When people gather at this time of year, somebody will surely mention that they saw a whale recently. It spouted and everything. The really lucky ones were out on a boat and saw a whole bunch of them ( Read more... )

There are two kinds of blackberries (at least) growing along the Arroyo Seco Canyon trail (that sounds so heavy-duty and hiking-boots grand, doesn't it? But it's an asphalt path along the edge of a city park), One of them is ripe right now. So when I take the dogs down the trail I collect berries, usually getting a good handful each time. That' ( Read more... )

I've been traking the dogs to Meder Street Park -- actually "University Terrace Park." It's a good place to go when you have an extra dog because there's a moderately long moderately steep trail that is offleash all the way, which means no handling of two dogs on the leash (both of whom are almost well-behaved but severely undertrained). It's ( Read more... )

I have never had a case of poison oak that I'm sure of. I think I have it now. It doesn't itch. It's strawberry-red blotchiness on the inside of my shins from my ankles to my knees which becomes redder when I sit with my legs poitned down and less red when I lift my legs and rub them ( Read more... )