I am soooo SoCal

Took a little vacation to Southern California...Palm Desert (golf, visit the parents), Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Arrowhead, Newport Beach, Laguna Canyon, blah blah. Went with my friend Vella, SoCal is her old stomping ground so she acted as the guide and interpreter. Here are some photos (most taken by Vella):

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17th Hole at Shadow Ridge Resort, right outside our condo back porch.



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The high desert of Joshua Tree National Park



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The eponymous Joshua Tree (and Vella)



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Yikes! Ocotillo thorns and flowers.



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Cute little guy.



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Gnarly old tree



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Rocks of Joshua Tree.



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Bird on a rock. This is at Dana Point (near San Diego)



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There are crab legs, and then there are CRAB LEGS



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Vella lost in the moment



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Being in the "wilderness" of California means making certain allowances. Took a sweet little hike through some hills of Laguna Canyon.



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Two fat guys on a bench

The Geico Gecko

I saw the latest Geico Gecko commercial, where a "naturalist" sneaks up to watch the Geico Gecko. The naturalist this commercial parodies is the renowned Sir David Attenborough. Here is a clip of the real deal in one of his most famous episodes, the amazing Lyre Bird:

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(I know it's a bit long for today's abbreviated attention spans, but give it a chance...it's worth it. Oh, and by the way, this is real.  No trickeration involved.)
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[googlevideo:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3433507052114896375]

H-Town

There is a difference between the words "loath" and "loathe." "Loath" is an adjective which means unwilling or disinclined, as in "I am loath to go to Houston."

However, since I DID have to go to Houston this past week, the verb "loathe" is more appropriate, as in: "I flat-out loathe Houston."

What is more interesting (as if the previous information wasn't interesting enough!), are the various synonyms listed for "loathe", as found online at Dictionary.com: abhor, abominate, decline, despise, detest, dislike, down on, execrate, feel repugnance, find disgusting, hate, refuse, reject, repudiate, revolt, spurn.

And more: abominate, be sickened by, despise, detest, dislike, execrate, feel disgust for, hate, loathe, scorn, view with horror.

And more: accurse, anathematize, censure, condemn, curse, damn, denounce, deplore, despise, detest, excoriate, imprecate, loathe, objurgate, reprehend, reprobate, reprove, revile, vilify.

I especially am fond of "be sickened by."

All in all, I think the proceeding pretty much sums up how I feel about Houston.

Rock Out!

Over the years I've grown to appreciate, and more often listen to, Christian music (I used to almost loathe it.) There are some very talented Christian artists out there and I usually tune into K-Love or something like it for my music fixes. I like the music, and I like the message.

However, there are times when nothing but loud, hard, raucous classic rock will do for me. Tonight, for example, I'm working very late (almost 2:00 a.m.), and the main thing keeping me on my toes is my "Tunes That Rock" playlist on iTunes.

Having grown up in the 70's and 80's, I'm partial to what is now considered true "classic" rock (Freebird, anyone?), but I like most any hard-driving tune that keeps it mostly clean. Here's a small sample:

the afore-mentioned Freebird - Skynyrd

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

Barracuda - Heart

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Long Time - Boston

Radar Love - Golden Earring

Come Sail Away - Styx

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica (I know, a little indulgent)

and lots more! (I don't want to give away my whole playlist.)

If, perhaps, you are the type to listen, on occasion, to some rock-n-roll, I'd love to hear what tunes you might add to the list, be they classic tunes or newer stuff (no disco, please!)

NOTE: If you're offended by the fact that I sometimes listen to heavier secular music, so sorry. Sometimes, though, it's just too good to pass up.

To re-read or not to re-read, that is the question.

Re-reading a favorite book of mine. Seems as if most people I speak with don't like re-reading books, and I guess it is a bit silly. However, I re-read books all the time and usually enjoy them just as much the second (or third or tenth time around.) So, how about you...read only once or re-read? Curious minds want to know.

Latest read:



This is a big, big book, with lots of hard (Russian) names, a multitude of characters, countless sub-plots, tedious scientific jargon, arcane historical facts, notorious spies and dictators...and it's all true. I love it!

(Plus, it has pictures!)