Beachmasters

Sea lions beneath the wharf Nov. 06

I was visiting Laini's Grow Wings site and read the most remarkable stories of sea lion aggression. These individual events, when clustered together are an object reminder that these animals must be respected and not messed with in any way. When we were at Santa Cruz Wharf last weekend, I took a few pictures of the sea lions that live and laze beneath the wharf. Their barking call back and forth is pretty impressive as is their size. If one of these beachmasters wanted my particular spot on the beach, I would definitely give way.

Hitchcockian moment and other bad dreams

I awoke this morning dreading going to work. Dreams from the pressure of work have started to haunt me again. I had shaken these feelings for a while, but now they are back. The pressure at work has grown to a point that I am behind in everything. The demands of participating in the development of a new college is more than I could have ever imagined. There is an intimacy of being part of a small college that did not exist when we were part of a larger entity. Now we are just one of three departments joined together and operate more as a family - mildly dysfunctional but familial nevertheless.

I awoke with the 9 a.m. meeting on my mind and wanted nothing more than to take a mental health day. What a laugh. One day would not have helped. So I decided to just be quiet, focus on the business at hand and hope for the best. The meeting turned out to be a positive experience. I left knowing what I needed to do and with luck I would have it finished in a couple of hours. Well, six hours later . . .

There is one me. I take care of 150 students, 27 faculty, the phones, anyone who walks through my office door, all the facilities planning, purchasing, bookkeeping, special projects, travel, mailings, publicity, recital programs, reports, class scheduling, recital hall schedulling, calendaring, advising matters, contracts, hiring. . . Six hours later, I completed (I HOPE) a simple two hour job. Lunch came and went. The Chair turned me loose an hour before closing. That turned into a great piece of luck.

My walk to the parking lot always offers up something of interest. Between the trees, lawns, lake, and sculpture, unexpected sounds and visions abound. I've seen foxes, heard the expansion of stainless steel with temperature changes, and hawks and owls diving for pray. But today I was served up an extra special treat.
















The racket was so unexpected. A loud cacophony of bird shriek traveled toward me. A sweep of motion passed over my head. The whoop whoop of wings rode the waves of air and then as suddenly as they erupted into the sky, they resettled into the trees. The shrieking never stopped and the tree took on an unreal life. Then as quickly as they landed, they erupted again. The birds swept up and away in all directions and then disappeared. The quiet that followed was almost eerie.

Whatever had happened seemed to have passed and I tucked my camera away. But no sooner did I reach my car and the birds returned. Out came the camera again for one last attempt to catch the crazed swarm. I managed to actually get several pictures but these two have the most impact.

I did not know that birds swarmed. I googled swarming birds but did not immediately discover anything useful about bird behavior. Perhaps some of you out there are bird-watchers and can provide some insight into this odd behavior. The experience was somewhat Hitchcockian in effect but the results were not nearly so daunting.

Santa Cruisin' on the wharf

The birthday girl and her best guy on the wharf.

Unfortunately, the Mystery Spot didn't happen. We stopped for lunch at the end of Santa Cruz Wharf and ate at our favorite little seafood shack, The Dolphin. This little hole in the wall place at the end of the wharf is a seafood lover's dream. After lunch we called to find out how late the Mystery Spot was opened. It was our bad luck to discover that the tours for the day were already completely booked. Though disappointed, it was also the perfect excuse to plan another trip to Santa Cruz. On the way out we noticed a whale watching business. No whales these days but now we know where to go when the season comes around again.

This boat put me in mind of the great Chris Cross song, "Sailing".

Three Amigos? - Not a chance.

The juvenile California gull is chased off constantly by its adult counterpart next to it. In the background is a magnificent and very camera ready Brown California Pelican. More of him further down.

The Boss. And see? I can stand on one leg!

Brown California Pelican

This handsome fella was not the least bit camera-shy. He gathered quite a crowd around him and even allowed the wharf rats (uh huh, that would be US) to take pictures with him.

Preening and grooming


On the lookout for dinner


One Last look

Thanksgiving

The table felt small this year without a parent

but mom and dad were there in spirit.

Quanah and Marcia were only a phone call away.

Zachary is always in our thoughts.

The table felt small this year

but the spirit of family rang true.

Best Laid Plans

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? I don't know about you but one of my least favorite things to do is to shop for clothes. This includes shoes too. However, purses are another matter but more about that in a minute.

Biene called Tuesday and we arranged to meet at Starbucks at 11 a.m. today. She had a birthday present for me and did not want to wait until next Tuesday to give it to me. Well, what could be better? Coffee, Biene, and b'day presents. I fell right in with the plan. Starbucks has a Christmas Noel coffee right now that is yummy so all you coffee folks out there, run, don't walk to the nearest Starbucks for some straight up, none of that fancy stuff, coffee. My wonderful surprise from B was a set of Faber Castell artist pens and a small watercolor Moleskin notebook. I was in heaven. Thank you B!!

We parted ways after about an hour and I set out on my dreaded errand of shopping for a pair of jeans, not to mention socks and shoes and something warm. We are heading for the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot tomorrow for Krista's 22nd birthday. She's never been there and decided that this was the b'day destination. Said destination is a couple of hours away in the Santa Cruz mountains. The weather will be seriously (for us anyway) cold.

First stop shopping for me is always The Dress Barn. If I don't find it there, I know I have a chore ahead of me. Well, thank all shopping goddesses, not only did I find the socks and jeans, but I walked away with two sweaters. Since I'm simple style girl shopping is actually pretty simple (when I get to it). If it's fussy, forget it. So using my $20 gift card from Krista from my b'day last week, I take very good advantage of the after Thanksgiving sales. But the deal of the day was the PURSE I found while shopping for shoes at Payless.

OK, so I have to digress a bit but here's the story of the PURSE. I as watching QVC the other day and the Dooney & Bourke hour was on. I saw a purse. I fell in love. I HAD to have that purse. However, my conscience got the better of me and I chose to take a pass on this purse. Net savings to me - $156.00.

Well, there is indeed an angel out there that sprinkles good girl dust when you pass on a must have D&B. This dust came in the form of a purse at Payless that was pretty much the same thing but was actually bigger and more malleable. It was also on clearance for $10 BUT since I had found my athletic shoes, I was able to take advantage of the BOGO and I got it for $5.00. Not too shabby, huh? That's it in the picture at the top of this post with all the other goodies I found.

I love it was a plan comes together.

Fall At My Feet

As I walk into work I pass, daily, through an ever-growing pile of leaves from the park-like forest that surrounds our campus. Liquid ambers, ginkos, maples, magnolias and so many more. Fall makes a wonderland at my feet.

1 Deep Breath - Senses

Every morning the nuns of the convent at the corner of our street set out seed for the birds. The seed is always in exactly the same spot in the middle of the road. Carefully, I approach the feeding spot slowing my car so as not to startle and yet every morning the doves flutter away except for . . .


Morn's feathered flurry
Grey wisps scatter from seed
Three brave ones remain