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. :)

Pacific Surfliner

I’m taking the Pacific Surfliner train from Oxnard to Salinas. They call it Surfliner, because it runs along the coast a good portion of the way. I don’t actually know if that’s why they call it that, but it makes good sense to me. I’m thankful that the person beside me decided to take the aisle seat, leaving me the amazing views of the coastline along the Pacific. If you’ve never had the opportunity to see the Pacific firsthand, it’s a large body of water. Lots and lots and lots of water. I would guesstimate there are at least 100,000 gallons or so, but I’m not a scientist, so there will be absolutely no way to verify my calculations. There are also over 47 different types of vegetation growing along the coast. It’s quite beautiful, but also sobering knowing that Mitt Romney plans to destroy all of the coast in order to build a giant garage for his estate in La Jollla.

So it’s been 25 days since I’ve started this vacation, and almost every single day has been fantastic. I can’t begin (but I’ll try) to express my gratitude towards Chris and Kristin and Bean and Shukri and Rahn and Robin and Buddy for their kind generosity in making this possible. If I had to spring for hotel rooms this whole time, I’d have been back in Chicago three weeks ago with the rest of the pool team. Fortunately, for myself, I’ve made some pretty damned good friends along the way and they’ve taken good care of me over the past few weeks. Hopefully I’ll be able to repay their kindness someday. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but someday it’ll happen.

I would also like to prematurely thank Laura for accepting my invitation to freeload for a while at her place in Monterey. I once gave someone the nickname freeshow, because she decided to frolic through a fountain on a hot Missouri afternoon with just a flimsy t-shirt standing between her wet breasts and my perverted eyes. And now I’m giving myself the nickname freeload. Feel free to call me that anytime you see me, but that may not happen anytime soon, as I may just decide to stay here for a while. I finally understand what Steinbeck meant when he wrote, “California’s pretty cool and neat”. I’m not sure those were his exact words, but I think the sentiment is the same. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitching about Illinois, because I love (sorta like) Illinois and all it’s beautiful, flat, boring land. Did you know the lowest recorded temperature in San Diego history was 25 degrees Fahrenheit? I didn’t either until I Wikipedia’d that earlier today.

While I’m in the mood to thank people, I’d like to thank the two jackasses sitting a few seats up for exiting this train car and going elsewhere. I don’t know where they went, but I’m hoping they stay for a while. I guess I didn’t really enjoy their not all that witty banter. And I’d also like to thank the old guy sitting across the aisle for shutting up for a while about everyone and everything he can remember from the past 80 years. It was cute to hear about it for a bit, but that also grew tiresome. I’m trying to enjoy this serene moment between myself and the coastline, but some people aren’t quite fully cooperating.

Great! A group of Indians just walked through the train. It’ll be fun to gamble a bit more in the casino that’s sure to open up shortly in the next car down. I didn’t get to do enough of that in Vegas. Actually it’s the wrong kind of Indians, so there probably won’t be any gambling in my Amtrak future. Perhaps they have some naan they’d like to share though? Had some delicious Naan at a Himalayan restaurant a week or so ago, if you were wondering. I’m sure you weren’t, but the jackasses are back in their seats so the nonsense has begun once again. Ten minutes after that started the seniors woke up and now the kids have quieted down and the geriatrics are yapping. We’re passing through a lot of farmland and the old lady commented that she can see farmland as far as the eyes can see, which I’m guessing is about three feet past the train window, since her eyes are probably shot to hell much like her husbands plane back in WW II. That’s probably not true, but her eyes are shot, judging by the giant pair of bifocals she’s sporting. Well regardless of the constant yapping, these two are probably very nice folks just enjoying a nice train ride through the great state of California.  I do wish they’d shut the fuck up though. Too bad I don’t have any blackberry brandy to offer them so they’d both pass out again. Who knows? Maybe their next scheduled naptime will be sooner than later. My naptime didn’t materialize like I thought it might. Was drifting off to sleep a bit, but snapped right back out of it.

Pulling into San Luis Obispo for a few minutes so I think I’ll step off the train, as the engineer and the train foreman are departing this train for the last time, as they’re both retiring from the railroad. Should be a nice moment out on the platform as the announcer just said. They’re retiring after many years of service and I’m here trying to figure out what the hell to do with the next 40 years of life. Perhaps I’ll climb up into that engine and take this baby the rest of the way to Salinas!

Perhaps not.

So this was written almost a week ago. My stay in Monterey has been relaxing and very nice. There’s a bit too much cloudiness and cold for my tastes, but it’s allowed me to reacquaint myself with my hoodie and my jeans. Not that I wanted to do that, but we all have to adapt to our surroundings.

Speaking of surroundings, here are a few pictures of some I’ve visited so far on this short journey. Feel free to click on a photo to bring up a larger version/slideshow. Or don't feel free to do it and instead send me $5. 

Balboa Park, San Diego

Perhaps the most beautiful park in the World. This place is amazing and I probably only saw about 10% of it. Guess I'll have to go back. My Mom will probably love the pictures of flowers I took.

Los Angeles

Took this picture while waiting for Shukri to return from getting change at Burger King down the street. She got the change, but we missed the bus. Oh well. I didn't fly Virgin. Perhaps when I head back? Nah...probably Southwest. 

Hoover Dam

Weeks later this is still the most incredible man-made structure I've had the pleasure of viewing during my short lifespan. That rocket ship Lego set my Dad bought me for my birthday one year is a close second, but that was destroyed hours after being built in a fatherly love terrorist act sorta way. 

Los Angeles

Some random intersection in Los Angeles. Actually it's not all that random. It's Sunset and San Vicente, where I found myself after walking for far too long one evening. I'm not sure how much chafing had started at this point, but it was probably significant. 

Lake Shrine, Los Angeles

One of the more relaxing, peaceful parts of my journey so far. Though to be honest, there have been quite a few of those fortunately. One can't spend all his time getting wasted with Chris and Kristin at some campsite. 

Pacific Beach

I like to think this guy's the pervert in this picture, not the person snapping the photograph, though I'm not quite sure, as that's the second time I've used some variation of the word pervert in this blog. Anyway those two look pretty relaxed there on the beach. 

Point Lobo

Another beautiful park somewhere near Monterey. Closer to Carmel I guess, but I'm not staying in Carmel, so Monterey it is. Nice work telling me to go here, Laura. 

Dave and The King

I'm not sure what else needs to be said about this picture. The King, in this case, is Trent Carlini, who performs more often than he probably cares to at the LVH in Vegas. Ellyn and I agreed the toll of being an impersonator is probably wearing him down. The show was pretty good, not great, and I'd definitely go see it again, but only if I didn't have to pay again. 

Valley of Fire

Here's a little attempt at a nice black and white picture. Think I need to figure out how to add some contrast to those midtones, but whatever. Anyway another beautiful place. I'm running out of cliche adjectives to use. 

Sunrise at the LVH

Woke up pretty early in the morning to take this picture. Or perhaps I was still up from the night before. You decide. It would have been more interesting, but there was too much junk in the foreground so I made it a close up. Perhaps in hindsight, none of that stuff would have been noticeable anyway. Oh well, you live you learn. 

Celebrity Sighting in Ventura

Saw these two in a thrift store and had to get a picture of them on the red carpet. Decided against asking for their autographs, as I didn't want to be too nosy.