I wonder if my mentor, Stephen King, would have been proud of my flash fiction yesterday……….
Zoey the Cool Cat’s new home has mirrored closet doors everywhere. Even though the Queen is nine years old, she has never seen her reflection in a mirror….
UNTIL NOW!
She’s not too happy about the imposter invading her new home.
(The video will open in a new window from YouTube. Rather than embedding the video, since you’re already here at my blog, giving me monetary credit here, I’m sending you to YouTube to watch the video so I’ll get monetary credit there.)
Just a few seconds after Jim recorded his video above, I got a video of Zoey the Cool Cat going after that imposter. The imposter has not been seen since.
Jim and Russel have moved several times since they met 21 years ago.
They celebrated their 21st anniversary May 26, but they were off the grid so they actually had to celebrate it by doing things together, like moving boxes!
In all of those moves, they never had a pet to move with them. This time they had Zoey the Cool Cat.
Zoey the Cool Cat was nine years old. She had spent the past eight years with Jim and Russel in their home. Now she was moving with Jim and Russel to a new home, and they were concerned about how she would adapt.
The first night in the new home was strenuous for Zoey the Cool Cat. Upon arrival this past Tuesday, she promptly crawled under one of the beds, meowed six or seven times, and stayed there for several hours.
As day turned to dusk, she peeked out from under the bed, meowed, and crawled right back under the middle. After doing that for a couple of hours, she bravely but timidly came out, explored the master bedroom, made her way down the hallway, explored the hall bathroom, and then continued to slowly explore the other bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and living room.
Then she discovered the sliding glass door to the balcony. Zoey the Cool Cat has been an indoor cat but since the new home is on the third floor of a three-story building, Jim and Russel had decided that she would have the privilege of being able to go outside to the balcony, giving her an additional sixty square feet to explore.
Russel opened the sliding glass door and Zoey the Cool Cat made her way outside, cautiously. It was all so new and strange.
Wednesday, day two, came and went with nothing interesting to report other than Zoey the Cool Cat had picked out several spots to call her own. She was becoming acclimated to her new home.
Jim and Russel had decided to install a special pet door at the side of the sliding glass door so that Zoey the Cool Cat could go to the balcony any time she pleased. Although she thinks she is queen of the jungle, she isn’t, so her jumping from one balcony to the next, or up to the roof, or down to the ground, is out of the question. She’s smart enough to know how far she can jump.
It was about noon on Thursday when things began to go wrong. Jim had gone to work and Russel was getting back from the storage locker where some things had been stored prior to the move.
Russel had a strange feeling while traipsing up the stairs. No explanation. Just a strange shudder.
In the old home, Zoey the Cool Cat could hear the car coming about thirty seconds before it arrived and would always meet Jim and Russel at the door. In the new home, forty feet up in the air, she doesn’t have that warning.
As Russel opened the door to the new home, no Zoey the Cool Cat to greet him with her tail up in the air. No worries. Zoey the Cool Cat had plenty of places to hide and was probably asleep in one of them.
Russel walked around the new home, calling out “Zoey? Oh, Zoey?” while opening windows, looking under beds and furniture, in cabinets and drawers….
No Zoey the Cool Cat.
Russel reached the master bedroom last, opened the window, and saw a cat crossing the street. It looked like Zoey the Cool Cat, but of course it couldn’t be. No way for Zoey the Cool Cat to get down to the ground. But that saunter as the cat crossed the street. Only Zoey the Cool Cat had a saunter like that.
Russel called out the open window: “Zoey!”
The cat stopped on the sidewalk, looked back and up at Russel, and took off through the field. Although Russel can’t be sure that the cat crossing the road was Zoey the Cool Cat, the evidence is overwhelming:
There is no cat in the new home.
The cat crossing the street looked like Zoey the Cool Cat and even seemed to respond to Russel calling out “Zoey!”
Jim was devastated when he came home, only to learn that Zoey the Cool Cat was not a member of the family anymore. Gone, long gone.
Jim and Russel are heartbroken.
There are stories of dogs and cats leaving new homes and making their way back to their old homes, the homes of familiarity and love. Since the two homes are only 3.3 miles apart, Jim and Russel decided to check the old home daily, as well as putting up “HAVE YOU SEEN HER?” signs in both neighborhoods. They are hopeful that even though she has always been an indoor cat, she knows how to find her way back to either one of the two homes.
There’s my flash fiction for the year. What do you think?
Beds, desks, computers, and all the small stuff is moving today.
Unfortunately, though, it appears that one cannot get appropriate Internet assistance from the company that provides Internet connection to the 24/7 Internet world.
That just doesn’t make sense to me…….smh.
Thus, as soon as I disconnect the computers I won’t have Internet access until sometime tomorrow, and you know how those windows work with companies in today’s world….
“You should be re-connected between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.”
Well that’s of great help…..smh…….again.
Fortunately, to help get us through this time off the grid, we have WordPress to let us schedule a post in the future, so this post is being scheduled for tonight at one minute past midnight.
Of course, we also have Zoey the Cool Cat to entertain us during this downtime when we’re not being entertained by the news stories about the Republicans….
So here are some gratuitous pictures of the Queen during her seven years here:
Here in the United States it is Memorial Day, a day to remember those who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. It occurs annually on the last Monday in May.
Since 1776, the United States has been at war 93% of the time, 222 years out of 239.
1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War
1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1795 – Northwest Indian War
1796 – No major war
1797 – No major war
1798 – Quasi-War
1799 – Quasi-War
1800 – Quasi-War
1801 – First Barbary War
1802 – First Barbary War
1803 – First Barbary War
1804 – First Barbary War
1805 – First Barbary War
1806 – Sabine Expedition
1807 – No major war
1808 – No major war
1809 – No major war
1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida
1811 – Tecumseh’s War
1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. ccupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida
1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida
1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war
1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war
1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1821 – Anti-piracy war
1822 – Anti-piracy war
1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War
1824 – Anti-piracy war
1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1826 – No major war
1827 – Winnebago War
1828 – No major war
1829 – No major war
1830 – No major war
1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War
1832 – Black Hawk War
1833 – Cherokee Indian War
1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign
1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War
1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War
1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War
1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War
1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars
1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands
1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa
1842 – Seminole Wars
1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast
1844 – Texas-Indian Wars
1845 – Texas-Indian Wars
1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War
1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition
1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars
1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War
1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua
1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1859 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War
1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign
1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862
1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War
1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War
1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War
1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China
1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan
1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War
1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea
1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War
1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii
1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1895 – U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances
1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1897 – No major war
1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances
1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War
1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War
1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico
1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico
1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1920 – Banana Wars
1921 – Banana Wars
1922 – Banana Wars
1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War
1924 – Banana Wars
1925 – Banana Wars
1926 – Banana Wars
1927 – Banana Wars
1928 – Banana Wars
1930 – Banana Wars
1931 – Banana Wars
1932 – Banana Wars
1933 – Banana Wars
1934 – Banana Wars
1935 – No major war
1936 – No major war
1937 – No major war
1938 – No major war
1939 – No major war
1940 – No major war
1941 – World War II
1942 – World War II
1943 – Wold War II
1944 – World War II
1945 – World War II
1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea)
1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists)
1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
1949 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising
1951 – Korean War
1952 – Korean War
1953 – Korean War
1954 – Covert War in Guatemala
1955 – Vietnam War
1956 – Vietnam War
1957 – Vietnam War
1958 – Vietnam War
1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti
1960 – Vietam War
1961 – Vietnam War
1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand)
1963 – Vietnam War
1964 – Vietnam War
1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
1967 – Vietnam War
1968 – Vietnam War
1969 – Vietnam War
1970 – Vietnam War
1971 – Vietnam War
1972 – Vietnam War
1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War
1974 – Vietnam War
1975 – Vietnam War
1976 – No major war
1977 – No major war
1978 – No major war
1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident
1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf
1985 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf
1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama
1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of anama, Conflict in Philippines
1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama
1991 – First Gulf War
1992 – Conflict in Iraq
1993 – Conflict in Iraq
1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti
1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina
1996 – Conflict in Iraq
1997 – No major war
1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan
1999 – Kosovo War
2000 – No major war
2001 – War on Terror in Afghanistan
2002 – War on Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen
2003 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq
2004 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2005 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2006 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2007 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen
2008 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2009 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2010 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2011 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War)
2012 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen
2013 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen
2014 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine
2015 – War on Terror in Somalia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine
My dad was an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, 1950-1953, so I always have had a little military sentimentality on Memorial Day.
After reading that list of wars (source: WashingtonsBlog), it is obvious that there really is, in the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), a “military-industrial complex.”
Perhaps the military isn’t so much about protecting the United States, its freedoms, and its way of life as it is simply a job.
So maybe all of those politicians who keep the United States involved in wars throughout the world simply are helping create jobs, especially since the great majority of military personnel are ages 18-25.
I have always wanted to go on a cruise, until recently when so many problems have been happening on cruise ships…. losing power out in the ocean and having to be towed to San Diego by the Coast Guard…. weird sicknesses affecting hundreds of passengers…. fires…. sinkings…. things like that.
The cruise ship industry in San Diego certainly seems to have picked up this year. There are times when I have seen two cruise ships in port at the same time! That’s rare.
One ship, the Star Princess, was in port recently. When I see a ship in port, I always stop to take pictures, note the name, and then go home to find out more about the ship via Wikipedia and Google. Here is the picture, a panorama created in Photoshop from four pictures:
Star Princess was built in 2002. It is a little over 950 feet long
On March 23, 2006, a fire broke out in the passenger compartments. The fire was probably caused by a cigarette left burning….
….cigarette left burning and unattended… How often has that been a source of fires throughout history?
….on a balcony, which had become hot enough to melt the balcony divides made from plastic polycarbonate, a material that had been approved by international cruise line safety rules. The fire caused scorching damage in about 150 cabins and smoke damage in another 100 more. One passenger, Richard Liffidge, 72, of Georgia, died from “asphyxia secondary to inhalation of smoke and irrespirable gases.” Thirteen other passengers suffered significant smoke inhalation.
After accounting for city street speeds and all of the stopping at vista points, it probably will take you at least a day, possible two.
Part of the drive takes you through La Jolla, California, home of the rich and famous, the 1%, the people who simply don’t live like the rest of us.
The drive will take you through the residential neighborhoods where you can view some of the magnificent homes. Here’s one of my favorites:
The many outdoor decks, the rooftop deck, and the large windows on that home tells those in the know (like me!) that this house has a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
I also got excited about this home because the whole first floor exterior is stone. Most houses around here are stucco. And those that are not stucco, are stucco. If you visit a lot of neighborhoods, you might also find some homes with stucco.
Stone probably is the second most common exterior, although it is expensive, which is why you only find it in rich neighborhoods.
Brick and wood exteriors here are about as rare as a good hair day for Donald Trump….
It’s been a record-breaking year for SeaWorld, but sometimes you don’t want to see records broken. As is the case here.
It’s been a record-breaking year for the SeaWorld Rescue Teams rescuing stranded, abandoned, sick, injured, and disoriented baby sea lions and seals.
Here’s one that I saw on March 3 during an ultra-low tide at the Tide Pools in La Jolla, California:
There were a lot of people watching that little one. As I was leaving, a SeaWorld rescue van pulled up in the parking lot. I had a pretty good idea of why they were there. I had to go teach chess to some rugrats at La Jolla Elementary School so I didn’t get to stay and record the rescue.
SeaWorld’s Rescue Team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year, and always ready to help an animal in need.
I have never owned a fish-eye lens. There’s just something about the distorted pictures they produce that I don’t like. I do realize that they have their place in the world, such as when one can’t get far enough away from something to take a complete picture of that something.
Photoshop let me create this:
That’s a panorama created using four individual pictures. Because of the slippery rocks and the ocean behind me, I couldn’t get far enough away to take one all-encompassing picture. So I took four pictures, each of a different area but overlapping some, and then had Photoshop stitch them together to create the monster panorama you see (click on the image to get a monsterer image). The panorama, I believe, better shows just how massive those sandstone bluffs are.
The pictures were taken during an ultra-low, low tide in La Jolla, California, about 20 miles north of San Diego, on March 2, 2015. Just 24 hours earlier we had overcast skies with heavy rain and hail! Hail in San Diego? Yeppers.
As I discovered while growing up in Kingsville, Texas, with my wise old grandmother, sometimes Mother & Fathers Nature are at their most beautiful right after being at their ugliest.
I did a home inspection yesterday for some buyers from Temecula, about 58 miles due north of where I live.
However, the property they were buying was in Ranchita, about 67 miles northeast of me….
….and in the boondocks….
….way out in the boondocks….
It was so far out in the boondocks that I was afraid the boondocks might swallow me while I was out there and that you would never see me again.
I did make it back, but it took hours and hours and hours….
….because I had to stop and take pictures here and there……………
One thing I did notice about the boondocks is that people like to name their properties:
Imagine if we city slickers decided to name our properties. We’d have so many signs that I’m sure the politicians would be passing laws making it illegal to install a sign showing the name of your property….
My wise old grandmother had the most beautiful yard and gardens, although I have to give myself a little credit because I’m the one who mowed the yard and trimmed the trees and bushes. THAT is why I have never had a grass yard that needed mowing and never had trees and bushes that needed trimming. Whatever is in my yard and gardens gets to grow until it can grow no more.
One of my wise old grandmother’s hanging baskets had a plant in it that I really didn’t like. The plant had no leaves, and its stems and branches were flat. It just looked weird to this 12-year-old, one who was not weird himself, yet.
However, it didn’t need water, fertilizer, or pruning. It simply existed in its hanging basket. So THAT was a plus.
Then one day it bloomed.
I was a fan forever.
The plant is more on the expensive side, so I have never had one. However, when my employee, Julian, and his mom moved last summer, his mom asked me if I wanted any of the plants. ANY? Does ALL count as ANY?
Two of the plants she had were the odd-looking plant that my wise old grandmother had. Yesterday, one of them bloomed. Looks like this:
That is the flower of an epiphyllum, common name orchid cactus. The flower is about nine inches in diameter. It’s huge! And it’s purple, which was my wise old grandmother’s favorite color.
My wise old grandmother died in June 2003, but I do believe she has come to visit me in my garden. I shall name my epiphyllum Mary since that was my wise old grandmother’s name. You thought her name was “my wise old grandmother,” didn’t you? Nope.
Mary Agnes Hartmann Kirk, this epiphyllum is for you, and for wise old grandmothers everywhere!
