Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institute, La Jolla, California

Hi Everyone
Just as I sat down to create this blog, at 8:55 pm pst, we just had an earthquake!! I was sitting here getting ready to type this and bring up the photos when the whole building wrenched and then everything 'shivered' for a few seconds. I was born here in San Diego, and grew up with the 3.0 to 3.5 quivers, as I called them. We got them at least once a week or biweekly. So, now I really feel at home now! It was probably around 3.0 magnitude from the feel of it. I was in one earthquake over in La Mesa back in 1966 and it was 6.2 on the Richter Scale and it was major. In fact, a quarter mile from my apartment, a huge gaping rip in the earth opened up. So, with this quiver, I watch. Since being in a major earthquake, I know there can be serveral 'swarm' quakes before the 'major' one hits. So, as I work on this blog, the seat of my pants in the chair will be my warning system :-)).



Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to one of my all time fav’s here in San Diego--the Birch Aquarium at the famous Scripps Institute; one of the great marine biology centers in the world.

I had a heck of a time photographing. I had 2” to 6” thick glass that my lens had to get through in order to photograph. Then, no matter what setting I put my camera on, nothing would give me enough life. I was forced into doing a flash which I truly disliked. I don’t like to use the flash for anything, much less on fish in an aquarium. I saw others using a flash on their cameras, so got over it and started to do some photographing.


Each exhibit at Birch is a work of art, moving art, quite literally. You'll see that in all the photos I took. This is a gorgeous anemone...such a pale pink and so fragile looking.


The amount of fish, their colors, are incredible. I felt like I was in a rainbow. The Aquarium has done a wonderful job on exhibiting the anemones, jellyfish, the sharks, the fish and “sea dragons”--I call them ‘leafy’ sea horses.


This is a huge blue eel. I had to shoo with a high ISO, so most of these photos are going to be 'grainy' looking. A high ISO was the only way to get some 'light' into the photos.


I love jellyfish! I'm enamoured with their slow motion ballet moves through the water. If I'm not mistaken (and could be), I believe this is the most poisonous jellyfish in the world--they are sooooo teeny, tiny...the size of a dime. And, I undersand that if you get stung, you can die in 3-5 minutes afterward. They're so small you'd never see them in the ocean....wow. And yet, they look so incredible fragile. Who would guess they were so deadly? Amazing.




I'm always in awe of Mother Nature and her coloring of her family.



Outside, they have a tidal pool exhibit that over looks the marine blue Pacific Ocean. And, the shark exhibit is nearby. It’s a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon. My only gripe is they didn’t have lattes....only coffee. Am I spoiled or what? haha.


Sorry, but I'm no expert on fish, so forgive me. I shot the fish that were colorful. And this little yellow fellow was fetching against a blue background.


What is an ocean without anemones, urchins and star fish?!




This fish isn't gorgeous, rather plain, really. But I got a good headshot of him!


I loved the diversity of color between these three fish.


I loved this orange jellyfish. It is about the size of your palm (the round head of it), with the tentacles flowing out like wisps of hair, whim to the ocean current.



These are called MOON jellyfish, and you can see why. I just loved watching them open and collapse their 'parachute' heads. And, if you got them in the right light, their round circles on top glowed a neon pink!




And here is a Moon jellyfish where the flash has hit it just so and you can see the neon pink circles on top of its head. Really rad!!



Jellyfish are like silent ghosts floating rhythmically through the sea like ballet dancers. I could spend a mesmerizing hour filming them--they put me into a deep, medatative state as I watch them with their 'bellows' like motions.


I couldn't get enough of the Moon jellyfish...they put me into a deep meditation!





In the next couple of days I’ll post more photos than those you will see below. Enjoy the color of Mother Nature!

Lindsay McKenna Swims With The Dolphins!

Hi Everyone

wow, what a day! If you ever wondered where writers got their ideas, this is one way of going about it. I almost always write from personal experience and/or a lot of research. For example, DANGEROUS PREY, HQN, December 2008, was two years of research into the world of raptors before it came to press. I'm sure, based upon my experience, you'll see a dolphin or two show up in one of my future books.


Here I am being introduced to SANDY, the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin. The signal for her to come to you is to cup your hands together...and she gently comes forward to nestle her nose into your hands. What a thrill!


One of my fondest dreams has been to swim with dolphins. At Sea World in San Diego, California, they have a dolphin interaction program. I signed up for it on Tuesday, at 3:30 pm. I got to meet Sandy, a 40 year old Atlantic bottle nose dolphin at Sea World in San Diego. Sandy has been a "mom" six times. The trainer said that Sandy was so nurturing and maternal--and she certainly was. The people in my group were Europeans. There was Maria from Sweden and William and his wife (sorry forgot her name) were from Amsterdam, Netherlands!! My dharma with the Netherlands is alive and well!


Sandy comes up to Eileen and she holds the dolphin's flippers while she stays upright with strong swishes with her tail.


We did a whole lot of things with Sandy. We cupped our hands and she would nuzzle her nose right into our palms and then we could pet her. She loved being around us. As a matter of fact, she kept bobbing up and looking at me was I waited a half hour beforehand. It was a wonderful feeling to have a dolphin waiting for me. But I love dolphins and they know that.


This is one of my favorite photos....I had to get down on one knee and Sandy came gliding up. The dolphin's skin is soft, sleek and Sandy loves to be touched and patted. She was a mother six times and has been in Sea World for 40 years. Her trainer has been with her for thirty-five years. The trainer was saying that Sandy was one of most nurturing, mothering of all the dolphins and one of their star entertainers.




We spent a good 40 minutes in some pretty cold sea water. Even with a wet suit, it wasn't too bad. At 4:00 pm the sun was going down and the temperature was too...but still, when I was in the water with Sandy, time just stopped existing. I had such a wonderful time. Memories to keep. This is something I've wanted to do all my life. And it was something I wanted to do,sooner not later. I'm not sorry I did.


The Netherland's couple were on the left, Maria from Sweden in the middle and me at Sandy's tail end in a 'log roll.' I don't know who was having more fun--us of the dolphin. They are HEAVY!



Maria, the gal next to me in the photo, didn't have the money to buy anything so I had bought the CD of all our photos. It was her birthday. I told her "Happy Birthday" and her friend provided an email address. I'll make a copy of the photos and send them to her. She was a very sweet person.


At last, forty minutes later, our dolphin interaction was at an end. Sandy waved 'good-bye' to us by standing on her nose with her tail out of the water 'waving' at us. We waved good-bye too, sad that it was over, but exhilerated by simply being able to share time and space with her. Thank you, Sandy.


In fact, it was interesting to look at the feelings around the twelve people who came to swim with the dolphins....they all had a very quiet, gentle, androgynous energy...and a true connection to Mom Earth. It was a wonderful encounter shared with equally wonderful people. And I'm sure you'll see dolphins showing up sooner or later in one of my books!


Everyone wanted to kiss Sandy! So did I. I mentally thanked her for her service to us humans. The trainer was saying that once people meet, see or watch a dolphin interaction (there was a huge crowd of people above watching the whole thing) that they see how beautiful and loving these dolphins are--they go out and buy dolphin-safe tuna. And, they also start taking up an interest in the health of our oceans and going green to keep it free of pollutants so it won't kill sea life. The dolphins, while in captivity, render a silent service to help humans understand them and the ocean at large. I thanked Sandy for her sacrifice to all of us so that we 'get it.' She's truly and wonderful ambassador of her nation. The dolphin nation.




In Spirit, Eileen
www.lindsaymckenna.com

Lindsay McKenna gives Elena Amell THE QUEST galley proof

Hi Everyone!


Today, I met Elena Amell. She is one my readers on the Lindsay McKenna list. (If you want to join my list, just go to: http://www.lindsaymckenna.com. In the tool bar, click on CONTACT. On this page on the right hand side about half way down is where you can put your email address and sign up. I give away galley proofs and oher goodies throughout the year. In order to play in the contest you must be a member of my list). I held a Christmas Day contest on the list. The prize was THE QUEST (Silhouette Nocturne, February 2008) galley proof. When an author receives the galley proof, one must read it very carefully. Often, my galley proofs are gone over with a red pen. These final corrections by the author are then sent in to the editor. The editor then makes sure these are made just before the book goes to print.

A galley proof is the last chance for the author to find any mistakes of any kind. It has already been thoroughly checked by a copy editor. And of course, the editor. There is a 3-way team work that goes on between the author, editor and copy editor to bring a book to press and then to the reader. Consequently, Elena will find a number of red pen edits on my galley proof.



I met her today at Coco’s in El Cajon, California. She lives in this wonderful city just outside of San Diego. It was nice meeting her and spending a good hour of chatting. I also signed her copy of DANGEROUS PREY, HQN, December, 2008. So, she walked out of Coco’s with an autographed book AND a galley proof!


Elena (on the right) receives the galley proof THE QUEST, from Lindsay McKenna

I wanted to share a photo of us. I’m on the left and Elena is on the right. Between us is the signed galley proof, THE QUEST. She was thrilled to receive it. Someday, it might be worth some money! Who knows? Elena had read THE QUEST, and this galley proof will go with the book. She has lots of true stories to tell her family now!
Warmly, Lindsay McKenna
www.lindsaymckenna.com

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