So first thing Monday there’s an email from my doctor [sent, not a good sign, at 3:02 a.m.]

saying that since the lab test had come back positive for MRSA [a species of superbug resistant to pretty much anything] I needed to pick up some nasal goo and a body wash from the pharmacy pronto.

That being the case I loaded up and confused the dogs by taking off in a direction with which neither was familiar, Vallejo, abandoning them briefly in the depths of Kaiser’s dark parking structure before venturing into territory even less familiar, Fairfield for the salmon Safeway hadn’t had Sunday.  After Auburn they recognized Heather Glen, which made them happier, though regaining the interstate I noticed Stephen Chandler’s spiffy white Tacoma so we pulled over at Weimar to catch up, adding to the confusion.

The hill was otherwise uneventful; somewhere in the mountains, radio drifting in and out, were reasonable words from our soon-to-be-ex-President and also from Senator Sanders plus lots of redundant speculation about Mr.Trump but interestingly, now that he doesn’t need the publicity, nothing from his loud obnoxious mouth.  Propaganda Radio, indeed…89 was easy, deserted to Sierraville,

Sierra Valley nice and quiet to Hallelujah Junction for the usual gas.

395 to Doyle, the dirt at 3:30, the desert and

the gate by 4:45 to settle in as night fell and a so-called supermoon [not shown] rose itself up.

Later on what turned out to be the last call from L. as Tuesday morning the phone was dead…dead, and no amount of manipulation would wake it. I ordered a new charger and cord, which promised to arrive the next afternoon, then

back-dragged what I could of AAA’s work around the upper pond in increasing winds.

 

Dave discovered a charger I could try on the morrow which came soon enough so

gave the other wetter side of the upper pond a try, couldn’t do as well in the mud.

David’s setup failed to resuscitate my phone but I used his to contact Willey and also the p.o.,

… where Bengston’s print[s] had arrived so after lunch ran into town and back,

always an adventure!

Back at the ranch I fired up the dozer and rattled over to the far end of the lower pond for an hour’s worth of damage…not to mention the damage to the road by forgetting to lift the rake getting there

so quit in high winds for a cold walk with dogs.

After dark Mick from UPS dropped off the new charger setup which I set up…to no effect.  Another quiet night and twenty in the morning wherein

after pushing dirt I came in quite frozen for watercolors…

[in prevention and anticipation of The Woodrat]

then out again, pushing more dirt.

The sun set, as it often does, and after a most pleasant dinner with the neighbors a much-diminished moon arose, Thursday night.

Cold; very like November…brrr.

M