My day to be domestic, the laundry and general housekeeping stuff. Also just returned from the local chapter office of the American Red Cross, which had their first Disaster Action Team deployment to a house fire yesterday where funds and aid was given. As the newly trained Financial and Statistical (FSI) volunteer, I "proofed" the paperwork for our files. 
Headed toward Moses Lake on I-90 in SE Washington state. We are headed to explore Moses Lake, and the Drumheller Channeled Scablands of central Washington in and around the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, and Potholes Reservoir. This particular portion of Washington looks a lot like wheat country in western South Dakota, perhaps a bit flatter (less hilly). 
I'm up in the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross in Spokane taking their Financial and Statistical Information Management course (FSI). Learning to be an American Red Cross number cruncher at a national Disaster Response (DR) center. It is an interesting course, which will allow me to do some office work out on a disaster sight, and crunch some numbers which seems to be my forte
So today I'm home at my desk sorting out the possibilities, between Washington State University's program, and Boston University's program. At the moment I'm very much leaning toward the Boston program. No GRE, No year of foreign language are big plusses. A decision is looming!
Today I'm devouring this book from the WSU Terrell Library. Its Author, Gregory A. Pasco was a colleague of mine and my Supervisor for a time during my tenure in Rapid City. It is a good read for a textbook, and one I couldn't seem to put down until done. Well done, Greg!
Upon my return from the photo and exploration trip down the Snake River to Clarkston, Wa and Lewiston Idaho, when I attempted to fire-up my MacBook Pro, it was dead! So, I scheduled a time with an "Apple Genius" at the Spokane Apple Store, for ASAP. Today is just that, in Apple parlance, ASAP. I've left off the MacBook with the dead "mother board" and now I'm exploring Spokane a bit. One of my favorite places to explore are map stores. This is Spokane's. I scored a Whitman County Road map/atlas on this stop.
Dan, from Spokane instructing the "Bulk Distribution" American Red Cross Class that I'm attending. Rich and Brenda are attending it with me. This adds to my capabilities should I be called out on an American Red Cross Disaster Response, nationally. It was a good, and informative class.
Ok, getting a lot better with this "pet peeve" crap! So at various places around campus there are newspaper bins offering up the current day's edition of the Spokane Review, New York Times, and the U.S.A. Today. So Diane either grabs some (she loves working the crosswords) on her way back from class, or I wonder up the hill a bit, fetch some, and come back to absorb their contents. Today, we're having breakfast, along with our "paper-hour'. Credit goes to Diane for this photo of me sitting in our "dining room"
One of the "pet peeves" I've developed while living on the campus of Washington State University, and visiting its Library is the lack of "morning" news! The Terrell Library on campus is oblivious to the concept "morning paper"! Some days they don't even get out the current day's editions, and never before 1 pm. So I walk down to the Pullman Public Library; the Neill Library, which does put out morning papers, and read the Wall Street Journal and other local papers. It's a nice walk, just at a mile, and a nice, quiet, yet busy Library. This is the view from my "reading station"!
One of the things I've enjoyed in retirement, whether here, in the mountains or back in the Caribbean has been feeding the birds. This, not being a "bird" has become very accustomed to the feeding routine. Once started with this "mommy" squirrel, I didn't want to stop until it hibernates. She does have little ones. She's fun to have around, almost tame, but still very much wild and cautious.
At my desk today, working on this blog, my photos and some stories. It is a rainy, well more like drizzly day, and cool here in the Palouse. Not a good day to be out with the camera exploring. I can listen to the rain, and hear the tweeties out my open window, so this is a very pleasant place to spend time. Diane is home today, studying, so that makes it extra special to be here, today, with her.
Attending American Red Cross sponsored Adult & Child CPR/AED, with First Aid course. I've attended dozens of these over the years, even have been certified as an instructor for these courses in the past. Today, a refreshing and very well run refresher course for me. I'm a Disaster Action Team and Shelter volunteer with the American Red Cross.
Over at the local Chevy dealership, Chapman & Taylor getting the oil changed on our '08 Silverado, 82,000 miles. First oil change since we've taken up residence in the Palouse. I walked around the lot, aka Adult Toyland while the shop worked the pickup over. Interesting time here. The waiting room, like all waiting rooms had a blaring television. One other person was in the room, waiting as was I. She did not seem interested in our noisy companion so I asked "Do you mind if I shut that thing off?" "No, not a problem with me" she replied. Then, remarkable as it seems the two of us sat there, had a conversation! Seems almost unreal in this day and age. Two total strangers.
