Round Robin Challenge: History

USS San Francisco Memorial (Damaged Bridge Wings)
Lands End (Outer Richmond)
San Francisco, California
September 4th, 2013

"That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all lessons that history has to teach."

~Aldous Huxley, Collected Essays

RRC: History!

 

For my post on the subject History, I decided to visit, or actually revisit, the USS San Francisco Memorial, which sits in the Outer Richmond district of San Francisco, near Lands End. I first visited the memorial about 10 years ago, and I did a few photos that day, but I didn't know much about how the full history or how significant the service of the USS San Francisco had been in World War II. Over the last few years I have done some reading about it, and it has stuck in my consciousness when contemplating the wars America has engaged in, particularly since 9/11. World War II, and our involvement in it, was so different than most of the wars we have been in since. No war should be the first choice of the men who make these decisions, but unfortunately some things are inevitable.

I am hoping that we are not sitting on the precipice of yet another war in the middle east, but somehow it feels like the people at the top, the ones who can decide between diplomacy and international law, over war, have their minds made up no matter what I think. I have heard my father-in-law say many times... "I went to war so my children wouldn't have to!" He is a veteran of World War II, so I can understand his ire at the fact that history, sometimes in the worst ways, just keeps repeating itself! Okay, I am done now. Here, in photographs, taken at the beginning of September of this year, is the story of the USS San Francisco, and her place in wartime history...

USS San Francisco And The Battle Of Guadalcanal

 

I decided to post the photos in black and white because it just seemed most appropriate.


Okay, now that you have seen my take on History, be sure to visit all the Round Robin participants. Just click the link at the top of this entry to be redirected to the official Round Robin blog where you will find the list of participants, and all the information you need to play along! :)

~Mood: Reflective

~Me :)

Smile, You Woke Up Today!

"When you love something, you want to do it all the time, even if no one is paying you for it. At least that's how I felt about drawing."

~Meg Cabot, All-American Girl

I love photography! I do! And that's why I find inspiration everywhere! It's pretty fair to say that I have taken at least a photo a day for the last ten years, well, with a few exceptions, mostly brought on by pain from my Fibromyalgia and then during the lull I experienced prior to being diagnosed with an under active thyroid. God, it sounds like excuses, but let me tell you, I missed being able to feel creative! It was eerily reminiscent of the years of Anhedonia. YIKES! Pathetic much? LOL. No, just human I guess. Life has a funny way of throwing you curves, I count myself lucky that I have conditions that can be treated! I got reminded about how lucky I was yesterday, while on my way to the Bay Bridge. A homeless man was standing in the middle of the street. He had a simple sign in his hands which read... "Smile, You Woke Up Today!" A simple reminder? Or a good swift kick in the backside?

I guess that is a very personal, and individual, revelation to be had and decided upon.

"Smile, You Woke Up Today." PASS IT ON!

Mood: Reflective

~Me :)

Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon Up In The Sky

"The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections."

~Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

Today's Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon because it is the full moon which occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. I guess, like me, the moon just couldn't quite wait until September 22nd, which is of course the first day of autumn. I kinda like believing that... it makes me feel a little less alone in my anxiousness for autumn~ But at the same time, it's hard to not think of this moon as the last moon of summer! So, what do you think? Does summer get robbed of it's one last shining moment?

:) Isn't it funny how the man in the moon can make you feel like you are the only one he sees?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Love Story Of Donny And Nina (Not Their Real Names) Part II

"It's not lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages."

~Friedrich Nietzsche

The graphic above shows where we left off with The Love Story Of Donny And Nina!

The graphic below brings us up to date...



I can't believe they got married! Just last July she was calling him a, "FUCKING ASSHOLE" and threatening to leave his "ASS." And he was willing to "CALL HER A CAB." So, was marriage really the right decision? By the same token, who am I to say what they need to do to fix their problems? That may have been just what they needed to repair whatever wasn't working. I would like to hope for the best for them, but somehow, I don't think their getting married will change much.

And that makes me kinda sad for them.

In a little less than a month, Alan and I will have been married 23 years! Alan is my best friend. My lover. My protector. My champion. He is my love! And we began our relationship as friends, then best friends, then we fell in love. There has never been any disrespect between us... ever. Mistakes yes! Disrespect? No!

Stay Tuned! I don't think we have seen, or heard, the last chapter in the "Love Story Of Donny And Nina!"

"Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed."

~Albert Einstein

Mood: Reflective

~Me

Art About Town: Berkeley "Earth Song"

"Earth Song"
By, Po Shu Wang
Center at Shattuck Streets
Berkeley, California

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you... I am here to live out loud."

~Emile Zola

I seem to be in a Berkeley frame of mind. :) I have posted photos of this sculpture before, but its been a while, and for whatever reason while out running errands the other day, it just caught my eye and made me smile. Can great art really be seen too much?

:)

Read more about the art and the artist here.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Heirloom Tomatoes Fresh From The Garden... Delicious!

"Cooking requires confident guesswork and improvisation... experimentation and substitution, dealing with failure and uncertainty in a creative way."

~Paul Theroux, Sir Vidia's Shadow: A Friendship Across Five Continents

 

YUM! There really is nothing more tasty than the fruits and vegetables from a garden you have planted and nurtured and grown yourself! This year we did a scaled down version of last years garden. Just two Heirloom tomato plants! Alan had the chance to do a lot more overtime, which was a welcomed evil, but time being what it is meant doing less planting. It's okay, we have some  ambitious plans for next spring, so all is well! And anyway, how can one feel bad, when there are beautiful, fresh tomatoes in the garden, ready to be enjoyed?!

Tonight, I am making my famous meatloaf. Right now that is it's only name. "My Famous Meatloaf." LOL. Maybe I will give it a proper name, and post the full recipe... shrug... you never know. It's probably nothing super special as meatloaf goes, but Alan loves it, and raves about it every time I make it for him. What can I say, he is easy to please. He is a nice man, who just happens to know all my flaws, but loves me anyway, and I guess it's that love for me that makes my famous meatloaf taste so good to him. I fix it for him with a lot of love, so I am glad that comes through in my cooking.

Another sign that it's almost autumn... I LOVE cooking in autumn! Come to think of it, I created this meatloaf one lovely autumn day, a few years ago. I suppose I could name it...

Carly's Autumn Meatloaf!

LOL.

Any excuse to fit autumn into the conversation.

Wink!

How does all this relate to the GORGEOUS HEIRLOOM TOMATOES? Glad you asked! You see, they are going to be cut up, tossed with some tasty, super yummy, French Feta cheese and some wonderful EVOO, and just a dash of fresh ground peppercorns served on the side of the famous meatloaf. Rustic. Simple. Delicious.

YUM!

"Maybe the cat has fallen into the stew, or the lettuce has froxen, or the cake has collapsed. Eh bien, tant pis. Usually one's cooking is better than one thinks it is. And if the food is truly vile, then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile, and learn from her mistakes."

~Julia Child

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Saturdays, Football, And Leaves

Fox Sports Robot "Cleatus"
Cal Berkeley Campus
Berkeley, California
September 14th, 2013

"In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team."

~Jean-Paul Sartre

 

Yesterday, Saturday, was an absolutely beautiful day in Berkeley! The sky was perfectly blue. The air was crisp and clear, and it was football day! I know... every Saturday this time of year is football day, but there is something about the first home game at Cal that makes it all so much fun! Yeah, at certain times the traffic can be a challenging, but at the same time there is a certain energy and excitement that can't be missed, and that can be really contagious! God I love it here! GO BEARS! :)

It also doesn't hurt that Berkeley is getting a big jump on autumn. Sometimes when I am out driving, I will turn a corner, and suddenly I feel like I am in the middle of autumn, rather than just on the edge of summer. Streets lined in bright greens, will suddenly burst with crimson! I could be having the worst day, and just turning down the right street brings me around to a wonderful sort of calm. So much slow that my sleeping will even improve that night. Look Ma... No Valium! LOL.

 It's hard to explain.

 

Autumn will officially be here in less than a week. Isn't that wonderful?

The Final Score: Ohio State (52) Cal Bears (34)

Mood: Peaceful

~Me :)

Butterfly Lifestyles

Monarch Butterfly
Conservatory Of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
September 4th 2013

"Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat. 'I don't know,' Alice answered. 'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter."

~Lewis Carroll, Alice In Wonderland

 

I learned so much about photographing butterflies from my friend Steven. I remember him telling me to "remember that Monarchs will not behave like Zebra Longwings. Some types of butterflies will sit contently sipping from a milkweed plant, while others will bounce from flower to flower." He was right. I took his advice, and I was really grateful to have it, as I said, I learned a lot from him. I miss him very much, and wish that I could still continue to share my photographs with him. I miss my friend.

 

Monarch Butterflies

Zebra Longwing

Great Southern White

Pipevine Swallowtail

Sometimes its a sad feeling to know I can't just go home and email off to him some picture of an amazing butterfly I have taken, but sometimes when I am at the Conservatory, and a butterfly is really making me work hard to take it's picture, I can almost hear Steven saying to me... "patience." And I can't help but smile a little, and just be thankful to have known Steven at all.

Mood: Quiet

~Me

Art About Town: San Francisco... "Untitled Sphere" And "Hermes And Dionysos: A Momument To Analysis"

"Untitled Sphere"
By Fritz Koenig
333 Battery St.
San Francisco, California
September 4th, 2013

"Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art."

~Neil Gaiman

I have to say upfront... I LOVE these two sculptures! They have kind of become like old friends in a way! You see, when Alan and I are in the downtown area of San Francisco, and we know we are going home by way of the Bay Bridge, we usually drive past both sculptures on our way to the bridge. No matter how the day has gone, or the week for that matter, I always know that on my way home, I will get to see these two sculptures, and I will have a chance to contemplate the artist's inspiration. I love public art. I love sculpture, but not all pieces I see speak to me, but these two do! There is just something about seeing both of them that makes my day better.

Fritz Koenig, is was the artist behind the famous "Untitled Sphere" that once stood in the plaza between the World Trade Center Twin Towers in Manhattan. The sculpture was heavily damaged on that horrible day, 9/11, but it wasn't completely destroyed. Today it stands, in it's current state, damaged, but resilient, in Manhattan's Battery Park. I kinda appreciate that! Although I wish it had been returned to it's original space, and was a part of the official 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. One day, if I am ever lucky enough to cross Manhattan off my Bucket List, I want to see the WTC sphere for myself. It's a monument of strength, of rising from the ashes, damaged, but not broken.

Art heals.

Like an old friends, that you know so well, and fully understand with words getting in the way!


"Hermes And Dionysos: Monument To Analysis"
By Arman
411 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California
September 4th, 2013

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams."

~Albert Einstein

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Just Me Rambling On About Autumn Again :)

"There is always music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it."

~Minnie Aumonier

Just Me, Rambling On About Autumn Again...

I don't know about you, but I love a cool, late summer day, with just a little breeze to it. It gives me a lot to look forward to. Like the sound of the leaves as they begin to change. Soon, in early autumn, when all the leaves are mostly green, their sound will be similar to the here and now, soft and quiet, but as autumn progresses, they begin to make a joyful noise during the increasingly breezy days of October and November. The leaves will turn red, and yellow, and orange and sometimes purple, in their own time of course. Sometimes the color seems to happen all at once, some years it feels like the autumn color will never arrive, but it does eventually, and finally, in late autumn, in December, the leaves will be more and more difficult to find, but the ones that are left, laugh out loud, as they sway on the branches and then fall softly, quietly to the ground. It's a lovely life, fully lived.

But you already knew that. Right?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Remembering David And Lynn Angell

"Death ends life, not a relationship."
Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie

I never had the pleasure of meeting David and Lynn Angell in this life, but I came to love them through the research I did about them, for my post honoring them as part of the 9/11 Project some years ago. On September 11th, 2001, I didn't know that they were killed when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I also didn't know that it was Mr. Angell that had brought me so many moments of laughter, through his work on the television shows, Cheer's, Frasier, and Wings. He made the world a better place by sharing his gift of humor with the world, and his wife Lynn through her love and charity towards children. They were unique, kind and loving people, and the world is a darker place without them. No, I never get meet them in my lifetime, but I will never forget them, they will always have a special place in my heart.

David And Lynn... I will remember you!

Love, Carly

I came across this blog post, written by a friend of the Angell. Please visit the links below to learn more about this amazing couple and their legacy.

9/11 And David And Lynn Angell
By Their Friend, Ken Levine

The Angell Foundation


"Though lovers may be lost, love shall not; And death shall have no dominion."

~Dylan Thomas

Mood: Quiet

~Me

Where Theres Smoke, Theres Probably Someone Throwing Water On A Fire

"Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?

~George Carlin

 


Yesterday, Monday, in a mad fit of "I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE" I put new batteries, and new SD cards in my cameras, got into my little blue car and went for a ride. The "IT" I was running from was overwhelming, mind-numbing, boredom! Oh, and the sound of my immature neighbor "Donny" throwing things about on his patio, because he was angry at himself for alienating yet another neighbor by letting his dog BARK and throw himself against his fence, 2 days in a row! At 5:45 A.M.! The neighbor in question has been a really good neighbor, is quiet and minds his own business, which is all I really require in a neighbor, so why Donny decided to be a jerk, yet again, is beyond me. Donny is simply... and we will focus on the word... simple... here. Simple.

The other thing eating at me is the media blitz that President Obama is engaging in, in his run up to that war with Syria he is aching for! TV yesterday offered very little for the weary viewer. Daytime TV is embarrassing to admit to watching. The news is just more of the same. I turned on both CNN and MSMBC and heard pretty much the same questions being asked about the Syrian situation, so off I went. I got myself a nice big order of FROYO and headed for the hills! Mt Diablo to be exact! Why Mt Diablo you ask? Well, because it was on fire! According to my handy dandy text alert messages on my phone contraption, the fire which had begun on Sunday, had doubled overnight! There was also a text message from Alan, who said he saw the fire from the San Francisco peninsula last night! Mt. Diablo is one of the higher peaks in the Bay Area, but to be able to see the flames from that far away, meant it had to be kinda spectacular!

Okay... off I went.

Here is one of the best shots I got. It really doesn't do much to show the gravity of the fire. I was closer to the western slope of Mt. Diablo. But it gives you some idea of how close I got. There is an amazing album over at the ABC/KGO website that really demonstrates the fire properly. If it is still burning later today, I might try to get a better angle on things. You never know. Today is probably going to be just as irritating as yesterday. Honestly! Sheesh! I can't do anything to force my neighbor Donny to grow his ass up and stop annoying people. And I can't do anything about President Obama and his inability to lead. So I am left hoping that Donny will just go to work tomorrow, rather than piddle around the property, acting like a jerk. As for Obama, well, later today he will be addressing the nation, hopefully to say there has been a legitimate deal brokered by Russia, to disarm Assad of his chemical weapons. Fingers Crossed.

GOD DAMN IT! Did you ever think you would see RUSSIA coming in to save the day with rationality?

Still, yesterday wasn't a total loss. I came home to the news of George Zimmerman being "detained" in regards to a domestic violence issue regarding his soon to be ex-wife Shellie, and her family. Poor George (I say sarcastically) anyone want to start a DIVORCE DEFENSE FUND? No?

I didn't think so!


Mood: Sarcastic

~Me :)

The Driveways Of San Francisco #3

"Come to me. I want to plow you like a Calgary driveway at Christmas."

~John Cleese

LOL. Okay, so there's no snow in the driveway, but still, what a way to start a week!

;)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

3:20 In The Afternoon In Late Summer

"Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can't buy more hours. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow."

~Denis Waitley

I spotted this clock in downtown San Francisco the other day. It's beautiful! The time was wrong, off by exactly an hour, but then it seems no two clocks I have seen in the city ever seem to agree! LOL. It's a quirk of big cities I think. Anyway, while it might have been wrong about the time the other day, when we set the clocks back this autumn, it will be right again, and I will be right again to. My inner clock will be back to normal, the days will be darker, and there will be a pleasant chill in the air. How wonderful does that sound?

Mood: Tired

~Me

Round Robin Challenge: That's Odd!

"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time."

~Steven Wright

RRC: That's Odd



Well, it is! :) And kinda cool to! You see, Alan and I were sitting in traffic, in downtown San Francisco, last Wednesday, and it wasn't it usual jam-packed traffic, it was jam-packed traffic on steroids! No kidding, the traffic since the opening of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, has been nothing short of horrendous! No one is really sure why the traffic has gotten so much worse in the last few days, but speculation is that folks are either being super careful crossing the new span, causing the back-ups, or the commuters are too busy driving slow to get a good look at the new Oakland side of the bridge. Either way... it's ODD! I am going to do an in depth post about the new span, complete with brand new pictures, next week! So be sure to stay tuned to Ellipsis for that! But for now, I wanted to show off the photo above. That's my little blue car you see in the picture. I tried to take the photo so I couldn't be seen, but I wasn't completely successful, so I wonder, is that considered a "selfie?"

Republican Oddities...



Who better to have their portrait done in jelly beans than Ronald Reagan? Like me, he had a sweet tooth that went straight to his soul, and jelly beans just happened to be his sweet tooth weakness! And I happen to know that President Reagan's favorite brand of Jelly Beans was Jelly Belly, jelly beans! I was working as an 800 Operator in the 1980's, and one of the corporate clients I was an operator for was the Jelly Belly company! One day, true story... my hand to GOD... I took an order for 800 lbs. of assorted Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, and one desktop dispenser, to be mailed to the White House Attn. Mail Processing Room at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! That was before all mail and special packages were moved to a special processing center on the other side of Washington D.C.! 9/11 changed everything, including where jelly beans get sent!

I took both photos in February of 2005, at the Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Factory, in Fairfield, in Marin County. The governor at the time was non other than old GAS himself Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger! Blech! But the Jelly Belly factory saw fit to honor him in jelly beans, so I took a photo of the two republicans for nostalgia. LOL. It serves to remind me that nothing BAD can possibly last forever... right? LOL. I must get back up to the factory again soon, I am sure they have honored our current governor, Jerry Brown, in jelly beans as well! Only that portrait will remind me that nothing should be taken for granted, so appreciate Jerry Brown while we have him in office!

I bet you never thought Jelly Beans could be so profound!

I bet I know what you're thinking... you're thinking...That's Odd!

;)

Okay, you have seen my oddities, now go see what everyone else is up to for this Round Robin Challenge! Simply click the link at the beginning of this post to be redirected to the official Round Robin blog. That's where you will find all you need to know to play along with us, and a complete list of participants for this challenge!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

On The Eve Of September 11th

"War is what happens when language fails."

~Margaret Atwood

On The Eve Of September 11th

Here we go again. We (America) is about to march off to an unnecessary war. A war that doesn't have to happen, perhaps more blatantly than the last one that didn't have to happen. If I close my eyes, and listen to the justifications for the current plea for war, I swear I hear Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney talking, and in place of John Kerry, is that Colin Powell I hear?

Sigh.

I get it. I do. Syrian President Bashar Assad is suspected of using chemical weapons on his own citizens. It's a horrendous thought. I saw a video over the weekend of children, one small boy in particular, dying a slow hideous death, with a heartbreaking look on his face that seemed to beg... WHY? I won't forget that image easily, or quickly. I understand President Obama's anger, and determination to hold President Assad accountable. No one with a soul could have done that to that child! Of course that child's murder, and the murder of those around him, must be met with justice! But what is being asked of America, it's military and citizens, is wrong! Killing more, to prove murder, no matter how it is committed, is wrong! IS AS WRONG AS IT GETS!

And it's unnecessary in that there are legal paths that can be taken to accomplish the justice those victims deserve!

If President Assad did indeed use chemical weapons, he has committed a war crime. He needs to stand trial in an International Criminal Court. PERIOD!

Yesterday, a tape made it's way to the media, which showed the execution of seven men of Assad's military, being stripped down, bent over, and assassinated by gunshots to the back of the head. That act was carried out by just one of the several different anti Assad rebel groups. Which one? I don't really know! As I said, it was one group of many, who all seem to have different agendas. Also in the news recently, was a video of a different Syrian rebel eating the heart of a dead Syrian soldier. Again, I have no idea what group that rebel belonged to! All I know is, it made me sick! And I am pretty sure it is just as unimaginable, and horrendous an act to the average American. But does average America want to risk aiding a group like that, in order to scare Assad off of using chemical weapons? Are we saying... "Sure, torture, kill, desecrate the deceased body, hold the dead up as trophies, but we draw the line at chemical weapons, so we are going to help you with your presidential problems, now be sure to remember us on your holiday lists, because we helped!"

Okay, I know, that was way over simplifying things. Or was it?

President Obama has shown a shocking lack of leadership in this situation! God! I am now agreeing with some republicans! Do you know how profoundly sad that makes me? Honestly, I don't know how we can be sitting here, on the eve of the 12th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, standing on the cliff of yet another war! I supported President Bush's original plan to go into Afghanistan. 90% of my fellow Americans were with me in that. But by the time we heard the drumbeats of war in Iraq, I no longer trusted the word of President Bush, or those around him! I never supported going into Iraq, and if you remember me from my old AOL Journal days, you know how heavily that war sat on my mind and heart! I think that all these years later, we all know what that was all about! We don't need to rehash that situation, but we don't need to forget it either. Especially not now! I will not blindly support any human man, it makes no difference to me who the president is, wrong is wrong!

Dear President Obama...

I get the stand you are taking, but I cannot support a military strike now or ever! I want to see Bashar Assad stand trial in an open, international court. Make an example of him, and set an example while you are at it! If he has used chemical weapons, act accordingly, act legally. The U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said this past Tuesday that, any action taken against Syria would be illegal without Security Council approval or a sound case for self defense. Please Mr President, don't make everything worse by committing an international illegal act! You represent WE THE PEOPLE! The majority of Americans don't want you to do this. LISTEN TO US. Remember who you are, or at least who you were, or at least who you told us you were. God, I don't even know which one it is! And that makes me profoundly sad for both of us! You say if America strikes Syria, it would be limited and no boots would be on the ground, but what about the unknown? Maybe you believe that sir, but what about events you can't foresee? And what about the adjoining countries? What happens if Syria strikes other countries because of our actions, do we defend them? Or do we leave them to pick up the pieces on their own? Mr. President, the answer doesn't always have to be war! The answer needs to be, what doesn't happen nearly enough... JUSTICE!

If there is a regime change Mr. President, do we know who, and what we will be putting into power?

"There are causes worth dying for, but none are worth killing for."

~Albert Camus

Sincerely, And With Respect,

Just Me

Mood: Sad/Reflective

Note: I Titled This Post "On The Eve Of September 11th" because of how I have, ironically, written so many posts about how I wish we could all go back to Monday, September 10th, 2001. The day before everything changed. We could have all made different decisions. Some of us could have stopped what happened, and those of us who couldn't have done much to have changed the day, could have taken that particular day a lot less for granted.

~Me

International Court Of Justice (The Hague)
List Of Parties To The Chemical Weapons Convention
Organisation For The Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons
Chemical Weapons Convention
Brutality Of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma In West (New York Times)

North Beach Pizza (A Restaurant Review) Culinary Bucket List Series #1

North Beach Pizza
1462 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, California
415-433-2444

North Beach Pizza ****1/2 (Out Of 5) Rated For Take-Out (Culinary Bucket List Series #1)


"Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride."

~Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures In The Culinary Underbelly

Okay, so yesterday Alan and I decided to try one of those restaurants I told you about a while back. You know... the ones on my culinary bucket list?! Anyway, a couple weeks ago, Alan and I decided to give North Beach Pizza a shot, but unfortunately we couldn't find a place to park. That's a problem in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, so I don't usually take points off a restaurant because of it. Still, it was disappointing at the time because pizza on that particular day would have been just what the doctor ordered! But what a difference 2 weeks, and the unofficial transition between summer, and autumn, known as Labor Day, makes!

With less students. Less tourists. And less honeymooners walking and driving about, finding a place to park yesterday was a lot easier! We found a place on the first pass down Grant avenue! So, as I was completely beat from a day of photography in San Francisco, Alan very sweetly offered to walk across the street and into the cute little corner pizza shop and order us 2 slices (yep, they also sell by the slice) of pizza to go. When I am visiting a new pizza place for the first time, I always order a slice with just cheese, so I can get an accurate taste of the sauce, cheese, and crust as separate components. Each, by the way, was first rate! The sauce was spiced quite nicely, all the flavor it should have, but not so much you can't taste the lovely flavor of the tomato. The cheese was just Mozzarella, but it was a nice quality cheese, with a slightly smoky flavor, and there was plenty of it! And finally the crust... OMG... yes... it was authentic sourdough!

I was hoping that a pizza shop, located in North Beach, and calling itself... North Beach Pizza...  wouldn't make the mistake of using any dough other than sourdough! If they had made that mistake, I would have taken at least 3 stars off! But they didn't, and the crust was perfect! Thick, but not at all doughy. The sauce, the cheese and the crust came together very nicely! The initial service was a bit slow, it took about 8 minutes to finally be waited on., That wasn't good, but once the order was taken it was boxed and we were ready to go in  just a couple minutes. The last test was the fact that we were taking it home to eat, which meant taking it during commute time, through the downtown area and across the Bay Bridge into the East Bay. Yikes!

Traffic in the San Francisco yesterday was a damn nightmare! It took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to get home, and the pizza held up perfectly! It didn't loose it's shape, it didn't get hard or oily. It warmed up in the microwave exactly as it should have! It was yummy! Microwaving it didn't cook the crust a second time, making it hard, instead it was just, dare I repeat myself? Okay, why not... it was YUMMY! I am sure we will be back for another slice of pizza at North Beach Pizza, from time to time, and we may give the shop located here in Berkeley a try one day. But as a rule I don't usually patronize restaurants in Berkeley, because the parking literally drives me crazy! But hey, we found a place to park yesterday in North Beach, so you never know! These things are almost always left up to the whims of the food Gods!

Right?

"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of the human race than the discovery of a star."

~Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Late Autumn Memory

"I love running. I am not into marathons, but I am into avoiding problems at an accelerated rate."

~Jarod Kintz, At Even One Penny, This Book Is Overpriced. In Fact Free Is Too Expensive, Because You'd Still Waste Time By Reading It.

 

Well. Shit! I can't upload the photos I was going to post, because for some reason Picasa won't let me! Hells BELLS. So, instead of the lovely, slightly spectacularly colored, autumn like tree one can find in late summer, you get this repeat of the lovely, slightly spectacularly colored, autumn like, Snowy Egret one can find in late autumn! It's from Thanksgiving weekend, 2005. To this day, that day, and the memory of the time I spent photographing it, makes me smile!

That Snowy Egret was as beautiful as it gets!

And so were the leaves! Ahhh... the colors of autumn! Can't you almost smell cinnamon?

I hope Picasa will be up and running tomorrow!

If not, perhaps I will post an Ellipsis Flashback. I will make it a good one. Maybe something with some humor. Or maybe we will talk about the war. Or the war that is sitting in the wings. Sigh. Who knows?

Life is uncertain.

Mood: Sad

~Me :)

Note: If you are having problems uploading photos to Picasa, please let me know! Or if you aren't having problems with Picasa, but you have some insight, please feel free to share! :)

Note: Here are the photos I couldn't upload to Picasa. Thank you Photobucket! :)

The Little Rose That Could

Red/Gold Rose
September 2nd, 2013

"There is no exquisite beauty... without some strangeness in the proportion."

~Edgar Allan Poe

This rose made me smile yesterday! It has had such a tough season, with aphid invaders forcing me to cut it back twice, but finally the aphids have been gone for well over a month, and it is beginning to bloom again! I call it, The Little Rose That Could. It is a small replant from late last season, so given the circumstances, I couldn't be happier with it's beauty! If the weather holds up, I should see several more blooms before the end of the season. They will begin to go dormant in December, but in California, I might see some fresh blooms for Christmas, it's not unheard of. Personally speaking though, I think this rose looks most lovely on a Thanksgiving table. Fingers crossed, I will be able to do just that!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Happy Labor Day 2013 :)

"There is no substitute for hard work."

~Thomas Edison

Have A Happy, Safe, And Relaxing Holiday!

YOU DESERVE IT!

:)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

I'm Seeing "DOTS" Before My Eyes (A Game Review)

"We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing games."

~Benjamin Franklin



Obsessed. I am obsessed! Let me tell you how it began. You see, last June, in a mad fit of boredom, I decided to jump over to TechCrunch and take a look around at the latest and greatest in the world of online and mobile games. I read a glowing article, not literally, but figuratively speaking, on a new free game called Dots. It was a simple enough premise... so simple it almost seemed tedious and boring... so I put it in my "maybe later" file.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, when I had to run a errand to my pharmacy. What does a pharmacy have to do with this... I am about to tell you. You see, on the phone I was assured that my medications were all filled and ready to be picked up, but when I got there... nope... it was going to be at least 45 minutes. Sigh. So, with time on my hands, but not really enough time to start a Words With Friends game, I decided to download the free game Dots.

Beware of this game! It's FREE. It's EASY to play. And it's HIGHLY ADDICTIVE! The object of Dots is to connect two or more of the dots of the same color together. If you can form them into a box, even better! You have 60 seconds to achieve your goal of connecting the dots, and of course, the more the better! I love that it isn't time consuming, in that you can play one game, and then close it if you have to. Unfortunately, like a certain potato chip, I can't seem to enjoy just one!

The premise might sound overly simplistic, but believe me, it's not as easy as it sounds!

It's a great game, especially if you find yourself with a bit of time, here and there throughout the day! I highly recommend it if you have a trip to the DMV, in your future. It would also work to make standing in line at Walmart a much nicer experience! Wait... nah... I don't want to mislead you... there is nothing that can make that a nicer experience... but playing Dots will make the time pass a lot faster!

So in that sense... . :)

My Dots Stats

Best Score: 224
Trophies: 16 of 30
Total Dots: 45, 939

I give Dots 5 out of 5 Shiny Game Pieces!

Dots is available for free from Google Play, Amazon Apps and The App Store