Detailed info when I return. Just know that it was awesome.
Aug 19 2011
D23 Expo: Day One
Drove up to Anaheim with Lannie for the start of our three-day Disney adventure known to Disney fans around the world as the D23 Expo! Think Comic-Con for Disney geeks. It was an amazing first day, starting with attending the Disney Legends Ceremony, seeing the panel for “It’s A Small World: Celebrating 45 Years,” and watching a performance by Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix in the evening. In between those three shows there was a lot of meet-ups with fellow Disney fans, some of whom I had not seen in a couple of years.
Aug 18 2011
theNAT
Spent a couple of hours visiting the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park with my mom and my sister, Beata, who’s birthday it was today. We mainly went to see the “All That Glitters: The Splendor and Science of Gems and Minerals” exhibit, but also took time to walk through the “Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins” exhibit. Both presentations were exceptional with the Ends of the Earth being quite a bit more interactive. After the museum we finished off our midday adventure with a quick but tasty lunch at The Village Grill.
( l e a r n i n g p i c s )
Aug 18 2011
In Zoro Garden
Enjoyed walking around with my mom inside Zoro Garden in Balboa Park. The sunken garden has been there since the 1935 California-Pacific International Exposition but was rededicated in 2007 as a Butterfly Garden.
( f l o r a p i c s )
Aug 17 2011
Two Walks And A Dinner
After an all-too-brief walk along Spanish Landing with the Tapias, and a quick pick-up order from Phil’s BBQ, I re-met the Tapias, this time with Rodrigo’s sister Lorena along for the ride after being picked up from the airport, at Rose Marie Starns Park and Boat Ramp in Mission Bay for a breezy dinner of barbecue beef ribs and my barbecue chicken. Food was delicious but the hot day turned overcast awfully fast with a chilly wind coming in over the bay.
( w a l k i e s a n d t r e a t s p i c s )
Aug 16 2011
Nighttime Zoo With The Holdens
Finished off my day by visiting the San Diego Zoo‘s Nighttime Zoo China Celebration and going to see Nicky, the pregnant giraffe who is ready to deliver any day now ( I swear I saw her pushing), and then meeting up with the entire Holden family. Walked through the newly opened Panda Trek with a Red Panda, Takins and of course, Giant Pandas, had dinner at Canyon Café and watched a few entertainment acts including Chinese jugglers, some dancing and the Steam Powered Giraffe music group who I personally think are very good. It was yet another really good Zoo visit for me.
( z o o p i c s )
Aug 16 2011
When Mormons Attack
After living in San Diego for over thirty years I finally decided to stop by the Mormon Battalion Historic Site (museum and recruiting office) by Old Town. The presentations were high quality and very well put together, with obviously a lot of money from the church. Problem was it was too much religion and not enough history. While everyone there was very polite and friendly, it was a just a bit too preachy and I felt like I was being initiated. They even tried to get me to give out my friends’ personal info so they can be sent information. What the Mormons did in 1846 with their 2,000 mile march from Iowa to southern California was extraordinary. But I wanted to learn more about how they did it and not so much how God and Brigham Young would watch over them during their journey. The presentation tour lasts 35 minutes.
( m o r m o n p i c s )
Aug 16 2011
Heritage Park
Spent some time walking around Heritage Park Victorian Village, taking pictures of the historic Victorian homes as well as San Diego’s first synagogue, Temple Beth Israel. The buildings are beautifully restored (some still being worked on inside) and the park is very well kept.
( v i c t o r i a n p i c s )
Aug 16 2011
Photowalk With Heather
Had a really good, silly and sarcastic time with Heather today, walking around taking pictures in Old Town San Diego and having a great Mexican lunch at Café Coyote. Even ran into another friend of mine, Terry, who I occasionally work with. Heather and I took pictures of anything that caught our eye and looked interesting, although I’m pretty sure we did more walking and talking than shooting.
( h i s p a n i c p i c s )
Aug 15 2011
Gulp
The creative geniuses at Aardman Animation (makers of Wallace and Gromit) have made an amazing and largest (according to Guiness) full-scale stop-motion animation ever.
And here is the “making of” video:
Aug 15 2011
New Games In Google+
Google+ added a new section of online games for a select few members and for some reason they included me. So to thank them I played some Angry Birds, Edgeworld and Crime City. I also unfortunately posted that I played and it ended up in more than a few of my friends’ inboxes.
Me and Cali sitting in a tree...
Aug 14 2011
Great Eyetalian Food
Had an excellent and filling dinner tonight at The Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown San Diego with the Tapias, the Holdens and John and Jackie, who treated us as a thank-you for helping with their wedding reception. There was some kind of hip-hop “music” party next door at the Hard Rock Café that drew a very interesting and barely dressed crowd that eventually got the notice of the SD police department. After dinner we spent some time across the street at the Chuck Jones Gallery while one of the Hard Rock party attendee’s BMW, after being searched by the PD, was towed from in front of the building. Definitely not the same crowd as Comic Con.
Aug 13 2011
Pizza And A Fish
Dinner and a movie. Had delicious, home-made pizza at the Tapias while watching the classic “A Fish Called Wanda.” Cleese and Palin are comic treasures.
The Works
Aug 13 2011
Scales On The Screen
Found a baby lizard on the outside of our kitchen window screen. First reaction is to always get the camera and invade its privacy. It didn’t seem to mind, though. Matter of fact, I think it enjoyed the notion of it ending up on the Internet to be gawked at by hordes of at least three other people, as opposed to the thousands of other fauna in our backyard that never will. It, like me with my padded, fall-down helmet, is special.
Aug 13 2011
Milkweed Seed Harvest
Gathered a bunch of Milkweed seeds so we can grow our own plants to attract Monarch butterflies instead of buying any new ones. Excellent harvest this year. Should make a fine and robust vintage.
Milkweed: choice of the Monarch
Recently opened seed pod
Seeds positioning for escape
Waiting for a stiff breeze to scatter
A flight risk
My harvest of denuded seeds
My iNaturalist-ings
My Flickr Photostream
