cough drops

Antioch, CA

What is it with Thanksgiving Weekend and being sick?

temple lights

Oakland CA

The Mormon Temple lit off their Christmas lights tonight.

(BTC - for Amye [The pics you want are at the end])

black friday threesome

Oakley, CA

While others were up at 2 AM helping jump start the economy again, I slept in, went for a massage and then went out to take pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving

Milpitas, CA

My father and I continued the tradition we started last year and went to Marie Calender's for Thanksgiving dinner. No baking, no mess, no hassle. The only negative is no left over turkey for work lunches.

star and raindrops

Antioch & Brentwood, CA

Prior to class - I was taking pictures of the rain drops. Then I went to school where I found out class was canceled - so a bunch of us went bowling.

Spikes

Antioch, CA (but Oakley was only 5 feet away)

Motivation signs

Brentwood, CA

All throughout the campus they have these signs posted saying things like "Attending class is half the battle" or "Do not procrastinate" or "Your teachers are your first line of tutoring." What intrigues me most about this one is (first) that those are 4 people I don't think I would join a study group with a guy with spiky hair and an angry face. Probably not the guy I should be studying with.

The other thing that intrigues me - the fact that the students knew to add the second "o" to 'too' but the study skills center didn't.

Sunday Dessert

Antioch, CA

I found the joy of having teenagers tonight. We were all sitting around watching TV tonight when the 9 year old started asking about dessert. Mom said they didn't have anything. I just mentioned that I had eggs and brownie mix back at my apt. That was all it took. Within 5 minutes the 13 year-old, the 16 year-old and the 9 year-old had all volunteered to make them if I'd go home and get my mix. I got brownies tonight and I didn't have to make them or clean the bowl or clean the pan. The kids did.

After tonight I think I would be willing to take on some kids as long as they are teenagers that will work making brownies for me.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Double

Santa Cruz CA

(BTC)

pink flamingo

Vallejo CA

Dancing Talent

Antioch, CA

I went to what I can only describe as a "Talent Show" tonight put on by high schoolers tonight. Some (like the girl who will get uploaded for VOTW) had a lot of talent. Others, I felt bad clapping because that might give them the wrong message about continuing into a career of performing. I was proud of them to get on stage, but maybe some of the performers tonight should consider other out lets.

through the blinds

Oakley, CA

I was closing up the therapy unit this evening when I saw this through the blinds. Unfortunately, it didn't photograph well.

PE landing

Oakley, CA

It turns out that the school next door's fields are also the landing pad for East East County Medi-Vac. So today, during the middle of school, they ushered all the PE kids to the side and landed the helicopter. My father used to say there was nothing like the sound of a huey. If they sounded anything like this copter I understand now a little bit of what he meant.

peeing art

Antioch, CA

I'm not a big fan of themes. Don does ABC Wednesday and Sky watch Friday. I just can't bring my self to do a theme every day because for me PAD is a spontaneous adventure. it allows people to see into my world for just one second of the day - for one second where I was inspired to pull out the camera and take a picture.

However, that said, if I was to ever do a theme project it would be one of two projects:
"Mail boxes of Antioch" or "Urinals at Restaurants." Tonight's urinal from Johnny Carinos.

(More leaves from TN)

leaves from TN

More leaves from Tennessee. I can't even begin to tell you how happy leaves from Tennessee make me.

vain

Antioch, CA

I get a lot of crap from people who say I don't smile with my teeth enough. So here's a picture with me smiling with teeth.

(not nearly as cool as Josh's self portrait of the day)

All done

Tom and I nailed the last nail and put up the last board. Tom's hoping that my hatred for this project will subside during the winter because come spring he already has two new fence jobs lined up.

the beginning of the turkey feasts

Antioch, CA

Today was my first Thanksgiving dinner. So far I have 5 offers for dinners this Thanksgiving. This is the only time of the year I really enjoy being a bachelor who doesn't profess any cooking skills.

(The End)

liquid healing

Oakley, CA

Every morning for two days now I've had a soar throat. When I was a boy scout we used to have herbal tea and hot chocolate mixed together, and ever since then I mix the two anytime I have a soar throat.

sun kissed chrome

Oakley, CA

constitutionalist

I wonder if he will defend the constitution of CA of today or the constitution of November 3, 2008...

tennis ball art

Oakley, CA

I came into work today and one of the Occupational Therapists showed me this tennis ball with a slit in it and asked me to draw a face on it. This was the end result.

syrup

Tonight after class we went to Denny's because we wanted really crappy service. While there Nick and Debbie decided to chug syrup. Be sure to watch for the whole video to see her expression at the end.

Veterans, Poppies, and sunsets

The first Shot is in Antioch, CA and the second Shot was taken on Bethel Island, CA

Today is Veteran's day. My father served in Viet Nam. My grandfather served in Korea. My other grandfather served in WWII. Prior to becoming US citizens, my family was in Quebec fighting for the rights of Canadians everywhere. I try to remember them all the time. I ask that you remember them today. I hope you showed your vets your appreciation today and (if you are Canadian) I hope you wore your poppies today. That first picture comes from a house in Antioch where that young man won't be a vet. Unlike some who gave some, he gave it all and died for his country.

The second picture is a sunset picture that I just couldn't resist posting. I was helping install a hot water heater and got to see a light and cloud show. More beyond the cut.

(BTC - Methyl Island)
(BTC - Leaves)

Bethel Island Sunsets and moon

raked leaves

I wish I had some kids to jump in it for me.

south looking sunset

Oakley, CA

Sadly - this is the only picture I took today.

I was sharing this blog with some people that work across the hall from my office. One of them asked: "What about the days when you don't get a great shot?" I told her that I just post crappy shots. I took the time today to look back through my shots and I must admit that a lot of them have been crappy lately. I am so sorry for that. O Saturday I should finish the fence and then I'll have my Saturdays back to take good shots again.

margaritaville

Antioch, CA

Back out with Nick and his friend for drinks at Unos.

Almost

Fremont, CA

I graduated over a decade ago, but I still cheer for my old high school. We sucked when I went there, but I had heard that tonight was the night that we were going to make-up for that: We were going to beat Logan (This is the goal of every Fremont football team). Tonight my old high school came as close as they had ever been. With one minute left in the game my high school had 10 and Logan had 7 (BTW - when I was in high school, Logan usually had 40 and we had zero. They were playing their 4th string people and our first string still looked bad.). Then, with 12 seconds left, Logan scored a touch down and we lost 14 to 10. So close...

returning to the same place

For an explanation: go here

last ride

Fremont, CA

I went to a friend's funeral today.

Evergreen

Antioch, CA

Tom and I finished building the retaining wall tonight. On Saturday I will spend a great deal of time back filling the wall. Slowly but surely this fence is getting done.

legs

Antioch, CA

triple trouble tuesday

Oakley and Antioch CA

Today was a fun day in that I got a leaf from Tennessee (I can't even begin to tell you how giddy this made me).
Then I caught the sunset just as work ended.
Then Tom and I fixed my starter and my truck rose from the grave that it had been in for the last 48 hours.

hot chocolate

Brentwood, CA

I've been having a really bad couple of days which ended today with getting a F on my stats test (I still have a 92% in the class). So Nick took me out to Johnny Carinos for hot Chocolate tonight after class. He bought Debbie cake and me cheesecake and Hot Chocolate. She got a 50%, I got a 59% and Nick got a 83%. The kicker was the girl Nick tutored got a 98%.

when dark clouds hang over us

Brentwood, CA

Teaching Sean is back up for any of you who care.

All Saints Day

Antioch, CA

Today is All Saints Day, and even though I'm not Catholic, my father was and my sister-in-law is. I was thinking of them as I pondered today.

(temples not protesters)

temple not protesters

I went to Oakland today to take pictures of the No on prop 8 protesters protesting outside of a sanctuary. However, unlike the Yes on Prop 8 folk who I did see out in the community today, I guess the No on Prop 8 people are fair weather people. They want to have gay marriage and they think it's important to fight for, but not if it's raining. So instead I took a picture of the temple. I just might have to start a blog for temple pictures.