Friday, March 6, 2015

HEARING VOICES

Sunshine this morning
View from my back door

This blog is turning into nothing more than a boring weather report - - the sole purpose of which is to reassure my friends and relatives that I'm still surviving
AND
to irritate those people who wish I hadn't survived.

In a valiant attempt to expunge tales of winter, I plan to post one of my exciting Hollywood stories very soon (possibly tomorrow).

I know you'll be waiting with breathless anticipation.


Trees on my property (facing north)
Beyond that is the meadow where the cows reside

Heavy snow yesterday and temperatures near zero last night. I stayed up until dawn, keeping careful watch to make sure the pipes didn't freeze again. 

The weather was crystal clear and the full moon was gorgeous. Absolute stillness was broken several times by nearby bands of howling coyotes. Just at midnight about half a dozen of them came right by my back porch. I actually enjoyed the wild excitement of it.

By dawn I was so tired that I crawled into bed for an hour of shuteye.

Fifteen minutes later I was rudely awakened by the loud voices of two men in my kitchen. I sat up startled, but positive that it had been a dream or my vivid imagination.

Then I heard them again - clearly this time. They were talking about numbers and taking measurements.

What the F***?!?

I leaped from bed and ran to the kitchen. On the table was my laptop computer, which I had forgotten to turn off and close.

On the laptop keyboard sat my two young cats Scruffy and Bosco - -  their ample asses manuevering the keys.

Somehow - - this sounds unbelievable but it's true - - they managed to access an episode of This Old House, which I think was on YouTube. Can you believe it??

They also managed to voice-activate my computer (whatever the hell that is). For the next ten minutes this annoying, unwanted voice kept blurting out instructions and finally kept demanding my password (this happened after I had exited the Internet).

It took me half an hour to finally straighten it all out. I am not computer savvy. This kind of crap unnerves me.

What really unnerved me, however, was when I'd first heard those voices in the kitchen.

I've always suspected that someday I'm going to start hearing voices and the men in white coats will come to take me away. I just didn't expect it to happen today.


Trees on my property (facing south)
Beyond that is a river 
(all photos were taken this morning)

26 comments:

  1. Jon,
    No doubt about it but you DO live in a beautiful area of the country. I can see why you moved there, so peaceful. I can understand that. Your cats provided you with the same problem that my friend Larry's cat's often provide him, they "dance" on his keys, usually some function key, and they his computer starts doing strange things. But they never brought up episodes of "This Old House" yet, jut some weird functions on his computer that he had a hard time turning off.
    Jon, post more pictures of your beautiful country. Just lovely! And wait until springtime. So looking forward to seeing those pictures.
    Ron

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  2. I think the episode of "This Old House" was in my "Favorites"file (God knows why). I never dreamed that a cat's ass could activate it. It really is lovely up here in the mountains - - and I will post future photos.

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  3. The full moon and howling coyotes really paints the picture of a glorious night in the wilderness. This Old House. What an appropriate show to access. Clever cats. The voices would have been unnerving for sure. Your outside views are so beautiful. The perfect place to get lost in nature.

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    1. I swear those cats know exactly what they're doing. I love the peace and quiet here.

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  4. Looking forward to more pretty pictures and if you have access to the river that will be even better. Maybe your cats are bored with the weather so making their own entertainment.

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    1. I haven't ventured very far from my property yet but I will if the weather EVER warms up.

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  5. I am glad they didn't figure out how to order cat-nip on Amazon.

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  6. Had no idea cats liked to watch "This Old House". Must be like a comedy to them.

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    1. I'm sure they thought it was an appropriate program for me. I think they're trying to give me renovation hints.

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    2. Just returned to see those photos again. North and south photos suggest a 15 degree grade up from the west. You're going to get really muscley legs. And the river beyond the trees must move pretty fast. Beautiful place, Jon. Despite weather problems, I can see why you chose it.

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  7. Geo, you're a very apt observer, as always. I get winded every time I walk outside.

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    1. By the way, it took me quite a long time to figure out which direction was which. I always see the sun rising when I look out my back door, so I'm assuming it's facing east.......

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    2. Nope, my error. If slope is down right of south, then low side is east. Good thing you're not following my directions or we'd get real lost.

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  8. I think hearing those voices would have given me a mild heart attack... :-) This winter has been a bad one for a lot of people, hopefully next year will be a mild one. Take care and stay warm, Sheila

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  9. This has been an extremely wild winter and it can't go away fast enough. I'm praying for spring!

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  10. I recently came across your blog via Ron of "Retired in Delaware". Your posts about the winter you're having make me feel not so bad about our winter here in Philadelphia. Grumble I may, but I've got heat and water and I can drive the roads in the city. And I promise I won't complain when we get to the "hazy, hot, and humid" endless days of summer.

    Anyhow, about your cats. A laptop you say? I guess this'll teach you to close it before you go to bed! That'll help with the cat hair in the keyboard situation, also. (Ask me how I know this...)

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    1. First of all - many thanks for visiting my blog.
      Second - I can definitely relate to cat hair in the keyboard.

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  11. Scruffy and Bosco are a panic! Ya, I'd have come unglued hearing strange voices ... but it's comical nevertheless. (Glad you didn't bring out the big guns!)
    Maybe my imagination, but these pictures hold a wee promise of Spring.
    No, I'm not tired of your weather reports, Jon. I fully expect to be gnashing my teeth come July/August when we loiter in the 115-117-degree temps.

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    1. My cat Scratch is 10 years old and very polite and subdued. Scruffy and Bosco are a wild team and always in mischief. I couldn't believe what they did to the computer!
      I'm very familiar with Arizona and you will have my fully sympathy when summer arrives.

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  12. You have a beautiful view up there in those mountains. I would have been too scared to move hearing people talking. Cats are smart and great company when you live alone.

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    1. I was stunned when I heard the voices but I wasn't too scared to move. Cats are extremely smart and surprisingly affectionate. Three is too many, but I still love them.

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  13. What a funny story. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. It is funny and it was a first for me. I've never had it happen before.

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  15. at least you didn't hear banjo music ;)

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