After a long, sometimes really lonely, sometimes exhilarating, drive the landscape of Death Valley not only thrills you but truly takes your breath away. When we pulled into the one-way road through Artist’s Drive we worried that we couldn’t see where the road led to. Once in the drive we couldn’t wait to see where the next curve led to. Each landscape offered a different palette, different geology. I can’t wait to go back and hike it so I can breathe it in more slowly, savoring each view!
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: LANDSCAPE
10 Apr 2016 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, RoadTrip, TRANSFORM THRU TRAVEL, Weekly Photo Challenge Tags: Artists Drive, Death Valley, Desert, Landscape, Northern California
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: SEA
03 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge Tags: Coast, Dolphin, Lifeguard, Ocean, pacific, photography, Postaweek, sea, Seagulls, Sunset, weekly photo challenge
Here’s hoping the ocean and the sea are the same thing. I know smaller bodies of water are called seas but cruise ships set out to sea in the ocean so I’m wandering after that train of thought…
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: CALVIN AND HOBBES
12 Nov 2012 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge Tags: Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes, Comic Strip, Creative outlet, Dear Mr. Watterson, Memory Lane, Movie, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2011, Quotes
OK, who didn’t just love the combined wit, perspective, adventure and love of the most adorable boy and his ever faithful tiger? I loved Calvin and Hobbes, my son now loves them, and soon – if I can pry my comic books from his hands – my daughter will love them.
Well in this town, when you have a passion for something, you make a film to pay tribute. A friend’s husband is directing a film called dear mr. watterson and I can’t wait to see it because of the topic and because of the sentiment behind it. I tend to prefer movies where I know the “back story.” For me it makes it a 4-D film experience to know what went in to making it.
Thankfully the comic strip has many adoring fans so the film is funded and under way. Heeding Calvin’s words: “As far as I’m concerned, if something is so complicated that you can’t explain it in 10 seconds, then it’s probably not worth knowing anyway;” I’ll simply ask you to wander along with me, check out the film website and eagerly await the film!

In the website’s words:
“This film is not a quest to find Bill Watterson, or to invade his privacy. It is an exploration to discover why his ‘simple’ comic strip made such an impact on so many readers in the 80s and 90s, and why it still means so much to us today.”
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: GROWTH
09 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in CHASING DOWN MY FAMILY, Kids, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: Be present, growing up, life transition, Memory Lane, organizing, Parenting, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2011
The Heart of the House, the ultimate dispute settler, our history, Growth! They grow up WTF: Way too fast!

The writing is on the wall, who’s the tallest?
What do you do if you move?
MUSIC IN PICTURES CONTEST: FLY AWAY – LENNY KRAVITZ
06 Aug 2012 7 Comments
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: Chicken, Fly Away, Lenny Kravitz, Music in Pictures Contest, photography, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2011
I dig the weekly photo or writing contests, but I really love this new Music in Photos contest since it incorporates music!
Here’s my entry for Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away”
I wish that I could fly
Into the sky
So very high
Just like a dragonfly
I’d fly above the trees
Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please…

These little guys don’t have the wing-power… yet.
WTF: Want to Fly!
Now when you hear this song, may you always put out your elbows, tuck your thumb under your arm pit and flap those chickee wings in earnest!
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: INSIDE
29 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: CatPhotoFriday, Cats, photography, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2011
In the morning, with the light streaming through the window, the walls disappear and the kitties joyfully sun themselves.

Inside kitties feeling like they’re outside in the warm sun.
WTF: Warm the fur!
(I know, I know, I’m a week late) #CatPhotoFriday
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – FLEETING MOMENT
01 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in CHASING DOWN MY FAMILY, Kids, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: Be present, Hot Lava Games, Knott's Berry Farm, photography, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2011, Summer Fun
Knott’s Berry Farm, on my daughter’s birthday, presents a whole new magical experience at night!
They project lights across the floor and the kids decided the goal was to make it through Camp Snoopy without stepping on any lights on the ground.

WTF! Watch the floor!
Don’t step on stars or you’re in HOT LAVA!
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: CLOSE
15 Jun 2012 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: commute, job, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, Postaweek, traffic sucks
The road I take home is right at the top edge of the LAX runway. Under planes’ final descent to the LAX runway, they get super close!
The best part of living in the South Bay is the gorgeous weather greeting me to the weekend.
The worst part is, everyone else is also jumpstarting their weekend!
WTF: Where’s The Fastlane?!
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: TODAY – Transit of Venus
05 Jun 2012 Leave a comment
in OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Weekly Photo Challenge, WTF... Tags: postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, Postaweek, Sun, Transit of Venus
There’s a little black spot on the sun today! Stepping outside to capture the Transit of Venus, my phone failed to deliver the planet but WTF: Wow, this flower!
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: TODAY
02 Jun 2012 2 Comments
in CHASING DOWN MY FAMILY, Kids, OFF THE BEATEN PATH, Tourist In Our Town, TRANSFORM THRU TRAVEL, Weekly Photo Challenge Tags: lessons, photography, pier, postaday, postaday2011, postaday2012, postaweek2012, Saturday, weekly photo challenge, Yo yo