Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States of America. It’s the day we set aside for the purpose of remembering those who fought and sacrificed in war, our warriors, specifically, our dead warriors. For many, it’s a Monday off from work, or the inconvenience of the post office being closed. For others, it might have some sort of vague “patriot” ramification. It’s a day I take rather seriously.

Those who know me well know that politically, I’m quite liberal, and lean quite a ways to the left. I’m the old, bearded counter-culture, flower sniffing peacenik hippie. I hate war and love peace. But make no mistake. I also love our proud warriors. While I might hate the wars they fight, I care for them. I care that they are willing to make that sacrifice on my behalf, on behalf of the country we share.

I don’t take them for granted. I wish that the world was such that there was no need for what they do. I often disagree, and disagree vehemently, with those who make the decisions that send these warriors off to battle. But I make a separation between the political decisions made by the decision-makers and those who facilitate those decisions that are made. It’s all too complex, and I won’t enter into those complexities on this day. On this day, I will simply focus on those warriors, on how much I appreciate them, and how sad I can become for what they do.

Thank you.

Beautiful Buckeye

I live a few miles outside of the city of Napa, California. As I routinely drive from home to town and back, I often pass a beautiful big California Buckeye tree (Aesculus californica) along the road. At this time of year, Buckeyes burst forth with beautiful, large, white, elongated blossoms.

Photo #01: This is the entire tree, photographed from the opposite side of the road from where it stands.
Photo #02: The entire tree again, this time showing how it sits in relationship to the road.
Photo #03: A slightly closer look, showing just how profusely this tree is covered in extravagant blossoms.
Photo #04: Closer yet to those beautiful flowers.
Photo #05: Beautiful long blossoms, reaching for the sun.
Photos #06 & #07: Notice how the tips of most blossoms haven’t yet come open.
Photo #08: Standing within the umbrella-like cover of the Buckeye, looking up through the branches.
Photo #09: A large, immature flower, almost ready to bloom
Photos #10 & #11: Two views of a single immature flower, one of which shows a honeybee at work.
Photo #12: A Close-up of a mature, blooming, fully opened Buckeye flower. Isn’t it magnificent?

Around Napa Valley II

These are photos that I took in the Napa Valley area, where I live, between March 8 and March 22, 2009, basically as I went about my normal daily activities, going the few miles into town and returning. They were originally posted in my photo gallery, and then as space ran out, moved over here to this blog. The comments shown below originally were attached to those photos.

Pic #03: “Clover blossoms #1”
> WorldsApart says May 02
V pretty

Pic #06: “Clover blossoms #4”
> Fairweatherfriend says March 22
I like this one best of all ….. superb!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 22
Of those shots of clover blossoms, that one is my favorite. I like the contrast between the red, green and blue. I only wish those pesky buildings in the background weren't there. (It was shot in town ... buildings all around.) I made this shot from a number of different directions trying everything I could think of to make it only clover and sky, but this was the best I could come up with.

Pic #09: “Clover blossoms #7”
> Angelmouse says March 18
I love clover

Pic #10: “Milliken Creek (looking north)
> Karma says March 18
Lovely
> scissors_08 says March 19
Looks like a perfect spot to read a book
> StuckInTheSixties says March 19
You should see this idyllic stream when it floods. I kid you not, I’ve seen this thing when the water level was at least 15 feet higher than this! (four or five years ago)

Pic #11: “Milliken Creek (looking south)”
> Angelmouse says March 18
This could be in the UK sits – lots of rivers and streams near me like this!

Pic #12: “Milliken Creek (looking down from Hedgeside Ave. bridge)”
> WhatsComin2Ya says March 18
Great!

Pic #13: “Milliken Creek (from beneath Hedgeside Ave. bridge)”
> Karma says March 18
Troll’s Eye View

Pic #14: “Pretty five-sided flower”
> WhatsComin2Ya says March 18
SITS, your photos are awesome, as always. Thank you for sharing them.
> scissors_08 says March 19
Beautiful
> StuckInTheSixties says March 19
Thanks, ladies!
> Fairweatherfriend says April 05
Periwinkles maybe cause they are early girls. Pretty.

Pic #15: “Lovely blossoming tree”
> Angelmouse says March 14
Wow Sits – stunning pic
> glowingtoad says March 15
It’s a lovely pic , I love the spring .
> scissors_08 says March 19
Is it a flowering plum, or crab or thunderchild?
> StuckInTheSixties says March 19
It’s a what-ever-they-put-in-a-hospital-parking-lot.
> WorldsApart says May 02
Beautiful Where I grew up, there’s a Blossom Festival every year. It’s wonderful!

Pic #16: “Honeybee at work”
> glowingtoad says March 15
Yum but stingy lol great pic though
> WorldsApart says May 02
Aka instant death for me … but they are very interesting little buggers.

Pic #17: “Moon rising above Mt. George”
> glowingtoad says March 15
Is it ? or is it the aliens hovering !!!! that is the question .
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
OK. I confess. I was abducted and probed.
> Supericky5x says April 09
Hell ! Hello ! where are you, I think he has been abducted,,,,

Allo, E.T. please tell me what you done to my friend ???
(tell him to phone home !)
> Supericky5x says April 09
No joke verry nice picture, !!! or shall I say pictures !!!

Pic #18: “Pretty pink-purple blossoms”
> Angelmouse says March 14
Beautiful
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
This is strange … when I look at this pic in the gallery, in it’s shrunken version, the blossoms appear pink. But when expanded like this, they appear lavender or purple.
> WorldsApart says May 02
I want to lie in them and find shapes in the clouds.

> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Hahaha! These were in the parking lot of the supermarket! Lie in them looking at clouds and the cops will come to investigate the weird woman lying in the shrubs!
> WorldsApart says May 03
*sigh* Happens to me ALLLLLL the time.

Pic #19: ““Man In The Mountain” local rock formation””
> Glowingtoad says March 15
Oooooo lovely like his pipe lol
> WorldsApart says May 02
Hehehehe that’s so Cooooool!!
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
That pipe has been there for at least as long as I’ve lived here, so nearly fifty years … probably lots longer than that.

Pic #23: “Sunset #1”
> glowingtoad says March 15
Stunning.

Pic #24: “Sunset #2”
> ChrisCaper says March 14
Do you ever paint 60s? … this would be awesome.

Pic #25: “Sunset #3”
> Angelmouse says March 14
Wow – another stunner.
> Karma says March 14
FANTASTIC!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 14
Thank you ladies!
> glowingtoad says March 15
Wow awesome !!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
Thank you too, ToadyMama!

Pic #26: “California Poppies (state flower)”
> WorldsApart says May 02
I love these. I love that you have these photos up too 
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
That makes me smile!

Pic #27: “California Poppies Close-Up”
> WorldsApart says May 02
They look edible. But I discovered as a child … they don’t taste very nice

Pic #28: “Dandelion”
> glowingtoad says March 15
Don’t touch it sits mum always says if you do youll wet the bed lol . don’t ask me shes the wise one !!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
???

Pic #29: “Small creek near my home”
> niamhis says March 08
Wat a pretty pic …. Oh I see ducks I think ???

----- gets binoculars ----
> StuckInTheSixties says March 08
Sharp eyes! (see next photo)
> WhatsComin2Ya says March 08
I found Waldo!

Pic #30: “Close-up of creek (notice the duck!)”
> Angelmouse says March 08
What a great place to kick back with a bottle and a friend!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 08
*Uncorks a bottle of zinfandel, pours Angelmouse a glass*
> Karma says March 08
Lovely

Around My Place II, Part One

These are photos that I took on my property between March 29 and April 25, 2009. They were originally posted in my photo gallery, and then as space ran out, moved over here to this blog. The comments shown below originally were attached to those photos.

Pic #01: “Mockingbird – my favorite of the many species around here”
> Fairweatherfriend says April 25
So that’s what a mockingbird looks like ! Long tail

> Barnstorming_girl says April 26
Awesome pic darling
> StuckInTheSixties says April 26
What I would really love is to get a photo of one in flight, where you can see a broad white stripe on each wing, and one on the tail, but they're very fast, acrobatic flyers, and I doubt I'll ever get that photo.
> WorldsApart says May 02
Is THAT what they look like? I never knew …
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
My description was inaccurate. I saw one flying today, and thought about the comment I posted above. So let me be more accurate:

They have a broad white stripe on each wing that divides the wing into three nearly equal-sized stripes. The parts of the wing nearest the body, and nearest the wingtips, are dark, while the middle portion of the wing is bright white.

When they fly, the tail spreads out showing two stripes (not one) on the tail that run from the birds body to the tip of the tail. I suppose I could google up a good photo, but what's the fun in that?
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Oh, and these guys SING like you can't imagine until you hear it! They have jillions of little short, very musical songs. Little riffs. Motifs. If you listen carefully, you are amazed by the variety and contrast of the songs this bird sings. He just goes on and on and on, never seeming to repeat himself, with unbelievable variety! It's not just that he sounds like other birds, he sounds like every bird you ever heard one right after another. I never tire of it. That's why he's my favorite!
> WorldsApart says May 03
That sounds awesome!!


Pic #02: “This pretty purple flower will turn into a brown monstrosity”
> HechizerA says April 25
Wow … beautiful picture!
> WorldsApart says May 02
Methinks if I look at this long enough, I’ll go crosseyed, or discover the meaning of life …
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Or be hyp-moe-tized!
> Fairweatherfriend says May 05
NICE !

Pic #03: “Mr. Quail”
> WorldsApart says May 02
Tasty goodness??
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Hmm … probably, but I’d NEVER think about shooting them. (I’d get the sheriff on my ass too!) I just like watching them, and I’m pretty sure this male and his honey have a nest in the tall grass under a downed tree right near my house.
> WorldsApart says May 03
Romantic tasty goodness?

Pic #04: “Mr. Quail again”
> Angelmouse says April 25
Are you not on first name terms yet?

Pic #06: “Weeds … I mean, pretty little wildflowers”
> Missteree7 says April 25
A field of friesias? If it is their fragrance is one of my favourites (apart from violets)
> Angelmouse says April 25
Not freesias – can’t remember the name …

Pic #07: “Insect, space alien, or sw* toy … you decide”
> Missteree7 says April 25
I C D B D Beetle
> WorldsApart says May 02
Has to be said … his Smirk is rather disappointing …
> StuckInTheSixties says May 02
Hahaha! He’s got all those little knobby doodads “for her pleasure”!

Hahaha! Sick!
> WorldsApart says May 03
Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Pic #08: “Bumblebee At Work”
> Leonardo says April 19
Hey where do you get these stuffs wiseman?
(wonders)
> WorldsApart says May 02
At work? Or hanging on for dear life?
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
He was hard at work. I took about a half dozen shots of him. This was the best one.

Pic #09: “Neighbors’ Horses”
> WorldsApart says May 02
You be Butch Cassidy, I’ll be the Sundance Kid
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
I don’t wanna get shot! You be Dale Evans, I’ll be Roy Rogers! Or you can be the Lone Ranger, and I’ll be Tonto! (Wow! I’m REALLY dating myself now!)
> WorldsApart says May 03
Bahahahahahaha

Pic #10: “Neighbors’ Ram & Sheep”
> Fairweatherfriend says April 19
Where are the Yews and lambs ? lol
> StuckInTheSixties says April 25
I just looked at this pic again … the big piles of crap add a nice touch, don’t they?

Hahahaha!
> WorldsApart says May 02
PLEASE tell me you use a different hairdresser …
> StuckInTheSixties says May 02
My “hairdresser” is shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush … period.

Pic #11: “Neighbors’ Horses, Ram & Chickens”
> Fairweatherfriend says April 19
Such harmony amongst them

What lovely lives they have
> WorldsApart says May 02
And on this farm he had a chicken, a horse, and sheep …

E I E I O
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Hahaha! They also have some pigs goin’ too. And a cat. And a dog.

Pic #12: “Squirrel #1”
> WorldsApart says May 02
When I lived in England, I used to buy bags of peanuts to feed the squirrels. LOVE them. Used to get laughed at by the locals for feeding the vermin.
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
I love squirrels!

Pic #13: “Squirrel #2”
> WorldsApart says May 02
Seriously. If I could have one as a pet? I SOOO would.
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Probably don’t make good pets …

Pic #15: “Two Squirrels Examine The Strange Being Below”
> WorldsApart says May 02
“Do you think he wants to feed us? Or eat us?”

“I’m not sure … that sure is a funny looking gun he’s pointing.”

“Yeah, his aim’s not so good either …”

“Hmmm shall we just stare him out?”

“Good plan … ready? Go …”
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Imaginary squirrel dialogue …?
> WorldsApart says May 03
Lol totally …

Pic #16“Doe In My Trees #1”
> WorldsApart says May 02
“Scuse me Mister … my name’s Bambi … have you seen my Mum?”
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
In all likelihood, that’s the Mum-to-be. She looked a little fat, and I’ve seen deer use that corner of the property to shelter, where there’s a lot of trees and such, while giving birth to fawns numerous times.

Pic #19: “Gathering Storm Clouds”
> Karma says April 12
Looks like a piranha.

Pic #21: “Fully Open Walnut Flower”
> Glowingtoad says April 13
Oh my looks like our brussel sprouts lol but very pretty x

Pic #22: “A Squirrel Looks Down Upon Me With Scorn”
> WhatsComin2Ya says April 12
I’d describe that look as one of pity.
> StuckInTheSixties says April 12
Hahahaha! Smart-ass!
> WorldsApart says May 02
Methinks he’s just wondering how you got your tail to look like a beard …
> StuckInTheSixties
Hahaha!

Pic #23: “Quail (male) In Tree”
> Karma says April 12
He quails, I quake.

Pic #24: “Neighbors' horses: "You nibble my back, I'll nibble yours"”
> WhatsComin2Ya says April 05

> Fairweatherfriend says April 06
Great Shot.

They are such social animals aren't they? Take one a way and see how much noise the other one will make....

You are lucky to have these beauties so close & you have a good zoom lens
> StuckInTheSixties says April 07
I lucked out on the shot, sort of ... I was actually on my knees shooting close ups of some flower blossoms, when I looked over and saw this. I jumped up and as quickly as I could, changed the settings on my crappy little camera and took the shot. Then I noticed that wire stanchion in the shot. I immediately shifted location to try to get that thing out of frame, but they stopped with the nibbling right then. (shrugs)

Pic #25: “Pear Blossoms”
> WorldsApart says May 02
Dottsy!

Pic #26: “Neighbor Cameron and daughter Adelaide”
> XkittyXbearX says April 06
Does he know he kind of resembles hugh grant? Lol
> WorldsApart says May 02
I wants me some pink gumboots
> Caaryn says May 23
why are you taking pictures of your neighbours...?
lol
> StuckInTheSixties says May 23
I take pictures of EVERYTHING!

Pic #27: “Adelaide Brings In The Mail”
> WhatsComin2Ya says April 05
Love it!

Pic #30: “Lupin Blossoms (closer yet)”
> Karma says April 05
Beautiful

Around My Place II, Part Two

These are photos that I took on my property between March 3 and March 28, 2009. They were originally posted in my photo gallery, and then as space ran out, moved over here to this blog. The comments shown below originally were attached to those photos.

Pic #01: “My Neighbors’ Horse #1”
> Karma says March 30
Hey there!

Pic #02: “My Neighbors’ Horse #2”
> Fairweatherfriend says March 30
The Grass is always greener on the …………….
> Supericky5x says April 09 Is he your neighbour !?
(or is he a member of your neighbour’s family?!)
(nice horse hosing around) ! [sic]
> StuckInTheSixties says May 03
Yep, he’s my neighbor.

Pic #04: “Turkey Vulture Close-Up (creepy expression, huh?)”
> WorldsApart says May 02
Did they run out of Bird-Dough when the made the head? It’s kinda little …
> StuckInTheSixties says May 02
That eye just freaks me OUT!!!!!
> Cornelius Focker says
Gross..

Pic # 10: “Cute little bird with some red plumage (species unknown to me)”
> WorldsApart says May 02
Maybe it’s blushing?
> StuckInTheSixties says May 02
This little guy got a mate! The two of them are always together in this tree! I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to get a picture of both of them together, but the tree has put on foliage now, and they're always hopping and flitting around, rather than posing for me. Sigh ...

Pic #12: “Walnut Flower Close-Up"
> Karma says March 30
Cool. I want to see it when the flowers bloom
> StuckInTheSixties says March 30
It won't really burst out in blossoms or anything. What you see is what you get, pretty much. But I like the structure of it, hence my photo.

Pic #14: "Small mushroom, big mushroom"
> WorldsApart says May 02
Obviously successfully stated

Pic #16: “Tangle of branches #01”
> Karma says March 23
The WireClub Family Tree

Pic #17: “Tangle of branches #2”
> Karma says March 23
Lovely
> StuckInTheSixties says March 30
I think it looks like a Jackson Pollack painting.

Pic #19: “Turkey vulture on my barn”
> WhatsComin2Ya says March 23
Fantastic photo!
> Fairweatherfriend says March 23
He is waiting patiently for what …………. We can not see.
> WorldsApart says May 02
I like that he matched his hat to his stockings.

Pic #20: “Tight close-up of gnarly looking lichen"
> Karma says March 23
I love this!

Pic #21: “Three kinds of gnarly lichen”
> WhatsComin2Ya
I’m lichen it!
> Karma says March 23
I lichen this to other cellular, flowerless plants.
> StuckInTheSixties says March 23
Can I get the number to your cellular, flowerless plant?

Pic #22: “Sunset”
> Karma says March 23
Nice!

Pic #23: “Mt. George on a particularly clear day"
> (I'm pretty sure that there must have been a comment here by someone who subsequently deleted their account, taking the comment with it.)
> StuckInTheSixties says March 23
It was a windy, particularly clear day when I shot this. Notice toward the left, part-way up the mountain, there is a canyon below that one house. You can see the Redwoods quite clearly in that canyon. I'm very fortunate to live here.
> Karma says March 23
It'd be cool after a year to put all of the photos of Mt. George (or your weekly ones of the vineyard in a movie-like file to see the changes through the year.
> StuckInTheSixties says March 23
I'm planning to do that with my weekly pics taken from my porch, and also with the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard shots I've taken with the undulating hills. That vineyard is right down the street, so I'm passing it all the time, and it should be easy to chronicle the vines as they put on leaves, develope grapes and move to harvest and beyond.

Pic #24: “Look what some vandal did to my mailbox! Hahahaha!"
> Karma says March 18
What did it look like before the vandalism?
> StuckInTheSixties says March 19
Like it does in this picture, except without the big dent in the side by the flag. Smart ass.

Hahaha! Perhaps I'm getting all worked up about nothing, but when I was taking my nightly walk, I found the mailbox laying on it's side ten feet from the platform where you see it in the pic, my mail all strewn out on the street. You can't really tell from the pic, but the lid (or door or whatever you'd call it) is all misaligned and unable to close. Oh! You can actually see one indication. Look at the difference between the top of the actual box and the top of the lid. The top edge of the box is way too low because the side is bashed in and the top edge has been pulled downward as a result. I'd reshoot the picture, but I already took a rubber coated mallet to it and actually put it back into pretty decent condition.
> Barnesys_foolish_man says April 10
sorry champ, was drinking and driving and tried to swerve but unfortunatly still hit your mailbox, how much do I owe for you repairs? Actually, I could get a drum, cut a piece out and mount it on a pole, would that serve the purpose
> StuckInTheSixties says April 10
Here in America, teenage guys in towns with country roads have a sort of vandals tradition of playing "Mailbox Baseball." One guy is in the back of the pickup truck with the bat, and when the truck swerves over close to the mailbox as it drives by, the guy in the back takes a whack at it. Do they do that in Australia? Or anywhere else?
> WorldsApart says May 02
We don’t have baseball bats here..makes it tricksy.

P.S. LOVE the oldschool mailbox.

Pic #25: “Plum blossom close up”
> Karma says March 18
You could make a living doing photos like this, SITS
> StuckInTheSixties says March 19
I really like doing this kinda ultra-close-up stuff. Pretty soon all of these various blossoms will be gone. I wonder what I’ll shoot then?

Pic #26: “Tiny flower gone to seed”
> Angelmouse says March 18
*puff* *puff* I want to blow it away!

Pic #27: “First lizard (Western Fence Swift) seen since onset of winter; note re-grown tail”
> Angelmouse says March 14
Ooooh, I like him!
> Glowingtoad says March 15
Ooooo my relative hi uncle banjo !!! lol
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
Hahahaha!

Uncle Banjo?!?!? I have no idea what that means, other than that a lizard is sort of (not really) related to a toad, but it sounds funny as hell!
> StuckInTheSixties says March 15
By the way, I love the look in his eye. He seems to be saying, “Are you looking at me? Are you looking at ME? Are YOU looking at ME … PUNK?

Pic #30: “More mushrooms”
> Karma says March 14
Very cool! Another great batch of photos.
> StuckInTheSixties says March 14
Thanks, Hon.

> Missteree7 says March 16
Magic by any chance? …
> StuckInTheSixties says March 16
Nooooo! They’re not that kind! They won’t make you see things like this:

Hot Guitarists #7 : Monday, May 18, 2009 (posted 18 May, 2009)

Frank Zappa "Whippin’ Post"



Frank Zappa "Zoot Allures"



Frank Zappa "Watermelon In Easter Hay"

Hot Guitarists #6 : Sunday, May 17, 2009 (posted 17 May, 2009)

Steve Vai “For The Love Of God”



Steve Vai on his audition with Zappa

Hot Guitarists #5 : Saturday, May 16, 2009 (posted 16 May, 2009)

Pat Metheny "Lone Jack"

Hot Guitarists #4 : Friday, May15, 2009

Steve Morse “Tumeni Notes”



Steve Morse - Arpeggiation Exercise

Hot Guitarists #3 : Thursday, May14, 2009

Leo Kottke

Medley: The Train and the Gate / Vaseline Machine Gun

Hot Guitarists #2 : Wednesday, May13, 2009

Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola

Mediterranean Sun Dance

Hot Guitarists #1 : Tuesday, May12, 2009

Jeff Beck:

Brush With The Blues

News Flash! Adelaide In Ruins!

After a rampage through the Australian city of Adelaide, the parties responsible, allegedly known as "Barnestorming_Girl, Lumu81, and BadGirl72, have finally discontinued their destructive assault upon what was once a lovely city on the southern coast.

Roses, Lots And Lots Of Roses

A nearby vineyard has a long row of rose bushes where it borders the road I drive along on my way to and from town. The roses are in bloom, and I thought I’d take some pictures. Unfortunately, some recent unseasonal rains kind of beat up the blossoms a bit, but they’re still quite pretty, aren’t they?

The top row of this group of photos is a panorama. (Mt. George is in the background.)

Note the photo of the guy who stopped to take photos just like I was doing. He took one of me too!

Konstantly Karing About ���

Arf!
















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PrintScreen Fun! ... A Follow-Up On Yesterday's Blog

Two of my friends (who shall remain nameless) that commented on my blog “PrintScreen Fun!” happened to see that (name deleted) actually saw this blog and left his own comment, basically claiming that the picture of him was genuine, but that the "3 girlfriends" were, in fact, not genuine. From what my friends saw, it was apparent that this comment was posted, and then quickly removed.

When I was told of this, I mulled it over, considering the ramifications of this developement. As a result, certain actions have been taken by me:

First, I removed two of my own comments in which I actually used the name that was used for this person's profile.

Second, I modified the PrintScreens, removing the name of the profile.

I now have mixed feelings about having posted this blog. On one hand, creating three rooms called (misspellings his, not mine) …

“The Hot Room – if your not hot your not here”

“super hot – a level above hot”

and “ultra hot room – a level above super hot”

… well, that’s just begging for parody, and I’m only too happy to oblige. However …

I should have removed the name, as I have now done, right from the beginning. My apologies to (name deleted) for that transgression.

As far as his claim that the pic you see is actually him, well, I am still quite dubious about that. And having thought it over, I have come to the conclusion that if you represent yourself dishonestly with a pic that is not your own, you are then fair game for those who would make fun of that.

Therefore, if (name deleted) will contact me (my profile is open to anyone to leave a message or comment, private or otherwise), and provide me with some reasonable indication that the pic of the muscley, bare-chested studdly-looking dude is, indeed, his own image, I will not only remove the blog, but will also offer a public apology.

Fair is fair.

PrintScreen Fun!

(original text and PrintScreens deleted)

OK. Enough is enough. Hahaha! I'm not really cut out to be a big ol' meanie!

The comments, however, will remain.

My Big Over-Done Mt. Tamalpais Project, And How To See It

You may (or may not) have noticed that I haven’t been putting in as much time in WireClub as I had in the past. There’s a few reasons, none of them very profound or important. However …

I’ve been working on a special project.

You might have seen a few of my photo essays in the past. I’ve been working on the Mother-Of-All-Photo-Essays (in WireClub, anyway). In fact, this project is so large that it is too big for my blog!

227 photos!

52 maps!

Many pages of text!

This monster photo/map/text essay is about my favorite place in the world, a mountain that’s about an hour’s drive from here. It will be presented in three parts, showcasing three different ways to experience this place.

The first part is finished. It’s so big that it has its own WireClub account! I've taken a dozen shots, more or less at random, and put them here to give you a little preview. So if you have a bit of free time, click on the link below, and take a look!

SITS Mt Tam1

Natural Drama #1

I had noticed a bad smell near my garage when I would be getting my car out. Investigation led me to a dead opossum in the trees behind it. Rather than burying the possum, or dumping it in the trash, I scooped the carcass up with a shovel, and moved it out into the open, where I knew that Turkey Vultures would be able to see it. While this might seem repulsive to some, I like the idea of letting the natural world work its way. Also, I've learned that this is a quick and easy way to deal with a dead animal out in the country where I live.

I moved it to an area where I could take periodic looks out of the window to see if anything was happening. It took less than an hour before they showed up, and a day do their work. As you can see, they are very efficient at what they do. Nature's janitorial staff.

Natural Drama #2

I came across two Alligator Lizards fighting, almost stepping on them. I immediately backed off, stood there watching for a few moments, then dashed inside to grab the camera. Luckily, they were still there when I got back. I took the first photo. Normally, these lizards are very wary, and will run for cover at the first sign of any movement of something nearby them, but they were motionless. Moving very slowly and carefully, I got a little closer and took the second shot. I was frustrated because of those weeds that were spoiling the picture. I backed off and circled around, approaching them from the other side for the third picture. There was still no indication of any fear of me in them. I grabbed a stick, about a yard/meter long. Holding the camera in one hand, and the stick in the other, I attempted to use the stick to move the weeds away from them to make the picture better. Finally, they reacted in normal manner to my presence. The lizard doing the biting must have loosened his grip, because the other one suddenly bolted off into the weeds. I took one final shot of the remaining lizard, and then went on my way.

Note that both lizards have regenerated their tails.

Alligator Lizards grow to a length of a little bit longer than 1 foot/.3 meter. These two were slightly shorter then a foot long. They can really clamp down when they bite!