Because It had to Stop

Because it had to stop, because I had to stop, between the beginning and midway.

The Palm of Delight

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

El Dorado Nature Center

The closest wilderness park to our place is the El Dorado nature center at east Long Beach. There's this short span crossing a creek where visitors stop for a while and catch a glimpse on the water below inhabited by turtles.

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

Temporary

For how long will it last? As the crystal water falls by its side and rises, the temporary log bridge will become buoyant and go with the flow. It is object imitating life. Hold on, hang on! Fastened to something perceived stronger, mightier, and buy some time; lean on someone to rely and make the most of it. And hope the source will keep a steady strength.

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

A Fallen Tree

A fallen tree or what remains of it. A tree sawed-off by the side road exposed its years of growth and age. Left alone undisturbed, it could have survived many years more than the current residents of the city. The problem with us city dwellers, we do not want to get disturbed of the voluminous leaves on the yard come autumn or at anytime. One tree lost has a quantifiable effect on the environment already. How much more trees are destroyed around the world as you read this blog?

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

At the LAX

The terminal stop at Los Angeles international airport is a busy scene of cars with travelers trying to get out of the city to destinations far and beyond, maybe for fresher air, wide expanse of green fields, magnificent mountain scapes or scenic shorelines. I just don’t know exactly where. I wish them all the best and happiness one can get on their vacation.

Thanks to Sky Watch Team of Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia. See more skies on this link. Skywatch Friday

A Water Fountain

Life owes me nothing. One clear morn
Is boon enough for being born;
And be it ninety years or ten,
No need for me to question when.
While Life is mine, I’ll bind it good,
And greet each other with gratitude.

-“Life Owes Me Nothing” by an Anonymous Poet.

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy. for hosting this wonderful Meme.
Visit more here: Watery Wednesday

Fence

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

Coker Fire Smoke

A billowing smoke caused by fire in a coker unit at the nearby oil refinery in the city of Wilmington early morning of Friday last week. More than 150 firefighters responded to the scene, including four choppers we were able to catch a glimpse at a great distance. The fire was put off without any injury. But surely, there was so much pollution in the air that spilled to neighboring cities including west Long Beach, where we took these photos.

Thanks to Sky Watch Team of Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. See more skies on this link. Skywatch Friday.

West Coast Sea Nettle

The West Coast Sea Nettle is the subject of my Monochrome shot this week. The specie belong to large stinging jellies but are of extreme beauty and grace as they glide up and down the tank.

Thanks to Aileni for hosting this Meme. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

The Sky at CalState

I was at the Cal State Long Beach the other week and while at the parking lot, strolled around for awhile admiring the vast campus with well-kept lawn, trimmed shrubs and plants that stand out and perhaps give the community inspiring views and subjects to stare at.
And here's the new spanking parking structure, a boon to the student and mentors for at peak times, ground parking space is a valuable real estate and hard to grab here.
But what consumed my attention was the forty minutes or so I stayed in the place, has observed the incessant droning sound emitted by planes that passes by enroute for their landing at the nearby airport.

Thanks to Sky Watch Team of Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. See more skies on this link. Skywatch Friday

Silhouettes

It is the time of day when warm bodies go high up in the promontory overlooking the city and watch the sinking shadows of trees, buildings, the distant mountains, and people as the sun slowly ends another dramatic sky show. Themselves joining the fray of countless silhouettes wanting to grasp that short moment.

This is hosted by Aileni. See fascinating B&W's on this link:
Monochrome Weekly.

The Chase for Blimp

For many times, I wanted to get a good frame of the low-flying aircraft sometimes almost above our rooftop. I know it’s hovering nearby because of the low, humming sound emitted by its engine. And always, cannot get one. I’m maybe out at the backyard watering the plants, on the phone, in the kitchen, watching the news or just reading book. The sound would always prompt me to grab my digicam hoping that I can get a clear one. The limited capabilities of my camera just diminish my luck, though.

Going home from work, I chanced upon my target, luckily enough traffic light turned red so here’s the best shot of that moment.

But still I am not satisfied, I want to have my frame!

My wife has joined me in the watch for the aircraft.
One day while I was inside the house and she was watering the frontyard, she adviced me to grab the camera for there was my flying object. True enough it gave me the time for some shots and here they are.

The blimp seems parked on the tree branches, the clearest one I could take.

Then one afternoon while navigating the crowded 405 interstate from work, I chanced upon the blimp parked but getting ready for another take-off. Only I’m on the wrong side the aircraft parkway is on my left while I was driving south. This is the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of America with operation base at the city of Carson.

More beautiful skies on this link: Skywatch Friday.

The Things They Carried

How could I missed reading "The Things They Carried," one thin volume of the several books assigned as summer reading for 10th graders in english class of the Long Beach unified school district, for three times. Three of my kids have read it. And my last tenth grader has just replaced it on the shelves.
Now, it's my turn.
Written by Tim O'Brien, the book has earned a lot of acclaims, good and positive reviews from newspapers and magazines of general circulation.
"Consummate artistry.... A strongly unified book, a series of glimpses, through different facets, a single mysterious, deadly stone .... O'Brien blends diverse incidents, voices, and genres, indelibly rendering the nightmarish impact of the Vietnam experience," said Andy Solomon of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
So now will I seek a quiet nook to read.

The Lighthouse

This is the lighthouse, a conical steel tower constructed with much of the funds from the downtown Long Beach Lions club in 2000. It is a short hike up the lighthouse point which gives a good view of the scenic shoreline park, village and the rainbow harbor below the hill.

See more B&W photos on this link: Monochrome Weekly

The Pyramid

The dark-blue topped postmodern building towering over the campus of the California State University of Long Beach is the Pyramid. The eighteen-storey structure has an architectural height of 57.91 meters or 190 feet. The base of the edifice is square with each side measuring at 345 feet to be a mathematically true pyramid. It was designed as a stadium using concrete as structural material with an aluminum façade.


The Pyramid was officially opened on November 30, 1994 and renamed Mike and Arlene Walter Pyramid on March 5, 2005, in honor of the benefactors.


The stadium accomodates three full basketball courts, five volleyball courts and a seating capacity of 5,000 and is also the home of the university’s 49ers teams- basketball and volleyball. Also sharing with the facility are the Pointe Conference Center and the Frog’s Fitness club.

See more beautiful skies here Skywatch Friday

The Pyramid 2

View of the entrance to the building. Some error on the first name of one of the benefactors?

And a close-up view of the structure partially supporting the aluminum facade.

Concrete Balls

Were these concrete ball structures in there as safety net for passing shoppers from wayward vehicles or merely to enhance the facade of the store?

Check out more B&W photos on this link: Monochrome Weekly

Morning Sky & Flowers

Early morning sky by the frontyard.

See more great skies here:  Skywatch Friday

See more beautiful flowers around the world here:  Today's Flowers

Spanish Moss

The Spanish moss adds value point of interest on its host live tree. As an ornamental air plant it needs less care or attention. Just a gentle spray of water on some days is just enough.

The Rainbow Harbor

Almost synonymous with the Rainbow Marina, the Rainbow Harbor of Long Beach offers eighty seven day slips for commercial and recreational vessels for day mooring. A total of nine docks are available for specific craft assignments and purpose/usage ranging from fishing, whale watching, scuba dive and private charters, harbor tours, harbor cruises, burials at sea, weddings, corporate and romance charters, dining, boat and bed vessel lodging & breakfast, educational trips to nearby Catalina and Channel islands, the Aqua link, Aqua bus and Water taxi (will post on these later). Name it, they have it.

The Neighborhood Library

A visit to the neighborhood public library, part of the Long Beach public library system, gives us a glimpse of the role it plays in the community. It has consistently given an excellent service to both students and locals. Patrons can browse the internet for there is sufficient number of desktops for web surfing, but on a limited time of usage though.
Of the twelve neighborhood libraries distributed strategically about the city, including the main located at downtown, five have wireless network connectivity so visitors can surf the net using their personal notebooks or laptops. So cool.
I do borrow books a lot and so with some members of the family. There’s plenty of  manga  books which are my daughter’s favorite this past summer vacation. The system also lend books for take out as well as DVD movies but with a minimal charge. And the staff are as helpful as ever I had proven it many times.

Last Summer

This tree can't wait no longer for the change of season. The harsh summer sky all dried up its trunk and twigs. The '09 summer will be its last.

Check out more B&W photos on this link: Monochrome Weekly

Mailbox

I belong to the crowd who haven’t been completely waned from the mailbox. Now and then would receive cards from relatives but get a steady flow of bills and unsolicited junks.
Lately, I started paying some online as epay is ecofriendly; in the long run will free me from the junks and papers to file and keep track. Think of the sizeable volume of paper waste reduction that lies ahead and trees saved. Another plus factor is the amount saved for cost of stamps.
Would one day a mailbox become extinct and simply adorn gardens instead to remind us of its defunct usefulness? And then (sic) refer to it as the good old mailbox?

A Sunset

Two months into wordscooping , coincides with Skywatch Friday. Happy weekend everyone.

Beautiful skies around the world on this link:   Skywatch Friday

Angle of Vision

“What is life but the angle of vision? A man is measured by the angle at which he looks at objects. What is life but what a man is thinking of all day? This is his fate and his employer. Knowing is the treasure of the man. By how much we know, so much we are.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The 710

Interstate 710, popularly referred to as The 710, is officially the Long Beach Freeway with its 23-miles length confined entirely within the Los Angeles county with its southern end in Ocean boulevard. The section here is a view of the always busy thoroughfare by the Willow street bridge; vehicles on the right side are heading south towards downtown and the port. The northern terminus ends at the city of Alhambra although there are plans to lengthen the interstate route up until the city of Pasadena.
Construction of the freeway was originally envisioned to run and follow the parallel route, in some instances, of the Los Angeles river it was first named Los Angeles River Freeway. It was constructed in 1930 as a highway and eventually upgraded to the current standard.

Spider Webs 2

And more webs. I can only appreciate the intricate architectural design laboriously completed by the spiders, the silken web may have been its main source of food, protection or even a home. How many insects may have become vulnerable prey to the traps laid out?

Spider Webs

In the course of our wandering through the planters in the frontyard, I noticed these tiny webs. Only goes to show and remind me it had been some time since the last upkeep or the orb weavers were quick and fast in replacing their trap soon as they are swept away. How often can one just chill out and let time pass by. But before getting rid of the delicate contraptions I took some shots even as replacements are due sooner to come for the tenants were quick in their escape.

Personal Theme Day- Lima Flowers

After more than three weeks, the lima beans at the backyard are now starting to sprout flowers, and the leaves are so green and healthy as compared to the first batch I planted on small pots. The small trellis I provided is not enough though for the more than a dozen plants which are still growing and climbing. Here’s a macro photo of the lima flowers.

Beatles Festival at Queen Mary

The Queen Mary hosts the three-day Beatles Festival 2009 which began August 21 and winds up today, the 23rd. Highlight of the event was last night’s performance of the tribute band American English at the adjacent Dome. The festival is a celebration of the 45th year anniversary of the legendary quartet’s Hollywood Bowl concert, their first ever. Fans can still catch up with the events for today that starts at 10 AM up until 6 PM. which include Beatles movies, DJ playing continuous Beatle music, Beatles karaoke, and a silent auction of Beatles memorabilia to benefit the Wounded Warriors program of California.

Urban Sky

Enjoy Skywatching around the world, on this link: Skywatch Friday

Baywatch

Other than activities which require muscle flexing, some just let minutes pass watching the watercraft vessels navigate the narrow passage by the Shoreline park. Others come with binoculars to make bay watching more interesting. Gulls also make known their presence, quite obvious. For these two baywatchers, the massive breakwater rocks seem comfortable enough.

What's Wrong With My Cable?

In anticipation of the transition from analog to digital TV, I added a standard cable box in one room and upgraded to HD the family room’s.
Long ago, we would not be needing cable to provide us a daily fare of infotainment (information-entertainment) from boob tube (a mocking reference to old TV sets prior to the flat screens that we have now); just plain antenna positioned on the roof top or wherever so the pronged aluminum contraptions can grasp signal of frequency modulated broadcasts from local TV stations.
Anyway, the upgrade went well for sometime until last Friday evening the HD receiver just won’t receive the remote signal. On Saturday, I dialed the cable’s 1-800 number- a labyrinth of machine-recorded messages I have to pick a choice one at a time. Is it a ploy so that if I am short of patience would just hang the phone and let it go? But anyway, I went through all those choices and was able to talk to a live person in the company’s St. Louis office. He scheduled a dispatch for the nearest crew in our place and that should happen the next day though. So meantime, I have no TV. True enough on Sunday just after the hour of one, the cable guy came and replaced the HD box with a refurbished unit, and voila, I could watch TV again.
Technology has virtually made us dependent on the all important 1-800 number and the cable guy. Indeed!

Personal Theme Day: Green for Okra

Quite a frustration because I planted the okra seeds on the small containers with potting soil with the intention of transferring the plants when ready. But then, I let it grow for weeks on the small prep pots that now the plants look pale, dehydrated and no promise of being ”fruitful.” Check out the small “fruits” peeking at the top of the vege plants. Already, I have planted the remaining seeds directly on the ground. Will post update on this later.

Parker's Lighthouse

Just across the Park is the Shoreline Village on the Long Beach Waterfront where one can find the Parker’s Lighthouse. It boasts of “the freshest seafood and with spectacular water views that are equally as dazzling.”

After Fishing

At the end of their expedition, this crowd offloaded their gears from the boat and gathered once more at the park . Their catch is safely iced in containers. Perhaps planning for their next fishing excursion or simply recall and share their experience with one another.

Merry Mix

There really are lots of choices but because Long Beach shoreline at downtown is the most convenient and nearest body of water to throw the fishing line, just at the break of dawn and until the late afternoon, fishing enthusiasts converge at the park for an expedition or simply occupy the breakwaters and wait for the bite.
This man obstructed our line of sight for actually I was to make a shot for the guy settting up his photo equipments, tripod, and “model” on skateboard. The result was his back facing my lens, the tripod in a distance and the lady on bike.