Winter Garden CA style

I planted the onions (left side of path) and the arugula (right side of path) when I was here a month ago. Now I am in the process of transplanting some arugula (it needed thinning) and have just put in 12 bok choy plants. They are in the upper right. All the string and white rags are to keep you know who out!!!

Three Weeks After

Believe it or not this looks good!! Two weeks ago the bump was accompanied by two black eyes and a very badly bruised right side of the face.

Two Turkeys

Before the Feast

Ten Years Ago

Tomorrow will mark the tenth anniversary of my shark attack. Memories of that traumatic time are fading... but your kind acts on my behalf are still very clear. Thanksgiving gives me pause to reflect on how lucky I am ... to be alive and to have such caring friends and family members. A BIG thank you to each of you.

Shark Finning Legislation

In July I had the opportunity to join a group of 9 other shark attack survivors in Washington DC to help push legislation that would close loopholes on current US shark finning laws. Once I arrived back in RI Ted came home for a month, I traveled to CA for two weeks, subbed, swam, and raked constantly. Sharks were not on my mind. Yesterday I received the following good news from a fellow survivor and an employee of the Pew Charitable Trust. Click on http://news.discovery.com/earth/saving-the-sharks-that-bit-us.html.

First 24 hours in CA

Jane was nice enough to pick me up in SJ and whisk me north to Palo Alto. I was asleep at 10 pm (CA time) and didn't wake up until the cell phone rang at 8 am. Flying is exhausting, even if most of the time is spent sitting. This morning Bingo and I walked, then the cleaning man came and after he took the plastic panels down from the kitchen ceiling I washed and dried them. (They were filled with dead bugs and gunk) Mike appeared and the two of us put them back up. Then it was nap time... After that a quick trip to the hardware store for some supplies. My father's head is AWFUL. In fact I don't think I have the heart to photograph him. At least not today. The leaves are just beginning to turn and fall.... California is about 3 weeks behind Rhode Island. Luckily my parents have a gardener, so no more raking this year.

Guess What I was Clipping Today???

Click on image for a clue

"Pimp My Ride" Palo Alto Style

While walking the dog during my recent stay in Palo Alto ... I spotted the bottom 2 inches of a bright pink car hanging out below a canvas car cover. Turns out it was "Big Bertha" a car that had been made over years ago on "Pimp My Ride"... a car show that Josh loves... and I find pretty cool myself. They take real trashy cars and redo them to fit the driver. In this case the driver was a 16 year old teenager... thus the hot pink, tv screens, and even a closet in the back. The owner was kind enough to uncover the car so I could take some pics. She said that the paint job looked almost purple in certain light. It was incredible.

Judy & Misty

Just as sweet as ever, Misty ran up to each of us. I like to think that she remembers all the nights she spent on our bed and how attached we grew to her. I'm prejudiced, but she seemed to be the most beautiful dog there.

Fun

Calvin, the fox like looking sheltie in my lap, is just a puppy. The other one had a mane like a lion.

Misty's Siblings

Misty romps with four other shelties and has moved up in the hierarchy of the pack. These are her four siblings now. Last spring there were two others. Sadly one died from cancer and another was snatched by a fishercat... the same type of animal that killed my cat. These four are pampered by a woman who devotes every spare minute to them. My friend, Judy, and I visited on Saturday. The drive was gorgeous, temperature was mild, and the happiness of these beautiful animals was obvious.

PS. The dog at the top of this post is named Theodore. He chases airplanes as they pass overhead. He'll stop what he's doing, cock his head upwards, and run as he looks skyward. He got confused by all the falling leaves and was chasing them, too.