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.

Pasadena Dormidamente

Pasadena real nice; sort of Phoenix central corridor. Nicer.

San Marino nicest. But dense. Lots of street traffic. Upscale.
But people pay way too much for housing here. International demand.
And how 5 lane freeway gets tied up of a Sunday afternoon beyond me.

Slept in good this morning. A little housekeeping in the truck.
Am just going to do the Huntington today. Getty tomorrow.
Slightly overcast but clearing. Have no idea of temperature.
Ha... that's an Arizonan's attitude... we don't want to know!

LA Humongously Yours

Malibu
 

Care to be interviewed?

No changes - 40 years!
 

Santa Monica Pier
 

Sunset with Dumpsters

It was a long day. Lots of driving with several changes in iternary.
Got to Malibu about 3pm and didn't feel like staying there for sunset.
Did get some fish. I first ate there in 1973! Cod OK but chips very soggy.
Much traffic southbound Highway 1, beach goers going home, I suppose.

Took a while to get to Santa Monica, where I had decided to try for shot.
Again, not over the sea... mountains between. Not bad, however.
Very tired and glad to check into motel, take a shower and will head out shortly.
Not exactly clubbin' - we'll see. Probably will hit the sack sooner than later.