301/365

I had a pre-cancerous birthmark removed from my shin here (Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach) when I was seven. My experience was so awesome, I actually cried when I had to go home (I knew I wouldn't be getting nearly the same amount of attention!).

298/365

Spotted this well-cared for Chevy on the road today. Reminds me of my grandpa's '55 Chrysler Windsor, which was my first car. At 16, I did not think it was very 'cool', and sadly did not take care of it.
Of course I miss it now!

259/365

Gorgeous day after the rains finally left. I was trying to get a shot of the mountains wayyyyyyyyyyyy in the background; the sky was so clear you could see for miles.

250/365

Crystal Cathedral
(across the street from a Dr.'s appt.)

177/365

Waiting for someone to come let them in?

175/365

I may finally be onto something & holding to one NY's resolution - taking brisk walks around the neighborhood (today I even started running!), then going back around with my camera to shoot things I find interesting.I tried making friends, but he wasn't interested and I looked like a crazy lady.


Honey, are you sure you checked the outside of the house for ALL the Christmas decorations to put away?

148/365 - It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

A neighbor's house.
And just for fun, since the fog's rolled in, my eerie looking street:

146/365

Had an extremely lazy day aside from helping clean up and then going to see Australia with mom and dad.

140/365

Just trying to get home...  not happy.

139/365 - Happiness?

Walking around my old university (UC Irvine), I came across a sculpture garden; thought I'd gotten lucky in finding a statue of the goddess of Happiness:
But no, she's the goddess of longevity.
But I guess youth, beauty and health can certainly make one happy!

"Ma Gu, the goddess of longevity in ancient Chinese tradition, always appeared as a young and beautiful maid of eighteen. According to the legend, Ma Gu lived tens of thousands of years, achieving longevity by picking divine herbs from a verdant forest and brewing wine with them. Legend also has it whomever tasted a cup of Ma Gu's wine would be eternally young, beautiful and healthy.

According to legend, MaGu lives forever on clouds. Winter Blooming Dergenia, with a soft cloudlike texture and form have been planted around the statue."

More pics of the garden:


This guy was my favorite.

Looking past the sculpture garden out to Aldrich Park, which is in the very center of the campus.

133/365 - DEMOCRAT MUCH?

(I do not recommend clicking to enlarge this particular shot; I tried 3-4 times to get the right exposure, and as it was in low light, it was consistently blurry and noisy as I don't have a tripod, so it's pretty crap really. PLUS... it's not only on some person's front yard and therefore I might look weird taking several photos, but also across the street from the school where I teach... so I didn't want to look terribly odd... but of course HAD to get that shot!

122/365 - LIGHT

I couldn't decide.

119/365 - RED

114/365 - WATER

The full picture:

109/365

Playing with focus with my repaired lens (2 weeks after they repaired my camera!) before leaving the:

They're very nice, but I don't want to come here again... for a long time.

82/365

Spent the day with my brother - after scootin' around the West Side in his porche with the top down (oh yeah), came back to hang out at the house, have a swim in the pool... 'twas a sweet day.

This is part of the back yard, looking up from the patio:

And I couldn't resist some doggy portraits:

Snowy

Abby

Bella

81/365

Feral cats along the harbor in Long Beach.

78/365

Got to feel the sand between my toes today... first time since I've been home!

68/365

God peeking through to the back yard.

Goddess smiling once again :)

(I do leave my house often; really I do! I'm just in love with my backyard right now!)

67/365

Peek-a-boo!
(out my office window; which used to be my aunt's - and mom's - bedroom)