Here and There Blog

A Hammer, A Bell And A Song To Sing

2012-01-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Wrapping up it's world premiere tonight at the San Diego Repertory Theatre, A Hammer, A Bell And A Song to Sing showcases the music of political activist songwriters in the United States. 90 straight minutes of music with background images of key wars and protests the music of Pete Seeger is the main musical theme throughout the play. If you're like me, you know the songs but didn't realize who wrote them. (Oops!)

The three man show stars Vaughn Armstrong, Dave Crossland and Jim Mooney as the activist voices throughout the years. They are enjoyable and fun and essentially performed a 90 minute concert without a break. I liked having a theatrical performance go non-stop like that without any break in the momentum.

Tonight is the final night in San Diego and as of yesterday, a few seats remained. A Hammer, A Bell And A Song to Sing is an enjoyable evening at San Diego's Lyceum Stage Theater. For more on Pete Seeger, check out his fan appreciation page.

The Grey

2012-01-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Grey was the movie trailer that I rated on the Nielsen survey back in December. My response to the survey was it looked like it would be lame but I'd probably see it since it had Liam Neeson. Predictably, The Grey is a long romp through Alaska when all the elements want to kill you. The trailer depicted this almost as a man against wolf movie, with the wolves looking almost supernatural. Oh I wish. A werewolf movie would have been more entertaining. (Time to see the next Underworld)

What we have instead is a few rough and gritty Alaska men surviving a plane crash only to find themselves struggling to stay alive in bitter cold, lack of food, and a pack of wolves that seem bent on revenge. We follow our small band as they fight more with each other and face really no good odds at all against the wolves. Short version, it's boring. I found myself looking at the snow and mentally shopping for a trip to the Russian winter. We stretched to make sure that our characters did improbably things to stay safe only to find (gasp!) the wolves were way ahead of them. Seriously, no wolf or audience could have anticipated that some of this stuff could have happened outside of a werewolf movie.

The Grey is two hours of your life that you will never get back. Two hours where surfing the net and facebooking would provide a better use of time. The guy in front of me texted constantly during this movie and no one was even bothered. We were all wishing our phones were on too. What did I like? Liam Neeson. This movie is best suited for a late night showing with a wild crowd that will cheer or boo either the men or the wolves, depending on the collective mood.

Termites

2012-01-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

There's a regular routine when I return home from a long trip. Check for burglars, break-in's, and water pipe leaks. Upon return from Ecuador - check! All Clear. Next up, look for spiders. Okay there, they are all in the corners where they belong. No more than normal. Chec...what's this? Take a closer look by the baseboards. NOOOOOO!!! Termite pellets!! I have termites in the house! Who ya gonna call? Terminex. Full inspection, the attic has colonies. Time to nuke. Below is the diagram of where they all are. Not amusing to realize that one DWT (drywood termite) nest is right over my bed. Ewww! Well stay tuned for 10 days from now when the tent goes up.

Low Tide

2012-01-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's rare that I see the run off water from the lagoon being low enough to cross without getting wet. Carlsbad has many small lagoons and this one runs into the ocean. I love how the hot weather continues!

Lunch Break

2012-01-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

This is always worth coming home to after a long road trip!

Tamarack Surf Beach - January 25, 1:00 pm

Phileas Fogg's

2012-01-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday night found us at Phileas Foggs for pub food and craft beer. It was a family Christmas dinner slightly delayed. I found this place on Taphunter San Diego. Simple, easy, not sure if would get me back since it's in Poway and slightly out of the way but if you are in the area worth it for the beer selection.

Mr. and Mrs. OB - Fish & Chips was the popular choice this night. Below Steve and Judy become adopted family for the night.

Homer - wow that beer went down fast!

And me - Cheers!

Still here? Check it out at http://phileasfoggs.net/index.html

Red Tails

2012-01-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

The critics have not been kind to Red Tails. True, the movie is all over the place with various B, C, and D plots that tell the story of the WWII Tuskegee pilots. The story works best when the camera is on the group of men stationed in Italy, hoping for the opportunity for combat fight in a segregated military world. When the plot is not focused on racism, the individual stories come out about motivation, struggle, camaraderie, and friendship. African American pilots have the same feelings and skills as their white counterparts. I thought Red Tails balanced out the struggles to face and deal with prejudice evenly with the story of the success of the Tuskegee airmen.

If you are a fan of aerial combat, this movie has to be seen on the big screen. Watching this (even with CGI and models) made me amazed that people can fly and fight without everyone getting killed. The action sequences are great to watch and not overdone in the way of endless car chase sequences in many movies. The fight seems true. David Oyelowo shines as 'Lightning' and it's mainly through his eyes that the movie takes place. Lightning brought laughter and tears to the audience and without him, the movie might have been totally flat.

The audience today seemed a mix of retired military (we're San Diego Top Gun here after all), African-Americans, and George Lucas fans (me). The audience applauded at the end and you don't get that much anymore. Leave your kids at home. The ones in the theater today were bored.

Red Tails is a story of war and people. At times slow paced and almost dull, at other times, hold your breath and watch.

Santo Domingo Church - Barrio Los Penas

2012-01-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Located at the top of the 500 stairs is the Santo Domingo Church. It provides a great photo op to catch your breath after the climb. Inside, the sun gives light to the stained glass.

A departure from religious stained glass to highlight the importance of the River Guayas to Guayaquil

The River Guayas

2012-01-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

Walking along and up from the river Guayas in Guayaquil

Guayaquil Sights

2012-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Rotunda - San Martin and Bolivar.

This monkey sculpture is in the middle of a road at the entrance to a tunnel. With zoom it looks more like a picture.

Same sculpture, backside, from the top of the hill.

The old clock

One of the many ships cruising the river

Barrio Los Penas - Guayaquil

2012-01-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is the view at the bottom. You are looking up at Barrio Los Penas, an old neighborhood in Guayaquil. Hundreds of stairs are between you and the lighthouse at the top but you don't know that yet because you never learned how to count that high in Spanish. So you start up the stairs, thinking that it's only 150 steps. Along the street the houses have "before" photos, showing how run down the place had been and the restoration today.

At the very top, something close to 500 steps later (150, 500, I got the hundred and the five part right. Just mis-placed a zero) you have the best view in Guayaquil! I suggest stopping half-way up for water and a rest to take in the river view.

Looking back down at the street.

Iguanas!

2012-01-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Yay! I finally got to Parque Seminario also known as the Iguana Park in downtown Guayaquil. At first I was too busy looking around to realize that at my feet were dozens of iguanas. Families come here so the children can feed the iguanas and chase them. When an iguana has had enough, it runs up a tree or goes back inside the small fenced area. These two below were not in the mood for tourists.

This one was looking for food. Lettuce seemed to be the item of the day.

Maybe ready to deal with people again. I don't know why they don't run into the road. Must be Iguana evolution/Darwinism at work.

Crickets

2012-01-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

The sign on the front desk says it all. Ecuador has crickets. EVERYWHERE! And they don't look like this guy. You need an umbrella when the rain falls for more than just the rain.

Work, hotel, beer

2012-01-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

It's all I got tonight. Work, leave work, go to hotel, it's dark. Work some more in room, go downstairs and join co-workers for a beer. Co-worker on left plotting travel changes. No bug drama today - always a bonus! Well, either that or I'm ignoring all crickets and mosquitoes and what evers. Cheers!

View from the Window - City Side Guayaquil

2012-01-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

Same hotel, street view instead of mountain view. Guess I got downgraded on this stay.

Waking up to car horns blasting away

Random Belfast

2012-01-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

A remembrance/reflection statue

All walls are for political art

Window coverings

This must be an artist's house

Belfast City Sights

2012-01-09T09:16:00.000-08:00

Above: The gates that comprised part of the Peace Wall to keep people from venturing into rival neighborhoods. Below - the Albert Memorial Clock.

The River Lagan. Anyone who is a shipping line fan and/or Titanic fan - this is your area. A whole exhibit opens in April 2012 dedicated to the Titanic.

Below - the Parliament Building

And I am sure this was significant about the Celtic cross (old, historical, etc...) but the bus was moving so fast that I was doing my best to get the camera to focus.

A Few More Belfast Murals

2012-01-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

2012-01-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to have a somewhat sunny morning giving light to the dark old churches that dot the Belfast skyline.

Above - the church by my hotel. It was 9:15 am. Below, jet streaking thru sky as clouds start to part.

Another part of the church

Belfast kitty stalking birds in Botanic Garden

Below - Botanic Garden. My morning exercise was through this park.

Belfast Murals

2012-01-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Murals dominate many of the walls and buildings in and around Belfast. Over 200 murals represent history of the city. I didn’t realize these existed and I recommend that if you do come to Belfast and you want to see the murals, hire a private guide to take you around so you can explore more of art. I only was in the area of political history but shipping, sports, and everyday life are painted on walls and fences everywhere.

For the intrepid traveler, this site has a map and slideshow of 218 murals. The pictures don't do them justice, you really have to see them in person. http://www.belfast-murals.co.uk/slideshow.html

Belfast at Last!

2012-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

It took long enough - 5 years since the first opportunity but I'm finally here. How I like a city is hugely impacted by where I've been and since I've just been to Guayaquil, let me say I loved Belfast upon arrival! View from the room (night, raining, all is good.)

The hotel suggests trying a Harp since it's brewed locally so that is beer #1.

And because I'm starving - fish and chips! I forgot where I was (the menu doesn't always help) until I saw the dreaded mushy peas on my plate. Well, I'm in the UK influenced part of the world.

Off Again

2012-01-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

Boarding a flight to London then on to Belfast in a couple of hours. It was one of those now or never situations to use a ticket before work took over the next two months of life. The forecast is sunny, cold and clear for Saturday and I'm hoping it actually is that since that's my power tourist day!

Roadside Stands

2012-01-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

Driving 2 hours with no 7-Eleven's, Drive-thrus, or easy stops makes way for many roadside stands. Thirsty? Pull over in the dirt and buy some water. This stand had it all, water, snacks, a Monigote hiding over there on the left. Friendly sales girl, and Cesar who decided that he needed water and pulled over suddenly to provide this photo op!

Start the Year off Right - Airline style!

2012-01-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

At last! Thank-you United calibration! January 1, 2012 I am a happy Million Miler! Now I just have to work on all my travel resets that went to the big ZERO today. Let the miles and points game begin!

Monigotes - New Year's Eve in Ecuador

2011-12-31T03:31:00.000-08:00

Burn away the past year with paper mache Monigotes. The monigotes are paper mache images of political figures, cartoons, or random heads that get placed on what, I don't know. This year smurfs and Captain America seemed to be the most popular items sold on the street.

The tradition in Guayaquil is to burn these at midnight on New Year's Eve, thus getting rid of 2011.

The burning started early though and last night I may have seen the remains of a smurf on fire.

The workmanship on some of these is pretty impressive. I saw some of them getting hand painted on the street.

Some are kind of creepy.

But where else will you ever see a pile of heads?

Only in Ecuador

Drive from Salinas to Guayaquil

2011-12-30T04:53:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering how the drive looks in reverse - we have roadside eateries

Fresh laundry out to dry

Windswept homes

Electronics

A side street in Salinas

And the endless horizon

Dinner

2011-12-30T02:17:00.000-08:00

2 scoops. Just what was needed to make it through the day.

Drive from Guayaquil to Salinas

2011-12-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

90 minutes with no traffic is how long the drive takes from Guayaquil to the coastal town of Salinas. 90 minutes of dirt, fields, corn, banana trees and a few dwellings to break it up.

Driving by so quickly that I couldn't get the best of the. Picture laundry, dogs, and a few ponies and that's the view. Below, as you get closer to town there's added color.

No A/C in this home. Actually, probably no A/C in any of these.

Shops below, living quarters on top. Roadside stands like this appear every 15 minutes or so on the drive.

And as we make our way into town, the homes get closer together.

View from the Room - Guayaquil, Ecuador

2011-12-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here's 3 - I have a big window!

Ecuador Beer

2011-12-28T05:23:00.000-08:00

Two choices! The one on the left - Pilsner. A lame lager beer. The one on the right - Club. Slightly better than lame and almost okay when no other beers are around.

Panama Canal part 2

2011-12-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

The ship finally has clearance to begin and is boarded by two canal guides who give directions to the captain.

The team watches what's going on. In this case nothing since they were waiting for the water to rise.

As the ship is raised 27 feet, the guides start up the ramp to create tension in the cables that help guide the ship.

And up it goes! Repeat the process two more times during the 8 hour transit and you're done!

Panama Canal part 1

2011-12-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

The first timers must do is the Panama Canal. I checked with the concierge and the ship schedule today was from 10 am to 11:45 am and that was it. Only a few ships were coming through on Christmas Day so off I went to catch the end of the transit. Miraflores Locks is the closest transit section to Panama City.

These little guides make sure the ship doesn't touch the sides of the canals. The ship that was about to enter was only going to have 2 feet of clearance on each side. Some ships are even wider.

The above ship from Malta was almost at the end of the transit. And the ship below was just beginning. Payment has to be made 72 hours in advance. No credit is issued and your ship can't just show up and expect passage. The ship below had paid but never made a reservation so it was put on hold for two days until a team could be secured. The ship below was carrying new cars from the Toyota factory in Japan.

The gates hold the water in and slowly realease the water to raise the ships height level so they can transit. Enough water had to be released to allow the ship to raise 27 feet.

View from the Room - Panama City, Panama

2011-12-25T05:19:00.001-08:00

Panama

2011-12-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas Eve from Panama! I've got a glass of Balboa Cerveza and a late flight out tomorrow! Cheers!

Merry Christmas Beer! (or beers!)

2011-12-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

Season's greeting from the group that is us. Cedar, Sharon, Gretchen. Mondo, Ms. Kitty, Carson, Homer, me Karen, Jeff. From Rock Bottom La Jolla!

Packing

2011-12-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

Unless something goes wrong tomorrow or even Friday, the odds are pretty good that I'll be traveling on Christmas Eve to Panama and then on to Ecuador on Christmas Day. New Years is looking like a flight day and then I go into back to backs - Belfast and return to Ecuador. January is a loss for social life but a bonus for miles and points. Which brings me to packing.

This is a 3 suitcase strategy. First up, trip 1. I need 10 days of clothes so I won't have to deal with laundry. But I have to make room for work items which alone are taking up 25 lbs of suitcase weight. So it's time to toss out any extra shoes or clothes and carefully count underwear and socks. Success! First bag packed. Now from that sorting out, I've started bag #3. Since trip #3 is 3 weeks, I still need 10 days of clothes so I should be able to come home, wash, repack and add in a few more for the long trip and done. Partially there.

Suitcase #2 has to be separate. This will be the grab and go. Belfast in January won't be warm so layers of sweaters, snow socks, and mittens will make up that bag. I'll keep one suitcase in the car and change bags at the parking garage between trips. Or the hotel garage. Haven't quite figured out where the car will be.

That's all for now. Time to ignore the suitcases and think about dinner!

Hugo

2011-12-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hugo. Not my first choice of movie picks for the weekend but the process of elimination led here. Nominated for awards, directed by Martin Scorsese, some possibly fun robot stuff involved, it should be okay. The trailers made it look like a light-hearted kid's movie but I'm not sure why. Hugo centers more around lost lives, family, career, dreams before we get to hope. In the process, the movie is fairly stiff and at times dull.

The main story with the orphaned boy, living in a train station, and trying to reconnect with his father's dream leads us to the story of silent film maker Georges Melies, (Ben Kingsley did great in this) and we have a mini-history of silent film. The train station gives us the lighter moments as we watch the lives of the station guard, the flower girl, bakery lady, and lonely man connect, collide, and pleasantly come together.

The children in the audience (few) seemed restless and bored. If this is a kid's movie it is targeted to a narrow group. 8 - 10? There's no action, all story, but visually Hugo is beautiful with the train station, the clock, and Paris.

Hugo is an okay movie with thoughtful details but I don't think it will stay with me long. Sadly, at it's worst, Hugo is forgettable.

Movie Trailer Research

2011-12-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

I finally got picked to participate in a study of intent to see a movie. Must have been the right time and place because I am never the demographic the researchers want to hear from. The study was to determine how effective movie trailers are in regards to reaching a viewer and their intent to see a movie or wait for DVD. I had to agree to non-disclosure but I can tell you the process involved watching a trailer followed by a series of questions, to watching the trailer again, and another series of questions.

The movie? I can't say. Will I go see it? I'm scheduled to be in Ecuador that weekend so probably not. Would I see it if I was in town? Sure, it would be a good outing even if it's probably not going to be a good movie. I'll let you know in 5 or 6 weeks.

Mistletoe - proof I've lost my mind

2011-12-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

Mistletoe isn't the reason why holiday shopping is stressful. Not at all. Instead it's the gauntlet of tables, vendors, sellers, and Santas that you have to work your way through to enter any store that is a nightmare until itself. I avoid all big box, grocery, drug, etc... stores as much as possible during the holidays but this morning I really wanted water so off I went to Ralphs.

I spotted the table as soon as I parked. It's only 9:00 am and already a kid was stuck at a table outside the entrance to the store. Being only one table I decided to risk it and go inside. As I approached the boy scout asked the man in front of me, "want to buy some mistletoe?" The man ducked and ran. The kid looked defeated. I'd be defeated too if that was how I was spending my Sunday. I got asked the same question but at least I told the kid "no" and looked at him instead of running. But then while buying my water I felt bad for the kid and the parents and scout troop that forced him into working a table by himself. Next thing I knew, $2 was in my hand I was going home with a bag of mistletoe.

Bah humbug indeed. Tiny Tim would be proud.

Pizza Port O.B. and Ms. Kitty's B-Day

2011-12-16T22:07:00.000-08:00

Birthday time in San Diego means going for a good local beer or two and for us, that meant Pizza Port Ocean Beach for Ms. Kitty's birthday! Cheers from Carson and Ms. Kitty.

The beer list looks impressive. I chose the Craftsman Holiday Ale. It may have been too cheerful for me!

Mondo had a cherry cider so we were all in the adventure spirit!

The Holiday Ale. Truly, it was too sweet and took forever to drink.

Homer and Gretchen are seriously pondering the mystery of their beer choices.

2011-12-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

It's true - a good moon photo is hard to get with a normal camera! Sunday morning, Carlsbad.

Beach Today

2011-12-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

My allergies don't like the dry weather but it sure is a beautiful day!

Winding Down the Rain Forest

2011-11-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

Finally finishing up with the rain forest. At the end of the day I'm happy but tired and don't care that I'm standing next to the sleeping viper.

Right around the corner was a poisonous dart frog.

Great views from the tram

The Tram

And more trees

Ant Crossing

2011-11-27T05:38:00.000-08:00

In California we have surfer crossing, people running, and even a few duck crossing signs. In Australia I saw kangaroo and koala crossing signs. But this sign was a first for me. Worker ant carrying leaf crossing.

We had to stay to the side of the trail so we didn't squash any of the ants as they went about their business in the rain forest. Costa Rica takes conservation seriously.

Parrots! Parque Central - San Jose

2011-11-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

Each day around 3:30 - 4:00 pm the arrival of dozens of parrots is a loud affair and only competes with the church bells for sheer deafening volume. The parrots are common here but not a normal activity for me so for the first few days it was fun to watch. Parrots below.

Sloth

2011-11-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

I've only ever seen one sloth and it was at the Baltimore Aquarium. Nice but not exciting. After 3 hours in the rain forest in Costa Rica I thought I wasn't going to see any animals. Then right at the end of the tram, this one was hanging from a tree as sloths are known to do.

Viper!

2011-11-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Normally when you look at the picture on your tourist ticket, you don't give it a second thought. It's there, you're in, move on. In the rain forest though, who knew? The warning we were given was "don't go off the trail" because there are snakes.

And this little viper was all happily relaxing and our warning was "don't use a flash". No flash.

Moving Thru the Rain Forest

2011-11-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica Rain Forest

2011-11-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

This is the Rain Forest Adventure Park located on the border of Braulio Carrillo National Park, located outside of San Jose, CR. A tram takes you through the trees and up and along both forest floor and ceiling.

Due to lack of sunlight, the flowers are found only in the open areas. All leaves have damage due to ants and caterpillars.

At times the clouds gave way to blue sky to frame the canopy.

Parque Central - San Jose

2011-11-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

My life revolves around the downtown area and Parque Central. This area is a hub of fast food, shops, people and pigeons. And a few sculptures too.

The sweeper has endless work for his still, steel body. The ever present pigeon watches on.

This one wasn't leaving for anything and posed away.

Gaudi inspired pigeon roost.

In case you can't get enough of real birds, how about some historical interpretations?

Bavaria Dark - Cerveceria Costa Rica

2011-11-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well that was easy! The restaurant next door to the hotel had the local beer and one was even a dark Munich Dunkle style lager. Fairly decent and a nice surprise.

Costa Rica - Taxi!

2011-11-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

Haven't been in one yet but they're everywhere. All lined up and bright red, you can't miss them. I did the mad dash across the street just like this guy today. It was safe but raining so everyone wanted to be under shelter.

San Jose, Costa Rica View from the Room

2011-11-15T05:18:00.000-08:00

I'm moved into Costa Rica for a few weeks. Last night's arrival didn't give much in the way of picture so this is my first look at the hotel area in the daylight. I think I'm spending today in a warehouse looking for pans. (really) At least I have the 15 minute drive to see something else of the area!

Sunset View from Room

2011-11-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

48 hours - the meetings this week were at the hotel so I haven't set foot off the property since the first night. The hotel is warm and dry, so no reason to leave until the flight Thursday morning. The odd sunset glow over the ballpark. Didn't really capture well since it was orange, not yellow but still kind of cool.

View from the Room - Downtown St. Louis

2011-11-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

I lucked out this time. No old building, no rainfall (yet) and a glimpse of the river!

A Short Time at Home

2011-11-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Home long enough to enjoy two bouts of rain and one odd day of sun. The beach was nearly empty today.

Back on the road tomorrow. Next stop - St. Louis!

Beach!

2011-11-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Beach!

2011-11-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

You got it - still out!

Beach!

2011-11-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Still in meetings.

Beach!

2011-10-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

In meetings all week so enjoy the beach!

Hosp Grove West - continued

2011-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Slight loss of charged camera batteries led to the time delay in part 2 for Hosp Grove. Laziness has been corrected and the blog continues. The entrance to Hosp Grove West is marked by this sculpture of Mother Earth, Father Sky.

The trail even includes a fun little bridge.

And you do wander around some pretty large eucalyptus trees.

Hosp Grove West Trail

2011-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

In 1908, F.P. Hosp & Partners planted 40,000 eucalyptus trees to create a grove as a way to meet lumber supplies for the railroad. In 1987 the grove was aqcuired by the City of Carlsbad as an open space with urban hiking and picnic areas.

The main area of the playground and tables is accessible but the hiking is all dirt and does go up and down hilly terrain. For most people this is an easy loop.

Across from Hosp Grove is the Batiquitos Lagoon which is currently closed for restoration. When the beach is foggy this small trail is a great exercise alternative.

Still Foggy

2011-10-23T14:13:00.001-07:00

Beach Fog

2011-10-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

October - must be time for the fog to come in and linger all day along the coast.

Even the birds and surfers are obscured. Can't wait for the sun!

The Tangerine Tree

2011-10-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

The crows came when the tangerine tree was full. Swooping down from the sky, cries of “caw! caw!” alerted us to the attack. Faster than we could run, the crow was back up in the air, orange sphere in its beak, a ridiculous Halloween sight reminiscent of pumpkins and black cats. This was always followed by the inevitable shudder from my father as another prize was lost to nature.

No other tree was like it in our yard, which was full of orange, lemon, fig, plum, apple, and other varieties of fruit that sustained us for decades. The yard was modest, not a farm but a ¾ acre property where the scale balanced more to garden and less to house. We all had our favorites but mine was the tangerine tree.

Full of fruit when citrus season occurred, it was impossible to imagine a shortage of food. The tree produced hundreds of the sweetest, juiciest tangerines I have ever eaten. My mother’s kitchen was filled with rows of citrus, Easter baskets doubled as fruit baskets. In this day of food shortage in so many places, we had a wealth to share. Indeed, no one came to visit who didn’t leave with a bag of garden delights.

War with the crows didn’t start right away. At first I don’t think my father believed that rows were much of a threat. We lived in a world where gophers, squirrels and rabbits were treated as enemies of state. I think it became personal the way these things go between gardener and animal kingdom. So up went the netting, with my brothers and father on ladders, encircling the tree to protect the fruit from attack. For close to 40 years that tree was the star of the yard.

Life changed as it always does and the time came to sell the house. I had no regrets or sense of childhood loss except for that tree. I don’t remember when it was planted and it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t there. Every tangerine I’ve eaten since has always been measured against what we had at home.

This year’s blog action day is about food. Food is many things – scarce for so many people in the world who live on small amounts of rice and water. Food is abundance - taken for granted and wasted in other parts of the world. Food nourishes us physically, emotionally, and connects us over meals and family gatherings.

Food can bring us back to a time and place.

I miss the tangerine tree. I like to think that the children living there today still chase after the crows and enjoy fresh fruit from my father’s garden.

To read more about #FOOD and #BAD11 Blog Action Day 2011 check twitter with the hash tag or go to: http://blogactionday.org/act/

Bears?

2011-10-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

This sign wasn't here a few months ago!s I guess the bears are wandering down for good eating before winter hibernation. Note to self...don't become dinner.

The creek trail is as inviting as ever and fun to see the change from the summer.

Kelowna in October

2011-10-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

The air has the crisp feel of winds rustling the leaves off the trees. Homes are displaying pumpkins on the porch in anticipation of Halloween. Along Mission Creek, the trees are slowly turning yellow.

Only a few glimpses of red peek out from the yellow. The seasons change in their own time here.

Carlsbad Afternoon

2011-10-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the perfect October day. The sun is warm, skies are clear, a slight Santa Ana wind is blowing. The tourists are gone and the locals have a beach town to themselves. Above the flower fields, the walls still remain full of color with the Pacific looking every bit a movie set back drop.

The flowers know it's Oktoberfest and pumpkin leaves are the fall foliage of the coast.

Not the Palm Trees

2011-10-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

Today's photo was several bright green palm trees against the backdrop of a bright blue sky with random rainclouds. I might have had something thoughtful to say but I somehow deleted the photo. The back-up was a picture of a salmon ironwork above the salmon river in Ketchikan. I somehow deleted it in the editing process and thought the secondary photo of the dead salmon wouldn't hold up on it's own. So let's talk Totem.

I confess, I've been to the outside of this building twice and never went in. I'm sure that inside are wonderful displays of 19th century totem poles. The arts and crafts section must be fascinating but I like to be outside. These totem poles looked pretty cool to me. The Totem Heritage Center preserves and promotes tradtional arts from several different cultures in Alaska.

Still with me? I saved the dead fish. The river was full of ones that just got tuckered out going upstream.

Tamarack Monday Afternoon

2011-10-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

When life is nothing but work and work what to post? After coming home from a fantastic Alaska cruise everyday life seems so....normal. Ah but the ocean is there and I answered the call. So from 5:00 pm here's the late afternoon look of Carlsbad.

The birds are calm, the military ship sails on and the surfers paddle out to wait on the water for one last ride before sunset. Normal in Carlsbad is good.

Victoria - Pub Crawl

2011-09-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Time to try some Victoria brews! A specialty tour to showcase local beer!

First up - The Moon Under Water. A sampler of the pale ale and the light beer. Both tasty!

No, we didn't get to try them all. :(

First time I've ever set on the malt!

I'm not the only one taking pictures of beer.

A nice Nut Brown Ale.

Ketchikan

2011-09-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

The ship skipped Sitka due to a storm and went straight to Ketchikan instead. Finally a port that was only slightly raining instead of a windy downpour. Below are the shops that greet the cruise ship arrival.

Ketchikan is famous for totem poles. They are all over town and most have a sign stating what the story is.

I wandered along "Married Men's Trail" and found myself in a forest in the middle of town.

Shops along the salmon creek area.

Juneau - Mendenhall Glacier

2011-09-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

Mendenhall Glacier is an easy drive outside of downtown Juneau. The glacier seemingly flows into the water and with the rain, it was melting fast!

View from the visitor center

The large chunks of ice moving along with the canoes.

To the right of the glacier, a large waterfall with the runoff from the upper part of the glacier.

Juneau - Salmon Hatchery

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Juneau took me on the tour bus circuit. First up - the Salmon Hatchery. Face it - unless you are really passionate about salmon breeding and preservation, this can be a boring stop. In fact, I was bored. At least there was a mounted 93 lb. King Salmon on the wall. Hmm, as I type this, I now realize I'm in the dreaded cruise ship state of "less full". I could go for 93 lbs. of salmon about right now!

Yup, a tree. Cute little pine tree. Did I mention I was bored?

Hurray for the seal! Excitement at last.

Seagulls. Same here as at home.

On Deck for the Cure

2011-09-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

The cruise ship did a 5K walk this morning for Susan B. Komen race for the cure. 45 minutes around deck 3 as we sailed along to Ketchikan, it was great vieiwing and fun. Important to raise money for a cause but also to raise my calorie output so I could increase my calorie input later today!

John Hopkins Inlet and Glacier

2011-09-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

Bundled up for glacier viewing! It was raining so we had to find a viewing window to enjoy the show!

Here we saw the glacier calving, had the crack of ice hit our ears and watched the ice chunks splash down to become playgrounds for the seals.

This late in the season, the seals are done calving and the pups are old enough to be around ships without getting squashed so cruise ships are allowed deeper inside the park than other months. The John Hopkins Glacier is the only one in the park currently gaining in size rather than receding into the mountain.

They really are this blue.

Entrance into Glacier Bay

2011-09-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Leaving the rough Alaskan seas, the entrance to Bartlett Cover in Glacier Bay National Park was a welcome sight! No majestic snow or sea animals but calm water and the wait for glacier sighting. Had I been listening to the park ranger I might have learned that Glacier Bay is also a United Nations biosphere reserve and a world heritage site. Well thanks to the handy brochure I have post knowledge!

As the ship passed by the first glacier, everyone jumped to the port side of the ship to start the competition for good camera space. Luckily we had secured a spot that was sheltered and out of the rain and passed for only somewhat freezing. A perfect spot for what lay ahead!

Glacier Bay

2011-09-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

Was lucky enough to cruise in John Hopkins Inlet today and see one of the deepest glaciers up close!

Rain and freezing wind still couldn't keep everyone from standing outside for a couple of hours to watch the show.

More later but wanted to share a few with you all before I start to edit the many photos!

EMP Seattle

2011-09-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

The running exhibits right now are Battlestar Galactica and Avatar. I'm not an Avatar fan so I breezed through that to get to Galactica. The Boxy looks much better in a display case than it ever did on screen.

By Your Command

The famous Cylon dress.

And ships. Actually I was disappointed. Turns out most of the collection is out on a traveling show so there really wasn't much to see.

Seattle

2011-09-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

First stop - the Space Needle for the windy experience. We got there early and had no waiting to go up. Great day to walk the 360!

Seattle is a great looking city from the sky view.

Sculpture Park. The & was the most popular art. The bright neon red doesn't come through in this picture but you can spot the & from far away.

Lisa setting up the GPS to get to our next destination.

Still great beach weather!

2011-09-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

Late afternoon, good time for a post work exercise session!

Surf wasn't really up but that's okay. The beachcombing was still good.

Have to watch out, I wasn't ready to get hit by a wave even if I was at the beach!

Cruise Countdown!

2011-09-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

After a solid couple of weeks working in my office, I am caught up from road travel and ready for fun! I'm going on an Alaska cruise this year and since it's round-trip from Seattle it can't get much easier. The only hard part is packing for rain and cold outside while being warm inside the ship. The cruise is on Holland America's Oosterdam and the ports include Sitka (hiking), Juneau (glacier, eating), Ketchikan (spa day!) and Victoria Island, BC (pub crawl). I'm thinking about packing heavy or at least Karen-heavy which is still most people's pack-light!. After all, I do have that bright white, bug free, suitcase on 4 wheels.

Now I'm obsessing on the NOAA website watching for ocean swell warnings. The only downside to a cruise it that it's on water!

Bye to Florida!

2011-09-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is the stay that makes me wonder what it's like to be so rich, all your vacations are on the beach and endless. I'm sure it could get boring but given the time and money, I could at least stay happy for a week! Could have used someplace to eat besides the hotel but that's the price of being to lazy to drive into town.

Sand Key photos wouldn't be complete without one last warning sign.

The bridge to Clearwater Beach. I never did cross over. No need when the beach is right out the hotel door.

Morning Tide

2011-09-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

The lazy way to start the morning at Sand Key is to get up, toss on beach wear and walk to the beach. The Gulf of Mexico water is warm in the morning and less crowded.

Not a Sea Oat but making a scrappy living in the sand.

Yet another "no" sign.

Really a perfect way to start any morning!

2011-09-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

What is up with all the warning signs at Sand Key? And what is a Sea Oat? I had to look this one up to find out it's a grass that is critical to barrier stability and is a crime to pick or destroy said plants in Florida. Well we are on a shallow barrier that needs all the sand stability it can get.

So stay on the path and off the oats!

Sand Key Beach, Florida

2011-09-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Okay? Not the usual beach sign but I shuffled my feet in the water. With the number of people out, I can't imagine there was much stingray danger today.

Even though yesterday I warned of the beach tourists in Carlsbad, the best way to escape your own beach is to be a tourist at someone else's beach! Not a bad escape. The water was warm, the storm far enough away not to be a bother...yet.

All in all, pretty relaxing!

Cheers!

Tamarack Friday Afternoon

2011-09-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Some nice swells for the surfers, late summer sun for the tanners. Labor Day Weekend is set to hit Carlsbad fast. Locals - rise early and retreat! The tourists were out today to make a last weekend blast!

But really, who can blame them on a day like this? It's the perfect place to be!

If I surfed, I'd be in the water but the waves seemed pretty random along the coast as to where the swell would occur. Even photo taking was a guess.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

6:30 pm

2011-08-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Sun getting low, evening clouds moving in. Tourists disappearing. A good time to be at the beach!

Tamarack Surf Beach - Late Summer

2011-08-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

A day like this makes exercise easy! No crowds, warm sun, great views!

The Lost Abbey Tasting Room

2011-08-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Located in San Marcos, CA, The Lost Abbey tasting room offers multiple beer choices on tap for $4-$5 for a pint or $1 tasters. There are no seats so find a barrel and guard it closely as there are no tables either. What they do have is plenty of space and a variety that will find something for everyone.

Featuring taps from both Lost Abbey and Port Brewing, you can also purchase hard to find bottles (22 oz), or fill up a growler to take home with you for later enjoyment.

Cheers! Karen, Lisa, Keith, Becky, & Gretchen!

Life Back at Home

2011-08-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Back to the battle with wildlife, both plant and animal varieties. The weeds tried to take over which I don't get since no rain, no water should = dead plants. I guess no one told the weeds that they need water to grow. The squirrels have nibbled the red plants, where there were two, only one still stands. A damaged warrior at that.

Life after months of travel is hectic! Smog this car, then get the notice that the other car needs a smog! Dental appt. finally met, kill spiders, eliminate dust, and now the TiVo is whirring like the hard drive is about to detach and spin off into space. If this keeps up I may have to leave again to recover from home!

Harry's Special Lager Draught

2011-08-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

Harry's Bar @Dempsey's. Thursday night, with friends after a good day at work! Tried the beer, it was the usual lager, but worked for a warm night! Bonus for a local beer!

Hokkien hae mee (Prawns)

2011-08-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

I like shrimp. I like noodles. Adventure eating in Singapore included Hokkien Hae Mee with Prawns, a stir fried shrimp noodle dish with various seafood. I'm not sure what all went into this dish, and I'm sure I'm happiest not knowing but it was a tasty meal after a long day at work!

Sentosa Island - 2011

2011-08-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Oh Sentosa! The transformation from muddy mosquito area to a true attraction is amazing!

Many years ago, when I first came to Singapore, everyone said "go to Sentosa". So I did and it was a place where the best thing was the ride on the sky train to leave. Today, the island has been transformed into Universal Studios, casino action, hotel mecca, and a place to spend time and money. Where else can you find fun art?

A candy store with everything and a way to get you in!

And Adam & Eve, reinterpreted

Complete with an apple!

Watching Water Fall

2011-08-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

A river runs inside the Marina Bay Sands mall and the turnaround area contains a splash zone. As the sanpan goes by the occupants are waiting for the fall from above. Right as they go around, the 5:00 pm water fills up and is released below. Almost like Shamu without getting wet. Water falls every 2 - 3 hours. We were lucky on our timing.

Singapore has Changed

2011-08-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

The Marina Bay Sands complex is part of a large "Integrated Resort" theme that revolves around the Sands Casino, of Sands Las Vegas fame. I find that funny given that the Las Vegas Sands didn't survive as a mega-destination but the reinvention in Singapore has upped the ante for building design. Behind me is a museum and the marina.

Below, the walkway to the resort which consists of a convention center area, hotesl and the upper part has an infinity pool. Very expensive but probably incredibly cool to go swimming here. I didn't go into the casino (looked the same as every other casino) but I'm sure if you like to gamble, then it would be fun.

This dessert has no relation to the resort or changing face of the nation but sometimes, even though you know you won't like something, you have to try it. I'm not a fan of gummy, jelly desserts but the rainbow drew me in.

Traffic is Everywhere

2011-08-12T03:15:00.000-07:00

I find it amazing that Jakarta can go from peaceful batik to 1000% chaos on the streets. I'm back in the hotel room and even above the streets, all I can hear are non-stop sirens, horns, and police mega-phones. It can take 30 minutes to transit around the traffic circle, longer if you don't have 3 people in the car.

Never what you expect

2011-08-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Jakarta - off to the office to set up the classroom. Well, here's the office, all nice and blue and tightly locked up. We hung out for a bit and waited for the guy to unlock the door. Turns out there are 3 security doors and it's an art to get in the building.

First meal - salmon. I must be thinking of Brad since that's his official first meal in each new country.

New Suitcase

2011-08-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone who really knows me, understands that I can't cope with bugs especially if those bugs look anything remotely like a cockroach. So those people will all completely get my 2 hour obsession with seeing a bug in my suitcase, the trauma of dumping out all the contents and doing a search, repacking everything in ziplock bags and then jumping on the luggage to try and squash the bug or get it to run out. The bug was moved in and secure in one of the many cracks and seams. I went inside the airport but nothing was open. So I repacked as little as possible into that bag, moved everything else to the bug-free bag and thought about how I was going to have to unpack in the bathtub of the next hotel.

Luckily when I went to T2 to check-in a luggage store was open and waiting. I know I had an obsessed look because all three people were staring at me opening suitcases and checking seams to make sure I could find something that would be semi bug proof or at least easy to spot bugs. I found one and the way these things go, it wasn't cheap. But the peace of mind that I have now instead of the next 5 hours of imagining all sorts of bug romping was worth it. I now own a polycarbonate, light-weight, 4 wheeled (external so no bug cracks allowed) white suitcase.

I feel much better and the sales lady took the old suitcase so that solved the whole problem of alerting security if I abandoned the remains. Few can understand. Those of you that do, you'd do the same.

Uggh, Bug

2011-08-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Oh Asia, it's green, it's hot. I spent the night at the Crowne Plaza Singapore airport hotel. See the view from the room, all tropical with an airplane hiding behind the foliage. See my suitcase on the floor empty. There's a bug in it that I can't get out. Now I'm going to have to buy a new suitcase and repack everything. Can't take any chances! Darn airport stores don't open till 10:00 am! Everything has been transferred into zip-lock plastic bags for immediate inspection and new suitcase upon arrival in Jakarta later today.