Pants On Fire

"I don't consider myself an offensive guy. I'm just a harmless lovable little fuzzball."

-Rush Limbaugh

My oh my, what a week this has been! Korea decided to test launch both long and short range missiles, the official cheerleader for the republican party, Ann Coulter, is being investigated by, among others, Universal Press Syndicate, for possibly plagiarising her own column, and portions of her lastest book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism." According to the New York Post, it is possible that she lifted material from such sources as the San Francisco Chronicle, The L.A. Times, and a Planned Parenthood pamphlet. So sad. Ms. Coulter loves to throw stones, calling most liberals liars or implying as much. I suppose in her perfect world she is exempt from following an ethical course herself, because she is after all, Ann Coulter. Yeah...I'm impressed. I wonder if anything has been decided about that wacky instance of possible voter fraud Ms. Coulter is being investigated for?

One of my absolute favorite moments from the news this week was the report of Rush Limbaugh having been cleared of possible probation violation charges for being caught with at least one bottle of Viagra. It was ruled that it was perfectly of for him to be carrying a prescription that had his doctor's name on the bottle. Here is where I have to laugh (ROFLMAO!). Apparently Mr. Limbaugh's doctor's agreed to have the prescription written in his psychiatrists name, to save the boy cheerleader for the republican party, any embarrassment. Now I ask you...would it have been a big surprise to find out the Rush Limbaugh needed Viagra? LOL. And if you did actually care enough to ponder whether or not he needed it, would you really care if the prescription was in his name? It's called being human Rush, lots of folks need a little boost from time to time. :) On the other hand, if your doctors are willing to do something so unethical, do you really think they have your best interests at heart? Or are they enabling your poor behavior?

Here is the thing. There are way too many people claiming to be morally superior to other folks, and forgetting that we are all human. As humans we make mistakes, sometimes big mistakes, but we all do it. Rush Limbaugh loves to sit in judgment of people, so does Bill "SHAME ON YOU" O' Reilly, and certainly Ann Coulter. Everyone thinks that if Jill says this, then Jack must say that. No you don't. Freedom of speech was not meant as a tool to throw in one another's face, it is a liberty to be used with respect to hopefully communicate our views to each other. Without it, we would all be forced to walk around in silence. Think about that for a moment. (Insert silence here for five minutes). Would our world be better off in silence? As asinine as I find the opinions of both Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, I wouldn't want for them to not be able to voice how they really feel about things. Here is what I don't understand. Why do these folks feel that they have to lie in order to express their views? What's the deal with sitting in judgment of me for being a liberal? Who are they to tell me what my level of patriotism is? Or whether or not I can believe in God and still support pro-choice?

Of course, the practice of finger pointing and judging isn't limited to the republican pundits, we have some loud mouths on the democratic side also. Both parties have decided, to a degree, that name calling, and placing lables, is somehow clever. Sigh. What a fine example all this is for the children of this country. Being able to scream the loudest, doesn't make you right. Being able to make a positive change for the better , for the common good, makes you right. Demanding that a TV show you don't like be removed from the air, doesn't make the world safe, ending wars makes you safe. Too many people think that if problem can be hid, it will go away.What a lesson the American military is learning, about hiding details about certain incidents in Iraq. Making abortion illegal won't make it go away, it will simply mean that those who don't want to know it goes on in the world won't have to face how ugly the truth can get. Hide all the social problems, so we don't have to work at finding some real answers and some real solutions. We all want our own way, and we want it NOW! We are a fast food society, and we are dying of our own fatty consumption, a little more everyday.

-OndineMonet
"With Relish On The Side"
Cambria, California
June 28, 2006
Afternoon

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #119: Boston!

"Today is going to be a...less bad day. I can feel it. Sometimes I wake up and know everything is going to be...less bad."

Weekend Assignment#119: Boston! Home of baked beans and the Red Sox. Share some of your favorite (or not so favorite) things about this quintessential New England metropolis. From the Big Dig to local Founding Fathers. It's all up for consideration. For the purpose of this Weekend Assignment, you can consider things near Boston as well (Cambridge or other nearby cities).

Extra Credit: Did you ever want to go to collage at Harvard?

1. My favorite season is autumn. The autumns in California have their moments, but when compared to the autumns in the New England states, California autumnal foliage almost looks black and white. I have always enjoyed seeing photos of the colorful autumns in Boston, as the trees that sit along the Charles river, light the days with crimson red, bright yellow and orange hues. Photographing lighthouses is another passion of mine. So maybe, If I am lucky, one day I will get to visit Boston, during that time of year, and then be able to add some east coast lighthouses to my portfolio, such as the one above which sits in Boston Harbor.

2. One of my all-time favorite show was Ally McBeal. I really identified with her, and in some ways it sometimes seemed like it was actually written based on my weird love life, prior to Alan of course. Also, there were times when my imagination could be as vivid as Ally's was. Still is sometimes. LOL. :) David E. Kelly, the shows brilliant creator, also thought up one of my current favorite shows, Boston Legal. Is James Spader amazing or what?

3. Speaking of great shows...who could forget Cheers? My favorite character was Woody Boyd, played by Woody Harrelson. I don't think I missed a single episode of Cheers, throughout it's 9 seasons. One of my favorite quotes came from a very early episode, which involved Diane's mother meeting Sam Malone...

"Hello Mr. Malone, it's nice to meet you. Why you are almost as handsome as Diane says you think you are."

LOL. How do you not love a place where everyone knows your name? The Cheers bar is modeled after an actual bar in Boston, originally called The Bull & Finch Pub, but which is now known as Cheers because the original name made it difficult to find the bar which was the inspiration for the NBC series, Cheers. You can visit the official web site here. I think it might be nice to have a drink in there one day, it is an interesting part of pop culture history. :) Didn't you love the theme song...

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
By Gary Portnoy

Making the way in the world today takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those nights when you've got no lights, the check is in the mail
And your little angel hung the cat up by the tail
And your third fiance didn't show

Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead, the mornings looking bright
And your shrink runs off to Europe and didn't even right
And your husband wants to be a girl

Be glad there's one place in the world,where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to go where people know
People are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Isn't that a great thought? :) A single, comfortable place where you are accepted for just being you? :)

Like Ally said..."Today is going to be a...less bad day. I can feel it. Sometimes I wake up and know everything is going to be...less bad."

Extra Credit: I thought about it for about five minutes. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't going to be a feasible life path for me. It all worked out for the best anyway. :)

Cheer's
84 Beacon Street
Boston, Massachusetts
(617) 227-9605

-OndineMonet

A Summer Place

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy."

-Anton Chekhov

I went back to the Conservatory of Flowers, in Golden Gate Park, yesterday to see the new butterfly additions for the special exhibit. There weren't as many butterflies on this visit as there were the last time I was there a few weeks ago. So, while they weren't many in numbers there was about 5 new varieties. I noticed something that made me a little sad this time around. There were about 20 or so butterflies of different varieties, that had a good amount of damage to their wings, and I saw about 10 butterflies throughout the exhibit that had passed away. One beautiful little brown butterfly was lying on it's side on top of a large green plant. She looked so tiny. :(

I have to wonder if they are being damaged by all the visitors to the exhibit or if they are emerging from their cocoons already injured. I am hoping that most folks would behave themselves when visiting something as amazingly beautiful as a butterfly exhibit, but one never knows. I observed more then one person batting them away as the little butterflies would try to land on their shoulder or clothing. Why would someone come to this type of exhibit if they were afraid of a butterfly? It makes me sad to think that someone would give up the experience of having a soft, gentle being, such as a gossamer, land on their hand, because they haven't taken the time to learn about how delightful, and beautiful these creatures really are.

The butterfly in the above photo is a Polydamas Swallowtail, and while she was really damaged on one side, and she had to work really hard at flying about from flower to flower, the fact that it was difficult didn't stop her. I admire that. :) I must have spent 20 minutes or so, just watching her live her life. She didn't seem to mind my presence. Maybe she knew how much I admired her...maybe she simply paid no attention to me at all, either way she made my day a little brighter just by living her life so carefree, because it hadn't occurred to her to feel sorry for herself. :)

A Summer Place
By Percy Faith

There's a summer place
Where it may rain or storm
Yet I'm safe and warm
For within, that summer place
Your arms reach out to me
And my heart is free from all care
For it knows

There are no gloomy skies
When seen through the eyes
Of those who are blessed with love

And the sweet secret of
A summer place
Is that it's anywhere
When two people share
All their hopes
All their dreams
All their love

There's a summer place
Where it may rain or storm
Yet I'm safe and warm
In your arms, in your arms
In your arms, in your arms
In your arms, in your arms

-OndineMonet
"Polydamas Swallowtail"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
July 5, 2006
Afternoon

Art About Town...Berkeley

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture everyday of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God implanted in the human soul."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Normal Again...

Ok, so, I had a human moment yesterday...I got angry. The previous entry I wrote in this blog was written at the height of passion, and I meant every word. As good as it felt to sit down to my own blog, open up a vein of my existence, and write an entry that came from deep within my soul...it's not a good feeling to feel that way inside, even if the pain of the emotion soon passes. See, I used to think that anger was inappropriate, something to be avoided at all cost. Anger was something you should deny. One day, one horrible life changing day, I found out how wrong I had been.

I can sit right here and tell you that I have endured my worst day on earth. I didn't think I would when it was happening to me, but survive it I did. I went nuts in the process, but that one particular day didn't kill me, at least not physically. As I went about my recovery, I learned that anger is not something to be feared, or avoided, or thought of as a weakness. Anger is a part of healing. It is one of the five stages of grief...all of us will go through it at one point or another...and when we reach the other side of the pain...we will be healed. I needed to put out that shout yesterday, because I love America, I love my life, I love the freedom of being able to share my life with you through my blog, I love my cat, I love my husband, both more then life itself, and I love the arts. I hate the thought of the possibility that we in America could see a day worse then what we had to see on 9/11. Enough said.

Time to feel normal again. To do that, I focus my energy toward the arts. There is a place here in Berkeley where one can go to embrace everything that is right with the world. That place is the Addison Street Art Walk. Addison street is filled with art and music and poetry all along the avenue. One of my favorite mediums is the poetry plates that line the street on both sides. Some poems were submitted by up and coming poets, some of the poetry plates contain the lyrics to songs, some of the plates quote Shakespeare's sonnets, and even one of two are from the beat generation poets such as Allen Ginsberg, who actually lived a couple blocks over from Addison Street when he wrote part of his once banned work, "Howl." Addison street saves my soul sometimes. Here is one of those beautiful poems that I read today, that reminded me of how good passion in life can feel.

In These Dark Times

You must feel loved when you read this.
Lean against the back of the hand
stroking the back of your neck. Relax.
In the pocket where you once kept marbles
In a bag full of kisses
Open it. Let it go.
Someone is humming in the next room
with a throaty laugh at every missed note
because mistakes don't matter.
No, don't go see
You don't even have to listen.
You are loved.
There's a warm smell coming from the kitchen
and a puppy's nibbling your slippers
but you are too comfortable to get angry.
There are so many people who want this.
Just this.
Believe me, they are not your enemies.

-Julia Vinograd

I am so lucky to have a safe place to go to embrace the beauty of the world, I am so lucky to have my cat sitting on my lap ready to pat away my tears, and no matter what tomorrow brings my way...I am lucky to have that sunrise. Everything is normal again.

-OndineMonet
"Berkeley Poetry Walk"
Berkeley, California
July 4th, 2006
Late Afternoon

How Long Till We Reach Elmo?

"Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war."

-Donald Rumsfeld

To say I am seriously pissed at this moment would be a serious understatement! Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks said it first, then took it back, "I am ashamed to have George W. Bush as our president." I don't think she should have taken it back. So, now I will say it...I am ashamed to have George W. Bush as our president!

Three years ago when the United States invaded Iraq...the very same week by the way...North Korea was marching their military prowess in their streets, flaunting the fact that they HAD weapons of MASS DESTRUCTION. And what did the United States do? We invaded Iraq, instead of concentrating our energies, our diplomacy, our budget on working on a way to try and avoid what happened today at 2:30 PM EST. Today, North Korea launched 2 short range missiles, which landed in the Sea of Japan. Still on the launch pad, and fully loaded, is a long range missile capable of reaching the United States. Does it get much worse then this?

George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condolezza Rice, and others have let us down. They have lied. They have made us the most hated country in the world. They have sent out young men and women off to fight a war without proper equipment. They entered into a military action without an exit strategy, they STILL haven't captured or killed the main threat to America, Osama Bin Laden. We have all learned the government won't be there if there is another natural disaster. So yes, I guess you could say that George Bush is an embarrassment. I make no apologies for my opinion. I will NEVER take it back, so let the casting of stones begin.

The thing is...what are we going to do when we wake up one day, maybe the day after the 4th of July...and America is no longer here? The weapon capable of hitting America, is called a Taep'o Dong 2. Do yourself a favor...go educate yourself!

-OndineMonet

ABC
White House Calls Missle Test 'Provocative'



Note: I went and double check the quote by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks. Here is the correct quote, according to AOL music...

"We're (Dixie Chicks) ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

Natalie...I agree!

Happy Independence Day, July 4, 2006

"If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag...wash it."

-Norman Thomas

There has been a lot of symbolic gestures lately involving our nation's flag. In case you haven't been paying attention you can read all about it here and here. Keep in mind as you raise the flag in honor of the 4th of July...there is more then one way to desecrate the flag. If you are unsure of the proper etiquette for handling our flag, at least for now, see the link below. Happy 4th of July!

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

-Thomas Jefferson




"To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too can be president of the United States."

-George W. Bush

Flag Etiquette

-OndineMonet
"Happy Independence Day"
Sausalito, California
July 4th, 2005
Evening
Bush Photo: AP/Charles Dharapak

Your Monday Photo Shoot: A Bugs Eye View

"Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky."

-Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Pretend you're a bug. Take a picture from that point of a view. You choose the bug: Fly, spider, bee, wasp, caterpillar, fleas, a dung beetle, which used to be Gregor Samasa, whatever. Just make sure you view the world from that point of view.

-John Scalzi (By The Way...)

If I could be any winged creature it would probably be a dragonfly. So, as I look at the above photo I imagine myself thinking the following thoughts...

"MMMMmmm. I love my home. To sit quietly among the water lilies, in the morning sun, is the only way to live. I can sit on this lily pad all day if I want, or I can stretch my wings and do my dragonfly yoga. I'm content with what my life is about, and to be surrounded by beauty and to know inner peace. Now, maybe I will fly over to that lily pad right over there...just for the experience."

What? That could be what a dragonfly might think. LOL :)

-OndineMonet
"A Dragonfly's View"
Conservatory Of Flowers
San Francisco, California
June, 2006
Afternoon

If Blogs Had Dust Jackets

"Whenever I endured or accomplished some difficult task...such as watching television, going out socially or sleeping...I always look forward to rewarding myself with the small pleasure of getting back to my typewriter and writing something."

-Isaac Asimov

This weekend certainly held it's challenges, that was for sure. Elvis didn't want me to sleep, he wanted me to play. When a 30+ pound cat sets his stubborn mind to something, there is no convincing him otherwise. As a result, I am tired...really tired. Hopefully I will be able to get enough rest today (Monday) and Tuesday to be able to go up to Twin Peaks and take photos of the 4th of July fireworks over San Francisco. I look forward to that, but right now, as sore as I am, it's a bit iffy.

So, while I didn't feel like making this a long entry, I did think it would kinda be nice to have a little fun. So, I thought I might share and idea I had today. What if Blogs and Journals had dust jackets, the same as books do. If they did, what might yours say about the author? Hmmmm...now there is a thought. What might mine say? So, with a little bit of fun with my digital camera, I created a self-portrait, then I threw in a little of my sense of humor, and a little bit of my recent past, and here's what I came up with...

"Carly Gordon became a successful citizen journalist by authoring her first journal/blog, "Ellipsis," which she began on AOL in late summer of 2003. Her modest success continues with her second blog, "Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly," after she, along with many of her fellow blog authors, made the exodus from AOL to Blogger following the events of "Black Tuesday." The AOL ad scandal of November, 2005. She is currently working on her first book, a horror story tentatively titled, "Silver Key." Carly currently lives in Berkeley California, with her husband and a cat named Elvis."

LOL. I don't know...maybe if there was such a thing as a dust jacket for blogs and journals, that would be what mine would say. How about you? What would your blogs dust jacket say? If you want to play along, post your entry and come back here and leave me a link so I can see it. I will update this entry so folks can find you. Who knows...maybe it will catch on. :)

Alternately, if you would like to write a review of my blog, "Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly," go for it. Be honest, I can take it. This is your chance to tell it like it is. Feel free to leave your review in the comment thread for this entry. :) Go on...it's ok...I can take it. FRET! LOL. :)

-OndineMonet
"Me at 44 at 4:00 AM"
Berkeley, California
July 2, 2006
4:00 AM

Americana...A Round Robin Promotion

"The common place of America are to me the richest subjects in art. Boys batting flies on vacant lots; little girls playing jacks on the front steps; old me poddling home at twilight...all these things arouse feeling in me."

-Norman Rockwell

When I think of Americana, I always tend to think about the moments of America that have become obsolete. I am not sure why. We have a lot on things that are still just as fashionable and American, as they have always been. Apple pie, Saturday picnics in the park, 4th of July fireworks, fried chicken, Texas style BBQ, baseball games, but somehow I always gravitate toward the Americana of yesterday. In fact, when I was writing Ellipsis on AOL, I began a series I called, "Forgotten Americana," which was my nostalgic tribute and the "Good old Days." I wrote about less of Drive-in movies, the Automat, and the big, yummy, greasy burgers that I used to get, at the now defunct, Red Barn. Anyone remember the "Barn Buster?" Since the age of health food, there has been a definite push for fast food restautrants to prepare their offerings with healthier ingredients. Sigh. Tell the truth...didn't the burgers we used to get as children, back in the 60's and 70's have a wonderful, greasy taste?

I miss that taste. Sigh. But I do see the need for American's to have a more healthy alternative when buying food out. I get that. Heck, most of the time I buy a salad when I am on the run. I love my salads, especially late in the day, as a pick-me-up. Sometimes, I replace my dinner all together with a large Jamba Juice. It gives me a ton of energy, and is full of all the vitamins I miss on those days when I forget to eat. It does a body good. But deep in my heart, sometimes I have to look back in time to when I was a little girl and a hamburger from Foster's Freeze, was such a treat. Ahh...the hamburger...now there is a big bite of Americana if ever there was one. Except did you know the hamburger wasn't actually invented in America at all? Nope, it evolved over time, you can read all about it here.

So, scratching my head, trying to think of what I might do for my next entry in the Round Robin Photo Challenge, since the topic will be Americana. Should I go ahead and photograph some of the great American fads? Hoola-hoops, yo-yo's, Beanie Babies (YUCK). Maybe I will cook an authentic California Cuisine menu, and present it. Or I could photograph a t typical day at the beach, or I could photograph a popular landmark! Nah, could you stand seeing even one more of my photos of the Golden Gate Bridge? LOL. I think I will do some research, maybe Google the word, "Americana" and see what it says. Of course if it says something like, Apple Pie, Fried Chicken, Hoola-Hoops, Rock-and-Roll music, Norman Rockwell and Baseball...I might just scream! LOL.

This is going to be a fun round with the Round Robin Challenges, thank you Cosette, for coming up with this idea for our challenge. We had a great turn out for out last outing, of which the topic was, "Flower Power." We added four new Robins to our photo club! That is an awesome number, and there is always room for more! If you have never played before, why not come along for the challenge of, "Americana." Cosette says that the interpretation can reflect anything truly American, such as customs, folklore, geography, or even history. The date of the challenge will be, Wednesday, July 12th. You can post your entry any time between the midnights of that day, and for up to one week after the challenge date, but you have your best chance of having your entry be seen if you try to post on that date. :) Just drop by the official Round Robin blog to learn all the details. If you haven't played before, please read the ***WELCOME ENTRY & RULES OF PLAY*** entry before you leave us your RSVP.

Cosette... Pandora's Bazaar

Round Robin Challenge: Americana

***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play***

-OndineMonet
"Order In Motion" at an American Diner
Johnny Rocket's
Milpitis, Califorina
Spring, 2005
Evening

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #118: July 4th Memories

"As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."

-George Washington

Weekend Assignment 118: Share some favorite memories of July 4th. You can do it by telling a story or showing some of your favorite pictures of the day...or both! Pretty simple, because, after all, all of us here in the US have lots of July 4th memories.

For those of you in Canada, your favorite July 1st memories will do just fine.

Extra Credit: Note your other favorite historical event that happened on July, 4th. Birthdays, deaths, of notable people count as well.

-John Scalzi

Last July 4th, Alan and decided to go to the vista point on the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge, to photograph the fireworks that were being set off from the Embarcadero in San Francisco. As we set up the tripods, and got things ready to go, we noticed a very loving young couple standing about 10 feet down the side of the rock wall where we set our equipment up. As the vista became more and more filled with families and couples waiting to see the fireworks, the couple moved a little closer to us. Right after the fireworks began, the young man pulled out of his pocket a small box, and presented his lady with a ring. "Will you marry me?" he said. "Yes." she replied. I was torn between photographing the fireworks and watching the cute couple. They were so in love. That's the fun thing about San Francisco, all the romance that one sees here and there throughout the city. It has some magnificent views, and it can be inspiring for those with a romantic soul. :)

My second favorite memory had to do with the first time Alan and I went into the city to see the fireworks. We decided late in the day to make the trek across the bridge, and thought we might head to Pier 39, to watch the fireworks from that area of the Embarcadero. Well, by the time we picked up some Chinese food from our favorite restaurant and made it over the bridge the Embarcadero was more like one big parking lot then anything else. Which worked out great, because it gave us an awesome view of the excitement. The fireworks were literally right in front of us. It was gorgeous, and also a little magical. For a spur of the moment idea, we did everything just right, time wise, to be in the right spot at the right time to see the fantastic fireworks display. :) It was a lot of fun. :)

Extra Credit: I have more then one favorite event, so here goes...

1865: Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland," and it's sequels. On July 4th, 1865, "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland," was published.

1927: Neil Simon, my favorite playwright, was born. I have spent more afternoons reading his plays. He is a genius. :) Sometime, maybe on the 4th of July, treat yourself, and read his play, "The Star-Spangled Girl." It's fantastic. :)

1965- President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Freedom of Information Act into United States Law. The law went into effect the following year.

"Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."

-Benjamin Franklin

-OndineMonet
"July 4th, 2005"
Vista Point
Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge
Sausalito, California
Evening

Real Me

"Nobody grows older merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul."

-Samuel Ullman

I had a good birthday. The ride down to Santa Barbara was a lot of fun, and along the way my camera and I saw some wonderful sights, not the least of which was my beloved Pacific ocean. The water off the central coast is the color of a fine sapphire, with sparkles of light, provided my the sun, dancing off it. Yesterday, you could see all the way to the Channel Islands. It was amazing to eat lunch at my favorite park, Shorline Park, while enjoying the view of the islands, wind surfers, and small crafts enjoying a day in the perfect California sun. The wind provided a coolness to the hot June day. It all came together well.

In my adventures yesterday, I found a nifty new lighthouse to share with you, bought some OMG delicious chocolate at my favorite Danish chocolate shop in Solvang, enjoyed an awesome sunrise and sunset, witnessed a roadside fire! YIKES! We had some adventure when the plastic fender, that sits underneath the actual fender, fell off the car and made a horrible noise. LOL. Scared the Whoopity-doo out of me! LOL. It was a thankfully easy fix. :) We had a fabulous breakfast, bought some apple juice at the Apple Farm, grabbed some popcorn and headed on down the road. :)

When I came home, I was met with a wonderful surprise! Well done Robins! Wednesday's Round Robin was a fabulous success, and we also gained some new members! A big WELCOME goes out to John, Julia, Janet and Pamela! It's so nice to meet all of you and to have you join our photography challenge group! I think that is the most new members we have had join us for a single challenge since Karen and I began the Round Robins. :) Cool! Kudos large, goes out to my co-founder Karen, for the awesome job she did yesterday all on her own. That was a hectic day for her, and she really did an awesome job of covering everything alone. Karen, if I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times...YOU ROCK!

Turning 44 is wonderful! I love being my age. I have earned respect, and I am treated so much better now then when I was in my 20's. I appreciate things more now, then earlier in my life. I find my passions are much deeper now then ever. All my passions. ;) I feel more sexy now then ever before, because I think I am more comfortable now then ever before. Self-confidence is a good thing, and while I will always try to improve myself, I know I can trust myself more now...at this time in life. No more second guessing everything. There is a big difference between being thoughtful about decisions, and ruminating over the "what-ifs and the coulda, shoulda, wouldas."

Fibromyalgia kicked me in the patooty, I have a few more aches and pains then I used to, I have to really plan when it comes to big outings like the drive to Santa Barbara, my brown hair is now dotted with gray, I have some laugh lines caused by my weird sense of humor, but the mermaid who lives inside me is content, and happy with who she is. I am in the autumn of life, and y'all know how much I enjoy a colorful, brisk autumn day. I shot the above self-portrait while I was in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday.Yep, that's me. The only thing you can't really see is my long hair. It is over 5 feet now. :) Someday, I should really get it cut. LOL.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and cards you sent me. Life is good!

Age is opportunity no less, than youth itself
though in another dress, and as the evening
twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars
invisible by day.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

-OndineMonet
"Real Me"
San Luis Obispo, California
June 28, 2006
Late Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Flower Power

"Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and different; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock."

-Henry Ward Beecher

When I saw the theme for this edition of the Round Robin Challenges was, "Flower Power,"I couldn't help but think about what is was like to be a little girl, living in the Bay Area, during the peak of the "Flower Power" counter-culture movement. The summer of 1967 saw the exodus of more then 75,000 young people coming to San Francisco and Berkeley to experience the hippie movement. Some stayed in the Bay Area at the end of the summer, but some returned home, and brought with them, new styles, ideas and ideals, and behaviors that were embraced during that summertime. Earlier in the year, and what may have actually kicked-off the philosophy of "Make Love Not War" was the Human Be-In, which was held in Golden Gate Park in January of 1967. To wear a flower was a symbolic statement of peace and love.

I was 5 years old that summer, but I was well aware of what was going on around me. My brother was half-way around the world in Vietnam, my sister was in high school, and she and her friends all wore flowers in their hair. One particular memory that stands out, was when she and a her friend painted different types of flowers on my face and arms, then made me a flower crown. I was thrilled to be a part of something that, at least in theory, was about cherishing life filled with beauty, not destruction, understanding not intolerance, peace, not war. While I may not have understood for a few more years that the counter-culture movement also had a darker side to it, I knew I wanted my brother home. When I look back, I think I learned during that summer to not take things, places, people, or flowers for granted. :)

Be sure to pay a visit to all the Round Robins, to see their interpretations of this challenge. Just click on the links below. Thank you Renee, this was a lot of fun. :)

Renee - TCS2
Karen- Outpost Mavarin
Carly- Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly
Valorie- Retrospect USA
Sara- Animated Seasons
Julie- Julie's Web Journal
Connie- MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
Patrick- Patrick's Portfolio
John- Personal effects***Welcome New Member***
Dorn- Through The Eyes Of The Beholder
Deslily- Here, There and Everywhere 2nd Edition
Nancy- Nancy Luvs Pix
Robin- Search The Sea
Suzanne- New Suzanne R's Life
Tammy- The Daily Warrior
Julia- The Bohemian Eye***Welcome New Member***
Janet- Fond Of Snape ***Welcome New Member***
-rRose- WAIT-NOTYET
Phinney- Paragon
Pamela- Times of My Life, One Nurses Story***Welcome New Member***
Amy- My Life And Pictures

NOTE: I will be out of town until Saturday. My Birthday is Thursday, so I will be taking a few days off to have a little fun-in-the-sun in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, where apple juice awaits ;) I promise to update my blog to add any additional links that come in late, and pay all of you a visit when I return. See you soon!

Always, Carly

-OndineMonet
"Flower Power"
Berkeley, California
June 28, 2006
Evening

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Patterns And Textures

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."

-Claude Monet

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Find an interesting patter or texture somewhere in your home. Take a picture of it.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

One day I was out window shopping, I was just wanting to be out in the sun, when I passed by the window of a small women's specialty store, and there in the window was a beautiful pink floral scarf. The pattern was so beautiful, just pink roses contrasted with a lovely shade of green for the stems and leaves of the roses. Being a girly-girl I couldn't pass it up. I rarely wear scarves, unless it is on a really cool night, and then it depends on the outfit I am wearing, so I use the scarf as throw for a small table I keep in my bedroom. On top of the scarf is a pretty art-deco vase, with a pink silk rose, and some rose scented potpourri in it. The day I bought the scarf, I couldn't take my eyes off it's pretty pattern, and even now, all these years later, it still makes me feel happy and calm just by looking at it. :)

-OndineMonet
"The Rose Scarf"
June 26, 2006
Berkeley, California
Evening

The Omen (2006) A Movie Review

"From the eternal sea he rises. Creating armies on either shore. Turning man against his brother. Until man exists no more."

-Poem from The Omen

I have come to believe that perhaps Hollywood has just simply run out of new ideas. Jeeze...how many movie remakes have we had in the past few years? Gone In 60 Seconds, The Poseidon Adventure, The Fog, and so on, but let's also count the remakes of almost every primetime program that the late Aaron Spelling ever produced, such as Charlie's Angels, and Starsky & Hutch. Not that Aaron Spelling wasn't a genius, but truly, enough already. In my opinion going to the movies has gotten so dull, that it makes one want to crack open a book. LOL. Not a bad idea, considering the prices at the concessions stand.

So, while there really hasn't been too much making me all excited about going to the movies lately, we were given free movie tickets as a promotional perk, and a night out, especially when the weather is hotter then...well you know where...is just what the psychiatrist ordered, so why not make the best of it and go see the remake of the month?Even if this month's official remake is of the 1976 horror classic,The Omen.

I have to say, it wasn't bad as remakes go. Unlike the original however, there were one or two maybe three moments that provided some clearly unintentional humor. Such as when Robert Thorn is driving through London, at night, in a torrential rainstorm, and as he turns a corner onto a very dark, narrow street, right there, clear as day, is a large Kentucky Fried Chicken sign. LOL. Still I suppose that if I ever have to save the world from evil, literally, it will be a comfort to know that, assuming I am successful, I can always drop in and pick up an order of popcorn chicken. LOL. There were also some obvious editing errors throughout the film, but nothing that really took away from the plot, if you can overlook the occasional boom microphone.

The thing is, it stuck to the original David Seltzer screenplay. Always a plus when I consider a film remake. The characters played out true, if only a little understated at times, and it was nifty to see Mia Farrow in the role of Damien's evil nanny, Mrs. Baylock. Julia Stiles was very good as Katherine Thorn, but I found Liev Schreiber's performance,as Damien's skeptical father, Robert Thorn, a bit still and unemotional. Of course Schreiber was filling the shoes of Gregory Peck, who portrayed Ambassador Thorn in the original film, that couldn't have been easy.

When it came to Damien himself, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick did a fair job in the part of Satan's son, but again, how do you surpass the performance of the original Damien, Harvey Stephens. That evil little grin at the end of the 1976 movie, was an absolutely perfect, chilling moment, that left one with a good case of the wiggins, which is what a spooky movie is supposed to do. In the remake Davey-Fitzpatrick simply doesn't pull it off with the same sinister emotion, not even close. Pouty yes, evil not so much. Still, putting my pet peeves aside, it was a good movie, but if you are looking for the same chills of the first film, you simply won't find them here. I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 kernels of popcorn.

Note: Harvey Stephens, who portrayed the original Damien, has a cameo in the 2006 version as a tabloid reporter.

-OndineMonet
"United Artists Shattuck"
Berkeley, California
June 22, 2006
Late Afternoon

Steven's Feline Friday: Elvis Tends Garden

"Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life, and relax completely?"

-Karen Brademeyer

I set the timer, I had everything all set to go, there was a plan. LOL. Famous last words. Tee Hee. This was going to be a portrait of Elvis and me, but an attack of the sneezes occurred just as the timer went off. When thing happened not once, not twice, but three times in a row I gave up. Besides as understanding as my kitty Elvis is, having me sneeze on him is not one of the activities he enjoys doing with me the most. Lately, his favorite thing to do is gardening. That consists of me picking out the flowers and vegetables, planting them, watering them, and his job of checking on them every day, by walking around the fencing that surrounds the garden, and touching each plant gently with his paw. I watch him every morning as he repeats his responsibility with great care, as to not damage the flowers and vegetables. :) And oh yeah, he also makes sure that our garden Godzilla's are always upright...but if one falls...he always lets me know. :) I love this cat. :)

Be sure to play along with Feline Friday, over at my friend Steven's blog, "(sometimes) photoblog." Friday's are for Felines. :)

-OndineMonet
"Elvis & Me"
Berkeley, California
June 22, 2006
Afternoon

Scenes From A Rock Concert: Greg Kihn

"If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance."

-Bern Williams

Last night we went to the opening night of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's," Concert On The Beach" series. Greg Kihn kicked off the summer long event, and what a great beginning it was! He is a fabulous showman and quite personable with the audience. :) It was especially nice in Santa Cruz yesterday, with temperatures 30 degrees cooler then they have been for the last week or so. It was so comfortable that everyone was pretty much in the mood for the beach...and a lot of fun. Tons of beach balls flew across the audience, and lots of dancing right under the stage. ;)

And lets not forget the tunes...

Jeopardy, By Greg Kihn

Where were you, when I needed you

Well you could not be found

What can I do, Oh I believed in you

You're running me around

Well you can take it, as a warning

Or take it anyway you like

It's lightning, not the thunder

You never know where it will strike

Our love's in jeopardy...baby

Ooooh-ooh-oooooh

Our love's in jeopardy...baby

Ooooh-ooh-oooooh

Don't be cute, don't be funny now

It's later then you think

Oh, what's the use

Save your money now

It's hanging on the brink

Don't let go, while I'm hanging on

'Cause I been hanging on so long

It's so hard to be all alone

I know you're not that strong

Yeah, yeah...

Our love's in jeopardy, baby

Ooooh-ooh-oooooh

I love that lyric...

"Don't let go, while I'm hanging on

'Cause I been hanging on so long

It's so hard to be all alone

I know you're not that strong."

:) I love music, I love my camera, I love the beach...and oh how I love the month of June! :)

"Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to the loneliness."

-Maya Angelou

-OndineMonet

"Scenes From A Concert"

Santa Cruz, California

June 23, 2006

Evening

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #117: Chores You Hate

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint."

-Erma Bombeck

Weekend Assignment #117: We all have to do chores around the house. Which chore do you like to do the least?

Extra Credit: Do you recycle?

-John Scalzi

It's been so HOT here in the Bay Area the last few days, in fact, we have broken a few records here and there. Here in in Alameda County, where I live, we were issued a severe weather advisory because of the unusually high temperatures. When it is like this, I have NO desire to do anything, let alone do household chores. And I get a bit grouchy too. But life goes on and so does what needs to be done. So, I chose cleaning the cat box as my least favorite chore to do, particularly on a hot summer's day. I could go into detail about why, but I am fairly sure you already know what's involved. LOL. Instead I wrote a pleasant Haiku that is both informative and enjoyable. :)

Cat Box Memories (Haiku)
By Carly Gordon

Scooping soiled sand
My cat Elvis has chores too
His box is now clean

Tee Hee! ;) Extra Credit: Yes, I certainly do. Elvis makes me. Ever since he was a small kitten he has insisted that it is only 4 plastic bottles per bag, no matter how big or small the bag is. If there are more then 4 bottles in the bag, he will remove the extras and stack them in neat groups of 4 next to the recycle bag. We have watched, in amazement, as he does this. It seems to be his pet peeve or something. LOL.

-OndineMonet

Boxers or Briefs?

"Life is like a B movie: It's stupid, it's strange, it's a directionless story, the dialogue is lame, but in the 'he said, she said' sometimes there's some poetry, if you turn your back long enough and let it happen naturally."

-Ani Difranco

I think I have shared here on Ellipsis that I love old movies, especially the classic, black/white comedies. There is nothing like that humor, it is certainly difficult to find movies today, that can carry off the simplicity of those wonderful old films. It totally makes my day to relax in front of a good black & white comedy, or maybe sometimes, something kind of spooky depending on my mood. So, it wouldn't be a big surprise to learn that while I was up in the wee hours of the morning, the other day, working on my blog and making some forward progress on my book, I was also tuned into Turner Classic Movies watching one of my very favorite of the old movie comedies,"Abbott And Costello Meet The Invisible Man."

The popcorn was popped, and I was sitting back enjoying the very best of all worlds. A slightly spooky movie, that also contained some wonderful humor. What more could a movie buff ask for? :) I was in classic film bliss. About a third of the way through the movie however, something occurred to me. It was a curious thought to be sure. I wasn't even sure why I had noticed it this time,as opposed to the dozen or more times before that I had seen this film, but there it was, plain as the nose on one's face. Was it a censor thing? Was it an oversight on the part of the screenwriter? I wasn't quite sure, all I really knew was that I had found a new element within that film to laugh about, and a whole new layer to consider. See, I all of a sudden realized that the Invisible Man, that Abbott and Costello met, walked around commando.

Now by commando, I don't mean he walked around with large, intimidating weaponry in his hands, no I mean he didn't wear any underwear underneath his finely tailored slacks. Now in all fairness, he was being pursued by the police after being falsely accused of a murder he didn't commit. So he did have a lot more on his mind then remembering to put on his, Hanes or Fruit of the Looms. After all, Madison Avenue didn't have catchy little advertising jingles for undies back then like, "You Can't Over Love Your Underwear." If they had, he probably would have put some thought into what he wore underneath it all. Especially since after he swallowed the potion that made him invisible, he was going to be undressing in front of private eye, Lou Francis, played by, Lou Costello.

It is quite the mystery don't you think? What do you suppose a well dressed man, such as the invisible man, would have worn back then? Do you think he was a briefs man or a boxers kinda guy? Or did he in fact go around commando? I know there are more important questions in the grand scheme of things, but I am kinda curious about this one, because it presents an interesting question about censorship, and what may or may not have been considered acceptable in 1951.

If in fact it did have to do with censorship, and there was some rule about what articles of clothing were deemed unreasonable for removal back then, why stop with the undies? Why not simply have the invisible man step behind a curtain or maybe a screen? Wouldn't watching the invisible man's silhouette slowly disappear behind a screen be kind of eerie to watch? Maybe, maybe not. Still, I wish I knew the answer either way. I know one thing for sure...I will probably never think of the invisible man the same way again. Isn't that great, to be able to find something new, and of interest from a fine old film that was already wonderful...just the way it was? :)

During the deluge of boring summer repeats and silly reality programs, try something different, try picking out a fine old film, and enjoy it for all the reasons that make classic films CLASSIC! And don't forget to tell me what you think. What do you say...Boxers or Briefs?

Turner Classic Movie Schedule June 2006

-OndineMonet

I Think Micky Found Out!

"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music."

-Victor Hugo

One of the brightest moments last year, happened on a hot night in August, when Micky Dolenz took the stage at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to perform a free concert on the beach. It was a lifelong dream to finally see my favorite Monkee, and one of the great loves of my life, in person. If I said it once, I probably said it a 1,000 times..."I'm A Believer!" Just ask Karen! LOL. It felt so good to just sit back and enjoy the crowd, and the music, and the man himself. My heart was so full last summer, I was sad, and frightened, and not feeling too well, because I hadn't been properly diagnosed yet, but when he came out on the stage... all that faded away, and all I felt was...well...alive, and in the moment.

I think he may have found out about all those gushing entries I wrote on the AOL version of Ellipsis, because he isn't doing the concert series on the beach this year, RATS! LOL. That's ok, in his place will be a number of terrific singers and bands, and I have already decided to go to a beach concert at least once a month, beginning this Friday, when Greg Kihn will open the 2006 summer series. :) I will miss Micky Dolenz, he did lift the curse of Santa Cruz after all, but I have always been a big fan of Greg Kihn, so I think it will be a lot of fun. Not to mention a great photo op. :)

According to InfoPlease.com, the 2006 Summer Solstice begins today, June 21, at 8:26 A.M. EDT. And I am really glad it is officially here, because I really need to have a little fun right now. My heart has been so full lately. Yesterday, I finally allowed myself a good long sob. I cried till I couldn't cry anymore. Sometimes, when I least expect it, I find myself missing Pamela. She was a neat lady, and a good friend. I read on her blog today an entry that had been written by her daughter, who is now dealing with the practical matters that come up when you lose someone. I sure know about those details. :( I started to leave her a comment of support...but I...couldn't find the words. :( I felt like a coward in that moment, because I couldn't think of even the simplest of messages. I will go back sometime in the next few days and leave her a comment...I just can't stop thinking about having spoken to Pam on the phone just about a year ago, just after she had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Sigh. I miss my friend.

There are a couple other hurts, some little, some a little bigger, but I am ok...just a little tired, so it's time to go and get away from all the pain. Political stuff that both hurts me, and makes me crazy, missing my friends, and so on. I don't like to spend too much time dwelling on the hurts and slights in life. It's been my experience that after a while it becomes a way of life. I won't stand for that anymore. Depression has had it's season in my life. Enough is Enough. So, this Friday night, if you happen to hear a strange screeching sound, riding on the night breeze, don't worry, it will just be me, singing and dancing on the beach in Santa Cruz! LOL. Like Greg Kihn says... "They Don't Write Um Like That Anymore." :)

So tell me, what officially marks the beginning of summer for you? Do you have a favorite summer activity that you never miss? Share with me, in this comment thread, your favorite summertime activity!

-OndineMonet
"Hey Micky"
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California
August, 2005
Early Evening

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Still Life

"We have lost the art of living, and in the most important science of all,the science of daily life, the science of behavior, we are complete ignoramuses. We have psychology instead."

-D.H. Lawrence

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Take a snap of something in a "still life" mode. It doesn't have to be a bowl of fruit, mind you (although there's nothing wrong with a bowl of fruit, if that's your thing). But something that you can get contemplative about would be nice. Also, it doesn't move, unless you go and pick it up.

-John Scalzi

Do you think the above quote by D. H. Lawrence might be true? Have we forgotten the lost art of living. Do we mortals take enough time to just indulge ourselves? Have we forgot the simplest of pleasures?

When I saw the topic of this week's Monday Photo Shoot, I really thought about the term, "Still Life." A still life image begins with the artist choosing a subject that has some meaning to them. Then the artist brings into focus not just the image, but what it means to them personally. It didn't take me long to decide what to photograph, I chose my favorite treat when I need to give myself a break from the world. Chocolate covered strawberries.

I have always believed that when you have a meal, it should be presented with some elegance. So, I made the strawberries, placed them on my favorite French platter and placed a vase with some gorgeous silk roses right next to them. I ate them in my backyard today, while a breeze coming up from the bay, made life feel cool and ticklish, and the Ethereal Musician put soft tunes in my imagination. Today he was playing, "I Try" by Macy Gray. I am really beginning to appreciate life in summer. I know, technically it is still spring, but if today was a taste of what is to come...then it will be sweet, smooth and oh so decadent. :)

-OndineMonet
"Still Life With Chocolate"
Berkeley, California
June 18, 2006
Afternoon