Unsentiments

This was Christmas. Or the eve. Driving near the freeway and seeing the peak alight. Drove to the vantage but just a bit too late. Bit of an obsession too, getting the shot.

Presently waiting on a download. Not much going on.

Getting Freeway

I've been working out the angles and timing for a significant picture.
A walkover might be indicated. Has to be in the morning. We'll see.

Nuances de vert

I've been quite detached of late. I'd say exactly why but for the ramifications.
Took a week vacation and did absolutely nothing. Ate well enough.
Today, the last day of October, I paid several bills. Glad enough to be able.
Taking all in stride, have gotten ahead; a small, but unavoidable expense here.

Police Power

So what's to aspire to?
I've taken to doing stories for Facebook.
No response whatsover. Per usual.
Am I an artist? I'd like to show them some chops.

Summer Passes

The heat's gone down under a hundred.
Monotony cubed. Good to move without sweating.

It rained today... good to feel the cool breezes.
Maybe get up into the mountains this weekend.

Souls on Board

Been a while since posting; same old, etc., an understatement.
Have neither gone anywhere nor done anything. Utter routine.
Happily, all is well at work and I'm pulling in $2.5K/mo. presently.
The house has gone way back up in value. Remains to be seen - the cashout.

Famous

Have been going through the hoops to do a 'selfie' for the sites.
And the publication process, eh? Well, it's done. All done.

Wish had more to say. Good dinner coming up with some cinema.
I'll be alright, I suppose. Usually am. I suppose. Am totally relaxed.

Same Old

Wow... more than a month since posting.
Have a secret life, I guess. How to tell?
Something else getting loaded every day.
Yesterday, another sunset. With a secret friend.

Operation Lantana

Life with purpose.

Simple, yet so complex.

It's really cherished.

On one side, new arrivals...

... on the other, survivors.

Been around long time.

Stressed is understatement.

Well, here's the new neighbor.

Last Rites

Stolen from an English tabloid.
No, not quite in any training mode.
Should rather be, surely. Get it together.
Did get some gardening done yesterday.

Back in training?

After a toke or two, encsonced with coffee and processor. Shot outside. 115°.

Could do pictures then work out. Completely forgot the availability. Out of it.

Snap Shot

I've gotten behind. On the photo mountings. Lost heart, somehow.
Not bad, this... snapped with the Kindle. Wish tree trunk would stand out.
I'm really not deft at this, trial and error and winging it. Lessen contrast?
It can be done - or at least tried and proven or not. Other things. Go back?

Brilliant Shot

How much to share this?
How to share this moment near her?

Hovering Delight

An awfully lucky shot alongside the Verde River.
The best pleasure I have is in seeing these photos.

Rocks Feel No Pain

It's my birthday. Have hit the wall. Will barbecue some ribs. That's that. 

Respite

A cloudy and cool day after the first hundred degree day this season.
Have to sit down and process photos for large prints. Get that done.
Stay at home weekend. Next week up to the Mogollon Rim. Hopefully.
Should get to gym and get on treadmill towards fitness for hikes. Yikes.

Dearly Beloved

Had wanted to go to church earlier today but stayed up late watching movies and then reading until dawn. Slept until noon. Took a walk... nice and cool. Miss old Eula. Think about getting another dog but am away too much from house, I think.

Saw this picture by Matthias Hakker as a bit of a substitute. Ruined Perpendicular Gothic. Very elegant and sadly beautiful. Don't think many of my fellow Baptists appreciate it much. Funny to think of the 'levelers' bashing it all in the English Puritan Revolt. They broke many a face and whitewashed plenty frescos.

Levelers! Nothing new there, comrades.  

Real Cool

Nice shot 'as is' with my Kindle pad. Camelback.
Back into work groove and now the weekend.
Much housekeeping to do. Stay at home presently.
Totally boring but someone's got to do it. Moi?

Good to be home!

The oleanders are going off at my humble abode.
After a good sleep and a barbecued London Broil last night
I am more or less ready to go back to work... still digesting!
Hope to be able to go with flow and avoid controversy.

If there is any, will engage the enemy closely and take a deep breath.
One of these days, will they treat us like professionals? They'd better.
Still, the aim is to watch out for the fellows and enjoy ourselves.
And be grateful for a 'free lunch' while keeping in mind: "Souls on board."

Out of My Element

I say... not bad; of an instant, catty-corner from relaxing at coffee. Many students here studying. Discussion groups. Old texts still out on the tables. Lucky them for the computing; how helpful that would have been with the maths and sciences!

There was a time when this image would fill me with chagrin, with the desire to be at home in school. Sort of the tweedy professor at some small liberal arts college - they've all gotten so large and impersonal. It's all a manifestation of time past and a seemingly lost culture. Like the art of letter writing. Conversation. People mostly bullshit about themselves, not much communicating about what's really 'there'. Get into a conversation with someone and they will usually turn whatever one says into something about themselves - they don't listen. They just use the moment to reactively spout off about something. And their mouths engage at a mile a minute in a scripted monologue; I can't understand what they say more often than not. They haven't got the respect for others to speak understandably... they are too familiar and expect you to mindlessly banter with them. Well, that's life among the proles. What do you expect?

Art? Literature? Philosophical musings? Never happens. They bore me out of my socks.
And their politics? Banality and aggressive projection of idiocy. Include me out, thanks.
Von Clausewitz said that war was simply the continuation of politics; they love war.
Somebody's got to pay for their quietly desperate lives! I am not moved nor will I be. 

Adios, California

These were the last shots done as I got into my truck.

Cypress Morning

Freeway Decor

Safe & Sound

Dreamy Draw

Home I am at 7pm without issue, as they say.
'Twas a good trip and glad for the change.
I can, however, appreciate Phoenix more.
Driving in, it looks so neat. LA decrepit.

Ars Gratia Artis

Since I couldn't do the Getty...
thought you might like this instead.

Knuckleheads of the world, unite!

Getty's Ego Presentation Center

Aiyee!! What is characteristic of museums in the local universe? Besides facilitating idol worship and snobbery? They are closed on Mondays! Yup... a no-brainer. So what do I do but get up bright and early this morning and go online to look at the map again. I go to the Getty site. Indeed, closed today. And no special viewing for Zonies. The Greco-Roman collection will have to wait 'til next time. Drat... I'd polished up on my Greek and Latin.

Otherwise, LA has little allure for me. Might like to 'do lunch' in Melrose but I'd rather get on the road and head home. Forgot to ask someone to water my roses and the later you wait the more traffic there will be. No desire to see the anyone's home nor to have a look at where OJ killed his ex-wife. Can't think of a thing. Thought I might like to go to the top of the Chase tower, one of the tallest here, because that's where my account is (D'ya think they'd let ya on the observation deck with your card?) and shoot the panorama but I really just want to get home. I got all the shots I need - three times as many posted.

It's going to be 6-7 hours back. The truck checks out A-OK.
Get my kit together here and, please God, have a safe, uneventful trip.

Wait! There's more!!

Tired and hungry, going to leave I passed by these items of pictorial interest. Took myself to a Starbucks to commence processing and editing. All went well. Then found a rib place. Really good... I mean falling-off-the-bone succulent good. Couldn't be more content. Plan on sleeping like a log and doing the Getty... never seen the new place.

Luscious

Intriguing

Stunner
 

Great shot there, Diana.
 

Industrial Egress

Le jardin japonais

Shinto Preserve
 

Ancient cultivators.
 

Bridge of Ooo
 

Epitome of Verdure
 

Don't cross me.
 

Good Walk
 

Can you hear me now?
 

No nails!

 

Time for my nap.
 

Sayonara.., I'll just snooze right here.

Railroad Fellow's Legacy

The Henry Huntington Library... he's from Oneonta, N.Y. and was the nephew of the fellow who built the Southern Pacific Railroad. He owned the local electric traction railroad and established this place to house his extensive art collection. I've done that tour a couple of times. It includes such as a Gutenberg Bible and Gainsborough's "Blue Boy" along with a lot of Ming stuff. I'm mostly going to walk the very extensive grounds.

Industrial Ingress

Class Conscious
 

Unique
 

We love your Conservatory!
 

Give us a hug!
 

Meditate Now Meditate
 

Popping!
 

No Place Like Home
 

D'ya'll go by Dionysus or Bacchus?
 

Very Class Conscious
 

We prefer the shade.
 

Can't bring you guys anywhere!
 

His Nibs is not to home.
 

LA Vista
 

Poinsettia Amidst
 

Croquet anyone?
 

Lovely.
 

Why, if it isn't the Temple of Love!
 

Too Red

Madame Somebody Tea Rose

TLC

Many roses; much folks.
 

Tea Room
 

Kudos to crew.