So Cal beaches still closed for the weekend!

Cleanup and removal of pipeline...please for good and no more!

I can't stand it. This shouldn't happen!

First Candle in Advent...Thoughts

This week I got my first email warning me about keeping Christ in Christmas. It came in the form of a rock and roll video from YouTube.com that revved up the Spirit of greetings during the holiday season. I understand the need for this as a reminder but I don't really agree with the extreme emphasis. I don't mind phrases like Happy Holidays, most of the time I'm happy someone says something that nice during the hustle and bustle of these days of preparation. Besides, there are other holidays that occur while we celebrate Christmas. I already heard my first Merry Christmas from one of my doctors since I won't see him until early next year. It astonished me since I know that personally he believes this season has been programmed to keep the poor feeling poor and in their place. But it seemed genuine and I knew the Holidays were upon us.

At home, there are two neighbors who already have decorated, one has the tree up and window lights; the other has 5 different inflatable decorations in their yard so that there is no room to walk there. I'm a slow starter and just got my fall decorations down yesterday. I did have the forethought to order a Christmas book of music for piano, voice, and guitar. It arrived yesterday and has every Christmas song I could want and also one special song for Jesus. I put it on my digital piano and slowly my inner feelings began to perk up as I realized I could enjoy this entire Advent season by playing and singing these songs. For now it was much better than a wreath or any window lights I could find. My inner child rejoiced and is overjoyed at the thought of wonderful holiday music spilling out into the house.

Good news! The Feds have sued the shipping company and the pilot of the dastardly boat that spilled the evil oil into the Sanctuary waters. At least they will have to pay for all their damages.

Thoughts on the San Francisco Bay Oil Spill plus Monarchs in Mexico

The Thanksgiving holidays are over, the original was a 3 day feast, and I try to make sure I take this time off because I can feel it later if I don't. This year was relaxing even if I did make most of the turkey dinner...all except the pumpkin pies. But I love to put together such feasts. My mind was running ahead off and on during the preparations to the Christmas feast as I mentally noted recipes to include in December's wonderful holidays.

I purposefully didn't post an entry during the horrific oil spill in the San Francisco Bay that killed hundreds of shorebirds. For one reason, I was too upset, my Internet business, Starbell Enterprises, is centered around the Monterey Bay Marine Life Sanctuary that includes the afflicted area. The second reason was the news kept happening so fast as the truth came out, or most of the truth, that I was too busy gathering the facts trying not to spin an enormous conspiracy out of the events (was it deliberate?). Sh-h-h!

One of the most important things that came out of the disaster is that San Francisco/Oakland is unprepared for a response to such events which seemed so unforgivable to take for granted the beauty that surrounds this sparkling area. Delay times and unorganized efforts on clean-up were just astonishing to learn about as I followed the news. However, one of the most moving experiences came from the private sector as people spilled onto the beaches to try to help clean-up efforts and care for oil-soaked birds...only to be scolded by Federal officials and turned away or worse, fined and shooed off the beaches. It was heart-wrenching!

Of course, the saddest part was seeing the poor birds blackened by the poisoned oil-contaminated waters. Half of the afflicted birds died but the efforts of rescue workers did save hundreds of birds, God bless them for their diligence and caring concern as it was a pain-staking job to clean each bird.

The Chinese company that owned the ship will surely pay for all expenses since it happened in Federally protected waters and the US government will handle all suits. Definitely, the captain who steered his ship into the Bay Bridge is responsible. Surely he knew better, you'd think!

Bright, wonderful news...the President of Mexico has established the forests where the Monarch butterflies winter to be off limits to logging. Victory!