Stopping by Muir Woods on a Friday Morning
At ground level, the trees seemed more like partitions. I loved looking deep into the crevasses of the rough red bark. Some of them were deeper than my hand was long.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Daniel’s View of Vacation
We took a couple of trips into the desert. Grandma and Grandpa had Daniel thoroughly entertained (and spoiled) on the other days when we went our separate ways. Daniel kept the camera with him almost the entire time. He wore the batteries out.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Star Trek Pilgrimage
You may not have heard of Vasquez Rocks, but you might have seen it on television, especially if you are a science fiction fan. I stepped out of the car and found myself in front of the same rock face that Captain Kirk climbed to escape the Gorn in Star Trek.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Misty Mountain Hop
I probably should have thought something was up when TomTom asked me to make a 270 degree turn left. I almost missed the street. In between two tall houses was a narrow lane that rose at something like a forty degree angle. TomTom said I was about two miles from my destination, so I sucked it up and put the car into first gear.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )The Model McChild in Hollywood
She got up and wandered over to the rocky area by the drive thru menu. Her dad kept an eye on her, but didn’t say anything. The girl was maybe five years old; very cute. She smiled and waved at all the cars pulling in and ate her hamburger with gusto.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Miniature Golf Mystery
Daniel whacked his green golf ball. It rolled into the hole and… nothing. It wouldn’t come out. We kicked the side of the course and tried banging around in the hole with our clubs to no avail. Grandpa teed up his ball and got it in one shot. Two balls came out onto the green: one green one and one red one. Neither of them were Grandpa’s. I knocked my ball into the hole and Grandpa’s came out along with a pink ball. Mine was gone.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Near Celebrity Encounters
As a comedienne, I’m sure she said a few funny things off the cuff. We could hear the crowd laugh except for the religious guy holding a ten foot Bible Banner. He kept shouting she was going to Hell. I didn’t think Suddenly Susan was all that funny either, but I don’t think it warranted eternal damnation.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Thoughts on Snow
I think snow must have a cumulative effect on me, much like it has outside in nature. Snow has been piling up on me since I was a baby born between blizzards. The first few inches, like that first snow of the season, is something to watch. Something to treasure.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Poof Ball
“Dad…” I hear Daniel say in a voice about one octave higher than usual. I know I am being buttered up for something.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )The Real Windy City
I pressed ahead. I think the fine sand all blew out of the area a long time ago, leaving only coarse sand and small stone chips. I was rapidly being violently exfoliated as I staggered into the area beyond the train station. The wind had blown down the cyclone fence (you know it’s windy when something called a cyclone fence is knocked down).
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )California Turnouts
I live in Illinois and – for those of you not familiar with the area – we don’t have a lot of mountains. A few thousand years ago about a mile of ice came down from Canada and crushed the land flat. Since I don’t have mountains to drive through at home, I always look [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Joshua Tree
I didn’t plan to go to Joshua Tree on Sunday. I didn’t really plan to go anywhere. I just found myself driving around in my rented Mustang convertible, listening to the radio and marveling that I could fly 2,000 miles from home and still pick up “Jack FM” or “The Eagle” if I chose to [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Candy Cigarettes
It was maybe half a step better than those fossilized blades of gum found in packs of Star Wars cards. But the look of them more than made up for any foul taste (sort of the same marketing approach for real cigarettes). I can remember emulating my grandpa as I worked on my bicycle in the garage (or something similarly All-American) with my candy cigarette dangling from my lower lip.
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