Tuesday Morning Beach/Crime Report

Long Billed Curlew in the foam

The bird watching has been wonderful these last few mornings. Curlews, willets, godwits, whimbrels, plovers, and pelicans. I'm not a photographer with a real camera, but I still can't resist.

Pelican taking off after riding the waves

I felt a bit like I like was sticking my long beak into someone's business this morning when I saw a cosmetics bag in the street just a few doors from home. There was a prescription bottle lying there with the mascara and lip gloss and such, so I knew it couldn't be trash. I wasn't sure whether to call the police or maybe just try to find the person whose name was on the prescription bottle. I Googled and bingo. (She's a professional with an office locally.) She thanked me and told me her car had been broken into this morning and that she'd be right over to pick it up. That seemed a bit naive, but I said sure, hoping I wasn't being naive about telling a complete stranger to come over to my house. 

Wisely, she had second thoughts and called the police officer who was already on the case. He came over and got the bag and asked me a few questions. According to his timeline, I picked up the bag just moments after it had been tossed. She's not the only person I know whose car has been broken into lately in broad daylight, so local readers, take note.

The officer wanted my contact info, so I gave him my card which has the cover of my book on the front. What's this? he asked. I explained. We had the so you're a writer conversation, but he was really interested in the book. The story. What? You're reunited with your son?! How's your relationship? What about his adoptive parents? Oh my god, that's amazing. 

Seems like he was either adopted himself or maybe had an adopted child or two. I wanted to ask, but didn't. I did enough minding of someone else's business today. But if you're adopted, or have adopted children, or an adopted sibling, or if you're a birthmother or know anyone who is, you might like to read MY BOOK.

And if you do, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It's a story for everyone and anyone, really. But I love it when it hits someone close to home.

My largest heart rock to date--but too big to carry home.

In Which We Meet a Pelican and an Artist

The girl could barely believe her eyes when she saw the artwork emerging from the sand. We watched the artist as he worked with a paintbrush, his fingers, and a small shovel. After we toured the wharf which included viewing jellyfish in the dark and catching a crab smaller than a fly, we met a pelican, who apparently could not fly.

Or maybe, since there is a place that rents fishing poles on the wharf, this pelican prefers making friends with fishermen to plunge diving. He/She did not seem the least bit shy about posing for a photo.

At the end of our morning, the sculpture looked like this:

Two California girls in sunglasses.

Tomorrow is the last day with the girl. She's thinking of another beach day. Tonight she's creating a whole new world with the toys. We found a bag of free form treehouse pieces, and she's adding to the original structure. I can't wait to see what she does with them.

Bird of the Day: Eared Grebe

We actually spotted this creature some weeks ago, and I forgot to post it. So here it is in all its wondrousness to take your mind off the mundane.

I am realizing more and more that I am a bird geek. I want a better camera. Fancy binoculars. A trip meant for bird watching.

True confessions: I even like sparrows.

Secret: Pelicans blow my mind. If a pelican flies overhead when, let's say, you are walking with me on the beach, you will have to repeat what you just said.

Yours truly,

Very geeky bird lover

P.S. A snowy egret flew right in front of me today as I was driving. My life flashed in front of my eyes. Well. Maybe not. But my brain said egretegretegret!!!