Round Robin Challenge: The Road Less Traveled

"A person without a sense of humor, is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road."

-Henry Ward Beecher

"The Road Less Traveled"

I just love this photo. I know some of you have seen it before, but I thought it might be fun to show it off again. :) I first found this street about 10 years ago, when I was out for a ride in the East Bay hills. I thought is was so amusing. If you look very close, you will see, one sign says, "Not A Through Street," while the other sign says, "One Way." This is so metaphoric. Now tell me, how many "roads" have you gone down in life, that you wouldn't allow you a way back? If the folks who live at the top of this hill drive up the hill to their own homes, they would be breaking the law to come back down the hill. So going strictly by the letter of the law, there is now way out! LOL. Now I am assuming that the local police doesn't actually enforce this certain legality... but personally... I wouldn't push it. I imagine this is a true, "Road Less Traveled." :)

Our newest member of the Round Robins, Vicki, author of the blog, "Maraca," has chosen "The Road Less Traveled," for our last challenge. Well, actually, it's not our last challenge, it is just the last challenge we will be doing in the sidebar rotation format. If you have been paying attention, you already know that beginning at the end of the summer, the Round Robin Challenges will be doing things a little different. We will no longer be following the list of Robins on the sidebar to find our challenges. We are now asking all Round Robin members to submit their ideas for upcoming challenges. Everything else is the same. Karen, Steven and I will still be taking turns bringing you a new challenge every other Wednesday. All you have to do is send us your ideas, subjects or themes. You can submit as many times as you want, and if we use your idea we will still feature you and your blog that week. Come on Robins... we can't do it without you... send in your ideas! :)

Be sure to visit all of our participants for our current challenge...

Linking List

1. Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

2. Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
POSTED!

3. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

4. Janet... Fond Of Photography
POSTED!

5. Renee... Ode to the Muse
POSTED!

6. Dallas... Dallas Miao'd **Welcome New Member**


7. Brandon... A Visual Experiment **Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

8. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

9. Kerrin... A New Day, A New Photo
POSTED!

10. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

11. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
POSTED!






-OndineMonet
"The Road Less Traveled"
Hayward, California
Circa 1997

Hey Now, You're An All Star, Get Your Game On, Go Play

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

-Yogi Berra

San Francisco has been all a buzz lately. Well, for the last week or so anyway. Tonight is the All Star Game, at At&T park. There was a lot of activities for fans, this past weekend. The city is decorated with banners and last night, after the Home Run Derby, there was a pretty nice fireworks display. That bright light in the center of the above photo, is the ballpark, all lit up. The water next to the park, McCovey Cove, was filled with fans in small boats and kayaks just waiting for one of the home runs to make it into the water. It was freezing last night, so my deep respect really goes out to those who lasted the whole time out on the bay. I took this shot from Treasure Island... and let me tell you... it was COLD. It always throws me that San Francisco can be so cold and windy, even in the middle of July. If you ever come for a visit, don't forget your coat, no matter what time of year you come! :) I love it here.

So Tell Me, Who Do You Root For In The All Star Game? American League? Or National League?


-OndineMonet
The View Of The Ballpark
And
McCovey Cove
San Francisco, California
Bay Bridge
July 10th, 2007
9:45 PM

Music Please (A Musical Meme Sent To Me From Laura)

"To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself. Incredible and inconceivable."

-Aaron Copeland

Yea! I have a new meme to play, y'all know my fondness for memes. :) In fact, I have two new memes for this week. One sent to me from my friend Laura, of the blog, "Adventures In Juggling," and one sent to me from another good friend, Patrick, of "Patrick's Place." I am going to do Laura's meme first, and Patrick's meme later in the week. This is a busy week for me, and we have a Round Robin Challenge coming up this Wednesday, so Patrick, look for the meme you tagged me to do, this coming Thursday! :) So now... on with the Music Meme...

Here are the rules

1. Name between 5 & 10 songs that have made an impact on your life. I'll leave it up to you to decide how many you wish to describe.

2. Pass it onto five other people with a link back to your own post and this one as the original.

Click HERE to see Laura's original entry. :) Thank you Sweetie! :)

My Music List

1. Here Comes The Sun, By The Beatles
It was the first song I remember hearing on the radio as a little girl. I remember singing it over and over as a child, and I also remember that it always made me smile... even to this day. :)

2. I Saw The Light, By Todd Rundgren
As you know, one time, a long time ago, I fell in love at first sight. I remember every thing about it, even the fact that this song was playing on the radio. Well, it wasn't meant to be, but Mr. November did become my friend. It's a fond memory, of a profound moment, a long, long time ago. :)

3. Groovy Kind Of Love, By Phil Collins
Alan and I fell in love to this song. :) We enjoyed it so much that we had it played at out wedding, as our parents walked down the aisle. It's still our song. :)

4. The David Duchovny Song, By Bree Sharp
You knew I had to include this song... right? Oh how I lust after that man! LOL. Sighhhhhhhhhhhh. Hey David, like the song says..."I'll be waiting... in Nevada." :)

5. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, The Ramones
What can I say? It really, really rocks... and appeals to my wild side, which is fading fast. ROFLMAO! God, middle age is soooo much fun. :)

6. Prelude in C Minor, By Chopin
I really enjoy classical music. Always have. I put this piece on when I am feeling a little lonely, there is just something about it which makes me feel good inside. It's romantic, but a blue kind of romantic that makes it seem a little bit ok, to allow myself remember loves from the past. Sigh... I guess it's a girl thing.

7. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, By Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff wrote pure romance with this piece, it was a perfect choice for the haunting tune in the movie, "Somewhere In Time." I had heard it years before the movie came out, but since hearing it in the film, I always associate it with Christopher Reeve, and Jane Seymour in the roles of Richard and Elyse. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

8. Soak Up The Sun, By Sheryl Crow
I like this song for a pretty simple reason... it reminds me to stop taking life so damn serious, and have some fun. You know? ;)

9. That's Just What You Are, By Aimee Mann
I swear this song was written about every man, Alan and Elvis included, that I have ever met. Ladies, you can find the lyrics here. Go have a look and tell me if it reminds you of anyone you know? LOL.

10. Amas Veritas/Practical Magic, on the Practical Magic Soundtrack.
I loved the book, but I loved the movie just as much. :) This particular song is so lovely and so vivid that it is what I imagine autumn would sound like if it have an official tune. I love playing it, it is warmth and color and everything autumn is to me. I sound crazy I know, but it truly is sensual in every sense of the word. The whole soundtrack is wonderful, but this song makes the whole thing come alive. I love getting lost in the notes. :) You really must hear it sometime. :)

Okie Dokie, that's it for me. I now need to tag five people to play along. I usually leave it open for folks to join in, or not as the spirit moves them. So here is what I will do, I will send out some emails to some folks, as to not put them on the spot, and if they play, I will ask them to come back here and leave a link in the comment thread for this entry. If there is anyone else out there who wants to play, feel free to join in. Everyone is welcome! :)

Thanks again, Laura! :)

-OndineMonet
"Notes At Rest"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
July, 2007
Afternoon

Bumble Bee Tongues

"For many 19th century artists, the usual reaction to photography was no reaction at all. They simply ignored it. But not Degas. He was deeply interested in the new medium, not just as a tool that could help with his drawings and paintings, but as an art form in its own right."

-Edward Saywell

Can you believe it? It was cloudy and kind of cold yesterday, at least I was cold. Elvis was by my side most of the day, I think he knows when I am not 100%. Sigh. I have been having nightmares again. Nightmares are the most inconvenient things. It's so strange how we can be sound asleep, and yet transported forward or backward in time, to places we have long since forgotten about, visiting with people we know we will never see again. The surreal can seem so vivid. Like I said, nightmares are inconvenient.

That's why I take pictures. Photography allows me to step into the surreal with a certain amount of control. I love taking photos of gardens, because there is so much going on, and everything changes in a blink. It takes a great deal of concentration to photograph butterflies and bumble bees, especially on a warm, sunny day. It's a good thing, but it is definitely a challenging thing. I don't know... my mind gets completely filled with whatever scene is in front of me. The flowers, the things with wings, the sky... whatever. Everything else gets blocked out. At least it seems that way. Maybe that is why I have nightmares when I haven't been particularly active with the camera.

Of course, it might also mean it wasn't a good idea to eat 8 Jalapeno Poppers at 3:00 in the morning. LOL. Jeepers, that is why I dreamed the hills that surround the house I live in were on fire! Could be. Or it could have just been my mind reminding me of my lifelong fear of fire. I have conquered a good many fears and phobias. I took charge of my life, and eliminated panic attacks from ruining my life, but I have never been able to cure my fear of fire. I try to photograph fire when I can. When Alan barbecues, I am right there with the camera, snapping away. Still... the fear continues. Maybe my dream was saying, "Get over it girl."

I used to be absolutely scared to death of bumble bees. Now I seek them out, so much so that recently I was on my stomach in Golden Gate Park, photographing some bumbles that were enjoying some dandelions. LOL. I had to laugh at myself, because it was just a few years ago that I would have left the park, for fear of bees. Silly of me, because look how beautiful they are. They have such interesting lines, and who knew they have tongues? :) It never occurred to me they would, until I was licked by a butterfly last year at the Conservatory of Flowers. LOL. It seems I had a little bit of maple syrup on my hand, left over from a pancake breakfast I had eaten earlier that day. Talk about surreal... being licked by a butterfly, is surreal! Almost as surreal as watching an opossum use it's thumbs. But that is a whole other entry. LOL. It's not supposed to be cold in July... is it?

-OndineMonet
"The Bumble Bee's Tongue"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Late June, 2007

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #173: Share A Joke

"Nothing is better than the unintended humor of reality."

-Steve Allen

Weekend Assignment #173: Share a joke. Make it funny. Also, since I'll want to link back to them, and I am, after all, but a cog in the great AOL machine, keep it reasonably clean and free of ethnic/sexual put-downs. You know.

Put the joke up on your blog or journal and then come back and leave a link in the comment thread (if you don't have a journal/blog, you can leave the joke in the comment thread. But remember, if you have a journal/blog, the point is to let the massive attendance of this blog push people to your online home, with fame and fortune to follow!)

Extra Credit: So, ever been to Kansas City? Because that's where I'm going.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

Every once in a while John Scalzi chooses this subject for one of his Weekend Assignments. I rather like this subject, and posting jokes, because humor is... well... fun. Life gets way too serious at times, so thank you Blogfather, for the fun assignment for this week! I thought and thought about what kind of joke I wanted to tell, and what might be an unusual and creative way to present it, and then it hit me like a bolt of lightning... how about posting a joke by way of a YouTube video? So, I grabbed my cat Elvis, and recruited him as my audience, and then I was all set.

The problem was, Elvis wasn't in the best of moods. He had to pay a visit to Dr. "B" and have some more blood drawn to see where his blood sugar levels are. We are still working on getting him back to his old self. I will have a full update on him, later this weekend. He is a little less animated then usual, and he and I have a lot of work to go with our video making, but for it being our very first try I think we did ok. :) The video runs for 30 seconds, which isn't very long, so if you just have a little patience while it loads, you will get to meet my cat Elvis. :)

Here is an additional joke to make you laugh. Enjoy!

Einstein Dies And Goes To Heaven

Einstein dies and goes to Heaven. At the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter tells him,

"You look like Einstein, but you have NO idea the lengths that some people will go to to sneak into Heaven. Can you prove who you really are?"

Einstein ponders for a few seconds and asks, "Could I have a blackboard and some chalk?"

Saint Peter snaps his fingers and a blackboard and chalk instantly appear. Einstein proceeds to describe with arcane mathematics and symbols his theory of relativity.

Saint Peter is suitably impressed. "You really ARE Einstein!" he says. "Welcome to Heaven."

The next to arrive is Picasso. Once again, Saint Peter asks for credentials. Picasso asks, "Mind if I use that blackboard and chalk?"

Saint Peter says, "Go ahead." Picasso erases Einstein's equations and sketches a truly stunning mural with just a few strokes of chalk.

Saint Peter claps. "Surely you are the great artist you claim to be!" he says. "Come on in!" The Saint Peter looks up and sees George W. Bush. Saint Peter scratches his head and says, Einstein and Picasso both managed to prove their identity. How can you prove yours?"

George W. Bush looks bewildered and says, "Who are Einstein and Picasso?"

Saint Peter sighs, and says, "Come on in, George."

Extra Credit: Nope, never been to Kansas City. Nope. Never. Not even once. Don't think I have ever flown over it in an airplane. Nope. :) Maybe someday I will. I would like to take a long road trip sometime. :)

-OndineMonet
YouTube Video
Elvis And The Bush Administration Light Bulb Joke

Let's Go Down To The Kwik-E-Mart

"Owww look at me Marge, I'm making people happy! I'm the magical man, from Happy Land, who lives in a gumdrop house on Lolly Pop Lane! By the way, I am being sarcastic."

-Homer Simpson

How cool is this? As a promotion for the new 20th Century Fox film, The Simpsons Movie, eleven 7-11 stores in the U.S. and one in Canada, have been temporarily made over as Quik-E-Marts, just like the one Bart Simpson gets his nachos, Krusty O's and Buzz Cola at. Here in the Bay Area, Mountain View to be exact, was a 7-11 lucky enough to be chosen as one of those special 11 stores. :) A few days ago, Alan and I took the long ride down the peninsula, to see what the hubbub was all about. It was a very cool experience, if not a little on the surreal side. As we pulled up there were about 20 or so people, with cameras of all kinds, taking a ton of photos of the outside of the building, which had been completely transformed. Smiles all around.

I had a great time taking photos of the novelty displays, but watching the crowd was just as enjoyable. One thing happened that was unexpected, while I was waiting in line to pay for my Slushie... I mean Slurpee... I mean Slushie, a very nice looking man, who bore an extreme resemblance to David Duchovny, tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "Excuse me, do you know why everyone is taking pictures of the sandwich and cola displays?" My first instinct, before I looked up was to say, "Hey buddy... where you been?" But when I looked at him, and saw the face of the almost exact Davide look-a-like I kind of froze. Eventually I got the words out to explain it was a movie promotion, but it was all very surreal... and lots of fun! The YouTube clip above, is a movie trailer for The Simpson's Movie, which comes out on July 27th. I am kind of looking forward to it. How about you, do you plan to go see it?

By the way, Karen, over at Outpost Mavarin had her own encounter with The Simpsons this past week. Go see her entry here.

-OndineMonet
"The Simpsons At The Kwik-E-Mart"
7-11
Pear Avenue
Mountain View, California
July 3, 2007
Afternoon

Moments From Last Night

"Photography, alone of the arts, seems perfected to serve the desire humans have for a moment... this very moment... to stay."

-Sam Abell

I needed a break this year from my usual holiday routine of finding the perfect vantage point along the bay, setting up the tripod, and working toward the perfect shot of the 4th of July fireworks that San Francisco displays each year. One downside to photography, is that I usually miss the show, while focusing and working hard to achieve something special with the camera. My shoulder is still giving me a great deal of trouble, so I decided this year to be a spectator, instead of photographer. :) When I set out to get that "perfect shot" I take things very seriously, which means it doesn't leave a lot of time to "oooh" and "Ahhh" at the wonderful shapes and colors of the fireworks.



When I am being serious with the camera, I work really hard. I set things up, and I use what I have learned in meditation to completely drown out all distractions. I can get a little too serious at times. With my shoulder in pain, it was time for a break. So this year, while I was not in photographer mode, I still had the urge to try my best at finding that one special moment, so I would be able to keep it forever. I guess photography is in my soul at this point, pain or no pain :) Anyway, here are a couple moments from last evening, as we drove along the Embarcadero, listening to Norah Jones on the car stereo, watching the fireworks as they rose above the city lights. Oooh, Ahhhh! :)

-OndineMonet
Fireworks
Embarcadero
San Francisco, California
July 4th, 2007
9:30 PM

Independence Day 2007

"Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong."

-James Bryce

I wish you a safe, happy and relaxing Independence Day! :)


Declaration Of Independence

U.S. Constitution

Flag Etiquette




-OndineMonet
San Francisco, 2007

Life In The Bay Area

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

-Kahil Gibran

Sometimes, the nicest part about life in the Bay Area, is the rich availability of natural beauty. I am minutes from the beach, and the mountains, and both provide all the things which soothe my soul, and inspire my creativity. Soft sand beneath my toes, and a cool ocean breeze, or the soft petals of an amazing summer rose, grown right in my own yard. I am at home. I love it here. :)

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and the music in it's roar:
I love not man the less, but nature more.

-Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

-OndineMonet
Pacifica, California
June 27, 2007
Afternoon

IMPEACH NOW!

"I respect the verdict. But I have concluded the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive, therefore I am commuting the portion that required Mr. Libby to spend thirty months in prison."

-George W. Bush, July 2, 2007

In the above YouTube clip, Katie Couric, of CBS News, says that "even people in power with friends in high places, are not above the law." Kaite, I was watching you that night... and I was hoping you were right. As it turns out, George Bush, running true to his selfish form, commuted the sentence of I. Scooter Libby today, because he felt that 30 months in prison for lying to a Grand Jury, obstructing justice and committing what amounts to an act of treason, by leaking to the press the name an active CIA agent, was "excessive." Is this what justice in America has come to? Where is the justice for Valerie Wilson? The timing for this is remarkable, it's only 2 days before Independence Day. How sad for America. George Bush needs to be IMPEACHED! Dick Cheney, needs to be IMPEACHED! NOW!

IF NOT NOW WHEN? WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

Libby Sentenced To 30 Months


Libby Sentence Commuted


-OndineMonet
7/2/07 3:38 PM

An Early Summer's Day Life Fantasy...

"Art is a shadow of what a person is thinking... a small glimpse of what they hold inside. Little secrets, regrets, joys... every line has it's own meaning."

-Sarah, Los Cerros Middle School, 1999

I have decided to experiment with displaying my photos with frames. I used to use frames from time to time, but I came to think of the frame as a distraction. Lately though, mostly with my florals, my photographs seem a little too stark, so I took a look inside my photo editing program for frames that would enhance my photos, without drawing the eyes away from the subject. I like this frame, because I think it looks a lot like a window frame. It kind of provokes a daydream in me.

A Season Ago...

As I let my imagination go, I can see myself looking at these flowers blooming outside my bedroom window. I breathe in deeply, and as I exhale, I allow my mind to drift to wherever, and whoever it wants. I can almost hear the sound of wind chimes in the far off distance, or is it a clock tower in a far off village square, playing a summer song, as it's hands strike the hour? Is he thinking of me too? Do days like this remind him of me? Or am I now less than a memory? I smile as I close my eyes and wonder...

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."

-Edgar Allen Poe


-OndineMonet
"A Season Ago"
Berkeley, California
June 29th, 2007
11:00 AM

The Strawberry Full Moon

"A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghosts were created when the first man awoke in the night."

-J.M. Barrie




I love photographing the moon! I haven't taken many photographs of it this year however, so I decided a little earlier this this evening, to step out into my garden and see what the moon and the stars were up to. June's full moon is nicknamed the "Strawberry Moon." The larger photo above, is as it appeared over my garden gate a little while ago, with a nice bit of fog adding some color to the photo, as it was making it's way across the sky. Isn't the color magnificent? I couldn't get the details of the moon as clear as I wanted, without losing some of the details of the trees and the edge of the gate, so I switched to B/W mode, and set it to F 3.5 with x 4.0 on the zoom.

Yesterday, I read an interesting article about an optical illusion that occurs with the moon this weekend. I would like to try for that shot, and my best chance might be tomorrow evening. The conditions are supposed to be very clear. I am also going to try to capture the alignment of Venus and Saturn. It's weatherman says it will be extremely warm and clear here in the Bay Area by mid-week next week, so it should be perfect conditions for doing some evening photography. :) Stay tuned!


*Be sure to click on the top photo, to see it in a larger version. You will be able to see some stars in the photo, in the upper right corner.

Full Moon Names (Farmer's Almanac)

Full Moon Offers Mind An Illusion

-OndineMonet
"June's Strawberry Moon"
Berkeley, California
June 30th, 2007
1o:04 PM

Let Me Eat Cake...

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most, live the longest."

-Father Larry Lorenzoni

Yesterday was a great birthday. It really was. It has, however, been a very busy 3 days and I am officially tired. LOL. We started celebrating last Wednesday, with a trip to Half Moon Bay. Then we went out to claim my free dinner from Red Robin, and my lunch from Straw Hat Pizza, and then I got my hair done yesterday. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it was for me. I get tired easily sometimes, even in the warm summer months. Alan knew I was tired, so he gave me a choice of going out for a fancy/schmancy dinner last night, or staying home and either BBQing, or ordering dinner in. I opted for some Chinese take out. Alan picked it up on his way home from work. He got all my favorites. Crispy Lemon Chicken, Mushroom/Broccoli Beef, BBQ Pork Chow Mein, Pork Fried Rice, and Pork Ribs in Plum sauce. YUMMMMMMM. :) After dinner, we had some birthday cake, which I made myself. I LOVE to cook, and I had been wanting to do some serious baking, so I made myself something special and Elvis helped.

Devil's Food Cake, with fresh strawberry filling. My favorite cake is a Black Forest cake, but chocolate covered strawberries are my favorite decadent indulgence, so I thought it might be yummy as a cake. It was beyond delicious. Alan doesn't really like cake, can you believe it? LOL. But he had a piece of the cake with me, and he went back for seconds, so I think I did well. LOL. The strawberries were so ripe and sweet. We got them when we were in Half Moon Bay a couple days ago, along with some peaches and apricots. I think tomorrow I will make some chocolate dipped fruit to have for dessert. I am also mulling around the idea of making a special ice cream cake for the 4th of July. We'll see. I am pretty sure we will be doing some BBQing, I have an awesome chicken recipe I want to try out. A nice dessert to go with dinner would be a nice touch. Oh my, I can't wait for the fresh veggies in the garden... ahhhh... life is good. :)


Scenes From A Birthday...

Devil's Food Cake with Fresh Strawberries

From Alan and Elvis: Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full" and Norah Jone's "Not Too Late." Both are fabulous CD's.

I decided to get two black, two white, two candy pink and two bright red bras. :) I knew you were on pins and needles about that one! ;)

Another gift from Alan... a balloon bouquet. Love the dragonfly. :)

-OndineMonet
"Carly's Strawberry Decadence Cake"
Berkeley, California
June 29, 2007
Afternoon

It's My 45th Birthday, And I Am Shopping For Boobuliar Reinforcements

"When I was younger, I could remember anything whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember anything but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this, but we all have to do it."

-Mark Twain

Today Is My Birthday...

Someone once asked me, "Carly, do you take your digital camera everywhere?" And I answered... "Yup." LOL. I take it to the doctor, all my doctors, I take it to the grocery store, I take it to my therapy appointments with Sarah, and yes, I take it clothes shopping with me, even if I am shopping for intimates. LOL. "Intimates!" What a strange thing to name the "Unmentionables" department. I thought calling it the "Unmentionables" department made it all so very clear, but calling it the "Intimates" department seems like it should have upscale porn in it. Hmm.

Anyway, one of the reasons I take my digital camera with me, when I go clothes shopping, is to see how the apparel looks if it were to appear in a picture. So I try on a blouse, or a pair of jeans, and then take a picture of myself in the dressing room mirror... just to see if the clothes, and the camera, really do add 5 lbs, or if the hem falls unfortunately, or even if the bustular darts point the wrong way. No more zippered bras for me. Trust me, it only took one, or three, instances of a clothing malfunction in a Starbuck's, aka "The Nipplepsy Incidents Of 2004" to turn this consumer into a Cautious-Reinforcement-Apparel-Purchaser, or C.R.A.P!

There is nothing like listening to your body, when it has something to say. This year my girls, aka my boobs, said "Carly, you really do need to get some new boob hammocks for us. A surge would be good. NOW!" So, It was either listen to the girls, or face their retreat... which wouldn't be good at all. They have been trying to get away from me as it is. It's ok though, they don't go far, when they go missing I know I can always find them bringing up the rear. :) So, it was off to Wal-Mart for me. LOL. I used to buy really expensive underthings, but then one day it occurred to me that Alan is usually the only one who sees them, so I decided to get one or two special things a year, and the rest of the time I would purchase the more affordable varieties at Target, Wal-Mart or online at the Hanes web site, but at Christmas time it's another story.

Every December I treat myself to something fabulous at Victoria's Secret. It makes me feel special. Wearing something fabulous, or maybe even a little naughty, underneath your outer clothing, can make you feel like a million bucks. You know? But for my birthday however, I will probably be feeling a little more like $3.98. ;)

Now, decisions, decisions, which one will I buy? Tune in this weekend to see which of these underthingyboobyslings, my girls decide on. :) Yes... I will provide pictures. :) By the way, if you are one of my lurkers, today would be a great day to say hello. Give me a shout... Just say "HI!" :) Or sing "Happy Birthday" to me. Come on, don't be shy. You know you want to. :) It's just me. :)

-OndineMonet
"Color Magic"
Half Moon Bay, California
June 27, 2007
Morning

The Lovely One

"Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man."

-Vladimir Nabokov

Yesterday, I found this lovely moth on the wall of my shed in the back yard. I was amazed at how it's iridescent wings glowed like glitter sprinkled on sand. I could have just stood in the same place starring at her all day. I had made other plans for the day, so I had to leave, but fortunately she was still there when I got home. After a little research at BugGuide.net, I found out she is an Euchlaena obtusaria, although she also looks a lot like the Euchlaena Marginaria. Both are from the Geometridae family. I will have to do a little more research into them, because I was quite taken with this moth and I would like to learn more about it. I will be on the lookout for her and others like her for the rest of the summer. She is one more thing to love about a summer evenings. Who knows, maybe I will try setting up the tripod and doing some evening photography. :)While looking around tonight, for information about this moth, I came across an article about the vampire moth. Very strange and intriguing creature to be sure! I would really like to see one for myself... it is fascinating. :)

Skin-Piercing Vampire Moth Vants Your Blood
(Article) TreeHugger.com

-OndineMonet
"The Lovely One"
Berkeley, California
June 27, 2007
10:00 AM

Round Robin Challenge... Focus On The Details

It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

-John Wooden

Tammie Jean, author of the blog, "Long Drives To Nowhere" has chosen "Focus On The Details" for our current challenge, which is wonderful, because lately I have been working a lot more with the macro settings on my digital camera, and I am noticing my photos in a whole new light. For one thing, I think by slowing down and getting in really close to my subjects, I am seeing things much more clearly. As I look at the above Daylily, I am most impressed by the tiny detailed lines, that give it it's own fingerprints. I never really thought about flowers as having fingerprints, but those little lines and curves are just that... it's own individuality. I have to admit, since I have been moving at a much slower pace this year, I am seeing a lot more beauty then I have in the past. Multi-tasking, running around, or in my case sometimes just plain old avoiding, can get lonely. I like taking the time to take a closer look, to see the soul of what I am photographing. :) God I love my camera. :)

Here are three other examples of focusing on the details...

Focusing on the details of the colors

Focusing on the details of shadows

Focusing on the details of the background

****Round Robin Reminder****

Did you know we have made some changes at the Round Robin Challenges? We will be beginning a new system, at the end of the summer, for how we choose the Round Robin Challenge topics. Now, instead of following the sidebar rotation of Robins, we will be asking each of you to submit ideas for future challenges. You can send in as many ideas as you like, and then Steven, Karen and I will choose the next challenge from your pool of ideas. We will try to keep as large a rotation as possible, but it will depend on how many of you send in your ideas. So take a look on the Round Robin sidebar of past challenges, put on your thinking caps, and send us those ideas and topics. I can't wait to find out what you come up with!

Be sure to visit the other participants for this challenge. Just click on the links below. Don't forget to drop by the Round Robin blog on Thursday, to find out the subject of our next challenge. :)

-OndineMonet

Linking List

1. Tammie Jean... Long Drives To Nowhere
POSTED!

2. Cosette... Birds of Venus
POSTED!

3. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

4. boliyou... Percolation


5. Suzanne R... New Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

6. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
POSTED!

7. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

8. Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
POSTED!

9. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

10. Janet... Fond of Photography
POSTED!

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Crowds

"When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded."

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Get a picture of a crowd or crowded event. Conventions, weddings, parties, cramped spaces - you know, anywhere there's lots of folks doing something.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

Crowds you say? How about the crowds at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, playing in the warm California sun, and waiting for a concert on the beach? If you enjoy just sitting and watching a big crowd of people, this is definitely the place to go. I LOVE it there. Beach balls bouncing about, kids and their parents playing in the sand, sea birds flying around making a happy noise, a lovely view of the Walton Lighthouse, and a free concert. It just doesn't get any better then that! Ahhhh... Now that is the kind of crowd I like to get lost in. :)

-OndineMonet

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 8/11/06
John Waite Concert

A Watched Pot Never Sprouts

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace."

-May Sarton

TaaaDaaa! Ok, the garden is in place. We have lift off. Now... I wait. LOL. It took me forever to get it done, well a few more days then I had planned anyway, but I finally have all the heavy stuff done. The roses are awesome. They will probably go into the ground next year, but I still haven't made up my mind about that. The cat grass is coming along nicely, I planted that for Elvis. He loves his veggies almost as much as I do, but unfortunately not all green yummy things agree with him. The cat grass, will hopefully, fix that. According to Dr. "B" cats crave greens when their tummies get upset. Elvis has been feeling so odd, since the onset of his diabetes, so it made me feel good to do something especially for him. :) This will probably be the last entry I do featuring the garden, until late summer or early autumn. I have plans... so stay tuned. :)

This is a big week coming up. I have been getting all kinds of yumminess in the mail for my birthday. I signed up for every birthday club stuff I could find, and it has all come in at once. LOL. I will be eating good this week! LOL. Don't worry... I will take pictures, and report back. :) Today, is H.P's birthday. He is my best friend. He has really been there for me in the last 6 months. He is funny, and talented... OMG... he is so talented... but most of all... he is a good guy. :) I will be giving him a call a little later to sing happy birthday to him, which always makes him roll his eyes because I have a voice that can neuter cats two counties away, but it's our tradition. LOL. I don't know, maybe this year I will send a text also. We'll see. HAPPY BIRTHDAY H.P. YOU ROCK! ;)

Q. Do you ever sign up for the free birthday perks offered by different restaurants? If so, which are your favorite?

While you are pondering that deep question, enjoy the photos from the garden. :)

Purple Campanula

Pink Mini Rose

Yellow Mini Rose

Elvis... The Garden Gnome

Mini Pink/Yellow Rose

Edged Pink Mini Rose

Everything's Coming Up Cat's Grass

Alan's Veggie Garden... Upper Deck

Some people have scarecrows... we have Godzilla's.


-OndineMonet

Future Focus

"Have you ever observed a hummingbird moving 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, Green Mansions

I got extremely lucky with this shot, this birdie was not at all interested in posing for me. LOL. I was sitting in my car, at the San Leandro Marina, just enjoying the heck out of a A&W Papa burger, and watching airplanes land at the nearby, Oakland Airport, when this little guy came by. :) This was the best shot out of about 10 or so that I took. I think it came out well, the sun was in a good spot to illuminate the colors of the hummingbird very nicely. I like photographing hummingbirds, they are a challenge to be sure. I should try to get back to the marina soon, lots and lots of critters moving about, plus the added fun of the airport runway which is very close to the far edge of the marina. Planes coming in from the east are really low... yikes... but it gives me a chance to work on my slight fear of them.

I decided to take an online class that was offered to me by the Disney Family Learning Center. It will focus on portrait photography. It is a very basic course, but every little bit helps. I am still considering taking a class in digital photography at Chabot College. They are offering the classes every quarter, it's just been a matter of getting my energy level back up and running to a high enough level to take on a class. Working on that this weekend, as I am using my time to get the last touches of the garden put into place.

I placed the roses and the others planters of cosmos, stock, butterfly flowers, poppies, and four-o-clocks where I want them. Alan helped me plant the assorted sunflowers against the back of the fence, so all that is left is to put a couple windsocks up, and it will pretty much be done. Now it's all up to the flowers to make their appearance before the end of the summer. I hope I did ok, I saw a huge black and yellow swallowtail flying hurriedly in and out of the yard today, I wish she could have stopped for a visit. I am hoping the new flowers will encourage them to come by for a visit... and then stay. :) That would make the autumn perfect!

-OndineMonet
"Hummingbird"
San Leandro Marina
San Leandro, California
June 23, 2007
Afternoon

Parenting: The Not So Simple Life

"Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers."

-Socrates



I love Berkeley sometimes. You can find the most bizarre forms of free of speech. Isn't it wonderful? I spotted this "Free Paris" display last week, while on my travels, and just had to share it. I wonder if the person who put it up was wanting to see the heiress go free because they feel she has served enough time, or if they feel like she has been jerked around by justice a little bit. I have no way of knowing what the thought process was in making this appeal, but I do know how I feel about the whole mess.

I think when she is released on Monday, it needs to be the end of it. I think she has done her time, per the law as it is on the books, and enough is enough. I would like to see something positive come out of it for this girl. I am hoping she will emerge a more mature, and thoughtful human being, and I for one, am willing to give her that chance. So many folks want to hate a celebrity who gets into trouble like this, and those folks always seem to want the book of justice to be thrown at them, seemingly as a punishment not just for their legal misdeeds, but for their lot in life as well. You know... I just don't get it. We all have to play the cards we are dealt. It's not always fair, but it is up to ourselves to make it work, and what they guy next to us has or doesn't have is really none of our business. Drunk driving on the other hand is our business. Punishing Paris Hilton doesn't make the laws on drunk driving tougher. It's up to each of us to demand tougher laws. It's our responsibility.

"No one writes about my charity work, they'd rather write about me dancing on a table, which I have never done."

-Paris Hilton

I wondered sometimes when I saw Paris Hilton in the media how her parents, Rick and Kathy Hilton, must have felt to see their daughter engaged in all sorts of immature and sometimes dangerous behavior. A lot of folks feel that Paris's behavior is their fault somehow. Well, perhaps, but it is difficult for me to blame the parents of a 26 year old woman, for her sins. It's so strange, I was just two years older then Paris is now when I got married. I felt like such a grown up, and yet I had a little more maturing to go. As life goes along, we all learn lessons. Sometimes harsh lessons. One day you wake up, and the whole world will have changed. Like the day when a close friend or maybe even a parent passes away, and suddenly you realize... life isn't forever. Everything can change in a heartbeat.

"When people you don't even know hate you, that's when you know you're the best."

-Paris Hilton

Sometimes, I am so aware of the fact I never had children. I would have loved to have had a child, but I never really felt like I would make a good parent. I didn't want to bring a child into the world because I was lonely or because it was what was expected of me. I used to have a doctor, who asked me on every office visit, "why I don't you have any children." I would sigh, and tell her yet again, the time wasn't right, or because it was my choice not to have children. She would shake her head in disapproval, and go on with whatever reason I had scheduled an appointment with her. I had no desire to tell her I was pregnant once, and lost the baby early on. I hadn't even known I was pregnant. It was just over. I never regretted trying again, but sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to see a little me or a little Alan tiptoeing about the house, however, based on my own experience with my parents, I just didn't feel I would make a good parent.

My heart went out to that couple I heard about yesterday, who regretfully signed the consent forms, for their 16 year-old daughter to marry her 40-year old track coach. Sheesh... that guy needs some serious therapy. Yet at the same time, I will never understand why they caved. That young girl seems to have come from an average, middle class background. She seemed to have two loving parents, who had tried their best to raise their daughter right. By all appearances she was a good kid, who got good grades, and had a bright future in front of her. Her downfall seems to have been meeting that track coach, who in my opinion, corrupted her relationship with her parents.

Her parents signed the consent forms, because they felt they had not option left, after asking repeatedly for help from the the school, the school board, and the law. In the this case, the parents tried all they could to stop her from making that mistake, with little or no help from the proper channels. It's discouraging to be sure. I am sorry for what all of them are going through. It's situations like that one, and the Paris Hilton situation also, when I know I made the right decision not becoming a parent. I don't think I could take seeing my child go through that much pain, and wonder how much was my fault. Hopefully when both of these young women, who are from such different lots in life, get to the other side of the mistakes they have made, folks will offer them another chance at life... and going forward. Hopefully their families will be there to love and support them. One thing is for sure, we need tougher laws in this country for so many crimes, especially ones that directly affect our children.

Coach 40, Weds 16-Year Old Girl (ABC News)

How To Harness A Headstrong Teen (ABC News)

-OndineMonet
"Free Paris"
Berkeley, California
June 22, 2007
Afternoon

Spirit Of The Moonlight

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

-Oscar Wilde

The garden is progressing nicely. I should have some nice photos by the end of the weekend. It was a beautiful day yesterday, and I had planned to take a trip up to Santa Rosa, but I was tired and my energy wasn't 100%, so I decided I will go in a week or two instead. So, while I was at home, I did a little more work in the garden, and planted a couple more planters worth of summer flowers. After I was finished, it was nearly dark, so I grabbed the camera and got in some practice with the low light. I was very pleased with the little pink rose buds, the plant food I gave them has been great. They are looking so nice, and smell so spicy, it was really lifting my mood just to be near them. I was snapping away, practicing with the macro setting, and I didn't even realize that my little garden fairy was sitting in the pot. I can't believe I was so focused on the rose, I completely missed her. When I uploaded the photos, I was very pleased with what I saw. It was a good day with the camera, and a lovely night with the cool air... and a beautiful summer moon.

Spirit Of The Moonlight (Haiku)
By OndineMonet

A Moonlight Spirit
Dreams Among Summer Roses
As Her Heart Lies Still

-OndineMonet
"Moonlight Spirit"
Berkeley, California
June 21, 2007
Late Evening

In The Last Hours Of Spring

"A liberal is a man or woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future."

-Leonard Bernstein, The New York Times, 30 October 1988

If Leonard Bernstein's definition of a liberal is correct, then I guess you could say I am a liberal. I have been putting a lot of thought lately into what I consider myself to be. It keeps changing, sometimes without my permission. I just found out the other day, that I am officially a "cougar." "Huh?" Said my therapist Sarah, "Where did that come from?" Well, I explained, "there is this new reality show on NBC, and the premise is that a 30-something hunky guy looks for the love of his life, by choosing the newest love of his life from within two groups of women. The first group (the kittens) are in their 20's and the second group (the cougars) are in their 40's. If being in my 40's, actually officially 45 next week, makes me a cougar... then I guess I am a cougar." MEEEOOOWWWW.

I used to refer to myself, when asked, as a Woman/Democrat/Liberal/Native Californian/FemmaNazi. The FemmaNazi part was to humor the whichever conservative poophead who was insisting on restricting me to labels they made up, so they could fit everyone into a neat little box. It helps some folks think more clearly, if they don't have to use much energy by considering that some folks think for themselves. I vote most often Democrat, so therefore I must agree one hundred percent with everything being said by the democratic party. Sigh. I loved how one blogger used to constantly insist that because I am a liberal, then I must have voted against raises for police and firefighters. I have never voted that way in my life. Not once. Sigh. Equally shocking to some of my conservative friends was the fact that I voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger. What can I say? He was the right man for California. I wasn't alone in that assessment, he won the election quite readily last fall, when some republicans in the nation were being replaced in the house, and the senate.

I have been a democrat my whole life, and a card carrying one as soon as I could vote. I am not so sure anymore. The lines have blurred for me. I don't think enough has been done, since the change of leadership in the house and senate. Nancy Pelosi is trying her best... and that is what worries me. As if it isn't bad enough that we couldn't get enough votes to override the president's veto of the proposed Iraq war budget, it looks like there will be no overriding his veto of the bill that would increase federal funding for stem cell research. An issue close to my heart. A bill that was endorsed by the AARP, the American Medical Association, and the American Diabetes Association, which are just three, among over 500 medical and scientific organizations that supported the bill. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 68% of Americans also support stem cell research. But it doesn't really matter how we as a nation feel about it, Bush has proven time and again, that we will not have a say in what direction the country moves in, as long as he is the "decider."

"If this legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayer for the first time in our history to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line."

-George W. Bush, June 20th, 2007 (White House)

There he goes again, playing to that imaginary base he thinks he still has. With George Bush in office, programming what our will should be, it makes me wonder if I need worry about having a voice. I could just sit back and let the "decider' decide how I should feel about everything. I thought when the democrats took control of the senate and congress, we might finally get something done. Nope. Not if it furthers humanity. I can't believe that a man who rushed into a needless war, woefully unprepared, and with no realistic way out, was vetoing for a second time, a stem cell research bill, and dictating what my morality should be while he did it. Sigh. I hurt when I saw the latest U.S. American soldier update today in Lafayette memorial. I visit there once a month, and as the seasons have changed I have watched the numbers grow. Sometimes time does not make things better. Nothing could have saved my father who died of series of strokes, while battling stomach cancer, or my mother who died a few years later of Alzheimer's. There is still no cure for that, and now it will be at least 2 years longer before federal funding is freed up for this much needed research.

I liked what Hillary Clinton had to say today about it...

"Let me be clear:When I am president, I will lift the ban on stem cell research."

Simple and to the point. John Edwards, who I have on my sidebar, posted his own message regarding this issue on his website. You can read it here. Everyone has something to say, but will anyone get anything done, even if there is a profound change during the next national election? Who knows. It's a depressing thought to be sure. I want to see an end to this insane war. I want to have reasonable gas prices, I want to see children really have a chance at a future, with appropriate funding for education, and I want to know that there is at least a chance that a cure for Alzheimer's will be found before it happens to me. Is it so much to ask that I survive to be a really cool old lady? A lady with all her marbles, and all the will to embrace life? I am no longer a kitten, I am a cougar. Ok, I can accept that. What I can't accept, is facing my old age, and all the scary moments that sometimes accompanies it, with little to no hope, because of the selfishness of politics in America.

-OndineMonet

On A Lighter note, I loved, loved, loved the Soprano's parody that Hillary Clinton did regarding her pick for a campaign theme song. If you haven't seen it, play the above YouTube video. It was a bit of humor, when it was really needed. I always appreciated that about the Clinton white house. They had a sense of humor, that wasn't unintentional or due to illiteracy.