Each fall, usually by mid-November, more than 13 million ducks begin to appear in the swamps of the Gulf.

And they are coming and passing on their route.

And we are right below it.

Year after year I’m amazed, puzzled, “How do they know which direction to go from so far away?”

And how is it that they can finish this huge trip?

They seem so fragile and delicate!?

Most of the time I hear the quacking from far away.

Even indoors, with everything closed.

I run outside and look up, hoping to see them…

It is one of the the most beautiful, impressive and exciting scenes of real life to see!! ♥♥♥

To be below the largest and most spectacular migratory journey in the world… It’s Something to see…

So just thinking about it, my heart gets tight, begins to beat stronger and stronger, full of concern for them.

And if a big storm comes before then?

All that oil will come up and brought back to the swamps?

If so, the ducks will have no food to eat!

I know everyone thinks pelicans look bad with oil. The ducks will look bad too.

But what about those ducks that are coming?

Pelicans go up on rocks, logs and stumps of trees, when they are in trouble… but the ducks do not, they go to the vegetation.

The terrible oil spill in the Gulf may be the biggest challenge of all time they will have to deal with.

For their sake, I hope this does not happen and that we can somehow help them.

In order of arrival, they are:

BLUE-WINGED

GADWALL

WIGEON

PINTAIL

REDHEAD

SCAUP

CANVASBACKS

If you want find out how you can help them, visit www.ducks.org

As I live near water, I usually take my walks near the water’s edge.

Yesterday, suddenly, after a lull, waves came from nowhere, many of them.

And I always think: it’s a magical thing, a magical thing that moves, a living part of Earth.

But the water has fish so it couldn’t be pure.

The fish here leap like small aquatic kangaroos!

For that reason there are so many fishermen.

Well, back to our water.

And it’s potable water I want to talk about…

It is H2O = hydrogen 2 parts, one part of oxygen and the third…??? ;-)

Not to speak of the monstrous disaster in the Gulf, many times, it has: LEAD!

That’s right, my friends… LEAD, really. :-(

Here in America, they discovered that there is a co-relation between ‘lead’ in our water and high blood pressure and heart problems.

It was a huge study, and now, it’s requested that you inspect the pipeline where you live.

Because old plumbing is a major source of lead.

And how is it that we do these things?

Just by looking?

NOooo….

♦ You ask the Department of Water and Sewage for a water analysis of your home. You just have to check your water bill to see who to call.

We’ve done it twice, and it’s free.

♦ IF they find lead, you need to call 800-426-4791 (Safe Drinking Water Hotline)

♦ You also can go to GOTMERCURY.ORG, which has a calculator that helps you see the level of mercury in it. If it is found, of course.

As a civilization we destroy the planet, from the depths of the ocean to the stratosphere. It is in our care and these ‘little big things’ can ruin our health.

Ahhh …. We use a filtering system called “reverse osmosis” which is located under the kitchen sink. It’s a bit expensive, but  we think it’s the best filter, and you can purchase it on EBAY cheaper, and do as Mr.Slipper Socks Man did: installed himself.

Or buy a system that filters all the water used in the house, including shower.

“When we heal the earth we heal ourselves too.” (David Orr).

(The orange dot in the photo above, is my neighbor rowing).

Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something… That’s the way I think.

Especially after, many years fighting trying to ‘change the world’…

And being constantly frustrated.

But I love and have always loved, donating, giving gifts, and helping… Because of that feeling of not feeling like I’m giving something, is already a gift for me.

I always say, I like to give and help because I think of myself as being ‘really selfish’.

This brings me much happiness.

If will you give me the liberty, my suggestion would be whoever would like to and can: help the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

It is the only Pediatric Children’s Cancer Center (and other catastrophic diseases), where families who have no health insurance, never have to pay for  their children’s treatment! The 50 states and the entire world, send patients to them, for no treatment is denied.

Besides, they do not keep scientific discoveries to themselves, they share them with the rest of the community.

And more…

They give hope to patients and their families, thus, making a great difference in the lives of everyone.

As it is not the size of the aid that counts, but the size of the heart that gives… They have wonderful books for children!

The “Loukoumi” by Nick Katsoris. Every time a book is sold, $2 is donated to St. Jude and the stories teach children how it’s fun to do something good for someone.

http://www.loukoumi.com/

http://stjudefriends.org/socialmedia/

Years ago, I learned a lot from the book of Mother Teresa. She left us a saying, “if you can not feed 100 people, then feed one.”

But also, the word ‘philanthropy’ has nothing to do with money.

A hug is a great gift. One size fits all and it’s easy to return.

AND NEVER forget the animals…♥♥♥

A journey of 1000 sites begins with a simple CLICK, but one of these little clicks, can cause you a LOT of heartache and suffering in the pocket.

You may fall into the wrong place and bam!

It’s like drinking water from a fire hydrant… it will quench your thirst. But it may well hurt as well…

Because this thing called the internet, is the only thing that humanity has invented, and at the same time, the same humanity, does not understand it very well… And yet the whole world is hooked on it…

Also, any help seems to be, ‘just a little click away!’

Right…?

So sharing with you, my net.exercise…

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE:

♥- Do not use passwords or personal identities that contain personal information such as your date of birth Social Security number or the number of your identity card etc.

♥- Do not use the your mother’s middle name as ‘a security question’. Choose something more obscure, like the name of the pet you had as a child.

♥- Never leave passwords in the open.

♥- Do not use the same password for different websites. If the bad guys can get into your Twitter account, they could access your bank account also.

♥- Create passwords with a minimum of 8 letters long, mixing uppercase and lowercase using numbers and symbols.

♥- Change your password frequently.

♥- Check the domain addresses carefully before the last dot of the URL (just to the left of .Com or .Org or .Edu). Ex: ebay.com is legitimate, but ebay.1234.com is not!

♥-  Hold your cursor over any unknown link before clicking, and look down at the bottom of your web browser. It will show you exactly where the link is taking you.

There are millions of wonderful people on the internet, but for every thousand, there is one bandit. (It’s probably more like one in ten)…

Still, it’s too much of a con artist for my taste.

Go very carefully with your eyes wide open.

Travel safe and confident, on the great sea of Cyberspace…

And do not forget to send this message to your friends… As in the movie with Kevin Costner “Message in a Bottle.”

(photo: Candance Meyer)