Beats for Boobs

A few weeks ago I volunteered for and participated in my first breast cancer fundraiser. Beats for Boobs is a huge party held every year at 111 Minna Gallery (and bar) in San Francisco with local DJs, bands, singers, fire dancers, artists and fashion designers that exhibit their work or perform to help raise money for programs that educate young women about the risks of breast cancer. I worked with the catering crew for a few hours, then did the young survivor walk with a dozen other women diagnosed before the age of 40. This ain't your grandma's disease anymore, ladies. My friend April gave an opening speech about the rising rates of breast cancer among young women and how it connects to environmental pollution and the increasing levels of toxins in our bodies. Then, we all did Miss J. Alexander proud with our fierce catwalks. Since I had no hair at the time, I had to improvise...

photo by Jim Vetter (Flickershack.com)

Wordless Weekend

Kitty Snuggle

Morning Walk Critters

After a month of morning lakeside walks, it seems that fall is finally in the air. This week we have noticed brisker mornings, the return of migrating fall birds, and the last of the local waterfowl's summer babies swimming about. Although we are looking forward to whatever the seasonal changes will bring to our walks, we will surely miss the warm sunny mornings that will soon turn foggy and chilly. Here are a few of our more successful pictures taken after weeks of learning how to skulk about the edges of the lake in search of fishing Herons perching on branches and waterfowl babies swimming around the marsh grasses. Fortunately, Beetle was happy to sit patiently while I tried to snap photos of the elusive critters, and in exchange I sat patiently as she meandered into every lake opening to swim countless circles in the water.

Water Beetle

American Coot

Pied-billed Grebe Babies

Blue Heron

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Black Crowned Night Heron

Little Green Heron

Spider

Pop the Champagne, Uncork the Wine, Order the Pitchers

Seriously, I still can't drink, so everyone has to do it for me. Chemo is done! One more week of sluggish energy and low cell counts, and then I will be on the mend. I'm already feeling the cabin fever and am ready to break out of the narrow scope of activities that have defined my life for the last 16 weeks. Expect to find me zipping around for visits in no time! J, on the other hand is ready to collapse, much in need to decompress from being the greatest and most loving supporter anyone could ask for. He worried endlessly, attended every single doctor's appointment and proceedure, woke up to feed the fuzzball crew almost every single morning at the crack of dawn so that I could get my needed 10 hours of sleep, and had to work massive amounts of overtime to boot. I am grateful to our families that came for visits to help take care of me, to keep us company and to keep our spirits up. I am grateful to all of our friends who called, wrote, sent presents, and kept us in their thoughts. But, I am most grateful to J, without whom I would not have had the constant companionship, support, love and compassion I needed to get through this.

the gentle Squirrel Boy, continues his work with a new squirrel community at Vasona Lake

Beetle Makes Friends

During our morning walk, Beetle made two new friends at the park today. Of course, the fact that they eagerly shared their Cheerios with Beetle made for fast bonding. After the snacks, the new friends went swimming together and then rode the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad around the park.

The Adventures of Squirrel Boy

For the three years that we have lived in California we have been fond of making an occasional trip to Carmel, which is close enough to us that we can make an easy day-trip out of it. Beetle likes to ramble about on the super dog-friendly beach, which is always teeming with pups that have been unleashed to run amok in the sand and surf. I like to explore the tide pools that form on the rocks at the end of the beach for colorful sea critters. And, Jason likes to feed the California Ground Squirrels that live in the bushes near the entrance to the beach. For the past three years he has been patiently observing their habits and building their trust. Finally, this past Sunday, the squirrels fully embraced him as a member of their community. Here are some pics documenting the pay-off after years of effort.

Lemon poppy seed....YUM!