Margie's Daily Photo

Sunrise

2010-04-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Sunrise.

I well see you later.

Love, Margie

Grass

2010-04-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Grass and water.

Other news: if your update information for me comes only from my daily photo, after tomorrow there not be one for quite awhile. So send a message and we put you on our regular update if you like.

Hi all:
One important thing on Margie's mind she wants you all to know is that there is no physical pain to contend with. The surgeon, Dr.Parsa, assures us he will remove as much of the tumor as possible without damage to the brain. Within 2 or 3 weeks, radiation and oral chemotherapy will begin, followed by more oral chemo in a cycle yet to be determined.
She will remain in the UCSF hospital for 3 to 5 days, and radiation and chemo treatments will be continued at Marin General Hospital.
Her pre-op work continued at UCSF today, including anesthesia consultation and lab work, EKG, Brain CT scans, with and without contrast, much review of her medical history, and lots I cannot remember or understand (a strenuous day !)
Of course Dr. Parsa had to warn us of possible undesirable results to speech and memory after surgery, but these should be temporary and respond to rehabilitation. She has received overwhelming.offerings of prayer and love. This, and the high reputation of UCSF and its neuro-surgery staff have given us a strong feeling of optimism.
Yes, we want this healing and recovery process to start, and to continue to a successful return to the lovable Margie we all want to share.
Since Thursday (surgery day) will be a long and stressful day, I will wait until Friday, when we know more details to share, to write you a status report. Until then, your prayers, especially on Thursday, are what her family and numerous friends beg of you. Dick

After the rain

2010-04-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

After the rain a few weeks ago.

Safra

2010-04-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Elyse's Safra - mostly fur! Sweet!

Julie

2010-04-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Is Julie wise? Is she not wise? Fourteen years and we haven't figured it out yet!

Oasis

2010-04-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Looking from the 8th floor of UCSF we could see many interesting sights. Here is a green oasis.

Other news: The surgery will be Thursday April 22 at 12:30 pm, and it will be a 4-hour surgery. We are happy to have it sooner than later! I will in UCSF hospital 3 to 5 days, probably.

This is the link to Dr. Parsa's UCSF webpage. All his awards, research papers, fellowships are listed there, plus his education (Yale).

http://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/index.php/about_us_faculty_parsa.html

Family

2010-04-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is a little of a departure today. I want to show my wonderful family at our visit at UCSF today. Marc, Celeste, Dick, me and Elyse.

Hi all. We have just returned from our Consultation meeting at UCSF's Neurological Surgery Department, a very impressive organization Her surgeon will be Dr.Parsa and her surgery date will be either April 21 or April 28. We will know the date in 24 hours.
Margie thinks that everything went wonderfully well in this meeting, so do I, and we are very optimistic about all that we learned in this meeting. Our three children, Celeste, Elyse and Marc were with us and participated very enthusiastically. . We will share more information with you tomorrow.
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes. Dick and Margie too

Ease

2010-04-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Our cat Julie at ease at the sun - but would you like that pillow?!!

Weeds

2010-04-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

There is so much rain this week that we have weeds growing our roof!

Other news: We will meet with a UCSF surgeon Thursday - more news then.

Iris

2010-04-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the glorious first iris from Sandy's garden this spring.

Other news: The next step is to have a consultation with a surgeon at UCSF; it will probable be on Thursday. We will know for certain tomorrow and let you know.

Out the window

2010-04-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

On February 10, I posted a photo a winter tree out our dining window; here it is in its spring greenery.

Other news: The verdict is cancer in the left frontal lobe affecting speech, spelling and my ability to write. It is a primary site not referred from my previous breast cancer (11 years ago). It is rather aggressive and we will treat it aggressively. Our plan is to have surgery at UCSF, followed in 2 or 3 weeks with radiation and chemo to continue to shrink the tumor. We will know the schedule better next week. My ball-of-fire Neurologist Dr. Cokgor gets things done fast!

Dick and my family, especially daughter Elyse who came from LA to help, are all optimistic along with me!

Love, Margie

Sunrise 4-3-10

2010-04-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

A serene sunrise a few days ago.

We see my doctor on Wednesday to get my tiny stitches out and maybe we'll find out something then.

Margie

Red squirrel

2010-04-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Red caught me in the act of taking his photo!

My biopsy was done; no word yet. It will probably be early next week.

Margie

Freesias

2010-03-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

Freesias from Jeanne's garden smell so good!

My biopsy will be today at Marin General Hospital at 1 PM. We'll probably know the results Wednesday. We will let you know when we can.

Friend

2010-03-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Susan's garden friend is always ready to lend a smile.

Doorway 2

2010-03-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a doorway in the 1800 block of Union Street of San Francisco. It's a second story stairway to a house decorator shop, an intriguing entryway!

A personal note about future Daily Photos:
Thursday I was diagnosed with a small mass in my left brain, benign or cancerous unknown. I will have a biopsy done early next week. So there be interruptions now and then; I will try let you know when, or there may no warning. Here's to more interesting photos! Margie

Doorway

2010-03-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a little time to kill on Union Street in San Francisco and I noticed how many narrow doorways open up on the sidewalk. This one leads to several shops in the back. You may not be able to read the sign that says "Carol Doda's"; I wonder about that one!

Abstract?

2010-03-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, this could be an abstract - or it could be a recently hewn eucalyptus log. Or both.

Tree & clouds

2010-03-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

The title says it all. . . .

Black crowned night heron

2010-03-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Herons and egrets spend much of their time fishing, although to the observer it may look mostly like standing around rather than fishing! Then - flash - and a tasty morsel goes down the gullet.

Amber drops

2010-03-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I search the archives for photos I haven't shown you before. Here's one from 2007 taken on a trip to Portland, Oregon.

Gone fishin'

2010-03-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

The egret looks for its breakfast just as the sun rises.

Fence right-side-up

2010-03-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

For those who are at mystery about yesterday's fence - this right-side-up shadow may clear it up for you.

Two of you gave almost identical comments:

Muriel: Poor thing. It is but a shadow of itself.
Jim: Poor fence, it's just a shadow of it's self.

You amaze me!

Fence

2010-03-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

A nice fence - but wait -- is there something wrong with it? It doesn't look quite right?

Another tulip

2010-03-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

The red tulips at Filoli were so beautiful that I cannot resist showing you another one!

Pink tree

2010-03-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

This little tree is on the verge of an pink explosion!

Bee

2010-03-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

The honey bee is preparing to land on a red tulip.

Green tree

2010-03-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

This tree is green and I don't mean the leaves that will show up later. At Filoli Gardens.

My next photo will be on Monday.

Red tulips

2010-03-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

A group of us visited Filoli Gardens in Woodside yesterday. Most trees and permanent plants are just budding, but the displays of daffodils and tulips are spectacular.

Filoli Gardens and Mansion are part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
http://www.filoli.org/explore-filoli/history/

No Outlet

2010-03-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

Lifers on Alcatraz Island would have recognized the intent of this sign, but to take away the mystery: this traffic advisory in north Oakland merely tells motorists that going down this street will not get them to the next major street, Alcatraz.

Blackbirds

2010-03-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

She wears a flock of blackbirds in her hair . . .

B00

2010-03-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

At the deli in Scotty's Market the other I took the next number from the machine - and it isn't even Halloween!!

Lens

2010-03-07T07:15:00.000-08:00

A raindrop creates a natural lens and the image is always upside-down. The image is in sharp focus, but it's hard for the viewer to compare because the background of the photo is out of focus; this is the nature of a raindrop reflection. Your science lesson for the day.

Employees Only

2010-03-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

Does this auto repair shop have trouble keeping customers out of their business office?

Buttermilk Sky

2010-03-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

I think this is what Hoagy Carmichael meant when he wrote 'Ole Buttermilk Sky'. This song was introduced by Carmichael in the film "Canyon Passage" and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1947. "Canyon Passage' starred Dana Andrews, Brian Donlevy, Ward Bond and among others, Hoagy Carmichael. In case you don't know this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMF9RTdKSCw

Walkway

2010-03-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Someone had better walk through this gate and on this walkway pretty soon - or the bricks will soon be obscured!

Raindrips

2010-03-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Spring blossoms after a dripping rain.

Art on the path

2010-03-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

Art on the bike path. Perhaps you can see a face?

Acacias again

2010-03-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Here are more acacias reflecting in the still waters of Corte Madera Creek.

Only in the spring

2010-02-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

This grape hyacinth grows in our yard and shows itself only for a few days in the spring.

Raindrips

2010-02-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

It rained a lot here yesterday; sometimes it poured. Then the sun came out and revealed rain dripping from everything, including the buds of this potato vine (a decorative vine, not the kind that grows potatoes!).

Acacias

2010-02-26T07:06:00.000-08:00

Some people dread to see all these yellow blooms popping out in our early spring; they bring on their allergies. And others consider their many varieties a nuisance. But for some others (if you don't have them in your yard like the eucalypti I mentioned last week), acacias can be beautiful.

You may recognize the same scene as in my Foggy Morning photo on February 15.

Mt. Tamalpais

2010-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Our 2571-foot Mt. Tamalpais in the fog last week.

Crows

2010-02-24T07:58:00.000-08:00

Three crows on a fence. Crows have extensive symbolism in world culture, but here there is simplicity - just an image of three crows on a fence.

Daffodils

2010-02-23T06:54:00.000-08:00

Kent Middle School near the College of Marin campus has bed of several varieties of daffodils. Wait - are they daffodils, jonquils or narcissus?

According to The Flower Expert, daffodils, the flowers symbolizing friendship, are one of the
most popular flowers exclusively due to their unmatched beauty. Often the trumpet is in a contrasting color from the background. The name Daffodils includes the cluster-flowered yellow Jonquils and the White Narcissi, as well as the more common trumpet shaped flowers; all are members of the genus Narcissus.

Foggy tree

2010-02-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

I cannot resist winter trees in the fog! This one is beginning to bud and that gives it a lacy look.

EAT

2010-02-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have seen this sign in Taylor's Refresher in the Ferry Building in SF. I think you could say it is their corporate philosophy.

Tall timber

2010-02-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Part of the Corte Madera bike path is lined with some tall timber - eucalyptus trees.

Several eucalypts are among the tallest trees in the world. Eucalyptus regnans, the Australian Mountain Ash, is the tallest of all flowering plants (Angiosperms); today, the tallest measured specimen named Centurion is over 326 feet tall. Only Coast Redwood is taller and Coast Douglas-fir about the same; they are conifers (Gymnosperm). Six other eucalypt species exceed 260 feet in height.

California. In the 1850s, Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians during the California Gold Rush. Much of California has a similar climate to parts of Australia. By the early 1900s, thousands of acres of eucalypts were planted with the encouragement of the state government. It was hoped that they would provide a renewable source of timber for construction, furniture making and railroad ties. It was soon found that for the latter purpose eucalyptus was particularly unsuitable, as the ties made from eucalyptus had a tendency to twist while drying, and the dried ties were so tough that it was nearly impossible to hammer rail spikes into them.

"They went on to note that the promise of eucalyptus in California was based on the old virgin forests of Australia. This was a mistake as the young trees being harvested in California could not compare in
quality to the centuries-old eucalyptus timber of Australia. It reacted differently to harvest. The older trees didn't split or warp as the infant California crop did. There was a vast difference between the two, and this would doom the California eucalyptus industry."

One way in which the eucalyptus, mainly the blue gum E. globulus, proved valuable in California was in providing windbreaks for highways, orange groves, and other farms in the mostly treeless central part of the state. They are also admired as shade and ornamental trees in many cities and gardens. Eucalyptus forests in California have been criticized because they compete with native plants and do not support native animals. Fire is also a problem. The 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm which destroyed almost 3,000 homes and killed 25 people was partly fueled by large numbers of eucalypts close to the houses. In some parts of California, eucalypt forests are being removed and native trees and plants restored.

Personally, I like them, but then I don't have any to clean up after or to worry about falling on my house or burning!

Who won?

2010-02-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

David and Goliath? Friend Bob T., the owner of the Saturn was not present when the altercation took place and came upon the scene a few minutes later. Although the Saturn suffered some injury it seems to have stood its ground while the Lexus lost its footing and lies vanquished. In this photo you can see the sleeve of Bob T on the left, and on the right the sleeve of the Lexus driver (who was unhurt). So who won?

All this took place in the normally peaceful parking lot where we all park our cars on Thursday mornings.

A day at the beach

2010-02-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

Actually it's just a water puddle on a gravel road at the ponds; the blackbirds are having a ball!

Tree - no reflection

2010-02-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

This is the same small tree that I posted recently with its reflection in water. That photo was taken 10 days ago, after a lot of rain had made a temporary pool. Now the pool is no more - so no reflection - just a shadow!

Food for thought

2010-02-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Rorschach test: is this photo upside-down or right-side up? Or?

Yesterday on Corte Madera Creek.

Foggy morning

2010-02-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

Foggy mornings - do we ever have anything else anymore? Still, the fog burns off and we have a beautiful day to follow (if it doesn't rain!).

Valentine's Day heart

2010-02-14T06:47:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Rupert Garcia's Elan Vital appropriately decorates the lobby of The Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco where heart surgery is performed. The fiber-glass heart sculpture is 5 feet tall, 5 feet 9 inches wide and 3 feet 3 inches thick. It was created as part of 'Hearts in San Francisco'.

Hearts in San Francisco is a Bay Area-wide "heart installation" that debuted in the spring of 2004. While similar to Chicago's "Cows on Parade," the San Francisco version uses a heart icon, appropriate for a city that is recognized for its acceptance and tolerance, as well as being perennially open-hearted. The goal of this project is to become a unique hybrid of fund-raising, compassionate community involvement, and a positive nurturing of artistic expression at a time when it is sorely needed. The financial beneficiary of Hearts in San Francisco is the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, whose sole purpose is to fund projects that will enhance patient care and comfort at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center (SFGH). New hearts are added each year, including table-top hearts if you want one to decorate your own home.

Creek

2010-02-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

There is a small creek that flows through the marshes near The Ponds (Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Sewage Treatment Plant), known by some as the Wildlife Ponds because of the prolific birdlife. The recent rains brought the creek near to its banks.

Permanent

2010-02-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

When I was about 10 years old, I got a permanent on one of these machines, and it really worked: my hair is wavy to this day!

If you have never visited funky Bogey's Cafe across from the Marin Civic Center, I recommend both the food and the decor. This poster appears in the single unisex restroom.

Reflection

2010-02-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

Our recent rains have created little pools here and there. This one is in a pasture and gives us the reflection of a small tree on a levee.

Out the window

2010-02-10T07:01:00.000-08:00

My photo buddy Hans sometimes posts pictures he takes from his kitchen window, noting how much variety one can find right at home. Yesterday he and Bob visited my husband Dick who is recuperating from heart surgery 3 weeks ago - doing very well, thank you. Sitting at the dining table, Hans says 'Get your camera - look at this wonderful tree right outside your window'. And so you see it here, framed just as we saw it out the window! Thanks, Hans.

Jewels

2010-02-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

A rain shower leaves jewels on blades of grass.

Raindrops

2010-02-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

After a shower Toyon berries show sparkling raindrops. This is the end of the berry series!

Pyracantha berries

2010-02-07T07:12:00.001-08:00

In California the most common winter red berry is the Pyracantha, a member of the rose family, as is yesterday's Toyon. Both of these plants grow on the road to The Ponds.

In spring the Pyracanthas begin an exceptional white flower display. While individual flowers are small, they typically cover the plant. Flowers are borne outside the dark evergreen foliage, so they stand out like white sparklers. Plants tend to flower even when young, and mature plants bloom very heavily as long as they are in a good site. Like several other plants of the rose family (Rosaceae), the flowers do not have a pleasant odor.

Later those thousands of small white flowers turn into brilliant orange to red pea-sized fruits. The fruit display, like the flower display, is exceptional and typically lasts until late winter when they are eaten by birds. In California we see drunken robins that have eaten the fermented berries.

Adapted from University of Arkansas Dept of Agriculture

Toyon berries

2010-02-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

This toyon bush near The Ponds displays its brilliant berries most of the winter and it's sometimes called the Christmas Berry. In summer it has white flowers; its leathery leaves are evergreen.

Crows

2010-02-05T07:33:00.001-08:00

A congress of crows one foggy morning.

Sunrise

2010-02-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

Sunrise on Corte Madera Creek with a fog bank in the distance. You can see it in two places, just lurking.

Miss Liberty

2010-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

In San Francisco, a temporary tax preparation company has set up several locations, calling themselves Liberty Tax. And they advertise with Miss Liberty(s) dancing on nearby corners; that is, most are Miss Liberty but some seem to be Mr. Liberty!

Stilts

2010-02-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

A couple of black necked stilts with their pink legs search for breakfast at The Ponds.

Tiffany window

2010-02-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

These vines on a fence along Corte Madera Creek remind me of a Tiffany window.

Early birds

2010-01-31T06:27:00.001-08:00

Early birds get the worms - wait! there are no worms high in the sky! Where are they off to?

Thick fog

2010-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

Fog was thick on Corte Madera Creek last Thursday.

Tree

2010-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Fog makes a wonderful background for a winter tree.

Nicasio

2010-01-28T05:55:00.000-08:00

A drive-by shooting on one recent Tuesday morning in Nicasio.

Red #2

2010-01-27T07:23:00.001-08:00

Art in function. And some of you may see a face as well!

Red

2010-01-26T07:37:00.001-08:00

Red abstract - at The Ponds.

Sunset

2010-01-25T07:55:00.000-08:00

Sunset through winter trees at The Ponds. There seem to be never-ending possibilities at The Ponds!

New lake

2010-01-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

Last week this was a pasture full of cows; this week it is a new lake.

Black crowned night herons

2010-01-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

At The Ponds at the 'magic hour' last evening, black crowned night herons are lurking.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: With a range that spans five continents, including much of North America, the Black-crowned Night-Heron is the most widespread heron in the world. It is most active at dusk and at night, feeding in the same areas that other heron species frequent during the day.

Bufflehead

2010-01-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Recently we've been seeing a few buffleheads on Corte Madera Creek. They are migratory and most of them winter in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters, on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern US. This is why we are seeing them here in California just now.

The Bufflehead is the smallest diving or sea duck in North America. The name buffalo head or "bufflehead" is a direct reference to the duck's large-headed appearance. These ducks are strikingly beautiful. The male is black and white with a large white patch extending from the eye to the back of the head. The female is dark brown above, paler below and has a small white cheek patch. The male is slightly larger than the female.

The Bufflehead is a diver and unlike other diving ducks can take flight from water without having to run along the surface. Buffleheads typically eat aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Buffleheads usually are seen in small groups. As one or two feed, the others will stand watch for potential danger.

Torture

2010-01-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Corporate Kaiser may advocate kindness but someone on the staff doesn't understand the concept. In the very same room with yesterday's sign is this one right above a serving table that was empty at 5:30am, but I checked later and sure enough, there were two coffee urns!

Be kind!

2010-01-20T08:05:00.001-08:00

Kaiser Hospital advocates kindness to one's fellow man.

Brown pelican

2010-01-19T03:56:00.000-08:00

One sight we saw from The Spinnaker last Saturday was a brown pelican sitting on some nearby rocks, along with a gull to give some perspective on its size.

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is 106–137 cm (42–54 in) in length, weighs from 2.75 to 5.5 kg (6-12 lb) and has a wingspan from 1.83 to 2.5 m (6 to 8.2 ft). Thanks, Wikipedia.

Brithday tulips

2010-01-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

Friend-for-life Jackie gave me an extravagant birthday bouquet of tulips; this is just some of them! They are so beautiful, I have to share them with you.

Sailboat

2010-01-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

My husband Dick and daughter Elyse took me to lunch Saturday for my (mumble)birthday at The Spinnaker Restaurant in Sausalito. It is built out over the water and is glass on three sides so the views are spectacular. Sailboats, kayakers, ferry boats, pelicans and other birds all pass in review, and in the distance there is Alcatraz on the left and San Francisco on the right. And the food is very good!

Cows

2010-01-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Geese, ducks and stilts are not the only interesting sights to be seen at The Ponds; just take a short walk back along the entry road and one can see cows and tall trees in foggy St.Vincent's pasture.

Winter tree

2010-01-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

Trees in winter can be as beautiful as those in full leaf. Even though it's January, I think this one is beginning to bud - on Corte Madera Creek.

Pot of gold

2010-01-14T05:48:00.001-08:00

We drove right to the end of the rainbow, only to have it disappear! No pot of gold for us!!

Mushroom

2010-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

This giant mushroom - 7 to 8 inches - is growing under our apple tree in the front yard. It's back in a corner where I can't get close enough to actually measure it. It's all shiny from the rain (we have finally had rain after what seems a awfully l-o-n-g time. And I gave up trying to identify it; so many mushrooms look so similar!

Crows

2010-01-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

Two crows on a fence, low-hanging fog, and a golden sunrise at the Ponds - what more could one want?

Whirlpool

2010-01-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

Corte Madera Creek (where we see it) is tidal, so sometimes there is a lot of water and sometimes the creek is very shallow. There are a few pools on the other side of the bike path and they are connected to the creek by culverts under the path. Last week the tide was going out as we walked the path and saw this whirlpool being created by water draining the pool through a narrow culvert. I've always thought that drains in the northern hemisphere flowed in one direction and below the equator in another. Both Hans and Dick said this is called the 'Coriolis effect'. However, an article on Wikipedia says that is probably not the case. If you care to study this, here is the (part of) the article.

Draining in bathtubs and toilets

Coriolis rotation can conceivably play a role on scales as small as a bathtub. It is a commonly held myth that the every-day rotation of a bathtub or toilet vortex is due to whether one is in the northern or southern hemisphere. An article in Nature, by Ascher Shapiro, describes an experiment in which all other forces to the system are removed by filling a 6 ft. tank with water and allowing it to settle for 24 hrs (to remove any internal velocity), in a room where the temperature has stabilized (temperature differences in the room can introduce forces inside the fluid). The drain plug is then very slowly removed, and tiny pieces of floating wood are used to observe rotation. During the first 12 to 15 mins, no rotation is observed. Then, a vortex appears and consistently begins to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (the experiment was performed in the Northern hemisphere, in Boston, MA). This is repeated and the results averaged to make sure the effect is real. The Coriolis effect does indeed play a role in vortex rotation for draining liquids that have come to rest for a long time. ["Bath-Tub Vortex", Nature. Dec 15th, 1962. Vol 195, No. 4859, p. 1080-1081]

In reality, this experiment shows that the Coriolis effect is a few orders of magnitude smaller than various random influences on drain direction, such as the geometry of the container and the direction in which water was initially added to it. In the above experiment, if the water settles for 2 hrs or less (instead of 24), then the vortex can be seen to rotate in either direction. Most toilets flush in only one direction, because the toilet water flows into the bowl at an angle. If water shot into the basin from the opposite direction, the water would spin in the opposite direction.

The idea that toilets and bathtubs drain differently in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres has been popularized by several television programs, including The Simpsons episode "Bart vs. Australia" and the The X-Files episode "Die Hand Die Verletzt."Several science broadcasts and publications, including at least one college-level physics textbook, have also stated this. Some sources that incorrectly attribute draining direction to the Coriolis force also get the direction wrong, claiming that water would turn clockwise into drains in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Rossby number can also tell us about the bathtub. If the length scale of the tub is about L = 1 m, and the water moves towards the drain at about U = 60 cm/s, then the Rossby number is about 6 000. Thus, the bathtub is, in terms of scales, much like a game of catch, and rotation is unlikely to be important.

Hawk

2010-01-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

One might almost think this is a black and white photo, except for the red/brown hawk in the tree.

Paris?

2010-01-09T06:09:00.000-08:00

Hans' coaching (he didn't have his camera along and so he just had to coach) yielded this foggy photo that evokes a Paris street scene.

Patience

2010-01-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

The Great Blue Heron was the picture of patience Thursday morning on the bike path. He sat right there for more than half an hour that we know of; he was there when we arrived and there when we left.

Mint Plaza

2010-01-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

Two friends and I have been meeting for monthly lunch since 1985; we call ourselves MMR (Muriel, Margie & Rick). Our lunch last Monday was at Chez Papa Resto on Mint Plaza in San Francisco. Mint Plaza, San Francisco's newest public outdoor space, is located in the SOMA/downtown neighborhood (off of 5th Street between Mission and Market). And its most striking feature besides a wide-open space is ---- orange chairs. No tables, just chairs. People move them into any configuration they please. Most amazing!

Bear Valley Sunrise

2010-01-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Dick, Hans and I were at Bear Valley. While Dick walked, we other two took photos - as we always do. There was a very pretty sunrise and Hans posted his version in the afternoon. You can see it here:http://hansroenau.blogspot.com/ And here's my version.

Sunday sunrise

2010-01-05T05:44:00.000-08:00

A little while after the blue moon faded on Sunday, the sun began to fill the sky over the Ponds.

Blue moon

2010-01-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

Dick & I got out to the Ponds early Sunday morning for a little exercise and photographing. The first thing I shot was the waning Blue Moon of December - not blue, of course, but just the second full moon in the month. It doesn't happen very often; hence, 'once in a blue moon'. I couldn't get a photo when it was full because we have have been socked in every night with solid fog.

Art installation

2010-01-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

I think this must be a permanent art installation on the College of Marin campus, near the track. When I sent you a picture of this a month or so ago, there were sandbags on them, as if holding them in place. The bags are gone now, so the shapes must be permanent.

Creek and path

2010-01-02T06:17:00.000-08:00

I often speak of Corte Madera Creek and the bike path along the creek. Here is a good view of them both; the bike path runs along the other side of the creek as well. We walk down one side of the creek, cross over Bon Air Bridge and come back along the other side. It makes a 2-mile loop - a nice morning walk - and often full of surprises!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T06:33:00.000-08:00

This lovely winter morning sky holds promise for the beautiful day to come and symbolizes my wish to you for 2010 to be everything you hope for.

Happy New Year to All!

Love, Margie

Fog

2009-12-31T05:42:00.000-08:00

Morning fog rolls in.

Snow

2009-12-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

This is a salute to all of you back east who are getting so much snow; the only snow we have is the 48-inch snowflake on the top of our flagpole, seen here blinking through the fog Tuesday morning.