Could It Be, Satan? Nah, It's Just AI Tyler

 

AI should be judged not by what it replaces, but by the new human capabilities it enables."

~Tom Golway

Amplifying Human Experience Enabling Gain-Of-Function via AI

As I have mentioned before, my new phone is a lot of fun, and it is actually inspiring me to do more with my photographs, even if it's with some of my older photos! Yesterday, I was pretty much in bed all day with a migraine, and photography was not an option, but by the evening I was feeling better, so I did a few new photos of Tyler, and played around with converting some July 4th photos into AI beauties. AI photoshopping will never replace taking and editing my own digital photos, but it's kinda nice to see my photos in a new light. And that cute image above is definitely an accurate depiction of my beautiful pink eared cat, my gorgeous sweet Tyler! I am not sure how I feel about AI in general, I mean I know it will do some damage, and these data centers certainly border on evil. I just know that those centers were born of a musing of Satan, but playing with AI for fun, or to find information quickly is a good thing, I think. I love my cats, and imagining them in a new light is one way I try to help myself out of this depression I have been feeling. And it was fun to ask Alexa the other day, if Simon can have Brussels sprouts. He loves them so much. So, in that respect, thank you AI, now behave yourself!

And The Mighty Simon

Close Encounters Of The Other Kind

 

"Fireworks are skyflowers... dandelions of light.

 They are a visual display of the celebration of life."

~Jarod Kintz

Whenever You're here, I'm Here For You

Last night, the 4th of July, was a lot of fun. The whole day was fun, for that matter. We watched Jaws and Jaws 2. We cooked and baked, and we made Chinese food, ate it from restaurant style boxes we bought for the occasion, and then watched fireworks from the comfort of our bedroom window! Yes, that, bedroom window! I love the pic above, it reminds me of the mothership from, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. It didn't hurt that I could see Venus, while the fireworks were going off, and I spotted more than one Stockton police drone having a look see, to see if anyone was setting off illegal fireworks, which of course, they were, or couldn't have got the photos, or made a new memory with Alan. But when 7 police cars showed up, yep under our window, I am fairly sure it wasn't for illegal fireworks. 

Okay. yes, yes, I know... don't condone bad illegal behavior under any circumstance, but doggone it, I enjoy it once a year. I can watch the skyflowers from the safety of my own home, eat in, and have the occasional glass of wine, without risking anything. The fireworks being put off last night, were far fewer than in other years, but lovely all the same, and for the most part the noise was cut right at midnight. So, at least they were respectful, in their illegal behavior! Now, as for the shitshow, no, not THAT shitshow, the one I speak off is the fact that there was again, police, fire trucks, and an ambulance right under our window! The ambulance wasn't there long, firetruck and the firetruck left too, all that remained was 5 police cars, and officers walking about with flashlights, apparently looking for evidence of... shrug... something. I heard lots of gunfire in the neighborhood last night, which is nothing new at this point, but somehow, I didn't feel anything about it. I guess I am getting used to it!

Anyhoo, lets just enjoy the illegal fireworks, shall we?

Just another Saturday night in Stockton...

Happy New Year, 2025

 

Yes, I'm back, and with plenty to say, but just not today. Today I am off to do some birding, as this is the first day of our birding adventure for the year. So, see you tomorrow, when I will get the whole thing caught up. The thing I refer to as, LIFE, then and now.

 

See you then. 

 

Happy New Year!

 

Feng Shui

 

“The sky
lights up
with fireworks
when you
follow your
dreams.” 

~Avijeet Das

Hubby and I did a little Feng Shui last week, by completely moving our bedroom around. The bed is no longer under the window, it's on the opposite wall. Other than that, it's somewhat a work in progress. But just by doing that one action, we have gained an lot of positivity. For one... there's more light first thing in the morning! I have come to enjoy having a lot of light in the place I used to be a cave dweller, but the old house taught me a lot about light. And all the hard work came with another bonus, you see, the good folks of Stockton love to launch great big illegal fireworks on Independence Day, and that gave us a free fireworks show from the comfort of our bedroom window!

 

 Let me tell you, it was Spectacular! I know, the illegal ones are dangerous, and I really shouldn't praise them, but it was better for us then risking the possibility of drunk drivers, driving through crowded streets, and not to mention the occasional need to drive long distances to see them. Another plus to the new arrangement in the bedroom, it now allows Joey a warm place on the hamper so he can see outside in the window! Sometimes everything just comes together! More on the room later. It feels so good to be so much closer to having our life in the house over, and the beginning of our lives in the condo beginning!

“Are the fireworks over, or just beginning?” 

~David Sinclair

  Without the Mob, There Is No Circus

Happy? 4th Of July

"Where freedom is there is my nation."

~Benjamin Franklin

One this Independence day

I just want to say to you, my faithful readers and friends...

I FUCKING HATE DONALD TRUMP!

Oh well, America had a good run! 

See you, hopefully, August 23rd, when I officially open Ellipsis for the autumn and winter seasons. 

I hope.

~Carly

Maybe, Maybe Not And The Leaf Of The Day

"Why do they say ghosts are cold? Mine are warm. a breath dampening your cheek, a voice when you thought you were alone."

~Julie Buntin Marlena

I believe in ghosts. I believe in the paranormal. I believe in prophetic dreams. I believe in a lot of stuff. But mostly, I believe in ghosts. Since I was a child I have felt things around me that couldn't be seen. I could feel something watching me, and Ill say straight up, I can't prove there was anything supernatural there, in my presence, but it would happen randomly, and it was a strong, unmistakable feeling of not being alone.

Alan never experienced a single paranormal experience growing up, but since he had reached adulthood, he has shared some unnerving incidents, which might have had a perfectly rational explanation, but since we have been together, the incidents of things that have happened to us, that couldn't be explained, has increased significantly for both of us! If I told you all the weird stuff Alan and I have been through, your jaw would drop!

Actually "weird" isn't really the right word, because he and I have stopped thinking of it as weird, and have rather come to think of our experiences as stuff that is perfectly natural, but that most folks are too busy to notice! Although the word "weird" does initially pop up, when something new occurs. Like the photo you see above!

I took that photograph on Independence day of this year. He and I bought a box of fireworks, and had some fun in the front yard, while we waited for the Fireworks show began down at the Stockton Waterfront! We are lucky enough to have a direct angle from our house, to be able to see the annual display! Anyway, while playing with our own box of fireworks, we set off a set of cones, just after dark. I had my camera on hand to practice some night shots, and didn't notice I had taken that cool photo, until I began editing photos on my computer.

Now, I fully admit I was using a digital camera, and night photography with a digital camera can be challenging, but this shot is just plain weird, and I don't remember anything that could have produced either the shape, or the tiny orbs that surround it. It seems small, like a child, but in someways it also reminds me of my late cat Elvis. He was a lot of fun, and absolutely unafraid of anything! It's like fear never occurred to him, although he was an incredible judge of character, and more than once warned us about danger, by growling like a dog at certain people, who almost always turned out to be dreadful human beings.

Elvis passed away in October, of 2008. He died of cancer, and I miss him every single day! I now have three of the most loving, special, happy little boy cats, but Elvis is still in my heart. He is the one you don't get over! I have never seen an animal, or human for that matter, that embraced life quite the way he did! He did everything fully, there was no half way with him. And those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will remember, he insisted on wearing hats, t-shirts, and if it was sunny outside, shaded goggles! It was his will, and his alone. He was more human, than some actual humans I have known. And he was more trustworthy!

So it's not like it would hurt my feelings if he stopped by for a visit. He would only be visiting out of love, and because he knows how much he is still loved and missed. Sigh. On the other hand, if it's not him, I can't figure out who it is, or if the shape is that of a child, or a full grown person who was just sitting with us. Perhaps a former owner of our house, or maybe it was a residual ghost passing by, or I could be completely off track, and it was simply a trick of light. I haven't decided it is a ghost in the photo because I can't, there is NO proof at all that that is true, but it is weird, that of all the photos I took, this is the only one that not only didn't come out crisp and clear, but it's the only one that has this odd shape. 

Weird. There goes that word again!

Weird!

Here is one of my favorite photos from the 4th of July, not previously published on Ellipsis.

The Leaf Of The Day

#15 Leaf Of The Day

October 6th, 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Curious

~Me    :)

14 Years And 1 Day

Morning: Slept

Afternoon: Slept

Evening: Ate grass. Decided grass is boring.

Scratched. Hard to reach itchy bits.

Slept.

~Jackie French

Diary Of A Mad Wombat 

As of today, my blog is 14 years, and one day old. I missed posting on my anniversary, yesterday, because, well, I guess for the same reason that I have done very little blogging this year in general... Donald John Trump! It's stupid, I know, but I have let him drain my creativity to a certain degree. I am having to admit the truth to myself, that the depression I have fought so deeply has returned and he is a part of it. There are more things going on, but I don't want to touch on that right now. In fact, I don't want to dwell on him either. I just want to acknowledge that I still love my blog, and I am trying to get back into the swing of things, because autumn will begin soon, and I don't intend to miss that for any reason!

So, let's take a look at what I've photographed lately...

On August 18th, the Stockton Ports, which is the farm league team associated with the Oakland A's, had a fireworks display after one of their games, and as luck would have it, our front porch is almost a front row seat for the fun. Apparently, we are facing the waterfront district at just the right angle.

They aren't perfect shots by any stretch, but I will check the schedule and have the tripod ready for the next round in September! A little more practice is in order.

The Solar Eclipse Of 2017

Again, not perfect shots, but I was happy with the outcome. I didn't have the right lens for my conventional digital camera, the NIKON, but my smart phone, a Samsung 7, did pretty well with bouncing of the eclipse off the pool. This last photo was at the maximum 75% in Northern California.

And finally...

 I engaged in a little retail therapy the other day. I saw this chenille throw at Pier 1 and couldn't resist it. It matches the autumn theme I have in the living room, and it reminded me of the autumn leaves that I love so much! I also found this pretty candle...

It's Spice Cake scented, and it smells amazing! Well, as amazing as a candle can smell! LOL. I am such a sucker for anything autumn, the colors give me a wonderful sense of well being! And the spicy scent inspired me to bake some pumpkin muffins. I am really excited to get back into photography this Fall, and I think this will be a really good year!

And just between you and me, and pretty much everybody else, it seems like Donald Trump's misdeeds will be catching up with him soon. With any luck, by the end of the year he will be gone to the pokey, or at least unseated as our president. My fingers are crossed!

I am working on defeating the depression. In addition to the pain in the ass that is Trump, we have other problems going on that will need some resolve one way or the other. Alan and I are still going strong, but money is tight and we are working on refinancing and maybe pulling some equity from the house. I will share more about that later, but for now I just want to plan for some autumn fun, like baking and photographing the beauty in the world. I just need to concentrate on the things that chases away the darkness. 

So stay tuned!

 There is a lot more to come!

 I will probably post a couple more times before I am officially back with my autumn leaf portraits for 2017!

Mood: Happy/Encouraged
Me :)

 

Home And Fireworks

"Just a reminder, fireworks are more 

amazing when you are not checking your iPhone."

~Unknown

Well, this was the view from our front yard on the 4th of July! I missed going to the city, but as you can see, it was a pretty night and there was a quite a light show without leaving town. I kinda like it here sometimes. I am feeling more and more like this is where I was meant to be.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Happy Independence Day! :)

"We must be free not because we claim freedom,

 but because we practice it."

~William Faulkner

Have safe and happy holiday!

Take lots of pictures!

And if you post them, comeback and leave me a link!

Otherwise just enjoy the day!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Who Does That?

"Life isn't always about fireworks. Your fireworks will come Sarah, and they will fizzle out just as fast. Life is an experience, not a destination. All of us has the same destination, but not one of us has had an identical experince. You'll find someone who will be there when the fireworks fizzle out and the sky turns black and love you just the same. That's the one to hold onto."

~Marilyn Grey

Bloom

Okay. Life is many things. I got that! It's at times... BORING, HECTIC, SEXY, FUN, MYSTERIOUS, STUPID, MEAN-SPIRITED, HAPPY, DEVASTATING, LOVELY, COZY, FUCKED UP, UNFAIR, BARELY TOLERABLE, AMAZING, SCARY, PAINFUL, JOYOUS, and we defy the odds to even make it here for the brief time we are allotted. I am in the middle of all those things that make life worth living. Everything you see listed above and more. All I really want is to put the last few months into a tidy little file and forget it ever happened, but that isn't really possible... is it? 

Alan and I are still mulling over our options. We need to reconsider how much we can afford for rent, and if we can afford to go home again. I think it's possible, especially in that we were smart and didn't spend the settlement money we got back in May. We can pay all our bills off, which will free up a sum to put toward rent. It's just now a matter of finding an apartment or a house to rent. Wish us luck. We are going to need it.

I wish I could say more about what happened, but for right now I don't think I will. I don't want to dwell on my blog, not now. The negativity is sitting on my soul every single day when I wake up. It probably will until we find a place to rent. I just keep wondering how someone could have done what they did? How could they sit in front of us and LIE... with no thought of how it would damage us?

Who does that?

Don't worry friends, posting to Ellipsis daily is how I find the beauty and happiness in the world, so as the next few days and weeks go, my posts will come around to the beauty in the world and eventually the comically absurd. That is why posting daily is so important for me. Please don't give up on me because of this temporary negativity, I have some beautiful photos planned for later this week, Just be patient while I wade through the muck on my way to the shore

I'll get there, I promise.

Mood: Quiet

Fireworks July 4th, 2015

~Me

An Experience In Living

"No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco

 is an experience in living."

~William Soroyan

ROCKET BOAT

WooSH... TILT... SPLASH... YIKES!! Sorry, I don't usually put two exclamation points to... well... make a point, but that was what Saturday, on San Francisco Bay, on the Rocket Boat, was like! WooSH. TILT... SPLASH...YIKES!!! Alan and I had such a good time, and that is what vacation is all about! Right? Oh my goodness, we are barely into our arranged activities, there are still 4 more weeks to enjoy! The best of beautiful October is still to come, and I am looking forward to every single minute with my hubby! Last Saturday, while on the bay, things didn't seem like it could get any better, the whole HOT October day has set the vacation bar high! 

And At The End Of The Day

Pier 39 Fireworks!

:)

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)