…in which life returns to its normal patterns, with the addition on my desk of a new oversized (for me) screen.

Wait. Not normal. It’s raining here in ATL!

And way not normal: relatives (by marriage) are evacuated and even closer relatives are awaiting possible evacuation orders in the San Diego area. Too bad the LA-oriented national news is covering Malibu over SD—where something like 300,000 people (yes, well over a quarter of a million) are staying in the homes of relatives, friends or strangers, bunking at hotels, and even Qualcomm Stadium.

…in which we discover that the fragile hard drive in my old machine yields most but not all of my files to the new machine.

…in which we discover work-arounds of one sort or another, and life returns to somewhat normal.

…in which poor JCB had to take the “dead” (power supply problem) yet brand new iMac back to the Apple store to exchange for an undead one.

Now, silence ≠ dead, but a new super-quiet machine.

…in which a strong silent type followed us home today.

(See tomorrow.)

An actual chalkboard sign!

So, Google announces profits exceed expectations for this quarter.

I’m still trying to figure out how they’re making money from their free phone system—Grandcentral (as long as you can dial on-line). And, yes, even though we recently bought the iPhone, we also now have a Grandcentral number.

Like we’re addicted to phone-talk or something! (Not!)

Yes, that’s a loon; no further comment. (Or maybe it’s really a cormorant—the beak isn’t dark, but that doesn’t work in this context….)

So the Prez says the House shouldn’t pass the resolution condemning as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians, so we don’t annoy an ally (Turkey).

Then, despite warnings from China that they’ll be more than annoyed if he officially receives the Dalai Lama, he does so anyway.

I’m kindof a dummy about foreign relations, but seriously annoying China probably isn’t a good habit, or even a wise one-shot activity.

Not to mention the obvious contradiction!

Even Stephen Colbert—in character and our newest announced Presidential candidate—could do better than that!

So cute, this scenario outside a veterinary hospital….

Meanwhile, we’re undergoing a rain of acorns when we need a rain of rain.

Seattle’s weather turned rainy. We left for home.

1. What do you call a grizzly bear with no teeth?

2. Why did the tiger eat the tightrope walker?

Humor from a 6 year old….

Misty, foggy morning at Seward Park (park page or Wikipedia).

1. A gummy bear.

2. He wanted a balanced meal.

It’s not often that a recovering clearcut can provide lovely eye-candy. We found this wee lakelet along the PCT (yes, again!) not far from Snoqualmie Pass on National Forest Lands (your tax dollars at work).

We hiked up (very slowly, thankfully, paced by a trooper 3 1/2 year old with his own backpack) and got views of snow-dusted peaks in the distance, well above the treeline. We found lots of ’shrooms, many past their peak, and even a few blue- and huckleberries, also not quite at their best.