Pretty impressive cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Walk Off The Earth.
Feb 26 2012
Done With Earp
Finally finished reading (my signed copy of) “Wyatt Earp In San Diego: Life After Tombstone” by Garner Palenske. The book is packed with fascinating early San Diego history, which I loved learning about, and the first half is very interesting. But the second half slowed down a bit because it seemed to be more about giving information than telling a story. While there are plenty of accounts of where Wyatt and his wife Josie lived, where he gambled, who he befriended (either public official or fellow capitalist), the mining operations he invested in, and where he raced his horses, they were presented in an almost colorless way. Too factual and not enough evocative vignettes. After a while I was just glancing over names and places. On the plus side there are plenty of amazing photographs, especially of early San Diego, but unfortunately very few of Wyatt Earp. That’s not the fault of the author. There just aren’t that many photos of him.
Feb 26 2012
Chatting About The Oscars
Finally had me a long-overdue video chat with my close friend, Brenda, all while Jean Dujardin won the Oscar for Best Actor and Michel Hazanavicius won as Best Director, both for “The Artist,” at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. While our chat only lasted for two awards, both of our performances tonight were genuine.
Feb 26 2012
Mission Valley: Then And Now
Here are two images of Mission Valley, located here in San Diego, as viewed from almost the same vantage point. The image on the left is a photo, taken in 1885, from an exhibit in the tower of the Junípero Serra Museum in Presidio Park. The image on the right is a photo I took yesterday looking out of a window from that same museum tower. The most significant and striking difference for me is that now, thanks to Walt Disney, the world is in color. M&Ms and rainbows must have been a lot more boring back then.
Wonderful World of Color
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Feb 25 2012
The First Padre
Revisited Presidio Park today, this time with my mom and sister, to finally tour the Junípero Serra Museum. During the week it’s really difficult to go inside, probably because it’s only open on weekends. (See my previous post describing who Junípero Serra was. I don’t want to write all that history about who Junípero Serra was again. I’ve moved on in regards to Junípero Serra.)
And now, back to my blog post about Junípero Serra and his museum.
Got there a bit early so I could get a bunch more exterior shots without people in them before the museum opened. Sort of to set the stage for the story. Turns out I didn’t need to worry about people in my shots. There were only two other groups. One was a family of five who got bored and left quickly, and the other was comprised of two women visiting from England whom my mother chatted up for a while in the tower. There wasn’t a tremendous amount of items on display, which actually made the museum feel more open. And nothing in the museum actually had anything to do with Fr. Serra or even about the original mission built there. There was more information about George Marston, the incredible philanthropist who made the museum possible, than there was about Fr. Serra. The few pieces they did have were impressive enough, although not all of them were even from San Diego. And there’s a model of what the presidio looked like in it’s prime, which turns out to be incorrect. The building’s ceiling was, for me, one of the most impressive features with its giant wooden beams. And I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we could go all the way up to the top of the tower and view not only old photos from the time of the building’s dedication, but also the incredible vistas of the surrounding area with comparisons of how they used to look way back when. That for me was the coolest thing about the museum. Showing what life in San Diego was like back when the building was built and dedicated.
Also didn’t hurt that the girl working the office was easy on the eyes.
( p r e s i d i o p i c s )
Feb 24 2012
Now For The Earth-Bound Vehicles
After my four and a half hour/three hundred plus photo marathon visit to the Air & Space Museum, I thought I would take it easy and rest a bit…by immediately visiting the San Diego Automotive Museum right next door and taking a lot more photos. There was a very cool exhibit of classic “woodies” that were all polished and beautiful. They also had their usual impressive collection of cars from different eras including a few of my favorites like the 1913 Cadillac Model 30, the 1932 Cadillac V-12 and the 1913 Pierce-Arrow Raceabout (think Tony Curtis’ car from “the Great Race”). They also had a 1967 Austin that was once owned by Frank Sinatra during his Rat Pack years. In the center of the museum there’s a section devoted to Louis Mattar’s “Fabulous $75,000 Cadillac” that he modified to drive nonstop on a 1952 round-trip journey of 6,320 miles across the United States from San Diego to New York and back. He was able to fill-up the tank, change the oil, change flat tires, cook meals and wash dishes, wash and iron clothes, make phone calls, watch TV and even shower and go to the bathroom, all while never stopping the car. There were three drivers taking five hour shifts. He bettered that two years later with an even longer 7,482 mile trip from Anchorage, Alaska down to Mexico City. Even the immigration inspection into Mexico was done while driving.
Also on exhibit is an impressive collection of early and classic motorcycles, one even owned and raced by Steve McQueen.
So ended my extended, multiple museum day.
( s o m a n y p i c s )
Feb 24 2012
I Need Some Air And I Need My Space
The morning started off with a quick walk through most of Balboa Park, beginning at the Natural History Museum and continuing down the El Prado pedestrian walkway, passing the Botanical Building and Lily Pond, skirting the Plaza de Panama with its fountain and bronze statue of El Cid, passing the Japanese Friendship Garden and the Spreckles Organ Pavilion, walking through the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages and briefly exploring Palm Canyon Trail before finally ending up at the old Ford Building from the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. And after walking around inside the building for four and a half hours, taking almost three hundred and fifty photos, speaking with one elderly docent about Chuck Yeager‘s visit last Saturday, enjoying a Lind-Burger and a beer at the Flight Path Grill and going pee twice (thank you, Coronado Brewing Company), I would say that my time at the San Diego Air & Space Museum could genuinely be considered a successful visit.
Started off by seeing the prototype (Lockheed A-12) of my all-time favorite plane (SR-71 Blackbird) on exhibit out front of the museum. Inside the entrance rotunda housed exhibits beginning with a reproduction of Charles Lindbergh’s original Spirit of St. Louis (built in San Diego by Ryan Aeronautical Company) as well as the Apollo 9 command module and a couple of military unmanned drone vehicles, which are much bigger than most people realize. Also on hand was a very cool looking Ford Mustang tricked out with Blue Angels colors. From there I entered the early years of flight, from Da Vinci through World War I, followed by planes for air mail and barnstorming. That’s when I took my lunch break, eating outside on the observation deck and watching the comparatively giant passenger jets flying overhead on approach to Lindbergh Field. After lunch I checked out the PSA exhibit with tons of items from its history, including some of the flight attendants’ uniforms, including the miniskirt version. Those uniforms were housed in a reproduction of the first PSA ticket office from 1949, which itself was a discarded US Marine Corps latrine. They also had numerous plaques in memory of all those lost in 1978 airliner crash here in San Diego. From there I spent quite a bit of time in the Pavilion of Flight with its original Ford V8 fountain from 1935. Here I found an F4 Phantom chasing a MiG-17 and a huge PBY-5A Catalina, also built here in San Diego. Most spectacular was the Ford Trimotor which years ago I saw being refurbished in the museum’s basement. After that came World War II and finally the modern jet and space age with a Gemini spacecraft, an Apollo service module with capsule, a Mars rover and an actual Blue Angels F-18.
Way too many planes to list, hence all the photos (to come).
( t o o m a n y p i c s )
Feb 23 2012
Where California Began
Took my mom to Presidio Park today, which on one side overlooks Interstate 8 running through Mission Valley, on another side looks toward SeaWorld and Mission Bay, and the third side overlooks Old Town, where San Diego was founded. Since the Serra Museum itself was closed I walked a few of the trails that encircle the Presidio.
In 1769, a Spanish-lead military expedition of about two hundred people arrived in this area of Alta California to establish a fort, or military colony (presidio), and a mission. The fort (the first of four) was meant to guard an area from Ensenada, Mexico, all the way up to where Malibu is today, just north of Los Angeles. I can’t imagine how they could have possibly known if an invading army landed or an Indian uprising occurred in such a large area. Regularly spaced lookout posts, I’d imagine. (I guess I can imagine it. Huh.)
Fr. Junípero Serra, a Franciscan monk, went on to build twenty-one missions along the El Camino Real, starting with the first one here at the Presidio. Five years later, in 1774, the mission was moved to its present location six miles east in Mission Valley (hence the name). The Presidio remained for over sixty years. Now the ruins are covered by rolling hills of grass and trees. In 1929, department store owner George Marston bought the land to save it from development, built the Serra Museum, and then donated the entire property to the city of San Diego. We are all lucky he did.
Here endeth the lesson.
( p r e s i d i o p i c s )
Feb 22 2012
On The Right Track
After my less than flavorful lunch, I finally ended up at what was supposed to be my first destination from today, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. At 28,000 square feet it’s the largest operating model railroad museum in the world. And it’s right here in San Diego. Not much to say other than it simply is a marvel to see all the elaborate and often humorous details that the different clubs put into their layouts. It’s a miniature photographer’s delight where one can easily spend an hour just looking for tiny little scenes being played out in miniature. There’s even a tiny colonial house with a tiny pool that has a tiny shark in it. It’s sometimes hard to fathom the seriousness and state-of-the-art expertise that the volunteers put in to recreating both famous as well as imagined railroad lines of both past and present. The old downtown San Diego Santa Fe station with a Ryan hangar is one of my favorite dioramas. The buildings, cars, planes, plants, trees, street lights, telephone poles, bridges, and people of every kind all have meaning and stories.
Every time I visit here it reignites my childhood love of models and miniatures.
( m a n y c h o o c h o o p i c s )
Feb 22 2012
Botanical Bonanza
My day was supposed to start with a couple of hours spent taking pictures at the Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. Found out when I got there that they opened an hour later than I expected. So I decided to mosey across the El Prado, passed the Lily Pond, and on over to the Botanical Building thinking I could try to squeeze out a few shots there while waiting for the museum to open. Ended up staying there for over an hour getting shots of the all the incredible orchids they had on display. Luckily I had brought my macro lens with me for the miniature railroad details later. Also got some interior shots of the fantastic spiderweb-like lath work that makes up the building’s roof. And I got to pet a super cute ten-month old Golden Doodle named Pansy who was incredibly friendly and playful. I also spent a little time inside the Sculpture Court and Garden, taking shots of some of the original statues that graced the old exposition buildings.
Since by now it was so close to noon I decided to have lunch before heading to the museum. I knew that The Village Grill over by the Natural History Museum had a pretty good tuna melt so I walked over there. I stood in line and secretly laughed as person after person was getting frustrated by how many things the eatery was out of. No hot dogs, no potato salad, no other stuff. When I got to the window and placed my order the Hispanic girl with the thick eyeliner told me they were out of tuna. I wasn’t secretly laughing any more. I asked for the turkey melt. Sorry, no turkey. I looked around to see if Heather was standing somewhere near me. Ended up ordering a simple, plain grilled cheese sandwich with chips and a drink. It was good to sit and eat, but boy was that sandwich bland and boring. As I ate I saw a small wiener dog stroll by with wheels for back legs. It didn’t seem to mind one bit and had no trouble getting around. After lunch I walked over to the boundary fence that separates Balboa Park from the Zoo. I could see the sloth enclosure just on the other side. Turned around and discovered a giant fig tree with gigantic roots growing above ground just behind the Botanical Building. Filled the rest of my memory card with a few pictures of that tree with its incredible root system. My time-filler morning turned out to be quite productive and fulfilling.
( b o t a n i c a l p i c s )
Feb 21 2012
Focus On Mantas
Went for a weekly walk at SeaWorld with my mom and was getting a little bored of always taking pictures of the same things. I had recently seen something on TV about the tanks at the Journey To Atlantis ride housing mantas instead of Commerson dolphins so I decided to focus on them. And some them were huge. Could never have gotten shots like these when they were back at Forbidden Reef. Other than mantas, I got the penguins statue, a row of turtles, a bunch of roller coaster construction pieces and a bunny. It was a regular variety hour.
Feb 20 2012
Animal Sitting Redux
After spending the first of two nights at the neighbors’ house, today was my only full day of pet-sitting for them. (There are two half days involved as well.) Here are examples of some of the creatures I am caring for (minus the squirrel sprinkler – it’s on its own).
Feb 20 2012
Zoo Visit The Fifth
My fifth visit to the San Diego Zoo this year was enjoyed with two long-time friends, Mary and Randy, each of whom brought a young daughter along. I meandered around on my own for the first couple of hours, taking pictures while listening to my iPod, and talking to keepers and horticulturists about primates and flora on this, the last day of the Zoo’s Absolutely Apes celebration. Photographically speaking I captured tigers, a hippo, red pandas, pigs, polar bears, a miniature horse, meerkats, a binturong, pygmy goats, a fossa, a pangolin, a tarantula and my human primate friends. We had a nice social, if chilly, lunch at the Treehouse Café where I enjoyed a plate of cheese ravioli. And from today’s visit I learned that humans are the only primates that have chins and that the amazing flower that blooms outside the giraffe exhibit is called Leucospermum Sunrise. It was also confirmed to me that taken together all the species of flora at the Zoo are worth more than all the fauna, and that every ten years the Zoo has to list and catalogue every single one of their plants, trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers in order to stay accredited as a botanical garden. Oh, and also learned that binturong can rotate their ankles for easier climbing.
( a n i m a l p i c s )
Feb 19 2012
My Next Halloween Costume
We never had anything this cool and terrifying when I went to school.
Feb 18 2012
Entered The World Of Pinterest
After patiently waiting on the sidelines for a while and watching others enjoy the benefits (mostly women – 97% I’ve read) I finally dove into Pinterest and created my account. What brought me aboard was that so many photographers were using it two-fold. Firstly, they are using as a good way to keep other people’s amazing photos easily accessible and handy, and secondly as a way to pin and show their own work, something I feel a bit uncomfortable doing yet. I’ve started with a few typical boards to pin onto but I’m sure that very soon that will be expanding into areas I haven’t even considered yet. (I even added “Pin it” buttons to my posts.)
(While typing this paragraph one of the photos that I pinned just a few minutes earlier was already re-pinned ten times! (All by women.) That kind of immediate interaction is pretty darned impressive.)
My iNaturalist-ings
My Flickr Photostream
