While fishing in the Monterey Bay tends to be my main focus in this column, I have to give respect to the amazing marine mammals in the outer waters, as well.

August is a month of transition in the garden. Some plants, such as dahlias and crape myrtles, are in full glory, while others are starting to wind down. If you look closely, dormant flower and leaf buds are just starting to form on lilacs, rhododendrons and camellias.

What would you do if you saw someone collapse and fall to the ground in front of you? Some might panic and do nothing. Some might at least call for help, and others might attempt some form of CPR.

Is it better to pay taxes now or pay them later?

A couple of months ago, my friend’s landlord decided to remodel his house on 12th Avenue in Santa Cruz. Matt Umstead, the tenant, helped as Adam Dahlen Construction gutted a side bedroom and put in some new foundational support. As the team dug, they began finding old empty bottles. Many of them were ancient whiskey bottles, and some were old, forgotten wine bottles.

**Isaiah Strusis Timmer was born at 6:35 a.m. July 6, 2010, to Cassandra Elaine and Matthew Dean Timmer of Scotts Valley. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.

So I joined that new gym in Scotts Valley, not club No. 2. And, I must say, it is quite amazing! I will be writing about it in future columns. But something happened this week that I thought was thought-provoking on many levels.