Camera Critters #264 - The Bees Are Buzzing - April 27, 2013

Today is a bit cool ( 54 degrees right now ) and a bit overcast ( I keep thinking
that I'll be sweltering in Mumbai's 100 degree temperatures in a month ) but
flowers are blooming everywhere and, with them, bees are cavorting and 
satiating themselves with nectar.

I'm excited because my brother, who lives in the Atlanta area, called and will
be out on Monday to see a client in Sacramento.  He'll stay over Tuesday to
meet his new great niece, Harper Ann Vukasinovic, who debuted on April 14th,
so I'll drive up Monday and have a couple of days with my granddaughter, too.
Wish Susan, my lovely sister-in-law were making the trip with him. I haven't
seen them since they were out for Laura and Alex's wedding which was three
years ago May 10th.  They will will celebrate an anniversary and Laura's first
Mother's Day!

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Camera Critters #264.

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Thusday Challenge: Transportation - Motorcycles in India - April 25, 2013

Motorcycles have always frightened me.  As a nurse, I've seen far too many patients

with serious injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.  There is just so little

protection for riders, even when they are clad in leather jackets, pants, boots,

and helmets.  At highway speeds, weaving in and out of traffic, cars, often, don't

notice them.

In India, motorcycles are a major form of transportation.  In cities like Mumbai,

with a population of 18 million people, one sees entire families on a motorcycle -

father, mother, and two children, sometimes more.  Many areas now have helmet

law but, usually, only the driver is wearing a helmet.  Other passengers - and 

the children - are riding without protective headgear.  Even the passenger with

a helmet is too often not wearing it properly.  Chin straps are not fastened so,

in the event of a mishap, the helmet would fly off the driver's head, affording him

no protection at all.  Of course, nurse that I am, whenever I am stopped in a

rickshaw or taxi next to such a driver, I have to say something.  If even one 

person listens and learns, I will be happy.

It amazes me that women, in their beautiful saris ride side saddle - or pinion -

as they call it.  Many roads are filled with potholes and they manage to stay

on board, often clutching a baby in one arm while holding on to the driver

with the other.  I just offer up a prayer for everyone on Indian roads and hope

I survive to get home to my California freeways - which aren't the safest places

in the world either!

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Thursday Challenge.  

This week's theme is:  transportation.

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Our World Tuesday Week 87 - Northern California Windsurfers - April 23, 2013

In these lovely sunny days, the northern California coast near Santa Cruz finds 
windsurfers and kitesurfers out by the dozens, enjoying the waves.  All, however,
are clad in wet suits for the water temperatures on our coasts are seldom higher
than 60 degrees, usually lower.  One wonders how accidents are avoided since large 
numbers of surfers are out at a time.

For information on windsurfing, check out the Wikipedia article at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsurfing.

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Our World Tuesday Week 87

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Friday Flash 55 - Harper Ann Vukasinovic - Aprl 19, 2013

My first sweet precious grandchild,

Didn’t have a clue,

She debuted on April 14^th,

Not the day with taxes due.

Her Nana who is full of bliss,

Gives thanks to all the gods she asked,

For sending such a lovely girl,

To join our rowdy clan at last!

From the start, I lost my heart!!!

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Friday Flash 55, conceived by 

the brilliant mind of Mr Know It All!

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Thursday Challenge - Reflections - Falling Head First Into San Francisco Bay - April 18, 2013

Looks like this wasn't such a bad house at one time - now neglected and 
falling forward into the water - part of the view from a favorite hang out, "The 
Ramp", as I sipped a morning bloody mary.

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Most Remiss in Writing - Will Catch Up Soon - April 13, 2012

I've been very delinquent with my blogging.  I came up to West Sacramento on

Tuesday evening because my son, Alex, and his wife, Laura, invited me to join

them for their ultrasound on the following day ( my first grandchild is due the

21st ).  There was a great shot of the baby's face.  The little one is now occupying 

most ofLaura's uterus!  He/she ( they don't want to know the sex till delivery - I've got

fingers crossed for a girl! ).  I was heading back to San Francisco today but it

seems like Laura started having contractions during the night.  Now, they are

just seven minutes apart so I will probably know soon - granddaughter or grandson.

Either way, I'll be joyful.  

I did have a really nice rendevous with one of my nursing school classmates,

Ann Sneed Sorrells of Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 9-10-65

( it is so hard to believe that we started school FIFTY YEARS ago, before

the first heart transplant was ever done and right after the Salk polio vaccine

was invented! ). She and her husband have kept their home at Lake Tahoe

and visit several times a year.  Laura and I joined Ann for a late breakfast

at Tower Cafe in Sacramento.  It was a great reunion.

Back to blogging soon!!

Ruby Tuesday 2 - Dancers at the Hong Kong International Airport - April 9, 2013

When I arrived at Hong Kong International for a brief stay enroute from India 
to San Francisco, I happened on a wonderful afternoon of dance presentations.
I paused to watch several of them before grabbing my bags and heading in to
Kowloon for five days.  It was the perfect way to help me transition from one
country to another.

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Ruby Tuesday 2

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Camera Critters #261 - Pigeons Enjoying a Shower at Amber Fort, Amer, Rajasthan, India - April 6, 2013

Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort, is an incredible site, about seven miles from Jaipur.
It was built by Raja Man Singh and its artistic style consists of both Hindu and Rajput
elements.  I spent several wonderful hours there during my stay in Jaipur, taking over
a hundred photographs.

In one of the courtyards, a pipe spouting water was the gathering place of a group
of pigeons who amused us with their bathing antics.  

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Camera Critters #261.

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Wednesday Whites - US Naval Hospital Ship, Mercy - April 3, 2013

Docked in January in San Francisco, this is one of the converted San Clemente-
class supertankers used by the US Navy as hospital ships.  They came into
service in 1986 and 1987 and have 1000 beds and 12 fully equipped operating
rooms.  In mid-2004, Vice Admiral Michael L. Cowan, the Surgeon General said
these "dinosaurs" should be retired.  However, to date, options to replace them
with more suitable medical facilities have not been determined.

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Wednesday Whites 94: Still Winter!

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