Get Your Head Out of My Uterus

Kansas and Ohio legislatures have pending bills banning abortion totally. How long will we let these goofballs play in our...backyards? U.S. Constitution be damned? If you want only the freedoms you believe are American, pay no attention to the men behind the curtain.

Turtle Eggs

Sharon told me that, rather than these shells representing a meal for another creature, the baby turtles dragged the shells, still semi-attached out of the hole, then scraped them off to continue on into their new life in the wilds of South Lyon. Because the shells were still soft, and there was goo still inside, the newborns probably wandered off that day. And the dragonfly? Probably died of natural causes, and the ants ate the body. Ants don't find wings a delicacy. I like these stories much better. The robin and the worm, well, that's still the food chain story.

Summer Solstice Walking Diary

I finished reading a friend's soon-to-be released wonderful book this morning, and felt so buoyant I started on my walk smiling and light-hearted, happy for her good work and the great fortune she shared her writing. Profound thoughts about how to live, and end of life coaching focused me on enjoying each step. Just ahead a robin, carrying a worm, stopped to peck at it on the sidewalk. Huh. It was a gruesome scene. Was the worm wriggling too much? I refocused on buoyancy, walked past the pond, noted the milkweed blooming, and turned back the other direction toward town. Just before the creek bridge, on the ground near a small, deep hole were a couple dozen stones. I stopped because they were all uniformly white and round. Bending over I noticed the cracks. Not stones at all, but eggs, all broken recently, all now empty but for a little liquid. A father and two children on bicycles stopped. "What is it?" the kids asked. "I don't know," I said. "Could it be turtle eggs?" The children and dad moved along, the little girl waving "have a nice day!" behind. Finished my circuit and went back out with my camera to snap the eggs, and the milkweed. The noon heat had the milkweed nodding their flower heads. As I knelt to compose upwards, there on the sidewalk were two dragonfly wings. That's all. Something had eaten the rest and left the delicate lacy wings behind. Three messages of death. Or is it food? Nature is remarkable, brilliant and deadly in cycle. I resurrected the dragonfly body to remind me that life is precious, even when short and brutal, and we are united with all of nature now and forever. And secretly I'm glad there wasn't anything stalking me for lunch this gorgeous, hot Summer Solstice day.

Supremes Rule Too Many Women/Not Enough in Common

Vague evidence? Too little connection between so many women plaintiffs who have been underpaid and not promoted? What planet are these dudes from? Planet Ideologue. Perhaps the merits of the case weren't everything one could hope for, but the opinions expressed speak clearly to the notion that there were just too damn many women. I'm sick of our country's double standard. One set of corporate rules for men and another unwritten fistful for women. Literally and figuratively. If the lawsuit had involved 50 male plantiffs, bet which way the vote would have gone. Watched Made in Dagenham last night. The United Kingdom has had an equal pay act since 1970?! 1-9-7-0. Yes, the United Kingdom, that schleps out kajillion dollar royal weddings like it's still the 18th century. Do we have an equal pay act? Nope. Will we ever get one? Possible ditto. Until we get the men out of office who, not only view all women as their personal playground equipment, but would never consider a woman with the same education and experience their equal, we'll endure sidebar status. Blimey! Enough is too much already!

Stonefish in Newaygo, Michigan

I love this sculpture installation in Riverside Park, Newaygo, Michigan, along the banks of the Muskegon River. The fish are big - there is no sense of scale here, but they're human sized. Can't find any reference on the internet to who sculpted these dry land fishes. This photo was taken in 2005. Maybe now there's a plaque identifying the artist. I'll look when I'm lucky enough to be in Newaygo again. Every spring I put this picture up as my wallpaper. It's not quite the same as being there, but it's close. Despite what the philosophers and pundits may say, close does count. Especially in the realm of art when contextual memories go along with the reproduction.

Why Am I Talking to YOU?

Lynne Morgan Spreen [Any Shiny Thing] first YouTube video.

Bruce Power Withdraws Application

Senator Stabenow's office just called to report that Ontario energy company Bruce Power has withdrawn its application to ship 16 one hundred ton nuclear contaminated steam generators on the Great Lakes, through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean to Sweden. This is a brilliant reversal on behalf of the American people, and the Great Lakes populations - flora, fauna, swimming, four-legged and two appreciate the Senator's work, and all other champions who made this unhappen. Great news for the Great Lakes! Thank you, Senator Stabenow. Thank you, Marta, and thanks be to the water deities who watch over this blessed watershed.