ARRRRHHHHHHHH

a virus has been eating my computer!!

On Wednesday my computer started acting weird, it kept popping up messages that said I had a virus and I had better buy their software quick (and expensive) to take care of it.  It took over my computer - all the pop-ups warning me WERE the virus!  It would not allow me to run anything else and it finally started shutting off my computer and restarting it if I tried to do anything.  I spent all day and most of Wednesday night trying to get rid of it.  I was out of my league.  I took it to the Computer Emergency guys and I just got it back.  I am so hoping that the virus is now truly gone.  It was not too comforting to hear him say, oh if it does not work bring it back Monday, we won't charge you again.  Monday?  Oh I hope not, I hope it is gone.  At least I can use my computer now.

It is amazing how much I am attached to my computer.  It feels like my life line.......I am not sure that is a good thing.  I will think about it too much and maybe figure it out.

PS

Oh and the virus named itself as malware doctor, and antimalware doctor.  There is a program that is good, called Malwarebyte anti-malware, notice the hyphen, that is the difference!  This program is free on the web.  

   Paradise in Peril 

This gorgeous beach is Bahia de Tenacatita.  Half way between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on Mexico's west coast, it has long been a destination for those escaping the crowds, looking for a quiet place to camp on the beach, or just to enjoy a fresh fish dinner while the kids swim in the gentle waves and babies play in the sand.

The crescent beach on the left is Playa de Tenacatita, the small one on the right, Playa Mora.  The few restaurants that are on the beach are on Playa Tenacatia.  In addition are a few small hotels, and recently 2 tiny stores.  La Mosca was the last restaurant on the beach, serving fish his sons caught that morning.  Past mosca there is no electricity.

The story goes that years ago an environmental rights group won a case against lights on the beach.  That beach is a prime nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles.  If there are lights on the beach, the turtles become confused and ofter go toward the lights instead of the sea.  There is a line of electric poles out to the end of the beach that have never been used.

Playa Mora has the distinction of having the beach of the bay on one side and the beach of the open ocean on the other.  It is a very special place.  In addition the bay side is home to a coral reef that supports a variety of colorful and fascinating fish and other aquatic life forms.  It is a safe and magical place to snorkel, one of the few on Mexico's Pacific coast.

I heard many years ago that the ownership of Tenacatitia was in question.  I heard that 2 ejidios and a developer were fighting over it.  I figured that is why it was still so nice.  No one was going to invest much until they knew and could prove who owned it.

Last Wednesday, August 4th, the people of Tenacatita were surprised and forcibly moved from their homes, the road has been barricaded off and guarded by riot police.  Horrible stories abound on a local La Manzanilla message board about the police take over in favor of the developer in Tenacatita.

http://members5.boardhost.com/lamanzanilla/index.html?1266882296

Many of us have family and friends who have deep connections with Tenacatita, going back to the 50's.

This is a photo I took there last winter, visiting friends who have camped on that same spot for 6 months for almost 20 years.

This knoll does not look like much, it is the end of Playa Mora.  There is a steep trail up to the clearing you can see in the photo.  We use to go up there for sunset, the view was unparalleled.  My friends sang Love and Gratitude to the evening sun with music and sounds.  It was a very moving and powerful experience.  

             

This is the view from the sweet little hotel I stayed in for the last 10 years......

and was hoping to spend many more.

This is the view from the beach in front of the hotel.  It is a magical place and I know there are many really good people working on making this right and winning this amazing place for the people, the regular people and not just another resort for the super rich.

and I was planning on taking my granddaughter there this winter to snorkel......I can still have hope. 

My 58th birthday was great!  Thanks to all of you who sent me good wishes - they worked!

Mom made me this awesome chocolate cake with her famous chocolate frosting!  Yum!

 I am one lucky girl

Have you wondered what I have been doing in Florida?

I have been walking the beaches,

with the Turtle Patrol!

This is a dedicated group of volunteers, the Coastal Wildlife Club, a non-profit with no paid staff, that patrol miles of barrier beaches protecting the sea turtles. Five species of sea turtle inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, 2, the Loggerhead and the endangered Kemp's Ridley, use the beaches right here in Englewood. It is very exciting. There are over a thousand marked nests. I can't wait to see one excavated - after the babies have crawled to the sea, they excavate the nest, count the egg shells, see if any are still in there having trouble and hope to find clues to saving these magnificent ancient creatures.


W. is looking at baby Snowy Plovers, on the last walk we saw the nests. They are also endangered and we are helping a sister organization with sightings and counts. The baby birds are so adorable. One of the most amazing things I have ever seen is watching them learn to fly that day! They ran on the first low ridge of sand, right into the wind, then flapped their fluffy little wings like mad and got 2 inches off the gound for a foot or 2. Precious.


Oh and the green thing W. is holding - we also pick up all the trash when we walk.



This is Palm Island, you get there by taking a small car ferry, friends in Washington, think 6 cars small.

and the views just go on and on....

the water is about 85 degrees,

it just does not get much better than this.

I wonder when you will be coming to visit.....

Happy Birthday Frida!

I wish I could have known you.

Thanks for the paintings.

that's the spirit!

Hope you had a good Independence Day!

I think when they said, burn your bra, they meant for you to take it off first.......

Happy First Day of SUMMER!

Does that mean I can take off my fleece jacket now?