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October 26, 2007
Friday Feathers
Every so often I put the camera down, sit back in my chair and watch seagulls fly through the air, gracefully flapping their wings and gliding in the wind.
When I'm done meditating, I pick up the camera and my eyes scan the skies. I watch and wait, watch and wait while the gulls fly around high up in the sky. The moment I stop scanning, I miss the one gull that flew much lower or just passed overhead, close enough for me to photograph. Then as if it realized my quest, it would make a quick turn and fly lower in long, graceful circles above me, just enough to capture this:
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October 19, 2007
Friday Feathers - Flubs
I spotted this Sharp-shinned Hawk while photographing seagulls this past weekend. It's rare for me to see hawks; the closest I got to one was while driving one day and a hawk flew past the front of the car.
This type of hawk is common to backyards and woodlands, often seen swooping in on birds visiting feeders. When I saw this one, it was high up in the air, flying in circles. I hoped it would fly closer and miraculously its circles were widening, providing me with ample opportunity to photograph it.
Unfortunately, the hawk didn't come as close as I would have liked, but I snapped away regardless of its distance from my lens.
When I reviewed the photos on my laptop, I had one of those damnit! moments, because the images were out of focus and had I used a more powerful lens, perhaps the shots would have been better. Then again, maybe not.
This was the third time I'd seen a hawk during the past two months. The first time I reacted too slowly with the camera and the images were blurred, the second time I was in a boat on a lake, pointing my camera toward a turkey vulture when a friend yelled out "Hawk!" I turned my camera and shot away, though the images also ended up blurred. I just have to keep practicing, and hope I'll have more opportunities to grab that single hawk image I'll be proud of!
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October 17, 2007
Oh please no... don't make me!
For the second year in a row I've been invited to a Halloween(ie) Party. The last time I went to a Halloween party was in Berlin and it was a festival of mac n' cheese, french fries, homemade coleslaw and ice cream treats. I planned to bring Fluffernutters but they don't sell Fluff in Berlin. The good thing about that party was that costumes weren't mandatory, though some folks did show up attired for the occasion.
Last year 'round this time I was trying to find someone to fix my suddenly dead Powerbook G4. I was in no mood for parties and begged off at the last minute. [Reflecting: I could have gone as a crab. It would have been fitting.] Not wanting to be a total Ebenezer Scrooge this year, I told the same friends who'd invited me last year that I'd attend. I did not say I'd wear a costume. Unfortunately for me, wearing a costume is a requirement, and to show up sans ridiculous getup would turn me into some sort of uppity party pooper. I don't want that. I'm really a nice person deep down and am highly social at least twice a year (my birthday and Christmas) [note: that's a lie. I'm also quite the savvy socializer at Thanksgiving and when out-of-town friends come to visit.] Point is, I plan to attend and be the bestest gracious costumed guest ever. The only problem is, I need YOUR help.
What should I wear? The creative gene is lacking and I'm looking for something that's easy to put together and doesn't cost me boku bucks. Any ideas? Kindly plop said ideas in the comments. Thanks!
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October 12, 2007
Friday Feathers
A large bird with a red head and legs, the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) has up to a 6-foot wingspan. The vulture's naked head is an adaptation to reduce the risk of feather fouling (picking up diseases) from carcasses.
Unlike hawks and eagles, it has weak feet that are more suited to walking than grasping. It is one of the few birds that has developed a sense of smell and is mostly mute, making only grunts and groans. Recent studies indicate that this bird is closely related to storks, not birds of prey.
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October 11, 2007
God Bless You, Christopher
An update I wish I didn't have to make.
The tears began flowing down my face this morning as I read the the blog post written by Greg's wife Vanessa: The end of Christopher's Journey.
Christopher was due to go home from the hospital next week and I was extremely happy for Greg, Vanessa and Chris. He had endured so many surgeries and the news that he would finally go home was wonderful. I only wish I were there in Australia to support Greg and Vanessa and kiss Christopher's forehead, telling him what an absolutely strong and amazing little guy he was.
My deepest and sincerest condolences to Greg and Vanessa. God bless.
_____________
A Very Special Little Boy and his Parents
My friend Greg and I frequently play catch up via email but most of the time we're chatting away via Skype. On May 14, we exchanged email after being out of touch for a while and as always, I inquired about his wife Vanessa. At the time, Vanessa was pregnant with their first child, and I'd always ask Greg how she was feeling. He replied that all was good and it was now "a waiting game." Two days later, Greg emailed me that Vanessa gave birth to their son Christopher Steven on the 14th.
Chris spent his first hours in intensive care and went through round one of surgery not long after. This amazingly tough little boy has endured five surgeries to date, with a sixth planned to repair his cleft lip and insert grommets into his ear canal.
Greg's wife Vanessa created a blog documenting her pregnancy as well as their daily visits to the hospital, where Chris has remained since his birth. Christopher's Journey Inutero & Beyond: a sweet little boy with VACTERL Association details Chris's journey through his mom's eyes, as well as her thoughts and feelings.
Greg and Vanessa could easily sing "woe is me" in unison and be justified in doing so; instead, they celebrate each minute of Chris's life, no matter what. I joked with Greg that I'm the self-appointed American aunt to Chris, because this very, very special little boy who has already endured so much has a permanent place in my heart. Until I can get to Australia, it's Skype for live updates, photos and my silent prayers that the little guy continues to be as tough and strong as he can. Chris's journey has been wrought with serious issues from day one, and instead of focusing on the intense heart-wrenching moments of his life, Greg and Vanessa remain pillars of strength. It comes as no surprise that Chris is as strong as he is; he's inherited that gift from his parents. Chris is a very special little boy with a very special mom and dad.
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October 5, 2007
Friday Feathers
While strolling through a marine nature study area last month, I knew I'd eventually come across a platform built for Ospreys. The platforms are man-made wooden towers built quite high up, so capturing images can be difficult unless you're using a zoom lens.
It was late morning, humid, and the temperature was extremely warm. The sky was a grayish-blue even though the sun was very bright. Signs along the path indicated that visitors should walk past the platform quickly so as not to disturb the osprey in the nest. Unable to linger and spend a lot of time taking a number of photographs using different settings, I did what I could in the few minutes I had.
When I enlarged the photograph above on my laptop there was a bit of surprise. When I took the photo all I could see were the two Osprey, the nest and nothing more. Here's what I didn't see:
Osprey offspring! At least three or four were nestled in the nest, leaving me wishing I'd had a more powerful lens to capture them.
As mentioned previously, lingering was not an option, and as I passed the platform I turned my head to see if the Osprey parents had moved and sure enough, one took off and landed on a post on the other side of the study area. I picked up the pace and got there as fast as I could, where the Osprey remained perched long enough for me to reach it (well within a safe distance) and take this photograph.
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October 2, 2007
Some Quotes
Some quotes about age, for those of you with birthdays this month. :-)
You're never too old to become younger. - Mae West
You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard
As we grow old, the beauty steals inward. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent - that is to triumph over old age. - Thomas Bailey Aldrich
No matter how old you are, there's always something good to look forward to. - Lynn Johnston
The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. - Lucille Ball
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October 1, 2007
Just Another Stupid Move by the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL) threatened to impose a $100,000 fine until Madison Square Garden LP, the Cablevision unit that runs the New York Rangers, gave it "virtually complete control" over the Rangers' Web site. The NHL insisted last week that MSG transfer control over the Rangers site, including the "nyrangers.com" address so that the league could convert it into one of 30 "cookie-cutter" club Web sites at "nhl.com." The lawsuit said MSG had spent years developing the site to market Rangers hockey in competition with other NHL teams. By seizing the site, the NHL would eliminate competition between teams and harm consumers.
Madison Square Garden has sued the NHL, saying in a complaint filed in federal court in New York that the NHL has threatened to impose "abusive and outrageous fines'' unless the Garden surrenders control over team merchandising, licensing, and advertising. MSG asked a judge to block the National Hockey League from seizing control of New York Rangers team-related businesses. The case is Madison Square Garden v NHL, 07-cv-8455, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). Sources: Bloomberg, Associated Press via Google
What idiot at the NHL came up with that idea? As a member of the National Hockey League, it makes sense for the Rangers to be included in the nhl.com site but purely from a "member" standpoint. The NHL should not be playing bully over teams' web sites and each teams' right to market and brand themselves and manage their own merchandising, licensing and advertising. It makes the NHL look like control freaks and does nothing but further tarnish the already damaged NHL image. [In recent years the NHL has been marked by contentious labor relations, leading to a strike in 1992 and lockouts in 1994–1995 and 2004–2005, the last so prolonged as to cancel the season.] The Rangers' site at nyrangers.com should remain as is and under NY Rangers control. The NHL should go find something else to do, like concentrate on improving its image.
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