Sincere apologies about the lack of updates on the story of Buddy the caterpillar (who did turn into a beautiful Buddy-Fly). Photos & stories soon to follow.
I’ve been pretty busy, but I wanted to write something because today is kind of a special day for me. Ten years ago on this day, I was almost killed in a bike-SUV collision. I had critical injuries - the hospital staff later confessed that they didn’t think I would survive - but here I am today. I am a little less coordinated than I used to be, I have quite a few scars, and still struggle with learning & memory problems - but I still think I am the luckiest girl alive.
I have posted some images from that day, and the weeks that followed. The pictures aren’t too bad; maybe just a little bit sad. However, there’s a happy smiling picture of me at the end:
Special thanks to the doctors, family members, friends, and bike helmet that saved my life.
It’s really fun to watch the caterpillar eat dill - they eat all day long, and poop out these perfectly spherical little poops that smell like dill. I was hoping to catch Buddy eating on video, because it’s quite mesmerizing (see this photo I took years ago, before the wonders of YouTube). But alas, when I came home today, Buddy had already started to metamorphose. As seen here, he has decided to pupate on the side of his cage:
In this blown-out close-up image, you can really see the silk he has laid out to attach himself firmly to the wire mesh:
It’s incredible to watch a caterpillar transform into a butterfly - undoubtedly one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Hopefully I will be able to capture more of the action on film.
Astonishingly, Buddy grew approximately 33% in 24 hours. I barely recognized him, but luckily I only have one caterpillar and he was sitting on the same sprig of dill (which appears to be shrinking).
It’s been a few years since I’ve raised wild caterpillars, and I thought I had retired from caterpillar wrangling for good. But a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Walden Pond wilderness united me with this young buck of a caterpillar named Buddy:
Buddy was just a tiny little caterpillar, probably the runt of the litter. But after just one day of non-stop eating, he has almost doubled in size to a whopping one inch in length (pictured above).
Stay tuned for more adventures of Buddy the Caterpillar. In the meantime, please enjoy photos of my previous caterpillars/butterflies.
I didn’t realize it was April 1 until Victor sent me this photo of his bicycle. It appears that his staff decorated his bike so it would go with his outfits. How cute!
My “kitty litter box” birthday cake last year was such a hit, I think I’ll make it again this year. In case you can’t wait until January 31 to be utterly grossed out, here is a picture and the recipe:
KITTY LITTER BOX CAKE
Ingredients:
2 boxes white cake mix
2 packages instant pudding mix (vanilla, cheesecake, or coconut flavor)
1 large package vanilla sandwich cookies
green or blue food coloring
tootsie rolls or chocolate covered nuts (bridge mix)
eggs, vegetable oil, milk (to prepare the cake and pudding)
Equipment:
Large freezer bags and rolling pin (for crushing the cookies)
Large cat litter pan (preferably clean and unused)
Cat litter scoop (also preferably clean and unused)
Procedure:
Prepare cake according to package instructions. Let cool. If desired, trim off the golden brown crust.
Meanwhile, prepare pudding mix according to package instructions. Chill.
Place cookies in freezer bags and crush into litter-sized granules. Alternatively, crumble the cookies in a food processor.
Color about 1/3 cup of cookie crumbs with a few drops of blue food coloring.
Crumble cake in a large bowl, and mix gently with the pudding and 1/2 of the uncolored cookie crumbs. Place in litter pan.
Sprinkle remaining cookie crumbs (including the colored crumbs) on top.
To make simulated cat poops, heat unwrapped tootsie rolls briefly in the microwave until soft and pliable (a few seconds should do). With clean hands, shape into poo-like blobs and arrange in clumps in the litter box (refer to the above picture or your cat’s litter box). Alternatively, use chocolate-covered bridge mix.
An observant telemarktips reader sent me this tip yesterday:
I stumbled across this on ebay and recognized the pic from a teletips thread, suspected that this wasn’t a legit use of your photo, and thought you might want to put a stop to it:
Since I didn’t do anything the last time someone used the photo in an advertisement without paying up, I decided to take action this time. I sent photographer/bounty hunter Alexander Scott on the trail:
Dear Scottyharmon1: Quick note to let you know that you are using a photograph I took of my friend Wendy Chao for your eye wear image. As a power seller I am sure that you are aware that eBay does not approve of unauthorized image use. I would be happy to sell you limited usage rights to this lovely image for $375. Look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Alexander Scott (upadesha) www.alexanderscott.com“
The reply:
Alexander, just a note to commend you on your fine work. We viewed your website and love your photography. We are also professional photographers and appreciate great work. We have suspended the use of the gallery photo until our decision is made as to how we will decide to use it. Best regards, Scotty Harmon”
And another reply:
Hello Alexander and thank you for your email. I was not aware that there was a problem using this photo and will be happy to pay for the use of this photograph going forward. I would like to discuss this with my graphics department and we will get back to you with an answer as to our decision. Thank you again, Scotty Harmon”
Sounds like a reasonable guy. I hope he sells a lot of sunglasses and pays Alex for the photo. I also hope he’s not selling those sunglasses I’m wearing in that photo - they put a big gash on my face when I crashed at Alta a few years ago.
It appears that I am CNN’s top Coney Island Correspondent! More footage that I shot on-location appeared on CNN.com today:
[click image for video]
This video contains 10 seconds of another ride on the Cyclone. I was sitting in the middle car, which, believe it or not, makes for a better video than the front car. The middle car gives the steadiest shot (the front and rear cars jump the track a lot), and you can see the other cars and riders - making it feel like you’re actually riding the oldest and scariest rollercoaster in the world. See the complete Cyclone ride here.
One of the videos I shot on the Coney Island Cyclone landed a spot on CNN.com:
[click image for video]
It’s interesting how they edited the video so the beginning of the ride was actually at the end of the video. It doesn’t make much sense when you watch it - but who am I to question . In any case, you can see the original version here.
I’m not one to post things in a timely manner, so the rest of my Coney Island photos and videos will come at a later date. In the meantime, please enjoy Mandie’s photos, Mary’s photos, and the website of Brendan The Pretty Good - an old friend who I was delighted to see performing in the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.
I’ve been making pilgrimages all summer to Coney Island, the last great American icon. Tomorrow I make my final journey to Coney Island’s Astroland amusement park, as the land underneath it has been sold to the evil Thor Equities. After September 9, Astroland will cease to exist. The Cyclone rollercoaster and the Wonderwheel are historical landmarks and will continue to operate, but they just won’t be the same without the boardwalk, the fortune tellers, the junky booths, and the $0.25 toilets.
Join in the rally tomorrow to save Astroland
Sign the petition to save Astroland
Buried deep within my film archives was some footage I shot at the “Running of the Brides” wedding dress sale at Filene’s basement, some of which was used for a documentary that will air next year on The Learning Channel. This scene features my friend Tomoki buried deep within a wedding dress, and was probably deemed too controversial for TLC. Here is an exclusive look:
Famous French movie star Juliette Binoche has been conspicuously absent from recent tabloids, and it is rumored that she has gone undercover for a role as a world-class scientist. Unconfirmed reports have placed her at an eye research institute in Boston, studying the pathologies of the choroidal vasculature and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A recent photo suggests that this may be true:
Like Ms. Binoche, this woman speaks with a French accent and does not appreciate being chased by paparazzi. Note the other striking similarities to the talented star:
A. Impeccably groomed eyebrows
B. Miniature disco ball (Ms. Binoche is a purported collector of small- to mid-sized disco balls)
C. Lustrous hair
Juliette Binoche lookalike (source: The National Enquirer)
Juliette Binoche on a red carpet somewhere (source: The Internet)
This woman has taken great lengths to conceal her real identity, and even created a phony Facebook profile. If you get the chance, please tell her what an amazing scientist she is, despite having played only non-scientific roles in the past.
Mandie and I went to see The Police at Fenway Park:
No, not the Boston Police - though they were there too - we saw The Police in concert! It was totally awesome because Mandie scored free tickets. Face value: $250 each. Way to go Mandie!! Click here to see the photos!
Two weeks after completing my career as professional student (and two weeks into my new career as an academic bum), I was flipping through the Boston Metro and what did I see? No, not another Gibbs College ad - it was an ad for the 2007 Health & Fitness Expo, where none other than Caridee English (the model formerly known as America’s Next Top Model) would make an appearance! Naturally, Mandie and I hurried over to the Hynes Convention center - with cameramen Alex and Travis in tow.
Caridee was absolutely lovely, and autographed my arm, my pill box, and my Schepens Eye Research Institute I.D. She also gave us autographed photos and declared us to be her “favorites…for now.” Aww! I think she liked us, and wanted to be our friend. Which would be awesome, because then I’d only be two degrees of separation from Tyra Banks!
…the much-anticipated documentary, “Running of the Brides” starring Mandie and Jason, will (allegedly) air on The Learning Channel!
Initially, the show was supposed to air today, but TLC has delayed the premiere. A wise decision, because the sizzling costars probably have to go on a big promotional tour (talk show circuit, host Saturday Night Live, throw a few pitches at Major League games, et cetera). But the show is in post-production (as seen in the publicity stills below) and will air exactly one year from today (hopefully). Stay tuned. Meanwhile, you can see their lovely wedding photos here or watch their pre-wedding video here.
Renting the stupid PhD cap and gown (see below - HOT!): $150
Dissertation binding, rush order (which Harvard will NOT reimburse): $135
Additional dissertation processive fee charged by Harvard: $115 (why??)
Sticking it to Harvard by selling my tickets to the afternoon exercises: PRICELESS.
Please help me recoup my losses by purchasing my tickets - I have 5 to the afternoon exercises, where Bill Gates (famed Harvard dropout and richest man in the world) will address all of us Harvard suckers who stayed in school. http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tix/345864153.html
, reporting to you live from Coney Island, I’m Wendy Chao. Back to you, Anderson Cooper.”
