cobalt

Wish me luck? My second try at sous vide since the chicken breast was amazing. Now I have 2 chuck roasts going for about 32 hours at 140°. Chain mail cast iron pan scrubbers are weighing them down. The silicone mats are giving a bit extra insulation.

The quaint print on the wall? My grandma’s calendar print I framed and always have in my kitchen in memory of her. #Roast #Cooking #SousVide #Meat #SundayDinner

Well another day this family is without help to handle full care for my son with disabilities. I’m a full time caregiver, 12 hours per day, 7 days a week. Same for his brother, my youngest son. However BOTHsons have broken legs or broken ankles. However one refers to a broken bone in fibula or tibia just above ankle.

How does one get a person who is disabled out of their hospital bed and into their wheelchair? Answer: doesn’t happen. I can’t do it by myself. Brother had his leg surgery on Thursday and has crutches. As you can imagine, he is NOT to put weight on his leg. I’m not strong enough to lift Drew by myself.

Drew doesn’t qualify as needing nursing care since he only requires 24/7 caregivers. State is unable to find a temporary caregiver to assist me as backup or to take any shifts. We’ve fallen in a gap between what is necessary medical or care needs for a dependent adult. In addition, the medical transport his insurance pays for has not located any provider for the 5 rides he needs for specialists to follow up from the accident/fall.

The government doesn’t pay enough for caregivers so there is a vast shortage across the US. The government doesn’t provide for enough group homes or nursing homes either so there are waiting lists of many years.

Now tell me, what happens to my dependent adult son IF his sole functional caregiver is unable to care for him? What if I had a heart attack right about now or died in a car crash? Don’t know the answer? Well, in the US there are many people in precarious situations that can become a flat-out emergency at any time. Our government here is fine taking that risk. As usual besides the stress I have far more worry than a person should have to bear. I also wonder if the government would do anything differently to prevent a full scale life and death situation here. What if it was so dire, it made the news? Hmmmm. Things that make you wonder.

In the US a very basic weekly food budget for a single person changed dramatically between 1970 and the present. Shared are 3 of the 7 photos a Reddit member shared to illustrate their comments. I was shocked because:

“Can confirm. In 1970 | was a very poor college student living off campus. That first photo labeled 1970 looked like my weekly grocery shopping. I exactly had $10 as my food budget! And, if I wanted to go to a rock concert I had to save the money from the weekly grocery budget. I DID get to see a lot of greats. Stones/Jefferson Airplane/ Moody Blues etc. it was worth almost starving then, ha-ha!” #Food #FoodBudget #Budget #Groceries #ThenAndNow

My son Drew asked his niece to draw a picture of something funny while they were watching TV last night. We missed seeing her dog Winston but it was too hot to take her Border Collie out in a 45 minute drive to our home in the 118° heat. They spent the evening together so Drew was overjoyed with her attention.

When they brainstormed what to make, this idea came to his mind. Oh my! Not many caregivers can jot off such an entertaining cartoon! #Cartoon #Sketch #Humor

I don’t suppose #SilentSunday can include a nice doggo. Met this guy up in the mountains near Cottonwood, AZ. Staying the night with a dear friend who is bereaved. Sigh. #DogsOfMastodon #NotMyDog

For the record, this is currently the weather status at my home according to a wunderground forecast and report from a residential station literally a block away! Note that the “feels like” is truly operative here. It most definitely feels like 120° or more. #Phoenix #Weather #Heat #Hot #HeatWave #Arizona

Almost inconceivable! Never in my life would I have imagined glaciers melting, giant chunks of Artic and North Pole glaciers calving at so many places, nor frozen tundra thawing out and dangerous release of methane gas. SciAm article from today.

“The Arctic is cooking. Across northern Russia—a region that is famously bitterly cold—temperatures this week have routinely surpassed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius), adding to the mountain of broken heat records this summer has racked up so far.

In recent days, the Selagoncy meteorological station, near the border of the Arctic Circle, recorded 93.0 degrees F (33.9 degrees C); another station, Olenyok, logged 90.9 degrees F (32.7 degrees C), according to data collected by weather information service Ogimet and reported by climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. To put that in perspective, these temperatures are on par for Orlando, Fla., at this time of year.”

This area is warming up in general up to four times faster than the average place anywhere else in the world. #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #Glaciers #HeatWave #SciAm #ScientificAmerican

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-90-degrees-in-the-arctic-right-now/

RE: https://social.coop/@cwebber/117004581857498570

Completely fascinating discussion with much time shared to answering questions and suggestions. Very important work Spritely is up to. Been a financial supporter (low $) for over a year and will continue! Thanks especial to Christine and David.

Perhaps a safer subject to share today than my last, drowned creature. I realize I may be one of the few people who get super excited about rocks but perhaps people will find my realgar and orpiment specimens interesting. They, like the afforementioned defunct creature, are also very poisonous. #Minerals #Realgar #Orpiment #Toxic #Arsenic #Rocks

Yes, I handled arsenic compounds today when I finally opened up My Precious from a LOT of packaging wrap. Washed my hands very carefully several times. I had to persuade the vendor these 3 pieces I bought from him 3 years ago were very toxic and needed a lot of wrapping for me to take.

He likely was hired as a Tucson local to work at the show venue off Lester Avenue, part of the annual gem & mineral shows. Is Chinese and barely speaks any English. He certainly had little knowledge of the minerals he sold. Pretty sure he thought I was a crazy lady trying to pantomime my concern about touching these.

Anyway, just got some deep, clear acrylic boxes so I could unwrap and put these inside right away. So glad to know there had been little if any oxidation and light damage over the years. The bright yellow is orpiment and the dark orange to red crystals are Realgar. Woot!

Now I have to start getting serious about setting up my real camera with real macro lens to start photographing my collection more seriously.

RE: https://floss.social/@fast_code_r_us/116953618268819213

Excellent article! My grandmother would be horrified to learn what happened to the proud American firms and product quality. She, my mother and I all owned at one time great Revere Ware, Pyrex, Farberware, Anchor Hocking, etc.

I noticed the article and histories of American companies do not ever bring up the popular ideas that it is the expense of American labor and too much regulation that causes the production to leave the US and go “overseas”. Clearly the game is making the most money and always more money. Once the private equity firms take over, the American public suffers.

First Phoenix dust storm of the season. Thank goodness we got a cellphone alert and got our home AC shut off in time. Solid “fog” of dirt here now until the wind blows it through. Then, may be a heckuva T-Storm also pushing up from Tucson. #Phoenix #Arizona #Maryvale #Haboob #DustStorm

Who lives in a city where extreme heat is a serious threat to everyone who lives there or visit?

In Phoenix we are all finally entering the “heat season” expected every summer. But for a wild fluke in March where the daily temperatures went over 107° and we all had to turn on AC again, the last weeks have been great. Now, 103° for likely 10 days before worse, I wake to the headline article and photo of The Guardian US in Phoenix, long a symbol of a US city who keeps tallies of how many heat-related deaths Mat to October. A few years ago “only” 300, last year over 500.

NOT at all looking forward to the next 4 months. No rain at this home now at least no rain. Not good. Meanwhile the data centers for Ai being built right now and one the the largest new ICE concentration camp warehouses us being readied for thousands, just 15 miles from here. Come to the US! It’ll be fun! #Heat #ExtremeHeat #ClimateChange #IncomeInequality #AC #Phoenix #Arizona

Ok, sooooo…the #Proton #ProtonMail issues continue. Thanks to

and

getting my attention to it. TL;DR Result is I’m so happy with my Mailbox.org account for a year now. And ooh dear, the official response about “accidental” promotion of a far-right French fascist within Proton reads just like Substack owners did with the similar uproars regarding Nazis. Turns out 3 years on, Substack is even more comfortable with the fascist ties so no longer a controversy. This is Strike 2 for me on the ownership of Proton. Expect it will go the profitable way Substack has. NOPE for me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/degoogle/s/TF2wUSFStH

Protonmail response to Lapierre featured as affiliate and sponsored post/website

This is about a website for Vincent Lapierre, far right French extremist. Unfortunately many people don’t see this was accidental “affiliate and sponsorship” promotion. Thus, maybe reconsider is you use any of the Proton mail or services. #Lapierre #VincentLapierre #FarRight

I posted earlier so you can see a LOT of boosts through Fediverse. I did a lot of checking various sources and since #Reddit has a lot of people on the case and in so many subs I found one with the most recent (this morning 6/8/26) direct reply from Proton, am passing along the link to it there. BUT if you don’t want to follow the link into the r/degoogle sub, a screenshot below.

I can’t get settings on my account there to show a light background and it’s pretty hard to read small text. Turns out from my screenshot if you need alt-text, you are better to go to my link. BTW I’m very #Antifa and I am mid #DeGoogle

Wish I could sleep soundly at night. Like my dog could do many times of the day. And he loved “his” pillow when he was still able to get on the couch to nap. Missing our guy who we hope is resting well in peace. It’s been 5 months now and daily I catch myself looking for him as I pass by “his” places. #DogsOfMastodon PS Laurie Anderson made me think of him and smile. (See previous post)

Oh wow, that Garden Grove CA chemical disaster! Quite a statement that only one of two things can happen now! Parts of 6 cities evacuating. “The tank will then either explode or leak as it expands, ripping the tank.” Reporting is live on The Guardian. This screenshot from LATimes. #GardenGrove #ChemicalDisaster #ChemicalSpill #ToxicChemicals

Ok so I’m afraid. My son has taken a turn not good. He’s been moved immediately to Neuro floor and doctor called me he’s having seizures and they haven’t stopped. I’m guessing 10 to 15 minutes now. If he isn’t stopped he’ll go to ICU. It’s 1:40 am here. Looks like I’m going to wake up and go in. Darn.

Reason #1,473 why American Healthcare Insurance and Medicaid/Medicaid are so expensive and not only cumbersome but almost unusable:

My son has 6 specialist doctors and 3 therapists with the largest medical hospital and clinics system of the state. Suddenly, no notice ahead of time to each clinic or my son, his insurance company AND Medicare/Medicaid in March announced each year each professional must have their own referral from the family doctor, with each diagnosis listed for each doctor and therapist before any more appointments are allowed.

So, for example each of the 3 different therapists in the outpatient therapy clinic (OT,PT, and SLP) need separate letters of referral for 2026. The 3 doctors in the same clinic for neuroscience need separate letters. The GI doctor needs one. The Alzheimer Clinic needs 2: the NP and the Clinical Geriatric Psychiatrist.

9 separate letters to be faxed by the family doctor office. Then we will do it again in 9 months. Oh, and no notice to us. And the insurance company and Medicare/Medicaid, and the hospital system don’t have any responsibility to inform the patient. It’s all “find out the hard way” when you show up to your appointment and are told it’s cancelled because the patient didn’t get this taken care of.

Do you realize the time this takes for family to make to ask the family doctor for each letter and we are to supply each name, each diagnosis, each address, each fax number. How many patients and family advocates are capable of doing these separate requests? What if I don’t have English as my first language? What if I’m not quite educated enough to understand what must be done? What if I was traveling or sick and unable to get this done? What if I had no idea now I have to do this over and over now?

What if I had not asked the right questions the first time we ran into the problem? We solved the one for last week but today I learned the full scope of the problem because I got a call from the other neurologist’s appointment scheduler IN SAME CLINIC who told me we will be cancelled from an appointment we’ve waited for SIX MONTHS unless we get a new referral order. I asked “But we got one last week! For same office! Oh-ho, silly me, didn’t I know we need a separate referral for each doctor? No one told me last week. And what if I had not just now on the phone asked the right questions?

Ok, now I have to GET AN APPOINTMENT with the family doctor and bring a list of each professional and their contact information for each request. I have 8 days to complete this for our next neurologist appointment for seizures. We saw the neurologist for migraines same office last week. We go to a different clinic for Alzheimer’s in 3 weeks. I could just scream.

TL; DR: The insurance and government healthcare programs have made paperwork requirements even more difficult and time-consuming. Someone is “paying for this”. Who do you think pays? #UniversalHealthcare #Medical #Healthcare #Insurance #Medicare #Medicaid

#SilentSunday #Crystals #Yellow

Meant to share this earlier this week. Who can remember the ubiquitous Miracle Whip? 12 ounces! Featured buy at $5.99! Whoda thought that insane price.

When I was little the Moms were buying it because it was so much cheaper. So many of us grew up with it that there is still a demand now. I have a genetic version in the cupboard for those few times I may need to use it in a recipe. Ahhh, that may as well be donated. Ha! #Mayo #MiracleWhip

There you are just walking along in a rural area of India in Pune, Maharatra and oh my! Be very very careful where you step. And if you pick Scolecite up, do not drop it! 3 specimens I was glad to see in Tucson. First comment will share link to short video of where to find it. #Crystals #Delicate

Something for friends in Scotland! I’ve followed so many this last year—Glasgow,architecture,history, geology, landscape photography, and more. I hope you like this screenshot from Reddit and a link if you want to read the story from OP, credited. #Scotland #Scottish, #Geology #RockHound #Art #Map

https://www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/s/gzzjLRNZe9

#SilentSunday

Ok, so this part is not so silent. While standing at the door of the instructor I waited for him to finish grading my 100 state-required test which I had to take supervised, with a pencil and mark my answers on a form. I am now certified by the State that I am qualified to safely manage my home and basic caregiving.

I’m 74. I’ve been a full time caregiver for my son for many years. I’ve trained likely a couple dozen caregivers in our home since 2009. The State suddenly requires me to be certified before I can continue taking care of him. Do I know how to make a call to 911. Do I know how to wash my hands. Oh, here’s a tough one—how long can I leave food out before some may need to be put back in the refrigerator. Thud. Aaaargh. #Bodies #Dummies #Training #CPR

Sharing a pretty pink pop of color to wake up and say Hey Good Morning!

Actually

has inspired me(did you see my boost of his pink flower?) so here is a share back, a pretty poppy from 18 years ago I shared on my Flickr stream. #Pink #Poppy #Flower #GoodMorning #Today

I heard via

that it’s #DoorsDay so here’s my share. I took this photo about 2 hours before the pretty green grass I shared in my earlier post. It’s in Coatesville, PA. Anyone familiar with that old old city? If so speak up—this place is an incredible historic site I hope is being restored. So I’ll not name it yet to see if anyone knows. Looks almost medieval, ay? #Pennsylvania #Historic #Stone #Door #Decay

This is how one of my iPhone photos looks on Flickr in one of my albums. Sometimes I wait a while befor I stare at an iPhone photo to see if I want to monkey with it a bit more in editing. I try really hard to present a photo in a faithful photo with true color as I saw it in the moment I took the photo. It’s mighty tempting to boost the color because over the years I see more and more people doing this. The saturation is too deep or contrast too sharp. Landscapes are tricky because so many use HDR to heighten a fantasy appearance far more magical than reality. Or maybe I’m just not validating when someone else is seeing the image super pumped up as their own reality. #MyPhoto #MyPhotography #iPhone #Chalcedony #Rock

https://flic.kr/p/2rWiTQN

In advance of a Silent Sunday post today, I’ll leave this pre-quel. Prequel? Uh, this is a word now? Anyway, for most people a Really Big Truck coming to your house would be interesting but not a Really Big Deal. I, however, sprang into action and shot as many pictures as I could as fast as I could get while jumping out of the way as needed by the two delivery men. A couple compositions and an abstract macro view I was getting while thinking if

and her mosses and spores. Lichen from me, sorta. #MackTruck #Truck #iPhone #MyPhotography

#SilentSunday

From Reddit, speaking is the man the government says is a terrorist. He’s honoring a Veteran in his care at the Minnesota VA hospital who had just passed. #AlexPretti #AmericanHero

#SilentSunday #SandTable #SandArt

#SilentSunday #Rock #Crystals #Vanadanite

D-Day. As in d day I officially cancelled all paid subscriptions to authors I like and follow BUT sadly publish only on Substack.

THIS IS THE PART WHERE I SHARE THE IMPORTANT TO KNOW STUFF. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

CAN’T DO THIS I also attempted to make sure my account listing my original email to be a subscriber in Substack was removed or changed to a different one that’s an alias email account. CAN’T DO THIS in Substack.

After I cancel each subscription I had paid for I tried to remove my credit card. CAN’T DO THIS in Substack.

Tried to delete any posts I had made in a lame personal Substack. CAN’T DO THIS in Substack. Tried to delete a few photos I shared. CAN’T DO THIS in Substack.

Um. How interesting these discoveries are. Even if I completely delete my account, Substack retains my email, my posts, my comments on any article published on Substack and my photos. I wonder why this would be. #Substack #SubstackNazis

He’s gone. Our wonderful boy, best Buddy Ever.

Thankful to our vet for the best experience for the needed relief to stop his pain. We are crushed. #DogOfMastodon #Buddy

Holy cow, what an amazing lunch today from an Indian restaurant/grocery only a mile away and we never knew it. I got a “curry combo”. It was a Too Good to Go order through the app on my phone. Restaurants and groceries with delis who offer a “surprise package” for $6.99 instead of full price when they are close to closing for the day.

We ate it, splitting 3 ways with extra rice. Very necessary because so much spice!

We figured out the fried breaded chicken - which is far better than American fried chicken. Of course we guessed possible lentil soup or sauce. Okra seems to be on left bottom. The other things are a mystery. I believe I discovered in image search that the small round orange thing must be a desert called gulab jalum. No idea anything else. Maybe the white sauce/ soup is fermented yogurt something? Saved Drew and I from burning up too much. Hard to imagine there it is tucked away nearby and never saw it.#Food #Curry #Indian #TooGoodToGo Maybe

can tell me? I felt adventurous because he has been sharing some of the fine foods he has while traveling.

Since

posted such a beautiful sunset photo, I remembered I had a sunset photo from March to share. My son was driving and I had to hold my phone very still. This is a part of an expressway that goes by and around Sky Harbor Airport here in the Phoenix area. This year is another year that we aren’t frequently getting beautiful sunsets #IPhone #Apple #Phoenix #Freeway