Hi everyone: Don't forget to check the final posts of last week's chat for tips on ordering stuff through the mail and what to do when a package has been tampered with and/or items never arrive in the first place! Also, OG is back and had a lovely time and may post photos if she can find some without total strangers blocking the views! Brenda/dibnlib: Americans aren't "allowed" to go to Cuba because - oh don't get me started. But a friend of mine did go there - he had to go somewhere else first and then pop over to Cuba on the QT before heading back to the States. Tiger: Nice to see you. Emma: "They" have just approved a bunch of wind turbines offshore of Cape Cod - one of the most famous scenic places on the U.S. East Coast! I'm fascinated to see what happens since I can't believe the moneyed and well-connected folk with fab houses in that area would allow it to actually happen. Diane: Yes, I read some comments on Trucker Steve's blog about some negative folk on Facebook, but no idea what that was all about and, like you, had no inclination to find out! He's heading to Florida next...
Since folks on here are talking about it, thought I'd mention that BP's curly headed CEO? didn't endear himself to anyone last week when he said he was eager to "get his life back" after the spill. A nice option for him when those killed and their families won't ever have that option, not to mention the wildlife.
Haven't been around much today - Farmer's Market and errands this morning, then this afternoon went on our Gray Whale "thank you to volunteers" boat ride on the Condor, which typically does whale watch cruises for tourists, etc., but was just for us this afternoon. Mike, our main GWC guy, works (unofficially) with the captain of the Condor during Gray Whale season. The Condor calls us when they see whales heading our way while we let them know when we have whales around Coal Oil Point. A win-win arrangement for everyone. Today, we left the harbor and immediately found ourselves in a pod of dolphins - a huge pod of about 700, Mike estimated, in full hunting mode. Just an amazing spectacle; we were surrounded by them. The dophins on the outer edge of the pod were leaping out of the water in coordinated groups of four or five - one of the rangers said she'd seen that behavior before and speculated that it may be a way of driving the fish into a particular position to facilitate feeding for the rest of the group . We could see fish jumping - literally for their lives. Other dolphins were behind the boat and still more right beside us, riding the wake from the bow . Immediately in front of the bow the dolphins were swimming (all this very fast) upside down, their bellies exposed and our guide explained that this was normal hunting behavior - that they can better see the fish from this position. Just amazing. Then we headed 9 miles out to track two humpback whales - a cow and calf pair, which we followed for about 30 minutes, watching the mother roll on her side to feed on krill; then saw the calf breach, which was a real treat. They served us wine and food, but I didn't partake since we were in a heavy swell and my innards were feeling a bit odd. That wasn't helped by the diesel fumes or the very strong perfume that two young women were wearing. I haven't had problems on boats before, but as they say, there's always a first time and this was it. Suffice to say I made it to a quiet corner at the rear of the ship before.....
Probably going to bed early tonight! Granddaughter and OH arriving Wednesday, so a busy week ahead. Take care all!
Unknown said: 2 arrests made after birds poisoned on Scottish estate: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/poison-estate.html
2 arrests made after birds poisoned on Scottish estate:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/poison-estate.html
Was pleased to see that arrests have been made but will the punishment fit the crime, sadly I don't think it will.
Margobird
Thanks Alan. Let's hope the punishment will fit the crime and that they have caught the people giving the orders for the poisoning and not just those carrying out their dirty work for them.
Hello everyone - Cirrus, pleased that you are back to optician's care after your horribly painful ordeal. My SIL has been seen again, they note increased eye pressure but think it is nodular episcleritis and continue to treat him for that, review in one week. I think that your corneal ulceration would have been a lot more painful.
Margobird - Glad that your latest flare up of skin cancers have been dealt with. I have a friend who is cursed with these things, she simply cannot allow the sun to get on her skin and yet still has the odd lesion appearing. i know what you mean, if you are following all the advice and they still appear, that must be soooo frustrating.
Thanks HeatherB you are right it is very frustrating when you follow all the advice and they still keep appearing. I keep saying I hope this is the last one but I don't really think it will be.
I can forget everything when I watch our wonderful family at LG and today is a real bonus with all the fish. Odin is simply amazing.
Hope SIL's eye will improve over time.
Relieved to catch your post Heather: like a nurdle I forgot to check on here. Just sent you a message on your personal page which you can ignore. So glad it's all going well. Review in a week will really have some good news.
Margobird- I mentioned on Daily that PC flicker won't help your headaches much. (We get the flicker, we just don't see it). So you've chosen a good place to have a rest from the PC - 6 fish and counting.
EDIT I used to have a pretty parasol till it tore but now I use my brolly in the sun Margobird. I'll be walking to work with it shading me shortly. I don't suppose a similar thing would help would it? Keep even a sniff of the sun off your skin sort of thing? Probably just a stupid remark. Ignore it.
Morning all: Sorry to cake fanciers, only saved one piece each for OH and me; the rest of it went up the freeway with all the slender young people.
Lindybird: Not planning any heavy moving this weekend, but do have to cut back the vines on the walls and wrap them into a shade cloth since they'll be laying flat while the wall is reinforced (hopefully out of harm's way). Your garden photo was a treat for everyone's eyes.
Diane: Lovely card!
Margobird: Hurray! Glad all went reasonably well and welcome back. I'm due for my annual check up at the dermatologists next month; she'll be looking for similar suspects! She's very handy a freezing things off - boy, that always stings a bit! But occasionally snips of bits and pieces to send for more tests. Often coming out looking like I've been caught in a hailstorm of nails.
Cirrus: I must've missed your post saying all is well?? But seems like that's the case. Did see your post on the main diary regarding EJ's call; also BIgRab's response. Did you see that?
Jay-Me: Welcome! Sounds like a trip to LG is something to aim for.
Alan: Enjoy the footie. I'm not sure where it'll be on our cable listings, at the very least it'll be on one of the Spanish-language channels since the US has huge Hispanic/Central and South American population who will be following. Good news on the poisonings but oh dear; a school had adopted one of the dead birds. How sad and what a sad lesson for those kids. Is this just maliciousness on the part of the killers?
OG: St. Augustine - yes indeed - the oldest continuously inhabited town in the country, founded by the Spanish in 1575 or something like that. Of course, not sure what that means in terms of the original Indian inhabitants. What I've always found fascinating is that Louisiana which was settled by the French, still adheres to Napoleonic law in certain instances. Re BP, heard speculation on the radio the other week that BP may end up selling some of its lucrative properties (North Slope of Alaska) depending on the final bill for the spill.
Off to start the day; then to the garden; then to the Rose Garden this p.m. for some R&R.
Thanks all for lovely posts and info. Take care all.
I enjoyed Dianes card, too. Saw some of the Football Opening Ceremony at lunchtime - they are a colourful and noisy lot there! Think it will be a colourful and enthusiastic crowd for most of the games these next few weeks. Feel sorry for those who don't like sport, as its Wimbledon soon as well. My OH will be watching some of the football, but not all of it thank goodness, its going to be a long tournament.
Saw lots of houses today when I was out driving, with flags festooned over the house, and bunting. One house in a nearby town has even painted its walls all down one side with the England flag!
Lindybird said: I enjoyed Dianes card, too. Saw some of the Football Opening Ceremony at lunchtime - they are a colourful and noisy lot there! Think it will be a colourful and enthusiastic crowd for most of the games these next few weeks. Feel sorry for those who don't like sport, as its Wimbledon soon as well. My OH will be watching some of the football, but not all of it thank goodness, its going to be a long tournament. Saw lots of houses today when I was out driving, with flags festooned over the house, and bunting. One house in a nearby town has even painted its walls all down one side with the England flag!
Did planting, hoeing and stuff this afternoon, now just in from my share of watering. OH is using the hose and brush to clean up where birds sit on the garden arch to decorate the edge of the deck.
Margobird – good to see you back and pleased it went well. I hope the headache won’t keep on plaguing you and spoiling your enjoyment of the ospreys.
Cirrus – pleased that you had good news today – and I wish you a full recovery soon.
Lindybird – lovely picture of your Irises against that lush green backdrop.
Alan – re the poisonings – it makes me so cross that our wonderful wild creatures are not safe. We went to a talk on wildlife crime, and we heard that many of these poisonings are carried out using banned substances, which it is actually illegal to possess. Using them on bait actually endangers human life as well as other species. If you see a rabbit (or other) corpse with dead flies on it, the warning is not to touch it – the poison is killing the flies too.
Annette – agree about the stinging of the liquid nitrogen to freeze off the lumps and bumps! Have also had some benign stuff tied off – cut off the blood supply and they turn black and drop off! Hope you enjoyed your home gardening and the therapeutic Rose Garden.
HeatherB – I agree with you about “popular” sport – and having to watch OH play hockey was a big yawn - but would be more interested to watch things like bowls and curling.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Evening all: Phew. Another busy day - but good. Granddaugter and OH back tomorrow in time for dinner, then they'll be on their way at the crack of dawn Sunday. Still eating lefltover, speaking of which, there's a piece of that cake calling to me......
PBS Newshour had a long segment on the World Cup, saying that Americans bought more tickets to the World Cup than any other country, except South Africa - a sign that maybe soccer is gaining in popularity here? (A slow process.) Tomorrow the U.S. plays England!