Come Saturday Morning

"How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a catapillar."

-Unknown

I made plans this last week to head down to Pacific Grove, to drive along the gorgeous 17 mile drive, relax, take some photos and see some public art, but by the time Thursday came around, I simply didn't have enough energy for the long drive. The weather fluctuated too much last week. Monday I was wearing a big comfy sweater, by yesterday, I was wearing summer clothes. My body didn't know what to think. Oh well, like I said in an entry earlier this week, sometimes the "Plan B" days can be just as wonderful adventure as well. My "Plan B" turned out to be a trip across the bay to the Conservatory of Flowers, to see the Butterfly Exhibit.

The Special Exhibits hall of the conservatory was filled with many different varieties of plants and butterflies, and will be through October. They rotate new types every four weeks or so. Right now they have Monarchs, Gulf Fritillary, Julia, White Peacock, Buckeye, Zebra Longwing, Little Wood Satyr. It was magical to walk into the room, and see them floating along, paying no attention to me and my wonder. In fact, I had something really fun happen. As I was walking into the exhibit, just as a young man and his little girl, I think she was about 2 or so, were coming out, and with them came a large Monarch. The butterfly had escaped!

Yikes! The Monarch fluttered around the little girls head, then floated over to me and sat down on my shoulder, from there it moved down to the back of my hand, where she stayed as I gently returned her back to her home. It was a strange feeling to have the butterfly sit on my hand, and it was an even stranger sensation when she licked the back of my hand. LOL I guess she thought my jasmine perfumed smelled good. :) That made me smile. She, Miss Monarch, was enjoying my company as much as I was enjoying hers. The two butterflies, in the above picture, sat together the entire time I was there, looking out of the conservatory window as if longing to be fluttering together in the fresh air. It made me a little sad, but it also made me smile to imagine them as the best of friends.

Admission into the conservatory is only $5.00, and that includes the special exhibit. I am going to be going back to photograph as many of the butterfly varieties as possible. I highly recommend it. Be sure to dress cool and comfy, it is very humid inside the conservatory, but there are a lot of benches to rest on. It is a lot of fun...don't miss it!

The Ethereal Musician was playing today...I have been listening to him playing his tunes for over five years now. He is my invisible friend, somewhere up here in the hills, who plays his music like a whisper to the wind. I still can't figure out where the music is coming from. That's ok, I'm glad that he is still one of my life's favorite mysteries. He is my invisable friend who comes by once in a while, to bring a little magic to my afternoon. The song he chose for today, was "Come Saturday Morning," by Dory Previn and Fred Carlin. So beautiful and so haunting. I will probably be humming it all weekend. Now I am sharing it with you. Enjoy! :)

Come Saturday Morning
By Dory Previn & Fred Carlin

Come Saturday morning
I'm goin' away with my friends
We'll Saturday-spend till the end of the day
And then we'll move on
But we will remember, long after Saturday's gone

Come Saturday morning
I'm goin' away with my friend
We'll Saturday-laugh more then half of the day
Just I and my friend
Dressed up in our rings and our Saturday things
And then we'll move on
But we will remember long after Saturday's gone

Come Saturday morning

Just I an my friend
We'll travel for miles in our Saturday smiles
And then we'll move on
But we will remember long after Saturday's gone

Come Saturday Morning

-OndineMonet
"Best Friends"
(L) Gulf Fritillary (R) Buckeye
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
June 15, 2006
Afternoon

Elvis & I Guest Host : Steven's Feline Friday

"Cats are magical...the more you pet them, the longer you both live."

-Unknown

This week, while our good friends, Steven and Pickle take a little time off, Elvis and I will be hosting the best cat meme on the Internet, "Steven's Feline Friday." Cats rule! So, each Friday has been reserved just for them by Steven. I always liked that idea...cats should definitely have their own day!

This is my entry for this week. I took it just this morning, while giving Elvis a good grooming. He wasn't feeling very good because of the warm day we are having. Like his mommy, Elvis doesn't take the summer months as well as the rest of the year. So, he and I do things together to make it a bit easier to take. Today, we might just go swimming or maybe better still, would be to play with the sprinkler in the yard. One of his favorite activities is to sit really close to it, and let the water sprinkle down on him. It's cooling, and then he doesn't have to fuss with putting on his water wings for the pool. The only thing he needs for the sprinkler fun is his shaded goggles. I sure do love this cat. :) If you it's true that both Elvis and I will live longer just by my petting him...then I kinda think we will live forever, because I can't help but pet him. He's my little boy.

I really enjoy Feline Friday, because it has lead me to some pretty neat kitties in the land. Here are some great links...

Midnight poses for Julie, as his friend Abby gets his attention.

Theresa's kitties Angel & Eclipse play a game of Chess, which is pretty cool, because I'm terrible at that game.

Boo-Boo Kitty and Peanut share a box of beer. LOL. The beer does not belong to Pat by the way!

Phinney's cat Jinx, stuck her tongue out at her! How rude! LOL. but very, very cute all the same. :)

And Julie's kitty, Brooklyn, shows us the proper way to groom.

All fantastic kitties, so be sure to click on the links to see them do their thing!

If you have a kitty, and want to play along with this week's edition of Feline Friday, all you have to do is leave your comments in the thread for THIS entry. I will gather all of them up, and send them to Steven, for next week's Feline Friday edition.

-OndineMonet
"Melting Elvis"
Berkeley, California
June 16, 2006
Mid-Morning

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #116: Things We Share With Dad

""Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes."

Weekend Assignment #116: Tell about some personality trait or quirk you got from your father...or, if you're a father, some personality trait or quirk of yours you see in your kinds.

Extra Credit: Did you ever get dad a tie for Father's Day?

-John Scalzi

Well, where to begin. For most of my life, my relationship with my father was really strained. Dad had a lot of sadness, mostly about things that happened long before I was born, so he had a lot of demons to fight. He did that in his own way, and in fact, usually refused all help, but before he passed away in 1995, he and I made our peace...and it was complete. He and I had long talks about how much of our personality he and I shared. It was comforting to know that he and I could bring out the best in each other. Here is a list of what we shared...

1. Politics. He was a staunch democrat and a liberal, and he taught me about what that meant. The night Bobby Kennedy was killed, dad came home from work so sad, I was only a little one, but he and I talked about why he was so sad, and he explained it so a I could understand...and then we both felt better.

2. We both have a wicked sense of humor. He and I could speak in whole conversations with just a grin. We always knew what to say or do to make the other one laugh, and as sad and confused as dad would get...he never really lost his sense of humor. He knew the importance of a good, solid laugh.

3. Sugar. LOL. Dad had a sweet tooth that went straight to his soul...and so do I. :)

4. The arts. Dad and I both enjoyed museums, the ballet, and music of all kinds. He and I would often talk about art and the lives of artists. He was an avid reader and he shared his library with me as a child. It opened a lot of doors for me.

5. He encouraged me in photography. When I became clinically depressed back in the mid-eighties...he put a camera in my hand and told me to snap away. He knew it would help me come out of myself. He had a camera, and he loved going up to wine country and photographing the vineyards.

6. San Francisco. We both love that city...but I bet you already knew that.

I could go on, but you get the picture. I guess what he and I shared the most was political ideals, our sense of humor, and our love of all thing beautiful, from the arts to the city of San Francisco. :)

Extra Credit: I gave my dad a tie, the first Father's Day after I got married. It was the one he wore on my wedding day. He loved the tie, so I bought it as a surprise. After he died I put it in my cedar chest...where it still is today. :)

-OndineMonet
"From The Bay Bridge"
San Francisco, California
June 15, 2006
Mid-Morning

Tell Me, Do You Phoon?

"The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer."

It is my belief, and my experience, that fate comes around to visit me most often when I have my camera in my hand. While fate may not allow me to become a millionaire by picking the correct winning Lotto numbers, or to accidentally encounter David Duchovny coming out of my favorite deli, it has managed to put me in the right place to discover some amazing people, places and things, while out in the world with camera in hand, but it hasn't been exclusive to the real world, sometimes it has introduced me to some pretty great and amazing people and things here on the Internet as well. :)

Last Sunday, I was researching an upcoming trip I was planning this week to, Pacific Grove, California. There is a specific sculpture that sits in Lover's Point Park, that I have been interested in photographing for quite some time now. The sculpture is titled, "Boy With Sailboat." So, off to google I went, and a few web sites came up, but most were simply photos of the sculpture, but one certain web site actually had a small amount of information indicated in the link box, so that is the one I chose to go to. It indeed had some info about the sculpture, but that wasn't the focus of the site. See, fate had lead me to a different kind of art form. And what fine art it is. See, I had, by luck, just discovered the world of Phoons.

What's a Phoon you ask? Well, it is the craze that's been seen, and posed, around the world. The art of Phooning was created in 1980, when John Darrow, the main Phoon himself, decided to strike a fun pose for some family vacation photos. That was over 20 years ago, but while on a business trip in 1999, the muse struck John again, and he saw the opportunity to Phoon once again. From there...the Phoon was reborn. Phooning is not easily described in verb-o-rama...it has to be seen to be understood. It's fun, it's creative, and it is a genuine phenomenon that has gone international. If you care to, you can phoon as well. John accepts and posts submitted photos from the four corners of the earth, but there are some rules and requirements that must be followed before your phoon photo can be posted. Nothing scary or too detailed mind you, just a few guidelines to make the experience of phooning a lot more fun. You should drop by and see for yourself, what a cool web site I happened upon the other day.

John is a nice man. He is also very creative and helpful. In addition to his Phoon site he also has a pretty nifty blog, right here on Blogspot. I will leave the links below so you can pay him a visit, say hello neighbor, and enjoy all the hard work he has put into his site. Someday the word "Phoon" will be in the dictionary, I have no doubts about that at all. Next to the description it will say... "See fun." :) Thanks John, for making me smile. Don't you just love fate's little detours?

Phoons From Around The World

Personal Effects (John's Blog)

-OndineMonet
"An Alcove In Berkeley"
Berkeley, California
June 14, 2006
Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Emotions

Click on the above image to see a larger version

"There can be no transforming of darkness, into light and of apathy into movement, without emotion."

-Carly Jung

This was a difficult challenge for me. I ran into some trouble choosing one particular emotion to try and capture with my camera. Oh I sure, I could have posted someone laughing, or maybe even capture one of those rare moments when Elvis cries...maybe even a moment when I was feeling sad. I had them this week. It wasn't that bad mind you, it's just that I find myself standing at a crossroad, about more then one thing, and at times it can be hard to handle. Still, I am ok, just maybe a little blue. I suppose blue really isn't an emotion. So, in an effort to try and step out of my own sadness this week, I decided to do something that would scare myself instead...LOL...I wrote a poem.

Now, as all of you know, poetry is not my greatest talent. So what. It is my belief that the only way to become good at something, is to practice it until either you do become good at it, or poetry police come and get you. LOL. I came up with this photo I took last autumn at the Pacific Grove Butterfly Sanctuary, and when I looked at it, I remembered how the eucalyptus tree seemed to be growing the monarchs. Each branch was filled with the most gorgeous splashes of color and flutter. I was having a really emotional time last fall, I was still trying my best to recover from something that happened to me late last summer. I spent most days avoiding things, because it all hurt too much. So, as I watched the butterflies, floating softly on the pacific coast breeze, somehow it made it all a little easier on my weary emotions. Looking at this photo other night, inspired the following poem. I hope you enjoy it, but feel free to be honest, if you think it's just awful, tell me...so someday I can do better. :)

As A Spirit Complete
By Carly Gordon

An ethereal life of moments
A child of waning light
Born a gossamer of autumn
Her dance is her delight

Sleeping through the darkness
Awakening in the light
A season of emotions
Escaping a lover's plight

Counting not the days nor the moments
She rises to greet the morn
Then carries her feelings of love alone
As the rose has it's thorn

She does not despair in the darkness
As her eyes close gently to sleep
The lifetime that she lived today
She lived as a spirit complete

Yikes...talk about going out on a limb! Thank you Chris, for choosing a very challenging subject for all of us to enjoy! If you would like to play along with the Round Robin Challenges, just pay a visit to the official Round Robin blog to find out all the details. And be sure to visit all the Round Robin participants to see some wonderful interpretations this subject. The Robin members always amaze me with their creativity. Just click on the links below, and see for yourself.

-OndineMonet
"The Monarch Tree"
Pacific Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
Pacific Grove, California
Autumn, 2005
Afternoon

Round Robin Participants

Chris... My Photographic Life POSTED!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin POSTED

Carly... Ellipsis... Suddenly Carly POSTED!

Amy... My Life And Pictures

T.J. ... Every Picture Tells A Story

Sara... Animated Seasons POSTED!

Julie... Julie's Web Journal POSTED!

Derek... Through Veal Eyes

Dorn... Through The Eyes Of The Beholder POSTED!

Steve... Paparrazi By Proxy POSTED!

Kat... Prima Luce

Terry... The Captain's File ***WELCOME NEW MEMBER***

Tammy... The Daily Warrior POSTED!

rRose... WAIT-NOTYET-/ POSTED!

Valorie... Retrospect USA POSTED!

Suzanne... Suzanne R's Life POSTED!

Deslily... Here, There and Everywhere POSTED!

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Bad Photos (That Are Kind Of Cool)

"A man's errors are his portals of discovery."

-James Joyce

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Find a picture in your files that is technically bad, but is still interesting to look at. By "technically bad," I mean things like people are partly out of frames, your subject is out of focus, everyone has red eye, people's heads are cut off, there are in appropiate blurs, so on and so forth. But even so, it's still an interesting picture to look at.

Remember: It's called the Monday Photo Shoot, but you can still post pictures for it through about noon on Thursday. That's a lot of time to find flawed photos.

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)


A couple weeks ago, as I was coming back into Berkeley, by way of hwy 13,when I saw this bit of graffiti art on the overpass where hwy 13 meets hwy 24. I only had a second or two to snap the photo, but thank goodness, as it just so happens, I have a camera growing out of the end of my right arm. LOL. That's what happens when your great passion in life is photography. LOL.

Don't fret gentle reader, I was once featured on a news segment on my local ABC news affiliate as a "model driver." So, even if something would have gone horribly wrong, like if my camera went to flight out of the window, while I was trying to balance it on my steering wheel, no worries...see...I have a cell phone growing out of the end of my left arm. ;) An amateur photographer must be prepared for everything. LOL.

A few days later when I drove by the same spot again, I saw that the sign had been removed, and replaced with a lovely shade of gray paint. The town of Berkeley is pretty good about keeping up with clearing graffiti. And that is a good thing, still I appreciated the little smile that the message had brought me that day. Simply... "Follow Your Dreams." You know me, I live for those simple moments of fate. You see, when you love taking photos as much as I do, you learn to recognize how wonderful those little moments of quiet serendipity can be. :)

I let it go, and didn't think anymore of it, until about a week later, when I was again at the same spot, at almost the same time of day, and again there was a message waiting for me...

How cool is that? Isn't that a great message? Like I said, it's those little moments that fate gives you, that sometimes mean the most. Even if they are a bit lopsided and a tad out of focus. ;)

-OndineMonet
"Follow Your Dreams"
"Seriously Follow Your Dreams"
Berkeley, California
13 at 24
June, 2006
10:30 AM

Charley's Friday Five

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

-Earl Wilson

Last Friday marks the second week anniversary of the return of, one of my favorite memes, the Friday Five, which is hosted by Charley, author of the journal, "Courage." It is a lot of fun, and easy to play. All you do is answer the five questions he posts for each edition, and if you are the first to submit your answers, he will give your journal a hefty promotion the following week. You can write your answers as an entry on your journal or blog, or you can leave them in the comments of the Friday Five edition he is currently playing. If you would like to play along, you can find Charley and the Friday Five here. Don't forget to go back leave him a link. Now, on with the Friday Five...

1. What is (or would be) your dream vacation?

A. My favorite season of the year is autumn, so, it has always been a dream of mine to tour the New England states during that time of year.

2. What's one thing no vacation can do without?

A. Maps, maps, and more maps.

3. What has been the best trip of your life so far?

A. Alan and I love going down the central California coast to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. We love it there.

4. Who was with you on that trip, and what is the role of that person in your life?

A. Alan is my hubby...15 1/2 years and counting.

5. What's the worst thing that can happen.

A. I think the worst thing that can happen is having the car break down. There you are, trapped, ugg. I don't even want to think about it. :) So I won't! LOL :)

Thanks Charley, for bringing us the Friday Five each week, you know I am a fan!

-OndineMonet
"Berkeley In Autumn"
Berkeley, California
November 24, 2005
Late Afternoon

Name That Bird!

"Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel free to delight in whatever remains to them?"

-Rose Kennedy

With all the time I have been spending at home this year, I have decided to set up a tripod permanently in the garden to photograph the birds, and hopefully some butterflies this autumn. I bought two different bird feeders last week, one specifically for Hummingbirds, and one for miscellaneous wild birds. Yesterday (Sunday) was the best day for watching them so far, but because the weather has been so cold and windy, there weren't as many coming by as usual. Nice variety though. Lots of Hummingbirds, Blue Jays, California Song Birds, and of course, there were some Robins.

I need to stop by Barnes & Noble, on Shattuck avenue,this week and pick up a book on birds native to the area. I found the pretty little bird, in the photo below, down at the marina. I am not sure what it is...look familiar to anyone? If you have an idea of what it might be, leave me a comment. I will probably head back to the marina later in the week, hopefully there will be some clouds to provide a little natural shading, I had a problem with my photos being washed out last week. I have big plans later in the week, she said with fingers crossed, so I need to spend a few days at home to get ready for it. If I get the proper rest, my Fibromyalgia is a lot easier to manage. If all goes well, I will be able to make it down to Pacific Grove by the end of the week. :) There are some awesome photo ops along the 17 mile drive. So wish me luck!

Note: This is a Round Robin Challenge week. Be sure to drop by the official blog to find out all the details. Our challenge this time around will be, "Emotions."

-OndineMonet
"Rockin Robin"
Berkeley, California
June 11, 2006
Afternoon

Man Bites Dog...A Game Review

"Half The Game Is 90% mental."

-Yogi Berra

I have been spending a lot more time at home lately, I have found that when I want to go to a special event, that takes a lot of energy do, such when I drove to Santa Rosa to photograph the Woodstock sculptures, I need to prepare for that type of outing by resting up for a few days before the trip. Well, I can't just sleep all day, every day, so I usually relax in the yard with a book, or by taking pictures, with the camera set up on a tripod. But sometimes, what helps more then anything else, is when Alan and I play a really fun board game. A good one will force me to think, a really good one will make me laugh. An excellent one will do both. I find I sleep at my deepest, after a good solid laugh. The game I am about to tell you about was a great find that accomplished that for me.

The game is called, "Man Bites Dog," produced by University Games. I've always been impressed by their games, and this one is no exception. It's simple and fun to play. Here's what you do...

The object of the game is to come up with a structurally sound "Headline" like one would find on a newspaper or magazine publication.

The dealer, deals five cards to each player. Each card has a word, or sometimes two words, and a number value. Each player then looks at their hand, and decides whether or not they want to discard any of the cards dealt them. The player to the dealers left discards first, up to three of the five cards. The play continues around until each player has had a chance to either discard or accept their hand as is. After everyone is done, the dealer lays down his/her best headline from the cards. As an example...

Acceptable: Man Bites Dog

Unacceptable: Refrigerator Marries Mob Boss

If you can't make a sentence, then your score becomes zero. The score is determined by the numbers found on each card. It is nearly impossible to not make some kind of headline, very rarely did we have cards left over in our hands at the end of the rounds. I purchased the travel edition, which contains just the cards. I understand their is a larger version, but this one works fine for playing a short, fun game in the back yard. It is rated for ages 8 an up, which seems about right. If you enjoy cute, lighthearted games, which are very low on the fuss factor, I highly recommend this one. I give 4 out of 5 popcorn kernels. :)

And by the way, you might notice that the latest poll on my sidebar is all about games. Do you have a favorite board game? Even if you haven't played in years, I would like to hear about your personal favorite family game, or even your favorite game to play at parties, such as Madlibs or maybe Charades. If it isn't listed on the poll, feel free to tell me about it in the comments. I will reveal the results of the poll at the end of the month on my new poll results blog, which can be found here. I set it up to make it easier to keep track of past polls and results. The current one listed on the new blog, is the last one I had on my sidebar, about the great mysteries. Hop on over if you would like to see the final result of that poll.

-OndineMonet
"Man Bites Dog
Berkeley, California
June 8, 2006
Afternoon

The Google Game: Me v. She

"I took a breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am, I am, I am."

-Sylvia Plath

While visiting at my friend Suzanne's blog this week, "Suzanne R's Life," I found this little meme/game. You know much I enjoy a good meme/game so I thought I would give it a whirl. Here's what you do. Hop on over to Google search, put in your name, followed by the word, "needs." Then, take the first ten sentences that make sense, and write them in your journal/blog. LOL. It was so much fun, it had me laughing in no time. Here's mine...

1. Carly needs to go on vacation.
(This was a reference to carly Fiorina, formerly of Hewlett Packard)

2. Carly needs to be institutionalized. Ric tells Sonny. (In reference to Carly Corinthos, a character on General Hospital.)

3. Carly needs professional help. (Carly Corinthos)

4. Carly needs to be locked up and the key thrown away! (Carly Corinthos)

5. Carly needs someone to turn to when she has problems, and Jack is just the person to help her because deep down, in his heart, he still loves her. (Who the heck is Jack?) LOL.

6. Carly needs to be on her own for a while. (Finally, a Carly from a different soap opera, As The World Turns)

7. Carly needs to meet someone special. (An ad from the San Francisco classifieds)

8. Carly needs to stop screwing up her life. (Carly Corinthos)

9. Carly belongs with Sonny. (I don't know, she's good with Jax also) LOL.

10. Carly needs to be in Port Charles. (Carly Corinthos) LOL.

Well, it seems my first name is most often related to one soap character or another, lol, I suppose I should be glad that it isn't most often linked back to folks who think I am the worst person on the Internet. LOL. Or someone who thinks I am an awful writer or photographer. LOL. And while my life has been a bit of a daytime drama in the past, things at the moment are blissfully normal. :) Now Carly Corinthos on the other hand has married to two different Mob bosses, switched the DNA on not just one, but two paternity results, seduced her stepfather, faked her own death, and was once kidnapped by not just one ,but two of Port Charles's bad guys...and lived to tell the tale with perfect hair! LOL. She's a blond, I'm a brunette, she is tall, I am short, she went nuts...and so did I. Hey, maybe life is a lot closer to fiction then we think. LOL. Tune into General Hospital, Monday thru Friday on ABC. :)

-OndineMonet
"Me v She"

Note: If you decide to play along, be sure to come back here and leave me a link to your entry! :) Be sure to go and read Suzanne's entry, which can be found here.

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #115: Make Your Own Highway Sign

"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religious, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers."

-Dave Barry "Things That It Took Me 50 Years To Learn"

Weekend Assignment #115: You'll find an online highway sign generator here, Go there, write your own highway sign, and post it on your journal or Blog.

Extra Credit: What was the worst traffic jam you've ever been in?

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)


O00ppppps! There goes my wacky sense of humor again! Still, isn't it one of the great questions of the ages? Tee Hee ;)

-OndineMonet

Art About Town: Berkeley, California

"Art is much less important then life, but what a poor life without it."

-Jasper Johns

In May of 1984, a colorful and whimsical sculpture was dedicated to the town of Berkeley, by local artist, Joe Slusky. The artist titled the piece, "Calliope," and was commissioned by the City Of Berkeley's Department of Parks and Design. The sculpture was placed for display permanently at the Berkeley Marina, where it has weathered storms, sun, and the natural aging process. Over time however, the salt air had dulled her bright pastel colors, and her paint began to chip, but fast forward in time to 2004, that's when the Berkeley Public Art Maintenance Project, lovingly restored the time beaten Calliope to her original, joyful self. And what a lovely, inspiring sculpture she is.

Calliope is an 11 foot steel sculpture that took Slusky over two years to complete. Local art critics from around the Bay Area hailed the piece as eccentric, whimsical, and playful. The artist describes Calliope as "a fossilization of the imagination." I have to say, as I sat admiring her today, I simply couldn't get enough of her color and seemingly endless twists and turns. So many thoughts went through my mind as I gazed upon her.

Yellow, aqua blue, lavender, red and green, and all the emotions they evoke. I think the most important impression that I got from her, might have been how enthusiastic she was, and how positive she made me feel. Looking at her was like looking at a lovely cloud formation and seeing all the wonderful possibilities that life holds. Musical notes, arms outstretched with love, puzzlement, amusement, and just sheer joy. Calliope is a dazzling sculpture of fanciful energy, that is the perfect contrast to the quiescent nautical blues and whites of the marina.

Artist Joe Slusky's art is widely acclaimed and is displayed throughout California. He has taught art for many years in the Bay Area, and is now a lecturer in the Architecture department at the University of California, Berkeley.

-OndineMonet
"Calliope"
Berkeley Marina
Berkeley, California
June 7, 2005
Afternoon

6+6+06...Heed The Omen

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't vote."

-George Nathan

I bet when you saw the title of this entry you thought I was going to write about the remake of the 1976, Richard Donner horror classic, "The Omen." Well, no, I was actually talking about the California primary. I went yesterday afternoon, (Tuesday) to my polling place, which looked more like a ghost town, then a place to make my social voice heard. And it had been that way all day. According to a recent Field poll, only one-in-four Californians or about 5 million, were planning to go to the polls, which makes it the worst turn-out since 1946.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, the campaign between the two top democrats seeking to challenge Gov. Schwarzenegger, Steve Westly and Phil Angelides, became more then a little heated. Lots of mud to be slung any way you looked at it, which apparently turned a lot of folks off to the whole prospect of taking time out of their day to vote. As disgusted as I felt myself getting over the dirty politics, it only strengthened my intentions to make it to the polls today. I saw one or two "Man on the Street" interviews throughout the day, and here is a small sampling of what folks told the reporters who asked them if they would be voting today...

"All the mud slinging put me off."

"The issues don't really affect me."

"I was put off to the political process back in 2004."

"I didn't have time."

"I don't care who runs against Schwarzenegger, I will figure it all out in November."

Sigh. I hear over and over about how we have our young women and men in Iraq to fight for our freedom, and democracy, yet only 5 million Californians could be bothered to get out and vote? Yes, the primary decided state issues, such as senatorial candidates, and propositions, but it all matters or none of it does. It doesn't matter what party you are affiliated with, we shouldn't be picking and choosing what freedoms we embrace. If we do, we risk losing all freedom. We already have less privacy then ever before, so I guess we all need to decide what we are willing to give up next, due to complacency and indifference. I will admit, it felt strange to cast my vote on 6-6-06, but on the other hand, I think given the projected low voter turn out, I am glad I decided to "Heed The Omen."

-OndineMonet
"Alameda County"
Berkeley, California
June 6, 2006
Afternoon

Update: Phil Angelides has been declared the winner in the primary, so tell me, will Arnold Schwarzenegger be re-elected in November or will Phil Angelides be voted in as the next governor of California? Tell me what you think.

Your Monday Photo Shoot: The Letter M

"I read in the newspaper they are going to have 30 minutes of intellectual stuff on television every Monday from 7:30 to 8:00 to educate America. They couldn't educate America if they started at 6:30."

-Groucho Marx

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Take a picture of something that starts with an "M." From marshmallows to mucilage, it's all good.

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)

Here's my photo. This is an Apple MARTINI. I tried one a few years ago, and while for the most part I don't drink, I do enjoy the occasional libation. I have a fondness for apple juice, which is one ingredient, I really like the way it kinda tastes like a green apple Jolly Rancher. I love sweet/tangy drinks. So, that's my "M" for this assignment.

Apple MARTINI (Webtender )

1 part Vodka
1 part Sour Apple Schnapps
1 part Apple Juice

Monday Monday

By The Mamas and the Papas

Monday, ,Monday
So, good to me
Monday mornin, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday mornin, Monday mornin couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me...

Every other day, every other day,
every other day, every other day is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin all of the time

Monday, Monday
So good to me
Monday, Monday
Can't trust that day
Oh Monday, Monday
It's here to stay.

-OndineMonet
"Apple MARTINI"
Berkeley, California
June 5th, 2006
Evening

"Emotions"...A Round Robin Promotion

"Lets not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives, and we obey them without realizing it."

-Vincent Van Gogh

For me,it's the little moments of perfect timing with my camera, that can bring about whirlwind of emotions, especially when I am not sure what to think. You know those times...everyone has them...the moments when you feel like you are standing on the edge of something, but you aren't sure what. It can be about a job, a relationship, a social ideal, a religious contemplation. It's not about faltering, and it's not about fear of the unknown...it's about the challenges we face, when making up our minds. Especially when we would have sworn that our feelings, thoughts, ideals, and yes, emotions, were set in stone. Emotions always serve as a vivid reminder of how we can take things for granted. Sometimes, it's ourselves that we take for granted the most.

Our current Round Robin challenge seems particularly challenging for me this time around. The subject is, "Emotions," and was chosen by our friend Chris, author of the journal, "My Photographic Life." I am not sure why I am finding it so challenging, but I know it's a good thing that I do. It's good to push our own creativity, particularly with the camera, because it captures life in the moment. I know it was my camera that helped me come back to the land of the living, after spending three years in a walking death of Anhedonia. With each new photo I pushed myself to take, I saw more and more emotion returning to my life, and my existence. Those little moments, made me feel alive, and now I realize that when I add them all up, it totals up to happiness. As of this coming August, my Anhedonia will be in remission three years. My therapist tells me that there is a slim chance it could comeback, but she doesn't think it will. Frankly I don't think it will either, because if anything, I can see life a whole lot clearer then before I got sick. My camera saves me, and every moment captured in it's lens, represents a world of sweet emotion.

If you are feeling like you could use a little creative challenging, why don't you join us for the next Round Robin Challenge? The date for this challenge will be, Wednesday, June 14. As always you can post your entry any time between the midnights. Just pay a visit to the official Round Robin Challenge blog to find out all the details. We are always pleased to have a new Robin join us, just be sure to read the ***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play*** Come on and join us for the fun, you know you want to! :)

-OndineMonet
"Monet's Moment"
Golden Gate Park
Japanese Tea Garden
San Francisco, California
May, 2005
Afternoon

The Hummingbird

"Have you ever observed a hummingbird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers? A living prismatic gem... it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness, as to mock all description."

-W. H. Hudson

While I was searching for the Woodstock sculptures around Santa Rosa Thursday, I saw some amazingly beautiful sights. The town was filled with all types of public art, not the least of which was nature itself. I saw so many hummingbirds that day, but I had given up on being able to photograph one because of how fast they dotted in and out of the flowers. Around 1:30, I decided to pause for lunch in Courthouse Square, and to my delight I was able to capture this hummingbird. She paused for a moment at this flower, turned to me just after I snapped the camera, smiled, and moved on her way. Ahhh...life with the camera and sweet serendipity.

The Hummingbird (Haiku)
By Carly Gordon

Here is the dreamer

Her dream transcends the darkness.

Her soul seeks the light.

-OndineMonet
"The Hummingbird"
Santa Rosa, California
June 1, 2006
Afternoon

My Quest For Woodstock

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

-Charles Schulz

As I said in a previous entry, I visited the wine country town of Santa Rosa this past week, so I could photograph some public art, and at least some of the Woodstock sculptures that will be on display throughout the summer months. This Woodstock was my favorite one of the day. It sits at the gift shop, which is adjacent to Snoopy's Home Ice- The Redwood Empire Ice-Skating Rink. Right next door is the "Warm Puppy Cafe," where Charles Schulz had coffee every morning before he would go to work in his studio to create the world of "Peanuts." Both the ice rink and the cafe sit directly across the street from the Charles Schulz Museum. Each of the 76 Woodstock statues has a unique title and this one is, "Expecting Company." It didn't get photos of all the statues on this trip, so I will just have to continue my quest at a later date this summer. :) Here are a few of the Woodstock sculptures I did manage to capture Thursday. Enjoy!

All of the following quotes are by Charles Schulz. :)

Chops Stock

"I think I have discovered the secret of life, you just hang around until you get used to it."

Explorer Admiral Bird

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today, it's already tomorrow in Australia."

Halftime

"I have a new philosophy. I am going to dread one day at a time."

Traffic Is For The Birds

"There is no problem so big, that it can't be run away from."

Village Gardener

"Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use."

Smooth Jazz In Wine Country

"Aunt Marion was right, never marry a musician, and never open the door."

-OndineMonet

Woodstock Summer

June 1st, 2006

Santa Rosa, California

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #114: Things You Like Now But Not Then

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."

-Ronald Reagan

Weekend Assignment #114: Name a thing you like today, that your younger self would probably roll his or her eyes at. People, places, things, ideas, philosophies... all of it is up for consideration.

Extra Credit: Name something you didn't like then that you still don't like now.

-John Scalzi (By The Way... )

This may come as a bit of a shock, I was once, for a brief time, a republican. LOL. Yes, I Carly had taken a walk on the conservative side. When I look back at that time in my life, and I try to figure out why I would do such a thing, the only possibility that comes to mind is that I was dating a minister at the time, and he had some influence on how I looked at the world. Well, my relationship with him didn't last that long, because I didn't belong being a republican, and he didn't belong being a minister. Sheesh... what the heck was I thinking?

I was, and still am a democrat. Period. So, in my youth, I was not super thrilled with Ronald Reagan as a president. In my frustration, I didn't particularly care for the man personally. I didn't really see that the man, the ideas, the philosophies, and the politics aren't necessarily the same. It also hadn't occurred to me, just how much Ronald Reagan really did love his country. Now, years later, I have more information to go on, and while I still don't think I would vote for him as president, I believe in my heart that he made decisions in office out of a genuine love for his country... he was a less selfish president then some. Just for a moment, put aside your feelings either way, while I share a few quotes I looked up tonight. Quotes that reflect his personal philosophies...

"We must not look to government to solve our problems, Government is the problem."

"Middle age is when you're faced with two temptations and you choose the one that will get you home by nine o' clock."

"Excellence does not begin in Washington."

"Peace is more than just the absence of war. True peace is justice, true peace is freedom. And true peace dictates the recognition of human rights."

"Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

"Today, if you invent a better mousetrap. The government comes along with a better mouse."

"To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things eight is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last... but eat you he will."

"There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect."

"I've always believed that a lot of trouble in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other."

"I've often wondered, what if all of us in the world discovered that we were threatened by a greater power from outer space from another planet... wouldn't we all of a sudden find that we didn't have any differences between us at all?"

So, I guess you could say that I have a whole new respect for President Reagan today, and I appreciate him more now, then I did in my youth.

Extra Credit: Calamari...NEVER liked it...NEVER will! :)

-OndineMonet
"Presidential Beans"
Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Factory
Fairfield, California
Spring, 2005
Afternoon

Art About Town...San Francisco

"Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feeling, not in thoughts."

-Walker Evans

In the spring of 2004, the city of San Francisco had a lot of heart. Well, they still do, but it was during that spring and summer that the city held an awesome public arts program called, appropriately, "Hearts In San Francisco." Similar to Chicago's art project, "Cows On Parade," The San Francisco project used the city's almost signature icon, the heart, to symbolize the acceptance, tolerance and open-heartedness that it is famous for. The hearts were eventually placed in various locations around the Bay Area. They were installed on street corners, plazas, and parks. Over 130 up and coming artists designed and hand painted the hearts, including singer Tony Bennett, who created the one in the above photo, which now sits permanently in Union Square.

The hearts remained on display through October of 2004, then in November some of the hearts were auctioned off, with the proceeds going to San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, for the enhancement of patient care. The original goal of the project was to raise $1 Million for the hospital, by February of 2005, the project had earned over $2 Million for funding from additional both online and one held at SBC Park. A limited edition book about the project was also made avail for purchase, and also benefited the hospital.

As you know by now, hunting down public art and photographing it is a great passion of mine. It began last year, when I drove to Santa Rosa to photograph the awesome display of Charlie Brown sculptures that dotted the town throughout the summer. Like the hearts, the Charlie Brown sculptures were eventually auctioned off for charity. And the tradition continues. As of last Monday, the town of Santa Rosa is again decorated with sculptures of a beloved Peanuts icon. This year Woodstock will be placed at different locations, around town. That is where I am off to tomorrow... Santa Rosa. I am spending the day photographing as many of the pretty yellow birds as possible, and I also hope to be able to photograph some other awesome public art displays as well. Santa Rosa is a art lovers paradise. It inspires me every time I visit there. Ahhhhh... "Life is good."

-OndineMonet
"Tony's Heart"
Union Square
San Francisco
May 27, 2006
Afternoon

Ladies And Gentlemen...The Beatles!

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there's be peace."

-George Harrison

As promised yesterday, here is one of the better photo opportunities the geese, in San Ramon, presented me with. When I saw them crossing the road in front of me, I couldn't help but think about my favorite album by the Beatles, "Abbey Road." You know... the one with John, Paul, George & Ringo crossing Abbey Road. That album was released in the United States on October 1, 1969. The cover for the album was photographed by Lain McMillian, who was given just 10 minutes, at around 10:00 AM, to get the shot. It's very cool that there is now a webcam, and all you have to do is click on it to see Abbey Road today. God I love the Internet!

Music is so important to me, it inspires me and makes me feel good inside, even on the harshest of days. One of the most romantic songs they wrote was, "Something." A song which has now been in my head for the last 24 hours. LOL. It's a nice, pleasant song, but when I need to just feel that, "Life Is Good" I always seem to put, "Here Comes The Sun," on the CD player. It's a song about hope, and how if we just hold on through the rain, eventually the sun comes around again...and warms us to the goodness in life that is just waiting to happen...

Here Comes The Sun...

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it's been years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, the smile's returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun...here it comes
Sun, sun, sun...here it comes
Sun, sun, sun...here it comes
Sun, sun, sun...here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say, it's all right
It's all right.

Go somewhere today, and smile. :)

-OndineMonet
"Abbey Road"
San Ramon, California
May 29, 2006
Dawn

In The Air

"In our dreams we are able to fly... and that is a remembrance of how we were meant to be."

-Madeleine L' Engle

Yesterday, Monday, I went to the San Ramon Art & Wind Festival, specifically to see the hot air balloon launch and a hang gliding demonstration. I love balloons. Living up in the hills, means that every now and again a balloon will find it's way up into the hills and into my yard. A few times, I have seen them glide ever so slowly overhead, and come to rest in one of my trees.I always like to imagine what occassion might have brought them to life. A birthday party, a wedding, maybe an anniversary or perhaps it was a balloon purchased on a first date! :) Going to the demonstration was going to be difficult, but I just couldn't miss the hot air balloons. Nope. That would have been too much wonderment to miss.

The balloon launch was scheduled to take place between 6:30 and 7:30 AM. Yikes! I usually go to bed at 4:00 AM, so my body was not too happy with me. :) Also, my I was in a fair amount of pain from my legs and back, but I was determined to go and get the shots. It has been a long time since I have gone and done any photography on my own. Alan is fun to go places with, but I need to get back some of my independence when it comes to going and doing things. Sometimes my legs cramp while driving, and it can be really uncomfortable. If I am swollen beyond a certain point, I don't push it, because I refuse to get behind the wheel if I can't drive safely. Nothing is so important that I am willing to risk that.

So, what's a girl to do? A girl does her meditation, she does her T'ai Chi and she does some positive visualization. A good friend reminded me last night, how wonderfully positive it is to take a few minutes to concentrate on the things that bring comforting thoughts and emotions to mind. It works for anxiety disorders, it works for depression and it works with pain management. I don't like to take my pain medication, I just don't like the idea of developing a dependency on it. I want to give my alternative regimen a real chance. I did well, and managed some sleep deep enough to wake up feeling ok.

I drove from Berkeley to San Ramon, which is a moderate distance, and got to Central Park with about 45 minutes to spare. Parking was horrendous. LOL. I should have known it would be difficult, but it was ok, it gave me a chance to do a bit of exploring around the area, and I found some lovely surprises along the way. Some lovely geese that live at the AT&T center in the adjacent, Bishop Ranch, industrial center, were feeling playful. They are beautiful birds, who have the right of way in San Ramon, and who have seen a camera before! They put on quite a show...really made it fun to be out taking photos at 5:45 in the morning!

The balloon launch time came and went...no luck this morning. The wind conditions weren't safe for lift-off according to the balloon pilots. It was blowing at north/southwest/east, and needed to be south/east-north! LOL... or something like that. Still, I was able to find a really good parking place up close, when some folks decided to leave the festival early, and it was fun to see the colorful balloons fully inflated. The energy of the kids at the park made me feel young. Very cool. I had a blanket in my car, so I placed it down in on the grass, and sat for a while, to enjoy the crowd, and my own company. :)

I stayed for about a half an hour, then braced for the long ride home. By the time I arrived back in Berkeley, the overcast clouds were lifting, and Elvis was curled up in a ball on the bed, waiting for me to come home. He was warm from the sun coming through the window, and really nice to cuddle up with. What a nice, comfortable sleep he and I had, for about 30 minutes, until his friend Molly came knocking politely at the back door. :) Oh well, friends are important, I'm sure she had some piece of information that she wanted to share with her pal, Elvis. Friends are important. Especially good friends. :)

"The balloon seems to stand still in the air, while the earth flies past underneath."

-Alberto Santos-Dumont

-OndineMonet
"Flying Low"
Central Park
San Ramon, California
May 29, 2006
Memorial Day
Early Morning

Where For Art Thou?

"War is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

There have been 71 journalists from around the world killed covering the war in Iraq.

There have been 2,464 U. S. Military deaths in Iraq.

There have been 17, 648 U.S. Military wounded in Iraq.

There have been 37, 972 Iraqi civilians killed since the beginning of the war.

This is a war based on lies. Every single day it continues, we lie one more days worth. It's obscene! This war didn't have to happen. This war shouldn't have happened. Please remember the journalists, who risk their lives to bring us the truth! Remember the truth! And by the way, where is Osama Bin Laden?

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking the world because they would never expect it."

-Unknown

Deadly Attack

-OndineMonet

Memorial Day 2006

"I know not with what weapons WW III will be fought, but WW IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

-Albert Einstein

Will it ever end? Sigh.

-OndineMonet
Golden Gate Cemetery
Presidio
San Francisco, California
2006

National Hamburger Day :) My Challenge With Steven

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience"

-James Beard

Yum!

Today is National Hamburger day, and the third time in a row I have celebrated the day with my good friend Steven, author of the blog, "(sometimes) photoblog." Each year we challenge each other to capture the perfect burger in photo...and taste. Steven is a fabulous photographer...and from the photos of the burgers he has cooked up in the past...A fabulous BBQ master as well. I suspect he might be a gourmet. LOL. My hamburgers would probably not be considered gourmet...but they are tasty.

1 1/2 lb. Ground Beef

1pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix

7 dashes Lea & Perrins Worcester Sauce

6 Lg. Mushrooms chopped

1 Red Onion, sliced

Condiments to taste.

This year we decided to have potato salad, and fruit salad for our side dishes, and put Swiss cheese on the burger as opposed to our usual imported Cheddar. It was mighty tasty. Just ask Elvis! :) Thanks Steven...see ya next year for year 4! :) Go see what wonderfulness Steven has grilled up this year!

-OndineMonet
"Yum"
Berkeley, California
May 27, 2006
6:00 PM

10 Things That Make Me Say... "Life Is Good!"

"Happiness comes of from the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed."

-Storm Jameson

How fun! My friend Suzanne has tagged me for a new meme. As you know, I love doing memes, especially ones that lift my spirits and make me feel warm and thankful inside. That's what this one does. It's called, 10 Things That Make Me Say, "Life Is Good." Thank you for thinking of me Suzanne, and away we go...

1. The long drives I take once a year or so, to get specialty items. Such as apple juice from the Apple farm or chocolate from Ingeborgs, in Solvang, California. It makes something as common as chocolate all the more special when I get it at a place that is special to me. My new favorite place to get chocolate ice cream is at the corner of Haight/Ashbury. Just simple chocolate ice-cream cone from this Ben & Jerry's, is all I need to make me a very happy girl.

2. My blogging friends. The people I have met through my blog/journal have inspired me, have given me hope, made life a lot less lonely, and they have given me a lot more courage to face those day to day struggles that we all have. You are more then blogging friends...you are true friends. :) Smile, you know who you are! :)

3. Art. I just love viewing all kinds of art. Be it the public art on display throughout the Bay Area, that I have been showing you this past year, or the art in the galleries I visit. Even the natural art that nature tends to display is joyful to me. All I know is that it calms my nerves, and warms me up inside. Life is art...isn't it?

4. Finally I have a diagnosis. I hadn't been feeling good for a long time, finally my doctor moved to a different Kaiser facility and I was given a new doctor who did the proper tests and found out what I had. Fibromyalgia. It's painful, but I am learning to deal with it. Which leads me to #5 on this list.

5. T'ai Chi, Meditation, Yoga. Since I began studying and practicing these principles this past few months, I have felt much better inside and out. I have some very painful days, and not all of them work together all the time, but each one is helpful in it's won way. Without them, I think I would have given up photography all together.

6. My cat Elvis, especially when he wakes me up with paw pads and kisses. So sweet. I LOVE that cat!

7. I LOVE my camera. :)

8. Free rock concerts on the beach. They are about to begin again in Santa Cruz, and I can't wait. :)

9. Fresh fruit and vegetable from my garden. I can't wait for this autumn, when everything will be ready for harvest. I have already started creating some recipe ideas. :)

10. Cooking. I LOVE cooking. Italian is a specialty of mine, but I have started branching out into other types of cuisine as well.

Okie, dokie...there's my 10 things. Now I think I will tag, Karen, Pat, Charley, Patrick, Duane, and Steven. I hope you will pay a visit to Suzanne's journal and read her list. She is an awesome lady and friend. I enjoy her very much. Thanks darlin!

-OndineMonet
"Yum"
Haight/Ashbury
San Francisco, California
May 25th, 2006
Afternoon

Worth A 1,000 Words

"As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasures by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs."

-Sam Abell

On Thursday of last week, I grabbed my camera and took a ride into San Francisco, to visit the neighborhood of Haight/Ashbury. During the late 1960's and early 1970's the Haight was the place to go if one wanted to become upclose and personal with the counter-culture movement. Flower children handing out free flowers, and preaching, "love not war," could be found all along the neighborhood. The Grateful Dead lived at 710 Ashbury street in an old Victorian which is just a half a block up from the famous corner. It still stands there today, and as I passed by it the other day, I could almost imagine the ghost of Jerry Garcia standing in the window of the top floor, looking down with approval, and amusement at how the street has evolved over the years, yet still retained it's unique free spirit. One can find organic grocery stores, T-shirt shops, record shops, flower stands, and believe it or not, at the corner of Haight/Ashbury is a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream shop, facing right up the street toward Jerry Garcia's house, as if it were facing Mecca.

If you are a photography enthusiast such as myself, the Haight is the place to come on a warm, late spring day, like last Thursday, camera in hand. What would inspire you the most might be the intense color everywhere, from the clothing in the store windows, to the clothing on the people you will encounter. This is not a black and white world. It is intense and alive, and the neighborhood energy wore off quickly onto me as I just experienced it with an open mind. What some might call weird, I called creative. Like in the above photo. How often do you find a pair of 8ft legs, stylishly attired in fishnet stockings, making a getaway from the upper floor of a Victorian house...in the middle of the day no less! LOL. And this was just one example of the perfect shots that were available all around me. I will be sharing more of them over the next week or so.

I chose this image first, to remind folks about the whimsy of photography...and the world. But whimsy is only one way to look at things. One of the reasons I enjoy co-hosting the Round Robin Photo Challenges with Karen, is the wide variety of creativity and interpretations I see from the each of the members who participate in any given challenge. The very last one we did, "Reflections," had our biggest turn-out yet, and also one of the best examples of the range of interpretations as well. So say for example, our subject had been, "How Your Camera Views The World," perhaps some would have viewed my photo of the 8ft long legs, protruding from the window above me, as crass or insulting to women. And that is great, because visual art is supposed to inspire emotion, thought, and feeling in the observer.

We at the Round Robin Challenges, have recently passed a bit of a milestone. We are now over a year old, and we have recently welcomed our newest member, which makes us at 50 friends all sharing our view of the world through our cameras. Taking pictures is not just my passion, it's my bliss. It makes me feel free, and alive. It helps me focus outside myself, and away from whatever might be hurting me. I have a dear friend who says I take my best photographs when I am hurting the most. I don't know about that, but what I do know is that art, and the pursuit of the beauty in the world does make me want to see everyday, with a kind of hunger that is difficult to explain.

I can visit the Golden Gate Bridge everyday of my life, and never quite see it the same way, but I am always amazed by it, and I always wish to be near it, just after I walk away. There is just something about the way it looks, as the fog is rolling through it, that makes me feel as if I am finally at home. I would be lost if I couldn't capture a photo of it, to remember, and maybe share with others it's beauty, and spirit. My friend Duane, author of the journal, "sotto voce USA," reminded me that today, is the anniversary of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, that makes it is a special day indeed. Perhaps I will take the camera, a picnic lunch, and drive to the Marin Headlands, to sit, and enjoy it's birthday. Like at any birthday party...the camera should always be there to capture the joy of another year in the life.

-OndineMonet
"Worth A 1,000 Words"
Haight/Ashbury
San Francisco, California
May 25, 2006
Afternoon

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #113: Travel Books

"We read to know we are not alone."

-C.S. Lewis

Weekend Assignment #113: Someone you know is traveling. Suggest a book or two for them to read on their trip. If at all possible, pick a book from the last couple years. Also, keep in mind that it's meant to be a recreational book, i.e,. they're not really reading to change their life, here, just to have fun.

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)

I really like the above quote from C. S. Lewis, because books have been a constant companion of mine since I was a small child. All those different worlds, all those different lives. I could go to a million different places, and even travel through time, and I would never be lonely... as long as I had my books.

Oddly enough, when I fly on a plane, I never bring along a book. Flying makes me much too nervous to concentrate. But when I have to travel a long distance by car, I always bring a book or two with me. As an example, when I drive down to Santa Barbara, which about a 350 mile trip down HWY 101 from the Bay Area, I always bring a book to read while I relax on the beach. I am hoping to take a drive late next month for my birthday, and I have two books sitting in my book bag waiting for the trip.

The Lives Of The Muses (Non-Fiction)
By Francine Prose

The Lives Of The Muses is a book about the women behind the artist. The lives of such ladies as , Yoko Ono, Gala Dali, and Alice Liddle, who was the inspiration for Alice In Wonderland. One particular aspect of the book I enjoyed was the representation of these ladies as collaborators, as well as providing inspiration to the artists, such as ballerina Suzanne Farrell and choreographer George Balanchine. "There is no ideal muse, but rather as many variations on the theme as there are individual women who have had the luck, or misfortune, to find their destiny conjoined with that of a particular artist." It is a fascinating read.

Every Breath You Take (Fiction)
By Judith McNaught

Judith McNaught is one of my very favorite authors, and this book is a terrific example of why. A well done mystery that combines some romance, with some very good chilling moments. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a well paced, well written light thriller. I have already read it once, and will be looking forward to revisiting it again this summer. :)

"A home without books, is a body without a soul."

-Marcus Tullis Cicero

-OndineMonet
"Books"
May 25th, 2006
Berkeley, California
Evening

Results Of The Poll About Blogging

"I do not run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead I run toward it, because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet."

-Nadia Comaneci

Here is the results of the poll I ran last week, on what we find most challenging in regards to blogging. LOL. As you can see it is a bit small. Sigh. You see, technology has been kicking my...my...my...patooty today, and so the full sized result box is now barely large enough to read. But that isn't the least of what technology has done to me today. LOL.

Other assorted snafus that occurred included a strange delay in emails I sent actually reaching their intended destinations. Some as much as 4 hours. I have no idea where they went first, or why there was an Internet holding pattern, but it happened. I am tempted from now on, to only send emails from my GMail address and not use AOL at all. Sheesh! It kinda makes me wonder if the OHS isn't spying on the secret recipe I sent to my Auntie Amanda in Virginia. It was just a recipe for Garden Lasagne. Although no one makes lasagne like moi. LOL

Out of 11 total votes counted, 6 of us, 56%, chose "The Technical Issues That Come Up," as our number one most challenging aspect of blogging. LOL. That doesn't surprise me a bit. Today for example, I wasn't able to post comments for a time on the AOL journals that participated in the Round Robin Challenges. It resolved itself rather quickly, but I only had a few minutes to try and reach everyone who was up and posted. I still haven't visited all the Robins, so if I haven't been by yet...I will be by soon. Blogger, by the way, has been acting up as well, so leaving comments through them has been challenging as well. Jeepers. What's a girl to do? Sigh. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. LOL.

-OndineMonet

Steven's Feline Friday: Sing It Elvis :)

"Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I can't help it."

-Elvis Presley

Sometimes people ask me, why I named my cat Elvis. The above photos tells the whole story. He looked so much like the "King" himself when he was a little guy, and he still does. He even enjoys rock music. LOL. No kidding. One of our best laughs, came one day when we put a CD of Elvis on the player, and about half way through we noticed he was no longer playing with his siblings, he was standing in place, shaking his hips. LOL. I am not kidding, it was like Elvis Presley had just been reincarnated into the our new little kitten! Unfortunately, that is also when we realized that if that were true it meant that Elvis really was dead. Something I try real hard not to believe. LOL. This is Elvis the early years, but just so you know, my kitty is now over 30 pounds...so we also have Elvis the later years. Except my Elvis has 9 lives, and doesn't do catnip in his sandbox! LOL.

My friend Steven hosts a great little weekly meme, he calls, "Feline Friday." It's a lot of fun and a great way to show off your favorite feline. Pay a visit to his journal, "(sometimes) photoblog" for all the details.

And now a musical interlude...

A Little Less Conversation
By Elvis

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite, and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby

Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
It's a groovy night and I can show you to use it
Come along with me an put your mind at ease

A little less conversation, a little less action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite, and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
satisfy me baby

Come on baby I'm tired of talking
grab your coat and let's start walking
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's gettin late, gettin' upset waitin' around

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite, a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby.

-OndineMonet
"Sweet Baby Elvis"
Berkeley, California
May, 1997
Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Reflections

"One of the greatest moments in anybodies developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide himself, but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is."

-Norman Vincent Peale

About a year ago, I decided to go and take some photos at Cliff House in San Francisco. Cliff House has a rich history, dating back to San Francisco at the turn of the century. It sits on a gorgeous spot,the Great Highway, and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. There is all kinds of plant life growing along the cliffs beneath it and the bird life is simply fascinating to watch. With the added attraction of Camera Obscura, one could spend the whole day there and not become bored. On this particular day, I was taking specific interest in the many types of birds flying around... this little guy especially.

I must have spent an hour that day photographing the birds flying, resting on the cliffs, and walking in the sand, but this was the only bird that day that seemed to take notice of his own reflection. He would take a step... and his shadow would follow. Back and forth he walked, but he couldn't seem to shake his reflection. LOL. What a show it was. LOL. I enjoy watching animals, especially when I can be there as they seem to be discovering new things. Now this may not have been a new experience for him, but it was for me. To just sit, take my time with the camera. Somehow, I did a little reflecting that day as well, about why I was being so manic with the camera. It was a good day. Reflection is good. :)

Thank you goes to Cheryl, author of the journals, "Welcome To My World," and "Life Through My Lens." This was an awesome challenge to be sure. The Round Robin Photo Challenges are open to anyone who would like to play along. It's easy, all you have to do is make a stop over at the official Round Robin blog, read the ***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play**** and the entry for our current challenge, and you are all set. There is still time to get in on this challenge, you have up to one week to post your entry, but we do suggest that if you post on the day of the challenge, you will have the best chance of having your entry be seen. To see the entries by the other Round Robin participants, simply click on the links below. Enjoy!

"Seeing yourself as you want to be, is the key to personal growth."

-Unknown

"Little Bird Reflecting"
Cliff House
San Francisco, California
Late Spring, 2005
Noon

Round Robin Participants

1. Cheryl... "Welcome to My World," "Life Through My Lens." POSTED!

2. Karen... "Outpost Mavarin" POSTED!

3. Carly... "Ellipsis... Suddenly Carly" POSTED!

4. Valorie... "Retrospect USA" POSTED!

5. Sachin... "SacWorks" ***Welcome New Robin***

6. Deslily... "Here There and Everywhere 2nd Edition"
"Here There and Everywhere" BOTH POSTED!

7. Kimberleigh... "I Shaved My Legs For This?" POSTED!

8. Erika... "Stealing Time"

9. Nancy... "Nancy Luvs Pix" POSTED!

10. Julie... "Julie's Web Journal" POSTED!

11. T. J. ... "Every Picture Tells A Story" POSTED!

12. Suzanne... "Suzanne R's Life" POSTED!

13. Derek... "Through My Eyes" POSTED!

14. Tammy... "The Daily Warrior" POSTED!

15. Connie... "Moments To Remember"

16. Steven... "(sometimes) photoblog" POSTED!

17. Deb... "Sassy's EYE"

18. Dorn... "Through the Eyes of the Beholder" POSTED!

19. Steve... "PAPARRAZI BY PROXY" ***Welcome New Robin*** POSTED!

20. Betty... "My Day My Interests" POSTED!

21. Duane... "sotto voce USA" and "sotto voce" BOTH POSTED!

22. Tess... "First Digital Photos" POSTED!

23. rRose... "WAIT-NOTYET" POSTED!

24. Becky... "Where Life Takes You" POSTED!

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Nap Time!

"If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters."

-Jim Davis (Attributed)

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Show off your favorite place to nap, that's not your bed. Couches, hammocks, recliners... let's see where you doze in repose.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

I took a sleep hygiene course a while back, because I have been a lifelong sufferer of insomnia. I learned a lot of very valuable skills for dealing with sleeplessness, one of the most important being that when I do lie down to sleep, it should always be in a bed. Not a couch, not a chair... a bed. Well, I tried to follow that suggestion, and I found that it was true. Once I stopped trying to sleep a full eight hours on my sofa, and actually got into my bed to sleep I did a whole lot better. My sofa was comfy, but nothing replaced the routine of sleeping in my bedroom.

Another useful hint I learned from that class, was the importance of the midday nap. For that, my the instructions weren't so rigid, in fact it was suggested that by taking a 30 minute nap as a refresher, it could help with trying to sleep for extended periods, such as the solid 8 hours that is recommended. The instructor of the course said that a nap could be taken anywhere, as long as it was no longer then 30 minutes in length. I have found that I don't have a choice whether or not I listen to my body about sleep, it tells me loud and clear what it needs. Since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I have learned the importance of sleep in making the rest of my body less achy. So, in addition to meditation, Qi Gong, and T'ai Chi, I also take a 30 minute nap as needed.

I usually sleep by my pool in the summer months, and sometimes well into autumn and winter, but this year it just hasn't been possible because of unseasonably cold temperatures and record rainfall. So, when I am in the house I take naps in my bed, but on days like today when it was clear and warm, I like to sleep under my pear tree in my back yard. I have a comfy, cozy blanket, my favorite vanilla scented pillow, and all the fresh air I can breathe. Most of the time, Elvis will cuddle up to me. He is my protector. LOL. It is a good feeling to hear his purr and feel his paw pads on my face when he decides I have been resting long enough. He is the sweetest alarm clock I have ever had. Ahhh. Rest and renew.

-OndineMonet
"A Sleep Place"
Berkeley, California
May 22, 2006
Afternoon

Governor Who?

"We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he is never a candidate."

-Frank McKinney

I read something in the newspaper yesterday (Monday) that truly put my nerves on edge. According to an article, in the Daily Review (Alameda Newspaper Group ) it might be likely that our next governor will be voted into office based on his being recognizable rather then on their merit as a politician. The article explained that the two men currently running for the top position on the Democratic ticket, Phil Angelides, and Steve Westly are relatively unknown to most California voters despite the fact that currently, Phil Angelides holds the office of State Treasurer and Westly is State Controller.

Recent polls have found that while California Democrats are quite vocal about their general displeasure in the job performance of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, they have at the same time been somewhat lacking in indicating who will be chosen in two weeks, at the upcoming June 3rd primary, as a Democratic alternative. Both men have been running political ads for a few months now, and the heat is certainly being turned up as far as the political dirtiness that inevitably takes place. Both men had promised to not run any negative ads, but it didn't take long for that to change. Angelides is accusing Westly, a dot.com millionaire of trying to buy his bid for office, while Westly is countering by attacking Angelides's tax plan for California. According to the article, political analysts believe the attack campaigns, on both sides, will be getting worse over the next few weeks. I don't think I needed an analyst to tell me that.

The thing I have been trying my best to do, since the beginning of the year, is to figure out who will be the best person to put my faith in as a candidate. I tend to ignore, or sometimes completely block out, all campaigning commercials when they air on TV or the radio. I got burned out on all the mudslinging back when Reagan was president. I am sure I am not alone in that revulsion, so maybe I am not alone in the practice of tuning them out. Maybe that is why so many Californians seem to be taking an apathic approach to the upcoming primary. I can certainly understand it, and yet at the same time, it leaves me a bit perplexed.

I hear a lot about how important it is to get out and vote, and yet the same people who embrace that ideal apparently don't take a lot of interest in the election that places the alternative to the sitting governor on the ballot. If we end up with a lackluster candidate on the ballot, against someone we also don't believe in, who do we have to blame? I find it hard to believe that in the computer age, we don't have time to research who may be in charge of decisions involving California's environmental concerns, it's education budget, and it's taxes, just to name a few issues. What better way to deal with politicians, then to send a clear message about who and what we will tolerate in a candidate?

Tell me, do you feel a certain amount of voter apathy as the mid-term elections approach? Do you feel that the almost daily onslaught of negativity in the media regarding the Bush administration and the other various scandals involving elected officials in the news, adds to the general feeling of malaise regarding voting? Do you do any research into the candidates in an election, separate from news reports, either in print, or on broadcast news? If a candidate represents at least most of what you are looking for, yet begins running highly negative ads about his opponent, would you change your mind about who you voted for, based on that negativity? Tell me your thoughts.

-OndineMonet
"California Capitol Building"
Sacramento, California
November 2005
Afternoon

California Elections and Voter Information
Alameda County Registrar of Voters
Angelides For Governor
Westly For Governor
Rock The Vote