THIS IS MY LAST POST ON THIS BLOG: WHALE TALKER. MY NEW BLOGSPOT IS WHALE TALKER II: www.urmkalii.blogspot.mx  Same basic format, all new stuff!




This is my most recent completed rock art. What a joy it is for me to be able to combine this solid natural element with the fluid beauty of paint. It’s almost like I am extracting the alchemic life of the rock for the pleasure of seeing it’s color. Whew, a bit arrogant but Hell I enjoy the idea.

Sept. 3^rd

Very light overcast right now – prelude to something heavier I hope (uh oh). Oh, in my swim this morning I saw my first bullseye puffer in a while and a group of three spotted boxfish plus my Machetes or (hundreds of them that swim with me every morning)? Also guineafowl puffers, balloon fish, blunthead triggerfish, Moorish idol, purple surgeonfish, cortez rainbow wrasse, king angelfish, Mexican goat fish, blue and gold snapper, golden jacks, flag cabrilla. I’m not showing them all but you get the idea about why I enjoy doing laps in the ocean so much

 

 

 

However, when the sea is to rough I am eternally grateful to my neighbors Leslie and Alex Cook for letting me use their lap pool – thank you so much my dear friends.

Before I even started my laps I saw way in the distance off Alan’s point four or five big bodies doing the surfing thing. Too small for whales, too big for dolphins, no high dorsal so not Orca. No chance for better view so still no idea. There are at least half a dozen possibilities and even with my bionic eyes I just could not see enough detail. I was so hoping they were Orcas so I could maybe swim to them. But alas they swam further out to sea.

Here is a really nice video of an explanation of the importance of Marine Protected Areas. This is what I have been devoting my time here for the past 13 years.

https://www.facebook.com/conservation.intl/videos/10154553524977112/?comment_id=10154559367047112

Sept. 5^th

Expecting a TS (maybe hurricane) right over us tomorrow. Right now very still, little breeze, sea slightly agitated, sky overcast – ominous feeling in the air.

Hurricane Newton (cat 1-2) Strikes at 12:00 midnight w/ intense wind around 3-6am. Rain enough to start 5 leaks in the house. I am busy all night long trying to hold back the leaks. Electric out too so house hot (no fans) and no lights, fridge out. I have candles and a head lamp that breaks right during the most critical time. Nothing to do but swiftly repair it and back to work. Lots of breathwave & meditation to stay calm. Extra lorazepam. Winds literally “rock” the house.

 

 

Sept. 6^th

After a “fitful” night electric on for awhile while I start cleanup. Electric goes out again around 3:00pm won’t come on again for another two days. My water pump continues to run at minimum voltage thereby heating it and threatening a burn out. I fortunately pass it and hear the fine slight hum, touch it – damn hot! Disconnect the wires and hope that the pump is not burned out.

My kayak has been swept away but found by Luis in front of Jeff’s place, Susan’s in front of Carla’s.

Sept. 7^th

No electric all day again. I spent most of afternoon on roof to escape what heat I could. No internet so kids probably a bit concerned. 9:30pm and electric still out. Another really uncomfortable night.

Sept. 8^th

Electric comes on at noonish but no internet.

Pump still working – thank the gods!! But a real chore to get it going again. Jose’s young fellow Lupe appears and he helps out – thank you Lupe.

Took a swim in slightly rolly, murky water, only 10 laps, beach way different. Smell of death & decay, palapas down, my car palapa held but tweaked (thank Dr. Alexander), Cook’s palapa tight (luis)

Sept. 9^th

Things back to normal – well, almost

Rain has brought out some unsavory critters and I have had two close encounters: one with a black widow another with a scorpion.

The black widow had decided to build her nursery right next to the inside door knob at my bodega. When I went in to check for water damage I happened to glance at the knob just before gripping it and I saw her. Since my stroke my right hand and arm are not as coordinated as they used to be so it took some pounding to finally destroy her. That was close – pure luck. Then when I went to take a shower that night and I see a 2” scorpion on my bath mat. I get ready for another hopefully successful pounding but see it is dead? It must have been under the mat when I stepped on it the night before, had the energy to crawl out but died there. BTW: a week later while reading just before turning out the lights I feel something on my bare shoulder. Thinking it’s one of those pesky ants I brush it off – nope, another scorpion but a tiny one. I have been stung by one of those before and I can tell you they pack a wallop! With sheer luck it didn’t sting me and as it scampered away, I flung my arm with book in hand and actually got it before it got away to try me some other time – pure luck!

But not all the critters have been of the nasty kind. The Millipedes are back, as are butterflies and the lovely dragon flies. Below is a pic I took off Kersti’s FB. I doubt my painting talents will ever reach this height, beautiful, no?

I’d forgotten what a kick it is to read good (or even not so good sc/fi). Sometimes even in the trash novels you find a new theme based on someone’s special perspective of things extraterrestrial and it turns into a jolly good tale. If you read a lot, you also start using terms or turns of phrases that suddenly pop into your writing; like the “jolly good tale” above. I’m reading one of those now entitled Mojave Wells. I’m not recommending it as a must read but if you run across it, give it a shot.

Full on exercise routine this morning with some special, and pretty constant swim mates: Diamond Sting Rays, Machetes and Green Panamic Moray Eels. It sure is nice to have companions.

 

 

 We are expecting another storm within the next few days. As of last night the depression south of us continues to build and form. Got in my extra water today, hope to see Jose with my new hurricane shutter also. We have plenty of warning if the net is working so I can get someone to help (Jose, Alfonzo, Vicente, Luis, Rubin) with the shutters pretty easily if I don’t wait too long. I’d forgotten what hurricane season was like – intense when it hits. As I described above.

-->

Incredible, eh?

“A new study has led researchers to conclude that Octopuses (NOT Octopi) have Alien DNA. Their genome shows a never-before-seen level of complexity with a staggering 33,000 protein-coding genes identified, more than in a human being”.

http://www.globalpossibilities.org/scientists-conclude-octupus-dna-is-not-from-this-world/

When I was working at the Bodega Marine Lab in 70-71 (as their “collector”) I was also in charge of maintaining the specimen’s lab. These were all live and kept in various size and types of tanks depending on species. One of the professors was working with octopuses and I was able to watch them in action. One of them had figured out how to exit and reenter it’s aquarium through the air filter. You would have to see it to believe it but that’s not all. This octopus then raided the large fish tank across the aisle, snatched some chow and slithered back into it’s own abode unnoticed. For weeks, the professor working with the fish could not understand where all his fish were disappearing to. I happen to catch him “in the act” one night and when it spotted (felt) my attention it simply stared me down!

This is a rather interesting article. I include it because I am a true believer in the infinite possibilities that exist in our universe and even more so in this multiverse that we inhabit. As Stephen Hawkings once responded to the question, “Well Stephen, if what you say is true (Stephen’s thoughts on certain Black Hole phenomena), Hobbits could actually exist somewhere” - “ not only Hobbits but everything and anything that can be imagined actually exits” he replied. With that as one of my guidelines I do not easily dismiss the unusual. My uncle Boris was the son of my great aunt Betty (Elizabeth) and her cavalry Colonel (Col. Maslenikof) husband in The White Russian Army during the revolution. Just a little personal memory popping up. Getting a lot of those lately. Prompted by this article. 

 

http://simplecapacity.com/2016/05/boriska-boy-mars-says-humans-live-eternally/

We are getting our first tropical storm warning today (Aug. 7^th) and we may get some action here in the next few days – I certainly can “feel it in the air”. The plants will be soooo happy and if the plants are happy the animals are happy. *We got some rain but nothing serious, just enough to bring out the BoBos (Gnats that go directly to your eyes, nose and ears).

How’s this for a crop circle? Again, I remind you that these are created within minutes, in complete darkness, without noise and to this date no perpetrators. Fascinatingly inexplicable!! I am sure that when I pass to the “next” side some of this will be clarified. 

Intricate, no?

My old buddy Vicente came by yesterday to check up on me and told me he had seen a dozen or more whales last week and not just humpbacks but blues and sperms. Too far out (20 miles) for me to track but wow, exciting. Another pangero saw about 20 Orcas just south of me last week the same day I was kayaking – oh to have been with them – just one more swim with them and I will be terribly grateful. 

This swim with them (a pod of about 8 hunters and 4 youngsters as observors) from some years ago convinced me of their peaceful nature. 

Me with Orca

“Caving” has never been something I’ve been drawn to though I have toured Carlsbad Caverns in S. CA. Some of the incredible caves and “spelunkers” that have discovered this vast underground world are both amazing. Here’s an article about some fantastic caves in Mexico and the “lakes” that exist in some spots.

Underground brine lake

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/undersea-brine-lake

I have a veritable Gecko family living in the bedroom. I saw two little ones (1 ½ “) and mama? Out on a excursion the other day. There is one larger one (maybe 4-5”) that I assume is the male. They always make their calls around evening time and I talk to them as best I can – generally just a “hey, buddies”.

This is a pic I took a few years back and one of my favorites. It is a Willet and common here along the playa at this time of year. Birds are so cool.

Willet 

Here’s a picture that Kersti sent me that is so much the way my day often starts with laps in the sea. 

How I feel before my morning swim

And as usual for this time of yearhe only one on the whole beach. I remember how much fun it was for me, and very rare and special when I was a child to be alone in someone’s pool and just enjoy my connection to the water. Now I have the whole sea in front of me.

Galaxies

This pic has become more relevant to me as time moves on. Such an adventure, no?

 I continue to derive great enjoyment and satisfaction from my “rock paintings”. This is my most recent one and possibly most ambitious one to date. 

Rock

I have never lost my fascination and appreciation for Egyptian Hieroglyphs. As Will Durant said, “no culture has ever equaled The Egyptians in turning language into art”. I couldn’t agree more.

When the rocks themselves are works of art the inspiration can be intense.

Rocks

The pic below MAY be my next project but not sure yet – love the colors.