... and watch the clouds go sailing by.

Lately we have been experiencing some more seasonal weather. Not a bad thing really, considering California's on going water issues. This year is supposed to be an El Nino year, so we could actually see more than the typical amount of rainfall this season. So as not to disappoint us, the rains came again during the night. Not to heavy, but enough to soak everything.

After breakfast and coffee, we put on our boots and did a short hike up The Hill to The Bench. The day turned out to be just great. The air was clear and the clouds gathered to show off their shapes. I took a lot of images and post a few of them below.

Always the Season of Giving

This holiday season give some Hope to those who need to know you really do care and some Inspiration to those who look to you for a hint of guidance. May this holiday season bring you something non-tangible, something worth cherishing, something worth considering.

Still Sad about Loosing My Little Pal

I find myself unconsciously behaving as though Dusty is still around. I notice myself thinking Dusty is sitting on the back of my chair while I am at the computer or I am at the kitchen table. When I leave or enter the house, I still quickly close the back door. I not so much to prevent a "jail break", but because I was always trying to prevent a stray mosquito from entering the house and infecting my little friend with some nasty illness.

I still try to be extra quiet when I enter our bedroom after sunset because we would keep Dusty's cage at the far end of our bedroom when we put him to bed. On weekends he would be up before us and demand we uncover his cage. Especially if he heard us talking. Dusty didn't mind staying in our room at night. He liked to be where everyone else was and that was where we slept.

In the mornings, we would carry his cage/home downstairs so that he could have his breakfast the same time as us. When ever we sat at the kitchen table, Dusty would want to be on the back of our chair. Then after a while he would prefer to quietly sit on our leg, up close to the table cloth.

We both still miss Dusty and still talk a lot about the little things he used to do with us. We are both sad he passed away, but I am especially thankful for something that is very important me. That is that when the time came, at least one of us could be there with him to make an effort to comfort him in what was sure to be some very confusing and scary final moments of his life.

Dusty

I earned your trust and will miss you dearly.
May you rest forever on a feather.
22 July 2009

B2WD Bike to Work Day

Thursday was Bike to Work Day. I took advantage of the timing afforded to me by the event starting at 6:30 am and I did not have to be at work until 9:20 am. I plotted out and hit up 16 "Energizer Stations". I loaded up on everything that was free. I picked up tote bags, bagels, bananas, an apple, a half dozen mini size chocolate cup cakes, various coupons, a T-shirt and a water bottle. Not a bad haul and I was able to log in about 24 miles before I stated work. Cool.

(click on map to enlarge)
Not the most direct route to work, but it made for a nice morning ride.

Keep your Eyes on the Road

As the warmer weather started making itself at home in the Bay Area I decided it was time to start putting some miles on my tires. Tires are one of those products that will go bad weather you use then or not. So why not enjoy them instead of just letting the tires dry out and crack.

On Saturday or Sunday I typically join the usual crowd of weekend warriors on the Foothill, Portola Valley, Canada road route. I enjoy wind in my face and comradery of the other riders. I have lost count of how many times I have been asked by a passing rider if I need help when ever I happen to incur a flat. On one of my rides to the top of Mount Hamilton another rider simply handed me a spare tube, so that I could save my patches and be back on the road. What generousity.

It is not uncommon to form a pace line with several other cyclists on the road. It's a good way to up everyone's average speed. This semi-social group is also a bit competitive. I have been marked too many times by some green jersey as "that rider up the road". Of course I too have been guilty of taking aim of that rear wheel ahead of me. I am, however, less often to make a sucessful brake.

When I was very young, I used to think I would never be as good as those riders older than me. But time has a way of leavening everyone's abilities. As I grew older, I improved in my abilities and started holding my own. But, being older is only a temporary advantage. So remember, when the bread starts to become stale, it's time to make toast.

Half Day Friday

As luck would have it, I only needed to put in a half day last Friday. But wait, it gets better. I only needed to work in the morning, which left the rest of the day to me and my slightest whim. Since I commute to work via my bicycle, I decide to take the long way home and ride up into the coastal mountains. Spring has been making a nice showing and I was wondering what things looked like at higher elevations. The vehicle traffic was relatively light on the climb and along the ridge. I wished I had brought along my SLR instead of my little point a shoot. Redwood and Coastal Live Oak trees on both sides of the road. Tall fields of bright greens grasses and wildflowers everywhere. What a nice way to "commute" home from work on a Friday.

One Way or Another...

I had some time this afternoon to do a short hike near our place. There is a small creek and a hill nearby where I like taking a stroll when ever I have the time. I take my camera along with me because I know there will always be an opportunity waiting to present itself.

As expected, I happen upon a fitting subject. It seems I cannot pass up a Dandelion without taking at least a half dozen images. I can remember as a child picking these seed heads and like making a wish, blowing all the little seeds into the wind. After looking over all the images from the day, I settled on this image in B-W.

While wandering along the path to The Creek, my thoughts drifted as they always do. I pondered the question, "Would I want to pass away sooner and leave behind all my friends and those I love?" Or, "Would I wish to live a long and healthy life only to see all my friends and those I love pass away. And then be buried by strangers who never knew or cared about me?" Neither of these choices are very appealing. A rhetorical question to be sure .

Pain in the Rain

This could have been posted earlier, but I only recently started this endeavor.

Some thoughts from February of 2009. We were growing tired of the cold rain and gray skies. To top it off our favorite fungi failed to appear in the usual spots. A fresh warm bowl of mushroom soup would have helped levitate our mood during the wet season, but this was not to be. Longing for warm sunny days with bright blue skies we impatiently awaited the arrival of Spring.

The Alpha of The Omega

My first posting. This is a self portrait I created at the end of 2008. I was inspired by the artist MC Escher.