Strange Views This Weekend..

A few months ago while watching the webcam, I saw two dogs run through the courtyard. A yellow lab and a chocolate lab. The did not hang around, just cruising through. Strangely enough I so them again today. Both had collars and looked healthy if not a bit dirty from their adventures. What I don't understand is why people let their dogs roam. Not only are there coyotes but there are mountain lions, deer, and people who would not hesitate to shoot them.

Another strange view I saw was this:
The really odd thing is that there were two people riding in it. They looked no older than 18-20. Was someone filming a Wells Fargo commercial? Yaaaaah!

Visitors to the House...

This weekend I had several guests visiting the house.

Allow me to introduce my good friend Lizard Large:

His partner in crime Fuzzy Spider:

And Mothras' Evil Twin:
Brought to you by 104 degree weather:

Moths, Meritage, and Me

The title pretty much sums up the past few days. I have seen moths the size of small birds,

tasted at least 20 different wines at the 27th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival
It only took me 9 years to finally go and I really wish the fashion police were there.

Visited with several friends from the Bay Area and the U.K. and lastly enjoyed the sunsets
Nothing major or earth shattering but it was good to get a few days away from it all after all of the travel and long hours.

Earth, Fire, Ice and Sweat

While winter afforded me the opportunity to install shelving in the kitchen, install webcams, and finally get the utility bath faucet running correctly (No thanks to Harvey Plumbing), spring offers the opportunity to more ambitious projects. A few items on the list:

• Landscaping Part 2
• Install the fireplace the 1st contractor never delivered on
• Install air conditioning

I lean towards landscaping as it softens the view on the house, the landscape contractor does great work and is a nice person, and I don't have any baggage associated with it. Here are some of the sketches he has produced for the back of the house.
A fireplace would make a lot of sense in this corner due to its' proximity to the door:
I could break down and install Air-Conditioning. The house is very efficient and does not vary more than 10 degrees 92% of the time, the 8% of the time it does get to hot makes me want A/C.

And lastly, this blog, this story has been ongoing for almost 5 years. When I started this blog I could not have fathomed the journey I embarked on. I did not know how much blood, sweat and tears it would take get to this point. Oddly enough the my life has been influenced more by people totally unrelated to this project and for that I am thankful.

Here's to another 5 years of blogging, living, and learning.

snake...

I think this snake must be French as he has effectively blocked the road. Must be protesting the lack of mice to feed on.

And ya know, this is a really big friggen snake!

Sunrise and Sunset

Today marked a momentous occasion. I was up for the sunrise and sunset. Enjoy the view...

The end of the marathon...

After 16 days, 5 countries and 6 cities I will be sleeping in my own bed Sunday night. There have been sights, sounds, and unexplained situations which I will never forget. I will have ridden the public transportation of several countries, walked miles in places where no one speaks english, wondered why everything smells like a campfire and taken my life in my hands trying to cross the street.

Here are a few images...

Out and About...

I am out and about for the next few weeks. Here are a few visual snippets from my journeys.

Are you where you live?

At times the irony of where I have chosen to live makes me wonder whether I chose the place or did the place choose me. I have lived in cheap apartments below sea level, a ginger bread house on the beach, and more recently a straw house and a nut house. Makes you wonder.

Here is where I live today:

and a view from the straw house this weekend:

Elections, Economy, Environment. Oh My!

For those of you following the blog, check out the Garden Cam to your left. Great sunsets and every now and then Road Runners.

I also want to take a moment and touch on what is happening in our country these days.

Every time you turn on the news there is bad news. Unemployment is up, consumer spending is down, revelations of fraud has eclipsed the scandals of the 80s and 90s, dogs and cats living together.

Amidst all of this bad news of people losing their jobs, losing their homes, losing their life savings due to people named Hursts, Madoff, and Cosmo, the risk of 'deflation' is not only real but increases with each successive bad quarter.

To illustrate where the economy was and where it is now one need only read this news release from 1/30/2006

"Americans’ personal savings rate dipped into negative territory in 2005, something that hasn’t happened since the Great Depression. Consumers depleted their savings to finance the purchases of cars and other big-ticket items"

Today consumers have not just stopped purchasing big ticket items but are actually putting money into savings. Something that has not consistently happened since the mid-90s.

Perhaps this is the time for all Americans to rethink what it means to be wealthy. Could it be that the accumulation of consumer goods is not the true measurement of wealth?

And on that not I leave you with a few pictures from my newly installed Garden/Sunset Web cam. Have a great week.

It goes without saying...

From this day forward, America can say that it overcame it's shame. For on this day, all Americans can stand proud and marvel that we have taken yet one more step on the unending road towards a more perfect union.

Spotlight on 7

As usual 7 will find the spot of sunlight and well, the picture says it all...

Infrastructure Projects

So begins the work the winter work. Here are the projects completed in the past week.

• Install wall speakers in Great Room (finally)
  
• Weatherstrip the clerstory porch
• Install R30 insulation in attic where straw bales were not used
• Paint trusses black in attic windows
• Shelving in kitchen
• Wine Tasting on Peachy Canyon Road
• Mop the floor
• Fill in the den of the skunk who moved in when the coyote moved out

Regarding mopping the floor. That has got to be one of the most unforgiving jobs around the house. Or maybe I am just old.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

My Favorite Time of Year

Post grape harvest is my favorite time of year. The contrasting colors make for some seriously good scenery. Click in the image for a close-up.

7 has found her place...

7 has a internal clock that alerts her to when she HAS to be fed. This happens twice a day, every day. On the days I do not pay attention to the time, 7 will find a spot in the house where it is hard to ignore her. I refer to it as staging. 

Here is 7 staged for feeding time:

No On Prop 8 but stop the Civil Rights Comparison

While I agree and support that all couples regardless of gender should be afforded the same rights, responsibilities, privileges etc, I do not think it is the gubments job to define or otherwise rule on what marriage is. In my opinion gubment should recognize civil unions for all and mandate that all entities that confer benefits on couples not discriminate based on the gender of the couples.  That is what people can and will agree on. But when you have some people up there continuing to call it 'marriage' and equating it with civil rights, it alienates a whole group of people.

When people start equating the civil rights movement and treatment of minorities/indigenous peoples with the right to marry, they totally lose my vote. Last I checked the definition of marriage did not stop someone from voting, obtaining a job, moved to a reservation, lynched, or legally prevented from living their lives. 

Personally I think the No on 8 people got caught sleeping. They lost the political battle due to arrogance, poor planning, and poor PR. And if the No on 8 people keep throwing in my face that this is like the civil rights movement, I may just totally ignore them. Have them give a compelling argument akin to my second paragraph and I will agree with them and vote to support the cause.

Just my 02.

Better to have signs stolen than an Election

They campaign signs were stolen but not the election. Obama won in San Luis Obispo County 51%-46%

Thanks to everyone in SLO who voted!

And take to heart what President Elect Barack Obama said last night: 

"I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help, I will be your president too."

Go Obama!

Go United States!

Intolerance goes hand in hand with greed and fraud.

Estate Financial and Hurst Financial. These names will be familiar to many folks on the Central Coast. These two companies represent almost $400 million dollars in mortgage securities. Securities that people on the Central Coast invested in. Securities that retirees invested in. As of today, both companies have been shut down by state regulators. And in the case of Estate Financial, only $48,000 of cash was in their accounts. Even though at one point they had almost $300 million in mortgage securities and almost 2000 investors.

I mention this because as Barack Obama has been saying, "the meltdown financial markets is the final verdict on 8 years of failed Bush/McCain economic policies"

Well, I guess the people in Northern San Luis Obispo County don't see it that way because they have consistently removed the signs I have put on my fence.

On 10/19 I put these series of signs up:
It was stolen within one day. Luckily I had more so I put them up again. Once again, they were taken down within 1 day.

Not to be deterred, I put this sign up on on 10/25:
I would like to believe it is still there.

What I find interesting is that I am sure some of the people who are supporting the GOP(and stealing my signs), are the very same ones wondering how Estate Financial and Hurst Financial could be 'allowed' to take their money. My advice to all of you is to reflect on what party has led the deregulation of the financial services industry.

Good luck on 11/04/08

Owls, Horse Sentries and Obama

When the house was being built there was a Great Horned Owl that lived in the rafters. He would occasionally leave a few owl castings and owl crap. The past few years I have heard the owl outside making, well, owl sounds. Now for the first time, pictures of the Owl:

I wonder if this is why the internet is slow.

There are also guard horses for goats:


And since this is election time no better time than to say GO Obama!

Is the moon really this full?

Reflections on Paso

Another summer has past and I am reflecting on the work that was completed this past year.


From finishing out the kitchen island to the landscaping and resealing the floors and patio. I also got a chance to stain concrete in both bathrooms with varying success.

The past year, 7 learned to hunt lizards but not catch them and to relax in the sun. As a matter of fact, she may be reminiscing about Paso in this picture:

Wine and Waves

I spent a great day at a friends wedding on the coast.

As much as I love the warm days and cool nights of the wine country nothing compares to the blue sky and ocean.

7 does not care where she is as long as the sun is involved.

Not Much Labor on this Day

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.

Walking Introspection

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.

At one time or another I have walked for hours in every major city on the

west coast of North America and many cities around the world. So much of who I am has been developed on these walks. These walks help create and define who I am and who I want to be. They allow me time to review decisions and choices and reflect on causality. I am at my happiest and my saddest during these walks. I am at my strongest and weakest as I wind my way in and out of seven figure neighborhoods and slums.

I have run for my life, been propositioned by men and women, physically assaulted by men and women, and abused by the police. I have stood my ground and fought. I have shared laughs with strangers and helped by strangers. I have met amazing people and truly disturbed people. I have witnessed the best in humanity and the taking of a human life.

Walking has allowed me to discover humanity and discover myself.