Nocturnal Treasure

I let the dog out

and see my night blooming treasure

still surprising me with blossoms

one -or - two each night

Easily missed in the hectic pace of life

Arrive too late in the morning

or too early in the evening

and it is missed

Here it turns toward the moon

Is that its secret

and source of life?

This summer - 4 months of pure delight

Evolution vs Creationism

One hundred and 50 years after Darwin published The Origin of Species, we still have a debate that stirs the soul of Christians and Scientist alike.

Since I am taking a class about Darwin, I thought I would share with you some photos of my May 2008 trip to the Galapagos Islands. AND along the way, some things that I am learning.

During his trip as a naturalist, around the world, he spent 5 weeks at the Galapagos Archipelago. Because of his observations of the animals he set down his ideas on Evolution.

The first thing we learn is that he was not the first to do so.

Mall of America -We like it

Ralph likes the Gadget stores.

There are lots of magical charactersNot to mention the food court. And many fancy sit down restaurants.

And Lego Land

Great people and family watching.

And a movie complex as well.

What more could a family want to kill a few hours in the Twin Cities.

What to do in the airport

The Mountains are pink.......

We are leaving our beautiful Santa Rita Mountains for several days.

Leaving the peace and quiet and sunshine for...

The Twin Cities of Minnesota

Looking forward to

family

friends

Mall of America

Not looking forward to

airports

airplanes

rental car

traffic

The Galapagos and Kurt Vonnegut

Last year I had the opportunity to sail the Galapagos Islands off of Ecuador.

Recently, while browsing a used book store, I picked up the

novel Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut. What a book! It is laugh out loud on nearly every page. Vonnegut is often categorized as a science fiction writer. In my mind he is more like a philosopher. In this novel, published in 1985, he looks at humans and evolution. Important and some not so important people are about to take a planned "Nature Cruise of the Century" of the Galapagos Islands. The Narrator of the story takes the reader back a million years ago on an evolutionary journey to 1986 when the world is facing financial fiasco and famine.

With black humor and satire Vonnegut presents the evolution of the Big Brain Human in the setting of an aborted journey on the Bahia de Darwin.

2 movies and 2 actors

Friday I took Me, Myself and I to the movie

Inglorious Bastards. I knew no one in my crowd

would go with me.

Loved it! 4****

One of the reason that I liked it was that when it was French speakers or German speakers they actually used German Actors. Who also spoke French. Then it was subtitled in English. None of the Hollywood actors attempting a foreign language or having the dialogue in English which is so common.

Then yesterday I watched a French film from Netflix; 2005 Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)

Inspired by the true story in WWI 1914 when the Scots, the French and the Germans fraternized on Christmas Eve. Very Good! 3***.

Two excellent actors were in both films.

Diane Kruger and Daniel Bruhl. Both from Germany and had significant roles in both films.

Kudos to Tarantino for finding and using them.

PMU -What can we do?

Since the increase in warnings about long term use of hormone replacement the overall use of pregnant mare urine in the production of estrogen products has decreased. This is a good thing, However, for the short term it has increased the need to rescue these pregnant and non pregnant mares, foals and stallions BEFORE they go to slaughter.

Visit the Jumpin' Jack Ranch near Elephant Head in Southern Arizona on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The FDA, in 1982, approved the use of synthetic insulin, which had been produced from pig pancreas. We need to encourage Wyeth and the FDA to STOP the use of pregnant mare urine.

And encourage the use of synthetic or natural products for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause.

Educate women and their Doctors about the use of pregnant mare urine and the slaughter of millions of horses. Heed the warnings about the complications of long term use of estrogen.

SAY "NEIGH" TO PREMARIN

PMU -The mares and the stallions

What happens to the mares?

Just before giving birth they are taken "off line" where they are allowed to foal in outside paddocks. When the foal is removed, mares are sent out to breed again. After successful breeding they are returned to the line.

If breeding is unsuccessful, the mares are sent to auction or slaughter.

The is Gulliver - A six year old stallion at Jumpin' jack Ranch. He is 6 years old now and greets the new foals that are fortunate to have been rescued with the mares. Again male foals and horses not deemed necessary in the production of urine are sent to auction or slaughter.

PMU -The Foals

What happens to the foals that are born as a result of pregnant mare urine collection?
A filly foal has less that 1 in 10 chance of not going to slaughter. A colt foal less than one in 50!

Some are fattened on feedlots before sent to slaughter. "Foals of August". Some go directly to meat auction. The lucky are rescued by organization such as the Jumpin' Jack Ranch in southern Arizona. There are a number of rescue organization that attempt to adopt out these

foals.

PMU -The Problem

So what's the problem with using pregnant mare urine and is it necessary? I have no problem with women using premarin products when indicated. I took them for 15 years and can honestly say, originally, they saved my life. And possibly my husbands. I should have come off them sooner. I believe the lengthy use contributed to my recent breast cancer.The problem is collection of urine. Pregnant mares are kept in small stalls and fitted with collection devices or catheters the last 6 months (160-180 days) of pregnancy. This is normally October to April, when the spring foals are born. Many organizations are apposed this confinement and abuse of horses.

Next posts will discuss what happens to the foals and can be done to discourage the use of PMU.

PMU to make premarin

What is premarin and why is it necessary to collect pregnant mare urine to produce it.

Premarin is a drug made of conjugated estrogens to use in Hormone Therapy Replacement (HTR) to treat women with the symptoms of menopause. Although recent negative effects of HTR has decreased the number of women using them, millions continue to world wide.
Pregnant mare urine is necessary in the production of estrogen products. The are made exclusively in the US by Ayerst Organics Ltd, a subsidiary of Wyeth Inc. and marketed world wide.

PMU Horse Rescue

Last year I visited the Jumpin' Jack Ranch in southern Arizona. This ranch rescues horses

from PMU farms. They will be having an open

house again Sept. 26 from 10:00 to 3:00 pm.

PMU stands for Pregnant Mare Urine.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for

women requires pregnant horse urine in its production.

In the next few blogs I will be discussing this process and why I think that the rescue of these horses is important.

Desert Museum in the rain

Rain in the desert

is beautiful.

Brightens the green.

Rolling clouds, thunder

and lightening over the valley.

"Desert Ark" vehicle is

appropriate for today

A lizard leisurely crosses the path.

One I have never seen.

Can't ID it from eNature.

Anyone know his name?

Back in Green Valley.

No Rain.

Labor Day Weekend

Hey, it is a holiday weekend. Can't a girl take a day off! Photo by M. Lesko.

Favorite Quote of the Day

Guest Opinion - Arizona Star

Law Professor

"If you have the law on your side, argue the law,

if you have the facts on you side, argue the facts.

If you don't have either --pound on the table."

I hear a lot of pounding.

Thanks to Charlene M. Taylor

Health Care Reform -Pro

Rep. Giffords Health Care Reform - Town Hall in Green Valley today.

I am sure that all of my readers know that I am strongly in favor of reform that includes Public Option. Ideally, I would like to see a Single Payer System.

I was pleased to see that those for Health Care Reform were very organized with a variety of signs.

"Health care is a right not a privilege"

"Health Care is a family value"

"Take profit out of health care - insurance companies and big drug companies"

"Public Option is real reform"

Health Care Reform - Con

Health Care Reform Town Hall in G.V. for Rep. Giffords. Unlike what we see on national TV, the people gathering before the meeting were primarily for HCR.This was the only "con" message that I saw.

Dialogue

Man " one year I had to pay $250,000 in taxes "

Me " Golly Ned, I can't even imagine that"

Man "Why should I have to give my hard earned money and retirement to others"

Me "How fortunate you are to be able to have that fortune, when so many many don't"

"Well, I can see it is no good talking to you" This said by people on both sides.