A little bird said I should put a new post in my Journal, so-o-o-o here goes:
Summertime! 4th of July, Fireworks
, Fires 
, and Vacation 
.
I didn't really watch any fireworks although I heard plenty over the 4th of July week, often well into the night (O.K. 3 A.M. is too late for explosions kiddies!) Enough to make you go a little stir crazy after being jolted awake several times by several loud bangs (narcosis interruptus). The last time I felt this way was when I lived in "Oakla-Berzerkeley-Land" during New Years Eve many moons ago (only people were firing guns - lots and lots and lots of guns - all night). A bathtub can be a really comfortable place to sleep in when you put your mind to it (despite feeling a little cramped). Anyways, I could still just be a bit jumpy since I was shot at, for the second time in my life, about a year ago. But that's another story...
Ok, for anyone with the arguement that guns don't kill people... You are an idiot. Idiots shouldn't be allowed to own guns. Idiots (with guns) shoot at and sometimes kill people.
While I'm on the subject of fireworks and firearms, I was witness to an interesting little event about a week ago that resulted in an unbelievable traffic jam. (And I'm very used to seeing traffic jams where I live). I was eating lunch outside at a Greek cafe when I noticed a little tuft of black smoke (I thought diesel exhaust from a construction site) rising from the freeway pass along the I-15. Within moments, it became a white and brown plume and was rising dramatically skyward in a mushroom like shape.
Sure enough, I heard sirens from fire engines all around town (we have quite a few) speeding towards the freeway to go and fight what was obviously a fire that was quickly burning. By the time I'd returned to work, the plume had reached high above the valley and was blowing swiftly east with several aircraft spotters and firebombers circling overhead. I was suddenly jolted with the realization that the fire was swiftly headed right towards my dad's house even as I saw flames leaping high into the air on the west side of the freeway. After calling him on his cell, I was grateful that he was headed home to go and check it out and to 'rescue' Mr. Big should he need it:
(I just love that little guy, I'd hate to lose him...)
After work, I headed towards my dad's home and was immediately stuck in traffic moving at a snail's pace. I watched two helicopters swooping around in wide arcs alternately dumping water on precise locations, quickly supressing the fire (the wind died too, helping things considerably). By the time I got to my dad's house, the fire was essentially under control and I'd managed to snap a really cool shot of one of the helicopters in flight:
I was relieved to see that his house hadn't been threatened, although my step-mom and step-sister both had to evacuate from the restaurant where they were having lunch after the fire had leaped across the freeway. We ate dinner outside that night and could see hotspots all along the hillside with occasional flareups and showers of embers tumbling down the granite cliffs. When I left to go to work (after spending the night at my dad's house), I jumped onto the freeway headed north, but was amazed that traffic was still backed up all the way down the south bound lanes. People were delayed for over 3 hours just trying to pass through town... The already congested streets were also affected and caused snarls throughout the day! And now you know why I call "Traffuckula" home...
Here's another rant: See what happens when people are careless with their self-indulgent habits? If you're going to smoke, keep your ass and your butts away from dry grassy areas!!! What's so difficult about snuffing yer butt out like a normal, intelligent, human being! If you have a brain, use it. (Then again, doing something that will inevitably kill you isn't exactly smart to begin with)
Next...
Ok, time for some well needed Rest and Relaxation! How best to beat the heat (and the doldrums of the rat race)? Go to the ocean! How best to get away from Southern California? Vacation! Where's the closest ocean outside of SoCal? Mexico!!! Yep, it's that time of year again: The seductive siren call of siestas and olas (waves) summons the whole family to a rugged strand south of the border. Fresh air and margaritas, cool waves and sandy beaches, friends and family. It may not quite be paradise, but it's not far from it either! It will be nice to not have to do anything there for almost an entire week!:
Oh, did I forget to mention that Mexico is on the verge of civil unrest following the contested presidential election last week? Well it is. Hopefully they won't be targeting tourists, especially sympathetic ones (we went through the same exact fiasco (shit) back in 2000 after the first fraudulent "election"... Remember? Oh, except Gore didn't have the balls to contest (or protest) the decision, nor did he refuse to concede or call for civil unrest...)
More ranting: [Grrrr grumble, gripe, mumble]... Oh well, what can you do when the whole system is rigged?
We need a new political system, this one is broken (by crooked politicians bought and sold on the open market). What ever happened to the campaign finance reforms they were debating in congress? (A bit like askiing burgalars to police themselves)... Sheesh, do we (the people) have to do everything around here? When will people finally get sick of all their lies and throw 'em out for good? Oh, I forgot, some people actually think they are voting on issues when they elected these crooks... (Talk about a "moral majority"... What morals?) They're laughing all the way the bank. [sigh]... Enough of that (Can you sense that I'm a little bitter about politics right now? Wouldn't it be great if we all left those charlatans behind?
Hasta luego suckers!!!
Or fair winds and smooth sailing, you pirates and sailors!!! 
[May the Pastafarian way be with you]
Oh, I almost forgot! Who doesn't love puppies?:
They're getting bigger everyday! It's so funny watching them stumble around tackling one another, randomly barking. Ahhh puppies. Anyone want one? Anyone? Anyone?
FIN
F.O.E.
Summertime! 4th of July, Fireworks
, Fires , and Vacation .
I didn't really watch any fireworks although I heard plenty over the 4th of July week, often well into the night (O.K. 3 A.M. is too late for explosions kiddies!) Enough to make you go a little stir crazy after being jolted awake several times by several loud bangs (narcosis interruptus). The last time I felt this way was when I lived in "Oakla-Berzerkeley-Land" during New Years Eve many moons ago (only people were firing guns - lots and lots and lots of guns - all night). A bathtub can be a really comfortable place to sleep in when you put your mind to it (despite feeling a little cramped). Anyways, I could still just be a bit jumpy since I was shot at, for the second time in my life, about a year ago. But that's another story...
Ok, for anyone with the arguement that guns don't kill people... You are an idiot. Idiots shouldn't be allowed to own guns. Idiots (with guns) shoot at and sometimes kill people.
While I'm on the subject of fireworks and firearms, I was witness to an interesting little event about a week ago that resulted in an unbelievable traffic jam. (And I'm very used to seeing traffic jams where I live). I was eating lunch outside at a Greek cafe when I noticed a little tuft of black smoke (I thought diesel exhaust from a construction site) rising from the freeway pass along the I-15. Within moments, it became a white and brown plume and was rising dramatically skyward in a mushroom like shape.
Sure enough, I heard sirens from fire engines all around town (we have quite a few) speeding towards the freeway to go and fight what was obviously a fire that was quickly burning. By the time I'd returned to work, the plume had reached high above the valley and was blowing swiftly east with several aircraft spotters and firebombers circling overhead. I was suddenly jolted with the realization that the fire was swiftly headed right towards my dad's house even as I saw flames leaping high into the air on the west side of the freeway. After calling him on his cell, I was grateful that he was headed home to go and check it out and to 'rescue' Mr. Big should he need it:
(I just love that little guy, I'd hate to lose him...)
After work, I headed towards my dad's home and was immediately stuck in traffic moving at a snail's pace. I watched two helicopters swooping around in wide arcs alternately dumping water on precise locations, quickly supressing the fire (the wind died too, helping things considerably). By the time I got to my dad's house, the fire was essentially under control and I'd managed to snap a really cool shot of one of the helicopters in flight:
I was relieved to see that his house hadn't been threatened, although my step-mom and step-sister both had to evacuate from the restaurant where they were having lunch after the fire had leaped across the freeway. We ate dinner outside that night and could see hotspots all along the hillside with occasional flareups and showers of embers tumbling down the granite cliffs. When I left to go to work (after spending the night at my dad's house), I jumped onto the freeway headed north, but was amazed that traffic was still backed up all the way down the south bound lanes. People were delayed for over 3 hours just trying to pass through town... The already congested streets were also affected and caused snarls throughout the day! And now you know why I call "Traffuckula" home...
Here's another rant: See what happens when people are careless with their self-indulgent habits? If you're going to smoke, keep your ass and your butts away from dry grassy areas!!! What's so difficult about snuffing yer butt out like a normal, intelligent, human being! If you have a brain, use it. (Then again, doing something that will inevitably kill you isn't exactly smart to begin with)
Next...
Ok, time for some well needed Rest and Relaxation! How best to beat the heat (and the doldrums of the rat race)? Go to the ocean! How best to get away from Southern California? Vacation! Where's the closest ocean outside of SoCal? Mexico!!! Yep, it's that time of year again: The seductive siren call of siestas and olas (waves) summons the whole family to a rugged strand south of the border. Fresh air and margaritas, cool waves and sandy beaches, friends and family. It may not quite be paradise, but it's not far from it either!
It will be nice to not have to do anything there for almost an entire week!:
Oh, did I forget to mention that Mexico is on the verge of civil unrest following the contested presidential election last week? Well it is. Hopefully they won't be targeting tourists, especially sympathetic ones (we went through the same exact fiasco (shit) back in 2000 after the first fraudulent "election"... Remember? Oh, except Gore didn't have the balls to contest (or protest) the decision, nor did he refuse to concede or call for civil unrest...)
More ranting: [Grrrr grumble, gripe, mumble]... Oh well, what can you do when the whole system is rigged?
We need a new political system, this one is broken (by crooked politicians bought and sold on the open market). What ever happened to the campaign finance reforms they were debating in congress? (A bit like askiing burgalars to police themselves)... Sheesh, do we (the people) have to do everything around here? When will people finally get sick of all their lies and throw 'em out for good? Oh, I forgot, some people actually think they are voting on issues when they elected these crooks... (Talk about a "moral majority"... What morals?) They're laughing all the way the bank. [sigh]... Enough of that (Can you sense that I'm a little bitter about politics right now? Wouldn't it be great if we all left those charlatans behind?
Hasta luego suckers!!!
Or fair winds and smooth sailing, you pirates and sailors!!! [May the Pastafarian way be with you]
Oh, I almost forgot! Who doesn't love puppies?:
They're getting bigger everyday! It's so funny watching them stumble around tackling one another, randomly barking. Ahhh puppies. Anyone want one? Anyone? Anyone?
FIN
F.O.E.
VIEW 18 of 18 COMMENTS
Still haven't updated yet eh?
Kisses