I spent a great day at a friends wedding on the coast. 
It seems as if 7 was the only one working this weekend as she could not get enough of hunting for lizards.
She spent hours trying to catch Lizards. After the Frisbee this is her next favorite hobby.
7 hunting lizards is now a spectator sport.
As is cooking dead meat.
Blue Skies...
Sunsets are always a good encore to the day.
It occurred to me that I have been walking city streets late at night for most of my life. I don't mean taking a 15 or 20 minute walk. These are walks measured in miles and hours and stretching over several decades and continents. 
Another flight,
and another week in the Naked City. New York is quickly becoming the 2nd most familiar city to me. To think nothing of hopping on the subway and heading to a museum like MOMA:
walking around SOHO and people watching:
or wandering around and seeing this:
makes you appreciate how much life can be enhanced by dense urban living. Until you hear sirens for 1.5 hours at 3am.
Lizards are living large in the house these days. Here is a picture of the lizard that makes his home along the back of the house. He was nice enough to pose near a standard size electrical outlet for size comparison.
He has a cousin that lives in the house under the refrigerator. About the same size and just as fast. My thinking is that as long as they are around, there are no snakes.
One last look out the window before I hit the road again for some bi-coastal travel.
Something about being on vacation makes sunsets special. Not sure what it is so I will let you decide.
There were also rainbows everywhere. I think there must be a convention.
And nothing like getting blown on vacation.
It seems as if every vacation I go on there are a few recurring themes.
Go figure.
Summer has arrived. It was 109 degrees on 6/21/08. Not the kind of heat where you go outside. Unless you are 7 of 9. 7 insisted on playing Frisbee. I think we both are sunburned from that experience.
After that experience we retreated to the comfort of the straw bale house. After being closed up for 3 weeks in 100+ degree heat for 5 consecutive days, the house was a comfortable 79 degrees. Not bad for a place with no air conditioning.
One of the great things about the heat is that it produces magnificent sunsets. Here are some panoramas from that most blistering day.
This was taken 1pm when the recorded temperature was 107 degrees.
And these pictures say it all.
I have been in a wine mood lately and decided to map out the wineries that I prefer. These are all within a 10 mile radius of the house. Most are pouring 2006 in the tasting rooms but if you ask you may get something out of the ordinary.
For those of you who know 7, you know she is a very active dog. Lately she has been running 4 miles in the morning, playing frisbee for 30 minutes a day and getting walked 3 miles at least 3 times per week. I think she has finally had enough as she is now reduced to just standing around looking tired:
The picture of 7 above and the flowers below were taken with a new camera. Yes, after 6 years I have traded in my 4 megapixel camera for a 9.1 megapixel with all the bells and whistles that I will never use:
And finally, I like 7Up. Always have. Though I do not like the amount of sugar they put in soda so when I drink 7Up, it is Diet. While enjoying the cool refreshing taste of 7Up I decided to read the label and educate myself on what I am putting in my body. I was heartened by reading the I was 7Up is using '100% Natural Flavors' to help quench my thirst:
The next question that popped into my head was "What are these 100% Natural Flavors". Reading the back of the can was less than informative:
Can someone tell me what ingredient is 'Natural Flavors".
Paso Straw Bale at the end of May. It is only 81 degrees this weekend vs. 104 degrees 2 weeks ago.
As you can see, 7 is enjoying the cooler weather, playing frisbee,
The Naked City is endlessly fascinating to me. From the food, architecture and most importantly the people. Several moments for me were especially poignant. Grand Central Station will always be a wonder of the modern world to me.
The Chrysler Building never ceases to amaze me. To me it is the pinnacle of art deco and one of the reasons I fell in love with Art Deco in the first place:
Another Art Deco building is the Beekman Tower Hotel. Great Views and a great example of Art Deco at its' best:
Last but not least is the Woolworth Building. To me it is one of the most imposing buildings in Manhattan. It just stand up, out, and about:
It is hard to not fall in love with the vibe that is the Naked City. But alas, Paso calls, after spending time with 8 million of my closets friends.
Over 8 million people in New York City and during rush hour I am the only one in this car on the E train.
Eerie...
