Quinceañera

I have heard about them, over the years, but I have never been a part of one...until yesterday.

My son was asked if he was available to work audio on a Quinceañera and of course, he said yes. Money is money, after all.

Once he accepts, that means his mother comes along since we are a package deal.

Of course that means I go, but I make no additional pay on the gig. :-)

Most of the set up was done before we got there and thankfully, it was an easy job and I could watch the ceremony.




The girl was just beautiful in a wonderful dress that I so expected to be white, but was instead in royal blue and purple. Lots of beadwork on the front and a corset style closing on the back. Full skirts that harken back to those dresses they wore in the deep south. From what I can see online, the dress was designed and made by the House of Wu.


I am sorry that my crappy cell phone camera does not do this girl and her dress justice.

It was gorgeous.

My best to her in her life.

Your Los Angeles Dodgers

I walked into work late on Friday. I had spent the morning in my Aqua Fit class and got in about noon. Just after I sat down at my desk, the phone rang and it was the president of my TV Station. He asked me if I was a baseball fan. I replied that I could be. :-)
He then offered me 2 tickets to last nights game, between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, which included preferred parking and primo field level seats behind home plate. I called my husband and he agreed to go with me, so we accepted.

The Dodgers are way behind in the standings. The McCourt's messy divorce and the taking over of the club by Major League Baseball, has taken it's toll. Though I happened to notice that after the All Star Break, they seem to have gained some momentum. I sent up a prayer that the game would be one of the ones that they would win. That turned out to be the case. Final score was 9 to 5 Dodgers.

Last nights game turned out to be a high scoring game, that was close all the way to the 8th inning. The fact that we won made it even sweeter.

On Friday nights after the game, there are fireworks, which were so cool. My husband and I mentioned to each other that some were fireworks we had never seen before.

A great end to a unexpected event. So glad we went.

Jerry's Soda Shoppe: An Update

I have already blogged about my Husband's cousin's Drug Store, that has a soda fountain in it. It was almost a year ago, that I wrote this post and if you don't remember it, you can see it HERE.

This week, our cousin's daughter (also our cousin) posted a wonderful review that she found in the LA Weekly and the subject was...her father's soda shoppe!

Here it is, for you to read. Jerry's Soda Shoppe

I thought it was a wonderful review of the place and it basically says that people should go out of their way, to check it out. The reviewer also mentions that it harkens back to something that we don't see now days and that was exactly the point. The soda fountain it was modeled after, was standard fare in Chicago, back in the day. I am sure it is not anymore, but it's nice to have that touchstone to the old ways and old times. Jerry definitely did right by his adopted home, Los Angeles, and it is good to see him finally getting some recognition for it.

Del Taco Has Arrived

We have been waiting months for this day. A reason for our employees to jay walk. WOOT! :-)

We had a Pioneer Chicken across the street from work, for the past 30 plus years, but it closed at the end of last year and has been empty since. Add in the closed Circuit City and the empty corner building and that triangular piece of property directly across the street from us has exactly 1 business left and that is a landscape nursery. It has been dismal.

That has ended, since our Del Taco moved in. I happen to like an occasional Del Taco and truly appreciate a local place to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Too bad we are leaving in 9 months or so.

Welcome Del Taco!

There May Be No Heaven Anywhere...

The other day I was looking for my pass onto Edward's AFB to watch the shuttle land. I mistakenly thought I had it in my miniature Lane Cedar Chest.

That box, that I received for my High School graduation, has some of my oldest treasures in it. I didn't find the pass I was looking for, but I found something else that brings me way back to 1974, when my family drove across the Country and visited (among other things) San Francisco. Since I just visited that lovely city by the bay, I decided to scan the memento from that trip.
I had it taped up on my bedroom wall for 5 years, until the day I moved out on my own. I don't remember where I bought it, but it speaks to me of an incredible city that I really loved visiting. The "hippie" vibe was definitely still around that town in the early 70's, with lots of hand made crafts for sale right on the sidewalks. My sister and I bought leather bracelets (which only remains in my memory, since I haven't seen it in decades). I remember buying it from a hippie with a display up at the top of Coit Tower. I lost it in Chula Vista a few days later and managed to recover it the next morning, as we left town.

The history of this postcard, I have no idea about. Except to know that its spirit from yesterday, is still just as powerful today...and thank God for that.




...but somewhere there is a San Francisco.

Way Back When, In 1981

When I was pulling photos of that long ago space flight that I posted back on Saturday, I happened upon a few photos we took back in July of 1981. My sister was out to visit and we went to Ventura, to show her the coast that my husband and I love so much.

When I was looking at this photo, what amazed me the most was that my hair was quite a bit like how I wear it now days. Minus the part in my bangs, that is.

The last auction that KCET ever had, was May of that year and in this photo, I am proudly wearing the shirt. Little did I know it was going to be the last auction. We did them every year and it was 7 days of utter hell...but I do miss it.

K-Dock And The Sea Lion

My Water Post For Today.

It is not pretty, but the sea lions deserve a moment in the spotlight.

K-Dock was basically deserted at Pier 39. Normally the sea lions totally dominate this area. Instead, they have traveled down to the warmer waters by Ventura to breed with their females. The females like the warmer water, so the men need to come to them...and they do. (how predictable) :-)

Enjoy, the one sea lion who decided to show us a good time and the water of San Francisco Bay, by Pier 39's K-Dock.

A Twenty One Gun Salute

My marine son, just 2 weeks married, has turned 21. In honor of that fact, he came up to Santa Clarita, possibly for the last time. He and his wife are picking up the wedding gifts and other things, to make their new house, a home. It is pretty outrageous...he and his wife now occupy a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath house, on base. They are quite lucky that he was promoted just before the wedding and now qualifies for base housing.

In honor of his birthday, I took the group out for sushi dinner. After we ate, we ordered some deep friend ice cream for the birthday boy and they turned up the electronica music and strobed the lights, to celebrate it.

It was quite the thing. :-)

Happy Birthday my number 1 son. Many more!



Now the others follow in close order...with my real son, coming up next.

The End Of The Space Shuttle

This past Thursday was the final landing of a Space Shuttle. The program has finally come to an end, after 30 years.
It has become routine and people hardly even knew they went up or landed, unless you were near the landing site. It was, of course, hard to miss that sonic boom. :-)

As you can see from these blurry photos...I was there for a shuttle landing. It wasn't just any landing, it was the 2nd landing. Edwards Air Force Base, back in November of 1981. We somehow got a pass to get on base and we drove all the way to hell and back on the other side of the runway, to see it land. The thing I remember the most was that we stupidly forgot to check our gas, on the way in and waiting for hours in a cue that was bumper to bumper, I was sure we were going to run out of gas. Thankfully for my future son, we made it out, via the south gate and got to Little Rock, before the gas disappeared.



As you can see in photo number 2, we weren't even close, but it was dramatic as all heck. They were worried about contamination coming back from space, so they kept everyone away and kept the shuttle crew in the ship for quite a bit, before finally letting them out.

It was a good day to be an American living in Southern California. That's for sure.

As a big Star Trek fan, this is a very bittersweet moment in history, for me. No real future project, to follow this program. I know I am not alone in my sadness.

Goodbye Shuttle. I have enjoyed reaching for the stars with you.



If you want to read about this flight of the space shuttle, it is linked here. STS2

The Ants Are Marching One By One

This is what I came home to last night (you may need to click on the photos, to see how they look in their full glory).


Ants all around, with long trails, all over my kitchen counter and sink.

I can't totally blame my 2 guys, but I can definitely partially blame my two guys, who are home all day to fight this. How tough is it to keep up with? Seriously?

But, who ends up fighting them? One guess folks...

Yes, that would be me.




Well last night I decided to ignore it for a while. I took my shower and I filed two months worth of bills in the den and then around 10PM, I revisited the mess that was my kitchen. The dishes had been done, but the ants were still running around. So I had to begin the process of dealing with them. I go through a lot of Windex, when I deal with them.


I made definite inroads, but woke up in the morning to the same basic thing. Clean counters and a small amount of ants. Well, it was better then I had seen last night.

The war continues...

Driven To Tears

I have been trying to get a photo of this bus billboard for the past month...but as buses are wont to do, they are constantly on the move and almost impossible to photograph.
I truly believe someone at Metro must be a Police fan. I know that every time I see this billboard, I start to sing their song, Driven to Tears. Truly one of the great songs from their years as The Police. This song was so good, that Sting even uses it in his solo concerts, after he struck out on his own. He slowed it down a bit, but it still kills.

Here is the song...vintage Police, Andy Summers with a wicked guitar solo, and Stewart Copeland driving the tune, with his drum work. Sting...well he is just being Sting, monster bass work and killer vocals. There is none better.

The performance was way back in 1980. Driven to Tears.

Enjoy!

Children's Hospital Makes The Big Move

Last Sunday a monumental move took place at Children's Hospital. Over 200 patients were moved from the old hospital, to the new Inpatient Tower, that I have documented over the past several years. From what I heard it was a very difficult move because up to 7 staff had to move the different pieces of equipment connected to these young patients. It went flawlessly, from what the press reported.

On Monday morning, the big difference was that there were smiling faces looking out so many of those windows. I had thought that staff would have those rooms, but instead, they gave them to the children. A wonderful thing, major kudos to the hospital.

As I left work yesterday afternoon, I heard the familiar drone of a helicopter coming in over our lot. I watched it and amazingly, it landed on the helipad up on the new building. My first sighting.

The best to them, as they work on their 2nd hundred years of serving the children of Los Angeles.

The End Of The Line

Carmageddon last weekend pointed out something that you blog readers know and yet most all residents in Los Angeles don't. The citizens of Los Angeles have no clue that there is a subway that runs in their city. I know...it just astounds me, every time I come face to face with this reality. The facts though, point to just that, because hardly anyone thought to take the subway to the Union Station Fly Away, to get to LAX. Their loss.

I thought that since I took this photo about a week or so ago, I would post it. This is the end of the line. North Hollywood Station was not supposed to be the end of the Red Line, but that is exactly what it ended up being. As such, it has quite a bit of extra track down at the end and as you can see, it is quite full of extra stuff. They usually have at least 1 train stored there, in case there is a delay and we don't get a train on time. They have a third track in the middle, for additional trains, too. It is huge and (of course) if we ever get our act together and bring this subway somewhere that people would consider a worthy location, this area gives them a head start toward that.

For those who are into such things...if you look close, you can see me shooting this photo. :-)

The City By The Bay

My Water Post For Today.

I believe I mentioned last week, that I also got shots of the waves crashing in front of the city of San Francisco and I thought I would post one of them, for you all. Nothing is quite as dramatic as the bridge itself, but I do love the look of the city off in the distance. The waves just add to that view.

Just a quick turn of my camera, from the Golden Gate Bridge and there you have it. Enjoy.

Be A Man

A quick trip back to the wedding...

I had heard in advance that the song from the Disney film, Mulan "Be A Man" was going to be played at the wedding. The mother of the groom and the fiancée both had no idea why. Well, as some of the parents who shuttled these former JROTC cadets around, we were used to them breaking into this song, from the back seat of the car. It sort of became their "Thing". They were great at it, too and it always made me laugh.

We were thinking of leaving the party and I realized that the groom was talking to the DJ. That was my hint that it was the moment to Be A Man. (Click the link to hear it.)

I was right and I managed to record a verse and get it uploaded onto You Tube. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It was probably the highlight of the wedding for me.

I love those JROTC kids to this day.

The Big Weekend

Only in LA do you end up with a 3 ring circus when you shut down a piece of a freeway. That is what is happening just 3 hours before this post goes up. At Midnight on Friday (Saturday Morning) the 405 Freeway will be closed to traffic, while they take down half of a bridge. Lucky for us, we not only have to live through this weekend, but we get to do it all over again, next year, when the other half of the bridge goes down. Sigh...

I read the other day that Jet Blue is flying people from Burbank airport to Long Beach airport for a total of $4. What a deal!
After those flights sold out in record time, a group of bicyclists decided to capitalize on the publicity and are going to race the plane to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. We will see who wins later on today. :-)

I personally think it's not going to amount to much of anything. Except ratings for the TV stations in LA. Just in case, I have absolutely no plans to leave Santa Clarita. Any work I have, can wait til Monday. :-)

Things Seen In The Facebook Lobby

When we visited Facebook, were were (of course) not allowed to take photos. What we were allowed to photograph, were things in the lobby. I showed off one of those things the other day. It was a Facebook launch back in 2005, where every employee who worked there at the time, signed the photo of the Facebook Logo.
There were other things of interest in the lobby and I thought I would spend a few minutes showing those off.

The first thing you notice when you come in, is a map of the world...actually part of a world. The only parts that show up, are Countries that have Facebook users in them. China and Russia are basically black and not seen on this globe. The lines that you can see in this photo, are friends who are connecting. When you friend someone, you show up for a second or so, on this image. I thought that was pretty darn interesting. (Sorry about the flash flare up at the top of the photo).



The second thing that was in the Lobby was a ball, which I didn't understand until the end of my tour. Every person who signs in gets a name tag and when you are finished with your business, they put it on this HUGE ball that is on the floor. I got a real kick out of that. Just imagine how many are there and how many years worth of tags are on it. It staggers the mind.

In a sad note, the person who gave us the tour just quit Facebook and today is her last day working for them. Why, you may ask. I have no idea.
She plans to travel, at least for a bit.

Ah, to be young and unencumbered with life's responsibilities...

I hope you enjoyed a look at the parts of Facebook that I could show you.

5.11 Tactical

One of my son's favorite places to shop for military, police, and security products, is a place called LA Police Gear, which just happens to be local to us here in Santa Clarita. One of the main suppliers of products to them, is a company called 5.11 Tactical.

By pure chance, my son realized that their headquarters is within a mile or so of the home of my number 1 "Other" son's wife. So on Saturday morning of the wedding, we took a road trip over to see 5.11 Tactical.

It is in an industrial park just north of her development. Almost outside of Modesto totally. The building is fairly new and when we peeked inside the lobby, they had models showing off some of their products. We got a good laugh out of that.




I currently carry my stuff in one of their back packs, wear a really nice and light black jacket from them. It even has room for my guns...say what?
I also own a pair of coyote colored hiking boots for winter weather and hiking, which I bought for a song, at $19.99.

Truly, if you keep an eye out, you can find some outrageous close out prices.

If you are wondering (as I was) what the name means, here it is from their website.

5.11 Tactical® Pants with the trademarked tactical strap and slash pocket design were originally developed for rock climbing. “5.11” is a rock climbing difficulty level as listed in the Yosemite Decimal System. With skill levels ranging from 5.0 (easy) to 5.10 (difficult), 5.11 is even more grueling. 5.11 is officially defined as, “After thorough inspection, you conclude this move is obviously impossible; however, occasionally someone actually accomplishes it.”

We were glad to check out this place and were sad that we couldn't look around a store and check things out in person, like we do at an Army Navy Store.

Cool thing number one, on our trip north.

Wildflowers!

While we visited our friend in Monterey, she took us to their new Library. On the side of the building were all these wildflowers growing. She thought they just grew on their own, but I am sure it is a wildflower mix. They probably sprayed seeds onto the dirt and got them to grow that way.

It was quite nice to see all those flowers, with the different colors, all mixed up.

There were regular poppies and, of course, the orange flowers are California Poppies, our state flower. I saw blue bells, also, but they did not end up in this photo.

I have no idea what the pink ones are, or the fuchsia ones, either.

Compared to the beach sand and trees that are around the coast in that area (think Pebble Beach), it was a nice change of pace.

Facebook And Monterey

First off, Happy 31st Anniversary to my Husband. :-)



It was quite a whirlwind weekend. The wedding on Saturday, San Francisco on Sunday and Facebook and Monterey on Monday. After all that was done, we had a 5 hour trip home. Wow.

After packing up and having breakfast, we headed down the 101 Freeway to Palo Alto, the current home of Facebook. I have a friend who I grew up with and her daughter has worked for them for the past 4 years. She graciously gave us a quick tour of their current office. They will be soon moving to much larger quarters in the former Sun Microsystems complex by the San Mateo Bridge. Closer to San Francisco and much more visible. We had to all sign non disclosure agreements, before we could get into the building, which I wasn't surprised about. As my Husband said, it was basically what we expected from Facebook. Lots of writing on the walls, no carpet on the floor and open work spaces. The lunchroom was tremendous, though. Wow!
My guys were impressed and sorry that we could not stay for lunch there...but we had another stop along the 101, before we could set out for home.


Which brings us to the other place we went.

One of my son's friends goes to California State University Monterey Bay. She has been up there for the past 3 years, so she is missed by my son and his friend. Since she rarely gets down to us, we stopped to see her. We got to see a bit of her campus, which is on the Fort Ord base. Very bizarre, but as you can see in the photo, it has some nice buildings, too.

We had a late lunch and caught up and all and all, enjoyed our last day of vacation.

Good to see you all. Now back to the real world, today.

Waves Crashing At The Golden Gate Bridge

My Water Post For Today.

It is impossible for me to come to the bay area, without making the journey to the Golden Gate Bridge. We actually had taken the BART into the Fisherman's Wharf area and then returned to our hotel, after lunch, to get our car. We then drove back into San Francisco, just to get up close and personal with the bridge. My son is a big fan and always is happiest feeling the wind on his face and the structure in front of him, to touch, examine and enjoy.
It never grows old.

Amazingly, it was not foggy at 4PM, but the wind was definitely blowing and so the waves were rough. That made for some good photography and this shot was the best.

Enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge and the waves. The BEST part of San Francisco!

Married

The deed has been done.

Yes, there were last minute dramatics and the ceremony was almost 1/2 hour late, due to the hair stylist being an hour late to the house...but the bride's hair and makeup got done, we were finally ready to go.

The bride looked beautiful as a bride should look and the groom looked so regal in his Marine dress Blues.

I was proud to have my 3 sons up on the altar and "Shoe Polish" son in the audience. It was a predictable wedding with cake and dancing and bouquet and garter. My number 2 son caught the garter. Hmmmm...

My best to them both as they begin their journey together.

I know I speak for all when I say...so glad that it is OVER!

The Wedding Is Today

Today is the day!

It has been 7 months of hell for the couple, but after this day is over, they will be Mr and Mrs.
Wish them luck, as they tie the knot.

It has been a rocky road, but I send nothing but my best to them, on this, their wedding day. They are really going to need it.

Photos to follow, of course, but here is a photo I took at the rehearsal.

Steely Dan At The Santa Barbara Bowl - My Concert Review

This is what I wrote on the Steely Dan Website, in regard to the concert on Wednesday night.



Santa Barbara Shuffle Diplomacy Review

WHAT A NIGHT!

The End. :-)

-----------------------------


Actually, I loved the venue. Santa Barbara Bowl is just beautiful. Lots of money going into the renovation of it and it shows. Take a look at these photos, which were the only ones I could take. The first one is the view of the Channel Islands, from our seat. The second is my view of the stage and the third, the rest of the bowl.


On a personal level, I just couldn't get over being just 12 rows from The Donald and for the first time, I could see him playing his keyboard. It was mystical and wonderful and just added to the magic of the evening. The only bad part is that I was the last seat in row 12 and that meant that I had to keep getting up to let people in and out and more importantly, I had to not use my camera, because security was "SO OUTRAGEOUS"! My Husband (many on you know how even tempered he is) finally got into a shouting match with the security guard, because he kept shining the flashlight at him, to check out the lady with a cell phone next to him. She had a set list and was checking it each song. She was not taking photos, but he kept coming at her anyway. It was truly a royal pain!

Me and 4 others behind me danced the entire show. We were the people over on the far camera right totally enjoying the evening. Some guy passed us by and said he wanted to come over for our after party. We thought that was pretty funny, actually.

EMG being played for the first time since 2003 (if memory serves) was just Masterful! Folks, it was an interesting song in 2003, but the words now days just show that Steely Dan was 5 years ahead of their time with this song. You couldn't write a better song about this current depressing economic downturn.



I enjoyed the way they shifted the songs around, I had seen the set list, but didn't have it memorized, so it was a nice change for me. I think Paso Robles was the only other time I was so clueless about the set.
I would have liked them to try out something else that they plan on using, later on in the tour, but it was not to be.

Place was packed. I was surprised, since it was a small town and a Wednesday night.

Special thanks to my "Steely Dan Friend" who made my night...Gus.


Thanks guys and girls...or is that ambassadors and brats. ;-)


Set List 7/6/11 Santa Barbara Bowl

INTRO: Dizzy's Business

Your Gold Teeth
Aja
Hey Nineteen
Green Earrings
Everything Must Go
FM
Time Out Of Mind
Godwhacker
Show Biz Kids
Black Cow
Dirty Work
Neighbor's Daughter/Band Intros
Night By Night
Josie
Peg
Reelin' In The Years
Bodhisattva

ENCORE: Kid Charlemagne

OUTRO: Last Tango In Paris

The Bear

In honor of the fact that I was in Santa Barbara last night to hear Steely Dan's Shuffle Diplomacy Tour Concert, I give you a piece of a rarity that was never released. It is part of a bootleg from the Gaucho Sessions back in the late 70's and Don and Walt have finally dusted it off and performed it in Seattle, Washington on Saturday.

You can view the clip HERE.

Sorry it is only a clip and not the entire song, but it gives you a hint of what the song sounds like.

I hope you enjoy.



P.S. A note to my sister, I tried to email it to you and it didn't go through.

Mapping The World

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my son has been mapping our area of the world, on Google Maps. I also mentioned that Google was so impressed, that they sent him a tee shirt, as a thank you. You can read the original post HERE.

Here it is for all to see. The shirt arrived on Friday evening and of course it is worn, as soon as he got it washed. This is obviously the back side of the shirt. The front has a dark blue map of the world on it, but it is extremely hard to see in a photo.

Very nice work Google. I think you have him hooked and he will continue to work for free. :-)

Hall & Oates At The Hollywood Bowl: A 4th Of July Spectacular 2011

What to say, what to say...

I have lived on this planet for over 50 years and I have never seen a Hall & Oates Concert live. Yes, I am shamefaced. :-)

I did see them perform several times on TV in the 80's, most especially Live Aid and The Liberty Concert, both in 1985 and even looking back on those concerts, they were incredible performances. What was I thinking all those years? Seriously!
I have been watching Live From Daryl's House (Daryl's Internet Show) for almost 2 years and so I KNEW that the two performers who are in their mid 60's still have "IT" and so when I heard that they would be at the Hollywood Bowl on the July 4th weekend...I was in.

My Husband and I decided to take the Red Line Subway down to Hollywood and take the shuttle bus that they provide (free with your subway ticket). In my Husband's case that came to an incredible 25 cents each way. We were late to the Bowl and so we decided to immediately go to our seats and eat there. That turned out to be a good idea. We were the last row of the box seat section and they had put a row of folding chairs there. This was more comfortable then the benches we usually sit on and a bonus, I could stand up and dance, if I wanted, without blocking anyone else's view.
IMHO, the perfect set up for any concert that I attend. :-)

The first part of the show, belonged to The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Thomas Wilkins Conducting). They played patriotic "style" songs that were all over the place. Strike Up The Band, George M. Cohan Salute, Battle Hymn of the Republic, March from the movie 1941, America The Beautiful, Armed Forces Salute and American Salute. During the Armed Forces Salute, Hubby got to stand again. You might remember that he stood during the Army's Theme, at The Memorial Day Concert, earlier in the year. Intermission followed and then it was time for Hall & Oates.

Setlist:

Maneater
Out of Touch
Las Vegas Turnaround
She's Gone
Sara Smile
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
(Hollywood Bowl Orchestra joins in on)
Rich Girl
You Make My Dreams Come True




That brought us to 9:30PM and time for fireworks!
They were quite impressive, the Orchestra played as the fireworks were set off. Sousa was involved, as were Stars and Stripes Forever.

After that was out of the way, Hall & Oates and Band returned for an encore of:

Private Eyes.

That was it, over at just 10PM (I am sure due to noise restrictions).

Hall & Oates were spectacular, just as I expected. The band is so tight (as I have seen on LFDH) and you just could just pinch yourself, because you couldn't believe it could be real.

You and them at the Bowl.

WOW!


Videos from the concert have turned up on You Tube.

Here is No Can Do.

The Fourth Of July And A Crane

First off, Happy 4th of July to all my American blog readers! Enjoy the day.



My Water Post For Today.

A crane is back at Bridgeport and in honor of it posing for me, you get a lovely photo of it, to grace the page of this blog.

BTW: This was taken with my cell phone and for some reason that only Blogger knows, it kept rotating the photo 90 degrees. That is why the photo is so small when you click on it. Sorry about that.

Anyway, enjoy the crane and the blue water and the green plants.

I think it's pretty nice. :-)

The Harpist

We have a harpist hanging around at Vermont/Sunset Station.

It was an occasional thing, but recently it has increased. Like once every other day.

He is good and if you get there at the right time, it brings almost a holy feel to the station. He doesn't perform until he has a few patrons and of course the arrival of the subway makes him stop...and so it goes.

He seems to collect a lot more money then anyone else I have seen perform at North Hollywood.

More power to him.

The Middle Of The Year

At noon today, we will be exactly at the middle of the year. 182 days left to go, until we see the New Year's Baby once again. Wow, it never ceases to amaze me that the years go by so fast.

This year has been particularly hard, in that we left PBS 183 days ago. To say the least, it has saddened me to no end...but we go on and make something of ourselves.

The hottest months of the entire year are now here and we have to survive them, to get to blessed fall and the cooling off of temperatures.

Have a happy day and try to enjoy the second half of the year

Meyersdale, Pennsylvania And Beyond

This post showcases some places we passed through on our trip from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Just before we crossed the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland, we came upon a town called Meyersdale. Just before we got to the town itself, we passed this lovely farm on the outskirts and I liked how cute it looked, so I took 2 photos. The river we were following at that point, is the Casselman River, which flows up to the Youghiogheny River (which I discussed back in my Rivers of Pennsylvania post a few weeks ago). By the way, the water in this photo seems to be two lakes or ponds by the side of the river.





While researching the name of this river, I found out that our rail road line crossed under one of the largest railroad trestles in Pennsylvania...The Salisbury Viaduct (1908 Feet long).

As you can see, it crosses both the river, my railroad track, and PA219 the Mason-Dixon Hwy. Here is a photo of some of the Viaduct.


I obviously couldn't get it all, but it was pretty impressive, what I got to see.






After we went through the town and dropped off the passengers, we spent the last 20 minutes riding though the southern end of Pennsylvania. On one of the curves that changed our route from eastbound to southbound, I managed to get a few photos of our train itself. There we are, not pretty, but making our way to Maryland, and then West Virginia.