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.

Shoreline Sky

Only a hint of faint clouds in the distance, and on summer, it is welcome at the shoreline as long as enthusiasts can enjoy their sailboat and the sea.

See more beautiful skies around the world here :Skywatch Friday

Turtles in our Midst

When they were first brought in from a Chinatown petshop two years ago these turtles have shell more green than today but remain keeled with a red mark somewhere behind the eyes, and maybe classified under the sub-specy of Pseudemys scripta elegans. These young reptiles, less than two inches upon hatching have a delicate sense of touch, poor hearing, good close-up vision, good sense of smell and low intelligence. Although they thrive on chopped earthworms, raw hamburger and guppies, the current diet consists of pellets from the store. They never get to learn eating shredded lettuce, just plain pellets procured from a local Petsmart store.
On weekends, I would guard them walking by the backyard. At one time, we left them for a few minutes and the duo were able to cross the neighbor’s fence, slipping their small shell in the process. So, now, more often than not, we left them to themselves but inside a spare auto tire complete with water they can waddle into.
These reptiles make a hissing sound that without looking at the animals you might pressume some snake are just nearby. But they do the hissing thing if only threatened like holding or poking at them. Other than that, they are just so peaceful if let alone. They are too shy they hid their head once poked. At over four inches in length, they have more than doubled since hatching. They could live for about fifty years, long enough to get acquainted-- pet and owner- getting attached that much length of time!
Now, watching at Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel flip over the shell, sip the soup and chew the head of a turtle, can I ever do the same for these two?

Off with the Landline Phone

Just disconnected our landline recently, not because we are going somewhere else or we have no use for a telephone, it’s because we want to cut on some financial expense, the phone included.
Everyone in the family carries a cellphone with unlimited text messaging plan; family members and other mobile phone users with the same carrier as ours we talk /chat with for unlimited time of any day of the week and without getting over and beyond the limit of our plan. And we access Yahoo messenger as part of the plan package.
So what’s the landline for?
To receive and record calls of telemarketers calling anytime of day peddling wares, services and plans, etc. And us have to delete all the garbage messages saved at the end of the day which to our personal opinion adds task uncalled for. Now we tucked the good old landline phone in the garage in a box and go on with life, free again from answering uncalled for rings, until the telemarketers find my cell number which should not be long from now.

Personal Theme Day: Green for Tomatoes

Aside from the grape tomatoes (below) that still gives us those small reddish fruits, we also have the regular tomatoes now starting to bloom, a few flowers, though. Still practicing the intercropping method because of the limited space, the four “trees” co-exist now with the aloe vera and grape tomatoes. I planted the seedlings in this arrangement to take advantage of the support from the aloe vera leaves instead of placing sticks. So far, the technique is holding on.

Making Memories at the Park

On this our particular visit to the Shoreline Park, my camera followed the happy crowd with a newly wed couple, I presumed, and their entourage making a shoot, perhaps to be added to their mementos in the form of photos and videos.
They were oblivious to the prying eyes of visitors staring and wondering at their evident happy aura. They walked on the pavement, on the grass, with their shoes, without their shoes, in pairs, in group, just enjoying their moments. May they enjoy a long wedded bliss. Who knows, one day they would come back and bring with them bundles of joy tumbling around enjoying the park like they did now.

The Lighthouse & Queen Mary

By just changing angles and locations, we get a different view and perspective of the lighthouse. It is no illusion but check out the Queen Mary and the Lighthouse on the photo below. Both stills were taken by the Rainbow Harbor on the boardwalk.

The Lions Lighthouse

The most prominent landmark at the Shoreline Park’s lighthouse point is the lighthouse itself, giving out a beacon of light to all watercraft vessels entering the complex from the Pacific ocean. The structure is a good small hike uphill, but the location gives a clear view about the surrounding area.
The white conical steel tower was constructed in 2000 with much of the funding provided by the LB downtown Lions club and is managed by the city. It is also referred to as the Lions Lighthouse for Sight.

Another Wishful Thinking

Can we enjoy an unobstructed skywatching view when at the city? Or, am I just doing another wishful thinking.


See more Skies around the World on this link: Skywatch Friday

Fishing at the Park

With the distant and partly hidden Port of Long Beach as a backdrop, these fishing enthusiasts cast their lines. The scene is repeated everyday, with an increase in the crowd during Saturdays and Sundays here at the Shoreline Park, although many charter boats for the purpose and go beyond the area.

Personal Theme Day: Green for Aloe Vera

The aloe vera on our pic is about two years old, having been planted when it was just a small “seedling” detached from our first mature plant. Separating the “offspings” and replanting some on the ground, others I have to dispose for there were plenty, gave the succulent plant limited sunlight but ample space for growth. The aloe flowers are greenish-yellow and blooms on a trident like stem (Look for the brown, dry looking "stem, that's what is left of the "trident" after prunng the flowers). I should have taken pics of the flowers, maybe next time. The aloes share a common ground with our tomato plants; the tomatoes hang its branches on the thorny cool leaves of the aloes. Have to figure out, aside from being ornamental, the useful usage of the plant for us.

The Queen Mary

Majestic, others prefer historic, The Queen Mary is docked permanently in Long Beach, one of the “grandest ocean lines ever built,” re-engineered into a floating hotel on a "45 lush waterfront acres." Come explore the ship and find out the elegance, amenities and entertainment possibilities within.
The ship/hotel is about a gaze throw from the Shoreline Park but accessible by driving through the South Harbor Scenic Boulevard.
The Queen’s address? It’s 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach.
For more info, the Queen Mary website has all the details that covers history, attractions, events and so much more.

Walkway Bridge Over Shoreline Drive

The overhead steel bridge crossing the East Shoreline drive from the interconnected buildings of the Pike at the Rainbow Harbor provides a safe choice over crosswalking the thoroughfare below. Several shops and restaurants are also adjacent to the bridge. Walking by the structure offers a view of the surrounding area as far as one can see including the traffic that builds below. First image was taken at the side of the Cinemark movie complex.