Gotta Go . . . Gotta Gooooooooo . . .

Today I met Goliath and Turk at Balboa Park. Their security handlers were friendly, willing to talk and told me the horses are trucked in each day from stables in Lakeside. Just as I took my camera out Goliath really had to go. It splattered so much before his rider quickly moved him, I nearly got my sandals and legs washed! ~N

Stuffed

The trip began as a 'photo wander', but we had a couple of quick stops to make first. A couple of kick boards for the pool, then another stop to get a new vacuum head, a brush and a couple of other surprise necessities. Now since we are there anyway, and we just need some PB and some TP, let's run into the Commissary before it closes. $114 later..... ~B

A Tired Ladybug

A segment of my windchime - after years the painted ladybug and her green leaves are slowly fading from the glass. ~N

Off the Edge

Today I went parasailing over the cliffs at Torrey Pines/above Black's Beach. Suspended below the parasail we floated south toward La Jolla and north past the golf course. Below N watched, dazzled and awestruck, as I braved the elements while searching for nude bathers below. Next it's her turn - to fly that is. ~B

A Dandelion

Pulling a dandelion apart I could look inside. ~N

Dyar House

Built in 1923, the Dyar house was used as both a museum in Cuyamaca State Park as well as the headquarters for nearly a dozen employees. But in the Cedar fire of October 2003 the building was gutted. Many of the artifacts it held were stored in the basement. While indian baskets and other perishable items were likely destroyed, it may be that many other items survived. But Federal safety regs have forbidden archeologists from entering the building to sort through the rubble. Maybe we need to wait until the next civilization decides to take a look? ~B

Walking Figures

18 cast iron statues by Magdalena Abakanowicz called *Walking Figures* are temporarily on display in San Diego before they walk on to another city. ~N

Busted!!??

The yellow tape stretching across the driveway into the new marina said "CAUTION", and we were cautious, but it was easy to slip under and wander the boardwalk around the hollow buildings overlooking the hundreds of empty slips. As I turned back, I saw N deep in conversation with "H. Munoz", spiffy in his security guard uniform. N's enthusiastic questions quickly softened him and he gave us the grand tour complete with a droning non-stop dialogue. NOW I knew why the CAUTION signs were up!!!!! ~B

Annoying Heights

Walking this afternoon through downtown San Diego I reflected how pleasing neighborhoods can be when the buildings are similar in size, design and era . . . and wondered why they're so unpleasant to us when they aren't. ~N

First Day of Summer

It reached 103 today - in the shade about 5 feet off the patio. Water poured on the concrete deck steamed and quickly evaporated. We cleaned the pool - leaves and grit removed, we turned it on and waited for it to heat. Finally, as some shade sheltered one side, we went in, floating effortlessly, enjoying the chill on our skin, watching our shadows in the light below. ~B

Fishy Daze

Summer is here now because the young fishermen can be found right in line on the docks beside the old grizzled regulars. ~N

Knuckles RIP

It began as a great day to wander - a late lunch, Balboa Park, a Mexican market in the barrio, a park near the bridge with fog rolling through, good people to talk with and, finally, cruising downtown looking for Java Jones. BUT then Knuckles died on us!! An hour and a half later we were back on the road, but now we were just focused on getting home again. ~B

Shifting Stuff

Today as I took photos in a park, a young father watched his kids play while a homeless man got all his plastic bottles out of his many bags. Some held water and dark liquids while others held powders or grains of some kind. A large 2 liter bottle under his left elbow was packed with Cheerios. He spent the hour I was at the park very carefully pouring everything back and forth between empty, then full bottles. ~N

Glass

Behind faceless glass, workers toil. I visit, but soon leave. ~B

A Crimson Twilight

Tonite we had rosey skies before it got dark. ~N

Pelly's

We'd heard that Pelly's was the best clam chowder and seafood sandwiches in town. It was excellent and the decor was bright and "fishy" ~B

Shadow Trees

I've driven by my neighbor's garage door hundreds of times but tonite was the first time I saw the tree 'growing' there after dark. ~N

The Hunter

At the San Diego Zoo a Blue Heron patiently waited among the Flamingos. In a side pool a mother duck nervously shepherded her 10 new chicks while keeping a eye on the hunter. During the Spring many young chicks will be taken by Blue Herons. Today, he left without success. ~B

Dawn

Dawn slid silently over a lampshade by our bed this morning. ~N

Madonna and Child

Testing a new camera we went to the SD Zoo to find some flamingo chicks had just hatched in the past couple of days. In the water was a young chick struggling to climb up the bank to its nest. Mom watched attentively, but was unable to help. The chick finally made it on its own. ~B

Hippie Kabobs

I drove by this gate today and couldn't help wondering if the 'backdoor' was where the Rottweiler waited for his lunch. ~N

Solitude at Santee Lakes

This evening at Santee Lakes we wandered the shoreline as the wind died and the water flattened out. Ducks were feeding and bedding down. Floating in the calm, inky water was a small water plant. ~B

Shabbily Seated

Tonite as we read quietly at a table in our local Borders bookstore, a middle eastern man hurried and excited, asked if he could sit at our table (possibly the only one with an extra chair).

When we nodded "Yes", he placed this ratty ragged briefcase on the chair, disappeared to read magazines at a nearby rack and never returned as long as we were reading at the table. ~N