Storms and Friends

Crew removing trees east of house. Talked to Carol, physical therapy office owner next door. Michael took me to his house—spent afternoon there, watched The Martian, had dinner. Ordered Christmas presents for Wolfe and Leland. Watched Ancient Civilizations—Roman emperors. Crazy, nasty weather all day.

Friends and Fallen Trees

December 19, 2025

These notes describe the events of Wednesday, 12/18/2025.

Another storm damage photo

A crew was working on removing more trees to the east of my house. Not cleanup from fallen trees, but preventive action—removing trees in anticipation of the continued storm. Better to take them down in a controlled way than wait for the wind to decide.

Talked to Carol, the owner of the physical therapy office next door. She was concerned these trees would fall on her building—the reason for bringing in the removal crew. Comparing notes on what the storm had already done, what it might still do. The shared vulnerability of adjacent properties when trees start coming down.

Michael took me to his house for lunch. Spent the afternoon at Michael and Mary's place—watching The Martian between meals, staying for dinner, then home. The hospitality and company, the care of friends. The Martian is a great movie—the story of survival and problem-solving on Mars, Matt Damon's character using science and ingenuity to stay alive while waiting for rescue. The humor, the tension, the systematic approach to impossible problems. Good entertainment between meals and conversation.

Ordered Christmas presents for Wolfe and Leland. Selecting and purchasing gifts for both grandsons, the annual tradition of choosing appropriate presents for their interests and ages.

Watched Ancient Civilizations. This episode was about the Roman emperors—the succession of rulers after the republic fell, the patterns of power, the good emperors and the tyrants, the vast span of imperial Rome's history compressed into lecture format. It was interesting learning about the sequence. There were a few very good emperors and several nut cases. It illustrated why the times we are in now are not so unusual. We just happen to be in a nut case phase. The cycles of competent leadership and deranged power playing out across centuries, the pattern repeating whether in ancient Rome or modern America.

Crazy, nasty weather all day. The storm continuing, wind and rain persisting, the aftermath of the tree-falling night extending into ongoing harsh conditions. My weather station recorded 3.15 inches of rain, wind gusts as high as 31 mph with sustained winds as high as 14 mph. The numbers quantifying what felt like relentless assault.

The day moved through storm preparation, time with Michael and Mary, and holiday tasks. Tree removal crew working proactively on trees that threatened Carol's physical therapy office. Conversation with Carol about her concerns and the preventive measures. Lunch and dinner at Michael and Mary's house. The Martian providing entertainment. Christmas presents ordered for both grandsons. Roman emperors lecture continuing the historical education thread. The nasty weather persisting, more storm expected, hence the preventive tree removal.