Saturday, November 10, 2007

San Francisco Bay Oil Spill Update

"Remember when atmospheric contaminants were romantically called stardust?"

-Lane Olinghouse

I had planned to take a ride across the bay, to see the aftermath of the oil spill from the shoreline along Chrissy Field, but to my sadness, I didn't have to leave the East Bay to see it's affect, as it has begun to settle along the shores of Emeryville, Berkeley, and Point Richmond. I took a walk along Shoreline Park, yesterday afternoon, starting in Emeryville. There were a lot of birds swimming in the small lagoon that seemed fine. I didn't see any oil deposits on that side of the short trail, but directly on the opposite side, which faces the Berkeley Marina, you could see where a good deal of oil had washed up on shore.

It was extremely difficult to watch my favorite bird the, Snowy Egret, as he waded close to shore, with several large deposits of oil floating right next to him, and spots of oil which had settled on the rocks behind him. I will always wonder the pair of egrets I saw will be survive, in that the water washing in that they were fishing in was a filthy, deep brown color. It was an eerie sight to witness the absence of small boats on the bay, on a Friday afternoon. Everything was so still. The ecosystem has been greatly damaged by the spill, and it is predicted that things will not be back to normal on the bay for years to come.









"Man has lost the capacity to foresee and Forestall. He will end by destroying the earth."


-Albert Schweitzer
Coast Guard Admits Oil Spill Communication Was Poor (KGO 7)

Beach Closure Map

-OndineMonet
"Snowy Egret"
Emeryville, California
November 9th, 2007
Late Afternoon

Friday, November 09, 2007

To Meme Or Not To Meme, That Is The Question

"You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep"

-Navajo Proverb

I found this cute little meme over at Phinney's blog, "Always So Busy Inside My Head" and thought it sounded like fun. I love doing memes, I think they are the best way to get to know one another, but I hardly ever get tagged for them anymore. I have to wonder why? Have I gotten boring? Have you learned everything you always wanted to know about me?Do you have a personal ethic about tagging folks for memes? I know some people find them intrusive, which is ok, memes aren't for everyone, but have you ever have someone hurt your feelings by refusing to do a meme you sent them? Is it proper to tag folks for memes, or does that break some type of unwritten Internet rule? Share with me your thoughts. And now Phinney's meme, which was sent to her by Nancy...

4's

Four Jobs I have Had

1. Receptionist
2. 800 Operator
3. Floral Designer
4. Draftsman for a Title Company (I drew maps of properties for clients)

Four Movies I Could Watch Over And Over

1. When Harry Met Sally
2. The Fog (The original John Carpenter's The Fog)
3. Bridget Jones' Diary
4. Chicago

Four Places I Have Lived

1. My Parents House
2. My Sister's House
3. My First Apartment
4. The Cottage Where I Live Now

Four Shows I Love To Watch

1. Desperate Housewives
2. Pushing Daisies
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Real Time with Bill Maher

Four Places I Have Been To On Vacation

1. Richmond, Virginia
2. Lake Tahoe, Nevada
3. Reno, Nevada
4. Los Angeles, California

Four Websites I Visit Daily

1. One Touch Gold Diabetes Support and Management
2. YouTube
3. Quote Garden
4. Martha Stewart

Four Favorite Dishes

1. Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce
2. Pot Roast w/Veggies
3. Chicken Cordon Bleu
4. Turkey with all the trimmings

Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now

1. San Francisco, California
2. Santa Barbara, California
3. The Marin County Coastline
4. Half Moon Bay, California

Four People I Am Tagging

Well, see, here is where I need your assistance. Please let me know how you feel about tagging. I have been reluctant to tag folks as of late, so I would love to make a list of those who enjoy playing alone with memes. Please leave me some feedback, and guys, you are not exempt from this! Your opinion counts with me as well. So come on guys... SPEAK OUT! :)

Thanks Phinney and Nancy!

-OndineMonet
"Autumn Duck"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
October, 2007
Late Afternoon

Thursday, November 08, 2007

The 58,000 Gallon Spill

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

-John Muir

Sigh. Yesterday, a container ship passing under the Bay Bridge, scraped a support tower of the bridge. The bridge wasn't damaged, but the ship sustained a deep gash to the lower side of the vessel, which resulted in a 58,000 gallon oil spill. Originally, it was announced that only about 200 gallons of oil had been spilled into the bay, but later in the afternoon, that number was revised. As of this morning, nine bay beaches had been closed to the public, as well as points just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County.

A number of birds have been pulled from the water off Chrissy Field, covered in oil, and small balls of tar have been washing up on shore. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the water in the bay will be tainted for years because of this spill, which breaks my heart, because I have a deep love for that bay, and the creatures that live in it. I am going to San Francisco today, to try and get some photos of the cleanup efforts, as well as the spill itself. I want to see if for myself. I will write a follow up entry to this posting, if I get some photos that accurately represent the spill and the cleanup operation. For now, you can read about the spill, and see some video of it, by clicking the link below.

Major Cleanup Under Way For Bay Oil Spill (KGO 7)

-OndineMonet
Golden Gate Bridge
Fort Point
November 9th, 2005
Afternoon

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

The Overwintering Of Carly

"I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man."

-Chuang Tzu

Each autumn, the Monarch butterflies begin their overwintering process. They travel thousands of miles, to the coastal trees of California and Mexico to spend some time in the warmth of the sun. It's part of their survival. Well, since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I have been identifying with the butterflies somewhat. See, I used to love the cold weather. I would be just the opposite of those afflicted with Seasonal Affected Disorder. My depression level actually improves with the cold, dark days of late autumn and winter. Daylight savings time is practically a holiday to me. LOL. Any excuse to celebrate right?

Unfortunately, with the onset of Fibromyalgia, came swelling and deep pain in my hands, legs and feet. Last winter it was so bad at times, I couldn't sit and type an entire entry at one time, I had to use the draft feature and comeback later to finish it. The Fibromyalgia was a new diagnosis, and I hadn't learned a lot about dealing with it. But now I am almost an expert on how to care for myself during the autumn and winter. All that is involved is altering my lifestyle a bit. LOL. Easy for me to say. LOL.

Actually, it hasn't been all that difficult to change my lifestyle, and my hours. So now, instead of staying up until Alan leaves for work at 5:00 AM, I go to bed no later than midnight. Elvis wakes me for breakfast at about 7:00 AM, which gives me a chance to get my gardening, and my housework done well before noon. And it also gives me a couple hours to work on my entries, without cutting into Alan/Elvis and Me time. :) I get tired easier these days, these autumn days, so, if I want to still be an amateur photographer, as well as a wife, and mommy to the world's most animated cat, and a blogger, I have to accept the fact that I must change my wicked, wicked ways. :) I even have some help from H. P., who I usually text with in the wee hours of the morning. He is my buddy, so he is there whenever I need him, which makes him a good friend indeed. I am a lucky overwintering girl!

"What Is Seasonal Effective Disorder?" WebMD

Monarch Butterfly In North America FAQ

-OndineMonet
"Overwintering"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
October, 2007
Afternoon

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Autumn Impression

"No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, no fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds... NOVEMBER!"

-Thomas Hood, "No!"

John Scalzi is taking a break from assigning a Monday Photo Shoot this week, so I am on my own to run with my imagination... and my camera. I took this photo in Golden Gate Park recently, at a place in the park that I visit often. A haunt really. There is just something about the trees, and how their reflections play upon the water in the small pond that they surround. It's a peaceful place. When I am there I don't think about much of anything, other that the scene in front of me, which changes from moment to moment. I get lost in the colors that dance in and out of vividness, with the movement of the sun, and the usual afternoon fog that can be expected in the city in autumn. Where first there are shadows, all of a sudden, there might an instance of bright clarity. Sometimes, like a shadow, thoughts of Mr. November come to mind. I feel that old familiar sadness that I am learning to live with, and yet, the sun still finds me and warms me. I took this photo on a day in late October, but somehow, it felt more like November.

-OndineMonet
"November Impressions"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Autumn, 2007

Monday, November 05, 2007

Curious Carly Visit's The Doctor

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

-Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest 6/95

Well, today I am off to see my personal care physician for the first time since I was diagnosed with diabetes last July. I am kind of nervous about it. Have I been doing everything right? Are my mg/dl numbers good enough? Will she and I be speaking about all the nasty complications that could one day, well, you know? Am I feeling sorry for myself? Well, yeah, kind of I suppose. I am doing ok, actually, I am doing really well, but I guess this is just one of those days when I am a little scared about what will come next. My former therapist, Sarah, used to tell me that "It is perfectly ok to have days when you feel sad. No apologies need be given for how you feel. Everyone feels sad about something from time to time." She is right, everyone does, so why do I feel so defeated by sadness?

I am sure the reason for my mood is fear of the unknown. If you have known me for any length of time, you know I how much I hate change, and the unknown. So, I know that by 3:00 PM today, I will be in a better frame of mind. Or at least I will have a clearer understanding of things. Taking the fear out of what makes you afraid is a powerful process, but once you go out on that limb, and not only survive it but conquer it, it is so empowering. EMPOWERING... now there is a great word! :) One thing is for sure, I am going to come home afterwards, and have a nice, long, bubble bath, a couple chocolate dipped strawberries, and a long, cleansing cry. Gosh I am looking forward to that!

My Goals As Instructed By My Doctor

Fasting 90-130 mg/dl
2-2 1/2 hrs After Meal Less Than 170

Current Readings

**All Results Averages (Overall)
7 Days - 129

14 Days - 128

30 Days - 123

**Before Meals
7 - Days - 112

14 Days - 110

30 Days - 108

**After Meals
7 - Days - 137

14 Days - 133

30 - Days - 131

UPDATE: The doctor was pleased with my numbers, very pleased! I have my fasting A1C test on Wednesday, and I will write a follow up entry later this week or early next week after I get the results. My doctor is predicting, based on my numbers, that I might have lowered my A1C... here's to hope!

-OndineMonet
"A Walk Through Tilden"
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
October 20, 2007
Late Afternoon