Larry King Live

Friday night Larry King Live is interviewing two of my shark attack survivor buddies. Should be good!!!

Results

Exciting News. When I was lobbying for the passage of senate bill 850, The Shark Conservation Act of 2009, I met with aides for Senator Jack Reed (RI) and Senator Ron Wyden (OR), and asked them to co-sponsor this worthwhile legislation. Within 3 days of my return Senator Wyden (an old high school classmate of mine) had signed on to co-sponsor. Yesterday I received word that Senator Jack Reed had also joined the list of co-sponsors. The third senator, Senator Whitehouse (RI) was already a co-sponsor. My visit to Washington DC made a difference!! Incredible. Now.... I'm sure you would all like your senators in CA and WI to jump on the bandwagon. Please write to them or call them with your request to co-sponsor Senate Bill 850.... An even easier way to reduce shark finning is to visit either of the following two sites and sign their petitions. bornfreeusa.org/legislation or oceana.org. If you go to oceana.org you look on the left sidebar for threats to sharks. then navigate to shark finning, then go to take action. Please let me know if you helped out.

Four Strikes/ Home Run

Strike #1 - got all dressed at 7:45 to go swimming only to discover a flat tire. Called AAA.
Strike #2 - Needed three new tires, not just one. So got 4 to make them all the same.
Strike #3 - when tires were removed it was apparent that I needed front and back brakes.
Made appointment for Thursday.
(I thought three strikes was enough, but when my lens popped out of my
fitovers... I had to laugh. It was easitly fixed.)
Home Run - The Terminex Man came to treat for millions of black bugs near the furnace.
I assumed they were termites, but turns out they were ANTS and all DEAD!!! He
treated the area, and said to call him if there was any more activity.
Two outs to go!!

Record Breaking

July is not even over and RI's rainfall has already broke a 104 year old record. We've had over 10 inches of rain in the past 26 days. About every 6th day we have some sun, just enough to run to the beach, swim and get home. The tomatoe plants are struggling, the downspouts need repairing, and the lawn needs mowing all the time. I kick myself for not just putting the whole garden into swiss chard. Today the humidity is wretched.

Shuffle

Bought an I-Pod shuffle to wear while I work up a sweat on the treadmills at the Y. My neighbor was nice enough to get me started loading songs. Mostly I have soft rock, new age, buffet, hawaiian, klezmer and a few sound tracks. This little gadget is so cool!! The second day I had it I bought a set of 5 different colored metallic covers that protect it, so now I can change the way it looks. Now all I have to do is get softer earbuds. Those round ones are killing me!!

Seaweed in suit

Had to rinse my suit 8 different times to get all the bits of brown out of the many layers of fabric. (This is the suit with the skirt!) East Matunuck's waves were choppy and big and filled with gunk. Lots of people on the beach and in the water. This summer we have to take the sunny days when they're here, seaweed or not. Don't forgt your suit, Ted. We're going to get a lot of use out of our pass. The next five days are supposed to be filled with more rain!!

Frosting on the Cake

My whirlwind day was incredible, from the group photo shoot at the capitol to meeting with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI). He is a co-sponsor of Senate bill 850, the 2009 Shark Conservation Law. I also met with staff members from Senator Ron Wyden's office and Senator Reed's office. It was thrilling just to walk in the senate buildings. I also got a first hand look at how an environmental group works and was impressed with everyone at the PEW Charitable Trust. I felt like a country bumpkin tromping around DC, jumping in and out of cabs, but it was FUN!!! After my official business was done I met a high school classmate for dinner at a restaurant at the Union Station. The building was magnificent, the food was delicious, and the company was wonderful. After 40 years of not seeing each other I was happy to see the same sparkle in my friend's eye that I remember. We had a great time. So ends my last full day in DC. Am boarding the train tomorrow at noon, arriving at Kingston at 7:00 pm.

Front Page of the Wash. Post

Today we had front page coverage in the Washington Post. Once that hit the internet PEW had requests from ABC, CNN, Fox and various other media outlets. I took part in three telephone interviews and was in the group shot taken on the Capitol steps at 7:50 am this morning. I still have not seen it, but it will be in the news, guaranteed. Meeting with various senators was exciting... Now I'm off to have dinner with an old high school classmate.

Walking

Spent 3.5 hours walking everywhere I wanted. Saw the Korean War Memorial, The Lincoln Mem, The WWII Monument, the Holocast Museum, and the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry when FS Key wrote the Stars Bangled Banner. (That was in the Museum of American History.) I was on my feet the whole time and came back at 2:15 to rest. Now I'm out the door, heading to the PEW offices for the rest of the afternoon and dinner. The WWII Monument was incredible. I had read about it when it opened, but no newspaper article could possible do it justice. I have photos, but no time to post...

Arrived in DC

Train was 1.5 hours late. At one point in CT. it just fizzled out on the track. No power. The conductor said the engineer was trying to reboot the engine. Half of the packed train disembarked, because they could catch a commuter train into NYC. Once they were all lined up on the platform (at least 120) then the power came back on and they all trooped back on. Trip was otherwise unevenful. Union Station was huge... in fact everything seems gigantic here, road ways, buildings, ..... Walked down to the mall and went into the National Archives. Tomorrow morning, till about 2:30 is more sightseeing. It is now 8:00 pm. I ate dinner alone (not much fun) at a very noisy restaurant, but the spinach salad was the best I've ever had. It was delicious. Weather is very humid. I make sure to walk on the shady side of the street!! I took photos, but am still a dummy when it comes to posting them on a strange computer.

Upcoming Trip

Packing for my trip to DC on Monday, even bought myself some new clothes... Will take the train down on Monday, arriving at 2 pm. I have the rest of Monday and Tuesday till 3:00 to sightsee. Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday I will be busy with informational meetings, photo ops, (Yeah!!) and meetings with senators (or their staff). Wednesday evening and Thursday till 11 am will be more free time. I'm looking forward to an adventure. Maybe someone at Pew will let me blog on their computer. Yesterday John and I went to East Matunuck State Beach. Nice weather, but poor waves. I guess I should be grateful that it wasn't raining or thundering!!

Wonderful Fourth

Day began with the arrival of one of the most happy people I know.... Theo. His mom and dad departed at 8:30 to go help friends. I had him for 3.5 hours. We played in the house, read books and played outside with a 3 year old neighbor. Theo loves pushing her bubble blowing toy lawnmower and splashed in her wading pool. Her parents were getting ready for their annual 4th of July bash and had set up a bouncy room (like you see at county fairs) for the kids. The 30 foot high inflatable toy had a giraffes head towering above it fascinated my wide eyed buddy. I departed at 2 pm to chauffer my 99 year old friend to her birthday party in Warwick. Her relatives traveled from all over the country to help her celebrate. It was quite a gathering. By 6 I was heading south again. Teddie dropped an exhausted Theo off (and put him to sleep) at 8 pm. A friend came over and we sat on my back porch, watching the fireworks from Old Mountain Field bursting between two trees. A spectacular show, as usual. If I had to pick a favorite holiday... it might just be the 4th.

Misty and Company

The day before I left for Greece I visited an old friend. Still dignified and sweet, as ever!

Walking in WI

taking a walk in Wisconsin

taken in Madison, WI in mid June

Caught some Waves

Two days ago I went with John to Narr. Town Beach . It was 5:30 and cloudy. Sadly, I was too tired to put my suit on. John did, though. As soon as we arrived he took off his shirt, went in the water and dove through a wave. I was a bit envious. It was nice to be on the chair, by the water, oblivious to everything else.

Yesterday I took two of my primary students to East Matunuch Beach. It was sunny and warm. This time I took advantage of the opportunity and went in. The lifeguard said the water was 61, but she must have been wrong. It was perfect. I caught some small waves and had a great time.

I'm glad I went yesterday because we have had nothing but rain, thunder and lightning ALL DAY today. I have a vet who comes to the house and the cat was so spooked by a loud crack of lightening two houses away that we couldn't find her and we both looked everywhere. As soon as the noise stopped (and the vet left) Mr. Cat appeared. The vet returned an hour later and my buddy got three shots. One more item to check off on my "to do" list.