Mystery of the Yellow Flower

This was growing widely in the gravel near the American River in Goethe Park. It's definitely a spiny, prolific weed. I did a GIS for it, but couldn't find anything quite like it.

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Walk at Goethe Park

Took a stroll along the American River and saw some turkeys pecking away at the grass. Almost everytime I come here I see the turkeys. They don't look so hard to catch and I wonder how many people try to snag one late in November?

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Kitty-Puss Put to Sleep

When I got home from camping the cat ate his last meal after meowing for it like he always does. Later in the evening though, he was listless, didn't ask for second dinner, and ignored the food I put out for him.

He spent some time outside, and slept in the bedrooms. When I got up, he was outside walking down the sidewalk (who knows why, perhaps pain) and came inside when I called him. He wasn't asking for food at all. I knew it was time.

Gave him all of the pain medication, about 3 doses. It took him a while, but he finally got pretty dopey. We took him to SAMG around 8 am and he was sent to his final resting place about a half hour later. I should have brought a little piece of his fuzzy blanket as a soft place for him to rest but didn't. I thought about sacrificing the towel, or may pajama pants, but that just wasn't right.

He's being cremated, and they'll call me when his ashes are ready to pick up. I'll be able to scatter him around the backyard, and on the chimney, and even some on the roof...all of his favorite places.

I'm very sad and still crying. I know it's stupid to be upset about a free cat, but he was very special to me and we had a special bond.

Cat, I will miss you and will love you always.

ADP Conference

Director Kathy Jett says the data that providers enter into CalOMS and other systems is critical to help ADP tell a compelling story to get state and federal funding. We save between $1 and $4 for every dollar spent diverting users to treatment from jail. Courts, treatment, and law enforcement are now speaking with one voice on this issue and it helps legislators continue to fund these effective programs.

Deputy Director Michael Cunningham mentioned the "inalienable right to services" that clients have.

Dennis McCarty suggests (and challenges) that more drug dealers are using text messaging and the internet to sell drugs than are prevention and treatment providers to prevent and treat AOD users. With treatnent, timing is everything. When clients call, they shouldn't have to wait a month for help. He also provided some statistics that were interesting (see the CD). Successful treatment outcomes decrease with any delay in providing treatment.

These are my notes for my purposes and are not meant to reflect on ADP policies or practices.

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Castle Peak Too Hard For Me

My original plan was to drive to the end of the forest service road. I didn't do that because I thought, "Oh, I can walk the whole distance." Plus, I'm not sure my car would have made it.

Well, I can definitely make it to the top of Castle Pass, but when I started up the trail to the peak, I realized it was steep and rocky and I really needed to be much fresher than I was. The views are gorgeous and there was almost no one up there so I took a long time drinking water and eating some dried apricots.

I took the Pacific Crest Trail down instead of the road. It's a much nicer trail, although a bit longer. There are some forest service "roads" that connect the PCT to the road I'd come up. I got a little lost traversing them, but managed to make it back to car okay.

Note to self: don't forget the Advil!

Windy paddle

Drove to Hell Hole to paddle. The water level was down about 30 feet and there was wind as well as many people loading and unloading boats. That translates to too crowded for me.

I headed along to French Meadows which is usually prettier. Well, it was prettier although also down about 30 feet and much, much windier. I battled the waves (most with whitecaps) for a short trip and then called it a day.

I briefly visited Ox Box Reservoir but just couldn't get motivated to unload the kayak.