Silence of Good People

The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people! - Napoleon.

photo:K.Law

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

Considered by many to be the most beautiful of North American waterfowl, the wood duck is a perching duck that normally nests in cavities in trees.

Appearance

• Medium sized perching duck
• Breeding male has an iridescent green and white crested head, red eyes, red and white bill, chestnut breast, golden flanks and iridescent back
• Female is a drab version of the male but is considered striking compared to other duck hens

Breeding

• Wood ducks typically pair on the wintering grounds or on the return migration to the breeding grounds
• Arrive on breeding grounds in April
• Nests in preformed tree cavities made by tree diseases, fire scars, lightning, and cavity-making birds like pileated woodpeckers for nest sites and also use artificial nest boxes
• Females lay 7-15 white-tan eggs which they incubate for an average of 30 days
• Male begins to spend less time with female once she begins incubating eggs
• Females stay with young until they have fledged and then leave to undergo a feather moult

Habitat: Wooded wetlands, rivers, streams, lake and river edges.

Time not chatter

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. ~Author Unknown

Finger Monkeys

Finger Monkeys – Too Small To Be Real?

Ever held a finger monkey before? What’s a finger monkey, you ask. Well, believe it or not, it’s a monkey the size of a human finger. They got their name because of their size and the fact that they cling to your fingers when you try to hold them. The planet’s smallest living primate, finger monkeys are also known as pocket monkeys or tiny lions.

Indigenous to the rain forests of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia (where they possibly export drugs to other finger monkeys), the common finger monkey can grow up to 14 inches. Don’t let a finger monkey’s looks fool you. Its claws are extremely sharp, and when a provoked, these pygmy marmosets can wreak havoc like you’ve never seen.

Happy Birthday to me

March 21st was my 66th and I'm hoping for a few more.

Thanks to everyone for parties, gifts, and wishes.

You are wonderful--but I know you know. LOL.

March 16, 2012

Cellucci fights ALS, raises fund for research

BOSTON (AP) — Former Republican governors Paul Cellucci and William Weld, once partners in running state government, have joined forces again — this time to raise money for research into ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Cellucci, 63, disclosed in January 2010 that he had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The disease attacks the brain and spine, and has no cure.

Yesterday, he appeared at a Boston fundraiser to help announce a $500,000 gift from the biopharmaceutical firm Biogen Idec to the UMass/ALS Champion Fund. Cellucci spearheaded creation of the fund, boosting researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester as they work to find a treatment for the disease.

Cellucci, who uses a wheelchair, said he still feels good overall.

"I'm weak in my arms and legs, but everything else is working fine," he said. "I'm fortunate to have a slow case. I hope it stays that way."

At his side was Weld, who hosted the fundraiser and jokingly introduced Cellucci as the "hind legs on the so-called Weld-Cellucci kangaroo ticket. The hind legs were stronger than the front legs."

Cellucci was Weld's lieutenant governor from 1991 until 1997, when he became acting governor upon Weld's resignation. Cellucci was elected governor in 1998 and served until 2000, when he resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

Coming soon

I saw my Respirologist today and this is what he is recommending.

Completed tracheotomy: 1 - Vocal folds 2 - Thyroid cartilage 3 - Cricoid cartilage 4 - Tracheal rings 5 - Balloon cuff

Among the oldest described surgical procedures, tracheotomy (also referred to as pharyngotomy,laryngotomy, and tracheostomy) consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea. The resulting stoma can serve independently as anairway or as a site for a tracheostomy tube to be inserted; this tube allows a person to breathe without the use of his or her nose or mouth. Both surgical and percutaneous techniques are widely used in current surgical practice.

It's warm here and smells so good.

A new image

I decided I needed a change so after pimping my power chair I went for a few nips and tucks. What do you think? Perhaps the tattoos were overkill.

The pink stilettos pinched my toes so had to go. They're somewhere along Highway #1 east of the Langley exit.

In Memory

12 years ago on March 4th I lost my best friend to Breast Cancer.

It only seems like yesterday that we skied Whistler and shared good times with our friends.

You never know what is in your future--good or bad--so enjoy every moment you can while you have good health.

Sandra, I miss you and remember all the great days we shared. You were a mentor to many.