Final Rumbling...

I'm not sure what went wrong, but somehow I find myself spending my final day in Monterey, before heading back home to Chicago tomorrow. I can't really say it's gone by too quickly, as 50+ days on the road isn't exactly your typical, normally allotted week of vacation that most folks get to take, but on the other hand, it has gone by too quickly. It seems as if I just wearily hopped off the shuttle bus in Oxnard, but I guess that's not the case. 

Las Vegas, Port Hueneme, Los Angeles, San Diego, Pacific Beach, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and finally, St. Helena, where I got to reconnect with a good portion of my Chicago friends, as we celebrated Jody's 40th birthday. I suppose that's a pretty decent vacation. :) I kid, I kid, it's really been a great time and, once again, I'm thankful for all those who helped make this possible. I've already mentioned most of them, so I won't repeat, but I'd like to offer up a super duper special thank you to Laura, for graciously accepting me into her abode for the past month. She's been a great friend and I can't imagine how she put up with me for that long. If she ever decides to visit Chicago, she'll definitely have her pick of the couches out in the Orphanage. :) 

Here's the last batch of photos I'll post here in California. Click on any photo to bring up a wonderfully sexy slideshow. 

Point Lobos

This heart expresses my feelings toward Point Lobos as well as California in general and all the good folks I've had the pleasure of meeting during my stay. You've all been good to me, thanks! 

Valley of Fire

Two completely different parks (Point Lobos and Valley of Fire), both of which are visually stunning to look at, much like myself...just in a slightly more grandiose sort of way. This was the first day of my trip that I pulled out the tripod to use and, fortunately, not the last. It's gotten a lot of use so far, hopefully that will continue when I'm back home. I'd estimate that I've taken about 6000 pictures so far during this trip, and some of them are actually quite decent. Regardless, I've learned some new things regarding photography, which is what it's all about. 

Venice Beach

I've been in Monterey for a month now and it wasn't until yesterday that I actually saw the main beach. Not sure how that happened, but the weather here isn't quite conducive to swimming on the beach right now, though there were folks out there playing frisbee and frolicking in the surf. I was happy to just sit and watch with Laura while we ate our lunch. I ordered the special of the day, the chicken salad sandwich, and remarked that it was probably the same choice my grandma would have ordered. It's easier to chew and doesn't hurt my gums so much. 

Point Lobos

Here's my entry for the sepia tone competition. This is also at Point Lobos. I spent about 20 hours total here spread out on 4 different visits, and I'd be happy to spend 20 more walking around, but they probably wouldn't want me as I littered a couple times. There aren't all that many garbage cans while you're walking around, so twice I threw an apple core into the brush. I figured that wouldn't be so bad, but perhaps I'm wrong. 

Monterey

Not a bad little spot to catch a nap. Beyond that wall is the bay, so he's blocking the wind, while also soaking up quite a bit of sun. I'm sure there were a few other homeless folk who were quite pissed that they hadn't arrived early enough to grab this spot. 

Point Lobos

This is a rock formation in Point Lobos. This is where I'd normally insert some lame reference to rock and roll, but I'm not going to do it because I'm kind of tired and not really feeling it. You'll have to make do with no reference whatsoever. Sorry. 

Monterey

This is the building where Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck used to hang out in and drink and talk about ocean specimens. Ricketts was born and raised in some town called Chicago. I don't know where that is, but it sounds exotic, like some sort of sea anemone or panther. According to a local newspaper report, most people walk by this building (which is right by the Monterey Bay Aquarium) and have no idea what it is or why it's still there. I knew right away why it was there as I'm nerdy like that. If you ever read Cannery Row, by Steinbeck, the character Doc was modeled after Ricketts. 

Hummingbird

How much for that blurry hummingbird in the window? I tried, but I couldn't get this dang thing in focus. I thought I had it, but apparently they are fast and my camera was not set fast enough. I wasn't expecting a hummingbird while taking photos of flowers, so it caught me a bit off guard. Not that I'm always on guard, but sometimes I guess. 

Point Lobos

I'm a lot more tired than I thought. I can't remember if these are sea lions or otters. I'm thinking otters, but I have no idea and I'm not interested in googling it to find out. 

Santa Cruz

I am almost 100% certain that this is a surfer. Though now that I stop to think about it, a bit of doubt has crept into my mind. I believe she is using what is referred to as a surfboard to ride along the top of the water, much like Jesus did many years ago, though his board was painted the same color as the sea, so nobody could see it. Jesus was a surfer. 

Monterey

A colorful rooftop near downtown Monterey. I've no more words to add to this description. Please feel free to just enjoy the picture in and of itself with minimal outside distraction from me. 

Point Lobos

This was taken during my favorite trip to Point Lobos. It wasn't all that much different than the other three, except I spent a lot more time climbing over rocks and putting myself into slightly dangerous situations. It may not have been the wisest of choices to do some of that climbing, but it sure was fun. Brought me back 25 years to when I was a kid and used to take much more pleasure in exploring life. How do I get back to that full time? 

Pacific Grove

Fitting way for me to end this blog of photos with a photograph of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I'm going to miss you, Pacific Ocean! In such a short time, we've managed to become such good friends. Please don't visit me in Chicago, but I'll come back and we'll spend some more quality time with each other. I promise. 

Ojai, It's Me Again.

Oh Lord, is it warm in this coffee house today. I don't know if they turned up the temperature for all the seniors in here, or if all the menopausal women are causing this sharp spike in degrees fahrenheit. Either way they've forced my hand, and I've had to remove my hoodie. After a few beautiful, sunny days here in Monterey, the cold and fog have returned. I knew it would happen, but it could have waited another day or two. It's not all that bad though, you kind of get used to it after awhile. 

Oh, before I forget, Ojai, is pronounced Oh hi. Kristin and I drove up into the heat of Ojai a few weeks ago and visited Meditation Mount, an ice cream shoppe, a couple thrift stores, and Bart's Books.

Meditation Mount

Here's me on top of Meditation Mount. It's much more impressive of a mount than you can gather from this photo. Beautiful views looking down into the surrounding valleys, but those pictures didn't really turn out all that well, so you're stuck with this photo of me. Suckers! 

Meditation Mount

This is some sort of Chinese inspired structure to walk through on your way to the edge of the mount. Kristin and I both passed through it and neither of us turned Chinese, so don't worry about that happening if you ever get here. Also it took us about a half hour to drive here, and in that time the temperature went up by twenty degrees, which was pretty impressive to me, but apparently, quite common along the California coast. 

Ojai Ice Cream Shoppe

Pretty sure this would have been my all-time favorite store had I lived in Ojai as a child. My sweet tooth isn't quite as greedy for candy as it used to be (mostly due to decay), but I still enjoy some sweet concoctions now and again, and this store delivered the goods. I had a scoop of pistachio ice cream, which was just about the best ice cream I've ever tasted. It really was that good. And quite refreshing on a hot summer day. 

Mean Store Owner

The gall of some people. You open up a store next to an ice cream shoppe, and put a no ice cream decal in your window. Some people just don't understand sweet, creamy deliciousness. Kristin was going to smear the remainder of her mint chocolate chip cone inside the circle, but I talked her out of it at the last minute. She's usually very rational, but not this time. I think the heat and the lack of worthy thrift store purchases had her up to the limit. 

Bart's Books

Bart's Books

Bart's Books

Bart's Books

We pulled up next to this "outside" bookstore, which Kristin had raved about, and I thought to myself, "big deal...so they have books on shelves attached to the outside of the building." Turns out is is kind of a big deal. A large portion of the inside of the store is open air with no roof whatsoever, as you can see by the top picture. Some of the shelves were lined with weather beaten books, that I imagine don't get purchased too often. According to their website, this is the largest independently owned and operated outdoor bookstore in the nation, with almost a million books under the sky. 

There is a significant portion of the structure with a roof overhead, as they have many rare books, that probably shouldn't be left out in the sunshine for too long. I would have stayed here much longer, but Kristin had her books and was quite antsy to get home. Actually, that's not really true, but I could have loitered around for another hour or so looking at books and photographing the store. I did walk out with one book, which I'm currently reading, well not right at this minute, but over the past week, I've started reading it. It's called Last Train To Memphis, by Peter Guralnick. It's a book about Elvis' life in poverty to his rise to fame. Quite a good read so far. I highly recommend you purchase it either at Bart's Books or at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Or you can just borrow it for me, if you so desire. 

Well that's it for Ojai, but here's a bonus fun question for all of you. In writing this blog, I used two specific phrases which are derived from two different heavy metal songs. One if pretty obvious, the other, maybe not so much. If you know the answers, type them in the comments below. First person to answer correctly, gets to borrow my Elvis book first. :) Good luck my friends. 

OKCupid Aquarium Quickmatch Edition

I visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium last week and was surprised to find that they have their own dating website for whichever creatures want to join. I guess sea creatures need love too. Anyway, as I walked around taking pictures, I jotted down some of the personal info as well. If any of you have any goldfish or perhaps an aquarium of your own and want your fish to hook up with any of these little critters, let me know and I'll see if I can't get you their digits. 

Longsnout Seahorse

My self summary

Born and raised in Italy, on the Italian Riviera. Did my PHD in England. Lived in different parts of Europe, San Diego and now in Chicago. Work as a manager in one of the main universities in Chicago. I love to travel mainly to places by the ocean with amazing beaches and nature.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music and food

Hip Pop, the power of Now, fish
The six things I could never do without

Sport, the ocean, my parents, my closest friends, good food, money

Spotted Jelly

My self summary

- The best is when you’re having your cha-cha eaten with a white Russian in one hand and a smoke in   the other. (there goes the mouth again)

- He bitch with a magina (half man)

- My pussy is like crack…u can never get enough of it. (so I was told)

- Born in an igloo and ate whales blubber fthe first 3 years of my life (AK)

- (BJ) 8% like the feeling, 12% like the domination, 80% like the fucking silence (chatter box)

Leafy Sea Dragon

My self-summary

I’ve divorced my fears, broken up with my doubts, got engaged to my faith and now I’m marrying my dreams! Trust God!

The first thing people usually notice about me

My smile, bow legs and wonderful personality. 

Indonesian Sea Nettle

My self summary

UPDATE: I am in a relatioship. Not available anymore.

I’m a honest, passionate, funny(humor is a must have), upfront, caring, loving, and bold women…..sometimes to a fault. I like to have fun. I can be a little wild at times but it’s harmless. What you see is that you get….I am just Me. I do not sugar coat anything. I call it like I see it! I will not play games!

I have been told that I have amazing eyes and great hair. What do you think?

If you have an inflated ego then you are not the one for me.

I like tattoos……..but tatts are not a requirement. Long hair scores points also. But I get weak in the knees for a bald man. And if you ride a Harley…….let’s just say…..bonus points. I really enjoy riding and would love it if you had a bike, but it’s not a requirement. I love to kiss. So, yeah, making out rocks in my book! I like chocolate, a good ribeye steak, lobster, and Captain and diet is my drink of choice.

Purple Striped Jelly

The first things people usually notice about me

My dimples when I smile and scarcastic humor.

Food: I’m open to trying different foods but don’t eat red meat, pork, mushrooms, or anything exotic. Casual or upscale is fine with me. 

Black Oystercatcher

What I’m doing with my life

I wrk also im mobile live alone, go to school for bussiness, would like to have my own company. 

Weedy Sea Dragon

My self summary

I tend to be shy and quiet til I get to know you but been told I’m very easy to get along with and not all that great in the looks department but I think I make up for that with my friendly, warm and caring personality.

Crown Jelly

My self summary

I’m a divorced bisexual woman living the life most men would dream of – I get to have sex with women! LOL! Plus, thanks to my divorce, I no longer have to work. How great is THAT!?!?!?!?

I’m really good at

Spending my ex-husband’s money, shopping and I’ve been told I’m pretty good in bed! LOL!

Bird

What I’m doing with my life

I’m the Operations/Marketing Administrator at a IT Consulting firm in the loop.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music and food

I love all music, classic rock, singer/songwriter, dance/electronic, country, yep, everyrthing, except old school gangsta rap, like too short, I don’t like that, so if you don’t know who that is, then great. I like going to live shows, and I read a lot, but all different kinds of things. 

Lion's Mane Jelly

My self summary

Born and raised in Chicago. Loves the summers, could do without the winters. Cannot live without gummy bears and Doritos. Don’t worry, I workout 6 days a week. Fitness has and will always be a big part of my life. It’s good for the mind, the soul. Oh and the body too.

I’m really good at

Talking to total strangers

Stopping to pet every dog that I pass on the street

Walking in really high heels

Making grilled cheese. 

Upside Down Jelly

My self summary

Ok well a little about myself. Am a loving ,kind positive,strong,affectionate,openminded person that loves to have fun. I like taking long trips just to see sights, walking and holding hands like teens I love kissingand just feeling young and in love, or just staying home going out to eat taking a long walk on the lake,or sitting home and watching a movie before taking a long bath and getting ready to give and receive a sensual massage.

I am -,-, and -.

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Winning lottery building house for myself a gatehouse for children. Personally helping plenty of less fortunate. Open a chain of businesses.

The most private thing I’m willing to admit

I’m a very sensual person. 

Moon Jelly

My self summary

I enjoy living life fully. I’m always up for an adventure and especially love music and dancing. Although I’m an actor, I’m not looking for drama. I’m pretty chill and am looking for someone to hang out with, enjoy life with. 

Mediterranean Jelly

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Also, lately I think a lot about dating and relationships and how some of my own wants and assumptions have changed over time. I want to present myself honestly, but realize that sometimes doesn’t easily translate into common ground or understanding. I am very open minded and tolerant and gravitate towards people with similar qualities, but I also have some significant biases.

If you are new to the concept of polyamory, here is a brief definition:

Polyamory is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having  more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.

Sea Nettle

My self summary

I have traveled to some incredible places and during my travels I discovered my penchant for losing things, like passports when traveling to said countries. I managed to throw one in the garbage!

Japanese Sea Nettle

My self summary

Hi there Lets try this one more time . I am blazeinharley looking for a Sweet Guy looking for someone that is honest and careing and mostly loveing who is kind at heart .I want a guy who knows how to treat a lady.I want the connection to be extreme .Have you ever walked by or look deep in the persons eyes and the kiss was in tense and new they were the one .I would love to have that feeling in my life and find thee one to say i love you to and if i said it every minute all i do is think of you would you do the same for me are you really down for me? I wanna love you like you never been loved i wanna hold you like you never been hold .I wanna be the one to light up your world the one and only love of your life. I wanna share are deepest momments together and ask how your day is at work I wanna show you how love is really suposed to be like. And about me well i dont like big crowds or being around lots of people . I not much of a party person or bar person i not a big drinker I also looking for someone who has a lot of time for me i don't hang with friends cause i am to busy finding the person i miss most in my life . I am a true honest compassionate loveing understanding person i would do so much for the person i love to the fullest.I also dont care what type of car you have or if you live in a million dallor house with a pool or a beat down little shack. If you have a roof over your head and a car and a job that pays some what well thats a plus. I not big on looks or the persons size most people dont know what love is .They sit there and they say oh i want my girl or guy to be handsome and fit and looks are a must .Welltelll you the truth thats not love .What is love is who you are when they first meet you or your pic.I get tired of people copying others and they got love all wrong cause the honest truth is looks fade love never dies .If your gonna base your life on looks then get lost cause thats not love its what you have in common.And honestly you make love the way you feel just cause its in a movie dont mean you cant make it real.An d want to say this beauty and the beast she didnt fall for him cause of his looks she fell for him from the heart i bleive you can fall for some one your not attracted to its only in the mind because your baseic in on looks . Try to look at how much you get along or how the person treats you . Guys out there i not like most girls I am one in a million i know what love is so msg me i will guarntee to write you .And thanks for reading

Rumbling Randoms

Today I find myself sitting in a quaint little coffee house in Pacific Grove, CA. It is definitely quaint, but I lied about the little part, as it's quite large actually. I don't know why I lie to you folks who read my blog. I apologize for that and I won't do it again for the duration of this blog (post).

Onto the pictures...

Cherry Jubilee Car Show

Spent an afternoon about a week or two ago walking up and down Alvarado Street in Monterey, as the Cherry Jubilee Car Show was going on that day. The whole street was lined with old relics, much like this 1955 Buick Century. I know nothing about cars, but I really enjoy car shows like this one. Hundreds of beautiful, classic automobiles from points in time that I'll never be able to witness for myself. A quick step back in time if you will.

Dodgers Stadium

Somebody needs to discipline that little punk before he injures Clayton Kershaw, who is sitting behind him. Not sure what Kershaw is doing in the seats, as he was also pitching during this game, but perhaps the Dodgers are more fan friendly than most teams.

Lake Cachuma

Some pictures just look better in black and white. Also, some pictures I just have no idea what to do with them to make them look right, so the easy decision is to turn them to black and white and be done with it.

Shrimp Tales!

Shrimp Tales is the name of the new Nickelodeon show I've got in the works. Should be on your television sometime next fall. Who says food photography is difficult? Well perhaps it is more difficult than food garbage photography, but probably not as fun. Not sure why I was so drawn to this, but I knew I had to take a photo of it, and I'm pretty happy with the results.

USA! USA! CALIFORNIA! CALIFORNIA!

I really don't know anyone more patriotic than myself. I was going to write that last sentence, but then realized it would be a lie and I promised not to lie anymore in this post. I left the sentence anyway after realizing that I already lied in the blurb about the Shrimp Tales picture. I just can't stop. Anyway if this picture doesn't prove what a true patriot I am, then I don't know what will. Perhaps a write in vote for Reagan in November?

Coming Together

This is a sculpture near the convention center in San Diego. It's titled, Coming Together, and it was created by Niki de Saint Phalle. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to google it, because I'm not all that interested in doing the research myself. This doesn't quite capture the whole piece, but I wasn't all that interested in capturing the whole piece. Sometimes partial pieces will do just fine.

Day Bird Flying

This is a photo of a bird. Just wanted to point that out to you in case you weren't quite sure what it was. I know a lot of my readers live in the Chicagoland area, and I don't recall whether or not there are birds there, so I wanted to clarify. Here in California, I've seen birds, deer, otters, dogs, cats, and a mountain lion.

Monterey Shopping District

This isn't really the shopping district, but it is a strip mall, and there's nothing I like more than malls that strip. There's really nothing more to say about this subject.

Venice Beach

Remember what I said about making pictures more interesting by changing them to black and white? There are also other ways to accomplish this, which is what I decided to do with this photo of the lifeguard station. I don't really like to use these effects, as it seems like cheating, but I think this one turned out pretty well. I sort of miss those lazy days of lounging around on the beach. Monterey is great and all, but this is where my farmers tan came to die. RIP greatest farmers tan I've ever known. I miss you!

Bacon Wrapped Hotdog

This was a damn, fine hotdog she was selling on Hollywood Boulevard. Without a doubt, one of the better decisions I made during my stay in LA. Not sure why I haven't seen or thought of bacon-wrapped hot dogs back home, but it's definitely worth the trouble.


EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS PHOTO TIME!!!!

My Bacon-Wrapped Hotdog!

So that's the finished product before I ingested it into my digestive system. Not sure if I've ever had mayo on a hot dog before, but it was quite good. I used to put ranch dressing on my hot dogs back in high school, but haven't tried it in quite some time. It's probably still delicious.

So that's the end of Rumbling Randoms. I hope you've enjoyed it half as much as I did.

Have a good day!

Random Rumblings...

Hi there!

Please say that in your best Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington voice. I did and it felt great. Try it, and you'll understand what I'm talking about. If you don't, I feel just a bit sorry for you and your upbringing.

Anyway, my time in California is slowly winding down. Seems like I've been gone a long time, but at the same time, it sure does feel like I could stay for a lot longer. I've used this time to contemplate where I'll be headed next once I arrive back in Chicago. I don't mean so much a location, but rather a what to do with myself once and for all kind of destination. I believe some people refer to these sorts of things as goals, but I might be wrong, as I've never understood that term. Alright...only a small portion of my time has been spent pondering that eternal question, but some time was devoted to it. That's a start anyway. I'll have it all figured out soon enough, but in the meantime, here are some pictures to look at while you and I avoid thinking about how ridiculous it is that my internal career compass points in no discernible direction.

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam

Here are two pics of Hoover Dam for you in case you hadn't figured that out by either recognizing the pictures or reading the captions. I won't wax poetic about this place because that's just not something I can eloquently pull off in this space. I'm not Mitt Romney, for God's sake! Beautiful place. I highly recommend you go here sometime. Take a look at the tiny people standing at the ledge and also note the small trucks on the platform near the bottom of the gorge. And yes, they're actually tiny people.

Los Angeles

Interesting piece of street art as far as I'm concerned, and I am, or I wouldn't have photographed it. Took this down the street from some bar Shukri and I frequented before heading to Dodgers Stadium to take in another Dodgers loss. I guess Kershaw didn't have his full arsenal going that day. And I have to guess, because I spent most of the game photographing instead of watching the action on the field.  Unfortunately,  I completely forgot to walk around the park during the game to take in some different views. Oops. Anyway the stadium lived up to the hype, and thanks to some shifty shenanigans, I went home with a Vin Scully bobblehead.

Space Shuttle

I was fortunate to be in Monterey as the Space Shuttle took it's final flight down the coast to it's final destination somewhere in Los Angeles. Laura skipped out on work for a couple hours and we went down to the bay to watch this historic flight. It wasn't really all that exciting, as we stood around for about an hour before it flew past, but it was still fun and a moment I won't soon forget.

Port Hueneme Pier

I spent quite a bit of time trying to photograph this pier and I'm afraid that I never did quite capture what I was trying for. Oh well, at least I tried. Practice makes perfect my friends. Spoke to another photographer a couple days ago at an art exhibit here in Monterey and he told me he's been photographing for most of his life, but only got serious about it six years ago. I commented that that was good to hear as it makes me think there's still hope for me. He responded by sucker punching me in the gut and telling me to go learn a respectable trade like printing.

Venice Beach

Spent my last day in LA walking up and down Venice Beach looking for cheap t-shirts, hats and sunglasses. Couldn't find any places selling that stuff. That's weak sarcasm, as the whole strip of beach is filled with about 300 small shops selling the same items. It is somewhat ridiculous, but highly entertaining to walk along and people watch.

Balboa Park

My Mom has put San Diego on her list of places to go visit and I'd be happy to go with if she'll pick up the plane and hotel fares. Actually, I'll even be extra generous and pay for my own flight, if she'll also spring for the rental car. She'll need someone to drive her around, as it's warm down there and what with all the walking back and forth, she'll need someone who will be kind enough to let her sit and rest on a bench while the car is fetched, right? Maybe not. But maybe, yes. Mom, you've got my number, let me know when you want to go.

Lake Shrine

I threw this picture of a flower in just for my wonderful Mother, who, if Mothers were flowers, would be the most beautiful, caring, loving flower in the whole of the universe. That's just how great she is! And you may say that flowers don't care or love, but you're just saying that because your own Mother failed you too often.

Old Town, San Diego

I got a small chuckle out of seeing this sign on the floor before stepping into one of the many shops in San Diego's Old Town. Most of the other buildings had plaques explaining the purpose of the old building way back when and if anything noteworthy happened in it. Something interesting probably did happen on that site back in 1897, but whatever it was will most likely never be known. Perhaps a young boy was scolded for pulling his sisters hair or maybe someone got too liquored up and passed out in the dirt road. I really don't know, and honestly, don't really care all that much. Let's move on...

Port Hueneme

Lots of Port Hueneme pictures today. Well two is a lot when you're only showing ten pictures total. That's 20%. Here's a lifeguard tower on the beach silhouetted by the rising sun. Not sure what else to write about this one, so I'll just thank Chris and Kristin once more for letting me stay at their place for a good portion of my stay here in the great state of California. Thanks you two!

Well there you have it. Round two of the photo extravaganza is finished. Time to hit publish on this blog so I can go back to Laura's, grab my camera and go find something interesting in Pacific Grove to photograph. Wish me luck, I need it. :)