Feb 22 2012

Botanical Bonanza

My day was supposed to start with a couple of hours spent taking pictures at the Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. Found out when I got there that they opened an hour later than I expected. So I decided to mosey across the El Prado, passed the Lily Pond, and on over to the Botanical Building thinking I could try to squeeze out a few shots there while waiting for the museum to open. Ended up staying there for over an hour getting shots of the all the incredible orchids they had on display. Luckily I had brought my macro lens with me for the miniature railroad details later. Also got some interior shots of the fantastic spiderweb-like lath work that makes up the building’s roof. And I got to pet a super cute ten-month old Golden Doodle named Pansy who was incredibly friendly and playful. I also spent a little time inside the Sculpture Court and Garden, taking shots of some of the original statues that graced the old exposition buildings.

Since by now it was so close to noon I decided to have lunch before heading to the museum. I knew that The Village Grill over by the Natural History Museum had a pretty good tuna melt so I walked over there. I stood in line and secretly laughed as person after person was getting frustrated by how many things the eatery was out of. No hot dogs, no potato salad, no other stuff. When I got to the window and placed my order the Hispanic girl with the thick eyeliner told me they were out of tuna. I wasn’t secretly laughing any more. I asked for the turkey melt. Sorry, no turkey. I looked around to see if Heather was standing somewhere near me. Ended up ordering a simple, plain grilled cheese sandwich with chips and a drink. It was good to sit and eat, but boy was that sandwich bland and boring. As I ate I saw a small wiener dog stroll by with wheels for back legs. It didn’t seem to mind one bit and had no trouble getting around. After lunch I walked over to the boundary fence that separates Balboa Park from the Zoo. I could see the sloth enclosure just on the other side. Turned around and discovered a giant fig tree with gigantic roots growing above ground just behind the Botanical Building. Filled the rest of my memory card with a few pictures of that tree with its incredible root system. My time-filler morning turned out to be quite productive and fulfilling.

( b o t a n i c a l   p i c s )

Feb 21 2012

Focus On Mantas

Went for a weekly walk at SeaWorld with my mom and was getting a little bored of always taking pictures of the same things. I had recently seen something on TV about the tanks at the Journey To Atlantis ride housing mantas instead of Commerson dolphins so I decided to focus on them. And some them were huge. Could never have gotten shots like these when they were back at Forbidden Reef. Other than mantas, I got the penguins statue, a row of turtles, a bunch of roller coaster construction pieces and a bunny. It was a regular variety hour.

Feb 20 2012

Animal Sitting Redux

After spending the first of two nights at the neighbors’ house, today was my only full day of pet-sitting for them. (There are two half days involved as well.) Here are examples of some of the creatures I am caring for (minus the squirrel sprinkler – it’s on its own).

Feb 20 2012

Zoo Visit The Fifth

My fifth visit to the San Diego Zoo this year was enjoyed with two long-time friends, Mary and Randy, each of whom brought a young daughter along. I meandered around on my own for the first couple of hours, taking pictures while listening to my iPod, and talking to keepers and horticulturists about primates and flora on this, the last day of the Zoo’s Absolutely Apes celebration. Photographically speaking I captured tigers, a hippo, red pandas, pigs, polar bears, a miniature horse, meerkats, a binturong, pygmy goats, a fossa, a pangolin, a tarantula and my human primate friends. We had a nice social, if chilly, lunch at the Treehouse Café where I enjoyed a plate of cheese ravioli. And from today’s visit I learned that humans are the only primates that have chins and that the amazing flower that blooms outside the giraffe exhibit is called Leucospermum Sunrise. It was also confirmed to me that taken together all the species of flora at the Zoo are worth more than all the fauna, and that every ten years the Zoo has to list and catalogue every single one of their plants, trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers in order to stay accredited as a botanical garden. Oh, and also learned that binturong can rotate their ankles for easier climbing.

( a n i m a l   p i c s )

Feb 18 2012

Entered The World Of Pinterest

After patiently waiting on the sidelines for a while and watching others enjoy the benefits (mostly women – 97% I’ve read) I finally dove into Pinterest and created my account. What brought me aboard was that so many photographers were using it two-fold. Firstly, they are using as a good way to keep other people’s amazing photos easily accessible and handy, and secondly as a way to pin and show their own work, something I feel a bit uncomfortable doing yet. I’ve started with a few typical boards to pin onto but I’m sure that very soon that will be expanding into areas I haven’t even considered yet. (I even added “Pin it” buttons to my posts.)

(While typing this paragraph one of the photos that I pinned just a few minutes earlier was already re-pinned ten times! (All by women.) That kind of immediate interaction is pretty darned impressive.)

Feb 17 2012

Street Tacos And Pool Filters

After completing the Las Americas shopping excursion with Sylvia, we indulged in some fantastic Mexican food from Los Panchos in Chula Vista with Rodrigo. I had the carnitas “street” tacos which are always so amazingly good. After lunch I lent Rodrigo a hand with pressure cleaning his pool’s pump filter. My instrumental job was to push the “Filter Pump” button on and off at precise, crucial, life-and-death, save-the-world, get-Apollo-13-back-safely intervals. My heroic efforts paid off and clean, filtered water once again flowed from the jets. You’re welcome, world.

Cute Lilo
Model Stitch
Los Panchos
Carnitas Tacos
Filter system
Control panel
The Algae Galaxy
Good pressure
Clean water

Feb 17 2012

Las Americas – Part Two

Went back to the Las AmericasPremium Outlets in San Ysidro (just a stone’s throw over the border fence from Tijuana) with Sylvia to pick up some items at the Disney Store that we put on hold a couple of days earlier. This time we got to talk to our friend Sandra, who is the store’s manager. While there, I took a couple of shots of princess artwork that were on t-shirts. For some reason I just really liked the artwork. Very sketchy looking. We walked around the mall for a while and noticed something we’d never seen before. We’re pretty sure that most people never notice it. It was a statue of St. Isidro, the patron saint of the city of San Ysidro, displayed on the upper level above the Information Center entrance. Also came a across a pretty cool sculptured relief of a bullfighter on one of the mall walls. These two things alone should tell you how close we were to Mexico. Also got some more shots of colorful kiddy rides outside some to the stores. After we finished the walking and the shopping we drove through a McDonald’s located at the outlet mall to share an order of wonderful-smelling french fries. It’s become a tradition. On the drive back home we noticed a giant blow-up Ronald McDonald sitting cross-legged on top of another McDonald’s waving to us drivers on the freeway. Their french fries didn’t seem quite as appetizing.

Feb 16 2012

Final Morning At Heather’s

Without getting into the traumatic aviary events of this morning involving Kevin and Olive, I did have some quality bonding time with both Gordon and Theo. I tired to explain to them why I was leaving after the few days of our fun-filled rabble rousing. I also had some fun with Lauren’s letters. Messing with things is fun.

Feb 15 2012

A Day Of Shopping With Sylvia

Drove with Sylvia all the way the down I-5 to the very last U.S. exit before hitting the Mexican border to accompany her on a shopping trip to both the San Ysidro Village shopping center as well as the much more attractive Las Americas Premium Outlets. At San Ysidro Village we went into Marshalls, Anna’s Linens and Ross but didn’t find anything she wanted at any of them. I however found some interesting items to shoot inside Marshalls. Across the street at Las Americas we visited New Balance, Skechers and Nike (needless to say I wouldn’t mind NOT smelling new shoes again for a while) as well as the Disney Store. Didn’t make a purchase at any of those places either except to put things on hold at the Disney Store for a return trip on Friday. Not a very productive shopping trip but still a fun social outing with my long-time friend. After walking through the indoor food court and burning the roof of my mouth on a sample of scalding baked potato that didn’t have much flavor, we ended our outing with a visit to Sprouts Farmers Market for her weekly vegetable purchase.

Viewing Tijuana
Last exit
Outside Marshalls
Inside Marshalls
Marshalls skull
Marshalls platter
Outside Anna’s
Inside Anna’s
Outside Ross
Ross shoes
Ross pig
Ross toys
Border fence
Outside New Balance
Inside New Balance
Outside Skechers
Inside Skechers
Outside Nike
Inside Nike
Las Americas
Outlets Info Center
Food court
Food court
Big Bird ride
Pooh ride
Disney Store
Disney Store
Inside Disney
Mickey statue
Pillows
Woody doll
Claw aliens
Seven Dwarfs
Stitch mugs
Sprouts
Inside Sprouts
Sprouts produce
Bell peppers
Apple varieties
Asparagus tips

Feb 15 2012

Gordon, Day Four

Got this lazy, morning shot of Gordon on my fourth day of house-sitting in Chula Vista. This is when he wasn’t sleeping on either my feet, hip, lap, chest or back. Life’s good for Gordon.

Feb 14 2012

Mary’s Birthday Dinner

A group of my friends and I met at Pat & Oscar’s at Plaza Bonita in National City to celebrate our friend Mary’s birthday with a socially-fun and consumably-delicious dinner. In attendance were Mary and her husband Dave with their daughter, along with Sylvia and Rodrigo, Chip and Bethany with their two children, and Stacy. Oh, and me to document the evening and represent for Hungary. My meal of choice was the toothsome Penne Pasta Alfredo. There was a hushed rendition of “Happy Birthday,” a few presents to open, two shared plates of ice cream and cake, and a few bathroom trips that were politely ignored by most.

Happy Birthday again, Mary!

Feb 14 2012

From Heather’s To The Tapias

I walked the hills and dales, crosswalks and sidewalks (using the very same legs I was born with, just scaled up a bit and a tad more hairy) from Heather’s house, where I am house/animal-sitting, all the way over to Sylvia and Rodrigo’s home. Fortunately for me and my legs both families are located in the same city and within blocks of each other. Picked a picturesque and crisp, sunset-y time of the evening for the walk, with long shadows and striking sun rays over the Pacific. Ahhh, San Diego in February.

Feb 14 2012

Valentine’s Day Lunch At The Tapias

For my Valentine’s Day lunch I enjoyed some delicious Sylvia-made chicken enchiladas with her and Rodrigo. Stopped by her parents’ house to drop off some of that very same enchilada goodness and then it was right back to the Tapias’ house for some required Valentine sweetness, again compliments of Sylvia’s amazing baking abilities. We delighted in her incredible walnut brownies topped with a dab of buttercream frosting, a smidgen of chocolate ganache and decorated with some candy hearts. Shame how Valentine’s Day is just once a year.

Feb 14 2012

Those Cats, Gordon And Theo

Quick snapshots of what it’s like to be either Gordon or Theo, from the house of Heather.

Gordon
Theo

Feb 13 2012

Rolled Tacos, Rain, A New Living Room and Pirates

So the second half of my day went like this: got picked up by my friends Sylvia, Lilo and Stitch and we drove to Colima’s (where we were blocked and cruelly tempted by a gigantic Entenmann’s truck) to exchange US currency for some always-great Mexican food which we quickly and efficiently devoured at her house with Rodrigo.  Ironically that same food was then modified into waste, so in effect we wasted our money. Mealtime was when the sky decided to open up and drench San Diego. We spent most of our post-lunch afternoon indoors rearranging their living room furniture into a much more open, comfortable and pleasing layout for hosting guests and watching TV. We tried it out by getting cozy and watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The new layout worked great. By the end of the movie we were all comfortable and pleased. The day ended with yet another fantastic sunset over the Pacific.

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