The Never Ending Autumn

"If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes."

-The Houghton Line, November 1965

Yep, it's true. About 9 or 10 years ago, before I went nuts, I had an occasion to purchase a pair of really gorgeous, really trendy, really expensive shoes to wear to a special Christmas party. They were about 3 1/2 inches high, done in a lovely black satin, with a ribbon the wound up my delicious ankles. I say "delicious ankles," because every man I ever dated always told me, "Damn Carly, you have delicious ankles." WINK! Thanks guys. Tee Hee. Yes, the shoes were fabulous as shoes, but what they were in actuality was foot girdles.

I had suspected it for most of the evening as I twirled the dance floor with Alan, floating lightly on my feet, but I was disguising it well with a flirtatious little wince that was apparently seen as a girlish grin. I hadn't thought about those foot girdles in years, not until today, when I was considering that apparently autumn it still present in the trees. I have no idea why I went from thinking, "Isn't it strange that autumn has decided to stay?" To, "Damn, I remember those foot girdles."



Pacific Loon

It must be my age, but I seem to be gliding from stray thought to stray thought recently. Maybe it is the cold weather, or the splashes of an autumn that seem to be as reluctant to leave, as I am for them to go. I don't know. I am sure I will snap out of it soon. I spotted a pair of Pacific Loons today, also I have a cold coming on, so hopefully when it leaves, it will take this scattered feeling I have with it. I am hoping to be able to get out to visit two different parks next week, one is a bird sanctuary, which has me really excited, the other park is one of the newest parks, recently developed in Alameda County. There is nothing like a day with my camera to settle my soul. I love my camera, and a never ending autumn. I really like saying, "I spotted a couple loons today." :)

"Sometimes the littlest things in life are the hardest to take. You can sit on a mountain more comfortably than you can sit on a tack."

-Unknown

-OndineMonet
"January Autumn"
Cull Canyon Park
Castro Valley, California
January 5th, 2007
Late Afternoon

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment# 146: I (Insert Personal Feeling Here) New York

"They say life's what happens when you're busy making other plans. But sometimes in New York, life is what happens when you're waiting for a table."

-Carrie Bradshaw (Sex And The City)

Weekend Assignment #146: New York... America's largest and most important city. What are your thoughts about it? We're not all from New York, of course, but the city looms large in our collective consciousness. It's that whole "if you can make it there," thing. So, share some of your thoughts about New York, whether it's an opinion about the city, a memory of a visit there, a screed on why you hate it and everything it stands for (if you're a Red Sox fan) - anything, as long as New York, New York is the subject.

Extra Credit: New York Yankees: Love em or hate em?

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)

Ahhh...New York! I LOVE New York... I think. I don't know for sure, because I have never been there, but I have always wanted to visit New York City, and who wouldn't? There is so much to do and see. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, not to mention the Broadway shows in the theatre district, and the fabulous restaurants. I think about grabbing a Corned Beef sandwich at the Carnegie Deli, a couple times a week! LOL. Someday... perhaps.

"Kissing On VE Day" by Alfred Eisenstaedt

For me, it's all about the art. One of my favorite photos of the 20th Century, was taken in Time's Square, by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. "Kissing on VE Day," and features a young sailor and nurse, caught in a moment of jubilation, after the announcement in Time's Square that WWII was over. Does a moment get any better then that? That moment was a true New York moment! Someday, I want to visit New York City, and take lots and lots of photos of life as it happens in true New York moments. I know one thing, it will more then likely be in autumn. :)

Extra Credit: I haven't been following baseball as much this year as in the past, but when I did I kinda liked the Yankees. :) They're cool. :)

-OndineMonet
Central Park 1961

Birdwatching By The Bay

"There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousand truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away."

-Henry Ward Beecher

As you can see, it was a gray day here in the Bay Area. The clouds were so thick up in the hills, it was almost like tiny raindrops were falling. The clouds and mist were beautiful, and I had a couple free hours today, so I decided to go down to a new park that has recently opened near the Port of Oakland, "Middle Harbor Shoreline Park." Santa brought me a really nice pair of binoculars for Christmas, and I gave them quite a workout. :) Lots of gorgeous water birds, including my favorite the Egret. This was my first visit to this park, I can't wait to revisit on a clear day. Because of where the edge of the park sits, it almost gives one the feeling that you could reach out and touch San Francisco. Stunning, simply stunning!

(L) Snowy Egret (R) Great Egret

(L) Great Egret (R) American Avocet

American Robin

Marbled Godwit

-OndineMonet
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
Oakland, California
January 3rd, 2007
Afternoon

Your Monday Photo Shoot:: First Photos Of 2007!

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them."

-Elliott Erwitt

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Put up the first picture you took in 2007. Some of you too them last night, right around midnight; some of you haven't taken them yet. But whatever your first picture is this year... post it, baby!

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)

So there I was, sitting at my local Starbuck's on New Year's Day, not particularly happy, when I noticed that my cup of raspberry hot chocolate, wasn't just yummy and soul soothing, it was attempting to be my friend. And not just any friend, that annoying friend, who likes to give you advice whether you ask for it or not! LOL.

The Way I See It #141...

"I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people, and then me on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, "Hi." They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word."

-Augusten Burroughs
Author of "Running With Scissors."

Mummphf! If I had wanted that kind of advice, I would have asked for it! But who exactly would I have asked? The man sitting next to me? The lady waiting for her "Grande Double, Double, Chi No Whip," standing against the far wall, and looking as lost as I felt? Is the word, "Hi," really enough to begin a relationship which might last a lifetime, or maybe just a couple minutes, depending on how time is flying? You know what they say, "Time flies whether we are having fun or not." I was thinking hard on this, but why in the world would this particular piece of advice be getting to me so much?

Truth is, I suppose all relationships do indeed have a starting word, although as I sat there, sipping my the advice, I began thinking about the various friendships and acquaintances I had gained, and lost, over the years. I couldn't really think of what the opening words in my relationships had been, with the exception of a couple cases. In those instances, "Hi" had indeed been the magic word, and "goodbye," wasn't always the last word, sometimes there was no magic word at all. Hmmm. Soon I realized, I was being way too reflective, and it wasn't really helping my mood too much. I put my consideration of this away, and I moved on. I didn't give it any more thought. I went back to Starbuck's yesterday, and again ordered a hot chocolate with raspberry syrup, and again I got advice #141. Curious. Was someone, somewhere trying to tell me something?

Is it time to go out into the world and say "Hi" to every stranger I meet? Is a new friend just waiting for me to make the first move? Do I even want to go out on that limb again? There is something to be said for being your own best friend after all. You can't stand yourself up. You can't cheat on yourself. You can't break your own heart, oh wait you can, but you have to really work at it. LOL. You never have to say goodbye to yourself, unless you get completely lost and forget who you are. That wouldn't be very convenient. Sigh. It was all so deep. Then a quote from "Sex And The City," came to mind...

"Can you get to your future if your past is present?" -Carrie Bradshaw

Maybe I have spent too much time worrying about what has gone wrong. Maybe I have made the past my permanent present. I have made mistakes in a lot of relationships, but what's the good in being 40 something, if I can't consider my mistakes, give them the proper respect, and then indeed move on from them, older, wiser and walking forward? I think I will take the Starbuck's advice and be open to new people, places and things, but I think I will move a lot more slowly into the future, because really, what's the hurry?

-OndineMonet
"Cup O' Advice"
Starbuck's
Castro Valley, California
January, 1st 2007
Afternoon

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

"Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits."

-Unknown

It's been quite a year... hasn't it? I think I will be happy to see the clock tick-tock the time off, in fact, as far as I am concerned, I am on New York time, just like my blog. I am going to be drinking champagne with Alan, and making a happy noise later tonight... on New York time. As years go, it wasn't the worst year I have ever had, but I am ready to move on to a new one, that's for sure. Ring out the old... Ring in the new... right?

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Clay Aiken

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o' clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's Eve?

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You received

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year Everyone! I am taking a few days off... see you in 2007!

-OndineMonet
"Putting The Year Away"
Treasure Island
December 10th, 2006
Late Evening