Random Whatevers

from the balloon kiosk, South Coast Plaza Mall
Orange County

Playing Chinese Checkers with my grandchildren
Christmastime 2011

Bumper Sticker Reads

"We Speak English"

Rotunda with Christmas Tree

South Coast Plaza Mall

 Lights at Mission Inn

Riverside, California

Horse-drawn Cinderella Carriage

Mission Inn, Riverside

Happy 2012

Sparklers in Time Lapse Photography
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

Quadriga, Brandenberg Gate

New Year Fireworks

Lights for the New Year

Temple of Heaven Park

Bejing, China

Photo a Day

I Wish I'd Taken These

Perfectly beautiful photographs by Ryan Benyi. . .

. . . wish I'd taken them.

Summer Day

This incredibly serene summer morning photo is by a photographer named Miles, who puts up his photos on his blog, titled Mute. Click *here* to go there.

And have a nice summer day. Stay cool.

Olympics Pictures, Beijing 2008

The Swimming Cube

Dancers (with LEDs on their costumes) from the Opening Ceremonies
(Mike Blake-Reuters)

The drummers from the Opening Ceremonies
(Adam Pretty-Getty Images)

All these were from the Washington Post--the cube is from a Post photographer, and the others were taken from their Day in Photos section (a real treat--another view on the world). Head to Washington Post.com, then to News, then Photo/Video. They have several categories of photojournalism, but I like the Day in Photos best.

Mueller's Muscle Cars
San Bernardino, CA
February 2006

Swiped this photo from Dave's niece's blog--so appealing with the red cherries and turquoise baskets.

Thanks, Lisa!

Occasionally I click on blogspot offerings, and only occasionally do I hit paydirt. This is one.


The whole site is fascinating, not just this entry.

Saturday's Post: All Things Light

Four Corners of the Circle
Freer Gallery
Washington, DC

A Sneaky View of Flavin's Light
National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC

Library of Congress Hallway

Washington, DC

Supreme Court
Washington, DC

World War II Memorial
Washington, DC

Cafeteria Doorway
Minneapolis, MN

Guthrie Theater Lobby
Minneapolis, MN

Click here for Aquayellow's All Things Yellow.

Saturday's Post: All Things Stairs

Octagonal House
Washington D.C.

Octagonal House, Front Staircase
Washington D.C.

Emilee's Shadows
George Washington Masonic Lodge
Alexandria, VA

Monkeys (Not) Chaining
Washington, D.C.

Made My Head Turn
Winterthur
Delaware

To finish off the desert pictures. . .

Cafe
Yucca Arizona
May 2007


Doorway
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Brick Tiara
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Green Room
Yucca Arizona
May 2007


Sunlight Morse Code
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Honolulu Club
Other Side of the Highway
May 2007

Move-In Special: Act Now!
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Lounge Here
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Gingerbread Porch
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

I'm always amazed by the quality of abandonment that can exist in these small towns, whether it be a collection of bony skulls that adorn a back porch, a lounge chair that some housewife wanted out of the way, or faded gingerbread along a porch's awning.

They remind me of the things I abandon--but less publicly: cast-offs stored in boxes and bins out in the garage. Perhaps that's my version of the desert side of the road. And yet, even though I'm convinced of the necessity of paring down, getting rid of, I see a book discard at the library and pause to peruse the cart. The neighbors clear out for good and I think I could probably use their little discarded riding toy for my grandchildren.

And so, surrounded by mountains of things, I spend my time taking care of them, moving them around, repacking after I've sorted through one more box (what am I saving this for?). I remember when Dave's Dad cleared out his file drawers, the wistful way he said he just upended the drawers of his ideas, plans, hopes for the future into the trash. A melancholy recital of the purge. And I've been the recipient of envelopes, boxes from my own parents, as they tire of taking care of the stuff.

My kids are next. Time to take back my desert garage.

Stop and Rest a While
Yucca, Arizona
May 2007

Off
Yucca, Arizona
May 2007

Tilted Timber
Yucca, Arizona
May 2007

Askew
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Motel Kitchen Window
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Outside the Motel Kitchen
Yucca Arizona
May 2007

Zig-Zag.

(Grouping inspired by a cactus from Kingman Arizona)