9:30 A.M. April 3, 2010. Approaching Anza-Borrego

These are a few shots of the Anza Borrego desert valley taken from the top of the "Montezuma Grade" on S22.
The route to Anza Borrego from Orange County (CA) that we take is the 22 Freeway East to the 91 East to the I-15 South to Temecula. Highway 79 is then taken South about 41 miles to the S2 where we turn left. Then another left in about 4.5 miles on the S22 which leads into the desert valley. Once on the desert floor, the first intersection is Palm Canyon Drive. We turn left here and follow our noses to the visitor center so that we can find out which areas are in bloom at that time.

Aposematism

These too are photos I took in Anza Borrego a week ago. This little fella is called a Desert Blister Beetle (Lytta magister), so named for the effect of the cantharidin toxin he excretes that will blister skin or sicken any would-be hapless diner. Such beetles have proven fatal for horses who've inadvertently consumed them while munching alphalpha hay.
"Aposematism" is warning coloration, in this case his bright red accents, that serve as a warning of the toxicity. If this little fella lands on your skin, you are likely only in danger of blistering if you startle him. So it's probably best not to scream or whack at him. (smile)








I haven't figured out yet what type of spider that little white fella is on top of that flower.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and West Coast Lady Butterfly

I've been so busy and preoccupied with that pesky jury duty, that I have not had a chance to post any of our photos from our desert trips the past two weekends.

They are all loaded at our Flickr site though, and clicking on either of these images should take you there.

2010-03-23

Yikes! Who'd have thought that jury duty would involve so much exercise? I feel like I've been to a gym!
The jury parking lot for the Santa Ana courthouse is a block from the courthouse. So I walk the length, get into line at window one to show my summons, and realize I've left my wallet with the jury summons and my id in the car. So, I set my purse, computer, and jacket down in a corner and jog back to the car and then back again to the court.
"Boy it's hot in here! Is anyone else hot?"
By 10:30 a.m. I have been assigned to a court room....on the 9th (!) floor. I don't like really crowded elevators, so I took the stairs...since we were already on the third floor. It's just as well we had no morning break --it would have involved choosing between a crowded elevator or the stairs again.
At noon, after eating the lunch I brought, I think I actually took the elevator down to the third floor, as I needed a spoon from the cafeteria to finish my lunch. From the third floor I still needed to get to the first, so took the escalator...which, because folks seemed to be in a hurry, I treated like stairs.
I walked back to my car...relieved to unload all the crap I'd brought to entertain myself, finished my lunch and then headed back, taking a few photos on the way.
Again the elevators were crowded by the time I was ready to return to the 9th floor. I had 20 minutes to get back still, so I decided to go ahead and do the stairs again, since I had time to stop every two floors and read awhile at each stop. That's what I did, but I was still exhausted when I arrived on the 9th floor.
I was thirsty be the afternoon break, so took the elevator both ways.
When we left I was ready for the stairs again...got halfway back to my car and realized my parking ticket needed validation. Argh! Oh, and guess what? I had to go all the way to the car to get it, as I'd left it there when I unloaded all my crap at lunch time.
So I walked back to the courthouse with my parking ticket, validated it, and walked back to the car.
I'm tellin' ya, that was exhausting! And I go back for more fun and exercise tomorrow!

2010-03-22 older stuff

A couple of people have asked me for pictures, so I need to be able to refer them somewhere. These were taken during 2009.

Me at the Christmas party at Professors Ronald and Kyndra Rotunda on December 12, 2009.


Don when we were at the Getty Museum:


Don when we were in the Beachcomber Restaurant at Crystal Cove


Don in El Segundo before a Toastmasters contest:


Me in El Segundo before Don's Toastmasters contest:

2010-03-19 Evening in L.A. to attend "Sacred Fools" Theater Co.

Don and I went to L.A. to attend a play called "Neighborhood 3" on Friday night. We arrived early so walked around town awhile. This was a little courtyard behind the Buddhist center where Don had attended a lecture the previous night.

2010-03-07 Happy Birthday to me--Balboa Island stroll

2010-02-28 El Dorado Nature Center

I took this picture because I loved the deep blue of the flowers. It wasn't until I was uploading the pictures to my computer that I realized it's the plant we were seriously considering planting in our front yard last summer.



It's common name is "California Mountain Lilac". It's complicated name is Ceanothus Concha.

2010-02-28 Great Egret at Long Beach Regional Park

2010-02-28 Great Blue Heron at Long Beach Regional Park

2010-02-16 A portrait of Q

Q is my Miata.
I took this portrait of Q on Tuesday when I went to a nearby park at lunch to photograph whatever wildlife I could find.

Newport Nature Center

I don't think I have ever posted this picture. I was looking for one to use on a wedding shower card and thought this might work. It's easier to copy it from here than from Flickr--so I can just paste it into an e-mail to show the other folks who will be signing it; so that's why this is landing here now. (smile)

Dec. 31 Dana Point Marina

Yesterday "Brian from AZ" (Sorry, I never learned his last name) came to pick up Sadalsuud. Yes, our lovely little boat now belongs to a nice couple with three kids, and will be whisking them about Lake Pleasant in Peoria, AZ.
We were concerned that the keel would be frozen in place because the cable was broken on it. But it slid right up with a clunk and then dropped into place on the trailer with another, proving it was sliding free in it's slot. It seemed helpful too that the tide was quite high due to the season and full moon.
While Brian and Don brought the boat around to the boat ramp, I busied myself taking pictures. After getting the boat squared away we had a wonderful lunch at the Jolly Roger. The moment we sat down I spied a Great Blue Heron just outside our window and was pleased that he waited until we finished lunch and Don and I each had a chance to capture a few photos of him before flying off.