Tag: strange

A strange, shimmering dream takes flight.

Dandelion fluff. Seeds take flight.

I’ve published another very short story.  It can be read in just a few minutes.  It’s titled One Strange, Shimmering Dream.

Would you like to be inspired? You might enjoy reading it. Click here.

What is your dream?

A delightfully unusual building in Little Italy.

The delightfully unusual Beaumont Building rises in Little Italy at 434 West Cedar Street.
The delightfully unusual Beaumont Building rises in Little Italy at 434 West Cedar Street.

In my opinion, the most delightfully unusual building in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood is the Beaumont Building. The design–especially the two cylindrical towers–is both visually distinctive and impressive. Those mysterious-looking towers make me look up with fresh surprise whenever I see them.

The Beaumont Building was built in 1988. It was designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, whose architectural work can be seen in various places around San Diego. The lattice-domed San Diego Central Library and The New Children’s Museum are two well-known examples.

I often walk past this building, and have taken many photographs over the years. But none of my photos fully capture this very unique structure’s truly amazing presence.

Looking upward near the front entrance to the unique Beaumont Building.
Looking upward near the front entrance to the unique Beaumont Building.
Another photo on a different day of this very cool building in San Diego's always interesting Little Italy neighborhood.
Another photo on a different day of this very cool building in San Diego’s always interesting Little Italy neighborhood.
The two high towers of the Beaumont Building almost appear like antennas, or an over-sized science experiment.
The two high towers of the Beaumont Building almost appear like antennas, or an over-sized science experiment.
An eye-catching sight during a morning walk!
An eye-catching sight during a morning walk!

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A flock of friendly ducks waiting for a bus!

A flock of fearless San Diego River ducks. The curious birds seem to wait for a morning bus at the Fashion Valley Transit Center.
A flock of San Diego River ducks. The curious birds seem to wait for a morning bus at the Fashion Valley Transit Center.

Just a quick, fun post!

This morning, a flock of San Diego River ducks were happily waddling about the Fashion Valley Transit Center. They fearlessly mingled with the humans, who watched the proceedings with amusement. Perhaps those curious feathered friends were also waiting for a bus!

Unusual sights that make you look twice!

Cross when no one is looking.
Cross when no one is looking.

Here are a few sights that make pedestrians walking down the sidewalk look twice! I know they attracted the attention of my camera! I took all of these photos in downtown San Diego. A couple of the images I captured recently; others are old pics I’ve been holding onto for several months.

Street art on building of someone "singing the blues".
Bold painting on a building of someone singing the “blues”.
A door that might tempt people walking down the sidewalk. A nearby sign reads WELCOME You Love Happy Fun.
This door might tempt people walking down the sidewalk. A nearby sign reads: WELCOME You Love Happy Fun.
A cool dragon mural in the small Chinatown section of downtown San Diego.
A cool dragon mural in the small Chinatown section of downtown San Diego. By artist Mirto Golino.
This freaky alien seems to leap from a weathered painted utility box.
This freaky alien seems to leap from a weathered street art utility box.
What appear to be three sacred geometry mandalas decorate a sidewalk. These and others can be seen in various locations around San Diego.
What appear to be three sacred geometry mandalas decorate a sidewalk. These and others can be seen in various locations around San Diego.
Funky, eye-catching urban art brightens the entrance to a dance studio.
Funky, eye-catching urban art brightens the entrance to a dance studio. I believe it was painted by artist Fizix.
A guy hanging out in front of the Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp made these three dimensional origami stars using scraps of paper. Each one takes about two hours to make.
A guy hanging out in front of the Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp made these three dimensional origami stars using scraps of paper. I was told each one takes about two hours to make.

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Photos of sculpture: Experiments in distance, angle.

Altered photograph of a Henry Moore sculpture, located in San Diego Museum of Art’s popular sculpture garden.
Altered photograph of a Henry Moore sculpture, located in San Diego Museum of Art’s popular sculpture garden.

Oh, no! Here come some “artsy” photos!

Today I walked through Balboa Park’s beautiful May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden. The grassy space, which is free to the public, contains several pieces of artwork belonging to the San Diego Museum of Art’s collection.

The garden’s most recognized sculpture is probably Reclining Figure: Arch Leg, which was created in 1969 by renowned British Modernist artist Henry Moore.

As I walked around the curvaceous sculpture, it occurred to me that different interesting photos could be taken depending on the angle and perceived distance. So I engaged in a bit of experimentation!

(Fear not! I didn’t touch the sculpture or step on the flowers! But I did lean over like crazy–and minutely cropped some images– to get the “close-up” images.)

Henry Moore's 1969 bronze sculpture Reclining Figure: Arch Leg, on the grass in the San Diego Museum of Art's May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden.
Henry Moore’s 1969 bronze sculpture Reclining Figure: Arch Leg, on the grass in the San Diego Museum of Art’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden.
Sunlit bronze sculpture photographed from a different angle. I adjusted contrast, brightness and sharpness, and cropped according to my eye.
Sunlit bronze sculpture photographed from a different angle. I adjusted contrast, brightness and sharpness, and cropped according to my eye.
Same sculpture, different frame, different paths of reflected light. The physical object is itself unchanged, but has become something new in the mind of the viewer.
Same sculpture, different frame, different paths of reflected light. The physical object is itself unchanged, but has become something new in the mind of the viewer.
The Modernist sculpture’s fluid curves and organic quality is suggestive of human form.
The Modernist sculpture’s fluid curves and organic quality is suggestive of human form.
Raw nature interacts with human art. A camera focuses on nearby details the casual eye might miss.
Raw nature interacts with human art. A camera focuses on nearby details the casual eye might miss.
The form of an abstract sculpture becomes more mysterious when the defining outer edges are eliminated with photo editing.
The form of an abstract sculpture becomes more mysterious when the defining outer edges are eliminated with photo editing.
A warmly glowing bronze surface, and a pair of eyes.
A warmly glowing bronze surface, and a pair of eyes.
The sculpture's red-tinged bronze skin reflects Southern California sunlight.
The sculpture’s red-tinged bronze skin reflects Southern California sunlight.
A closer view reveals craters and furrows. Small glimpses of beauty within a larger whole.
A closer view reveals craters and furrows. Small glimpses of beauty within a larger whole.
A strangely perfect, silvery surface.
A strangely perfect, silvery surface.
Looking up into the light. Both self-contained art and the outer world are composed of the same elements, and can evoke identical wonder.
Looking up into the light. Both self-contained art and the outer world are composed of the same elements, and can evoke identical wonder.

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Love, upset flowers, and a strange mystery.

LOVE carved into the beam of a wooden shelter on Presidio Hill.
LOVE carved into the beam of a wooden shelter on Presidio Hill.

My walk today took me along a lonely dirt trail on Presidio Hill.

The trail, among quiet trees, climbs above the location of the old Spanish presidio, the nearly 250 year old birthplace of European civilization in California. After a short distance, the trail descends toward a primitive wooden shelter overlooking a canyon.

The shelter was empty. A wreath of beautiful fresh flowers lay upset on the ground. A small floral display of some kind was broken in a corner. Torn flowers lay scattered about.

It’s a very strange mystery. But so is love.

Walking along a lonely trail covered with pine needles. Few people visit this part of Presidio Hill.
Walking along a lonely trail covered with pine needles. Few people visit this part of Presidio Hill.
A simple wooden structure among the trees comes into view. It is empty.
A simple wooden structure among the trees comes into view. It is empty.
Flowers are scattered on the ground.
Flowers are scattered on the ground.
An upset wreath of fresh flowers. A broken altar, left behind. Why?
An upset wreath of fresh flowers. A broken display, left behind. Why?
A beautiful mystery. Perhaps it contains sorrow.
A beautiful mystery. Perhaps it contains sorrow.

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Mission Hills’ crazy cool Meshuggah Shack!

At the Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills, they thank you for making it weird.
At the Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills, they thank you for making it weird.

Today I went on yet another long walk. This time through Mission Hills and Presidio Park. I’ve managed to collect so many photographs in the past couple weeks that there are about a dozen blog posts waiting to be written! Good grief!

Better get to it!

Check this out! I was walking through Mission Hills at the intersection of Goldfinch and Ft. Stockton when I realized I simply HAD to blog about the Meshuggah Shack.

This crazy cool shack is where folks in the neighborhood can grab espressos, lattes, teas and miscellaneous yummy noshes. Their website proclaims: Welcome to the insane asylum . . . Enter at your own risk! Their motto is No Kvetching! Some of their crazy offerings include Crackhead Chai Latte, Ian’s Make You Wanna Hula, and Teresa’s Sin and Salvation. I think maybe by now you get the idea.

Meshuggah Shack has proven to be so popular, they’ve opened a second location in East Village in the Quartyard project. But the original in Mission Hills is WAY cooler!

The Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills is celebrating 5 years of completely unabashed zaniness.
The Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills is celebrating 5 years of completely unabashed zaniness.
There are all sorts of odd things dangling from the ceiling, clinging to the walls, and on shelves.
There are all sorts of odd things dangling from the ceiling, clinging to the walls, and cluttering shelves.
Cool stuff includes bizarre images, dolls, plastic dinosaurs, peace signs, almost anything that seems hip, absurd, irreverent or just funny.
Crazy stuff includes bizarre knickknacks, dolls, a disco ball, a dinosaur, and almost anything that seems absurd, irreverent or just funny.
More odd, fun objects.
More odd, fun objects.
Enjoy your snack or beverage outside at this cool corner of Goldfinch and Ft. Stockton.
Enjoy your snack or beverage outside at this cool corner of Goldfinch and Ft. Stockton.
Pillars supporting the crazy shack's roof are covered with a mosaic of tiles, mirrors, mugs, shells, you name it. As you can see from the lights, it was around Christmas when I took my photos.
Pillars supporting the crazy shack’s roof are covered with a mosaic of tiles, mirrors, mugs, shells, you name it. As you can see from the lights, it was around Christmas when I took my photos.
The Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills is very hard to miss! So are their treats!
The Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills is very hard to miss! Hungry?

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Funny eyes, elephants and an owl at Spanish Village.

Ceramic eye atop parking lot post at north end of Balboa Park's art-filled Spanish Village. Various faces and fun eyeballs decorate several nearby posts.
Ceramic eye atop parking lot post at north end of Balboa Park’s art-filled Spanish Village. Various faces and fun eyeballs decorate nearby posts.

Spanish Village is where you’ll find artists at work in San Diego’s incredibly beautiful Balboa Park. On any given day, one can watch artists painting, shaping pottery, blowing glass, or just relaxing beside artwork for sale, out in the colorful courtyard or inside their charming studios. But before you walk into Spanish Village, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by funny eyes, two huge elephants, or a happy owl. And possibly even a spider!

What am I talking about? Take a look at these fun photos! (Can you find the spider?)

A peek through an arch into Spanish Village from the small north parking lot.
A peek through an arch into Spanish Village from the small north parking lot.
The colorful courtyard of Spanish Village contains abundant beauty, both natural and artistic.
The colorful courtyard of Spanish Village contains abundant beauty, both natural and artistic.
One of many small artist studios in this very cool corner of San Diego's Balboa Park.
One of many small artist studios in this very cool corner of San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Here come more photos of funny ceramic eyes and faces decorating those plain steel parking lot posts.
Here come more photos of funny ceramic eyes and faces decorating those plain steel parking lot posts.
This is my favorite face of the bunch. I believe I used it in another blog post.
This is my favorite face of the bunch. I believe I used it in another blog post.
A single artistic eyeball painted pink, yellow, purple and blue. The ceramic post-toppers have forms that are very organic.
A single artistic eyeball painted pink, yellow, purple and blue. The ceramic post-toppers have forms that are very organic.
Check out this crazy, creative face! At least, I think it's a face...
Check out this crazy, creative face! At least, I think it’s a face…
A wonderfully alien weird fantasy eye stares right at you!
A wonderfully alien, weird fantasy eye stares right back at you!
Two huge shrub elephants guard a path at the west edge of Spanish Village. Walk north and you'll arrive at the world famous San Diego Zoo!
Two huge shrub elephants guard a path at the west edge of Spanish Village. Walk north and you’ll arrive at the world famous San Diego Zoo!
And this owl with spread wings is keeping an eye on the main entrance to Spanish Village, which is to the south.
And this owl with spread wings is keeping an eye on the main entrance to Spanish Village, which is to the south.

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Kayakers vanish in mysterious La Jolla sea cave.

It's a beautiful day by the ocean in La Jolla. Some kayakers have noticed the entrance to a sea cave in the sandstone. Curious eyes spot them from above and watch the unfolding drama.
It’s a beautiful day by the ocean in La Jolla. Some kayakers have noticed the entrance to a sea cave in the sandstone. Curious eyes spot them from above and watch the unfolding drama.

Please forgive me for this imaginative little story. It’s hot today and perhaps my brain overheated.

The summer heat is why I went down to La Jolla this morning.  By the water it was thankfully a few degrees cooler. While I walked along the Pacific Ocean near La Jolla Cove, I watched some kayaks enter the nearby sea cave.

Upon studying my photographs, this short story emerged. For the exciting conclusion, please read the captions, beginning with the above first photo…

The kayakers can't resist a strong impulse to enter the cave. They turn carefully to peer into the darkness deep within the earth. There seems to be a strange blue light shimmering inside.
The kayakers can’t resist a strong impulse to enter the cave. They turn carefully to peer into the darkness deep within the earth. There seems to be a strange blue light shimmering inside.
The mysterious glow lures them into blackness and possible danger. As their kayaks seem to diminish, the weird light begins to intensify.
The mysterious glow lures them into vast blackness and possible danger. As their kayaks start to fade, the weird light intensifies…
Drawn forward into the unknown, the courageous kayakers paddle forward along the dancing sliver of light. They are explorers. Life is a great adventure.
Drawn forward into the unknown, the courageous kayakers paddle along the dancing beam of light. They are explorers. Life is a great adventure.
Beyond darkness lies the magical source of shining blue. They soon vanish–passing from one amazing world into another.
Beyond darkness lies the magical source of shining blue. They soon vanish–passing from one amazing world into another.

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Beauty is everywhere, simple, seldom perfect.

Every moment in life is beautiful. Simply see it.
Every moment in life is beautiful. Simply see it.

I was struck by the strange beauty of these two photographs. Both had been forgotten. They’re just small glimpses of the world that were stored in my computer; I don’t recall where or when I took them.

What is perfection? To be perfect is to exactly match a defined ideal. So it’s illuminating that in a world where almost nothing is considered perfect, beauty can be seen everywhere. At every moment, throughout life. Age, wear, a wrinkle, a missing petal: and the beauty persists, flourishes. For beauty to be seen, just open eyes. Open them wide. This world’s beauty is even more simple than a lifeless ideal. And more substantial.

Sticking together. One easy way to add a few petals.
Stick together. An easy way to add a few missing petals.

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