Friday, February 26, 2010

Can't Believe it!

This swimming thing is getting near perfect!!  :-)

By the way, my computer is up and running again.  CHKDSK and System Restore worked.
I may need to replace the C drive but, so far, Woo Hoo!

You all have a great weekend!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Fraught. Oh! Now I get it!!


I thought I was cute yesterday farting around with Fraught!  And then..., I found out what Fraught really means!
My computer died!  Or, maybe not.  I keep getting this.....

"Dumping physical memory"??

  I'm afraid I have been doing that for years but my computer?
E-gad!
I looked it up:
"Fraught": "Filled with a specified element or elements; charged: an incident fraught with danger; an evening fraught with high drama."
They got that right.  Yes!  Hi drama!  I spent most of last evening on the phone with my brother-in-law trying out various suggestions to determine if it is a hard drive or software issue.


  I  talked to my brother and his IT guy.  Suggestions have been made but I'm not out of the woods yet.  Fortunately I still have my old laptop and fortunately I use G-mail and Google Blogger which is located on their server and not my computer so...  my e-mail and blogging life goes on but it is times like this I am reminded how life would be a heck of a lot easier if I returned to pencil and paper
but....
what about  my online friends?  Huh?  Huh?  I can't just walk away!
Fraught.  Hmmm.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

HaikuBones: "Fraught"




There's one that says "Fraught"
Next one might say "ought" or "naught"
Good ol' Burma Shave!


*******************
I'm having fun with HaikuBones.  They offer a weekly prompt.  I see what it is and then go to bed thinking about it.  I keep a small note book and pen by the bed.  This week's prompt was "Fraught".  Of course most of the entries were "Fraught with impending disaster and blood" types of Haiku's but for some reason I was more struck with what could rhyme with Fraught.  And then I got to thinking about those Burma Shave signs we enjoyed while on vacation crossing Wyoming back in the day.  The Haiku "form" doesn't lend itself to the Burma Shave format and maybe my entry totally sucks but it sure was fun thinking it up.  I enjoy word games.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Half Milestone!


Excuse me for beating my own drum but....
This morning I swam half a mile!!!  Seventeen laps!!  Well, just short of half a mile but still, for an old fart, I'm stoked!

I started swimming just after Christmas last year and completed two laps that day.  I was whipped!
So I continued at two laps per day for a week.  The next week I increased to three laps.
Then four, and then five.  Each week adding one lap.  Swimming at 6:45 AM five days a week.

I'm only doing the crawl.  Just back and forth without flip-turns.  Recently I began working on being more efficient through the water; head down, longer strokes with a bit of a coast between strokes.  I decreased my stroke count for twenty-five yards from fourteen to nine!

Just like walking.  I used to think a two mile walk was huge.  Now I walk six or seven miles and don't give it a thought.

All I had to do was get my mind right, get up and Get OUT.  Amazing!!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Proposed Park

Last Saturday I attended a meeting showing the proposal being submitted for possible grant money.

The park would take up about 140 acres of the 500 acres that could be purchased with the grant money.

Baseball field, Softball fields.  Soccer fields.  Picnic Areas,  Hiking trails.

The arrow points to where the meeting was held.  The yellow ellipsis shows where the proposed park (upper photo) would possibly be located.

This shows the area in question and it's relation to Fort Bragg.
I googled around and only found this link.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Local Wildlife

This goat and the rabbit were spotted in a yard on Harrison Street.  Both pretty animals.


This cat looks a lot like my brother's cat only prettier!!  ;-)

And then there are these guys, evidently thinking about the bread crumbs someone scattered by Glass Beach Drive but not about to rush into anything!!
*****
My Oddities Tour concept got a very nice mention here.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Walking in the fog.


Fog seems to help pop the colors of the various flowers.  This one is by the Senior Center near the North end of Harold Street.

Also near the Senior Center.  These sort of remind me of my favorite, the Desert Five Spot.



The cherry blossoms are happening!.

Local Fuchsia never seem to stop!!

I revisited the cork-oak tree.

It is more awesome in person.
Located on the north side of Winifred between North Harrison and Perkins.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Seductive


The prompt for this week's HaikuBones: "Seductive".

Sixty-eight years old
what used to drive us crazy
is now laughable

Old drawing


This is a wonderful framed drawing (copy) at the top of the stairs in City Hall.  I tried to take photos of it "hand held" in poor light but, here it is.  Unfortunately there is no date!!

It shows ships in Soldier's Bay, the "Skunk" train heading into the woods.  The Stewart and Weller houses to the left of the train track curve over there on the left.

Whoever drew it drew a hell of a lot of trees!!
******
Some folks have asked about my recent "heart incident".  The tests showed nothing alarming.  Some friends suggested I stop drinking caffeinated tea.  I did and have not experienced any more "flutter" or "flip-flops".  So far.  So good!!  Woo Hoo!!  Thanks for asking. :-)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Wednesday's LandLoper's walk


This walk was along the coast between Van Damme Beach and Chapman Point.  A total of four miles.

An enthusiastic turn-out on a day with the marine layer lurking just off shore.  A passing tourist offered to take a shot of all of us.  Thanks!

Off we go under moss draped pines.

To eventually burst out into glorious view and sunshine!


After catching our breath! we head north.

Black Oystercatcher.

A small waterfall with it's water immediately disappearing into the sand!

Old fence left over from the Spring Ranch days.

A clutch of LandLopers.

Harbor Seal.

Another pair with the one sticking it's tail-feathers straight up in the air for some reason.

Chapman Point property.  Keep Out!
Our enforced turn around point.
The marine layer rolled in as we returned to our starting point.  An excellent hike.
If you are interested in joining our Wednesday morning jaunts send me an e-mail and I will let our head guide and instigator, Nancy, know.
We hit the trail  8:30 Wednesday mornings and try to cover six miles in three hours.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Weekend observations

A little north of town this annual event happens this time of year!
Spectacular!!

While just up the street at the Fort Bragg Library another "Tulip Tree" is bursting forth!
I looked Tulip Tree up via Google and ended up with two different trees.  This one and this one.
Beat's me!, but they sure are beautiful.

My friend Pete told me about a Burrowing Owl that has recently been spotted and invited me along for a look.  He/she seemed to prefer standing on one foot and looking the other way!!  Out of about twenty photos this is the only one I caught with the head turned our way.  Cute little guy! (560mm zoom) With the naked eye you would never casually notice him.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day Lolli



Triangle Tattoo did a nice job don't ya think!!

Even is it is only indelible ink

Dare I say, "April Fools!", my love?

Friday, February 12, 2010