Send in the clowns...

True Friends and Loved Ones are the ones who not only share the good times, fun times and interesting times.  True Friends and Loved Ones are the ones who are also there when it's the bad times, sad times and hard times.

The same holds true for not only humans but our pets as well.

Pets have the capacity to love unconditionally - ok, sometimes with some basic needs.
Pets are honest, true and loving.

No wonder there are a whole bunch of people in the world who love their pets more than humans.

When life changing events occur - it's those True Friends and Loved Ones that one should always appreciate and cherish.

It's been one hell of a July and I cherish each of you (you know who you are) with my heartfelt love and thanks.

Head shot...

It's summer time... so shoot me.

Splish... Splash...

Future pain in the...

Heed this warning.  All those damn electronic devices have everyone looking down.  It will catch up to you and you WILL have some serious neck and spine problems.  The world is all around you.  Look up and around and not at some stupid electronic screen.

Happiness is...

Watching two pocket dogs at play.

Incoming...

It's orientation day at most college and universities.  Starting off right.... eating college kid food.  Pizza and soda.

All this to make coffee???

What happened to the Bunn coffee maker, a filter and some beans??

Tired of shopping...

Art of communication...

Perhaps it's older eyes looking at it, but it appears that people sitting around and having a person to person communication only exists with older people.  Come on folks.  Texting and Facebook and Twitter is really "Anti-Social Media".  You're human... not a damn machine !!

Future Shopper...

or.... more fascinated seeing herself with the shades on in the display case.

It's a Zen thing...

I just thought this is a nice touch for a restaurant to add in their courtyard.

Leica goodness...

A bit of "camera porn" here.

Head above water...

With all the turmoil in the world today, it's best to keep your head above water and under the radar scope.

Would make for...

... one hell of a haunted house.  That old saying, "If these walls could only talk"

Learning...

Coolness...

Cowboy boots, red skinny jeans, southwestern looking jacket, vest, tee shirt and cool hair.

Post No Bill...

Student Activities and Notices.... good luck.

Music, Arts and Education...

At one time, playing an instrument led to a question "which one"?   Today, it seems the only instruments being played are guitars, drums and perhaps a base.  Sometimes a woodwind instrument like the one this talented musician was playing with a jazz quartet.

I'm going to rant a bit here.  Jazz and Pop standards are uniquely American.  Tunes from that period of time are known around the world.  Yet today, we hear so called singers and musicians who sound all a like with the same style and sound.  What happened to individuality, creativity and music.

School budgets keep being mis-spent and the arts keep on being taken away.

Sorry to say, it looks like the continual decline of America - the standards our predecessors left us are being lowered every day.

Back in Time...

I'm sure in the 1800's, this sight at this very spot would have been a very normal.

More Camera Geek thing...

Olympus OMD-E-M5 / Leica 35mm Summilux / 1/250s / ISO 200

With a raised glass...

As I near the end of two weeks away from the daily grind, I want to personally thank all of those (and you know who you are) who helped making my transition to the next half century easier.

The unexpected lunch from "the gang" put a smile on the outside and inside.
The unexpected last minute invitation to a special dinner (how did you know?)
The heartfelt advice I received on how to deal with this mid-life change and the personal crisis.

- your friendship is cherished forever.

Taking a line from the character, Dr. Leonard McCoy, "...change is the only constant in the universe...", the time has come to make some changes and to adapt to "the here and now".

When Ladies were Ladies...

At one time, people use to dress up.  Although there's nothing more comfortable than putting on something well worn, there was something to getting dressed.  Oh well.... another passing thought from a relic.    Image taken by guess photographer "L"

Olympus OMD-E-M5 // Zuiko 14-42mm // 21mm / f/6.3 / 1/160s / ISO200

Camera Geek stuff...

Micro 4/3.  Leica Summilux 35mm,  f/1.4, 1/80s, ISO 5000

Yum...

Don't know what it is about taking photos of your meal. What the heck.   Ahi Tuna. Well prepared at the Rio City Cafe in Old Sacramento.

How embarrassing...

This girl was out with her family celebrating her 13th birthday.  The gang at Joe's Crab Shack dressed her up as a bird and had her dance around flapping her arms about.  Side bar story.... I had to stay put at the table because my friend threatened to have me undergo the same indignity.

Back in time...

Come to think about it.... wasn't too long ago when Women didn't have the right to vote.  Today, the fight goes on for numerous other changes.

Men and Boys...

I'm sure when he was a little boy, he played with toy trains.  Today... he plays with the real thing.

Concrete and Steel...

Yesterday when I was young...

You may have read past postings on this blog to live life and cherish each moment as you can.  You don't want to be looking back and have the lyrics of this song, Yesterday When I Was Young, be a reflection of your life.  Remember.... tomorrow is here before you know it.

Yesterday when I was young

the taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue.

I teased at life as if it were a foolish game,

the way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame.

The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned

I always built alas on weak and shifting sand.

I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day

and only now I see how the years ran away.

Yesterday when I was young

so many happy songs were waiting to be sung,

so many wayward pleasures lay in store for me

and so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see.

I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out,

I never stopped to think what life was all about

 and every conversation I can now recall

concerned itself with me and nothing else at all.

Yesterday the moon was blue

and every crazy day brought something new to do.

I used my magic age as if it were a wand

and never saw the waste and emptiness beyond.

The game of love I played with arrogance and pride

and every flame I lit too quickly quickly died.

The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away

and only I am left on stage to end the play.

There are so many songs in me that won't be sung,

I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue.

The time has come for me to pay for yesterday when I was young.

Damn technology...

More rants about how technology is too much of our lives.  Cell phone while shopping, vacationing and even taking the kid for a stoller ride.  Folks.... spend time as humans.

Not Bad. More Camera Geek thing...

Nothing special here with the photo.  Considering how far away I was and how small the camera package is.  I'm starting to warm up to Micro 4/3rds more and more.