Sea Turtle Rescue Update

Photo from Sea Turtle, Inc., used by permission.

I went to the Sea Turtle, Inc. website tonight for news on the turtles I blogged about in my previous post. Wow! They have been BUSY down there in South Padre Island! Over 120 green sea turtles have now been rescued. So far only 4 were found dead (although a few others died afterwards). Apparently in "cold stunning events" like this, the live turtles turn up first, and the dead ones follow over the next several days or even weeks. I guess it's still too early to estimate the loss.

Many organizations and volunteers are working together to find and care for the green sea turtles. To mention just a few: the CCA/CPL Marine Development Center operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Corpus Christi is caring for 52 of the turtles. The Texas State Aquarium Sea Lab, also in Corpus Christi, has another 43 turtles. Many other groups have helped in many ways, and the Sea Turtle, Inc. website names a good many of them. Volunteers are still needed to search beaches - and cash donations are badly needed for medicines, supplies, transportation, etc. Please consider giving what you can. Click here to donate.

Please note that I've added Sea Turtle, Inc. to the Turtle & Misc. Animal Links on the right side of the screen. And if you liked the picture above, be sure to catch the TV show called Animal Planet on the Discovery Channel tomorrow January 26th at 7 AM. They are running a feature story on sea turtles.

© 2007, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Sea Turtle Rescue in Texas

Today the New York Times published a story about the current efforts to help some young Green Sea Turtles. This rescue is important since Green Sea Turtles, chelonia mydasare, are considered endangered in Florida waters and the Pacific Coast of Mexico including the Gulf of California. They are listed as threatened everywhere else. In a nutshell, here's what happened:

Young Green Sea Turtles, born last spring off the coast of Yucatán in Mexico, were stunned by the cold in the rapid temperature drop earlier this week. Water temperatures fell 18 degrees in 48 hours. Since turtles are cold-blooded and can't generate their own body heat, this drop in temperature sent them into a hypothermic state. They began washing ashore in South Padre Island, Texas. Animal rescuers were afraid the sluggish turtles would die from the cold or be eaten by sharks, their only predators, so between January 17 and 19, 36 nearly immobile turtles weighing anywhere from 3-65 pounds were scooped up by volunteers and staff of Sea Turtle, Inc. The turtles were scrubbed and warmed and are being held at their facility until weather permits returning them to the sea. The webcam at Sea Turtle, Inc. lets you view the turtles in their temperature-controlled tubs. Check it out!

Green Sea Turtles are amazing creatures. The are named for their green body fat. Although we don't really know their lifespan, we know they take 15-20 years mature. By then they are four feet in length and weigh 250-450 pounds. They are the largest of all the varieties of sea turtles. They are found all over the world in tropical and subtropical waters. They are known to swim as far as 1400 miles between their feeding grounds and the beaches where they lay their eggs. Females lay 75-150 eggs per clutch and can lay as many as seven clutches in a season. Turtles lay so many eggs because so few of the young survive. How about this for a rough start: After a two-month incubation period the hatchlings break out of their eggs. That's just the first step. Next they have to dig out of the hole in which the clutch of eggs was buried by the mother turtle. Believe it or not, they do this as a group! Working together, they scrape away at the top of the nest until they are about an inch away from the surface of the beach. The hatchlings nearest to the surface actually stop digging if the sand feels hot, indicating that it may be daytime. They wait to resume digging until the sand feels cool, indicating nighttime. This instinct to wait for cool sand helps them avoid predatory crabs and birds as well as death by overheating. Once on the beach, they find the sea by navigating toward the brightest horizon. (Artificially lit beaches can mean death for turtles, as the lights make them lose their way to the sea.) Once they hit the water, they have to swim continuously for 1.5 to 2 days to reach their feeding grounds. They do this on their own, again as a group, with no mother to guide them. In the water, some of them become snack food for sharks and carnivorous fish. In the end, only a few baby turtles from each nest reach adulthood. Their very long lifespan counterbalances the high mortality rate of the hatchlings.

The hatchlings now in South Padre Island had arrived safely at their feeding grounds in Mexico. They should have been "home free," but the sudden cold transformed their warm haven into a death trap. They might have all died, were it not for the rescuers.

The last time it was cold like this was 2004; before that the 1980's. The polar bears' ice floes in the Arctic are melting and the turtles' tropical feeding grounds are freezing. What's wrong with this picture? As humans and guardians of the planet, I hope we can figure out how not to destroy the marvelous wildlife whose world we share.


© 2007, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Gossiping Ladies

[With this post I'm returning to the photo competition series that started November 9 and was interrupted on December 2. You can do a quick review of all those pictures by clicking on the "Fun Photos" topic label on the right.]


Here's the winning photo of the employee photography competition. This picture from the News category seemed to be the overall favorite of the judges. Not surprising, since I work for a news organization and the judges were the senior photo editors. I’ve included their comments with the caption.

The category with the least number of entries was News but it managed to generate, in the opinion of the judges, the best overall picture of the competition. Warsaw-based Sales Executive Anna Jelowicka sent in this great picture of two women deep in conversation behind the back of a new priest in Nowicka in southern Poland. Senior photographer Dylan Martinez commended Anna for having captured a nice off-beat moment. Selecting Anna's entry as the best in the competition Martinez described Anna's picture as "Wonderful, it just gets better every time I look at it."

© 2007, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Supermarket vignette

An elderly man had apparently bumped his elaborate wheeled walker -- the kind with a seat for resting as well as a basket for carrying things-- into a fifty-ish woman who had inconsiderately paused her grocery cart mid-aisle and was unmindfully blocking a main thoroughfare in the Associated Food Store on Manhattan's East 14th Street.

Middle-aged know-it-all, in a condescending manner, says:
You don’t have to bump me like that.

Elderly grouch barks back:
I’ll do whatever I please.

Middle-aged know-it-all, with a little more urgency now, intent on getting her message across:
All you have to do is say excuse me.

Elderly grouch cranks up the volume as well as the nastiness of his tone:
and all YOU have to do is move your ass.

Well, that got her. She was done. He had trumped her with the coarseness of his response. Not wanting to appear totally defeated, however, she continued to mutter to herself as she moved her cart out of the way and headed down the aisle, away from him. The store was crowded, but nobody paid any attention to either of them. It was just another day at the Associated.



© 2007, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Thoughts on the New Year

First of all, let it be known that I hate New Year’s Eve. I live in Manhattan, but I’m never one of the Times Square revelers. The New Year holiday reminds me of all the things I’ve failed to accomplish in the last year, the last decade, my whole life. I’m generally an optimistic person, but on New Year’s Eve I look back and groan. I'm the New Year's Scrooge.

I’ve decided I need to shake things up a bit. Spending a month in Portland, completely removed from my usual activities, gave me the opportunity to see my life as though from a distance. As a result I’m re-evaluating the ways I spend my leisure time as well as my long-term aspirations. This year I want to try to break free from old assumptions and make sure I know why I’m doing the things I do. Adjust my expectations to an achievable level. Relax more, enjoy more.

As an inveterate list maker I find it hard to resist the urge to jot down New Year's resolutions. Working on this post I’ve already made several lists which I promptly deleted. No, rather than make more resolutions which will turn into recriminations come December 31, I think in 2007 I’ll keep a running tally of new insights I’ve had and practical changes I’ve made in my life. This idea came to me when I added labels to the 35 blog entries I posted here in 2006. It was fun to see the topics that had caught my interest. I felt good about the research I'd done to enhance each post. I even liked my pictures! I realized that changing jobs was a really significant accomplishment. All in all, I realized that this blog gives me great satisfaction. Perhaps this blog will help me keep better track of 2007's accomplishments so that I'll have things to celebrate next New Year's Eve.

I seem to have emerged my from this reflection with a more hopeful outlook. Last night's bah-humbug frame of mind is fading, being replaced with New Year's cheer. In hopes that I'm not stretching my Dickensonian analogies too far, let me close with a quote from Tiny Tim:

God bless us every one!

© 2007, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Truffles Redefined

When I started this blog, my first post (May 7, 2006) stated that the word "truffles" in the title above refers to my journey down the road to becoming a vegetarian. From time to time since then I've expressed some thoughts on that subject. Yesterday as I considered what Christmas dinner would have been if there were no turkey, I realized that I will probably never be a vegetarian. To assume that label would show disrespect for the many people who have succeeded in changing their eating habits. Maybe I'm too old, or to reluctant to cook, or too reliant on food for emotional support. Time to be honest about this: whatever the reasons, my vegetarian resolve is not sufficient to keep me away from meat and poultry. Despite my efforts, I still eat way too much meat and poultry to consider myself a vegetarian by anybody's definition.

Taking a more practical stance for the upcoming year, then, here's what I've decided.

• I will increase my support for organizations like Food Animals Concerns Trust (FACT) that work to make the farming industry more humane.
• When consuming animal products, I will try to find those that are humanely produced.
• I will continue my efforts to reduce my intake of meat and poultry.

In light of all that, I'm redefining and broadening the word "truffles" in the blog title. For 2007, the "truffles" theme will refer to my efforts to eat a healthy diet and to exercise, which is a far greater concern for me at the moment.

This reflective post must be a sign that Christmas is over and New Year's Eve is right around the corner.

© 2006, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

Lessons and Carols at MMF (2006)

Upon returning home from Portland, I plunged into helping our pastor organize the annual MMF Lessons and Carols service. Although Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship is a very small congregation (average attendance 35 or so), this service involved a cast of thousands. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, I'll admit it. But it felt that way because nearly every regular attender was involved in some way. A singing ensemble of about 12 people performed 3 songs. Two children played violin pieces; two other children played a flute and piano duet. The entire congregation sang hymns and carols, and a gospel choir from a sister church in the Bronx presented special offertory music. A marvelous pianist who attends our church played a lovely prelude and postlude and accompanied the hymns and special music. Various people read the seven scripture lessons, the last of which was the Christmas story. During this reading, children and adults alike formed a Christmas tableau which contained shepherds and a small poodle playing the part of a lamb, angels, wise men, and of course Mary, Joseph and a real baby playing the part of Jesus.

I've included the order of service especially for a couple of friends who used to attend our church until they moved away from Manhattan.

GATHERING
Prelude
Congregational song: "Hark! The glad sound!"
Welcome and Introduction of the Day

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
Invocation
Candle Lighting
"Gavotte" by P. Martin (played by 12 year old violin soloist)

Lesson One: Zephaniah 3:14-20
God’s people sing and rejoice in the promised deliverance.
The First Carol: "We will walk with God" sung by the MMF Ensemble

Lesson Two: Isaiah 12:2-6
Sing praises unto the Lord.
The Second Carol: "Gaudete" by Viktor Hug performed by the MMF Ensemble and instrumentalists (two flutes and violin)

Lesson Three: Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always, and think on things that praise God.
The Third Carol: "Love came down at Christmas" (congregation)

Lesson Four: Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist preaches and prophesies of the mighty One who will come.
The Fourth Carol: "Lo, how a rose e’er blooming" sung by the MMF Ensemble

Lesson Five: Micah 5:2-4
The one who shall be ruler of Israel will be born in Bethlehem.
The Fifth Carol: "O, come, all ye faithful" (congregation)

Lesson Six: Luke 1:26-33
The angel Gabriel announces that the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary, and she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus.
The Sixth Carol: "The angel Gabriel" (congregation)

Lesson Seven: Luke 2:4-14 and Matthew 2:1-2, 11
The Christmas story is read while the Christmas tableau is formed.
"O come, little children" traditional folk song (played by 8 year old violin soloist)
The Seventh Carol: #193 "Silent night, holy night" played by 12 year old flutist and 9 year old pianist (congregation singing along)

Pastoral prayer followed by The Lord’s Prayer

RESPONDING
Announcements
Prayer of Thanksgiving & Offering
Offertory music by Friendship Community Church Gospel Choir

SENDING
Closing song: "There is more love somewhere" (congregation)
Benediction
Postlude

This service, which is not a very traditional Lessons and Carols format, was quite an organizational feat involving many people getting into the right place at the right time as well as moving a few props. Baby Jesus was fussy before the pageant began but miraculously she settled down when she was handed over to Mary. (Yes, in this pageant Jesus was a female, being the only baby available for the part.)

When so many from our youthful Manhattan congregation return to their parents’ homes in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia and other places around the country, the lessons and carols service has become the time when we draw together as a congregation. We are small and we have our share of problems, but at Christmas we appreciate each other and unite to celebrate not only our faith but our community. I was gratified to have been able to organize a service where everyone could experience a solid spirit of community.

Afterwards we went over to Menno House, the boarding house owned and operated by the church, for a bountiful meal contributed by members of the church. We ate and socialized and rejoiced in the warmth of the Christmas season. In this post, I hope I've shared a little Christmas joy with all of you.

© 2006, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement

More Portland Weirdness

Ok –here’s something Manhattan doesn’t have: volcanoes. Portland has extinct volcanoes within the city limits! Thinking I should check out at least one of them while I’m here, I went to Mt. Tabor Park last Saturday. Before my visit, I looked it up online. I learned that Mt. Tabor is part of the Boring Lava Field, an extinct Plio-Pleistocene volcanic zone containing at least 32 cinder cone and small shield volcanoes lying within a radius of 13 miles. The zone became active 2.7 million years ago and has been extinct for about 300,000 years.

Mt. Tabor is a cinder cone volcano, which means its cone-like shape was formed when bits of congealed lava were ejected from a single vent. As the gas-charged lava was blown violently into the air, it broke into small fragments that solidified, forming cinders which fell back down around the vent to create a circular or oval cone. Although the park originated in 1909, the volcanic significance of Mt. Tabor was discovered in 1912. Sometime after that, a small section of the cone was excavated and now you can see its inside wall. Cool!

I didn’t have a camera with me, so I’m going to use this United States Geoogical Survey graphic to help you visualize the excavated cinder cone wall and its present surroundings. Picture yourself standing in the crater typically found at the top of cinder cone volcanoes. The parking lot was probably built on a portion of the crater. Facing left, you follow a sidewalk which descends from the parking lot down to a basketball court and a small amphitheater constructed at the base of the excavated cinder cone wall. Viewed from down here, the wall looks like a steep drop-off with an irregular surface. Although you can’t really get close enough to touch it, loose bits of cinders lie next to the sidewalk giving you lots of opportunities to feel the volcanic cinder. Interestingly enough, cinder from the excavation was used to pave the basketball court and the parking lot. After a look around, you walk back up to the parking lot. Facing right you see a high mound which constitutes the majority of the park. It’s covered with grass, trees, and shrubs through which trails and a single-lane road meander to the top. If you didn’t know Mt. Tabor was an altered volcano, you would think you were looking at two mountain peaks with a parking lot built in the saddle that separates them. Since the park does not have plaques or signs to explain the topography, that was exactly what I thought. Only when I combed the internet later did I realize that the two mounds of differing heights are actually one volcano – the taller mound representing the bulk of the volcano still intact, the shorter mound representing only a small section of the volcano’s cone, and the parking lot sitting where the crater in the middle would have been.

Phew! That was a bit tedius – are you still with me? I see what they mean when they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Getting back to my Mt. Tabor adventure, from the parking lot I hiked to the highest point in the park: elevation 641 feet. Since the height of cinder cone volcanoes is estimated to be 300-500 meters (984-1640 feet), we can assume that lots of erosion has taken place in the last 300,000 years. After all, cinder cone volcanoes aren’t formed of solid rock so they erode more rapidly than other types of volcanoes or regular mountains.

Photo by Linda Mason Hood

At the top of Mt. Tabor is a sculpture of Harvey Scott who, as editor of the Oregonion newspaper from 1866 until his death in 1910, greatly influenced the political thought of the region. The artist who created the sculpture was Gutzon Borglum, the man who put the faces of the side of Mount Rushmore.

When my ears started hurting from the cold wind, I went back to the car and drove all around the park’s roads. To the west I had wonderful views of the six reservoirs at the base of the mountain and downtown Portland in the distance. Here is one of those views.

To the east was a view of Mt. Hood and another peak in the Cascade range which I took to be Mt. Adams. Mt. Hood looks wonderful now, by the way, and quite different from the pictures in my October 22 post which were taken at the beginning of October. Now that it’s November Mt. Hood is completely white, and on this day it was gleaming impressively against the blue sky.

Actually, this was an unusually nice fall day, even if it was brutally cold. The incessant rains and thick cloud cover had given way to a sky that was clear blue for the entire day, and Portlanders were lovin’ every minute of it. Despite the brisk wind and freezing temperatures, people were hiking, cycling, and walking their dogs in the park. Young kids scrambled around on the playground equipment and older kids played basketball. Outside the park, local shops were doing a brisk business. In residential neighborhoods, cats basked on porches in the sun. The sight that took the prize, though, was what I saw when I looked out the window of the lovely upper-middle class suburban home where I was staying. A man in his terrycloth bathrobe and slippers raised his garage door, put an aluminum yard chair between his two SUVs, and sat down with his cigarette to catch some winter rays. Ah, suburbia – ya gotta love it! Looking back on the entire day, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the sight of that man in his bathrobe inspired my escape to Mt. Tabor Park.

© 2006, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement