Taking Photos at Filoli

Yesterday I was fortunate to do two of my favorite activities: strolling through flower gardens and fruit orchards, and taking photos during this venture. My sister Nicky and I went to Filoli Estate in Woodside, California, and we probably spent a couple hours touring the 16-acre English Renaissance style garden. And then we walked through the Georgian Residence and browsed in the Filoli gift shop.

Filoli was designed and built between 1915 and 1917 for Mr. and Mrs. Bourn, prominent San Franciscans whose chief source of wealth was the Empire Mine in Grass Valley, California. The formal garden was originally planned and planted as construction of the house neared completion. The lawns and shrubs around the house were planted by the fall of 1917. The woodlands surrounding the estate provide a beautiful backdrop for the garden.

After both Mr. and Mrs. Bourn died in 1936, the estate was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William Roth, who owned the Matson Navigation company. Under their supervision, the maintained gardens gained worldwide recognition. Mrs. Roth lived at Filoli until 1975. She then donated the house and formal garden to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Today the garden is maintained by fourteen full-time horticulturists, student interns, and over one hundred volunteers.

The house on the estate is worth seeing, but my interest lies in the garden. My sister doesn't enjoy taking "cheese" pics of people; she'd rather catch someone unaware, immersed in their surroundings. Here I am, trying to get a nice shot without visitors traipsing through my photo.



Here I am again in all my glory, surrounded by Mother Nature's perfume and color wheel. Nicky took both these photos with her Nikon D40X. I spent the afternoon coveting my sister's camera. Have I mentioned she's my older sister? Haha.



Filoli has a pleasant but pricey cafe. Since we paid $12 each to enter and $5 to cross the Hayward/San Mateo Bridge, we brought our lunch and ate in the car. (Filoli does not allow visitors to bring food onto the property.) Nicky prepared delicious sandwiches for us made of tri-tip roast and seasoned tomatoes. I brought potato salad and banana bread. We made sure to eat before we started our walk. As baby boomers, we've finally learned to take care of ourselves before our blood sugar takes a sudden dip and we become too cranky to enjoy ourselves. We had a great time.

I took this picture of the "Sunken Garden" with my Kodak EasyShare V803.



My Kodak is a handy gadget that fits in my pocket. I rarely leave the house without it. But, as I said, I love my sister's Nikon that has a rapid shutter speed that will take up to three pictures per second. My poor little Kodak lags so much that whenever I take pictures of my grandchildren, the kids are long gone by the time the shutter releases.

Okay. I confess. After the trip to Filoli, I came home and purchased the Nikon D40X from Amazon. When I get proficient at using it, I'll review it and post a link.

In the meantime, I highly recommend--for anyone living in the San Francisco Bay Area--spending the afternoon at Filoli: (650) 364-8300. And you can read all about Filoli here.

A Sad Life for Pit Bulls

Michael Vick--quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons--and three other men are alleged to have run a dogfighting ring on a 15-acre estate in the rural area of southeastern Virginia. In addition to being charged for this brutal and bloody sport, Vick and his buddies are alleged to have executed losing and under-performing dogs by electrocution, hanging, drowning and shooting.

I find this story more than upsetting. Sickening, nauseating. How does someone take one of God's creatures and abuse it? This is a rhetorical question, I guess, as the only answer is that anyone involved in dogfighting does not cherish or respect dogs. Or as my mother used to say, "Marsha, never trust a man who would hurt an animal."

This was good advice from my mother, as we've seen that when serial killers--like Jeffrey Dahmer--were children, they engaged in torturing animals. I don't think I'd want to know how Vick and the other adult defendants treat women and children.

In American justice, one is considered innocent until proven guilty, so maybe Vick has been accused of something he didn't do. If he is guilty, I hope he loses his career and goes to prison, as any violence against Pit Bulls affects every dog of that breed and every owner of that breed.

Because dogfighting is more popular than I personally want to consider, many Pit Bulls must be destroyed. Once rescued by Animal Control, they are no longer viable pets.

If I'm walking my dog and someone is walking toward me with his Pit Bull, I will cross the street or step off the path. But I will also do this when I see someone with a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, or any other potentially aggressive breed, until I see that the dog owner has control over his or her dog.

I own my third German Shepherd. Research and experience tells me that untrained and unsocialized dogs with aggressive tendencies can be vicious and dangerous. I'm a German Shepherd lover, but had trouble with my own dogs until I got myself educated. These dogs make great pets but their territorial tendencies must be channeled with lots of exercise and exposure to all kinds of situations so that few people and situations are deemed a threat.

Working with dogs and dog handlers, I've seen Pit Bulls that are wonderful pets. They are sweet, strong, smart, and very loyal dogs that want to please. Like the Shepherd, they need exercise to get rid of pent up energy. They need exercise to get rid of boredom. Some famous people who love their Pit Bulls are Rachel Ray, Jessica Biel, and John Stewart.

There's a legitimate question about the Pit Bull's inability to release it's jaw, once it has locked onto an arm, leg, or neck. Some history of the Pit Bull breed and more information on jaw locking can be found at Wikepedia. As for Michael Vick, we shall see how the charges against him play out.

I'll Miss Pete Wilson

San Franciso Bay Area broadcaster Pete Wilson died on July 20, 2007, of a heart attack during hip replacement surgery at Stanford University Hospital. He was 62 years old.

A nightly television news anchor for ABC, Wilson was also a regular radio talk show host at KGO-AM (810). He had won five Emmy Awards, a Peabody award, and various other national and local awards. Politically, he was a self-proclaimed independent.



I will miss Pete Wilson and his smooth and pleasing voice. His presence modestly commanded a combination of comfort and respect, not unlike that of Peter Jennings. We rarely realize that a media person who disseminates information can become a big part of our routine and our lives.

I personally wonder what might have gone wrong during Pete Wilson’s surgery. Besides needing a new hip, he had seemed otherwise healthy. According to Chapin Day, a spokesperson for the Wilson family, Wilson's heart attack was caused by an unknownn coronary blockage. No one seems to know what triggered the heart attack so soon after surgery began. I will update this blog, should additional information be released.

Wilson lived with his family in Mill Valley. He has one college-age son. According to Wikepedia, he was a voracious reader and oil painter who loved golf. His career on the air spanned three decades. The Bay Area does not feel or seem the same without Pete Wilson.

Rest in Peace, Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye Messner died Friday morning. I did not see her last appearance on Larry King Live, but I read summaries of her interview, and I read her last post of a couple days ago on her page TammyFaye.com.

I normally think it's in bad taste to pronounce someone's impending death, as I did in my last blog. I thought more than twice before saying what I said. After reading her last letter to her supporters and fans, I thought, If anyone can come back from near death, it would be Tammy Faye.

She kept her sense of humor until the end. She also knew that she was headed toward the arms of God. I commend Tammy for her strength and guts and faith. My good friend Janice died in 1986. Memory of her courage and faith has stayed with me all these years. And I think of her whenever I find myself hospitalized.

People die as they live, and those who go with courage, set examples for those of us they leave behind. My father also had unwavering faith, and he died how he lived, on his own terms. People who leave us on their own terms give us a gift. They somehow comfort us, instead of the other way around. And they give us an idea how we might go forward when it's our turn.

This is really about Tammy Faye, an imperfect person who got the most important things right. She didn't give up. She fought. She laughed. She believed. She did things her way (and her interpretation of God's way). She pulled herself up after several "failures."

Many people loved her. You can't do better. I will remember Tammy's courage always. She has joined that rare club with my father and my friend Janice, those who have shown me how to navigate illness and death.

Thank you, Tammy Faye. I know you're with Jesus, and I know you're at peace.

Tammy Faye: Too Ill for Television

Yesterday I flipped the remote to check out Larry King Live. The guest was Hulk Hogan, but Larry had just taped an interview with Tammy Faye Messner, which I believe will air today. He showed an excerpt from the interview.

Let me say first that I'm no stranger to ill or injured people. I spent time with my mom when she was in ICU and when she was dying. I spent time as a patient in ICU after sustaining, what they called, serious disfiguring injuries. (I look fine now, but my family was unable to recognize me at that time.) I also volunteered at the trauma center at Eden Hospital in my town. I can hold the hand of sick or injured individuals, and if I feel squeamish, I can pull myself together for someone who is suffering. I'm no lightweight when it comes to health matters.

Back to Larry King Live and Tammy Faye. I was in utter shock to see Tammy Faye. At 65 pounds, she is literally skin and bone. She is dying of cancer, and she is too ill for television. I've always enjoyed Larry King, but I believe his show is exploiting someone who is too ill to realize that she no longer resembles herself.

What is the purpose of airing a show with someone so ill? I hate to say this, but Tammy Faye's image is frightening to me. Years ago when I'd been banged up in a bus accident, I did not allow reporters in my room. I did not wish to share my deepest suffering with the local media. I was afraid to let my 10-year-old son visit me, as my image might upset him. My son and I both survived, but in retrospect, my appearance wasn't as frightening as Tammy Faye's. My situation was full of hope as I improved each day. This is a hard pronouncement, but Tammy Faye is, in fact, withering away, and now she is withering before the cameras. And for what purpose?

I was once critical of Tammy Faye and the whole Jim Bakker and PTL scandal. And what woman in America wouldn't like to get hold of Tammy Faye's makeup and give her a makeover? She has always had a pretty face--with too much mascara and misplaced eyebrows.

Although Tammy Faye has battled cancer several times in recent years, she has remained steadfast in her faith in God. And during the worst of times she kept her sense of humor and her positive attitude. Surprisingly, she became someone I deeply admire. She is one strong woman.

Maybe Tammy Faye approached Larry and asked to make a public appearance. Maybe she wanted to thank the public for supporting her through trying times. Maybe after several appearances on the show, Larry and his staff's interests are honest but misguided. I hate to think this interview is for ratings.

STILL, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THIS INTERVIEW FROM BEING VIDEOTAPED.

I wrote to the show, and asked them not to air the interview. That's all I can do. I debated about writing this blog, as I'm calling attention to the show. Curiosity sometimes draws us to look at misery. For instance, it is sometimes human nature to slow down to see traffic accidents. But if you read this blog today, I suggest bypassing the show. I will not be watching.

I'd be curious to hear from anyone on this subject, especially from someone who has lost a family member to cancer or from someone who has had cancer. Do I seem insensitive to Tammy Faye? I hope not. I would like to protect her and help her keep her death (dying) private.

Edit: July 19, 2007 @7:44 p.m.You can post prayers and good wishes to Tammy at: Tammy's Page.

More Comments on The Loved Dog

Please see my previous review of The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller. Now that I finished reading the book, I will comment a bit further.

If you have experience raising and training dogs, the author’s point of view is fascinating. Her training methods may work on all dogs—if the owner can invest much time and consistency with training. She makes a good argument against inflicting physical discomfort on dogs.

The Loved Dog does not address problems with aggressive dogs, and I’m not sure if her methods would be effective, unless they were used when the aggressive (breed) dog was still a puppy. You can teach an old dog new tricks. But it takes dedication and commitment.

A dog takes physical cues from its owner. In my opinion, the owner must communicate superiority with some kind of physicality. For example, you can prevent a big dog from jumping on you by raising your knee to block him from making contact with your lap or chest. Or you can force a dog to sit by pushing on his rear with all your fingers tips—being careful not to injure the dog’s hips.

These physical cues are some of the ways to demonstrate that you can physically dominate your dog. You can get him to mind by using your superiority over him, instead of hitting him with a newspaper or jerking him harshly with a choke chain. Physical communication is a vital component of dog training but does not stand alone.

Playing games with the dog and having training sessions strengthens the bond between dog and owner that further instills a trust in the dog. And I think this is the author’s main point. The Loved Dog is mostly about establishing and maintaining a relationship with your dog.

If you have dogs and love dogs, Tamar Geller's point of view worth reading. But this book doesn’t give basic advice like potty training or crate training. There are also books available with more games and dog tricks.

In retrospect, the book is partly an autobiography of the author. In addition to surviving a difficult childhood, she has led a colorful life in Israeli Intelligence. Afterwards, she spent many hours observing wolves in their own habitat. Her love of dogs and her own methods of dog training demonstrate her own kind soul, and this is what she imparts to the reader.

Squamous Part Trois

In previous blogs I described my challenge of having a squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. I also described my experience, having Mohs Surgery, the most effective procedure (statistically) to remove all cancer cells. My procedure was on June 19, 2007. I will post photos of my healing scar at about three months post-surgery.

Yesterday I got my bill from Dr. Ting, my dermatologist and surgeon. Holy guacamole! Who would think it so costly to have a few cells removed from a cheek? I have a large deductible on my medical insurance. As cancers go, my experience hasn't been bad, but. . . .

Last night Dr. Ting phoned me. When I noticed his number on my caller I.D., as the phone rang. . . .well, I'm familiar with the drill by now. I have another squamous cell carcinoma on my opposite cheek this time, underneath my eye.

My original purpose for seeing Dr. Ting was to have unsightly--albeit small--precancerous bumps removed. My desire was to beautify myself.

So far, every time I leave Dr. Ting's office, I look beat up and patched up. I've been waiting for my last procedure to heal, along with the tiny wounds I have from removed skin tags, warts and moles, that Dr. Ting likes to call "barnacles of wisdom." And now I need another cut that requires a surgical flap to cover the small crater that is created by the excision of the cancer cells.

I feel a bit foolish. There's a good chance that the application of nitrogen--which is far less invasive and far less expensive--could freeze the cancer cells off my face completely. My face would look a whole lot better, and my finances wouldn't take such a hit.

What if doing nothing is all I need to do? Would these cancers really spread? I've opened Pandora's box and can't seem to close it.

Dr. Ting says that if it were his daughter or sister with skin cancer, he would recommend Mohs Surgery. I believe him but can't help notice that with nine Mohs Surgeries, he's making over $20K in one day, and I feel stuck without a choice.

To be fair to Dr. Ting, I'm leery of doctors in general. I wouldn't have him as my doctor if he hadn't demonstrated skill, patience and kindness for me as his patient. But what if we discover a third cancer? We haven't even begun to work on my neck and back. Dr. Ting tells me that Mohs Surgery would not be necessary on areas other than my face. He could simply make a cut.

He has suggested a chemical peel to me many times as a preventative measure. The cost: $500. Not a moneymaker for him. I am researching the side effects of the chemical peel, and when my face has healed, I will probably take that step. At that time I will describe the procedure and post before and after photos.

To be continued. . . .