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. :)