Red Maple in bloom

I didn't know the word pareidolia  until it became the theme for our next GNO Christmas gift.   I do remember reading a few articles before that postulating that the tendency for the human brain to see patterns is a survival strategy so it's possible I had come across it.   I have been thinking about  'pareidolia' lately trying to figure out an appropriate gift and suddenly I'm hearing the word often.   Yesterday, I perked up when some guest on a TV talk show mentioned pareidolia.  Today's Words With Friends word search game's subject was pareidolia.  Tonight I was listening to Dan Brown's latest audio book and - you guessed it - the characters talked about pareidolia.  Friend Nancy said she also  had just seen the word in a Facebook post.   No, it's not that BIG BROTHER is listening in on our conversations and causing this to happen (at least I don't think so - ha).   It's most likely the Baader-Meinhof phenomena or 'frequency illusion'.    A new word or object can cause us to have selective attention.  For example, someone is considering buying a red car.   Their brain will prioritize and 'flag' any red car encounter.   Therefore, every subsequent red car seems confirmation that there are are a lot of red cars - reinforcing the perception of frequency even though there are no more red cars than usual.    There are some fascinating examples of  the Baader-Meinhof  phenomena in our history (even the name has a story behind it).   Cool stuff but doesn't get me any closer to a pareidolia Christmas gift.

By the way, I've posted about the Baader-Meinhof phenomena before.  Interestingly enough in conjunction w/ a GNO Christmas gift idea.

Whip on Bifrost

I haven't received my tax refund yet (mailed it in February).   Wasn't all that concerned but the U.S. mail being unreliable I began to wonder if my tax returns had made it to the IRS.  Got on-line and the system verified that it had received it and the refund was ready.  However, the IRS wanted me to give them my banking account routing number so they could direct deposit it.  If I'd wanted it direct deposited I would have given them that info when I sent in the return.  The on-line website said I should receive a form informing me I needed to give them the banking info and I had 30 days after that to get them the info.   I called the IRS hotline.  Wasn't a bad wait time and I asked the rep what happens if I don't give the IRS my banking account.  "After you receive the form they will hold your refund for an additional 30 days before sending you the physical check."   I repeated back to her that if I did nothing the IRS would eventually send me the check.   She answered in the affirmative.  This is not a shining example of government working for it's people.

I received a letter last month that Waste Management would no longer be picking up garbage in this area and April 20th would be the last pickup day.   Thought that was strange.  A week later I got an e-mail stating if I really wanted them to pick up my garbage they would but I had to let them know by April 10th.  At the election the gossip was that the WM area manager (located in a different part of the state) was upset that our town wouldn't allow them to run their heavy trucks on town roads during the spring road bans and proclaimed pick up in our area was 'unprofitable'.    After the letter was sent out stating they wouldn't pick up our garbage, someone pointed out that our town was the most profitable since the landfill is right on the line between the Town of Stubbs and our town.  The Town of Stubbs where the landfill is located had negotiated w/ the landfill that their residents could drop off garbage free of charge.  The nearest village has their own garbage pickup service.  Therefore, our town is the most profitable one for garbage pickup since they use less gas and time servicing an area so close.  That's when the e-mail was sent.  I wanted to see how this all played out so I hadn't responded.  Monday is my usual pickup day and they picked up my garbage and the bin.  I could call and ask why they picked up my bin a week early but if the gossip is true, Waste Management has issues.  Let sleeping dogs lie.

Late last week a big semi passed me, kicked up a pebble that hit my windshield.  A pretty long crack is growing from that ping.  Time for a new windshield.  I haven't had to get a new windshield since Big City days.  Called my insurance and they gave me the name of two companies they recommended and said I just give them my insurance info - no deductible for windshields.  Life is good.

Tag Alder

Excerpts from the Sheriff's report:

12:38 a.m. - Clinic stating they had a young girl there that had jumped out of a moving vehicle at 60 m/p/h.  Clinic asked for the number for the on-call DHHS worker.

7:46 a.m. - Complainant said a note was left on her vehicle regarding learning to park and the person's IQ.  Reporting party is having issues with the neighbor that she feels threatened by and she wants this documented.

10:43 a.m. - Reporting party states they were on a phone call with someone they have used as a spiritual advisor.  During the phone call the person of interest told them they are shooting cats on their farm.  Reporting party googled to confirm this is animal cruelty and called 911.  Reporting party did not have an address, only that it is across from an Amish farm.  Dispatch sent information to animal control.

11:18 a.m. - Reporting party believes they lost a black duffel bag with clothes and a gun in it on County Road D.

2:03 p.m. - Reporting party stated items they picked up from an estranged ex smell of bleach and had bleach spots on them.  They are unsure if the ex was aware of this.  Reporting party told this is not a law enforcement issue and to ask their ex about it.

3:46 p.m. - People cleaning out a residence believe they found explosives.  Neighboring county bomb squad was called.  Family allowed to continue cleaning during 2.5 hour wait for bomb squad to arrive.  Bomb Squad seized two training hand grenades, two used fuses, and four 30mm rounds.

4:44 p.m. - Bank staff reported to officer that male came in and attempted to cash a check that was regularly mailed to the bank.  Staff could not cash the check because he recently closed all accounts with them.  Male in question yelled, threw a pen onto the counter, and went outside and began to urinate on the sidewalk.  Staff saw this and yelled at him.  One staff member said she did see his penis.  

7:45 p.m. - Crash detection.  EMS and Fire called out.  Vehicle determined to be unoccupied with multiple firearms inside.  Driver drove off curve south of Murphy Flowage and went 300 yards through the woods.  He fled the scene.  His father showed up and collected the weapons and other valuable items.  Open intoxicants clearly visible in the vehicle.  Citations for open intoxicants and failure to report an accident to be mailed.

7:53 p.m. - Officer waved down by individual who stated a 30-lb propane cylinder was stolen out of the back of his truck at Walmart.  Officer in contact with Walmart employees looked at surveillance footage but unable to find complainant's truck in the lot at the time described.

9:30 p.m. - Caller reports he was riding his scooter and got clothes-lined by a hanging wire coming off a telephone pole.  Depty reports it was a ground wire.  He wrapped it around the pole.

Northern Flicker

Had a library volunteer's meeting.  Librarian Trevor used it to talk about interlibrary loans.  Our library is part of a consortium of over 50 libraries.  Most patron requests for books can be handled within our grouping.  Interlibrary loans are either a book that a library might own  because it is a local author or was donated to us.  It could also be an older book where few copies remain on the shelves.  Of course then there are book clubs that require multiple copies of a book at the same time for their monthly selection.  Requests from outside the consortium are noted and need to be handled differently in order to get the book to the requestor in a timely manner.  Trevor had a video explaining the process and a handout.  We don't get many of these requests - maybe one every two weeks.   I rarely see them so when I do I  pull out the manual and follow the steps in the 'interlibrary loan' section step by step.  Nice to see this overview but keep the manual up-to-date

Last night a series of warm weather days was ushered in by a wonderful thunder and lightening display.  It's been months since I heard rain on the roof.  By the time church let out this morning it was a balmy 60 degrees.  I could hear the siren song of frogs croaking from the fens.    Whip and I took off to see what we could discover.   I found more species of birds that have migrated back and the tag alders are blooming.  Whip found the leg of a deer.  It will be a warm wet week - perfect to jump start Spring.  Of course, next weekend it will be cold enough for snow again.  Changeable weather I guess is also a sign of Spring.

Minimalist Decorating

 

I sent off an e-mail to my House Rep and got his automated response this morning.   When sending an e-mail through the federal system, the form requires a prefix to your name (i.e. Mr., Mrs., Sister, Doctor, Honorable, etc.).  Over the years I've tried out many prefixes (after all, I am a Sister to my siblings and attempt to be Honorable in all of my dealings).  Lately though I've settled on the 'Ms.' prefix.  Smiled today when I realized the responses from this rep  refer to me as 'Miss'.  I haven't tried 'Mr.' but  I'll use that for awhile.  I'd estimate that half of the time, my rep's response has nothing to do w/ the topic I wrote about.  Pretty sure that neither he nor any other being actually reads it.  At least I'll get a laugh if his automated response will be to "Mr. Susan Mayer".

Mourning Doves are getting frisky.  Well the males are.  So far the females are having none of it.   The frost is out of the ground - at least the Town Chairman said he tested a number of roads and none were 'squishy'.  Might be my imagination but there is even a faint red haze over parts of the forest.  The red maple are thinking about blooming.

Sister Connie and Brother-in-law Dan are having their home remodeled.  This picture was taken by Connie to show they are ready for the workmen.   While their house is torn up they will be living in their attached apartment.  Good thing the weather is getting nicer and they can both go outside.  Compulsory togetherness might become too much of a good thing.

Going through the Change

Monday had been prep day for Tuesday's Election Day.  Wednesday would be filled with post-election activities.  It took a little to get to sleep last night but stayed zonked out until Whip started licking the hand I had exposed over the side of the bed - two minutes before my alarm went off.  (I don't think she's figured out how to read a clock yet.)  My legs still ached because of walking on concrete floors yesterday but the constitutional got most of the kinks out.   I had offered to deliver the election paperwork.   The school and county courthouse don't open until 8.    Plenty of time for breakfast.   Our town clerk likes to make sure her poll workers are comfortable so she stocks the refrigerator at the town hall w/ all sorts of snacks before an election.   I prefer bland food and water on election day but as we were packing up last night I snagged a yogurt, chocolate milk, and muffin for this morning's repast.  I don't usually drive directly past the school so it hadn't registered w/ me that, when they began a new construction project at the end of March, access points might change.    A mesh metal fence and  mounds of earth blocked the visitors parking and entrance.  I found the last parking spot by the nearest door (once the grade school entrance when I attended school).  The voice on the other end of the door's intercom asked me to use door E8 and said it was "around back by the cafeteria".   It's been over 50 years since I graduated from here and I don't know where the cafeteria is now.  Of course this might be a test to see how well they had trained me.  Each door was numbered and proceeded by letters "W" or "N".  Obviously cardinal directions.  That meant 'around back' was going completely around the building.  I found the door and after ringing a couple of times it unlocked.   The school has become a rabbit warren of rooms and corridors but fortunately there were "Office This Way' signs pinned up at intersections.  A very nice secretary introduced herself and said she hadn't received election materials before so I gave her our items and explained they needed to copy the poll book I'd brought if they wanted a copy.  She dutifully did that and I followed the signs backward out of the building.  Then drove to the county seat.   The clerk from the  Town of Thornapple and I arrived at the same time.  I motioned for her to go ahead - more out of curiosity than politeness.  Thornapple eschews using the voting tabulator claiming it's 'not accurate'.   I wanted to overhear her conversation w/ County Clerk Connie as they went through the paperwork.  It was interesting.  When it was my turn I got an 'atta-boy' from Connie for having everything in order.   Texted Chief Inspector Andy and Town Clerk Chris that the election material was delivered.  Once I got back home sent off an e-mail to both of them w/ a spreadsheet of the hours worked by each poll worker so payment could be OK'd by the Town Board at this Thursday's meeting.  Down to the Town Hall this afternoon to put things back in order for that board meeting.  I stowed away the tabulator, plexiglass guards, and voting booths.  Moved the remaining tables and chairs into a useable (though unconventional) configuration.  Picked up any remaining detritus.  Yesterday took more out of me than I thought since I totally forgot I had a Zoom meeting w/ friends today.    The last meeting I blew off was in 2010.  I'll faithfully write down  meetings from now on - or what's a white-board for?

Dark-eyed Junco

Non-partisan election today.  For us that meant school board, county board rep, and state judges.  As I said, I double checked w/ the state elections board and we would have to hand-count write-in's for the school board and county board rep since no one was running for those offices.  The day began slow enough that we finished counting all of the absentee ballots by the time the first live voter arrived.  After that we had voters coming in all through the day - but never had line of more than three people so everyone was pretty happy.  Well, except for the guy who had moved with in the town.  He was in the poll book and had a valid photo ID so we let him vote but then had him fill out a new registration for his current address.  He kept mumbling things w/ 'crap' and 'bogus' thrown in but I never heard them clearly.  Instead I thanked him profusely for doing the extra paperwork and offered him a cookie.  A lady walked in but when she realized she couldn't just vote a party line left w/o voting at all.     After the polls closed we first counted all of the ballots. Good: the number of ballots equaled the number of voters who signed the poll book that equaled the counter on the tabulator machine. Then we started tallying all of the write-ins.  That took 2 hours so we didn't get out of the town hall until 10 tonight.  Andy and I had already decided not to put everything away nor clean up.  We were too brain dead and all of that I can accomplish tomorrow.    The town clerk called in the tally counts to the county offices but the paperwork won't be delivered until tomorrow   Best thing is for all of us is to get home and get some sleep.  Smiling and being pleasant all day is exhausting.

Ice Covered Lily Stem

Had my last early morning visit to the cardiologist (at least for awhile) earlier this week.  She let me know our next steps and then was telling a story about some of her patients that go through a couple of pots of coffee in the morning and then bottles of caffeinated soft drinks in the afternoon.  I told her I was rethinking the latte I planned on picking up after this visit and she laughed and said a coffee in the morning wasn't going to be a problem. Whew - that's a relief.

Yesterday I got my hair cut (or rather 'all of them cut' as my German grandfather would correct).  The beautician was concerned she had let her husband take care of taxes this year and he'd gone to an accounting company to have it done.  "That should mean it was done correctly.  Right?" she fretted.  They'd already received the state refund.  She'd just gotten a notice from the IRS about the federal refund but it wasn't for the correct amount nor was it their ID number.  Reminded me that I had received my state refund but was still waiting on the federal.  Hadn't planned on worrying about it until June.  Could start early I guess.

The latest storm started during the night and, this far north, was suppose to be snow.  Instead it's sleet. Ground is warm enough that the constitutional was crunchy but not slippery.  Whip, who doesn't like her head getting wet, was not happy but dutifully went out w/ me.  When we turned to go back home, though, she raced ahead, opened the front door, and waited for me in the foyer.  Maybe I shouldn't have taught her how to open the door on her own.

Red-Winged Blackbird

 Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

2:02 a.m. - Complainant reporting a male hit a vehicle.  Officer at residence of male in question observed damage to vehicle including a missing wheel cap that was located at the scene.  Male admitted to striking the parked vehicle and said he hadn't drunk any alcohol since arriving home.  Male could hardly stand up straight, smelled like alcohol, and had glassy eyes.  He was placed under arrest for second OWI, and cited for hit and run.

9:28 a.m. - Call from Railroad Company reporting a male that had successfully boarded the train.  They need him removed before they can continue.  Search of train cars conducted.  Nobody found.  Foot prints observed in snow.  Train conductor made aware of search results.

10:26 a.m. - Walk-in to Law Enforcement Center requesting a deputy to keep the peace during an auctioneer's assessment.  States sisters may cause issues.

10:39 a.m. - Female reporting she was kicked in the knee by her juvenile daughter.

11:17 a.m. - Reporting party came to Law Enforcement Center to report he's getting death threats.  He met a female online and there was communication between them about transferring $3,500 onto a credit card.  When reporting party didn't do as instructed other unknown persons stared contacting and threatening him.  Reporting party never met this female in person, all contact was through text.  He  was told to contact his credit card company and block the phone numbers.

11:19 a.m. - Caller reporting there are kids trespassing onto his son's property.  There are tracks leading back to the shed and other buildings.  Parents of children ages five and seven were informed that children are going onto other people's properties near their residence.

2:30 p.m. - Caller reports they are being harassed by a telemarketer who has made numerous calls and will not stop.  Reporting party was told to contact trade and consumer protection agency.  Reporting party would rather deal with the telemarketer.

3:54 p.m. - Caller reported wife has been missing since Christmas, is worried about her.  Caller states wife abandoned him and their two kids.  When asked why he didn't report this when it happened caller stated he was trying to make things work.  When deputy called complainant he believed deputy was his wife and began yelling and complaining about the situation.  Caller was told law enforcement would not take action and he should start divorce process.

4:19 p.m. - Caller reporting a person trying to bury themselves in the snow, possibly under the influence.  Male found slumped over the porch railing.  Later determined it was a female heavily intoxicated.  Female appeared to be throwing up as officers left the residence.  Probation placed a hold on female who had a warrant.  She was taken into custody.

Jigsaw Puzzle

On the morning constitutional Whip found something of interest to her nose in the meadow.  I stopped a way off to let her explore.  These walks are for both of us so she should be allowed reasonable time to enjoy herself.  I could hear turkeys down below the ridge.  I've been hearing them more often lately.  Sandhill Cranes are back.  They are loud and raucous a nice reminder that change is in the air.  The sun was rising which is a signal for the crows that meet in the trees to break up their gab fest and take off in diverse directions.  Then I heard a trill - red-winged blackbirds are back.  Neighbor Doug said they were but I hadn't seen one yet.  There were two of them in different choke cherry trees making 'note' of their staked out territory.  Feeding mealworms during the winter was a short lived experiment.  Will set some out again and see if I have any birds (carnivore or omnivore) will come to that feeder.

I had made a quiche a week ago.  Had leftover heavy cream and a pie crust.  Instead of making another quiche decided to try my hand at custard pie.  It's one of my favorites but not always carried by restaurants.  Turns out they are very simple to make.  My first effort may not be the prettiest but it tastes exactly as it should.

Temps rose to 60 this afternoon.  I raised Sleipnir's garage door and worked on another five flower pots.  I'm just cleaning out dead leaves, stems, and plants.  In May I'll decide if the plants in different pots should be combined and/or add annuals to fill them out.  This early start will make things go faster.  Plus Whip likes to lay in the sun by the open garage door and keep watch.

Sun Pillar

Public Test for the upcoming April 7th non-partisan election this morning.  As usual no one from the public showed up so it was only Chief Inspector Andy and I running the test.   I can only assume my neighbors don't believe the President when he claims the 2020 election was stolen or they would come out to make sure their ballot will be counted correctly.   Andy and I talked about how we would run this election.  

• First because the County Board Rep is on the ballot we have three different ballots depending on which ward the voter lives in.  Most of our town is in Ward 1 and it has a white band at the top of that ballot.  Ward 2 has maybe 75 people and that has an orange band at the top.  Ward 3 has 25 voters and that has a blue band at the top.  We will use the poker chips.  The poll book states not only which ward the voter is in but this time also has printed "WHITE, "ORANGE", or "BLUE".  When the voter signs in they will receive either a white, red, or blue poker chip depending on which ward they live in.  (Red is as close to orange as we could get.)  To receive a ballot they give the poker chip to another poll worker who gives them a ballot based on the color chip that they present.  We've used poker chips before and they work fairly well.  
• The second issue for this election is going to be counting ballots.  People may write in anyone they want for an office but normally those write-in's don't count.  They only count if there is no candidate on the ballot for that office and there are no registered write-in candidates for that office.  That is the case for three of the races this time.  Still, not a problem since at the end of the night the machine nicely spits out a list of all of the voter write-in's.  The problem is that the tabullator only counts those write-in's if the little oval next to the blank write-in line is also filled in - indicating that the voter wants to write in a name.  Our state legislature feels that if someone took the trouble to write in a name, whether or not the little oval is filled in is irrelevant, they want to vote for that person.  So Andy and I agreed for those three races w/ no candidates we will need to hand-count all ballots.  That will take a little longer at the end of an already long day.  
• The third issue for this election is a combination of the first two.  One of the races is for School Board Rep.  All of my town is in one school district so that's the same race for all three wards.   For that race you can vote for up to three candidates but there are no candidates running for that office.  As we count write-ins we will need to be cognisant of aliases (James v. Jim, Susan v. Sue, etc.), spelling differences (Mayer v. Meyer, Smith v. Smyth, etc.), and bad penmanship.  Any questions and the majority of the poll workers decide.   Thankfully for the last few years no one has written in cartoon names.    The newspaper would have a field day if  "Micky Mouse"  became our County Rep.

Snowstorm

 Errands this morning started early.  I was at the Clinic for a 7:30 meeting w/ Doc Amy to go over plans on handling the 'incidental' findings from all of the tests to figure out my a-fib.   I'd been a little depressed before hand but, as usual, when I said that to Amy she told me about way worse things she has going on so I guess I felt better after our meeting.   Stopped off at the grocery store and picked up a few things to get me through the weekend.  Then off to Toad House for breakfast of a latte and scone.  I stopped off in the village at the post office to pick up/send off mail.    Plus another stop at the library for an audio-book that I'd ordered from another library.  Before going home I checked in at the Town Hall.  Clerk Chris had said she had picked up the election documents  but I should check them since the County Clerk's office still seemed a bit confused about the whole election process.  I quickly went through the items.  The stuff most important for an election (ballots, tabulator cartridges to read the ballots, and poll books) seemed to be there - tomorrow is the public test and Chief Inspector Andy and I can go through everything more thoroughly.   I still want some clarification on how to count write-in's but instead of contacting the County Clerk's office think I'll submit the question to the State's Election Board.  By the time I got home it was snowing quite hard.  Actually very pretty.   It's forecast to be less than an inch.  I just finished what I thought would be my last jigsaw puzzle for the season.  Am hoping it doesn't snow so much that I feel the need to start one more.

Ice Skim on the pond

Election Chief Inspectors are required by the state to have at least 6 hours of training every two years.  The Town Clerk sent out a notice to check out the on-line training site since some classes would be offered nearby.  I did that and found a Chief Inspector class in Churchville.  I signed up for it and wrote down on my calendar where/when the class would be held.  Our other Chief Inspector, Andy, later also signed up for the same class and we decided to meet at the library today and drive over together.  I'd put in the address in the car's navigator and as we left the village was surprised that it indicated I'd be making a left hand turn in about 30 miles.  I mentioned it to Andy who said, "Well that's the direction of Turkeytown where the class is being held."  I corrected him.  "No it's in Churchville."   I continued to drive while Andy checked the training website on-line.  "The class is in Turkeytown and I can't find any classes today in Churchville."  he finally said.  What had happened to the class I signed up for?  At the end of 30 miles, I dutifully made a left hand turn and drove to Turkeytown's Government Center Building.  We found the classroom, picked up the handout, and found seats.  The trainer started out saying that she never had seen such an interest in this class and early on had to change the location from Churchville to the larger facility in Turkeytown.    Andy and I looked at each other.  That explained why I thought the class was in a different location.  Didn't explain why I hadn't been contacted to make sure I knew about the change in venue.  Guess when it comes to state sponsored classes I will need to be more proactive and check a few times before hand that the class is still being held, in the location specified, and at the time originally indicated.  

Coyote at Sunrise

Temps reached 60 today so I opened up Sleipnir's garage doors and worked on some geranium plants that I overwintered there.  It was a hard year on the geraniums and where I usually lose a few plants each year I seem to have pots where most of the plants died but a few are alive and thriving.  Not sure why the difference - probably should make some hypotheses I can test this fall.  All winter I've been saving the coffee cups from the coffee shop in the village.  "Compostable" is written in big letters on the side of them.  Why not use them to start new plants? Whenever I'm cleaning up the geraniums in spring, I inevitably snip off a stem by accident or need to prune a plant.   I know that these little bits of plant material, placed in soil and watered, can easily grow into new plants. Usually I don't have places to stick them back into dirt but w/ these cups I can repot them and give them a little extra care to get them going.   Might try selling them for the library's slush fund before Mother's Day.  The garden poles are also stored in Sleipnir and I considered setting them out.  Looked at the forecast.  Nights will be below freezing the rest of the week and one day we might get more snow.  Too early to set out the garden poles and too early for this bout of Spring fever I'm having.  Still it was a nice day, so Whip and I drove into the village for lunch  w/ the car's moon roof open.