pamola

06:34 am: Oh my... Dole has gone to new depths

I can't believe how low this ad is. They apparently had to hire a voice actor to get the final line. Its all smoke and mirrors.

06:54 am: 888 Challenge: One Sci-Fi/reread, starting another non fiction
So after laylalawlor reminded me of Cordwainer Smith's novels with her talk of Sun Sailors, I had to break out Best of Cordwainer Smith. "The woman who sailed the Soul" is one of those perfect short stories (like "Ill met in Lankhmar" or Zelazny's "Tower of Ice"), which deals with the hazards of an interstellar trip on a sun sailed vessel. And "Scanners live in Vain" is really great as a fifties/sixties era sci fi story. So in following Chabon's Yiddish Policeman's Union, I picked up Neal Karlen's "The story of Yiddish" from the new book shelf at the library. I've started it and it is an amusing, anecdotal sort of book.

02:02 pm: Gannet flies free

Freed Gus' Gannet
Originally uploaded by gusgrosch

So Gus' Gannet was released today. When we picked it up off the beach it was 4.5 lbs and it weighed in at a respectable 7.4 lbs before release. He would have been released a week ago, had he not had worms. And he was so bossy with the pelicans, he got triple or quadruple dosed with worm meds (hidden in fish). He could not take the shore break when we found him, however today he was through a stronger shore break in five minutes. All the flight feathers are not quite in, but he is strong enough to do short hops and fend for himself.

03:52 am: Spring Storms and Clouds

Marsh Sunset 360 Panoramic
Originally uploaded by gusgrosch

We've had majestic storms this week, with great clouds and light when the sun goes down. The boy was skittering to keep out of the picture while I took the 15 shots to make this panoramic picture.

05:29 pm: Weather is here,,,
Wind 10-15 mph from the west, midtide and falling, waves started at 2 feet around 1530 and built to 3-4 by 1630. A fine day paddling on small forgiving waves and trying out the new seat set up. I pedaled down and got lots of compliments for the kayak carrier.

05:37 pm: Gannet in the Shower

Gannet in the Shower
Originally uploaded by gusgrosch

So here is yesterday's rescue. He has gained 8 oz overnight. Three force feed fish and watered down cat food. He also has taken numerous chunks out of the wildlife rehabilitator's hand. He came in at 4.5 lbs and dehydrated. Normal weight is about 7lbs, the rehabilitator is aiming for 6.5 pounds.

07:31 am: And Me without my Camera

Diving Sea Bird
Originally uploaded by gusgrosch

So doing the Sunday Morning Alternate Church service (walking by the beach with the boy) We come upon a gannet stranded above the surf line (tide going out, south winds 10-15mph, 1-2 foot waves). It honks at us but doesn't move (they are mostly swimmers and flyers). The boy walks behind it which annoys it enough to hop three times into the surf, where it seems to be floundering. After calls to the wildlife rehabilitator, we get a beach towel and capture the gannet(who had tired itself out in the shore break). We walk up to the rehabilitation center about the time the rehabilitator gets back from Walmart. She looked it over, said it was light, but good shape. It can't fly because it is changing from winter to summer plumage and all the flight feathers are not in yet.

04:17 pm: Flotsam and Jetsom
I have been collecting a number of pictures of odd things washed up on the beach(mostly dead animals). Mostly I fascinated with the colors of the freshly dead animals.

07:49 pm: A Spendid Sky Last Night
The boy and I walked to the beach and I stiched this together with Photoshop.


There were also Gannets diving on the fish to be had.

Tags: sunset oinc

02:01 pm: First Spring Dip
The boy and I biked down to the beach and took our first dip of the season. Winds from the South 10mph, Air Temp 70, Water Temp 65, Waves at 2 feet, 2 hours before low tide. We threw the water frisbee awhile and got out after 15-20 minutes.

In other news the wildlife rehabilitator had several calls about a pelican with broken wing from a beach across the river. She expected it to be one bird reported many times. The Aquarium staff went up and found it was four, which have all been turned over to her. She called the sheriff and suggested foul play (just too odd a circumstance).

Tags: waves