Missy, the Mystery Dog, part 3

Missy has been a member of my household for two weeks, now, and she has experienced so many new things. She and the rest of my pack have found their relationships.

The first time I left her home, I put her in the bedroom, my two alphas in the living room, and closed the door between them. When I came home, it was as if she didn’t know I would be back. She was quite relieved. The second time I left her at home, with the two alphas, I left the door open, so Dakota would have access to my bed, Missy would have hers, and Gideon would have the couch, if he wanted. I was worried, but need not have been. They were all fine.

In the two weeks she has lived with us, she sits, stays, comes, goes where I point, lays down on her bed when told, gets in the car, gets in the back, but “down” is the hardest order she has to obey, as she likes to get up on me, whether sitting, standing, or laying down. She knows it, but has trouble obeying.

The other night, one of my two cats decided to hide after she was fed, so I wouldn’t put her outside. I said out loud, “Where is the cat? Where did she go?” To my surprise, Missy started sniffing around, following a path into the bathroom. I followed. I watched her sniff between things, under things, and then alert behind the bathtub. Damn, that is where the cat was! I gave her lots of congratulations, but I was astounded. How did she even know the word “”cat?” She is either brilliant or psychic.

What a gal!

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Working to save Highway from itself, and Mother Nature

Following is a photojournal of my trip north Wednesday. Three construction areas, we had to traverse. This is why we don’t go north much right now.

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Look at the colors in those arches. Aren’t they gorgeous!.

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AND, construction number two – Partington.

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It is not just the stopping for 10 minutes, or more, EACH, it is getting in a line of cars from which one cannot escape!

Finally, Rocky Creek.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

From bigsurkate to all my reader’s a Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Strategic Community Firebreak Improvement

I sent out this letter to the USFS re public comment for their plan. I am reproducing it here. Today was the last day for comment, but there will be another one later, and I will keep all informed here at that time.

I am writing in response to your letter dated November 20, 2012, ref no. 1950-3, soliciting public comments.

First, I would like to offer that I support the comments made by the Monterey Firesafe Council.

Second, I am distressed to note that NONE of the South Coast of Big Sur is included in your proposal. I see none of the traditional, and long standing firebreaks on the South Coast, south of Anderson Peak are included in your plan, either in the writing, or in the map, including Big Creek Reserve, Lucia Lodge, the Hermitage, Cone Peak, South Coast Ridge Rd, Plaskett Ridge Rd, and Willow Creek Rd, as well as Home Ridge, which helps to protect your own Pacific Valley Station and our local school. All of these areas were threatened in 2008.

I had been going to write specifically about Plaskett Ridge Rd, which has not been maintained since 2000, and which is in such dismal shape that your own fire trucks could not get up it for the last fire of thankfully only 12 acres, about 3 years ago, and which necessitated taking a much longer route, which doubled your response time. Instead, I find myself writing in defense of an entire community which is not addressed in this plan. We are part of the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest, and yet never see the attention and consideration afforded the rest of Big Sur. If there is a totally separate plan, businesses, homeowners, and residents should be informed of this. If not, why are we not included? We are a part of Big Sur and the Monterey District.

After the Basin Fire of 2008, you may recall, came the Chalk Fire in October of that year. Many homes and businesses were threatened, and yet I see no indication of any plan to provide “Strategic Community Firebreak Improvement” down here. Yes, we have the Silver Peak Wilderness Area down here, but there is much of our area that is not within the Wilderness, and for which a strategic plan can and should be developed.

Now that I have realized that we are not even a part of this plan, I will be contacting others in my community, businesses and homeowners so that we can find out why, what the USFS has planned for us, and what we can do to facilitate a plan such as the one put forth for the rest of Big Sur.

I would greatly appreciate any plans the USFS has for this area, so I can pass it along through my blog (http://bigsurkate.wordpress.com) and emails to other residents who will be interested.

Kathleen Woods Novoa
Law Office of KWNovoa
HC67 #1794
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831)818-8026
kwnovoa@mac.com

Snow Report

This is the report i wrote last Saturday, but could never get posted!

I woke to an inch of snow at sunrise, yesterday, and by 7:30 am, it was snowing again. It snowed again that afternoon at around 2 pm, large, fluffy flakes. That one didn’t last, although the one this morning lasted for an hour or two. I did get some photos, which I will post later. Missy has finally settled down to nap-she is quite the busy girl, we have a fire going, and I feel a nap coming on, too!

I have power issues, at the moment. As you may recall, my dog sitter drained my battery on the solar system so low, it won’t run the inverter or charge control. I picked up a high zoot, very smart battery charger, but couldn’t run it today due to wetness. Considering what I paid, I didn’t want to take a chance. Also, I have been carrying around an empty gas can that I thought was full. Duh ..so was without power in all its manifestations, until a little bit ago. Hopefully, by Tomorrow, both conditions will be rectified, and I will be back online with power, Internet, phone, and my usual resources.

Fortunately, I have a new hardcover book I have been wanting to read, a solar light, oil lamps, flashlights, and TONS of batteries. I also have an inverter for my car, if I need to charge the phone or iPad. I also have lots of firewood, so power is not a big thing. I’ll be back Sunday afternoon, or so.

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As I had bigsurdeb post for me, I got my power issue sorted out, and today, managed to get my coaxial fixed. It was a two pronged problem. First, it had apparently frozen in one storm or another, and then the wind picked up and broke it clear through. Secondly, we had put it on a high pole, which necessitated connecting up two 25′ lengths of coaxial, with a connector. Even though the connector had been taped with electrical tape, it had still corroded through from the rain. Rock knocker fixed both lengths of coaxial, used only one, put it up on the roof, and voila, I have a green light ALL the time. The bad connections would also explain why my Internet (and cell service) have been so intermittent for such a long time.

So, tomorrow, a Missy update with photos, I think. BIGSURKATE IS BACK! … At least until the next mountain adventure. Lets hope no wind storms, as the TV antenna and cellular booster antenna need some hunkering down to survive the high level winds I get up here!

Bigsurkate Battles Power and Cellular, and is winning…

I have been struggling with power AND cellular issues, so I’ve been doing a little troubleshooting, lately.  On the solar power issue, I’ve resolved that.

Somehow or another, although my dog sitter denies ANY involvement whatsoever – really, no one else was here, using power, or opening up the power unit – but in any event, somehow or another, my battery was run down to 9 v. not enough to run the inverter or the charge control.  When I returned home from Quartzite, the power switch to the PV panels was turned off, so no charging from the sun the whole time I was gone, or just about anyway.  It was on when I left.  I got an expensive high zoot 6-12-24 v. battery charger that is damn smart, as well as expensive.  Today we put it on the solar battery for four hours and got it charged up enough to run the inverter and charge control, so now I am running the gennie to run and charge the solar unit, so my house is on 24 hour power again.  That is really nice.  I had brought out all my back-ups – candles, oil lamps and battery operated lights, yesterday.  I put them all away today.

As to the cellular booster, I asked Rock Knocker to rotate it, as I could see it was not pointing in the right direction.  That’s when we discovered that coaxial cable connecting the outdoor antenna to the indoor box, which then connects up to the indoor antenna, was completely severed through.  Lord only knows when that happened – which wind storm or whatever.  That certainly explains my internet problems!  Anyway, now it is only a matter of going to Radio Shack or similar to see about getting a new connector.  Rock Knocker says a whole new 50′ length of coaxial, but I seem to recall there is a connector that can simply be screwed on to the old piece of coaxial.  If I could surf the Internet, I’m sure I could find it.

So, one system down and one to go.  Then I have photos of the snow Friday, new Missy photos and stories, and the usual tales from the top of my mountain, where life is always interesting!

Missy, the Mystery Dog, part 2

Trying to learn who she is, and I am learning she is the sweetest, smartest dog I have ever had find me. I will never know how she came to me. I wish I could read her mind better. She has become thoroughly, and completely attached. She needs to stay close to me, or watch me, constantly. I cannot go to the bathroom alone … reminds me of when my kids were little. It is only when I am safely in bed does she lay on her own bed, right near mine. I know she doesn’t talk, except through her eyes, and her behavior. She still is not barking or otherwise making any sounds. I wish I were a better dog whisperer.

I took her to the vet Wednesday. She did not want to get in the car, and then, when she did, with much help from me, she shook for the first 1/2 hour or more. After I got her in the car at home, she wanted out, so I was concerned about stopping anywhere, lest she try to escape. She never did. She found her spot on the passenger side back seat, and was comfortable. She got out easily at the Vet, and was not fearful there. She enjoyed the little girl who wanted to be friends, the staff, who fell in love with her, and the only procedure she objected to was having her temperature taken. We postponed any shots or other things until her next visit in a month.

She played a lot of ball catching with her last owner, per her canine teeth, the vet assistant said. She is not chipped. She is not spayed. Probably not de-barked, just trying to get her confidence about her place in the pack, per the vet. She is between 1 and 2 years old, and in good health, especially considering her travels.

She got back into the car at the vets with confidence, and happily. I wasn’t leaving her.

When we got home, I let her out with the others off leash for the first time. She couldn’t get any privacy to do her “business” so snipped at Gideon. Dakota, Bear, and Missy came in when asked, but I had to put Missy into the bathroom so that Miranda, my most skittish dog, would come in, which I did. Gideon could not be found, until later. Thursday, I let them all out together, and she did really well.

Missy was very insecure, as could be expected, But is adapting very fast. There is a fine line I must tread in making her feel welcome, and making my other dogs not feel displaced. But we made a lot of progress on Thursday. She is not snipping at the others, and is wanting to play with them. The others are not sure, after her initial snarling. We need to work out her place in our pack … Our family. But each day she settles in more and more, finds her place, and everyone becomes a little more comfortable than they were the day before. She and Dakota are deciding who will be number one in this pack. Gideon and the others have always bowed to Dakota’s decisions, so we are 1/2 way there.

I’ve received a few inquiries, but so far, all for males. I have become very attached, just in four days. However, if there is a heartbroken owner out there, I will relinquish her, sadly.

I stopped for lunch at a Chinese buffet. I got two fortune cookies. One said, “a great reward will come to you.” The second said, “do not stray from the path that fate has laid out for you.” I gave Missy the cookies, and decided she is both my fate and my reward. I am just glad a Great Dane or St. Bernard didn’t show up!

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Upcoming weather

Here it comes …
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
943 AM PST THU FEB 7 2013

.DISCUSSION…AS OF 9:24 AM PST WEDNESDAY…KMUX DOPPLER RADAR IS
SHOWING A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
SOME LIGHT RAIN IS FALLING WITH THIS FRONT AS IT SLOWLY SLIDES
SOUTH. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE MONTEREY BAY AREA
SHORTLY WITH LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS EXPECTED BETWEEN 1700 AND 2300Z.

THE PARENT LOW OF THIS FRONT IS CURRENTLY CENTERED OFF OF THE
WASHINGTON/OREGON COASTLINE. THE 0000Z ECMWF AND 1200Z GFS HAVE
INITIALIZED WELL THIS LOW AND SLIDE IT SOUTH ENTERING NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE CWA THIS EVENING. COLD AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS LOW WILL FALL TO -13 DEGREES CELSIUS AT 700MB. THIS WILL
RESULT IN TWO THINGS. FIRST THE SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO BETWEEN
2500 AND 3000 FEET OVERNIGHT. SECONDLY INSTABILITY WILL BE
ENHANCED RESULTING IN SHOWERS AND POTENTIAL THUNDERSTORMS
OVERNIGHT. THE BEST INSTABILITY WILL BE OVER THE WATERS WITH LI
VALUES RANGING FROM 0 TO -1.5. WITH THE BEST INSTABILITY OVER THE
WATERS THE BEST POSSIBILITY OF THUNDER WILL BE OVER THE WATERS AND
THE IMMEDIATE COAST. WITH THE LOW SNOW LEVELS AND SHOWERS EXPECTED
SNOW WILL BE A POSSIBILITY FOR PLACES LIKE SKYLINE DRIVE AND
HIGHWAY 17 SUMMIT OVERNIGHT WITH THE GREATEST ACCUMULATION OVER
THE SANTA LUCIAS. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE LESS THAN 3.5
INCHES IN THE SANTA LUCIAS WITH 1.5 INCHES OR LESS OVER HIGHWAY 17
AND NORTH.

I finally built a fire, as it got colder and colder. 3 and 1/2″ of snow? Really? Lord, not here, I hope!

Missy update coming later today or tomorrow, if the Internet allows. Trying to get a photo to upload! Grrrr … I got spoiled on the road with fast Internet!

Fire Safe council Seeks to Improve LPNF Fuelbreak Proposal

Missy has to go for a thorough and complete check-up today at the vet. I will report back tonight or tomorrow, but in the mean time, pleas look at this request from the Fire Safe Council.

Fire Safe Council Seeks to Improve Los Padres Forest Service Fuelbreak Proposal
Council encourages supporters to send letters to the Forest Service in support of improvements to the proposed fuelbreak project

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA, February 4, 2013 — The Fire Safe Council for Monterey County seeks improvements to a proposed U.S. Forest Service fuelbreak project around part of the Los Padres National Forest. Improvements to the project would better protect communities, watersheds, habitats and reservoirs from devastating wildfire. The Council is submitting a comment letter to the Forest Service with proposed improvements.

The Council is asking the public to help by submitting statements of support to the Forest Service for the Council’s comment letter, by Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

Information on the Council’s comment letter and how the public can submit statements to support it is available at http://www.firesafemonterey.org.

The Forest Service has invited the public to submit comments on its proposed “Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement Project,” as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The deadline to submit comments is Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

The Council, whose mission is to help protect lives and property from wildfires in Monterey County, is urging the public to submit comments to the Forest Service stating support for the Council’s letter. Comments submitted in support of improvements to the project can help the Forest Service justify making improvements.

Fuelbreaks are areas where vegetation is reduced before wildfire starts so that during fires it is safer and easier for firefighters to contain wildfires. If properly designed and maintained fuelbreaks can stop the spread of fire.

Michael Caplin, spokesperson for the Council on this issue said, “The fire safe council sees the proposed project as a major step in the right direction by the Forest Service, however, as currently described the project needs substantial improvements.”

For example, among other proposed changes to the project, the Council’s letter asks for Forest Service statements that the project may not be completed for 10 years to be clarified to say the project will be completed sooner.

10 years from today would be about 15 years after the Basin Fire. However, it was only about 9 years between the 1999 Kirk Fire and the Basin Fire in 2008, both of which were major fires started by lightning in the National Forest. A 10-year completion date could be after the next major fire, which would be too late.

“That the fuelbreak project is being proposed at all is a major step forward and a testimonial to the value of the 2010 Monterey County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which recommends that the historic Big Box Firebreak around the perimeter of the Monterey County portion of the Los Padres National Forest be improved with effective fuelbreaks,” Caplin said.

“However, that does not mean the project description cannot and should not be improved to help ensure the project is feasible to complete, and effective once completed. Expressions of support by the public for the fire safe council’s letter to the Forest Service will help that happen,” Caplin added.

Additional information is available at http://www.firesafemonterey.org

Partington no longer an island!

Road is now open and residents are driving it. Thanks to Blaze, Cal-Trans, Partington Road Association, and all those behind the scenes that made this happen! Congratulations, all! Good job!

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