My master is at quite a crossroads. He just returned from walking little Baby DeVille, the obedient Chihuahua-Terrier, exasperated beyond belief. Not the Chihuahua, but my master from whom I withhold the last iota of responsiveness. The weekly pressure of turning out another felicitous episode of ‘I Love Lupe’ is hard upon him. This mental tension, added to the roulette of passwords, is quite enough to unhinge the poor fellow. True, I am a canine creature bursting, nay bloated, with unconditional love. Yet that does not preclude me from some more sophisticated emotions, such as schadenfreude. Heaven knows why they say it’s a dog-eat-dog world: from my perch, on the blue-velour couch, it seems to be a human-eat-human sort of world.

My master, for example, got inside the gate of the house, open and shut in nanoseconds. Deep satisfaction derives from having successfully rewired his reflexes. Then once inside the front door, he slid his back down, exhaling deeply, already unhinged by the indulgences of the little Chihuahua-terrier who’s always game for a walk. My sidekick. Of course, what human wouldn’t be fazed by the dog sniffing at every nugget of carnitas left on the sidewalk by the taco stand. Sussing out every last morsel of carne asada, and the spicy fried chicken, laden with golden garlic and red pepper infused batter that could wreak all kinds of havoc with a dog’s digestion.

I won’t budge from the couch. But then his daughter brought me, paws first, a connoisseur of anarchy, the supreme sower of chaos, into their lives. Even now, as this self-styled scribe seeks to scale the hillock of yet another episode of ‘I Love Lupe,’ all kinds of mayhem is brewing outside. The demonic rescue dog was assaulting a visitor to our humble abode. Had she bitten the hand of our guest. Like pruning bougainvillea without gloves, each Lupecentric encounter extracted its drop of blood. Moments earlier, she was up to her shenanigans, slipping out the gate when her chief dominatrix, guard down ever so briefly, let the gate swing wide open. Off Lupe ran.

She zipped in the direction of a fabled Hollywood boulevard that turns into a freeway when it’s the hour to drive home. The master relaxed, he sought to relinquish the fear that there’s be tragedy if the erratic Lupe got loose the roadway. The task of the day had been to parse the snowballing of fear. And how folks with an inordinate weakness for lager beer are wont to build snowflakes of distress into avalanches.

My master, in the course of Thanksgiving had had a misadventure of sorts. One that had suddenly exiled him from life’s most reliable pleasures.

To be continued…

The post I Love Lupe (17) appeared first on Canyon News.

ALICIA: A Psychological Drama

ALICIA begins with an immersive narrative that grips readers from the first paragraph. Arias masterfully presents a psychological drama that transcends geographic boundaries and speaks to universal themes, making it relatable to a broad audience. The characters in the novel are meticulously articulated, and the plot is filled with shocking turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Arias attributes the depth of his writing to his personal and professional experiences, drawing from the myriad situations he encountered in the entertainment industry.

The Dynamics Between Studios and Independent Creatives

In a recent interview with Canyon News, Arias explored how studios could better collaborate with independent creatives. He notes, “Studios are at their best when they treat independent creators as partners rather than vendors.” Arias emphasizes that fostering a nurturing environment for writers, directors, and producers allows for experimentation and authentic expression, ultimately leading to original storytelling. He believes that when creators feel trusted, they produce work that resonates more deeply with audiences; conversely, micromanagement stifles creativity and results in formulaic projects.

Arias doesn’t view writing as a departure from his career as an executive, but as an expansion of everything he already does. His path has always been multifaceted—lawyer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, educator—and becoming an author is simply the latest dimension of that creative and professional identity. “For me, it was never about leaving one world for another,” he reflects. “It was about embracing the power of ‘and’ instead of ‘or.'”

The Impact of Streaming Platforms

Digital streaming platforms have fundamentally transformed the entertainment landscape, and Arias recognizes their role in democratizing creative expression. He explains that while traditional theaters require projects to justify large budgets, streaming thrives on diversity and niche storytelling. His work in launching streaming services across numerous countries illuminated how global audiences engage with varied content. This realization filled him with the confidence to bring ALICIA to life, knowing that a powerful story would find its audience.

Building Collaborations and Maintaining Creative Control

Arias dispels the myth that independent creatives require agents or explicit invitations to collaborate with studios. He identifies several entry points for creators looking to build relationships, including participation in labs and fellowships, networking with independent producers, and leveraging social media platforms. He believes that maintaining creative control is possible when artists present a clear vision and well-defined projects, which can give them leverage and respect within the studio system.

The Genesis of ALICIA

The conception of ALICIA began with a single image that Arias envisioned—a missing woman whose absence is profound not merely for her identity but for the child she carries. Initially imagined as a film treatment back in 2008, the story later evolved into a full novel as Arias recognized that a literary format could capture the intricate emotional dynamics and psychological depth he wanted to explore.

The narrative centers on Claire and Andrew Cooper, a wealthy Manhattan couple who hire their undocumented housekeeper, Alicia, as a surrogate. Each character encapsulates a blend of contradictions, portraying a dynamic interplay of control, vulnerability, and survival instincts that propel the story forward.

A Cinematic Approach to Writing

Arias’s background in film profoundly influences his writing style. “I think in images,” he asserts, noting that the structure of ALICIA echoes that of a psychological thriller, replete with short chapters, layered reveals, and intense emotional moments. He aims to merge the essence of literature with cinematic pacing and structure, enhancing the reader’s experience.

Future Endeavors

As for what lies ahead, Arias is not slowing down. ALICIA is being prepared for a screen adaptation, with conversations under way with producers and industry experts. At the same time, he is actively working on a new novel, part of a trilogy that promises to be commercially viable while offering creative freedom. 

In his ambitious journey of storytelling, Eddy Arias exemplifies how a versatile career can inform and enrich the creative process, allowing him to bridge the worlds of literature and film with unique authenticity.

ALICIA is available for purchase on Amazon lhttps://a.co/d/4mNl51J or the official website www.aliciathebook.com.

The post The Journey Of Eddy Arias: From Studio Executive To Debut Novelist appeared first on Canyon News.

For dispersion of their seed, colorful berries rely on birds. Therefore, many ripen and are most colorful as many birds migrate during autumn. Birds consume the berries but do not digest their seed. Instead, as they migrate, they disperse the viable seed. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Birds eat all they want. Seed benefits from thorough dispersion.

As they ripen, autumn and winter berries develop bright colors that attract birds. Most are bright red. Some are bright orange. A few are bright yellow. They are substantial enough to satisfy the birds that eat them. Yet, they are compact enough for such birds to eat them whole. Some are impressively abundant, at least until any birds that they feed find them.

Colorful berries are literally for the birds.

That can be a dilemma for home gardening. Many garden enthusiasts grow autumn and winter berries for the color. Many grow them to attract birds, though. More grow them both for their color and to attract birds. The latter is least disappointing. Typically, such berries ripen to display their color faster than birds can eat all of them. Every season is different.

Unfortunately, there are not many options for colorful autumn and winter berries. Some of the species that produce the most colorful fruit are unfortunately thorny. Firethorn notably produces the most abundant, most colorful and most familiar berries. It is horridly thorny, though. So is English hawthorn, which is deciduous and defoliates to expose its red fruit.

Toyon and various cotoneasters are thornless alternatives for colorful berries. Toyon is a native species that grows rather large. Although cotoneasters are not as prolific, cultivars stay proportionate to home gardens. Hollies are dioecious, so female specimens need a male nearby for pollination. Because males are rare, females produce only a few berries.

Highlight: Firethorn

Nothing is lost in translation. The botanical name of Pyracantha coccinea literally means “Firethorn red”. Firethorn is its common name. It produces bright red berries on wickedly thorny stems. Some old-fashioned cultivars produce bright orange berries. Cultivars that produce bright yellow berries are now rare. Fruit ripens for migrating birds about autumn.

The thorns of firethorn are difficult to work with. However, they make a hedge of firethorn impenetrable. Frequent shearing deprives hedges of their natural form and some of their fruit. Selective pruning is tedious and likely painful, but retains more berries. Pyracantha needs sunny exposure, but is otherwise quite undemanding. It is susceptible to fireblight.

The most popular cultivars of firethorn can grow taller than eight feet. Taller cultivars that can grow twice as tall are uncommon. Sprawling types initially stay quite low, but without adequate pruning, form thickets. These same sprawling types are conducive to espaliers on fences and walls. Because pyracantha is difficult to work with, it should not be left to get unruly.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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Curiosity Fuels Exploration 

Curiosity pushes players to explore what they don’t already know. For example, if a gamer is playing a title like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, their curiosity may push them to explore a hidden area where they’ve never been before. This could lead them to an entirely new questline and change their entire gaming experience. Similarly, when playing a title like The Sims, a player may choose to change their avatar, explore new areas within the game, or connect with new people. This can create a more interesting and immersive experience for players, as they adapt to new surroundings or engage with new in-game characters. 

Curiosity encourages players to explore beyond their normal routines and to dive deeper into each gaming experience. This often leads to players exploring new realms, finding new worlds, or meeting new characters, adding depth to each experience. 

Trying New Game Genres 

Many gamers rely on their favorite genres to keep them entertained whenever they log on for a gaming session. Some players develop habits and patterns, choosing to play games that fall within the same genre time after time. For example, a gamer who has always enjoyed shooters may mostly stick to FPS titles. Similarly, gamers who prefer strategy-based games may find it hard to deviate from tactic-based titles. 

While these patterns and habits do exist, curiosity is often a disruptor, encouraging gamers to explore beyond their normal routine and genre, expanding their horizons. For example, curiosity can push a gamer who usually plays simulation games to try narrative-driven adventures or perhaps a gamer who often plays puzzle games to try online casino titles like poker, roulette, or slots. 

As online casino games become increasingly popular, more at-home gamers who play a variety of genres are exploring these titles. Bettors who play online often seek out offshore casinos to find the most flexible options. While some US states allow online gambling, others are more restrictive, and these sites offer easy access for players located anywhere in the US (source: https://www.cardplayer.com/online-casinos/offshore-casinos). Often licensed in countries like Malta or Curacao, offshore sites are known to offer bettors access to immense game libraries and rewarding bonuses, making them a popular option for many. Similarly, a gamer who often plays casual games online might choose to explore arcade-style games or, for a little more engagement and depth, even simulation games. 

Often, exploring new genres leads players to discover new favorite titles and develop new gaming skills, enhancing their overall experience online. 

Developing New Skills 

Curiosity does not just push gamers to explore new genres but can also help them learn new things and develop new skills over time. Curious gamers often experiment and challenge themselves, pushing themselves in a variety of ways. 

For example, gamers with a curious nature often try to learn new strategies and optimize their gameplay to push themselves to new levels or so they can explore new worlds. For some players who enjoy fighting games like Street Fighter 6, this could mean researching and practicing advanced combo mechanics or experimenting with different character matchups to fully comprehend how each in-game move affects the outcome. For other players who prefer titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, curiosity could push them to explore every corner of the vast world, searching for new places or hidden treasures and developing skills along the way.

Beyond developing in-game skills, many curious gamers also research and explore game lore and history outside of games, adding to their overall skillset. Curiosity often encourages players to learn about in-game worlds, adding to their knowledge base and making the gaming experience even more enjoyable. 

Enhances Social Connection 

While some gamers enjoy playing solo from time to time, online gaming is often a social activity. This is similar to other leisure activities, like streaming movies or TV shows, which can also be enjoyed alone or with friends. When it comes to online gaming, curiosity can push players to connect with others, encourage gamers to ask questions, seek out suggestions or recommendations, or even discuss strategies with other players. 

Curiosity may push some players to join new gaming communities. For example, a player who wants to learn more about a new genre or wants to add to their skillset may join an online community focused on the genre that they are interested in so that they can meet fellow players and learn about what games they enjoy most. Another player who is curious about a certain strategy may join a chat group or forum to connect with fellow players, whether near or far, to learn more about their in-game strategies and share their own. 

These digital connections, often fueled by curiosity, can create a sense of connection amongst gamers, even when playing from home. 

Curiosity and the Rise of Indie Games 

While major AAA titles are played by a huge number of gamers, indie titles have created a unique way for gamers to explore new worlds and discover unique experiences. Curiosity often leads gamers to indie titles, particularly curious players who want to experiment with new or niche themes and gameplay mechanics. 

For example, a gamer who often plays AAA titles may be curious about different options and choose to explore niche indie games like Celeste or Outer Wilds. These games are known to push boundaries and often become quick favorites amongst players looking for something new and fresh. Overall, curiosity is a major driver fueling the indie gaming scene. As players continue to explore new titles and genres, indie game developers are able to produce unique and niche content to meet this growing demand. 

Curiosity and Emerging Formats 

Beyond indie games, curiosity is also fueling the development of new gaming formats, like AR, VR, cloud gaming, and even blockchain games. Virtual Reality, in particular, is fueling growth in online gaming and far beyond. Even in places like Santa Monica, the city has used VR to help locals view and understand the changing coastline. When it comes to online gaming, VR and these advanced technologies are changing how gamers play online. Gamers are often curious about new technologies and want to explore these new options as soon as they become available. 

By following their curiosity, players can explore these new and emerging formats, staying on the cutting edge of gaming technology. This ensures that players are not only just watching from the sidelines but are participating in the evolution of online gaming as it happens. 

Conclusion 

Curiosity plays a key role in how players experience online gaming. Curiosity can push at-home gamers to explore new worlds or even explore new games or genres. For many players, exploring new games and genres boosts the overall gaming experience, adding depth and entertainment. Furthermore, curiosity can push players to develop and learn new skills as well as encourage social connections while playing online. Beyond pushing players to explore, learn, and grow, curiosity is also pushing the entire gaming scene forward as a whole. Curiosity often fuels the exploration of indie titles and encourages players to interact with new technologies, like VR and AR. Overall, curiosity is a powerful tool that encourages gamers to explore, learn, and grow as online gaming advances. 

The post The Role Of Curiosity In Expanding Your Gaming Experience appeared first on Canyon News.

Celebrating Simplicity and Excellence

Many high-end steakhouses serve discreetly prepared, high-quality, and expensive ingredients. This emphasis is the essence of dining for purists. This is a very simple preparation to allow the beef flavor to shine. Now you know that if you are a food lover, such as a steak lover, who cooks it, or if you are a trained chef. For the purists, there is a focus on a few select spices and premium cuts. The menu is refreshingly straightforward, inviting diners to experience food at its purest. You will notice that the menu curation of a steakhouse in Wagyu varieties creates a unique dining space where classic steak appreciation meets modern gastronomic trends.

A Playground for Culinary Creativity

Cooks offer inventive dishes at many steakhouses, so food enthusiasts find plenty to excite their palates. Chefs love to utilize new marinades, sauces, and sides. This imaginative process of cooking fills these traditional dishes with compositions of new, enjoyable textures and flavorful notes. Creative preparations might include unusual spice mixes or strange side dishes. Guests who might be feeling a touch more adventurous can still discover new flavors with the shining star of the dish. It is this mix of tradition and fantasy that draws food lovers back for more.

The Ritual of Steakhouse Dining

A steakhouse meal is an occasion. The essence lies in the attentive service, the inviting setting, and the meticulous attention to detail. Purists enjoy the same immersive rituals: selecting preferred cuts and opting for how they want their steak cooked. For food lovers, the anticipation that arises from the sounds and scents wafting out of the kitchen is glorious. The ritual lends significance to the meal, making every visit unforgettable.

Quality at the Center

An eatery that calls itself a steakhouse should be serving up some quality beef, both in terms of the cut and the preparation. Purists hope that traditional cooking methods, such as grilling or broiling, are honored. Gourmets might detect slight differences in texture and flavor resulting from precise cooking techniques. The emphasis on quality, meanwhile, helps reassure diners that their meal was carefully prepared. It is reassuring to both sides that excellence is paramount.

Versatile Menus for Diverse Tastes

Steakhouses often have more than just beef on their menus. Adding more seafood, poultry, and vegetarian options helps you cater to your broader customer base. Gastronomes can dine on seasonal plates with inventive pairings. There’s reassurance for the purist in the old-school sides, baked potatoes, and salads. This freedom ensures that everyone has access to food.

The Art of Pairing

The idea is that pairing steak with the appropriate beverage elevates the meal as a whole. For purists, a classic wine pairing that complements the richness of the meat. Foodies might experiment with craft beverage (or non-wine) pairings. A well-chosen drink selection also contributes to an enjoyable culinary journey. There is a blend for every guest to find their favorite.

Atmosphere and Ambience

Steak houses can be widely misperceived and underappreciated by others simply because of their beautiful decor and light color tone. It usually has nice places to sit, and the wait staff is generally excellent. For purists, the appeal lies in linen tablecloths and polished silverware. Gastronomes love the dynamic atmosphere, with the gossip and the smell of fried beef steak. It adds an air of occasion to the meal.

Tradition Meets Innovation

Great steakhouses exist in balance; they honor tradition as well as innovate. For purists, it is a reassuring practice, with similar flavors and presentation. We food lovers are drawn to novelty, such as modern takes on familiar favorites. This balance ​invites ​both groups to come back and return because ​their preferences are honored. And that willingness to change is what will keep steakhouses alive for generations to come.

Sourcing and Sustainability

Nowadays, diners are more conscious about where their food comes from. And food lovers and purists alike flock to steakhouses that source their ingredients sustainably. Knowing the origin of the ingredients reassures guests about the quality and ethics of the product. The desire of people to have their dining and similar choices align with their personal value system also drives interest in sustainable practices. This pledge enhances consumer confidence and loyalty among visitors.

Community and Connection

A steakhouse is a place where gatherings and special occasions are often planned and celebrated. Food enthusiasts also enjoy sharing recipes and great stories to delight their friends and family members. Purists value the tradition of gathering over a meal. Such a spirit of togetherness generates lasting memories. Eating good food and catching up is always a special time.

Conclusion

What Do Steakhouses Do Right? Steakhouses are right because they offer something for everyone. Purists, especially, appreciate the moment when those timeless recipes and techniques come to life. It excites foodies with imaginative spins and bold flavors. Both groups come together over a shared appreciation of quality, vibe, and overall hospitality. That is the secret to keeping steakhouses among the most visited places for everyone who loves to eat well and have remarkable experiences.

The post Why A Steakhouse Appeals To Both Foodies And Purists appeared first on Canyon News.

This repeatedly has been underscored this week. Lupe I’ve been babysitting off and on ever since she got the alley-oop from domestic flight in Burbank. She did finally make it to New York for a couple years, after being certified as a service dog. Since then, it’s been a long, surreal sojourn in Los Angeles. She’s a fiercely loyal, irascible pit bull lab. Not once has she awarded me the deference of leashing her up. Then taking her outside for a normal session of evacuating the bladder would be an option. That privilege belongs to her master, my daughter.

The best I. can do with Lupe is grab her chain, and prevent her from mauling, or frightening the heck out of bystanders.

As a result, this has conditioned in Lupe a habit of leaving a yellow liquid pool on the white tiles off the kitchen floor. This is an unpleasant discovery when I get back from a good day’s work and a spring in my stride. Just last week I was still cursing about it. This week I got back from exotic suburbia of Santa Clarita, a dizzying potpourri of drive-in franchises and their carnival-colored signs KFC, Wall-Mart, Red-Hot Buffalo Wings, Golden Arches, Auto Zones, Walmarts, 7-Eleven, you name it.

From that American phantasmagoria, juxtaposed against the breathtaking desert vistas the pioneers had to cross before getting to Encino. Once in the kitchen, the sole of my shoe skidded and some oleaginous substance in the white tile. Oh yes, it was the partially dried shore of Lupe’s puddle made hours earlier.

I did manage to curb a cry of “good grief” and seized on the important action. Grabbing a gnarly washcloth, soaking up all the canine micturation. Then go over it with the washcloth, now rinsed. Dried everything with old newspapers. Then a final wipe over with vinegar. One of the formalities. Who’s to say if it repels dogs, but it least it imparts a stark new scent where Lupe had to go… yet again.

Thanks be given for being able to roll with the expected unexpecteds that come with life on this planet. Thank you, Lupe.

To be continued…

The post I Love Lupe (16) appeared first on Canyon News.

You check recovery before training, share a clear report with a doctor, pay for coffee at a tap, and feel safer on a solo run. The best upgrades this year earn their place by saving time or catching problems early.

From Step Counting to Clinical‑Grade Health Signals

Health tracking has moved past “logging” into screening and risk flags. Multi‑sensor models look for patterns across days and weeks, which is where meaningful health signals live. Your watch is becoming a first‑pass early warning system that works in the background.

Here’s what a modern watch can handle before you ever book an appointment:

• Continuous monitoring: Heart rate, HRV, temperature shifts, respiratory rate, oxygen trends, and movement run passively, so long‑term patterns appear even when you’re not thinking about them.
• Moment capture: ECGs and symptom tags let you record a specific episode when you feel off, instead of trying to describe it later.
• Baseline alerts: Trends are compared to your normal, not a generic average, so deviations are more likely to matter.
• Clinician‑ready summaries: You can export clean, readable reports that make appointments faster and more focused.

Sleep Apnea and Breathing‑Disturbance Screening

Flagship watches now detect breathing‑disturbance patterns consistent with moderate to severe sleep apnea after several nights of data. They combine oxygen changes, respiratory irregularity, and movement to spot what you can’t feel while sleeping. 

If you get an alert, you’re pushed toward proper testing instead of guessing why you’re exhausted. Even without apnea, those scores show how stress, alcohol, or late nights affect your sleep quality.

Passive Hypertension Notifications

Some offer hypertension notifications that watch for long‑term blood‑pressure patterns using pulse‑wave and optical signals over about a month. You don’t need daily cuff checks to learn that something is trending wrong. It’s not a diagnosis, but it’s a strong reason to confirm with a real monitor while the problem is still early.

Personal Heart and Recovery Baselines

ECG, AFib detection, HRV, skin temperature, and blood‑oxygen tracking now feed baseline models that learn your normal range. Instead of blunt thresholds, you see sustained deviations like resting‑heart spikes or multi‑day HRV drops. That makes training decisions cleaner and doctor conversations more specific. 

Safety Tech That Acts Before You Do

Your watch can sense trouble fast, even when your phone is out of reach, and it can escalate without you tapping a screen. Once enabled, these tools sit in the background until they matter.

For example, adventure watches in added satellite Emergency SOS, so you can contact emergency services without cellular coverage. If you hike, drive rural roads, or travel alone, this removes a real risk gap. The watch can send your location and basic context, then keep a minimal connection open until help responds. 

Crash, Fall, and Loss-of-Pulse Detection

Fall detection is now dependable enough for older users and serious athletes. Crash detection recognises severe deceleration patterns in cars and bikes. Newer Wear OS models added loss‑of‑pulse detection to trigger emergency calls if signals suggest cardiac arrest. Reduced false alarms make these features feel trustworthy instead of annoying.

Everyday Protection Habits

Live location sharing, timed check‑ins, and fast alarm gestures are becoming normal daily tools. Haptics and compact on‑wrist maps help you stay aware without pulling out a phone. That subtle support makes solo movement safer, so you move more.

Hardware That Finally Fits Daily Life

Software gains don’t matter if a watch is annoying to wear. This year’s hardware lasts longer, locates you better, and looks less like a gadget. Comfort and aesthetics are what keep the device on your wrist, and choosing high-quality Apple watch bands helps you avoid irritation while matching your everyday look.

Longer Battery Without Compromises

Dual‑chip designs and smarter power profiling pushed two‑day battery life into mainstream models. Adventure watches often run 36 to 48 hours with heavy GPS. Slimmer watches still track sleep reliably. You charge less, so your data stream stays consistent.

Better GPS and Motion Sensing

Multi‑band GNSS, faster accelerometers, and improved barometers make pace, distance, and elevation tracking cleaner. Route guidance is more stable, even in cities. Gesture control is also improving, letting you dismiss alarms or answer calls with small hand movements. You stay in flow instead of stopping to manage tech.

Design Diversity and Clearer Displays

Cases are thinner, and brighter screens are readable in direct sunlight. Smooth refresh rates make quick checks effortless. At the same time, styles are splitting into sport, hybrid, and classic looks. You can choose something that fits your wardrobe, which makes daily wear easier.

AI on the Wrist: Coaching You’ll Actually Use

Sensors don’t help unless they tell you what to do next. More on‑device AI turns raw data into short, usable guidance. The best versions reduce decision fatigue. You get fewer graphs and clearer next steps.

What good wrist‑AI looks like:

• It explains the driver. If readiness is low, it points to sleep debt, strain, temperature shifts, or elevated resting heart rate.
• It suggests one action. A lighter workout, earlier bedtime, or hydration prompt beats a list of ten vague tips.
• It learns your patterns. Your recovery and stress signals are treated as personal, not generic.
• It stays quiet by default. Insights show up when they matter, not all day.

Training That Adapts in Real Time

If your heart rate climbs too high for an easy run, you’re told to slow down, and the target recalibrates. If recovery is poor, planned effort scales back automatically. That keeps you consistent and protects your long‑term progress.

Predictive Recovery and Stress Cues

AI blends HRV, breathing rate, temperature variation, and load into readiness or body‑battery scores. The leap is interpretability. You see why the score changed, so you can fix one variable before stress compounds. This prevents the slow drift into burnout.

Contextual Micro‑Assistants

A boarding pass appears as you enter an airport. Hydration reminders show up after a long run. Stretch prompts arrive after hours at a desk. It feels like ambient help, not another inbox.

A Smarter Ecosystem Around Your Wrist

Platforms connect watches to rings, earbuds, cars, payments, and health portals. Even if you never dig into settings, you benefit from the integration because your wrist becomes a low‑friction hub.

Smart rings are rising because they’re comfortable for sleep and stress tracking. When ring and watch data merge, recovery scores get more accurate, and you don’t need a screen on your body 24/7. You can wear a ring at night, a watch for workouts, and still keep one continuous health record.

Clinician‑Friendly Reports

Export tools are better organised, so you can bring clear trends to appointments. Instead of vague descriptions, you can show an apnea flag, an ECG strip, or a month‑long resting‑heart change. That makes medical conversations faster and more grounded.

Payments, Keys, and Identity

Contactless pay is standard, and watches are expanding into car keys, smart‑home access, transit passes, and secure sign‑ins. A double‑tap replaces fumbling for cards or phones. Over time, you carry fewer objects and complete tasks faster.

Conclusion

The smartwatch is about passive sensing turning into early warnings, safer routines, and better habits without work on your part. Sleep‑apnea screening, hypertension notifications, satellite SOS, and real AI coaching show that the category is becoming health‑ and safety‑relevant.

Pick a watch that fits your lifestyle, enable the features that actually matter to you, and let the system run quietly. Start with sleep, heart, and safety tools, then build outward as you learn what helps. The real advancement is that your wrist device serves your life instead of competing with it.

The post Smartwatch Advancements That Are Changing How We Live appeared first on Canyon News.

With that said, I’m doing something I never expected, I’ve started reading actual books again. I swore I would never do this. Why? I majored in English as an undergraduate in college. I read so many books, whenever someone asked me if I’m reading anything I would respond: “I’ve done enough reading in my life that I don’t have to ever read again.

It really is the truth. How so? Imagine taking 5 English courses in a single semester and for each course, you have AT LEAST 5 novels if not more to read. I think one semester had a total of like 35 books I had to read between all of my classes; that was just one semester, now span that over 4 years, a lot of reading America.

However, a new book about one of my favorite TV shows is the prompt for this. I have been eagerly waiting for this book to come out for the past 3 to 4 months. Why? Who better to talk about a show desperately enjoy than an expert about the series. The book is being released on Tuesday, November 5 and as a result I cannot wait to crack this book open and start reading. I’m referring to “Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother.”

This reality series has been a guilty pleasure of mine since season 1. I have watched every single season, even the ones that were dreadful and I have no clue how I got thru them. I am referring to “Big Brother 15, “Big Brother 19,” “Big Brother 21” and the God awful “Big Brother 22.” Rarely do books allow me to transport into their actual world, so I’m truly hoping this read of this book does just that. Where I become so enveloped into a book all the outside noise completely disappears for an hour, two hours or however long it takes me to finish reading the book.

Can I read a book in one sitting? Yes, but it has a have a hook that grabs me and refuses to let go. If it doesn’t do that, there is not much I can do America. I hate trying to push myself to read a book, so if the book is an easy read, plus an escape that is a double whammy for me. I can immerse myself in that world and visually imagine the words with actual pictures in my mind that is an exhilarating feeling.

Gosh, if you would have told me 10 years ago, I would be reading books again. I would be laughing in your face. However, you can never knock something until you try it. Don’t worry, I will do a full review of “Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother” once I complete the book for all our readers.

The post Trying Something New: Reading appeared first on Canyon News.

This guide breaks down lumens in plain language and gives practical ranges for common rooms, so you can plan lighting that fits real life at home.

What Are Lumens, Exactly?

Lumens measure the total amount of visible light from a bulb or fixture. More lumens mean a brighter light source, fewer lumens mean a dimmer one. For example:

• A small LED night light might be around 20–50 lumens.
• A typical LED bulb for lamps might be 600–800 lumens.
• A strong LED for task work might be 1,000 lumens or more.

Instead of asking “How many watts do I need?”, it is better to ask “How many lumens do I need in this room?”.

Step 1: Know Your Room Size

The easiest way to estimate how much light you need is to:

1. Measure the length and width of the room in feet.
2. Multiply those numbers to get the square footage.

For example, a 12 ft by 15 ft living room is:

12 × 15 = 180 square feet

Once you know the area, you can apply a simple lumen range for that type of room.

Step 2: Use Simple Lumen Ranges By Room Type

Every room has a different job. A kitchen where you chop vegetables and read labels needs more light than a bedroom where you wind down at night. Below are practical ranges that work well in most homes. They assume a mix of ceiling lights, wall lights, and lamps, not just one fixture.

Living Room

Recommended total: roughly 10–20 lumens per square foot

For the 180 sq ft living room example:

180 × 10–20 lumens = 1,800–3,600 total lumens

That total might come from:

• One main ceiling fixture around 1,200–2,000 lumens, plus
• Two or three lamps adding another 600–1,000 lumens each.

Kitchen (General Area)

Recommended total: roughly 20–30 lumens per square foot

For a 10 ft by 12 ft kitchen (120 sq ft):

120 × 20–30 lumens = 2,400–3,600 total lumens

This usually comes from recessed lights or a central fixture plus under cabinet lighting and maybe a pendant or two.

Kitchen Island Or Work Surface

Recommended task level: often closer to 35–50 lumens per square foot directly over the work area

You do not need this level across the whole room, only where you chop, prepare, and cook.

Dining Room

Recommended total: roughly 10–20 lumens per square foot

Use the higher end of the range if walls and furniture are dark. A dimmer is very helpful here so you can brighten for homework or board games and lower the level for meals.

Bedroom

Recommended total: roughly 10–20 lumens per square foot

Bedrooms do not need the same intensity as a kitchen. Many people prefer a softer, layered approach:

• A modest ceiling light for cleaning and getting dressed.
• Bedside lamps or wall lights for reading.
• Optional accent light in a corner or near a chair.

Bathroom

Recommended total: roughly 20–30 lumens per square foot

In bathrooms, the key is lighting the face well for grooming and makeup. That often means:

• A bright vanity light at eye level or above the mirror.
• A separate ceiling light or recessed lights for general brightness.

Hallways And Entryways

Recommended total: roughly 5–15 lumens per square foot

These areas do not need task level brightness, but they should not feel like tunnels either. Slightly brighter entries help a home feel more welcoming, especially for guests and buyers.

Step 3: Adjust For Your Home’s Real Conditions

The ranges above are starting points. You can adjust up or down depending on:

• Wall color: Dark walls absorb more light, so you may want the higher end of the range.
• Ceiling height: Very high ceilings usually need more total lumens to feel balanced.
• Natural light: Rooms with big windows can get by with fewer lumens during the day but still need a solid plan for evening.
• Age and eyesight: People who read and work a lot at home or who prefer stronger light may want a bit more in key rooms.

Step 4: Think In Layers, Not One Fixture

The total lumens for a room should come from several sources, not just a single ceiling light. A typical mix might be:

• Ceiling fixture: Provides overall brightness.
• Lamps: Add comfortable light near seating and beds.
• Wall lights or under cabinet lighting: Add task and accent light where needed.

If you know your target lumen range, you can choose a main fixture that covers a good portion and then fill the rest with lamps and accent pieces.

Step 5: Use Dimmers To Give Each Room Range

Even with the right lumen levels, you will not want maximum brightness at every moment. A dimmer lets you treat your total lumens like the upper limit and then adjust downward:

• Fuller brightness for cleaning, cooking, and projects.
• Medium levels for everyday use.
• Lower levels at night for relaxing or watching TV.

With dimmable LED fixtures and a sensible lumen plan, each room can handle both task work and quiet evenings without feeling either washed out or underlit.

Quick Lumen Planning Checklist

Before buying your next fixture or bulb, run through this short list:

1. Measure the room and calculate square footage.
2. Pick a lumen range that fits the room type (living, kitchen, bedroom, bath, hallway).
3. Decide how much of that total will come from the main ceiling light.
4. Add lamps and wall lights to reach the remaining lumens in a comfortable way.
5. Choose bulb color temperatures that match your goals: warmer for relaxing, slightly cooler for tasks.
6. Include dimmers where possible so you can fine tune levels day to day.

Ready To Put Your Lumen Plan To Use?

Understanding lumens turns lighting from guesswork into a simple, repeatable process. Once you know how much light you need and how you want it to feel, choosing fixtures and bulbs becomes far easier. You can apply these ranges to any room in your home and build a setup that looks good, functions well, and fits your routine.

If you are planning new fixtures along with better bulbs, you can find inspiration and options at Seus Lighting for chandeliers and lights . A clear lumen plan combined with well chosen pieces helps each room feel balanced from the switch on.

The post How Much Light Do You Really Need? A Simple Guide To Lumens For Everyday Rooms appeared first on Canyon News.

Of course, for most species, bark does not change much throughout the year. It becomes more prominent now merely because defoliation increases its exposure. In fact, some of the most distinctive bark belongs to evergreen species. Some belongs to flowering trees, fruiting trees or arboriform shrubbery. The sources are as variable as the characteristics.

European white birch is likely the most familiar tree with white bark. Jacquemontii birch is even whiter. California sycamore is a massive tree with mottled light gray and tan bark. Crape myrtle, which is more proportionate to home gardens, is more mottled. Some elms exhibit elegant tan trunks and limbs. European beech trunks develop metallic gray color.

Evergreen trees can also contribute.

Melaleucas are evergreen trees with distinctively shaggy trunks. Eucalyptus are likewise evergreen, but generally with pale and smooth trunks. Lemon gum is particularly tall and elegant. However, red ironbark eucalyptus has dark and notably rough trunks and limbs. ‘Marina’ madrone develops smooth trunks and limbs with brown and cinnamon red color.

Coral bark Japanese maple and osier dogwood display colorful bark differently. Theirs is on small twigs rather than trunks and main limbs. Color actually develops in response to autumn chill and defoliation. Coral bark Japanese maple develops, pinkish orange color. Osier dogwood is more brownish red, although some cultivars are orangish or yellowish.

Trees that exhibit distinctive bark are subject to the same constraints as all other trees. In other words, they must be appropriate to their particular landscapes. California sycamore for example, is much too large for compact urban gardens. Osier dogwood can grow as a thicket without intensive maintenance. Any new tree or shrubbery should be sustainable.

Highlight: European White Birch

European white birch, Betula pendula, is a team player. It usually inhabits landscapes in groups rather than singly. Some trees have two, three or more trunks. After all, its primary allure is its strikingly white trunks. Because its foliar canopies are not overly broad, a few can fit into limited space. It is an informal and relaxed tree with nicely pendulous growth.

Mature European white birches are not much more than fifty feet tall here. They can grow taller where winters are cooler. Their slender trunks are mostly less than a foot and a half wide. They generally lean with prevailing winds and away from shade. Their smooth and white bark develops rough and black furrows with age. Their little leaves are deciduous.

European white birch appreciates regular irrigation, so should perform well within lawns. It produces only moderate shade. ‘Laciniata’ has intricately lobed foliage and a narrower form. ‘Youngii’ is so pendulous that it needs staking to stand upright. It cannot grow very tall. ‘Purpurea’ has bronzed foliage and somewhat tan trunks but has become very rare. European white birch might self sow.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

The post Bark Up The Right Tree appeared first on Canyon News.

Leaving behind familiar surroundings, routines, and memories can stir feelings of loss even as excitement builds for what lies ahead. Navigating these emotions thoughtfully allows you to embrace the experience with clarity and peace of mind.

Understanding the Emotional Journey of Moving

Every move is more than a physical shift from one location to another. It is an emotional journey that involves detachment, adjustment, and renewal. People often underestimate how emotionally charged moving can be. It represents both an ending and a beginning—a delicate balance between holding on and letting go.

The early stages of moving often bring mixed emotions. Excitement over a fresh start might be quickly followed by anxiety about change. The packing process, while practical, can also trigger memories and sentimental reflections. Objects once taken for granted may suddenly carry emotional weight as they symbolize moments from the past. Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward managing them effectively.

At the same time, the actual process of moving can be overwhelming when you are juggling logistics and emotions simultaneously. Managing both effectively requires planning and mindfulness. Taking time to reflect and prepare mentally is just as important as managing the physical move. One way to ease this dual burden is by hiring professional movers.

Delegating the heavy lifting and transportation allows you to focus on your emotional well-being and the meaningful parts of the transition, such as saying goodbye to your old space and preparing to create new memories.

To reduce stress, start with a structured plan. Make a checklist that includes both practical tasks and emotional preparations. For instance, plan farewells with neighbors or loved ones before moving day. Visit meaningful spots one last time to find closure before stepping into your next chapter.

Letting Go of the Old to Welcome the New

Moving is as much about releasing the past as it is about embracing the future. One of the most challenging parts is letting go of the attachments you have to your previous home. Each room carries stories, and each corner may remind you of moments that shaped your life. It is completely normal to feel nostalgic.

To move forward with emotional clarity, focus on gratitude rather than loss. Reflect on what your old home offered you—a safe space, joyful memories, and lessons learned. Expressing gratitude allows you to honor your experiences without being weighed down by them.

Decluttering can also have a therapeutic effect. Sorting through possessions gives you the chance to decide what truly matters and what can be left behind. This process can feel symbolic, representing a fresh emotional start.

Creating Emotional Comfort in Your New Space

Once you arrive in your new home, the first few weeks can feel disorienting. The unfamiliarity of new surroundings can leave you feeling unsettled, even if you were excited about the move. To adapt smoothly, focus on creating emotional comfort.

Start by personalizing your new space. Arrange your belongings in ways that feel familiar and comforting. Hang photos, display cherished keepsakes, and introduce scents or textures that remind you of home. These sensory cues can make the new environment feel more welcoming and help ease the transition.

Establishing new routines is equally important. Familiar habits bring a sense of stability and normalcy during times of change. Whether it is a morning cup of coffee in your favorite chair or an evening walk, small routines can help you feel grounded and connected to your new environment.

Building New Connections and a Sense of Belonging

A major emotional challenge of moving is leaving behind your social network. Friends, neighbors, and familiar faces contribute significantly to your sense of belonging. When you relocate, it can feel like you are starting over socially, which can heighten feelings of loneliness or disconnection.

To counter this, make an effort to build new connections. Introduce yourself to your neighbors, participate in local community events, or join clubs that align with your interests. Genuine interactions gradually create a sense of familiarity and comfort. Over time, these new relationships will form the foundation of your emotional life in your new surroundings.

Helping Children and Family Members Adjust

If you are moving with family, the emotional journey extends beyond your own experience. Children, in particular, can find moving stressful because it disrupts their sense of stability. They might feel anxious about leaving friends or uncertain about their new environment.

To support them, involve them in the moving process. Allowing them to pack their own belongings or choose decorations for their new room gives them a sense of control. Encourage open conversations about their feelings and validate their emotions. Reassure them that it is okay to miss the old home while also looking forward to new adventures.

Embracing the New Chapter with Positivity

As the boxes are unpacked and life begins to take shape in the new home, a sense of renewal emerges. The initial chaos gives way to calm, and the unfamiliar gradually becomes familiar. Moving offers an opportunity to redefine routines, perspectives, and even personal goals.

Instead of dwelling on what was left behind, focus on the possibilities ahead. Each room holds potential for new experiences and memories waiting to be made. By approaching the change with optimism, you turn your new home into a reflection of growth and hope.

Moving into a new home is much more than a change of address; it is a transformation of both space and self. The emotions that accompany it—joy, nostalgia, anxiety, and excitement—are all part of the human experience of growth and transition. By acknowledging your feelings, embracing the process, and allowing yourself time to adapt, you can navigate this emotional journey with strength and grace.

The post Navigating The Emotional Side Of Moving Into A New Home appeared first on Canyon News.

And now, “It’s, where’s my charger?” Where’s my expletive charger…

Meanwhile, I’m back at the back at the library, having trudged here under the rain. To one side there’s a brochure for free showers. All the showers available at shelters and public facilities. Just look gaze out the window today—there is where the free showers are. From the sky.

This all brings me to Lupe’s latest adventure. Lupe in the rain. The still puppyish pit bull lab did it again. There rain was pouring down, it was pooling on the porch, it was ankle high in parts of the old cracked concrete walking that dips and dives in certain spots. Water, water, what a gift. And here was Lupe, barking ferociously from the inside of the front door. About that time an Amazon delivery came—these strangers with the blue swoosh on their shirt incite Mama Lupe to barking paroxysms. She continued to bark and pound on the front door. Lupe howled and with pummeled the door with all the might and power of her front legs, which she uses with great dexterity. (Sometimes I catch her practicing on opening the knob on the kitchen door. She’s going to do it someday.)

Now the odd thing is Lupe kept barking and howling, long after the deliveryman with the blue swoosh escaped from the rain back into his delivery van. Now I lay there on the couch. What else do you do on a rainy morning, lullabied by the quiet sizzle of raindrops, but stay under the blankets, comfy on the couch? Usually when Lupe goes into crazy barking mode, I will open the door and bid she go outside.

During the first days of the recent deluge, I did so. However, I soon learned that Lupe did not venture into a cold and rainy morning. Her companion, Baby DeVille, Lupe’s Chihuahua terrier companion, ever eager to venture out at the mere dangle of his red leash, stubbornly clung to his place on on the couch under the thick San Marcos blanket. The morning of which I speak, I clung to my place there too. Resisted standing up and connecting feet to floor.

There was a price to pay. When I finally put myself in a vertical position , I peeked out the front door. Fat drops were pouring down still. To my consternation I went into the kitchen, dirty dishes called, a floor that needed to be swept. And there in the middle of the white tile floor—it caught my eye last in this messy, rainy-day tableau: a very generous gift from Lupe’s digestive system. Large ginger-bread colored pellets.

Surely, another expletive escaped my lips before I could censor them:

%$#(*

No rancor did I harbor, at least no longer then a few seconds. I wiped the mess up. I was the nincompoop. Lupe was sending a message: I need to go baaaad!

To be continued…

The post I Love Lupe (15) appeared first on Canyon News.

Dormant pruning of deciduous fruit trees is, incidentally, not the same as winterization. It happens later in winter, after the subjects have been dormant for a while longer. Besides, after proper dormant pruning last year, they should not need winterization now. However, if subjects are defoliated, they should not mind early pruning. They are already dormant.

Ironically, the trees that are more likely to require winterization are evergreen. Deciduous species perform almost all of their own winterization naturally. They defoliate to eliminate  most of their resistance to wintry winds. In other words, they become more aerodynamic. Defoliation also eliminates most of the surface area to accumulate heavy water from rain.

Defoliation is a natural winterization technique.

Evergreen species are generally more resilient to wind than foliated deciduous species. However, as deciduous species defoliate, evergreen species can not. Evergreen foliage therefore becomes less aerodynamic and more vulnerable to wind. Also, it absorbs more heavy rainwater. The added weight of rainwater causes limbs to sag and perhaps break.

Rain does more than cause foliage to become heavier. It also saturates soils, which can potentially compromise root stability. The timing could not be worse, since wind typically accompanies rain. This is also more of a problem for evergreen species than deciduous species. However, some storms arrive early, and some deciduous species defoliate late.

Winterization pruning is as variable as the trees that benefit from it. Large trees will likely need specialized services that only arborists can provide. Japanese maples may require only minor clipping of stems that have extended too far. Many trees require nothing at all. Ultimately, such techniques should help limbs and trees survive eventual wintry weather.

Highlight: Persimmon

It lacks the spectacular spring bloom of the other deciduous fruit trees, but compensates. Persimmon, Diospyros kaki, performs double duty with fall color. Its autumn foliar color is impressively fiery orange. Then, it defoliates to reveal plump, abundant and comparably fiery orange fruit. So, it is spectacular with both autumn foliar color and autumn fruit color.

Persimmon trees are tempting. Some cultivars can grow 20 feet tall to become small or even mid sized shade trees. However, if they do so, much of their overly abundant fruit is unreachable. Aggressive and strategic pruning limits their production with most of their fruit in reach. Although undemanding otherwise, this major dormant pruning  is important.

Persimmons are self fruitful without a pollinator. However, they supposedly provide more fruit of better quality with another cultivar. Fruit is unfortunately inedible before thoroughly ripe, but then all ripens simultaneously. That is an incentive to share with neighbors and friends. With a bit of effort, fruit is conducive to drying and freezing, although not canning. Ripe fruit is very perishable.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

The post Trees May Benefit From Winterization appeared first on Canyon News.

Yes, it is hard to say this in 2025 that CDs are a thing of the past. I’ll be honest the last CD I purchased had to be in 2009. I simply stopped purchasing them because I got tired of wasting my money on music that wasn’t top tier. I don’t want to buy a CD that only has 2 songs worth listening to.

With that said, vinyl has witnessed an amazing explosion in the past 5 years or so. I mean before 2020 there were NOT many people at all who owned record players and utilized them to play music. Maybe the older generation like my parents, but not millennials or Gen Z. Oh, that has changed, but the problem is vinyl records are NOT AFFORDABLE. Go visit Target, Best Buy or any record store and you will see how expensive vinyl albums truly are. There is no way I’m paying $40-$60 for an album; I’m sorry that is absolutely crazy and bonkers, and I don’t care who the hell you are talking to.

A CD was like $10; the music industry wants you to pay like 5x that amount for a single album nowadays if not way more, which means you are in a situation where your money truly has to be stretched to get what it is that you truly want. This is the same sentiment for home entertainment like DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and 4K Discs. Go to Target, you’re not going to find any of these things anymore. If you want to purchase a movie for home viewing that you can permanently own and insert into a device, good luck.

Streaming has changed that; you’re expected to purchase such items online for delivery to your home. They are no longer in stores, and I find that crazy to say the least. The same applies to Best Buy; they no longer sell any of these items in store, I think within the last month or two they have placed some DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and 4K discs of classic movies on their website via third parties for purchase.

Like I don’t understand some retail establishments. It feels like they want Amazon to be the kind of all things you buy. Yes, you can get stuff quicker and it can be delivered directly to your home. You know what else you can do: go to the actual establishment and buy it yourself. This is why we continue to see so many brick-and-mortar establishments go out of business and close their doors. The things you want to buy you cannot find them in stores at all.

I like buying movies; I like having them as collectibles. I’m a movie collector, but it has literally been a year since the last movie I purchased on Blu-Ray. Why? No retailers advertise them anymore, and you’ll be lucky to find one in stores and the prices are just, “Ridiculous, I’m sorry.” I shouldn’t have to go to like 6 to 7 retailers to try to find something that used to be the norm.

However, you don’t have many electronic retail establishments anymore. I mean I have Best Buy, Target, Walmart (to a degree), FYE (to the stores that are still around) and that’s it. If you know any others, please let me know because I’m listening. Costco and Sam’s Club don’t fall into that group because they don’t really sell those things. You can only purchase so many things on streaming services/devices because you’re going to RUN OUT OF SPACE. I will be damned if I am going to delete or get rid of things I spent my hard money on when it comes to entertainment.

Hello Hollywood and music industry, there is still money to be made from purchasing movies and music beyond on the streaming platforms. If there are any retailers who want to consider a new business establishment that sells such things, hate to say it, but you could have a money maker on your hands.

The post What Is Happening To Music, Blu-Ray With Retail Establishments appeared first on Canyon News.

“I was with my partner,” said Mr. Llamas. “He was ready to open the gate. I stopped him just in time.”

Yes, it was a terrible scenario to contemplate. My heart skipped a couple beats: an open gate would’ve spelled a Lupe on the loose. And as destructive as the pit bull lab Lupe was –she destroyed hats, the chomped-on first-edition books, and just the sight of that Stetson with its devoured ribbon, and worse still, devoured the sweat soaked, embossed gold-lettered band, identifying its origin from a dry goods store in Sweetwater, Texas, made of Nutria fur. It brings me to despair.

It was left by Grandpa’s brother Dude breezed through Idaho in, say, the late 20’s. To wear it would require a complete ribbon-ectomy. Further, without the soft inner band (let me try it on now) just to be sure. No, in fact it does not truly feel like a crown of thorns—it IS wearable. Hooray!

In this case, of routine gas company maintenance, in point of fact a ferocious cat got so out of the bag, I am only grateful that the gas company rep restrained his eager, less experienced partner, and prevented him from opening the gate wide, thus releasing Lupe to freedom. (“Dog prevented entry” was the reason checked off on the Sorry We Missed You notice.) There but for the grace of dog, Lupe would’ve bounded down the walkway and and out onto the busy street.

And one can only picture the worst: that lovely exuberant creature, with the soulful eyes and white-tipped paws, and white belly triangle contrasting with her reddish-brown fir, taken from this world to the next by some motorist, logic would deem conscientious, much as Lupe has been adjudged Leapin’ Loca Lupe. And she takes us all by surprise—an escape artist for whom walls and wrought-iron bars are no obstacle.

That would’ve been monstrous all around. A downright tragedy. It would’ve been cathartic, of course, and it is to be avoided like a carcinogen. But a dead Lupe is not to be welcomed. Lupe, trying and unpredictable and rambunctious as she is, in equal measure vexes us and endears us. And there we would have been, planning her funeral and composing her eulogy. How can this be, and yet I wonder, I stumble. On the other hand, being a pit bull lab, she might have leapt up and been feasting on the Gas Co. rookie’s brains.

As it was, the whole blooming episode served to clear the way to the hatch where the decrepit gas meter lurks. It provided the impetus to leave the incapacitated Super ’73 electrified bike for bulky item pick up. Strict instructions to get it to the curb before 6 a.m. Friday. It was already swiped by someone before midnight Thursday.

May the Super ’73 have a whole new life bestowed by its rescuer. The house side path is clear now. We’re ready for Mr. Llamas…

To be continued…

The post I Love Lupe (14) appeared first on Canyon News.

Ironically, vegetation uses much less moisture while it is so abundant. Deciduous foliage cannot perform any evapotranspiration after it defoliates. Evergreen foliage is much less vascularly active while cool. Roots cannot utilize all the moisture that autumn and winter rain provides. Soil in some areas might stay moist from now until next spring or summer.

Conversely, summery weather is innately arid and warm. That is how the Mediterranean climate here operates. Moisture is either scarce or abundant. Rain will eventually stop in spring, and then not resume until next autumn. Summer thundershowers are uncommon. Gardening could likely be easier with a bit less rain for winter, and a bit more for summer.

Rain will become more frequent through winter.

With more rain expected, irrigation needs seasonal adjustment. Such adjustments might need to be incremental, since weather changes incrementally. Manual irrigation might be either less frequent or less voluminous, or both. The same applies to automatic systems, which have a disabling ‘rain’ option. It turns irrigation off without modifying the schedule.

Besides necessitating modification of irrigation, rain can also be messy. It dislodges and accelerates the deterioration of defoliating deciduous foliage. It causes even formerly dry soil to become muddy. A bit too much rain can cause erosion. Cleaning up such mess is less pleasurable while the weather is wet and cool. Then, the weather gets messy again.

Rain cannot postpone all gardening. Spring bulbs must get into their garden soil prior to winter chill. Dormant pruning happens later in winter, prior to spring. Fortunately, though, gardening is less involved than it is during spring and summer. Maintenance of tools and sorting seed can be indoor tasks for rainy days. So is shopping online for seed, plants or garden tools.

Highlight: Freeman Maple

It combines the autumn foliar color of red maple with the lacier foliar form of silver maple. Freeman maple, Acer X freemanii, is a hybrid of the two. It occurs naturally where ranges of its parents overlap. However, most modern garden cultivars are products of intentional hybridization. Like silver maple, it does not need much chill to exhibit autumn foliar color.

Freeman maple inherits other attributes from both its parents. It combines rapid growth of silver maple with structural integrity of red maple. Although it gets bigger than red maple, it is not as imposing as silver maple. It develops high branches like silver maple but also is symmetrical like red maple. Big roots are about as complaisant as those of red maple.

Mature Freeman maple trees can grow about forty feet tall and broad. Autumn foliar color is vivid orange and red and lasts longer than that of red maple. Since Freeman maple is a hybrid, it is mostly sterile. It cannot generate an annoying abundance of seed. Nor can it naturalize in favorable climates. It is an exemplary maple for mild climates such as this.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

The post Rain Will Increase Until Late Winter appeared first on Canyon News.

“I was in the Golden Hind this week.”

“That is quite amazing,” I blurted to the pit bull lab, leapin’ loca’ Lupe. “You mean you were with Sir Francis Drake.”

“Heavens no,” said Lupe. “The Golden Hind is a lounge on the West Side.”

“You don’t say. The West Side of what?”

‘Civilization, of course,” barked Lupe, being a Hollywood dog. “Well you’ve got to be on your toes, over there,” said Lupe, sniffing toward more promising territory. “You’ve really got to be on your claws over there. Did I say claws? Boy, am I getting tired over translating into human terms my meaning.”

“Toes, claws, worry not, Lupe.”

She continued her tale: “There are a bunch of 80-year-olds over at the Golden Hind, and you’ve really got to be on high alert. The all allege that the left home without their wallets,” said Lupe in her doggie way. “Don’t buy it for a minute,” she said. “They’re just weaseling a drink out of you.”

I limited myself to a very expressive WOW, as I suffering a surfeit of critters, human and non-, all twisted in nonsense over some foolery or other.

“It is a cool bar, the Golden Hind is – So is the H.M.S. Bounty, for that matter,” Lupe the pit bull lab prattled on.

I shook gravely my head up and down. It swiveled as a gimble supporting the weight of the bleeding world, like Hercules. Who needs a gym membership when Lupe the pit bull lab lies atop of you?

The geezers would take umbrage at this, but, hey, wait: was I not swiftly nearing that demographic myself?

“And there is one man there,” Lupe averred, “who carries a plastic bag and in that bag he has two… Oh, what’s that animal? It’s like a hamster.”

Nothing funner than a guessing game, as it reaches a correctness seldom matched by actual sanctimonious life.

“A rat,” I offered. “Rats are quite underrated,” I said.

“No, it’s not a rat,” spoke the adjudicator.

“A squirrel?”

“No, not that. They’d chew their way out of a prison in no time.”

“A marmot?”

“No, but you’re getting warm.”

“A nutria?”

“Exotic choice, but you’re still not there.”

“… Ah,” said my interlocutor with a mystic caption in their eyes. “A FERRET !!!”
“Yes, indeed,” I concurred. “I know it as a verb and not a noun.”

“Not one ferret, but two,’ said the adjudicator of the quiz. “Imagine you’re in a dank bar, and somebody opens a bag that contains two live ferrets. You’d be forking over the dough in no time. And that’s the grift of these octogenarians – to catch you off guard.”

Away from the streetlamp I shuffled. Still shaking my head, I was. Had a canine engaged me in this conversation? Godfrey Daniels, I’d better steer myself to the Golden Hind. It was almost closing time.

To be continued…

The post I Love Lupe (13) appeared first on Canyon News.

The timing could not be worse. The wind and rain that cause it to be so messy are no fun to work in. Using ladders to clean gutters and roofs is more dangerous in wet conditions. Fallen leaves are messier and heavier while wet. Yet, they are not too heavy for winds to blow green waste piles about after raking. Autumn weather will get progressively worse.

Unfortunately, gutters that accumulate fallen foliage require cleaning to function properly.  Otherwise, foliar debris clogs them and their downspouts when they are most necessary. Rainwater then flows over their edges and onto the ground below. It can be more than a minor annoyance. Splattering water can cause rot within adjacent walls that it dampens.

Foundation plantings once served a purpose.

That is why old historic houses originally had ‘foundation plantings’ of dense vegetation. Some lacked gutters because gutters were very expensive. Instead, rain was allowed to flow from leaves and directly onto the ground. Dense vegetation between the dripline and the foundation contained the splattering. Almost all modern homes, though, have gutters.

Gutters may need cleaning more than once before deciduous trees defoliate completely. Evergreen trees necessitate cleaning as well, but do not shed so profusely for autumn. A few, such as redwoods and pines, are exceptionally messy. Because their mess may not coincide with autumn, cleaning it can be a bit earlier. It is easier during pleasant weather.

Cleaning gutters is a gardening task that may be best to leave for professionals. After all, it may involve climbing to unsafe heights on ladders and roofs. Installation of screen like devices over gutters can mitigate the need for future cleaning. Of course, gutters that are not below messy trees might never need cleaning. There are many variables to consider.

Highlight: Norway Maple

It is rare now, but Norway maple, Acer platanoides, was once common as a street tree. A few are prominent within neighborhoods that were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. It resembles the common London plane. In fact, its botanical name translates to ‘maple like a plane tree’. Unfortunately, though, the roots are perhaps too aggressive with pavement.

Norway maple defoliates somewhat more efficiently than London plane tree. However, in spring, it refoliates significantly later. Otherwise, it is a splendid shade tree. A few modern cultivars exhibit bronzed foliage that yellows for autumn. One exhibits variegated foliage. Another has chartreuse foliage. ‘Schwedleri’ was once the most common bronze cultivar.

Very few Norway maples are taller than forty feet within the mild climates here. They can grow significantly larger in cooler climates, such as the Pacific Northwest. Their palmate leaves are about five to nine inches wide. New trees are rarely available from nurseries, so require special ordering. Norway maple is not overly discriminating in regard to soils. It prefers regular irrigation through summer warmth.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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The business is located downtown like the fashion district. We are part of GenZ. The business started after I took the two-year automotive program for gasoline vehicles mainly at LA TRADE TECH school to gain a job in the field and support my hobby of fixing cars up and upkeeping the “classics.”

Bryan did that and got his certificate along with the “Student ASE” certificate. Not counting for actual “ASE,” but good for employers to see, then he separately took the SMOG check classes to be an inspector and SMOG repair tech and got certified as a SMOG inspector and have been doing it for more than 3 years.

Many people don’t know, for smog repair, the state was taking forever to accept Bryan’s application to take the state test to be certified, but Bryan still plans to do that.

In 2025, the Clean Truck Check program came along and Bryan got certified and has done ~20 trucks in the job he currently has now. In school, he got MACS certified for A/C to buy refrigerant and service HVAC system on automotive vehicles and he and the family always wanted to open a shop either smog or repair, but preferably both.

Bryan believes mobile service can help build on that currently doing automotive HVAC SERVICE and clean truck check service, maybe looking to expand to mobile mechanic and AC for residential areas because so many people contacted our company for that as well, but still having a shop will be the goal.

Some services they provide include cleaner air (cooling air).

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Trust Clean Truck Road Flex — your road partner for smooth rides and Fast & Reliable Emission Testing (mobile); Expert AC & HVAC Service. Get an Emission Test for $75 for vehicle over 14,001 pounds. It includes diesel, natural gas and hybrid. There are a variety of time schedules to accommodate client’s needs. It is a 25 minute test.

You can book your service now — keep your truck compliant, cool, and road-ready.

For questions or service visit Clean Truck Road Flex & AC call 2139083479 or Cleantruckroadflex@gmail.com.

Visit the company online at: https://cleantruckroadflex.org/services.

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