Mid-Century Center Pine

 

"Times was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be one.

 I hope you never have to think about anything as much as I think about you."

 

~Jonathin Safran Foer 

 

Again with the rick mid-century elegance of Reno, Nevada. I love it there! Like San Francisco, there is something to see and photograph, no matter which way you happen to be gazing. I will do more photography there soon, I hope, it's a feast for the eyes and the creativity. Lets just hope we have a mild winter.

 

Center Pine (Shopping Center)

Reno, Nevada

September 5th, 2021

Nikon

 

 

And Then There Are Mannequins

 

"Do we not each dream of dreams? Do we not dance on the notes of lost memories? Then are we not each dreamers of tomorrow and yesterday, since dreams play when time is askew? Are we not all adrift in a constant sea of trial and when all is done, do we not all yearn for ships to carry us home?"

 

~Nathan Reese Maher

 

I love mannequins. I especially love the happy ones. The ones in wedding gowns, and the ones that have smiles on their face, or the ones that have that silly laugh on their faces, as the ones in Berkeley did when I began photographing them all those years ago, but the ones I enjoy photographing the most, are the ones like this. The relatively stoic. The ones that seem to be looking to a far place beyond the window. Where are they looking? Am I supposed to look for the same view they see? Can I? And if I see what she's looking at, how will it change my view of things? Perhaps her view is worse than anything happening to me right now. But maybe her view is the answer to all unanswered questions. Sigh, or maybe she is just a mannequin... a really cool subject that inspires me.

Mannequin

Reno, Nevada

September 5th 2021

Nikon

~Me

Stockton, California

September 8th 2021

 

 

Mid-Century... Vacation Motor Lodge

 "You were born to do so much more than to pay bills and die."

~Unknown

If photography has taught me anything, it's that there is life beyond the moments of despair that tend to creep into our lives. I can get lost for a little while. I love that a single moment in time, can live in so many different existences around me. In that moment, I can be in my own world photographing a gorgeous Anna's hummingbird, while a few hundred miles away someone could be checking into the Vacation Motor Lodge, in Reno Nevada. Photography is allowing me to step out of this overwhelming pain I am in right now. I need that. I need to see what might be happening today, or even a few days from now, while I am depressed, so I can see beyond it. Time is an issue, as is money to do so. There is yard photography, but I hurt my foot, so there's that. Things are tough right now, but when I can, I can lose myself in a simpler time. I just wish I could do it more often.

 

There will be leaves soon.

 

Right?

 

 

 

 ~Me

Stockton, Ca

September 6th, 2021

 

 

 

 

The Biggest Little Alternate Reality In The World

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

~Mark Twain

The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It

This autumn has been busy. I have traveled... a lot. I had to. I couldn't sit and listen to the noise any longer. Call it a coping method, call it saving my life. Our vacation was from the middle of October, to the middle of November, and honestly, without it, I don't know if I would be sitting here typing this! But we won't dwell on the sadness. I am okay, and managing my depression nicely. It's a one day at a time process. The holidays are a nice distraction, and I always have my camera by my side.

Shrug.

I want to talk about Reno, Nevada. Reno, was a much more pleasant experience than Virginia City! It always is! Reno has a ton of public art, and gorgeous tree lined streets, and neon lights that make the place come alive! And if that isn't enough there is just enough seedy adventure to put a smile on one's face. Not that I have done anything particularly seedy mind you, but with marquees that read, "Never Enough Ballroom" on an actual ballroom dance studio, what else is there to do? You smile!

And then there is the gambling. Alan and I did a little bit while we were there, and came away ahead of the game, Blackjack, both times! It was a fun time, and it was needed. We didn't win a million dollars or anything, but we did have a very nice meal or two! And we got to visit, briefly, with whoever played along with us at the table. A casino is a great place to be anonymous sometimes. Everyone is pretty much in their own world, and at the same time, whether you are losing or winning, you are connected. 

The Biggest Little City is a true alternate reality.

Anyway, our trips to Reno were about photography, and a little fun gambling, and getting lost in the crowd, and it was amazing. But it was the autumn beauty around town that stands out in my memories. It was gorgeous! Breathtaking really! I know it will continue to be a favorite destination this time of year!

I can't wait to go back and photograph it this winter!

Leaf Of The Day

December 6th 2016

Mood: Quiet/Okay

~Me 

Delicious Autumn Turns To Winter Bitterness

"To move from here to there, sometimes there is a need to suspend the present realties; they can be a distraction."

~Bidemi Mark -Mordi

I am exhausted from the last several days. Spent. I don't want to talk about the election. I just want to pretend it didn't happen. But it did! It did! And I feel foolish, because I saw it coming from the very day Trump rode that escalator down in Trump Tower, to greet the adoring, enthusiastic, paid actor supporters, and announced his candidacy for president! But I tried to believe it wasn't real. It couldn't happen. Rather than listen to that voice deep down inside me that told me, not only was it all real, but it's going to happen. Donald J. Trump will be president, I chose to ignore it, because after all, America wouldn't let it happen.

God, I am so stupid. 

It's over and done now. So what comes next? How will that world look now that we have crossed over into this strange new existence? Well, it feels a lot like autumn, transitioning into winter, or contentment and happiness turning into depression. Something I know a little bit about.

Autumn Turns To Winter... 

 

I didn't post a leaf of the day yesterday, so I owe the project two.

Leaf Of The Day (A) And (B)

October 10th 2016

Mood: Quiet

~Me 

Autumnal Sunshine

"I cannot endure to waste anything so precious

 as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

The American Notebooks

Notebook: October 10th, 1842

Alan and I went for a ride for the first day of November. This autumn is only at the half way point, so I am prepared to chase it for as long as I can, and my darling husband supports me in my creativity, so off we went for Cisco Grove park. The rain and snow from the day before had unfortunately did some early damage to the usually lovely Aspen trees.

There wasn't much to be photographed, although I did get a few shots there, but after we realized that there was little to do there, we decided to continue on to Donner Lake, and then into Reno! We had a blast, and I will share more about our adventure as the week progresses on! But for now, let me show you some of the most beautiful of the sights we were treated to along the way! Most of them along HWY 80 around Donner Summit, and just west of Reno, Nevada. My cameras got quite a workout!

Stay Tuned. There's More To Come!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Off To Nevada

"Who is more foolish, the child who is afraid of the dark, or the man who is afraid of the light?"

-Maurice Freehill

Day 5 of the 13 Diabetic Days Of Halloween.

Well, Alan and I had a lovely Family Day. It was sunny, and warm, and when we looked out over the Pacific Ocean, we could see forever. :) As you can see, we stopped in at one of our favorite haunts, the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which sits half way between, Half Moon Bay, and Santa Cruz, California. Earlier in the day, we hopped between 6 different pumpkin patches and farms. We purchased 9 pumpkins for cooking, and one good sized Jack 'O Lantern. It was a fun day, but a very busy one. It's going to be a very busy week coming up as well, and I am getting tired just thinking about it, but it will be a good kind of busy.

Tomorrow, we will be off to Reno, Nevada. We go there each year to kick back, and enjoy the fabulous Sierras, and the nightlife and casino's of Reno. This will be my first vacation as a newly diagnosed diabetic, and to be honest, I am a little nervous about balancing cutting loose and having fun, while keeping up with my diabetic needs. The nutritional values of restaurant foods isn't always available, and I like to keep close watch of how and what I eat. I think it will be ok, I have educated myself well on my nutritional needs, but still, I seem to be ultra aware of my new condition. Does that make sense?

The other concern I have is about Elvis. This is his first time, since he was diagnosed with diabetes, that I will be away from him. He won't be alone, he is staying with "Dr. B." He adores the "Dr. B" and the nurses at the clinic, and they are fond of him as well, so I know he won't get lonely, but as for me, well, I am a wreck! LOL. How can I possibly get any sleep, without my kitty sleeping at my feet? How can I wake up, and enjoy my day, without being touched by paw pads and kisses? He is my sunshine, and my best little friend. He is my Elvis. :)

You don't know what being ignored is, until you have been ignored by a cat. LOL. I am sure when we pick Elvis up on Friday, he will be in full ignore mode. Sigh. We drop him off later today, and I am already feeling separation anxiety. LOL. I know, I know, he will be fine, so why do I feel like I am abandoning him? Will he understand I will be coming back for him? Will he fall in love with the nurses and bond with them? Will he get so mad at me that he never pats my face again? Yikes! I know, I know... I am just being silly. He will always love me. After all, we have been together for over ten years now, but just in case, I think he and I will have some serious Elvis and mommy time when I get home. LOL. :)

Ok, I am officially on holiday. I will be back on Friday, October 26th, with lots of photos, and updates about how I spent days, 5, 6, and 7 of my "13 Diabetic Days Of Halloween." The adventure continues, so stay tuned.

-OndineMonet
"Pigeon Point Lighthouse"
Pescadero, California
October 21, 2007
Afternoon

Flying Into The Glass

"A vacation is what you take, when you can no longer take what you have been taking."

-Earl Wilson

Vacation
By The Go-Go's

Can't seem to get my mind off you
Back here at home there's nothing to do
Now that I'm away
I wished I'd stayed
Tomorrow is a day of mine you won't be in...

Yay! It's finally here, well it will be at exactly 6 O' Clock this morning. See, that's when our vacation officially begins, and it can't come a moment too soon. :) Alan is taking his usual 3 weeks off, and we will probably do some of our usual traditions, like trips to San Luis Obispo, Reno, and Half Moon Bay, but we may actually do a couple new things as well. I will be taking some time off from the Internet intermittently all this month. In fact, I will be taking some time off later this week. I just don't have the energy to do long road trips, then come home late at night, and try to be clever here. Sigh. When I first started blogging I was unstoppable, not so much now. Sometimes it makes me sad, I kinda feel defective somehow. I mean Fibromyalgia and Diabetes? It's quite a combo that's for sure, and this is my first year of balancing both. I will find it. It will come. Like with everything else, it takes time. Right?

When you looked at me I should've have run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong
And I'm not so strong
I should've known all along that time would tell...

So, in the mean time, I am going to try to do as much photography in October as possible. I am lucky, in I live in a part of California that is close to the best of all possible worlds. The Sierra foothills, and the beautiful Pacific are both just drive away. I love it here for that reason as well as many others. And now adventure awaits. Where will I go next? What will I photograph? Whatever it is, I know I will be anxious to come back here to write an entry and post a photo so I can share it with you. I hope you will enjoy what I find, because sometimes I find the strangest things. Tee Hee.

A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you

Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation
Meant to be spent alone

-Carly

NOTE: I will be taking, Thursday and Friday off this week. Details to follow!

Stay Tuned!

-OndineMonet
"Flying Into The Glass"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Autumn, 2006