - mere stories of an imaginary superhero in the sky.  Even our womanhood has been hijacked -  now we have these cartoonish caricatures of what "they" believe a real woman looks like and acts like. 

And TRUTH is now underrated and redefined as well as History. 

Parents are underrated and Fathers are underrated. Masculinity is underrated.  Sorry, not sorry, but I want my man to be a manly man.

4. How much does your past shape you? What parts have shaped you the most?

The past has shaped who I am today. Both the good and the bad. The biggest change that happened to me was when my son Michael was born. As I have mentioned before I was 23, and this was 1977 and we didn't have the pre-natal tests they do now.  He was born with a form of bone dysplasia that resulted in dwarfism.  Up to that point, I was living in a happy little bubble of my own making. This slammed me into the world of being a parent - choosing what medical procedures I would allow, and what I wouldn't - always trying to seek the best for him.  

I had to take on responsibilities they didn't teach in Lamaze class! 

5. What's your favorite simple pleasure? It doesn't take much to please me. I'm a low-maintenance kind of gal. I'm content wherever I am. I have always enjoyed sitting by a body of water. Growing up it was the Pacific Ocean - years later, I have grown to enjoy the rivers and creeks and waterfalls. Although I am also quite fine, just sitting on my patio - watching the birds. 

6. Insert your own random thought here

On an airplane, which armrest is yours, if you sit in the middle?