Benazir Bhutto assassinated

We just heard the news. This is horrendous.

I have so much respect for this woman. I had the fortune of seeing and hearing her speak at a small conference in Boston a couple of years ago. While the other speakers were (with the exception of one) successful and interesting women, Benazir for me stole the show. She was honest, approachable, human--and real.

When asked about Islam and terrorism, she said that Islam is a peaceful religion.

"These people have hijacked my religion."

NOTHING justifies this assassination. NOTHING.

Christmas bear?

Here is my first contribution to Long Island's Christmas Light Spectacular. I think I will call him Billy.

I can see that I rapidly have to collect inflatable santas/snowmen riding aeroplanes/motorbikes/cars or sitting in snow globes, and surround them with lit-up sugar canes, Christmas trees, decorated trees (deciduous and evergreen, just put lights all over them), flashing lights, floodlit nativity scenes, flourescent deer, window lights, roof lights, garage lights: white, green, blue, red, yellow--any type, any colour.

Some of the displays are amazingly graceful and are wonderful to see in these dark winter nights.

Some of the displays are just plain tacky...

Another winter sunrise

The sun has moved further and further to the south. Soon it willl start to bounce back... the longest night of the year is with us, after that, the future just gets brighter.

It's so cold even my thoughts are frozen

Arrived back from San Francisco, after a couple days in Sacramento, via Los Angeles, on the red-eye. Concerned because we were flying into a storm, the second to hit New York in the past week. But the flight was uneventful, the landing no more bumpy than others... and the snow was being washed away by pelting, torrential rain.

It rained and blew and blew and rained all day yesterday. And then the temperature dropped.

This morning, the wind is still blowing. But all of the water on the streets is frozen.

The bay is still liquid, I can see waves tossed up by the wind.

Ever-changing

The view, the weather, the sunrises and the sunsets, the bird population, the animal sightings, the things on peoples' houses and lawns (this week it is Christmas lights and decorations, including a huge cut-out crib scene just up the street... I wonder what the raccoons think to that).

The other evening I was walking by number one beach as the sun was setting. Walking the stray dog, trying to find his home, instead finding the most beautiful sunset, gold and pink on the flat steel water.

Every day is different.

I wonder if I will get used to the differences? I hope not.

Dog visitor

This is the dog who came to visit this week. We don't know his name, but he was a real gentleman (if a little down on his luck--nothing that a nice hot bath wouldn't have solved). I was taking Fury for a walk when he came trotting out from the wetlands beach. I did an about-turn with Fury, but she'd noticed him and, of course, wanted to show who was boss. I spent the next ten minutes dragging her eighty-plus pounds all the way back home. Each time we turned a corner, I thought we were safe, but each time, he followed. He followed us right into the front garden and sat there on the grass.

And... once she was inside the house, Fury decided that he was a Nice Guy. And let him in, where he drank a large bowl of water, ate a big bowl of her food, and snoozed. He would not climb the stairs though--either couldn't, wouldn't, or didn't think it was allowed.

We posted him as Found Dog on craigslist and on fidofinder.com, called the local vets, called the Animal Shelter (where they took all the details), put up a sign and walked him through the neighbourhood, looking for his home... but no-one called. A couple came to see him, who had lost a labrador a while ago, but it wasn't their dog.

Poor guy... we were sure his family were looking for him. So Friday we took him to the animal shelter where they told us that the family had been calling all morning (but they hadn't passed on the information that we'd given them and which was pinned to their "found dogs" noticeboard in the lobby. Anyway... happily, he was reunited with his family.

The animal shelter takes in strays and dogs and cats that are given up for adoption. It is a sad place full of barking, hopeful dogs looking for someone to love them, feed them or even just tolerate them. Most of the dogs were pit bulls or pit-cross-somethings. Some old and grey-whiskered, some young pups, and some without ages. All were sad and I cried to see them. Not enough to take another one home: but because they needed homes of their own.

If you want a dog, go to the shelters and find him there. He's waiting, your dog. You'll know him when you meet him.

Muffin's First Snow!

It is snowing!!! Muffin has never seen snow before. She went out and tested it. For five minutes she wandered around the deck, her back twitching each time a snowflake landed. She sat and waited for birds. She came in again, washed herself, then went out the front door, did a tour of the house, came back up onto the deck, and is now comfortably warm on the chaise longue where she has a good view of snowflakes.

Fury went for a run on the wetlands beach. There is something weird, and yet beautiful, about snow on soft sand.

The flakes are getting larger, but it is forecast to turn to sleet, and then rain, later today. I forgot to empty the hosepipe to the pond, and it is frozen solid. I bet it will leak when the temperature goes above freezing again.

Winter sunset

The skies are pink, orange and purple now, and it gets dark very early. It's like the day is over at 5 p.m. I have to remind myself that there are many hours to fill between dark and bedtime, and plenty that can be done without daylight.