"Summer was here again. Summer, summer, summer. I loved and hated summers. Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope. That's why I loved and hated summers. Because they made me want to believe." ~Benjamin Alire Saenz, Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe.
If it's 3:51 A.M. PST or later, it's officially summer 2014! Finally. I can last another 3 months until autumn comes back to me. I can. Although I seem to have a lot less patience in summer, than in the rest of the seasons combined! Maybe it's the heat, or maybe it's the HEAT, lol, who knows? All I know I am ready, really ready, to get back out with the camera and find the sun. Not that it went anywhere, no, I know it was I that went into hiding. But I am okay again, and summer is here. And so are summer nights. I love summer nights. Don't you?
And Now, A little music from one of my favorite summer movies, Grease!
I went to see the movie the day it opened! It was supposed to go for my birthday, which is on June 29th, but I couldn't wait! I had to go the day it opened! And then I also went on my birthday! LOL. God I loved that movie! John Travolta was the celebrity crush of the time! Everyone loved John Travolta, and so did I. He was hot! What seems like yesterday, also seems like forever ago. Time flies, one season at a time!
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." ~Helen Keller
From the archives. I took the photo back in the august of 2010. It instantly became one of my favorite photos of all time. Many times I have considered taking this photo and putting it on canvas. Maybe one day, we'll see. I haven't been out with the camera for a while. I just haven't felt like it. I am not really stuck per se, but I am in a bit of a funk. Summer begins tomorrow, and I know I will be out more with the camera. If I don't venture out on my own, Alan is going to make me go. LOL. If all else fails, we are planting next week, so there is always the sunflowers, roses and tomatoes... right? Or perhaps I should take up watercolor drawing. Look how nice the sunflower photo looks converted to that form!
But first... the summer solstice. One thing at a time. I think I will be back to normal soon. :)
Julia Child Rose June 17th, 2014 My Rose Garden. "It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside." ~Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib
Hot Cocoa Rose June 17th, 2014 My Rose Garden I am officially back in the garden! Alan and I spent a good part of Tuesday planning things out, and next week is when most of the prepping and planning, and planting will take place. It's time to get a move on if I am going to have any fresh flowers and vegetables for the autumn and winter! My Japanese Maple, Paul, is looking yummy! His leaves are beginning to transition to a lovely copper color, and I am going to try to start a new maple from him.
Son of Paul. LOL. That's an idea! I would love to plant several more around the yard. It is amazing to have that burst of autumn color as the long hot days drag on. It would be a year before I would see the new leaves, but well worth the wait! Summer... a necessary evil to get to autumn! But oh how delicious the summer fruits and veggies are! Only 3 more months to go until autumn, and then hello delicious meals of heirloom tomatoes and eggplant. Fresh salsa and tea sandwiches. When it's from your own garden, there is nothing like it! Life is good! Mood: Hopeful ~Me :)
"It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun." ~Ray Kroc For about 5 years in a row, my pal Steven, from my AOL Journal days, and I, challenged each other to come up with the perfect hamburger for Memorial Day. May is National Hamburger month, and May 28th is National Hamburger Day. I haven't done a good hamburger photo since Steven passed away, my heart just hasn't been in it. But maybe next year I will suggest it as a theme for the Round Robin Photo Challenges, or maybe I will just hold the challenge here. We'll see. All I know is that Steven would think it was stupid to not enjoy that challenge. It would be a nice way to honor his memory I think. :) I miss my friend, but the fun times still make me smile. :) Mood: Reflective ~Me :)
"Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues... communicating with an audience." ~Casey Kasem When I was a kid I never missed American Top 40, co-founded and hosted by Casey Kasem. Music has the ability to heal, and Mr. Kasem's voice was the perfect accompaniment. His voice had a soothing and understanding quality to it. It was the kind of voice you wished your dad had. Casey had the best voice. I will miss him, but I am grateful for all the times he made me smile. Casey Kasem began hosting American Top 40 in July of 1970, and the top song at the time was...
Mama Told Me Not To Come By Three Dog Night
In addition to American Top 40, Casey Kasem provided the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby Doo cartoons. I just had to post one. I kinda had a crush on Shaggy. Yeah, I knew it was a cartoon, but I definitely went for the shaggy type! LOL. Must love dogs... check! Must be nice... check! Must admit he gets scared too... check. Must be slightly messy... check! LOL.
Goodnight Casey, and Thank You! Mood: Quiet ~Me :)
"I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom." ~Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum I don't usually recognize Mother's Day or Father's Day. Both my parents are gone, dad died in 1995, and my mother in 2003. I wasn't close to either of them as my parents, but I was close to both of them as individuals. I hope that makes sense. I don't want to go too deeply into the disfunction, trust me it was significant, but I do find myself thinking about dad often, like now, Father's Day. I can't really help it I guess, I inherited so much from him, like his sense of humor. His flat feet, and assorted moles. We both have tender stomachs, and if left to our own for any length of time, we mess with people. Sometimes for sport. It's naughty, so I don't indulge often, but if someone really has it coming, I give it to them. Like I said, it's naughty so I don't.
Dad taught me to be a progressive. He is the reason I have any values at all. My greatest phobia is my fear of fire. I acquired it one night, when I was 3 years old. It was a HOT summer night, and my dad was due home at any time, when we heard the familiar sound of his carpool pull up outside, but instead of the usual one door slam, on this night it was all the doors on the VW Bus slamming, and men were screaming "FIRE!" By the time my sister, mother and I reached the curb, we could smell the thick, heavy smoke coming from a neighbors house three doors away, that was fully engulfed in flames! And there was dad, and his friends, pulling the family to safety. You could almost feel the heat of the flames. I can still see it clearly after nearly 50 years!
My dad and I had a difficult relationship due to the mental illness that both he and my mother suffered from, but even in the middle of all the crazy there were certain constants. I think of them when I remember dad. I think of the best part of what made us father and daughter. The values he taught me. The way he could make candy bars materialize out of nowhere. His love of comedy and laughing. And so much more he taught me. Little by little. Little moments here and there. It was always about the little things. Like the time he bought me two laundry baskets, just after I got married, and brought them to my new apartment as a surprise. That was 23 years ago, and I still have them! Those two laundry baskets remain among my most cherished possessions. Thank You, Dad! Mood: Quiet ~Me :) PS... My father helped restore the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. He had an amazing time participating in it's restoration, and I know he was at his most happy when he was on the ship. :)
