FESTIVE NOEL

Julia Shelby, a San Francisco transplant, started Mountain Melody Womens Chorus in 2005. A bright star in our mountain communities is this all volunteer group of about 18 women, singers all, with two piano players and a flutist.   Shelby chooses  innovative music, with intricate, lively and echoing harmonies. What a treat.
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Also a treat, is Casa Terra Cotta, this beautiful mountaintop estate, loaned to the Calaveras Arts Council for the event. I was  grateful for the sun, but the time of day was brutal for photos.


I ran smack dab into my neighbor Judith, and friends I hadn’t seen in a couple of years, David and JoEllen Gano. A stranger grabbed my camera and offered to take a picture.


What makes the estate so enchanting, is the marvelous windows surrounding you from every direction, providing the best views from the mountain top, at  the same time making picture-taking difficult.


I concentrated on faces and the wonderful music. Dobru’ Noc, a Slovakian Folk Song


This Little Light Of Mine.

The Seal Lullaby


Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet.


After the concert, we enjoyed desserts and wine punch and mingled with guests and members of the chorus. Michael VonErich sung the solo Mary Did You Know? Her deep resonant voice, and the words brought me to tears. I had to meet her, only to discover she is moving away from Mountain Ranch. She told me she grew up singing as a child with Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, the guys who wrote the words and music to the song. What a talent she is. And what a loss to our community.


Maddie and I walked the grounds and enjoyed the views.


Some people stayed close to the outdoor fireplace.


We all got to sing for Marta Johnson’s birthday, another old friend I hadn’t seen in years.


On the drive home, Maddie and I oohed and ahhed at another birthday, these little newborn lambs on wobbly legs. We both wondered  why are these young lambs born in the cold month of December? We hope it isn’t from climate change, but in my yard I’ve seen a late fawn all through November. A strange year in so many ways.

TAX VIOLENCE

In Calaveras County we have a record for high turn-out on election day. People take their politics seriously. As far as I know, competitors have treated each other with civility during the thirty-four years I’ve lived here.
Problems do develop and a recall effort against Calaveras County Supervisor Darren Spellman fell short  of the signature requirement on Monday and a verbal spat ensued between Spellman and Bill Crane, a prominent recall supporter. The Elections Clerk, Madalaine Krska,  called the Sherriff’s Department to settle things after it got pretty heated. Spellman claims he was threatened, and Crane claims he walked over and shook Spellmans hand but later called him a liar because  Spellman made derogatory cracks about his wife.
I think of the violent rhetoric we have in the news every day, supposedly mature Senators and Representatives,  and all of their related public spokespersons using character assassination as readily as immature school kids. Bullying, condoning violence, violent rhetoric unworthy of our suspected leaders. Somehow, I thought this was a modern phenomena, but, not so.

Senator Charles Sumner, gave a fiery anti-slavery speech in 1856. He condemned several states for even considering taking the “harlot slavery” as a law in individual states. In fact, those tumultuous years produced enough violence in Kansas, that the state was nearly  divided into two separated states.
Southerner, Preston Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives from South Carolina, was particularly incensed with Sumner’s speech.  Not only had the fiery Sumner ridiculed his home state, but Brooks was the nephew of Andrew Butler, one of Sumner’s targets.
In the mind of Brooks, Sumner had violated some code of honor which should be avenged by fighting a duel. But Brooks felt that Sumner, by attacking Butler when he was home recuperating and not present in the Senate, had shown himself not to be a gentlemen deserving of the honor of dueling. Brooks thus reasoned that the proper response was for Sumner to be beaten, with a whip or a cane.
On  May 22,  Brooks entered the building and walked into the Senate chamber. Sumner sat at his desk, writing letters. He waited until several women present in the Senate gallery left, then he walked up to Sumner’s desk and said: “You have libeled my state and slandered my relations, who is aged and absent. And I feel it to be my duty to punish you.”
With that, Brooks struck the seated Sumner across the head with his heavy cane. Sumner, who was quite tall, could not get to his feet as his legs were trapped under his Senate desk, which was bolted to the floor. Brooks continued raining blows with the cane upon Sumner, who tried to fend them off with his arms. Sumner finally was able to break the desk free with his thighs, and staggered down the aisle of the Senate.
Brooks followed him, breaking the cane over Sumner’s head and continuing to strike him with pieces of the cane. Brooks was later arrested on a charge of assault and quickly released on bail.
Good thing they didn’t solve their problems in those days with a gun like they do now. Sumner was attended by a doctor, who administered stitches to close wounds on his head.
Brooks was soon arrested on a charge of assault, and was quickly released on bail.  He was expelled from the House of Representatives, and in the criminal courts he was fined $300 for assault. He returned to South Carolina, where banquets were held in his honor and more canes were presented to him. The voters returned him to Congress, a hero.
Sounds just like the current news, the worse they get, the more they are revered by somebody.  In case you haven’t noticed, most violence and crime is committed by men. Incarcerated men outnumber women, (I’m guessing)  by at least twenty to one. We women pay an unfair amount of taxes for violence. I think the cure is a violence tax. Tax those violent actions and rhetoric and we could clean up politics or else solve the national debt.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DARK AGES

Don’t you know that drinking, and using drugs and especially marijuana use, is a sin?  This sin has been particularly noticed since marijuana clinics are legal in Calaveras County.  And, since we live in a very moral county, with a very moral staff, some very moral doctors at Mark Twain St. Josephs Hospital will not provide you medical services unless you sign a Patient Responsibility Agreement that reads:  “Patient will not use any illegal controlled substances, including marijuana, etc. …and  if provider advises, patient will not use alcohol.”

Awww, maybe this is to protect them from lawsuits.  That is always the excuse given when an entity doesn’t want to deal with a problem.   Nope.  Several medical marijuana patients have been denied care at MTSJ  Hospital clinics unless they sign the agreement and agree to a list of conditions in order to receive or continue treatment already started.  And, it doesn’t matter if you hold a card as a contracted Medical Marijuana Patient.

Tom Liberty of Mountain Ranch,  a Collective Patient Resources counselor  said: “I could not believe that any doctor would let people stay in pain, and I did not believe any hospital would implement such a legally risky policy.”

To make things even more interesting,  while some doctors working at MTSJ’s clinics are recommending that their patients use medical marijuana, others are refusing to provide care for patients if they do use it.  This is very much aimed at marijuana.   Drug abusers and alcoholics have been routinely treated at MTSJ.  

MTSJ’s Dr. Rosada not only refused  Sam Slayter, of Valley Springs, treatment for his pain because he was a medical marijuana user, he refused to help him find a primary care physician.  He was told no Mark Twain doctor will treat marijuana users.

David Jack had surgery on a brain tumor in 1999 and has received care from MTSJ  for the 30 years that he’s lived in Calaveras County.  Medical marijuana allows him to avoid taking powerful opiates for pain, helps him keep his balance and staves off trigeminal neuralgia (a searing stabbing or electric-shock-like pain in parts of the face). A migraine was causing Jack horrible pain July 8, and he was concerned that his tumor had caused something serious to go wrong, so he called to make an appointment with Jacobson, his primary care physician. He was told he could not see Dr. Jacobson. He ended up having to go to Sutter Amador Hospital two days later to receive treatment. His blood pressure was  220/110 and he was diagnosed with a thrombotic stroke from which he still is not fully recovered.

“I was really shocked. I felt like I’d been really betrayed,” Jack said. “I watch this tumor slowly growing again. I was in pain. I need to get in to see my doctor to see what’s going on, and I was denied.”

Others have signed the statement to get relief.

Public Health Officer, Dean Kelaita pointed to the card program that has been instituted in Calaveras County, according to state guidelines,  that he feels helps distinguishes between medical marijuana users and recreational users. “The law says that there is appropriate medical use for marijuana. I think that our ID card program helps sort that out.”
MM users sign contracts with their  prescribing physicians. Contracts are common and  there is no problem with them. The contract is for a legal substance, recommended by a doctor.

Is this bizarre or what?  Back to the dark ages for Calaveras County.

(This information was excerpted from Joel Metzger’s piece  from the Calaveras Enterprise.  There were several more examples of pain meds denied on the spot, for ear infection and other maladies that came through Urgent Care Clinics.)

“Away, away, with rum by gum,

with rum by bum, with rum by gum,

away, away, with rum by gum,

the song of the Temperance Union.”

“We’re coming, we’re coming, our brave little band

On the right side of temperance, we do take our stand.

We don’ use tobacco because we do think

That people who use it are likely to drink.”

“We never eat fruit cake because it has rum

And one little bite turns a man to a bum

Now, can you imagine a sorrier sight

than a man eating fruit cake until he gets tight?”

“We never eat cookies because they have yeast

And one little bite turns a man to a beast

Now,  can you imagine a sadder disgrace

than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face?”

“Away, away, with rum by bum,

with rum by gum, with rum by gum,

away, away with rum by gum

the song of the Temperance Union.”

Author unknown.

WHAT IN HELL IS WRONG WITH CALAVERAS COUNTY?

I have four blogs, so my response to yesterday's post brought up some questions, like why didn't I post a picture of the Porquepine? The article on gas2.0 was written by rachael@gas2.org and if she has an archive, you will find it there. It is a sleek metal sheathed vehicle that, when parked, many little wings covering the car spring out to catch the sun. Its kind of rounded and resembles a porquepine with all these metal projections. Remember, its a prototype, its not on the road.

I received two emails from a friend about energy alternatives happening in the U.S. One at this address:
http://www.Seattlepi.com/transportation/411722_electric2.html about Seattle getting 2500 electric vehicle plug-in stations, and
another at this address: http://www.Seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_solar_power.html This one documents a huge solar array going in on a hill-top in Washington State, combining technology and jobs.
Since I'm at it, I may as well talk about Debord, Kentucky's brag. Debord sends NOTHING to landfills. Garbage is incinerated for power. Glass is ground up and used in Concrete-block manufacturing. Metal recycling is standard, now. Plastics and syrofoam are converted back to gas in about an hour. They love their natural beauty and intend to keep it that way. 7,000 homes are powered by steam and off the grid. Pretty nifty.
Planning into the future is smart. It costs more up front, but will cost a lot more later if the planning is put off. Smart companies know their bottom line will be met with future planning. Now, I have to ask: What in hell is wrong with Calaveras County?
Several years ago, when a new hospital was on the drawing board, former Supervisor, Jack Burns went to Tahoe and studied their solid waste burner that powered a hospital and several municipal buildings. His hard work was totally ignored. The new hospital was built to standards without any regard to "future energy planning."
Now, money has been secured for a badly needed new jail. Are they building in any "future energy" innovations? Not to my knowledge. Here is their chance to save millions in future electrical bills for we taxpayers. But, nada! They turn a deaf ear to solar as though we didn't live in a climate just rolling with sunshine in the summer, fall and spring. Even in winter, my solar panels provide good return. You just want to smack 'em a lick and say WAKE UP! The future is here. Half the money comes from the state when the current governor is a champion of solar. And, we keep electing these dummies.

ELEPHANTS DON'T ESCAPE HUMAN CRUELTIES

Calaveras County has an elephant rescue ranch on Pool Station Rd. near Copperopolis. They open once yearly to the public. They do an admirable job and I will inform you of the date when it comes up.
Sadly, elephant rescue IS necessary. Not the stuff for little kids to know about that elephants are cruelly trained with a bull hook, beaten and subdued to make them understand that man has dominance over them. Only then, are they suitable for work and lifetime servitude and a toss-up of masters, some gentle, many not. My friend Galen Hazelhofer sent me information that literally made me sick to my stomach. I visited Africa and saw what wonderful parents elephants are. Some humans think it is okay to separate babies from their mothers, the herd and terrorize them into subjugation.
We think that circus animals are treated well. They are not. Elephant painters, you've seen a special about them on TV. It is cruelty to force animals in positions unnatural to them and force them to paint. Animals should be allowed to be animals. Period. Go on-line, if you can stomach it, and open up that ugly door to human activity. Then, don't support circus acts. Protest their presence in your town.

PUBLIC ACCESS IN THE MOTHERLODE

When I first moved to the Mother Lode, people would ask me, "What do you do?" Inherent in that question was another, 'aren't you bored?' Nobody asks that anymore, and, I've never been bored. Paul Moeller is known in the area as Mr. Community Television. He started Calaveras Community Television in 1983. He went on to help nearby Amador, and Tuolumne Counties start their access programs. He taught video classes at Columbia College and at every school in the county. He promoted building a studio and it was built with the expertise of a volunteer contractor and volunteer labor. A stunning achievment. Paul is an indefatigable producer recognized everywhere he goes. He has produced 5,000 shows for Public Access in Calaveras County. At 82 years old, he is still shooting every week.
Here he is taping myself and the Ramblin Man, Jim Jaillet and interestingly, Jim has produced 95 Public Access programs for Olympia Public Access in Washington State and I've worked on over 85 programs for Public Access here in Calaveras County, mostly as an anchor. There are activities for every interest in the Motherlode. I'm probably biased but I think Calaveras County is the jewel of the Motherlode.

PARROTS FERRY, NEW MELLONES, DROUGHT AND THE WEATHER

Some of us love weather. There is just something about the bluster and change that winter brings; the winds of March and the bursting greens of spring with hot summers to follow that makes you feel alive. But...not so for Jim. He likes the 74-80 degree weather pattern and if HE were to control, it wouldn't change. He is driving to Murphys in his motor home as I write and I haven't warned him that the weather report is predicting snow-OH, NO, SNOW-down to 2,000 feet. He hasn't been rained on in 8 years, or some such! Haven't a clue what will happen if the white stuff actually touches his skin. Yikes!
But, you know, the drought is upon us and we need that water even if it comes down as bits of ice. I took a picture of the Parrots Ferry Bridge over New Mellones. The red dirt shows how low the reservoir is and how dismal the future for Calaveras County and California in general, if this dry trend continues.
Soooo, I've got wood for the fire, I'll mull some wine, light the candles, and cook up some South of the Border Stew. Ahh. Stave off the chill. But, I think I'll hide the thermometer just the same.

LETTUCE FESTIVAL AND LILLY QUILT FAIRE

Local festivals are charming and the Yuma Lettuce Festival promised to entertain and delight. A man encloses himself in a balloon and bounces all over the street. We somehow missed him but we did get to see the ladies modeling their hats and jewelry made of lettuce, brussel sprouts, onions and...well you get the idea. They really got into it and played to the crowd and it WAS charming. However, Murphys has so many street festivals that I attend (or not), that I realized half the fun is meeting and greeting half your neighbors and friends. Even, so, I would opt to do it again.
The local quilt faire was quite well done, as well. Our own guild in Calaveras County, the Independence Hall Quilters does a superb job and their workmanship is superior. (Of course, I'm biased.) But, hail to all quilters and lettuce queens. It was an excellent last day in Yuma.
Until Tomorrow
P.S.
Back in Murphys, Karen tells me they have had false spring. She says,
"We can't send it back, so we might as well enjoy it."
(Jim is jealous of our weather...Heh, heh, heh!)

YUMA LIBRARY, AND FRIENDS

Each day finds us at Yuma Public Library to check email and post a blog. That is, all days except Sunday. Upon arrival I look with envy at this beautiful library and fervently wish it were located in Calaveras County. The inside is a marvel as well and yet, we have yet to spend a day lolling around the place, perusing and losing oneself in a book or two. But the temptation is strong and I'm determined to have one complete library day before I leave Yuma. Hmmmm. Strangely enough, on the road, the relaxed lifestyle, the hours fill up and I never get done what I would wish to each day.
Currently, I'm working on Bob Gambol's rambles in South America. At one point, he was returning to his hotel at dusk and he saw a guy walking towards him. It was a rough and tumble town so he crossed the street. The guy crossed as well, his intent clear. Bob waited until the guy was 50 feet from him, reached in his pocket and brought out his hand in the shape of a pistol and said as loud as he could, "BANG!" The guy took off running. Altercation averted. Rather amazing.
Jim and I talked about characters we've known. (Bob his one of his rambling friends who backpacked the world from 1991 to 1997.) As we talked I realized, I've known many characters in my life and I'm so grateful to have crossed paths with them. As a writer, I hope to get them all down on paper. (Some of them are my own family members.)
Adios