Fledglings

All summer I have noticed a noisy seagull on our roof -- seemingly guarding the area. If the Pickster and I hand out in the front Mr. Seagull will squawck like crazy. My furry friend will lay down and roll around pretending she doesn't hear a thing. Swallows have made a nest in the peak of our roof. It is fun to sit on the balcony and listen to the babies chirp. However, what I didn't realize is that Sentry Seagull as on guard because there was a nest with momma and three babies on the chimney of my neighbours place.

As I arrived home tonight Mrs. Neighbour and sus nietos were a buzz with stories of the three fledglings. It seems all week Mr. and Mrs. Seagull have been teaching their young ones to fly. They started with a flight between Mrs. Neighbour's roof and mine. Then two of the graduated to flying across the street. The runt of the flock fell from the roof and part of the afternoon on the ground while his siblings called to him from the roof. It was very fun learning about the adventures of the week. Makes me wish I was home earlier in the day to enjoy the goings on. Later this evening my neighbour came to call when she saw one of the 'kids' out for a fly. Alas, by the time I came out I had missed them.

Perhaps tomorrow...

The Last Lecture

Friday July 25th, 2008 Randy died of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Artists Wanted

There have not been any new additions to the push pin wall for quite some time. So .... today I posted an Artists Wanted sign!

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Shortly before lunch today the whole office started to shake and rattle. I had my headphones off and was in the zone - but my monitor and desk started jumping about definitely caught my attention. I think this is the third or fourth quake that has occurred during the work day. This one was fairly short ( 10 or 15 seconds) but I think it was the strongest one to date.

The current CNN headline is Earthquake serves as warning for L.A.

Uh, no thanks! We have had more than enough fun with the fires. Let's take a pass on the Big One earthquake.

Magnitude
5.4 -"moderate," can cause slight damage to buildings and others structures.
Time
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:42:15 AM (PDT)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 18:42:15 (UTC)
Distance from
Chino Hills, CA - 4 km (3 miles) WSW (240 degrees)
Diamond Bar, CA - 7 km (5 miles) SE (135 degrees)
Yorba Linda, CA - 8 km (5 miles) NNE (16 degrees)
Pomona, CA - 12 km (7 miles) S (184 degrees)
Los Angeles Civic Center, CA - 46 km (28 miles) ESE (104 degrees)

From Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An earthquake struck just east of Los Angeles on Tuesday, rocking tall buildings and rattling nerves across Southern California, but causing no serious injuries or major structural damage.

The quake hit at 11:42 a.m. local time (7: 42 p.m. BST) about 30 miles (48 km) east of Los Angeles in suburban Chino Hills and registered magnitude 5.4 -- making it the strongest seismic event centred near America's second-largest city since the 6.7-magnitude Northridge quake in 1994.

It was followed in the next few hours by more than 50 aftershocks, the largest measuring 3.6, and geologists said there is a chance it could be a foreshock to a larger earthquake.

Earthquake report - click here .
Local newspaper coverage of the quake - click here.

Snack Time

Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips may sound odd. But, trust me, they are good!



Trader Joe's Soy and Flaxseed Tortilla Chips with Papaya Mango Salsa

Sunday Night at The Beach

Life Guard Stand 32 at LaJolla Shores

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

The life of an unemployed hippie takes an unexpected turn when he starts feeding a flock of wild parrots. This film follows Mark as his life begins to intertwine with the birds he observes. The film includes portraits of Connor, Mingus, Olive, Pushkin, Picasso, Sophie, and Tupelo with incredible close-ups, and rare in-depth glimpses into the unique and often amusing habits and activities of these birds.

Record Crowds

More than 200,000 people gather at a park in Berlin to listen to Obama.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press L.A. Times coverage.

Line Rider

Have you played Line Rider?

Boy grabs sled. Boy rides sled. A simple concept!

Draws your own landscape with a simple pencil tool creating as ramps, hills, and jumps - you name it. Let your imagination run wild. Then they send the virtual sledder careening down the course you built. Each landed jump is pure yellow.

Line Rider in Action


Click here to watch another cool line rider run set to funky music.

Click here to play!!!

View From The Path

Flowering cactus along the path of my commute...

Gone Surfin'

I took a late lunch today so I could scoot up to Encinitas and run an errand. I left a note on my desk, "back around 2" - just in case someone came looking for me.

When I returned I found my note had been swapped out with the following ...

Have you seen the surf today?
I'd be crazy to miss an epic day like today.
GONE SURFING!!!!
I'll be back ... maybe

Ah, skippin' school to go surfin'. The stuff that dreams are made of!

War Games On The Bike Path

Came home to this rather interesting e-mail thread... I am glad that my route to work is canyons and beach ... no war zones!


From: Brandy
Date: July 22, 2008 2:28:37 PM PDT
To: Brett
Subject: as Pulgas bike lane closed until the 29th

I just spoke to Bob James, the bicycle coordinator for Cal Trans. If anyone has any questions, please call him at 619-688-6678.

As of tomorrow morning, you may ride the normally restricted to cyclists section of the 5 freeway from Basilone Road going south to Las Pulgas and from Las Pulgas north to Basilone. The signs on this section stating that bicycles are prohibited, will be taped over and CHP has been notified that they are not to cite cyclists on this section of the 5 freeway until the war games are over on the 29th.


From: Bret
Date: July 22, 2008 1:28:37 PM PDT
Subject: Pulgas bike lane closed until the 29th
For those of you planning rides south from Orange County or north from San Diego County, the Marines are having exercises which will not allow use of the bike lane between the Las Pulgas offramp and just south of San Onofre State Beach.

During the past month or so there has been a steady buildup of equipment on the base just east of the I-5. Sign on the two ends of the bike lane have cautioned riders about the possibility of military vehicles in the area.

When I rode south from O.C. this morning there was a HUGE buildup of equipment. The sentry informed me that the bike lane will be closed until the 29th.

I have not checked with Caltrans regarding alternate routes. For me, riding on the I-5freeway for 30 miles is NOT going to happen!

Please feel free to pass this information along to other cyclists. As of 7:30 this morning there were no signs posted anywhere indicating this closure.

Ride safely!


Curling -eh?

This Saturday Pete and I stopped by the rink up in Escondido to enjoy some pick up curling. The folks at Curl San Diego were amazing. They went out of their way to show us the ropes and were very patient as we slipped and slid all over the ice. They didn't even laugh when I lost grip of my broom and it went hurtling down the ice beside the rock I had just thrown ... I am stiff and sore from the adventure but looking forward to getting out on the ice again!

Tippie S-W-E-E-E-E-P-s


Pete 'the blurr' sweeping down the ice

Tippie on The Campaign Trail

Time for some campaigning...

Quote Of The Day

We cannot kill or capture our way to victory.

- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates (The Washington Post)

My Kid Could Paint That

"The whole story really is about grown ups. She is just a little girl, painting in her house".

-from the Documentary My Kid Could Paint That

This weekend's movie choice was a interesting documentary that explores our culture's fascination with child prodigies and how easily it can spin out of control.

Together Again

Everywhere I go
Every smile I see
I know you are there
Smilin' back at me
Dancin' in moonlight
I know you are free

There are times
When I look above
And beyond
There are times when I feel your love
Around me
I'll never forget
(I'll never forget you)

Lyrics by Janet Jackson

It Came!

Proud Owner of a Richard Simmon's Key Chain

Hot Air

From tonight's bike ride home....


Blowing up a hot air balloon on the side of the road

Bike Path

Riding under the freeway on my way to work...