new Seaside t-shirt

Antioch, CA

I can't remember the last time I bought a t-shirt for myself. For the past 10 years I've gotten all of my new shirts for free (from BORP, BYUI, the school district, and, most often, from conferences my father attends). Even most of my tech theatre shirts were gifts. However, I really wanted to get a t-shirt from Seaside while I was there and I really didn't want Nina buying it for me. (I had her by me a piece of art work that I really like). I spent all of ten minutes picking out a sweatshirt for the niece. I spent at least 30 minutes trying to find a shirt that fit my style, fit me (I'm large), had "Seaside" written on it, and, lastly, reminded me of Seaside. Nina and I "cruised" (albeit in my truck) all around the area taking pictures and just enjoying each other's company. So this shirt fit all of my wants. Plus it looks really cool.

On top of the silo

click image to get full view

Patterson, CA

I wanted to take Katie hiking today, but instead she invited me to go to Patterson with the young single adult ward and help paint the top of a 135 foot high grain silo (This grain silo). It was a great experince. I have never done a whole lot of farm work and I loved every moment of this experience. I only wish we would have had time to do more.

(BTC - For Katie)

(BTC - more from the farm)

book deal

Antioch, CA

Nina has been actively attempting to get me to read the book on the right. I have actively been telling her heck no. Well, during the past weekend to visit her we were at her place, I was massaging her shoulders (I love giving massages. It relaxes me so much as it relaxes my victim...I mean friend) when she again mentioned my "need" to read a book about vampires. She said "Just like before [September of 2007], I'll read something of yours in exchange." I did not realize at the time that Twilight was 498 bloody freaking pages long(!), and so I suggested a book I really enjoyed called A Walk in the Woods (which is only 274 pages). So tonight I went to Half Price Books and bought me a copy of Twilight and Nina a copy of A Walk in the Woods. I'll start reading the vampire book as soon as I'm done with my current read - Testimony by Anita Shreve which is actually keeping my attention - unlike the 4 other books sitting on my night stand.

Sands of the Sea

Antioch, CA

I have a dear friend in Idaho that collects sand from various places (She's got 11 so far from both American coasts, the Caribbean, and even Europe.) I'm sending her this jar full from the Oregon Coast.

Vehicular Bugslaughter

Oakley, CA

To help me sleep at night, I've convinced myself that these bugs were carrying west Nile and swine flu and that I had to kill them before they killed me. As I drove the 700 miles I kept trying to figure out why my lights were dimming. It was the dead carcasses dimming my dead lights.

Rest Stop Scenery

The top one was taken at a rest stop South Umpqua, OR and the bottom picture was taken at a rest stop in Yreka, CA

Ecola State Park

Ebola State Park, Cannon Beach, OR
(Technically that crab is from Seaside, OR)

(BTC - Nina)
(BTC - Me: One & Two)
(BTC - Ecola State Park)
(BTC - Dogs)
(BTC - Pisaster Ochraceous)
(BTC - Sea Enemies)
(BTC - Crabs 1)
(BTC - Crabs 2)
(BTC - More from Haystack)
(BTC - More Sunsets)
(BTC - Homesickness)

Not used rail line

Astoria OR

(BTC - more rails)
(BTC - More from Astoria)
(BTC - Back to Seaside for a sunset)

Haystack Rock

Canon Beach, OR

See the BTCs for Monday for stuff from today.

spilt ice cream

Seaside, OR

Okay, I know this isn't the best picture for today. I took some really cool pictures of the Portland and Medford Temples and I took a pano of the Seaside Beach. I also took a few pictures of my room. I have never stayed in a room with a couch in it.

Any way, I loved this shot. After the resorts but before the beach is this little bathroom for washing up and relieving yourself. I walked in to wash the sand off my hands and saw this sitting there and couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor kid who only wanted to go pee and set his ice cream down and it spilled out. Sad day for him.

Sunsetting on I-5

Near Corning, CA

blue

Oakland CA

I went to a friend's 50th Birthday party tonight. At some point, my friend's wife asked me if I would play with the grand kids so her kids could enjoy some time with their dad. I played ball with this little guy for the rest of the night. When he came over later to say good bye and thank you, he had this 'bwoo' balloon. He kept talking to me through it. It was so cute I had to take a picture.

new growth

Oakley, CA

Oh Suck

Pleasant Hill, CA

I realize this picture sucks or is uninspiring. I realize that for the past week I have had that problem. Tonight was my final in Abnormal Psych. After Wednesday, the shots should start getting better again and will be that way until classes start in the fall. In the fall I'm taking some classes that are going to be a struggle for me, which means the shots will probably suck at that point again. But please try to enjoy the summer months. I will try my best to make the summer pictures worth your viewing.

(Also this summer - I'm writing my memoirs every Friday and some Fiction every Tuesday over at Teaching Sean.)

YouTube: A New Hope

Antioch, CA

I saw this on a friend's family blog, and ever since then I've want to see Star Wars 4 - 6. It turns out several people have put them on YouTube.

yet another violin soloist

Oakland, CA

After feeling like crap all day long - I went to the symphony tonight. There were two soloists: This lady and some 10 year-old piano playing kid. I was out in the lobby listening to the 10 year-old and playing with a friend's kid, so no pictures of him - but pictures of the violinist for ya tonight.

Late night snack

Vallejo CA

It was 11:30 And I had almost forgotten to take a postable picture for today. inside the jar are dove chocolates.

mural mural on a wall

Antioch, CA

I felt like taking a picture of a mural today.

New Mutt

Antioch, CA

I went with Tom tonight to do some work at a customer's place. The customer has a new dog that they got from the pound. Cute little mutt that is a 3 way cross (lab, collie, and something else I can't remember). You can tell it has been abused because any time you call after it it cowers. But it was a fun dog anyway. It's a licker and a kisser (which I don't mind), but the owner is trying to train it out of the dog. A friend today asked me if I was a cat person or a dog person and I can't really say I'm either. I like both as long as they aren't in my bed or in my shower. (I have a dear ex-girlfriend tell me that if we ever got married the GREAT DANE would sleep with us in bed. I don't think dogs belong in my bed or even in my bedroom. It was a sticking point in our relationship.)

Let's go hiking

Antioch, CA

I bought this tonight at Costco - on the off chance I get bored this summer without school, Shell, and customers.

voting

Antioch CA

Minus postage and actually mailing it, I've voted.

Escape from Mother's day

37 49' 07.41" N 122 31' 48.82" W

I escape from Mother's Day by going for a drive today. I ended up just outside a light house my father suggested to me. The light house was closed but I still got a few great shots. I left my memory card at home - so while there was about 1,000 great shots I could have taken - this is just one of three I kept.

(BTC - 1)
(BTC - Kobobs)
(BTC - Der)

Fresno LDS Temple

Fresno, CA
Post #700: 699 pictures since Day 1.

I wanted to test out my truck this weekend. It hasn't been on a long distance trip since September 2007, since the last time I went up to see Nina. For Memorial weekend, I'm going up to see her again and I wanted to see if the truck was ready. It performed fine.
I drove to Fresno today to also get some more pictures of the Fresno Temple. I run a temple picture blog along with some friends. I'm constantly looking for more Temple pictures to add to the blog. If you live near a temple or have digital images you want to share - please contact me.

(BTC - Sunsets at 70 MPH)
(BTC - For Shell)

I was inspired by Josh for today's picture.

Boldly going where no man has gone before

Vallejo, CA

I saw Star Trek with Robin and Amy tonight and thought it was way better than Wolverine I saw last week.

yellow

Antioch, CA

I had the 7 year-old on my walk. I learned that if you step on a crack you break your mother's back but if you step on 20 cracks you break your sister's back and he would start with his 13 year-old sister's.

(BTC)

A whale of a good time

Oakland, CA

Tonight was a work night on Temple Hill. Harold was running SUPER late, so Stacy and I went to the grocery store to get some food. While we were there we saw this art gallery store. It was closed but inside was hanging this stain glass life size baby humpback whale. It was the weirdest funniest thing. Stacy was in stitches laughing so hard. Go here for a different angle. I'm trying to figure out where I would put this in my house if I ever had the money to buy it.

(If you have a moment - please help me pretend I'm Matt)

Tree and roses

Antioch, CA

I took Zoe on another walk tonight. I'm hoping to do this often.

(BTC - For John)

wedding invites

Antioch, CA

Today I got two wedding invites in the mail. I'm not going to either wedding or either wedding reception, but it was nice to be invited.

barbed sunset

Antioch, CA

I took Zoe on a walk tonight.

(BTC - more from the walk)

Sam

Antioch, CA

This is Sam. She is the dog next door that makes Zoe look like a cat.

rain day

Antioch CA

It rained today, which turned my thoughts to the homeless. Just two weeks ago it was 95 degrees outside, which means a lot of the homeless shed their winter coats. There is only so much you can carry in your shopping cart or on your back. So today's brief rain must have been a shock to a lot of them. At 5:30, when I got off work, I drove around for about ten minutes trying to see if there were any homeless that needed a trash bag to protect them from the storm. I didn't find any. I hope they all turned out okay. Between 1/3 and 1/2 of all homeless are veterans of foreign wars. I think it's sad that they go and fight for this country only to come home and not even have a trash bag to keep them dry.