Fire season, the sunlight is orange and ashes are falling from the fire near Santa Cruz, 50 miles away. No blue sky. The reports are scary not for me but for people near the fire.

Spent the afternoon with the 7 and 9 year old kids. We walked up to quarry park and piked black berries, threw rocks and looked at the trees moving in the wind.

About ten feet from my bedroom wall the high school girls gathered to talk before going to school today. Their voices filling my room with words, sounds, laughter.

As I was leaving I said hello. I asked if they were smoking and two said yes, just cigarettes. I reminded them about the danger of fires in this dry weather and they said they would be careful.

I wonder if these girls were aware of how beautiful they are.

Monterey wharf #1 report

August 11, Mid morning walk, cold, foggy.

High school kids on the street, school has started.

Huge antique auto auction being set up behind chain linked fence in the plaza. Dozens of wood paneled station wagons. I want one.

Gigantic auto transported tying to maneuver around Monterey Streets.

Picked up two donuts at Red's and sat on a bench facing the wharf while I ate them. Families and couple walking by taking pictures of the sail boats and the wharf. I guess it is picturesque.

Sea gulls calling as they flew over.

on the wharf, most gift stores open with racks of marked down fleece jackets. Some were being bought on this cold morning.

A group of old Italian men were sitting around a table outside a closed restaurant talking up a storm.

Smaller trucks were being unloaded for the restaurants.

The wharf is getting ready for the day's tourists. I am going home.

Went to the Town Hall meeting with Rep Sam Farr this evening. I got there at 5:15 for the 6 o'clock meeting. The auditorium was filled. There was no room.

So I sat outside and watched the various protesters march and shout around. When tv cameras came everyone become more active. It was basically good natured and like a circus.

Went home and listened to the conversation on the radio. So many people are fearful aand anti government. Of course I think if they don't agree with me, they are wrong.

I kept tying to listen to what the dissenters were saying but it didn't make much sense to me. Sam Farr was kind and thoughtful and respectful even when he was tired.

It's hot, the fog has retreated. The sky is hazy with smoke form the fires in the mountains.

The alarm bell has been ringing at the high school for the last couple of hours. The flowers are beginning to droop, the tomatoes are ripening.

I saw Julie and Julia last night. At the end the audience clapped.

I am restless and want to do something. I've already gone to Whole foods to pick up food for the week.

Monterey Wharf #2 report
August 8, Saturday early morning

Cold drippy fog covers the wharf. Sun is shinning on the hillsides.

Kayaks are on the beech waiting for customers
A cluster of strong young people are gathering on the wharf. The Samoan Outriggers Club is gathering together. Later I see outriggers gliding through the water with their crews paddling in unison.

A few fisherman are standing at the railing. One is trying to snag a star fish with his hooked line.
Several blue aluminum cans are rolling along the bottom of the shallow waters. I don't see any fish.

A lone large dog is guarding something near the end of the wharf. I avoid him and walk on the other side.

A single sea otter is rolling gently in the water in the inner harbor. I don't see any jelly fish. The surface trash is piling up on the edges of the harbor.

Visitors with exposed legs and arms are shivering at the outside tables at Lou Lou's Grill.

Sounds from the park two blocks away drift over the wharf. There is a Bronco league world series generating a lot of excitement.

lying on the couch looking out my front window I notice the tall sun flowers looking back at me.

I am reading the SIGN OF THE CROSS by Colm Toibin, a collection of essays on Europe in the 1990"s I like it.