Also on Friday, August 29th, 2025

 

 

“There was no other sound in the world like a car crash.”

 
― Maggie Stiefvater,

  The Dream Thieves

 

Also on Friday, as we were returning from picking up our new kitty, Tyler, this happened! Not to us, but these two cars. One was making a left turn into a gated community, the white car was speeding in the right lane, coming in the opposite direction, and hit the SUV and a crash occurred which knocked the SUV on its side. We stopped immediately, to provide help if needed, and to make sure they had a witness if need be. As it turns out, the car parked behind the accident, also stopped, and that man had to run down the passenger of the white car that got out and ran. I am reluctant to show his photo, as he was only 15. But what does that say, that he would leave his friend, who was injured, and run? Amazingly, an off duty police officer was driving behind the white car and saw him hit the SUV! That's very bad news for him!

 

 And get this, that was the second accident we had seen in two days!

 

We had to drive down to the Bay Area on Thursday, to pick up Tyler. That ended up being it's own drama, I will share about that sometime. So, anyway, we were kinda stressed on the way home, which I am sure you understand, and then, suddenly, we were witnesses to an accident. We also stopped at that one. Fortunately, there were no injuries! They exchanged their info amicably and we were on our way again. Luckily, there was no need for the police. As was good, so we were on our way.

 

But...

 

On the very top of the Altamont Pass, the engine light came on in the Cooper! Holy Hell! It turned out to be a minor thing, and again we were on our way, but doggone, can anything else scare the Hell out of me? Whew! Thursday was a day, and Friday had it's moments too, but we were okay. The biggest dramas were happening to others. It didn't matter to me if it was a democrat or republican, it never entered my mind, all I knew was that we had to stop when those accidents happened, and help! End of story. I hope others feel the same, but I don't know, we are all so fractured right now. Sigh.

 

Anyway was a strange week, and I can't help but wonder how much the moon, or sun flares, or just plain being distracted, by all the worldly drama played a part. All I know is we are okay, and that's the story. Driving on HWY 4 and the Altamont is a challenge. People speed, and weave in and out of traffic. You have to really be aware of what's happening around you. You just do. I hate taking HWY 4 in any direction, but if I want to do some birding this year, at the Clifton Court Forebay, we have to take HWY 4. It's the only way to get there! I guess I will worry about it when the time comes, sometime after the middle of this month!

 

For now... Ohmmm Ohmmm, HERE KITTY KITTY KITTY😊

 

 

Friday, August 29th, 2025

 

“There are two means of refuge from the misery of life 

— music and cats.” 

― Albert Schweitzer 

 

So, this post is all about what you see in the above photo. That's not a throwback picture of Hendrix, that is the first photo of our new kitty, Tyler. We adopted him on Friday, August 29th! He is adorable, and is already fitting in terrifically. It's less pressure for Joey, and for us too. One thing about kittens, they will use the hoomans, and the established cats, as scratching posts. Also, less harmfully, when they jump on us out of play and pure joy, kitty nibbles take place! Kitten nails and teeth can hurt. It's called owning a kitten, so I am not super worried about the less fun parts, I am focusing on what about them that fills my heart! I love to watching them grow up! In a few months it will be time to get them fixed and chipped and then it's fairly smooth sailing through their first year of life. It will be fun, and scary and well worth the effort. They are little for a such a short time, then before you know it, you are saying goodbye. But now is they time to celebrate all the love in this house, but also the love we once knew.

 

Welcome, baby Tyler! 

 

Come back tomorrow for Friday... Part Two. It's a really something. 

 

 

 

 

It's That Time Again, The Inbetween Time

 

Simon, Adopted July 4th, 2025 

 

“A kitten is the delight of a household.

 All day long a comedy is played out

 by an incomparable actor.” 

― Champfleury,

  The Cat Past And Present

It's August 23rd, and that means it's the anniversary of Ellipsis. I got the date wrong last year, which will tell you how much I gave a shit, but this year it means a little more to me then it did a year ago. This blog, which may seem quaint in a world of micro-blogging, serves a profound purpose to me. It is the record of not just my life, as I navigate along, but also as a continued goal to achieve. Sometimes I want to give up. Use my photoblog as my only record, but then happy things come along, and I can't wait to share them with the world. Happy times like beginning a new chapter. Well world, meet, Simon! He's my next chapter.

 

He was a happy turn of events, in a devastating time in life. When my beautiful Dylan passed away, I basically wondered around for a while. I pushed my feelings deep, and concentrated on my beautiful Hendrix and Joey. To my surprise, Hendrix mourned Dylan, deeply. They snuggled together all their lives, and believe me, they fought. I was caught off guard about how deeply Hendrix grieved. I watched him as he cried and searched and stopped eating. I took him to see Dr. B. who said there wasn't anything wrong with him, but his mommy knew there was, because I was feeling it too. 

 

Hendrix lived another nine months. In June, he suddenly became ill, and finally passed away. He was just a few months shy of his 17th birthday. A long time for a cat. In his years he was 84 years old. He worked hard his whole life caring for all of us, and he was tired. I can't begrudge him that, he earned the time to move on. The last time I saw him, he was on his way downstairs to the living room, where he passed away around 6:00 am the next morning. It hasn't even been three months, and I miss him deeply. I miss his love. He loved deeply. But sometimes, if you are open to life, you will find magic along the way.

 

Simon came along like magic. About three weeks after Hendrix passed away, hubby and I were walking out the door, when we noticed 4 little kittens playing with the neighbors cat, who I always called, Socks. I am not sure whether or not those people ever named her. They were deeply strange people, but I will speak of that some other time. Anyway, hubby and I discussed getting a kitty at the right time, when the right time made itself known. So when we asked about the kittens, and how old they were, we found out that they were born the same week Hendrix passed away. It felt like more than luck to us, it felt like Hendrix sent us love.

 

And now we have a Simon, named after, Paul Simon. Or My little Butterfly, which is his first official nickname. All cats have several nicknames, according to Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. 

He is a wonderful kitty. His momma cat moved away, along with the family next door, several weeks ago, so now I am the momma. He is a bright kitty, he knows his name, and he understands the words, no and bad. He's playful, especially on the curtains. YIKES. But I got him some curtains he can tear up, until he learns what is okay to play with and what isn't. He's a good little eater, and digs into Joey's food every chance he gets. He has already had his first set of big boy shots, but there are more to come. And he loves his Sesame Street friends.  Big bird was his first friend, and even at 4 weeks old, he dragged him everywhere. He purrs deeply and seems happy to be with us and Joey. In fact, they are already play friends, and the fighting is rare, but it's all about boundaries, just like humans have to learn. It's been a long time since we raised a cat, and this will be the last one we do, because we feel our age as old folks. Time marches on, whether we want to go with it, or not.

 

I call Simon my little butterfly, because the back of his head looks like a butterfly. When he moves his ears it looks like a gorgeous butterfly in flight. His ears are trimmed in a white, which only adds to it. He is gorgeous! So, that's the beginning of this new year of Ellipsis. Autumn is coming, as are the birds. Halloween and the deep autumn holidays. Leaves, glorious leaves, and our vacation in October, the magical month! So much to share! Hopefully we won't get Covid-19 this year, but who the hell knows. Through all of it, this blog will be here, to help me clear the head noise, and remember it all. We won't discuss Trump... for now. 

 

Happy 23 years old, Ellipsis.  Onward.

 

I am back every day now. The Autumn Leaf project begins on September 22nd. 

 

Love Love Is The Best Time Of Day

 

My kitty was pure love. I will speak more about Hendrix soon, but right now, I just can't. His passing came quite suddenly last Monday morning, and I just need to catch my breath. I was incredibly lucky to know him, and be his mother. He always let me know. I was loved.

 

I miss you, Love Love.

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #26/Fallen Leaves

 

"The trees are about to show us how to be

 gracefully strong in the face of change.” 

~Unknown

 

 I will never see enough of autumn. I miss my little autumn leaf.

I love you, Dylan.  

 

Happy 34th Anniversary, My Love

 

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,

 while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
 

~Lao Tzu

 

He has been by my side through the happiness, and the tragedies. He is my strength, he is my hope, he is now and forever, my everything. He and I and our kitty-cat children are a family. Strong in love. Forever in love. 

 

 

Saying Goodbye To Summer

 

“Nothing ever really goes away--it just changes into something else. Something beautiful.”

~Sarah Ockler

  Twenty Boy Summer

 

On one of the last nights of seeing the bats fly from underneath the Franklin blvd bridge, a single crispy brown cottonwood leaf feel gently onto the wall next to me. There was a stunning sunset, and a few early bats were flying about, which all made for quite a magical night. With the night coming sooner, and the bat population waning, and a dry leaf, it was apparent it was the end of summer. I didn't need a calendar, because autumn was mostly in the air, but celebrating it early just seems wrong this year, so I held onto the photo until now. I am not feeling rushed the way I have in the past. Dylan's passing made me realize just how fast 16 years goes by. Don't take any single day for granted. Anyway, this is my tribute to the end of summer. It was hot this summer. Really hot. But here, in the last days, the temperature has turned and I have an extra blanket standing by. If I had to lose my boy, I am glad he left me in summer. You see, I need fall this year to be a gentle distraction. My grief is deep, and the election is coming, and there is a lot to unpack about everything, but for now, I am living in this moment. One moment at a time. One emotion at a time. One broken heart at a time.

The very first, Leaf Of The Day, photo posts on Sunday! Don't forget!

 

Goodbye Super Kitty

 

"There will come a day, I promise you,when the thought of your son or daughter, wife or husband brings a smile to your lips before it brings tears to your eye. It will happen. My prayer for you is that day comes sooner than later."

 

~Joe Biden

 

I said goodbye to Dylan yesterday. He died peacefully and we loved and loved each other deeply, as we made eye contact with each other, as he began to slip away. I always knew he would need me at the end, just as he needed me when we made eye contact when I first met him. We always needed each other. And we were there for each other throughout the years. He made me laugh, oh my god how he could piss me off, but he was also a lot of fun to snuggle with, and we shared biscuits with butter. He loved butter. He had a full personality, sometimes he was Dillybean, other times he was Mr. Pissypants!He was complicated, but we found our way. Eventually, in 2020, he began to have health problems, and the end came when he was 16 years old. That's 81 in cat years. He lived a long safe life with us, and his brothers, Hendrix and Joey. There is never a good time to say goodbye, and I will miss him forever. But he lives deep in my heart, and one day we will see each other again, and we will play our favorite game, Super Kitty. 

 

Super kittttty. He flies to the east, and he flies to the west.

 

Heee's Supppper Kitty

 

Goodnight my baby.

 

 

 

November 5th 2024

 

During a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, Vance — now former President Donald Trump’s running mate — said Harris was one of the “childless cat ladies” who “want to make the rest of the country miserable too.” Vance added, “If you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.”

 

 

See you on November 5th, J.D.! 

 

 

Joey And His Shadow

 

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”

 
~Charles Dickens 

 

I certainly agree with Dickens on that. I don't know any greater honor than to be loved, but cats constantly remind their owners that love isn't automatic, just because you feed them, and put a roof over their heads. The relationship builds over time, but once there is love, it's the most honest love you will ever have. I would be completely lost without my boys. I love them so much!

 

 

Hi, I'm The Joe

“What's your name,' Coraline asked the cat.

 'Look, I'm Coraline. Okay?'
'Cats don't have names,' it said.
'No?' said Coraline.
'No,' said the cat. 'Now you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names.” 

~Neil Gaiman,

  Coraline  

 

All my cats came with their names. Elvis was Elvis... right from the start. Not only did he bear a strange resemblance to Elvis Presley, but women swooned over that cat, every single time. He dripped charm! Hendrix was a cool, velvet cat, and he loved music. Mostly Steppenwolf, but mostly anything from the 1960's. He has been comfortable in his own skin, asserting himself as the alpha of the house, without being cruel about it. He is a chill 1960's kinda child. Dylan likes to sing loud, whining every morning at dawn. Every. Single. Morning! I love the little guy, and I wouldn't change him for the world, but I am usually just going to sleep at dawn! Finally, my pal Joey... my love bug. He is also just himself. He presented his name to us, the day we picked him up. He is our Joey Ramon. Cool. Quirky. Full of life and the zoomies. If you are a fan of the Ramones, you know they were quite manic when they were at their most entertaining. My Joe is a little foodie. He loves pizza and Italian food in general, but like he came from Queens, New York! It's very strange, and a lot of fun to watch him go crazy over pizza. We only give him a small taste, and never, ever pork products, but he will sit in your lap the whole time you eat the cheese and sauce. When he doesn't get more than the taste, he will stare at you eye to eye, which is an odd thing to do. Most cats try to not look you in the eye. It's instinctual. So you see, cats do actually come with names. And nicknames too for that matter, just like my boys.

 

Elvis... Mr. Man

Hendrix... Bubba

Dylan... Dillybean

Joey... Joey The Pez

 

Mostly we just call them our little babies. I know I have done a similar post like this before, but every so often they just fill my heart so completely that I have to brag on just how awesome my cats are!

 

 

Naps In Autumn And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #47

 

"It was the possibility of darkness

 that made the day seem so bright."

 

~Stephen King

 

Autumn colors, they will always make me want to take a nap, on a branch, on a cold day. Sometimes I am downright jealous of the owls, falcons, and even the little perching birds, because to them, they are home, and they are comfortable. Not that I am not comfortable, I most certainly am. This has been a difficult year, but I am okay, and getting
more okay all the time. Doing my version of the bird life is pretty darn good here in the condo. A rainy, cold afternoon, a warm blanket, a cuddly cat, and I am living the autumn bird life. I am on my own branch and I am doing a-okay.

 

~Me

Butterflies, Leaves, Music, Cats, Books, Movies

 

"Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder."

 

~Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe

 

No, I didn't forget to blog yesterday, I just, frankly, I just didn't care too. We heard from the HOA about heaven on Empress. It wasn't good. Our messed up credit meant, at least to them, that we were basically riff-raff. It seems your life needs to be perfect, in order to put a roof over one's head. I have a rating of 671 - 691. Alan's is a bit lower. Riff-raff I tells ya!!! It didn't matter that our credit was good enough to purchase a home 6 years ago. It didn't matter that I haven't missed a rent or mortgage payment in 31 years. It didn't matter that I haven't missed a single payment of anything in four years. It just didn't matter at all. All that mattered was that we fell off a financial cliff four years ago. Unless something changes soon, when all is said and done, and all goes well with the new buyers, we will clear about $175,000 and be homeless. How fucking ridiculous is that? That was rhetorical, of course, but at the same time, my GOD, I am scared. But, Rosalie reminds us, that was one HOA. All hope is not lost. In fact we are going to see more places in the next few days. Again, I just need to remember what Mark said, "it wasn't meant to be our home"... paraphrased.

 

And until then...

 Butterflies, leaves, music, cats, books, movies and more. 

 

 

~Me

Stockton, California

August 26th 2021

Left To The Imagination

"Color is descriptive. Black and white is interpretive."

~Eliot Erwitt 

My friend, Karen, has posted some stunning photographs over the past year, some in color, some in black and white. I have truly fallen in love with her work. Often she posts both versions of her photographs, side by side, for comparison, which has lead to my rethinking my approach to photography. I think I have overlooked the impact black and white can make. When I think of my color photographs, it seems I always go away thinking of the pop color it tends to make. The WOW factor. Sometimes it can be a pretty loud sound of color, but it can be soft too, but what it rarely is, is mysterious! The imagination really has no where to go. Black and White definitely leaves more to the imagination to interpret. I like that. I haven't been doing much photography this year, because of Covid-19, so I'm a bit rusty when it comes to any photography, so it's very nice to have a new mission of doing some photos in a different style. I am thankful to Karen for giving me a new outlook. I need a fresh approach, and this change might make all my autumn photos have a new edge. Its something creative to look forward to, just when I needed it most!

Stop by and see her wonderful photos of Tucson, and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it. 

http://twitter.com/mavarin

Carly
September 6th 2020
Stockton, California

The Ethereal Past

"The ethereal past had blinded him, and the

 highest happiness he could dream was a return to it."

~E. M. Forester

Maurice

It's Monday. The first Monday in January, and the first Monday of the new year, and I feel like I have already lived a month of Monday's just since New Year's day, last Wednesday. History will document the events of this past week, in great detail, but I will touch lightly on it a bit, just for clarity, you see, we are probably standing on the precipice of World War III, and yes, it was indeed caused by, you guessed it, Donald John Trump! As if that comes as a surprise. The thing is, I don't know why I am not more scared than I am. Yes, low energy. No real desire to do anything. Not putting any planning into anything, including getting out of bed, or out with the camera, but mostly, I don't feel any particular need to cling to Alan, or sit in a corner and cry. I just feel like missiles could be flying over at any moment, and really, I don't particularly care if they are, or if it kills me!

I don't know if the anti-depressants are finally kicking in, I have only been taking them since the day James Comey was fired, back in 2017, or if I have finally matured in the fact that I can't do a single thing about my death, whether it happens in 50 years, or Thursday of this week, at 11:21PM. It's out of my hands if it comes by a nuclear missile hitting my pool, or I am attacked in my driveway by a band of rabid dogs. I can't control how, or when, I will die. But the thought that it might be Trump that causes it, still remains so insulting to me. Death, is a part of life. Period. But you also know that there are better ways than others to leave this world. Take, for example, that I have come to believe that one day, some beautiful autumn October afternoon, I will be standing in a big pile of beautiful leaves, and will be bitten by a gorgeous, highly poisonous spider, and die right on the spot. But if I did, at least I was enjoying beautiful autumn, the season that makes me feel most alive, when it happened. And oh the irony!

LOL.

But I don't want to go at the hand of that ignorant, stupid asshole. If I have to murdered, couldn't it be by someone with as much charm as Ted Bundy? Or the someone with the mildly attractive looks of Scott Peterson? Sigh. Nah, they aren't great choices either. Maybe if one is going to be murdered, it should be by the hand of a stranger. Yes. That does seem more interesting and exotic. Murdered by a stranger, and that's not even a bad title for a book either! Maybe I should write a book, or at least a short story to get my mind off things? Maybe if I stop thinking about nuclear annihilation, I can get back to crying over stupid shit, like Trump's presidency in general. Or maybe I can just let the feelings come, as they find their way to the front of my consciousnesses. Good plan!

Also, I am beginning a new category in my photography... "Mid-Century Style". I am beginning with the photograph above. I took it in November of 2019, near a cemetery I was doing some late autumn photos in. Our house was built in 1962, and has a really lovely mid-century style and vibe to it! Things from that era have been catching my eye for a long time, and so now that we live in the Central Valley, with all these lovely old buildings, it seems that this is the right time to take advantage of my location. And it's a good way to not give up on photography completely, while I struggle will the lack of will to enjoy what life I have left.

Do you remember the ethereal musician? I miss him. He would play his sax, and my mood would improve 100%! It was fine that I never found out who he was, he remains a magical mystery to this very day, but I sure do miss him... and his music. There were days when I was so sad that I didn't think I would ever smile again, and then suddenly, through the back door, in the middle of the day, came his music, and I would feel happy again. I am so nostalgic for those times. Me and Elvis and the ethereal musician, all sharing music and the little things that make life worth holding on to.  If I close my eyes, I can almost hear "You're a Friend Of Mine" being played on the saxophone, and feel Elvis's fuzzy paw pressing on my cheek, waking me up from our afternoon nap. He loved the music too. This memory has me so nostalgic for that peace of mind, if I close my eyes, I can almost touch it.

Sigh. I guess there is something to be said for living in the moment.

 

Christmas 2019

"Christmas magic starts in the heart."

~Tori Sorenson

Hendrix's favorite treat... Roses!

We had a nice Christmas. Well, the holiday itself was nice, but there was one or two things that left a definite mark on the days leading up to the day, that were less than ideal. The one that left the biggest hurt happened Friday morning. Someone, very early, hit a cat, and left his dying body on our porch. He/she was a beautiful child, a silver tabby with lots of white fur, and a tiny full face. It had some horrific injuries, and wouldn't let hubby or myself touch it's body. Understandable I think. I could tell it was close to death, so Alan and I did the best we could do for our little friend, by putting a warm shirt underneath it, while we waited for the Humane Society to open. Unfortunately the little one passed away about an hour later. It was terribly sad, and it was a couple days before I could shake that feeling, but at least the little one didn't have to pass away alone. We were here.

The rest of the weekend came and went without incident. I was still processing the cold I got, you know, my annual Christmas head cold. If we are still in this house a year from now, it will be our 6th Christmas, and hopefully it will break the spell of a catching a cold every year at Christmas time, although at this point, it's turning into a kitchy holiday tradition. LOL. I guess you could say it has replaced my other annual holiday tradition of being called a BITCH on Christmas Eve by a complete stranger. That hasn't happened since we moved to the Central Valley. I guess the curse was broken when we moved here, or it simply goes without saying, I am a total bitch. Either way... it's all good. Tee Hee. Had the tradition continued, I would have been in my 35 year! Oh my, I think I miss it a little! Still, there is nothing like the euphoria of a fever of about 102 or so! But I don't recommend it. Much.

Anyway, it's New Year's Eve, time for closing the files for 2019 and looking forward to all that's waiting for us in 2020. Like kicking Donald John Trump to the political curb! Bye Bye ASSHOLE. We have already impeached him, and at the rate he's going, he just might be impeached again. With a little luck, he might break a record or something, for the most impeached American president ever! A sad, yet uplifting, turn of events should it happen. All I want in 2020 is to see him gone. Just gone. Not harmed mind you, just removed from office, and some sense of sanity returned in his place. Whatever that is. We will see. I have some New Year's goals, wishes and hopes. More on that later in the week. Maybe on Friday the 3rd, but until then, on this New Year's Eve, here is a look back at our Christmas. It was a lovely, quiet gift all it's own.

 I shopped for my annual gourmet basket for Alan. Included were some yumminess for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day!

Santa came and was generous with the fun! A Victrola turntable for me, and a theater light sign for Alan and the Bijou. That theater room is really coming together!

 I gave myself a set of 4, 4 inch spring-form pans for branching out with my stress baking! Mmmm. New York Cheesecake is coming in the new year!

It was a good holiday. Quiet. And the little fuzz balls were a lot of fun. Dylan enjoyed his brand new box of cat treats, and even made some sounds of Nom Nom. I think that silly kitty actually learned to say NOM NOM! What could possibly beat the joy of that? And boy am I thankful my little guys are indoor cats, I never have to worry about them being harmed by outside dangers. I love them so deeply, and fortunately, the love me back. I am a happy lady.

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

If Every Day Were Saturday And Every Month October

"I wish that ever day was Saturday,

 and every month was October."

~Charmaine J. Forde

It's A Mystery

Cat? Chicken? Or Owl?

This is the last of this particular sunset from October. It was October 25th, in the Central Valley, and it had been a glorious autumn day! Warm... almost too warm... and delicious! Alan took me out that day to search for all things autumn! Leaves, trees, birds, light. Autumn sunlight. Well, I found all those things and more! We took along some snacks, of apples and cheese. The taste of a really cold apple, on a warm autumn day is incredible! I enjoy our little getaways so much, and at the end of an almost perfect day, we were treated to this amazing fire in the sky. As we drove back home, past all the barns and vineyards of the valley, I did a series of photographs as we drove, and this picture was in the folder, ready to be posted at last. 

When I clicked on it, I noticed, for the first time, that in the right corner was a small oddly shaped object, just beyond the fence. Was it a chicken? A Cat? To tell you the truth, I am really not sure! I tried enlarging it, but I still can't say in absolute certainty what it is, but I think it might be an owl! I have been wanting to see one, and I kinda have a couple times, the problem is, when I usually spot them, we are driving past at 50 mph, it's at dusk and they are ground level. Those are not ideal conditions for spotting owls, let alone photographing them, but that is what I have to work with. Anyway, the shape seems right, but it also does if it is a cat or a chicken, so who knows? But I am leaning toward it being an owl, sitting on a piece of wood. How about you, care to guess?

#78 Leaf Of The Day

December 8th 2018

Photographed September 29th 2018

Cull Canyon

Samsung

~Mood: Happy

~Me :)