I Know Who You Are

I still have some photographs from Los Angeles.  They are more interesting that anything I could shoot around here!  I went walking with Liz when she was walking her dog Wesley, and we saw this sign, weighed down with rocks, in someone's garden between the sidewalk and the street.   Wow!  Liz and I had no idea what could possibly have happened here.  But this note just boggles my mind!

Tall, Short, Fat, Thin

I've still got some photographs from California to post.  This is a shot I did on Santa Catalina island, just after we had dinner.  The sun had set, and the moon was rising.  I was stopped by all the wonderful shapes of the palm trees - the tall ones and the short ones and the fat ones and the thin ones.  I just love all the shapes in this photograph.

Bucket List or Death Wish?

Kathy was talking with Amy a month or so ago, and mentioned that she had always wanted to do ziplining!  Really?  Amy mentioned that she knew that there was a zipline facility on Santa Catalina island.  So we took the ferry over, and all went ziplining.  I will say this, that it is absolutely exhilarating!  We were all carefully instructed in how everything works, and safety considerations, then we were fitted with helmets and harnesses.  The we took a bus to the top of one of the mountains and for each of the 5 ziplines, our equipment was carefully checked before each launch. One of the lines was 300 feet above the ground!  Wow.  But screaming along the zipline in our harnesses and feeling the rush of wind in our face was really something!  I recommend it for everyone!

The Lunar Eclipse!

The weather forecast for this evening's lunar eclipse was not looking good.  But amazingly, just before the eclipse began the skies cleared!  I started observing with binoculars and then noticed a neighbor and her son trying to photograph the moon with a cell phone, using flash.  I asked if they had binoculars, and they didn't.  I said "stay right there - I am going to get a telescope."  She went and got two more neighbors and their two kids, and her husband, and I called another neighbor, and we had a star party!  The kids thought seeing this was pretty cool!  Then it looked like it would stay clear for a while, so I got another telescope and my camera, and this is the result.  After I got this photograph, I got out my 15 power binoculars and a lawn chair, and just sat there watching this magical scene.

Leaving Los Angeles

Taxiing out for takeoff from Los Angeles International airport this morning I caught this glimpse of the iconic LAX Theme building, at center, which once contained the Encounter Restaurant.  The building was built in 1961 and the restaurant opened in 1997 and then closed in 2013.  There is an observation deck on top, but it is only open on the weekends.  To the right is another icon, the Air Traffic Control Tower which is very distinctive, and one of a kind.  After flying for about four and one half hours, suddenly the orange light of the setting sun illuminated the edge of the airplane window.  I love the orange light inside and the blue light outside.

RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach

On the ferry trip back from Santa Catalina island, we sailed back to Long Beach, at night.  As we entered the Los Angeles River, to head up to the ferry's berth, we went by the RMS Queen Mary, certainly one of the most storied ocean liners in history.  It is operated as a museum and tourist attraction and hotel.  Her maiden voyage was in 1936 and she was retired after her last transatlantic voyage, to Long Beach, in 1967.  Oh, the RMS?  It means "Royal Mail Ship."  After sailing past the Queen Mary, we sailed under the Queens Way Bridge, which is illuminated with blue, green, cyan and pink lights, making a stunning scene at night.

Vacation Pictures

We took the Catalina Flyer out to Catalina island today on a field trip.  Being on that ferry is a treat - there are several levels, and I could look down on different passengers and see what they are up to.  I took this photograph on the way home at night.  It is a couple looking at their vacation pictures on their cellphone.  I love the enthusiasm and the smiles they both have - a nice display of emotion.