Tuesday Open Thread ~ Godzilla, Inc.
Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too.
They live inside us and sometimes they win ~ Stephen King
For today's Open Thread, I would like to give the monsters who sit in boardrooms, steal our money and then watch our houses burn down, a special kind of inhumanity to humanity award. Specifically, the executives at Pacific Gas & Extortion who are so greedy and sadistic, their remedy for the death and destruction they have caused includes massive power outages to millions of Californians. I am fortunate that my life and my home are not in danger, but you can now add me to the list of people living without electricity. And you know what? IT SUCKS! Contingency plans include sleeping over at a friends house for a few nights where I will partake in a few glasses of Cabernet along with a beautiful sharp artisan cheddar cheese. I am hoping this will lessen my outrage a little, and maybe even unclench the fingers I have around the imaginary pitchfork I would like to be using right now.
Pitchforks & Torches
Apparently, there are lots of us Californians who are really, really angry about this. So angry, talk about turning PG&E into a publicly owned utility is making the rounds again.
Hmmmm...
Poll Shows Anger at PG&E, Gavin Newsom Over Blackouts
Californians are skeptical that PG&E needed to shut off power to millions of people in recent weeks to avoid wildfires, and overwhelmingly say the utility is handling the blackouts poorly, according to a new poll by Change Research provided exclusively to KQED News.
The online survey was conducted by Change Research after the first round of shutoffs cut power to about 2 million residents earlier this month. Its release comes as PG&E begins another round of preemptive blackouts in Northern California: The utility plans to cut power to 179,000 customers in 17 counties starting Wednesday afternoon....
Overall, just 20% of respondents said they viewed the first round of outages as necessary, with 53% saying they were not. And 63% rated PG&E’s handling of the incident below-average or very poor — a response that crossed party lines.
But things get more complicated when you dig a bit deeper.
In bad news for PG&E, a plurality of respondents — 40% — said they think PG&E should be broken up into smaller regional utilities; 30% supported a public takeover of the embattled utility.
California regulators to launch investigation into PG&E power shutoffs
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced Monday that it's launching a formal investigation into PG&E's public safety power shutoffs this year.
"The CPUC will take a number of steps to ensure that the state's experience this year with PSPS is not repeated," the agency wrote in a press release.
They said that they would also re-examine how utilities, including PG&E, use public safety power shutoffs.
"This includes an examination of actions that utilities can take in the next six months to minimize impacts of future PSPS events by increasing grid redundancy, segmentation, and equipment hardening."
The CPUC said that it will also ensure additional consumer protections, expand wildfire mitigation plans, and enlist new technological partnerships to minize the scope of public safety power shutoffs next fire season.
"The state cannot continue to experience PSPS events on the scope and scale Californians have experienced this month, nor should Californians be subject to the poor execution that PG&E in particular has exhibited," said President Marybel Batjer. "Through the actions announced today, as well as other steps under our regulatory purview, the CPUC will demand that utilities prepare for and execute PSPS events in a way that greatly reduces impacts on Californians."
I don't know exactly how the CPUC works, or if they are just a toothless and/or equally corrupt organization (who knows anymore about anything!?!), but I would really like to see PG&E be held accountable. The lives they are holding hostage is outrageous. EL was right, they are acting like terrorists.
Gov. Newsom slams PG&E over ‘unacceptable’ power outages and failure to fix systems
“What’s happened is unacceptable. And it’s happened because of neglect. It’s happened because of decisions that were deferred, delayed or not made by the largest investor-owned utility in the state of California and one of the largest in the nation,” he said at a news conference. “This current operation is unacceptable. The current conditions and circumstances are unacceptable.”
Newsom said PG&E’s failure to maintain its system created the need for the outages.
“It’s decisions that were not made that have led to this moment in PG&E’s history and the state of California as it relates to our major investor-owned utility,” Newsom said. “This is not, from my perspective, a climate change story as much as a story about greed and mismanagement over the course of decades. Neglect. A desire to advance not public safety but profits.”
Responding to widespread criticism over the blackouts, the utility’s chief executive, Bill Johnson, said he was focused on PG&E’s future, not it’s past. He joined the company in April.
“I didn’t come here to deal with the past. I came here to help improve the future,” he said. “I haven’t delved into all those matters.”
Bad answer, Bill Johnson. Bad, bad, answer.
There should be a public buyout of PG&E
After owing tens of billions of dollars in liabilities, the company has filed for bankruptcy a second time since 2001. In a move many see as pandering to PG&E’s interests, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a $6 billion loan in a so-called emergency meeting, without giving ratepayers sufficient notice, and without stipulating how PG&E would pay back those loans in 2 to 3 years. Fears were confirmed when PG&E announced it will increase utility rates by $22 a month this year. In other words, ratepayers will pay for the cost of PG&E negligence....
Progressive organizations as well as the ex-president of the CPUC are calling for a public buyout of PG&E. This would have immediate effects: the $1-2 billion per year PG&E currently makes in profit (before the fires) could be reinvested into making the utility safer and more reliable, creating thousands of well-paying jobs in the process. Existing workers would keep their contracts and simply switch employers. A public buyout would also make it easier for municipalities and local communities to set their own priorities for grid updates, for example, decide whether resources should be used to bury power lines or build a renewable microgrid....
Millions of ratepayers and fire victims are paying for the cost of PG&E mismanagement, so why shouldn’t they have a voice in what happens next? We need to act soon. We cannot wait for another catastrophic fire, a power outage during a heatwave, or for PG&E to go under and re-emerge as another for-profit energy corporation poised to make the same mistakes.
California needs to buy out PG&E, upgrade the grid, bury power lines and create good, unionized jobs in the process. The next president of the CPUC appointed by Gov. Newsom should be prepared for this transition. Citizens can get involved by attending the upcoming CPUC meetings to express their concerns.
I am hoping we've reached a tipping point here and that something concrete will be done to stop the insanity. As one of the largest "investor-owned" public utility, PG&E has starkly demonstrated why profits over public safety will always come first. The time to end the negligence and the extortion is now. California not only has the opportunity to bring about meaningful change across the state, but also to initiate a serious discussion about the future of our public utilities that the rest of the country should also be having. I mean, Jesus Fucking Christ, who in the hell thought an investor owned public utility was a good idea?
Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give Me Something Good to Eat
For those of you celebrating Halloween, let me extend a piece of advice my Mother used to give me; if your trick or treat goodie bag gets too heavy to carry, then you have enough candy! As for me, if my electricity is back by Halloween, I'll be answering the door as Morticia Addams and my black cat Ziggy will be sporting spooky little bat wings!
Comments
Don't forget the monsters who sell you health insurance
or the ones you vote for because "omigod Republican monsters," said other monsters also being bad...
"the Democratic Party is not 'left'." -- Sabrina Salvati
Monsters all around
No doubt. I'm sure we could all come up with quite an extensive list just from the news we get in Joe's EB. For today though, as I sit in the Coffee Gallery while my cats are eating alone in a very cold house, my focus is on the monsters who set California ablaze, hiked our rates, and then left us freezing in our dark homes.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
California was already in deep trouble
Let's start with chronic drought, fire, and traffic jams and real estate values based on Ponzi schemes and move critically from there. The fact that not a whole lot changed after Paradise was wiped out (except, of course, that Paradise was wiped out) should have tipped a lot of people off.
You'd hope all the nice California liberals would radicalize a bit and embrace socialism, but remember that CA was a place where it took enormous amounts of time to count the votes in the Dem primary three years ago, and after all the dust had settled the "results" were that it was a big Hillary state. Also everything is fine in the minds of well-off Californians if their 3br 2ba is worth $1.1 million because hey they migrated in from the East Coast upper classes five or fifty years ago. I think it's an epicenter of the carbon tax fad.
Once upon a time, at the end of the late Eighties, I went to Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, a sterile suburb even then, and took famed writer Gerald Haslam's course in "California Literature." Fun class! I do remember one session, though, where I raised my hand and asked Professor Haslam about how for most of California the "California dream" appears to have manifested itself for the majority of participants in cities like Anaheim or Sacramento. I don't think I got a straight answer, but I hope I interrupted his train of thought at least a little bit. I think it was that semester that the Aptos earthquake ("Loma Prieta," as if anyone knew where that was) interrupted the World Series and ruined Santa Cruz.
California once was a nice place. It had Aldous Huxley for a while, but that was mostly before I was born. It had hippies and hiking trails and bucolic get-togethers on the beach. Now when I go down there I feel like I see it all from a distance even when I'm in the middle of it.
"the Democratic Party is not 'left'." -- Sabrina Salvati
All true
But as of yet, I'm am not feeling inclined to move. My family is here, I grew up here, and I moved back here a few years ago after living back east for many years.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Boo, morning Anja,
Love the kitty cat.
Agree to public utilities being TVA models everywhere.
Be safe Anja and all, ominous winds forecast in the south.
Boo! Back to you, Smiley
California is a beautiful place to live, but I gotta tell ya, I didn't bargain for this shit. Good to see you, my friend. Thanks for your kind words.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Not a comprehensive list
More seriously, hope all of you out west are able to regain/retain all levels/levers of your power soonest.
The people who thought investor owned utilities
Was a good idea should be dipped in warm honey and left on an anthill over night.
We just got word from PG&E that our electricity will be back on for a day, and then on Halloween, power will be shut off again. Nice. They even want to make little kids cry.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
cocaine enthusiasts?
Last I knew, Pablo Escobar brought electricity to poor people, rather than cut them off from it.......
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Well, you know
#notallcocaineenthusiasts
Monster
[video:https://youtu.be/U-vGxe1eMmQ?t=58]
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBc0gS13MsI]
Thanks for the tunes Wally
You know what they say about music soothing the savage beast, right? Reminds me a little of animals dancing to music..
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Speaking of Godzilla …
I’ve linked to this before, but it’s worth a repeat …
https://medium.com/%40caityjohnstone/if-every-debate-about-us-interventi...
If Every Debate About US Interventionism Was About Godzilla
Instead...
Thanks Lotlizard. I remember when I first read Caity's piece and thinking, boy, did she nail it.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Good morning Anja, sorry that you too lack juice. Romping
off to visit those less who still have power has its merits, but if the fridge and freezer are powerless too long it is not good. Our generator serves us in little short bursts while off dry camping (must keep batteries charged to run water pump and other conveniences like furnace blower). It was, sad to say, finally unready to answer the call yesterday beyond my ability to resuscitate it with quick and easy fixes, so I had to take it in for a tune-up. We bought it 20 years ago, and a similar unit today costs about a grand, but an hour or two every evening or every other day of an outage can save your food and prevent food borne illnesses. It would arguably be a good venture into practical socialism/communism for a small group of neighbors to buy and share one should these things become as frequent in your area as they say that they will continue to be here. Widely considered the campers' choice, Honda 2000 (now 2200), amazingly quiet and will run fridge plus stand alone freezer plus charge all of your chargeable devices.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
We got power back on for today
But it will go back off on Wednesday. Happy Halloween kids!
Suggestions about generator are not a bad idea. Neighbors have been talking about getting together to talk about fire season and power outages. As much as I really, really don't want to think of this as the new normal, what choice do we have?
Ugh.
Stay safe and warm, EL. I'll try and do the same.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Extension cords are part of that package too. You don't want
to run the thing in the house and preferably not even in the garage. That means a couple of fairly long heavy gauge power cords (one for each outlet as needed).
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Here in my area of Georgia, for some odd reason,
our neighbor just had one of those fancy natural gas powered generators. We almost never have an outage and those we have had were short-lived. They are bible-thumping Republicans who may be readying themselves for the Apocalypse. Or maybe they’ve seen too many episodes of The Walking Dead which is filmed on town over from us. Some people don’t know when they’re well off.
BTW, we have and EMC, an electric municipal (?) cooperative. All members own a piece.
I saw a story from the NYT, I believe, that the wealthy have their own firefighters to protect their homes. These private firefighters don’t coordinate with the official firefighters and can do more harm than good. Private wealth is proving to be an excuse for willfulness.
I hope things get better but I heard today on the news that PG&E expects outages to intermittent through March or April. That just sucks. Will they tell us again how we need more oil for power while forests burn and drought grows because of the use of that oil? Prolly.
Good wishes to all Californians in this crappy situation.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Monsters all around...
and PG&E exemplifies them along with Raytheon, Boeing, and so on.
...and for fun (3.5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2PoSljk8cE]
Well here's hoping you folk in Calif get your power turned back on and can take power back from the corporation. All the best!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
The Truth about Monsters
Greed was at the top of my list in the monster making category. Love the quotes, thanks
Hey! I almost included that song for my Halloween video but decided to go with the Addams Family instead bc of the Morticia angle. Unfortunately, I won't be handing out candy to the kids since PG&E announced our power will be off for Halloween.
I guess those PG&E Execs are running for the best miserable Mr. Potter impersonation, eh?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
The public good is the highest good.
It should trump all other considerations. It should reign supreme throughout the land. Private industry and "the creation of wealth" are not and never have been the reason for this country's existence.
Of course basic utilities should be publicly owned and operated. They should answer to the will of the people whose interests they were created to serve. Politicians should take their orders from the people and politely tell the corporations to back off and STFU.
And you know something? This is not "socialism." Seriously not. It's not even extreme. The public good is the basic concept underlying the creation of the United States of America. It is clearly apparent in all our early writings and early laws. We took a wrong turn in the 1970s-80s and ended up in a bad, destructive, unworkable place.
Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl
basic utilities should be publicly owned and operated
I agree. Question is, how do we get out of this damned detour? I have to say, I'm not too sanguine about our options.
Thanks for stopping by and showing support. It helps.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Check out Azazello's link
. Bernie has already made a statement that, "It's time to begin thinking about public ownership of major utilities." So now with Bernie as our megaphone, we can start reminding people that this is not a socialist idea; rather, it is quintessentially American. And it is -- consider the very old FCC phrase, "the public airwaves."
Bringing it all back home.
Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl
I'd sure like to hear the other candidates weigh in on this
I mean, this is just a terrible way to run a PUBLIC utility.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
socialism
Actually, it is socialism. It's socialism in its most basic, common-sense forms, the idea that society -- the public -- has certain inalienable rights. It's socialism of a kind which was ancient on the day Karl Marx was born, and that one J. Christ of Nazareth, Greater Palestine would recognize and approve of.
Natural monopoly enterprises should be owned and controlled by the people for the greatest common good.
It's as socialist an idea as State highways or Social Security, the most successful (and beloved) Federal program in history.
In other words, "The Reagan Revolution", Goat have mercy upon him!.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
There's a problem with the term "socialism"
. The term was developed by Karl Marx and it is a fully developed system. It is adhered to by genuine socialists such as those you will encounter on the (mostly) excellent website https://www.wsws.org/, and it is hated, despised, and utterly loathed by all who subscribe to the (supposedly) rival system, capitalism. It has been turned into a bogeyman by the reactionary right. People whose situations and circumstances should align them squarely with us in opposition to the oligarchy are unable and unwilling to join up with anyone who espouses the dreaded "socialism."
Look up the term "socialism" in the dictionary. You will see that that is not what we're talking about. We need better language. I might suggest "populism" or "democratic governance," but maybe there are other, better terms to use.
But "socialism" has too much baggage attached to it. It will simply hurt us to go under that term, and real socialists will despise us for even trying.
Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl
I don't know, Anja.
Your life and home may not be danger this time but I know a guy who lives in Sierra Madre and I remember standing in his backyard, looking up at those mountains and thinking, "Jesus, what if those foothills ever catch fire."
From Common Dreams: As PG&E Leaves Millions Without Power Amid Wildfires, Sanders Says Time to Think About 'Public Ownership of Major Utilities'
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Fire in the foothills is my worst fear
I have three cats, where in the hell would I go with them? My Sister lives an hour away, and how many friends would let me bring three cats along? Just. Can't. Go. There.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
been there done that
Been there, done that.
The climb-over of the Waldo Canyon/Pyramid Mountain Fire (7/2012) into the foothills of Colorado Springs caused my evacuation.
Please be spared that!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
That's sounds very frightening, Than
I can't imagine. Did you also have pets with you?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
evacuating pets
Both Rufus and Chocolate. Ruf is still with us; Chocolate not.
Thank you for asking, by the way!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I came home this morning and my cats water dish was frozen
Have electricity for now but they will be shutting it off again tomorrow. Spoke with my neighbor and safety preparations for our area will be discussed tonight at an assembly members house. Prudent course of action. No sense in just being mad and not prepared when I can be both. I'll bring the wine.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Glad to know
that the Assembly member will be hearing from you!
Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl
Good morning, Anja ~~
Sorry about the blackouts in CA. I have family affected, too. Utilities need to be ACTUAL services owned by the government, or like rural electric, by the cooperative members. The TVA model is definitely the best, but HORRORS! where will all the money go????
Stay safe and have as good a day as possible!
Cheers, everyone!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I would like to see the TVA model here as well
Too much money floating around here in California and those greedy assholes couldn't resist fleecing us at our peril.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Very, very late to the Party, Anja,
but hope you're making it through the wild fire emergencies, okay. Obviously, hope Pierre and the Gang are all faring well, too.
Loss of electricity is no laughing matter, so, hope you don't have to go through many blackout spells, either.
Generally-speaking, things are going very well, regarding Mr M's retirement--moving so fast, we can hardly process it all. Phew!
Hope to post a photo or two of Kaity, soon. While all this hectic pre- and post-retirement maneuvering is going on, we've got her in an 'In-Board' Training Program. Fingers crossed!
Take good care of yourself!
Mollie
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~~Gilda Radner, Comedienne
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
~~Cicero
The obstacle is the path.
~~Zen Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
If you need a pick me up this morning
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
Aack!
That poor little guy!
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Very late to the discussion
But Anja if you are still around, hope the neighborhood discussion proves fruitful.One of the reasons we put solar on our roof in Texas was because of the blackouts we continually had down at our place on the Texas coast. Things are better there today but of course they are still in the path of many a hurricane. One of the things that happened with many of the shelters was they allowed animals because people refused to evacuate without their animals, naturally.
One of the things that came out of our living on the Texas coast was creating an Hurricane bag so if we had time to only grab one thing it was that bag. It had our passports, extra cash, all our insurance policies and car titles as well as other things we added as we went along.
Coming up with a neighborhood plan sounds good. Also a small single burner cook stove like used for camping also comes in handy if you live in an all electric house. Good luck in dealing with your outage.
.
Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.
This ain't no dress rehearsal!
Being prepared is a good plan
I'm also glad you mentioned the shelters. Hadn't thought about that. I'm going to a neighborhood meeting tonight at one of our assembly members homes and I will definitely bring it up, along with assistance we can offer the disabled and the elderly here in our immediate area. Thank you for your wise and kind suggestions. It takes some of the dread and fear out of this for me.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
While I have no proof
of CPUC corruption here today I am willing to bet that they are of course corrupt as hell. It really drives me nuts to see Newsome and the CPUC talking about how these power outages are "unacceptable" now that the proverbial shit has hit the proverbial fan. Where were these people decades ago when they should have been calling for underground lines in fire prone areas? Not like Cally was never known to have wildfire problems or Santa Ana winds FFS. They took their payoffs gladly from the nasty villain PG&E and looked the other way while this mess got its start. Now they want to come in and spew their outrage, just like all the other corrupt leaders in this country do after the damage is long done and fairly irreversible as well.
I for one would not hold out any hope the CPUC will do one damned thing but tell the people of California they'll just have to suck it up, deal with outages, get everybody on generators at their own expense of course, pay higher rates to try to fix an unholy mess, and perhaps the state itself will come in and take over all those nasty liabilities of PG&E because hey, that's just the way it is people, too bad we didn't fix the problem on our own dime, now you pay for it. But rest assured, our big McMansions built in fire prone areas will be just fine since we can hire our very own firefighters, too bad for you. The American Way. In today's EB there's an article linked how Newsome is out there looking for hedge funds and/or the benevolent billionaire Warren Buffet to come in and save the day. Sure, that'll work, no problem there at all.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
That is not encouraging.
A hedge fund, or a billionaire? Gee, what could go wrong there? Californians really need to organize. I mean wasn't what happened in Paradise enough?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Great story, puppy rescued from ISIS bomb site:
More: https://twitter.com/FARED_ALHOR
Puppy story made me smile
Sad but sweet.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier