God Jul

..and Happy Holidays from The Pavilion Guard.

Hoping all is well, wherever you may find yourself at this time.

Another Update

Yesterday a PGE repair crew miraculously arrived to take care of that problem tree limb. Just in time too, apparently, as I was told that the line had become so strained, it was barely attached to the house anymore.

By tomorrow morning we're supposed to be receiving another 2-4 inches of snow. Whoever originally said: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" probably wasn't thinking of how tedious it could be for regions that aren't accustomed to it. Sometimes there's just too much of the white.

The Looming Ice Monster

First Day Of Winter

How appropriate that is.

The ice arrived last night but now at 7:00 PM, it's snowing like crazy. Present accumulations here and around The Pavilion range from 7 inches to a few feet - and counting. The pictures below, illustrate the conditions and concerns. We still may lose power and one of the likely causes has been identified. Earlier while R.H. and I were wading through the snow around the property, we spotted a tree in the back yard, laden with ice and one of it's limbs sagging down onto the electrical line. This tree is notorious for losing limbs all by itself, in perfectly mild conditions, all year around. The limb in question is already cracked at the spot where it connects to the trunk. Every time the wind gusts, the tree emits ominous creaks and groans. Very unnerving. R.H. and I briefly discussed if there might be some way that we could deal with this: cut the limb off, try to prop it up somehow.. or even cut the whole tree down, but any hare-brained idea that came to mind had "Darwin Award" written all over it. That branch isn't just leaning onto the power line, it's actually tangled in it, as seen below. I called PGE to report the problem but understandably, they're already overwhelmed with trying to restore power to the estimated 45,000 + "customers" who are presently without electricity.

Our secondary concern is an old one. The Ponderosa Pine is covered with snow and ice. The way it's looming over the house, with most of its limbs growing on one side, (the west side of the tree) it almost resembles some giant monster from one of those old Godzilla movies. Ponderosa Pines are known for being more bare on the side that faces the prevailing winds. Looking at this one, it's easy to see which side gets blasted every year.


In other storm related news, The Pavilion Scenic Railway Line. Is out of service until further notice. In the photo below, one can see only a small portion of the track that is still partially exposed near the side of the house. At this time, no comments have been issued by PSR engineers or disgruntled passengers.

Miscellaneous pictures:

Update - 10:45 PM

With the freezing rain heading this way and power outages being reported, R.H. decided to purchase some extra wood bundles in case we lose power here at The Pavilion - a scenario which is becoming increasingly probable. Even with his 4 x drive truck, he had significant difficulty making the journey, but thankfully made it back OK. Motorists are getting stranded along the I-84 and other areas. Out here in this region, being so close to the Columbia Gorge, we're getting massive wind gusts, over 45 mph now. There are 10 inches of snow - much deeper in the drifts. If the weather folks are correct (as they have been so far) all of that snow will soon be covered with a thick crust of ice..

I'm openly saying now, this is the worst snow storm I've seen around these parts in many years.

More Storm Coverage

As of 2:00 PM - Saturday, the snow is really piling up here (about 4 inches so far) and the east wind is strengthening, with gusts up to 40 mph. Some time tonight and into tomorrow, this is expected to "transition" into freezing rain and then a possible full-blown ice storm. The view outside the home office window is resembling a blizzard.

Winterish

Drivin' in a Winter Wonderland
Heading back to The Pavilion, I was almost caught in that mess.
I got lucky with a well placed off-ramp.

Winter Wonderland

Technically it's not even winter, but nobody around here is going to deny that it truly is a winter wonderland. - Although some folks might prefer other, less cheery expressions to describe it..

Over the years, on this blog and beyond, I've expressed a few eye-rolls over the local TV "weather people" and their tendency to attempt whipping viewers into a frenzy over severe weather predictions. I've got to say this time, (and last year for the most part) they were accurate in their forecasting and given the seriousness of the conditions, the hyperbole aspect seemed more subdued. Sure, there's still all the "live on location" shots of reporters clad in their Columbia Sportswear, grimacing enthusiastically in the cold, reporting live from freeway over-passes and other outdoor points of interest, but I'm seeing a little more substance and a little less drama in the overall format. I'm grateful for this because I just want information - like what's up with the road conditions and what to expect in the next few days.

Here is me taking a shot at reporting on conditions at/around The Pavilion, with a bit of hyperbole of my own:

{{Ahem}}

The East Wind is howling like a forlorn demon. It's colder than a witch's left tit. The PDX area and beyond has received several inches of snow all the way down to sea level. Schools are closed, much to the delight of children and hung-over college students alike. The roads, especially residential ones, have become glazed-over hazards. They now look and feel more suitable for Winter Olympic challenges, rather than a safely paved route to travel by car, or even on foot. Slippery slush would be a welcome change at this point. As always, numerous SUV drivers are discovering that they are not exempt from the laws of physics. This lack of understanding isn't restricted to just SUV drivers though. The sides of local roads and highways are strewn with abandoned vehicles of all pedigree. Some questionably 'wise' drivers chose to stop and install their tire chains smack-dab right in the middle of the traffic. It's the same old dance. Mother Nature shows her frigid wrath, common sense takes a backseat for many.. and Jack Frost is at the wheel!

- Pictures at 11:00

This Is A Job For...

At first glance, it's a strand of black utility wires, ominously laying on the ground, but leading to what? Recently, one of the lower boughs of the pine tree growing in the back yard of The Pavilion had to be amputated due to it sagging down onto these very same utility lines. Even with the limb removal, obviously that weight on the lines had taken a toll. Looking up, I could see where a connection bolt had separated from a thicker line, causing the wires to come down. Fortunately, they're telephone wires, not affecting the adjacent power line to the house. The safe choice was to call the phone company, to schedule a repair and let them handle the task of reattching the fallen lines. Hopefully the repairs will be completed before (and if) the year's first 'Winter-Like' Storm arrives as predicted for this Sunday-Monday. Speaking of that, it's unusual to hear a forecast involving snow in the early portion of December. The temps are expected to drop down well below freezing next week, so I've performed the annual ritual of winterizing The Pavilion exterior and will do the usual indoor "dripping faucet trick" to ensure the water pipes don't freeze/burst, - as what happened at the next door neighbor's house, some years back. The look of misery on that guy's face (especially when he realized how easily that calamity could have been prevented) was one I'll never forget. Hopefully this winter won't be marked by too many interesting, weather surprises, but if it is, we're reasonably well prepared here.

A Christmas Wish

Reindeer Meatballs.

Seriously.

Another Pavilion Makeover

The buzzing of chainsaws yesterday marked the end of a couple of old Pavilion fixtures. Two huge cherry trees which had grown from *this* side of the property line, through the fence and leaned back over onto this property, finally met their demise. Apparently the next door neighbor got sick of them too and chose to spend the bucks to get rid of them. Having observed the wild growth of these trees over the last several years, I learned that cherry trees are very aggressive. They're like weeds of the tree world. They aren't content to enjoy a relatively solitary existence, like their other fruit-bearing cousins. This breed of cherry tree was constantly trying to send up new sprouts all over the place. Apparently they have an extensive root system that creeps up everywhere, seeking a new foothold. Now that they're gone, there's a beautiful view of the sky which hasn't been seen here for a long time. Those trees will be missed ..mostly by local birds and raccoons.

The October Country - Needle Storm

It's already that time of year again...

On The Morning Of This Day

On the morning of this day, six years ago, my dad finally passed on after a long struggle with Alzheimer's.

As was intended in my post about Dad last year, this entry is not just intended to commemorate his departure, so much as it is about remembering him and his accomplishments. He was a true engineer. Whenever I'm up against a technical problem, I always ask myself: "What would Dad have done to remedy this?" Although I don't possess a knowledge-base remotely close to his, I can often work through things just by imagining how he might have approached a particular situation. One talent I will always give him immense credit for, is how if he was up against something beyond his experience, he wouldn't hesitate to find a book on the subject, or pick up the phone. He loathed beginning any project in a half-assed way. That very principle often frustrated me in my years of.. 'youthful impatience' but various experiences since then have led me to appreciate that way of thinking. - Yep!

Another remarkable thing my dad was known for, was his ability to improvise with materials on hand. To this I must add though, he normally wouldn't ever improvise if doing so would compromise the overall reliability of the finished project. In fact, due to this stubborn ethic, there were many times where his improvisations became actual improvements on whatever the thing was supposed to be or do. He had a gift for looking at a constructed object or device and somehow know what its tolerances were. If dad ever said: "That's a piece of junk not worth fixing," he was always right, ..but very often he was able to fashion a superior replacement part for a broken device. (See last year's post.) Stuff that Dad fixed never seemed to need further repairs; at least involving his previous workmanship. If a little hand-milled aluminum ring did the trick, that one component would most certainly outlive the integrity of the rest of the gadget.

It's true that my dad wasn't a major "people person," but his most oft repeated advice about dealing with people was: "If they don't want to (insert situation) hire you / deal with you / refund your money / etc, then you have to.. POUND THE TABLE!" Of course I know he didn't mean that literally. In fact, Dad preferred to avoid personal and business-related confrontations as much as possible. I believe that was his own way of saying "The squeaky wheel gets the oil" - or whatever. His unique way of expressing that lives on among us in his family and others who knew him. It has even become a bit of inside joke of ours, yet the wisdom behind the message applies just as much today as ever. In this world of so many digital phone menus and faceless transactions, it's all too easy to get lost or trampled over in the background static. Sometimes you just have to.. pound the table!

I haven't forgotten that, Dad.

If anyone wants to add a comment to this or about Dad in general, just click on the blue "Comments" link right below this sentence.

The Phoenix Has Landed!

Recognizing the achievement and the ingenious people who made it happen...


When I look at those JPL geeks hugging, high-fiving each other and crying, I think about how incredible it is when people come together like that over something truly noble. It's not about political victories, who won the latest sports game or who is presently ahead in one of the numerous mind-sucking "reality TV shows." Exploration is what defines humans. Gathering knowledge in hopes of answering those eternal questions about why we're here and if we're alone in the universe.

They made their way to the outer rim of the dreaming dead city in the light of the racing twin moons. Their shadows, under them, were double shadows. They did not breathe, or seemed not to, perhaps, for several minutes. They were waiting for something to stir in the dead city, some gray form to rise, some ancient ancestral shape to come galloping across the vacant sea bottom on an ancient, armored steed of impossible lineage, of unbelievable derivation.

--"And the Moon Be Still as Bright"
(The Martian Chronicles) --Ray Bradbury

In Honor Of A Pavilion Guard

Last Monday was a sad one here at The Pavilion.

Recently "Mike The Cat" had been experiencing a lot of visible pain while trying to eat.

Based on a medical exam from last week, it was believed that he had an abscessed tooth that needed attention. Meanwhile, I fed him a diet of baby food and/or a tuna fish 'gruel' that I blended up in a food processor. Monday morning I brought Mike to the vet for what was supposed to be fairly "routine" oral surgery.

Mike was sedated for the procedure and then while under general anesthesia, his heart stopped and he couldn't be revived. The vet called just a couple of hours after I dropped him off, to tell me what had happened. To her credit, she sounded genuinely sad and regretful.

Next month, Mike would have been around for 10 years. He was still very lively and robust. I never doubted he had at least a few more good years left, so this was a shock. I'm having a surprisingly rough time with it. I keep expecting to see Mike in all of the usual places around the house; greeting me on the front porch or scratching to get into the office room. I know this sense of displacement is how I'll be feeling for some while to come. Now I understand what people say about how losing a pet can hurt like losing a (human) family member.

Truth be known, I was never much of a cat person before I became responsible for Mike, as expressed in this little online tribute I wrote about him, nine years ago:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A brief word about cats.. and "Mike The Cat"

I never truly disliked cats per say.. But as an admittedly biased dog person, I have previously viewed cats as being generally useless, often annoying and somewhat over-rated as a (supposedly) domesticated species. ..However, after getting stuck with "Mike," I've come to reconsider my take on the little bastards.

Mike is definitely possessed of a distinct personality that goes beyond his inherently clever instincts to dispose of his own bodily wastes and thin out the local bird population.

Like any intuitive room-mate, he cracks me up when I need it, or respects my space accordingly ..He clearly lets me know if I'm intruding on his territory!

He has also demonstrated being an eerily accurate gauge of human character. - Apparently better than I am at times.

Mike tends to avoid close contact with new human acquaintances until he is comfortable with their nature and overall intentions. (Possibly a wise idea, eh?) There is no mistaking if Mike approves of someone, but if he maintains a permanent distance, it's likely proven later to be for a good reason."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Those who also knew this funny old cat in person all agree that Mike was a unique character, as evident in the numerous sympathy messages I have received.

He is and will always be seriously missed here at The Pavilion.

Rest easy buddy and thank you for being my friend.

"Auntie Em, it's a Twister!"

Yesterday, there was considerable "tornadic activity" right across the Columbia river, in Hazel Dell, Washington. That's just a stone-toss away from The Pavilion. Although there was significant property damage, fortunately there were no injuries, unlike the tornado that struck the same area in 1972, and killed six people. According to weather records, tornadoes are very rare around here but this region actually does experience an average of two "funnel clouds" per year but we rarely hear about them as usually no damage results. What's interesting to me is (having personal, albeit a child's recollection of the '72 tornado in WA, and other touch-downs in recent years) is that when they do hit and cause noteworthy damage, it's always right across the river on the Washington side. Is that coincidence? Some slight variation of temperatures and/or geography at work? Maybe tornadoes have a vendetta against people who live in the Vancouver, Washington area... My dad used to bitch about Washington drivers. Lately I hear/read people referring to Vancouver as "Vantucky," which probably isn't intended as a compliment... In any case, Southern Washington (Vancouver & Hazel Dell to be precise) seems to be the Pacific Northwest's answer to Tornado Alley.

Hello 2008

As it's still January 1st in the time-space coordinates of The Pavilion...














HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!