Newsletter 04/13/2014

Another week, and another really busy one for me. Lots of turmoil...some work picked up, and some slowed down. The one project I was supposed to go to the Bay area to work on next week just up and vanished. Such is the freelance world.

However, I did make it to Berkeley last week, so I was able to pick up the new DVD burner! Haven't had a chance to plug it in yet, but I will be doing that in the next day or so. (Some confusion from last week's broadcast, wondering how come I was able to pick up the poster that was sent me, but not the DVD machine. That's because I actually received the poster about a months ago--before I had ordered the drive.)

I have been a bit sad in recent days due to this horrible bus crash that happened last Thursday. Just horrible--a big-rig FedEx truck lost control and crashed through the center-divide and into oncoming traffic. It hit a charter bus full of high school students head-on. Both vehicles burst into flames. Many of the kids fought their way out of the burning bus, but some did not. A total of ten dead, including the drivers of both vehicles.

This incident reminds me of what happened when I was a freshman in high school. The worst school bus accident in US history happened then--it was an a cappella from Yuba City High (YC is a town about 12 miles north of Wheatland, where I grew up) that was riding down to the Bay Area for a concert at Orinda High School. Their bus developed mechanical problems, so the driver was trying to take the first exit coming off the Martinez Bridge when his brakes failed. He couldn't make the loop of the off-ramp, and the bus went over the railing, falling thirty feet and landing on its roof. Twenty eight kids were killed. I took ROP classes at YC High starting just a few months after the accident, and it was like a dark cloud hung over the school. There were two kids in my class who had lost their best friends in the crash. So that's why this latest bus accident weighs very heavily on me. My thoughts go out to the friends and families of those involved.

Anyway, on a lighter note...I really enjoyed the chat last week! It was good to see my friends again--as well as some I had not heard from for a while! I do hope you can come back and join us again next month. We'll get silly and have some more fun! I know I expressed concern about my availability for that Sunday, so I'll keep you posted as to whether we might need to delay it a week. I'm not sure, because that was one of the projects that got scaled-back, so I might actually be done early on that one. However, I'm lobbying for more work on it, so if I am successful, I may have more to do. (Basically, it is for a trade show in Las Vegas called "EMC World," and I am producing some animations and video for the big video wall display they are going to have on the convention floor. That show opens on the first Monday of May, and if things are anything like they have been in the past, we will all be cranking like made the weekend before to get last-minute additions done for the show.)

So anyway, I've got lots of work to get done today, so I will wish you all a great week, and we'll talk with you soon!

It is I, your favorite, fuzzy little rodent here. I just wanted to thank everyone for coming by for the StoryTime last week! Unfortunately we had to have Patrick the Puffin stand-in for the pelican, but I think he did a pretty good job. At least, when he wasn't trying to upstage me, that is!

And then of course there was the sing-along of the California State Song with the Dude. I know it looked like I didn't know the words to the song when it first started, because my mouth didn't move. The Dude says it was something to do with a lack of coordination on his part...I really have no idea what he is talking about. I knew the words--I was just projecting them telepathetically. (hee hee)

It really is a catchy tune, and it goes on for four versus, and the chorus four times--we could have been singing all evening long! Maybe sometime I will convince the dude to do the whole song. And maybe we can get some of the other of my fellow critters to sing along. Especially Zorrina--she has a lovely singing voice!

Oh well, it looks like it is time for me to go--one of my favorite shows is about to come on! ("Lifestyles of the Fuzzy and Squeaky")

Talk to ya next week!

*Ann Savage*	Ann shares with us this wonderful news: “My latest news is that we have a new grandbaby on the way [due mid August], and the doctor thinks it's a girl! She'll be our third grandchild, joining cousins Lucas, 13, and Adrian, 3. :)” Congratulations to Ann and her family.

*Elsalynda*	Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the City: Spring arrives in Waltham?, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20140408/NEWS/140408516/?tag=1

	Elsa has other good news! We’ll let her tell it. “Good news!!!!!!!! Two poems I sent to a photo and essay/ poetry book on our Mount Auburn Cemetary in Watertown and Cambridge MA (a very famous place) were accepted!!! This is a huge breakthrough for me. I think it will look like a coffee table book but not sure! yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!"

Sharoot	Sharoot shares with us this tale of her visit to Maine. "When I arrived in Maine just over a week ago the robins were here (that's the only way Mainers know it's spring). They lined the roadsides like little armies, searching for any tasty morsel they could find on the barely foot wide strip of earth that the snow plows had provided. I could see that if mud season was to arrive on time that I needed to get right to work. I immediately unpacked my Georgia weather and provided some rain and warmth. I managed to coax out a few pussywillows and many fields are now bare of snow. Just a couple days ago I spied this little guy near the back steps. I have made it my mission to free him from winter's grasp before I leave on Tuesday. Wish me luck!"

Wolfgirl	Wolfgirl shares with us news of her new pets. "The rats are sisters, and will be 5 months old on the 12th. The mostly-black one with the funny ears is Morrigan. She's braver and friendlier, and likes to be picked up and tickled. The black-and-white one with normal ears is Linda, she's much more shy. Once she warms up to a person, she likes to climb on shoulders, but doesn't like to be pet. I'm attaching the best photos I have, but neither of them likes to hold still."


ChatterChopz	ChatterChopz had her karate tournament on April 5. She assisted with the PreCHAMPS (3-5 year olds) and the KinderCHAMPS (4-6 year olds) and competed in Green Belt Self-Defenses (she's a blue belt). She took first place in Self Defenses. CC was also presented with two very special surprise awards. The first was a plaque given in recognition of her 1,692 hours of volunteer service. She volunteered as an instructor in the dojo and also helped set up for special events. She also volunteered at the library, at church, and at Harvester's, the regional food distribution program. The second surprise award was the Transition Award. This award is not often given. It is given to honor the student who has begun to take the steps to transition from being totally under her parents' care to making her way in the world. CC was honored for her efforts in seeking, applying, interviewing, and being accepted for her position working with the toddlers and preschoolers during storytime at the library. She'll be working with the older children during the library's summer program, as well. She helps out with special events and sometimes helps dust shelves, straighten up the toy area and teaches folks how to use the self-checkout machines. We're so very proud of our girl!

	CC and her Sensei	The plaque CC received for volunteer hours	CC and her transition award trophy.
	You can read more about CC’s karate program, her amazing Sensei and see more pictures and videos at: http://champsachievers.org


We'd love to include more news of VacaChatters. If you have something you'd like to share (something about you or your family) or if you know of exciting news about another chatter that they're just too shy to share, please send it to us! (We won’t run it without that chatter’s permission, however.)

	*Caboval*	Caboval is in need of our prayers for her dog, Joey. You can read more about Joey and his struggles here: http://gfwd.at/1n8NU0h.

		UPDATE on Joey! Caboval writes: “Joey is in remission but the chemo almost killed him. He was in liver failure and the Dr gave him a 50/50 chance to live. He made it through that and we have had 3 really good weeks. He was so happy and acting like a puppy, but now he is starting to not eat again and he vomited today so I don't know… It's a rollercoaster. I have a feeling he is having liver issues again. I do really need those prayers!!!”

	*Elsalynda*	Elsalynda is also in need of prayers. She is asking for prayers for good care and caring from my primary care physician. She writes: “He was very impuslive and angry, almost abusive when I called in need of help. We have a huge shortage of PCP's here, hence almost impossible to change. He was obstructing my care.” Keep Elsa and her doctor in your prayers.

	*GentleDoe*	GentleDoe says her father is recovering. He has moved to a rehab facility. Doe is trying desperately to juggle being with her mother and yet also caring for her birds and other animals. She especially needs prayers about the financial situation and some rather difficult family dynamics. With no transportation and having to rely on others for rides, this has been very difficult for her. The whole family is still in need of our prayers.

	*Jes and Miss Jonesy*	Both Jes, and her furkid, Miss Jonesy, are battling health issues and undergoing various tests and procedures. Let's keep both of them in our prayers.
	*Jes and Miss Jonesy*

	*DotRot*	Dot’s nephew Mark (Dan's son), got his final pathology report back. His tumor was 98% Grade II and 2% Grade III. This means a THIRD round of chemo and possibly another round of radiation (if he’s not reached his limit). He is home and doing well. Please pray for Mark and his family. (He has two small children.)

		We got TERRIFIC news from Sewla!! Despite her doctors’ pessimistic and fatalistic prognostications, her kidneys are IMPROVING! She saw her nephrologist and the tests performed then still show an increase of 5% in the vital numbers! All her doctor had to say was, “You continue to amaze me!”

	Shari in Memphis	UPDATE!!! Just received this from Shari: "So kind of you to keep prayers going for me. I was hospitalized in November for an event (that just yesterday my doc said was severe enough that it could have killed me) and have pretty much been sick ever since. I'm trying to be patient as doc said it would take 6 months to a year, to fully recover."
	Shari in Memphis


	Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for owl our wonderful VacaFamily members! If you have any prayer requests, updates or news of answered prayers, please let us know. Email us with the information so it can be included in the next newsletter.


	*Next StoryTime*	Sunday, May 4, 2014 3:00 PM PDT/6:00 PM EDT

	*Title*	To Be Announced

	*Invitation*	We need story writers! Please consider dropping in and checking out the fun we have writing the stories. Honestly, it's not at all difficult to join in and you'll surely be glad you did.
	*Invitation*

	Easy Orange Chicken
	Ingredients
	2-3 onions, thinly sliced 2 bunches green onions, chopped 2 whole chicken, cut-up 6 ounces butter 2 cups orange soda (Minute Maid, Vess, Whistle, etc.) 1 can (12-ounce) frozen orange juice concentrate 1½ cups brown sugar
	Directions
	Melt about 3 oz. of butter in a skillet. Add chicken pieces and brown slightly on both sides. Pour about half the soda over the chicken. Cook on low-medium heat for about 20 – 25 minutes or until the chicken is tender and all juices run clear when pierced near the bone. Add more soda as needed. Remove chicken and pour off all fat and soda. Place all of the sliced onions in the bottom of a greased baking pan. Sprinkle with half the chopped green onions. Place chicken in the pan atop the onions. Melt another 3 oz. of butter in the skillet. Add half the orange juice concentrate and half the brown sugar. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved. Pour this mixture over the chicken, turning each piece to coat well. Place a dollop of frozen orange juice on each piece. Sprinkle with remaining brown sugar. Bake at 350°F until the glaze thickens, turning chicken once or twice to coat well (about 15 – 20 minutes). Garnish with remaining chopped green onions.


	Checkerboard Tatties
	Ingredients
	4 large white potatoes, peeled, chopped and cooked 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled, chopped and cooked 1 8 ounce tub Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread, divided ½ cup Sour Cream, divided ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, divided ¼ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
	Directions
	Preheat oven to 375°F. Place potatoes in separate bowls. Add half each of the cream cheese and sour cream to each bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mash with potato masher or fork until creamy. Stir half of the Parmesan cheese into white potatoes. Stir half of the Cheddar cheese into sweet potatoes. Alternately place dollops of each of the white potato and sweet potato mixture in 2-qt. clear glass casserole, making a checkerboard pattern. Bake 15 min. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; bake 5 more min. or until cheeses are melted.

Barn Owls
	Nicassio Owl Box Salt and Pepper	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nicasio-owl

	HOP - MAGC Barn Owls	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/magc-owls

	Owlceanside Mel and Sydney	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/owlceanside

	Felix Neck Owl Cam Martha’s Vineyard	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/felix-neck-owl-cam

	The Owl Cam	http://www.ustream.tv/owlchannel

	Barn Owls in Minden, Nevada	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/barn-owls-in-minden-nevada

	Port of Stockton Barn Owl Cams	http://www.portofstockton.com/owl-cams

	Hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology Located in Texas	http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/42/Barn_Owls/

Other Owls

	PPO (Potted Plant Owl) in South Africa	https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pot-Plant-Owl/148721154229

	Alessondra’s Owl Cam in Oklahoma City	http://ustream.tv/okcowlcam The three owlets have fledged, but the cam and chat remain active for a few more days.

	Rusty and Iris in Houston, Minnesota	http://www.internationalowlcenter.org/ourowls/rustyandiris/livecams

	Burrowing Owls Tri-Cities, Washington	http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/owlcam/video_burrowing2.html

	Project Snow Storm	http://www.projectsnowstorm.org/

	Hello Vriends,
	Another week, and another really busy one for me. Lots of turmoil...some work picked up, and some slowed down. The one project I was supposed to go to the Bay area to work on next week just up and vanished. Such is the freelance world. However, I did make it to Berkeley last week, so I was able to pick up the new DVD burner! Haven't had a chance to plug it in yet, but I will be doing that in the next day or so. (Some confusion from last week's broadcast, wondering how come I was able to pick up the poster that was sent me, but not the DVD machine. That's because I actually received the poster about a months ago--before I had ordered the drive.) I have been a bit sad in recent days due to this horrible bus crash that happened last Thursday. Just horrible--a big-rig FedEx truck lost control and crashed through the center-divide and into oncoming traffic. It hit a charter bus full of high school students head-on. Both vehicles burst into flames. Many of the kids fought their way out of the burning bus, but some did not. A total of ten dead, including the drivers of both vehicles. This incident reminds me of what happened when I was a freshman in high school. The worst school bus accident in US history happened then--it was an a cappella from Yuba City High (YC is a town about 12 miles north of Wheatland, where I grew up) that was riding down to the Bay Area for a concert at Orinda High School. Their bus developed mechanical problems, so the driver was trying to take the first exit coming off the Martinez Bridge when his brakes failed. He couldn't make the loop of the off-ramp, and the bus went over the railing, falling thirty feet and landing on its roof. Twenty eight kids were killed. I took ROP classes at YC High starting just a few months after the accident, and it was like a dark cloud hung over the school. There were two kids in my class who had lost their best friends in the crash. So that's why this latest bus accident weighs very heavily on me. My thoughts go out to the friends and families of those involved. Anyway, on a lighter note...I really enjoyed the chat last week! It was good to see my friends again--as well as some I had not heard from for a while! I do hope you can come back and join us again next month. We'll get silly and have some more fun! I know I expressed concern about my availability for that Sunday, so I'll keep you posted as to whether we might need to delay it a week. I'm not sure, because that was one of the projects that got scaled-back, so I might actually be done early on that one. However, I'm lobbying for more work on it, so if I am successful, I may have more to do. (Basically, it is for a trade show in Las Vegas called "EMC World," and I am producing some animations and video for the big video wall display they are going to have on the convention floor. That show opens on the first Monday of May, and if things are anything like they have been in the past, we will all be cranking like made the weekend before to get last-minute additions done for the show.) So anyway, I've got lots of work to get done today, so I will wish you all a great week, and we'll talk with you soon!
	Cheers, VacaDude

	Check out VacaDude's blog! Don't forget to send VacaDude your comments to let him know how much you appreciate him, his time & his talent!
	http://vacadude.wordpress.com/

	Hello there, Everbuddy!
	It is I, your favorite, fuzzy little rodent here. I just wanted to thank everyone for coming by for the StoryTime last week! Unfortunately we had to have Patrick the Puffin stand-in for the pelican, but I think he did a pretty good job. At least, when he wasn't trying to upstage me, that is! And then of course there was the sing-along of the California State Song with the Dude. I know it looked like I didn't know the words to the song when it first started, because my mouth didn't move. The Dude says it was something to do with a lack of coordination on his part...I really have no idea what he is talking about. I knew the words--I was just projecting them telepathetically. (hee hee) It really is a catchy tune, and it goes on for four versus, and the chorus four times--we could have been singing all evening long! Maybe sometime I will convince the dude to do the whole song. And maybe we can get some of the other of my fellow critters to sing along. Especially Zorrina--she has a lovely singing voice! Oh well, it looks like it is time for me to go--one of my favorite shows is about to come on! ("Lifestyles of the Fuzzy and Squeaky") Talk to ya next week!
	Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro

Puffins
	Shetland Islands Puffins	http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/

	Sea Island, Maine Puffin Burrow	http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam

	Sea Island, Maine Puffin Loafing Ledge	http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams.

Eagles
	Black Eagle South Africa	http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam Emoyeni (the black eagle) is set to return and start re-building her nest in anticipation of a new breeding season. She has been spotted on the nest several times in the last few days, so be on the lookout!

	Decorah Eagles Decorah, Iowa	http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

	Berry College Eagle Cam Mt. Berry, Georgia	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam

		http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm

Peregrine Falcons
	PA Falcon Cam Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp

	Commerce Tower Peregrines Kansas City, Missouri	http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon.

	Pitt Peregrine Falcon Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1

	Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2

	Emily Falcon Cam Caloundra, Australia	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam

	RFalconCam Rochester, New York	http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/

Talking Birds
	Watch the Birdie Bibi, the African Gray	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie

	Disco Talking Parakeet	https://www.youtube.com/user/MsJumpinJude/videos

Other Birds
	Hellgate Ospreys Missoula, Montana Sponsored by Cornell	http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/

	Ostrich Chicks (Offline now)	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live

	Streaming Bird Cams List of many cams	http://www.beakspeak.com/

Pandas
	San Diego Zoo Pandas	www.sandiegozoo.org (click on live cams) or http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo. Zoo's blogs: http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/giant-pandas/

	Twin Pandas at Zoo Atlanta	http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam#ff_s=aDIEl

	Giant Panda Cam National Zoo Washington, DC	http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm

Bears
	Kansas City Polar Bears Nikita and Berlin	http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam

	Brown Bears and Salmon Katmai National Park Alaska (off season- will return)	http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well)
	Black Bears Ely, Minnesota	http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html

Other Animal and Nature Sites
	San Diego Zoo and Safari Park	http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/

	The Pet Collective (many live cams)	http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/

	Critter Chat Cams Multi-Critter Site with Chat	http://critterchatcams.org/

	Friends of Felines Rescue Center Defiance, Ohio	www.ustream.tv/ffrc

	Little House Prairie Village, Kansas	http://www.tomnliz.com/Livecam/

	CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating)	http://chatterchopz.com/links/camslinks.htm