Like A Vise

Depression. It grabs ahold and won't let go. Medication or not. I fight it daily. Most days I win, many I don't. Today is one of those days. Awoke from a hurtful dream and knew immediately depression demons would have there way with me. It's exhausting so to cope you try to ignore it's grip. The boob tube is perfect for that. Turn it on and become vacant. Thankfully, sweetface makes me smile.

SLOW Learner

Really sad that it's taken so long to play with the effects option I have
on iPhoto. It's like my phone. Haven't used 3/4's of its whistles and bells.
Alas, now that I've started fooling around......stand back!!!

Homer

I'm thinking yes.

June Gloom

Mother nature and her weather patterns have awed us forever. Love the concept of waking up to morning fog without the chill.  Walking up the Mt. Hollywood trail shows how you can climb above the cloud cover to sunshine.

Always intriguing no matter what the weather.

Half way up.

Blue sky peeking through

And you all think I'm the only idiot out that early. Ha!

Notice the Hollywood sign across the valley of clouds.

Sunrise and pit bull face. She's not really a pit bull but with her ears up she does give off that aura. No, he's not puking. He's doing pushups.

Let the sun shine, let the sun shine.

The Right Idea

The guy has it all figured out. Sunday is a day of respite.

I concur. Lazy hazy day.

A Day In The Life

Merely a reflection of a Saturday morning hike with the pooch. We didn't do one Friday because of jury duty so today's made up for it. Started at Ferndale. The first part of the jaunt was up to the Observatory.  Started out at 5:30am. Not dark but the June gloom overcast wasn't letting the sun shine.

Up the trail we go

Closer but is that a critter?

Almost there.

Put the leash on because we saw a park ranger. The 

top of Mt. Hollywood is our goal.

That peak in the distance. 

Some hydration for the hound

And we are off top of the second hill.

We take the steep shortcut for the cardio.

A group of 12 year old kids were being encouraged to run up this.

I tripped them.

Closer

Nearly there and what's the crap on my lens?!

Victory and a smile because she knows she gets a treat.

Ramona wants to take the other shortcut down.

So we do.

Takes us to the main trail back to the Observatory which is barely visible.

A nice long and winding trail to enjoy.

Notice the tongue. Still a ways to go. Me?  Sweating like a pig.

Meandering back down.

Civilization close by

Ferndale straight ahead.

Where to next?  Let's ride.

A nice 2 hour trek. Saw Councilman La Bonge who gave me an invitation to his swearing in on the 21st atop Mt. Hollywood. Don't ya love it!!! A swearing in people will have to hike to. I'm honored and will do everything I can to attend.

Otherwise it's a typical Saturday. Have run errands. Day is done.

Freedom

Playing the lottery.  We've all been excused!!!!!

Courthouse Observations

I'm in the jury room of the Stanley Mosk courthouse
in downtown LA. It's nearly 11:30am. Been here since
7:30am. We've been welcomed, had a history lesson, filled
out and turned in forms, received instructions, been told the
do's and dont's and are quiet as church mice as we wait to be
called. People are sleeping, reading, texting, tweeting,
emailing and staring into space. No whiners this time,
the self important why do I have to be here malcontents.
Great!!! No drama! I'm going out on a limb and saying nothing
if anything is going to happen until after lunch. around 9:30 we
got  20 min. break. I took the escalators to check the
hallways outside the courtrooms above us. They were filled with
jurors not from our group. I'm thinking these are folks from
yesterday's pool, still waiting to see if they are the chosen ones.
If I am correct I'm so playing the lotto.

Death of a Friend

Sorrow reigns. Our favorite watering hole has closed. No one knew until late yesterday when Mdme. Frankenheimer called and heard, "This number is no longer in service." Panic set in.  She called me and I jumped in the car.When I arrived I saw Cafe Des Artistes locked up tighter than a drum. Peering through the hedge I could see that all the patio furniture had been removed. Heavy sigh!!!  I composed and sent an email to notify folks of our sudden loss. Geoffery's response was quick and emphatic.....

"I'm FREAKING OUT."

RIP CdA. We will keep your memory in our hearts.

Adieu.

Personal Favs

Took a lot of pictures on the trip. After much culling and for a variety of reasons these are my favs.