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