Why Tom Steyer?

 

"We will have to pay a heavy price if we insist on

 navigating the 21st Century with a 20th Century mindset."

~Tom Steyer

Why am I voting for Tom Steyer for governor of California? Because after watching last nights, CNN California Primary Debate, it became clear that he represented my values. He supports renewable energy. Solving the housing crisis in California, adding additional tax relief to the movie industry for California productions, which brings in local revenue in the support of local businesses, such as Yolanda's Tamales, in Sacramento. The cast and crew of the film, One Battle After Another, enjoyed Yolanda's so much, that they returned multiple times! Pretty soon, word got out, and Yolanda's made a lot of new friends and customers! We need more of that! We need it here in Stockton too.

Tom gets that with gas hitting new highs each day, Californians can't afford to live here. Gas or groceries? Gas or keeping the lights on? Gas or healthcare? Tom has some plans for affordability. Despite being a billionaire, he sees the need for the richest in this state to start paying their fair share. He believes in investing in our education system, and finding the way toward healthcare for all. As I have always said, it doesn't matter who you are, you deserve the dignity of proper healthcare. If the person standing next to you in line at the grocery store or Starbucks or anywhere is in better health, you'll be in better health! And finally, he will work to unmask Trump's Gestapo, otherwise known as ICE.

It all lines up. I am voting for Tom Steyer!

Onward to, Tuesday, June 2nd!

Yuletide Aliens: Earth Verses The Flying Saucers

 

 

 “We’re socially distanced over here,” her mom had called to tell her.

“You put the leaf in the dining room table,” Reagan replied. “That’s not social distancing.”

 
― Rainbow Rowell,

  If the Fates Allow

 

We always watched black and white monster/ghost/aliens/ghoul/vampire/invisible man/ type movies on Christmas Eve when I was a kid. We loved that kind of thing! When I was growing up there was 4 channels, and those networks and local affiliates didn't put non-stop holiday specials on, so when there was a spooky movie to be had, we watched it, otherwise it was whatever show happened to be showing when we turned the TV on. But I remember watching this movie one Christmas when I was a kid. Which one, I couldn't tell you, but I remember it. So, if you are on overload with the yuletide business, sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy this fine SCFI movie from a bygone era, where gas cost 30 cents per gallon.

 

 Those were the days!

 

Enjoy!

 

Comeback a little later for a special video featuring my kitties!

 

Damn Those Vampires

 

"Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym."

 

~Stephen King

 

He's just a lonely vampire. Flying around northern Nevada. I spotted him one bright, beautiful October morning, while on vacation in 2005. Life had been difficult for a while. Five or six years of pain and deep uncertainties, but one day the veil lifted and life became worth living for, and I found myself on a car ride with Alan, and a camera in my hand, off on a car ride. Sometimes it happens that way. Life can throw some awful curve balls your way, then over time a person does a reset, and life is back on some track. You don't feel the same, but you are okay with where you are. That's how I feel right now. I hope to get out soon and see some Halloween decorations here and there, maybe even in northern Nevada. We will have to see where the gas prices go. Back in 2005 gas prices were $2.89 a gallon, today it's   I suspect the prices will go down after the mid-terms. If only I could just climb out of my coffin, put on my cape, and soar into the sky, like gas prices are right now. Sigh. Maybe later in November at least some of life's vampires will be back in their coffins.

 

Damn vampires.

 

 

Round Robin Challenge: Funny Stuff

"If loving someone is putting them in a straightjacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I loved a few people."

~Jarod Kintz, It Occurred To Me

RRC: Funny Stuff

It's been 2 weeks since the last Round Robin Challenge, so you know what that means... time for a whole new challenge! And this time around Karen wants to see some "Funny Stuff!" I have been super busy this last couple weeks, and didn't get out to get the photos for this challenge I wanted to, so I had to delve deep into the archives to find the funny stuff. I hope you get a kick out of these humorous photos!

Funny Stuff Gallery

One Of My Favorite Funny People... Paula Poundstone!

Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton, Ca 1997

I Titled This Photo... "If Only." LOL

San Francisco, California. Summer 2006

"To Serve Man" By Billboard Liberation Front

San Francisco, California. May 30th, 2005
McDonalds 50th Anniversary Tribute

A Strange Name For A Restaurant.
 
Hayward, California. Spring 2002

"Guilty"

Dylan Andrew Gordon... What Did You Do?
Berkeley, California. January, 2009

"Opposites"

Oakland Zoo
Oakland, California
October, 2009

And Finally...

Happy Birthday Elvis "His Favorite Hat."

Berkeley, California
April 27th, 2007

My little Elvis was such a funny little guy! I know it sounds strange, but he really did have a sense of humor. He was an extraordinary cat! I saw him do some astounding things while he was on earth. Karen has heard all the stories, and she probably thinks there might be some slight exaggerations here and there, if I were her I would also, but no, I really didn't exaggerate things. He was very, very special, that once in a lifetime kitty! Don't get me wrong, I love my current cats, Hendrix, Dylan and now baby Joey, but it really did take the three of them, to just come close to equal Elvis in personality. But each of my boys, in their own special way, will never be equaled. Just like Elvis could never be.

Okay, that's my post for the current challenge!

Be sure to stop by the official Round Robin blog to find the links to the posts of other participating Round Robin photographers! And you can also play along if you like! Just click the link at the top of the page to be redirected!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Looking For The Barenaked Ladies

"Disappointments are to the soul, what the thunder-storm is to the air."

-Friedrich von Schiller

Some days are just disappointing. Yesterday, the Barenaked Ladies, were in San Mateo at Barnes and Noble, performing and signing copies of their latest CD, "Snack Time." The CD is a collection of songs for children, but I have already come to love the song 789. Have you heard it? The collection songs, while child friendly, can be enjoyed by adults, as opposed to an all Elmo or Barney type CD, which I think might drive me crazy! LOL. Anyway, needless to say I had been looking forward to seeing one of my favorite bands, and enjoying watching the crowd, not to mention coming home with a signed copy of some new tunes. Well, some days just don't work out the way you want them to, no matter how much planning you do.

Alan and I had discussed what would be our best route and time schedule for the day. We decided that it would be more practical if we took one car, for the trek across the bay, especially since we had just spent $100 to fill both of them with gas. To take one car, meant I had to wait for him to get off work, which was fine, because he gets off work at 2 and the CD signing was at 3:30. It would give us plenty of time to get across the bay, by way of the San Mateo bridge. There was one problem however, that being the guy that relieves Alan at work for the swing shift. A man who is habitually late, so he can finish his weekly golf game.

We talked about this possible problem, but Alan said that the guy hadn't been late in almost two weeks! A record for his being on time! That probably should have been a Murphy's Law clue, but naively I chose to ignore it and hope for the best. Running true to form, the guy was late by almost 10 minutes, which meant Alan had to spend an additional 25 minutes in traffic on the way home. In the Bay Area if you leave just 5 minutes sooner or later then you usually do, you can either shave or add 30 minutes to your commute. There are 5 freeways/highways between Alan's work and home. HWY 92, HWY 880, HWY 238, HWY 580, and HWY 13.

We finally got to Barnes and Noble at 3:20 PM, where we stood in line for 5 minutes before being told that the store had reached the maximum capacity and there was no more people being allowed in. Sigh. Alan and I just looked at each other, shook our heads in disappointment, and walked back to the car. Oh well, sometimes in life you are a 7 and sometimes you are a 9! LOL. Yesterday, we both felt like a 9, which wasn't a good thing at all. LOL.

Me: Hey Elvis, why was 6 afraid of 7?

Elvis: I don't know mommy, why?

Me: Because 7 8 (ate) 9!

Get a free download of the song, 789 here.

Official Barenaked Ladies Website

-OndineMonet

"Looking For The Barenaked Ladies"
Hillsdale Mall
San Mateo, California
June 12th, 2008
Late Afternoon

Question Mark Butterfly

"There are four questions of value in life... What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love."

-Johnny Depp, as Dob Juan DeMarco

Being able to visit the butterfly exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers, has been so good for my frazzled nerves. Elvis has regained some strength, and the wheezing coming from his nose is a lot better, and overall things are a lot less turbulent then they have been in months, but I am still a little on edge, and a lot tired. With the rising gas prices, I don't know if we will be able to go across the bay to see the exhibit all summer. It costs $4 to cross the bridge, on top of the cost in gas.

I have to put Elvis's medical bills, and our own basic living costs, first, then if there is anything reasonable left over we can think about recreation. Sigh. These are sad times in our country, but I will save my frustrations over that for another entry. Right now, I am focusing on how happy these little spirits make me. How when I visit the exhibit, I am actually stepping into another world... a world of sanctuary and peace. Aren't they lovely? Little question marks floating on the wind. I could watch them all day. Some questions are easy to answer... Are these butterflies beautiful? The answer is... Yes!

-OndineMonet
"Question Mark Butterfly"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
April, 2008
Afternoon