April 4, 2026 · 23:24

Fashionista

I didn’t dress like this today deliberately to be weird or make a statement, but once it all “came together” I walked by a mirror and said, “Wow! Even by MY ‘standards,’ that’s pretty bizarre!”

For the record, the hair’s the hair, the flannel shirt’s because I was cold (it was only about 65° in the house this morning), the shorts are because I was going for my first (and probably ONLY) pedicure so despite the chilly temps I needed easy access to my feet and little piggies, the knee-high compression socks are because I’m old and exploding, and the running shoes are because I always wear comfy running shoes these days due to a serious lack of fucks. The attitude and facial expression? Well, those come with the package and go without saying.

The pedicure? Fine for the most part, good to have my nasty, ingrown toenails (a byproduct of running, walking, and exercise) cleaned up, and the calf and foot massage was equisite. We (by which I mean everyone in ear shot) also found out that while having the soles of my feet exfoliated I’m ticklish as Hell. Twitchy, jumpy, giggling, convulsing, and looking like this to begin with? If only The Long-Suffering Wife had thought to flip on the video on her phone!

April 04th, 4-4, is also an easy to remember, somewhat bittersweet anniversary for me. 04/04/2009, seventeen years ago today, I took and passed my practical flight test and earned my Private Pilot’s license.

It’s bittersweet because I truly loved flying, worked hard to earn my PPL, and now it’s been over a dozen years since I’ve flown, and with every passing day it’s less likely that I’ll ever fly again.

So, yay me! But…

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Filed under Flying, Paul, Photography

April 3, 2026 · 23:27

At Eye Level On The Third Floor

When we were in Phoenix two weeks ago, we were in a third floor room and just outside was the parking lot flagpole. Which at one point I found occupied.

Your standard issue, Mark I, common pigeon.

There were a lot of them around. This one got the best seat in the house!

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Filed under Birds, Photography, Travel

April 2, 2026 · 23:30

Proof Of Life – April 02nd

About 15 1/2 years ago, I believe we were on the Mariner of the Seas. The Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta 7-day tour of the Mexican west coast.

This was the grand staircase onboard. Very grand. Very staircase-y. Just ever so slightly tilted and off-center. Much like me.

I’m whiny and pissed off tonight, stewing about many frustrating things. A couple of deadlines met, a couple of goals reached, all good – offset by several things that make me wish I had a punching bag to work out on.

I have a gym membership.

They’re open 24/7.

I wonder if they have a punching bag.

I wonder if it would actually help, or just leave me with two broken hands.

I know the answer. The way today has gone…

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Filed under Paul, Photography, Travel

April 1, 2026 · 22:28

Nice Start, April

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Not the worst way to start off a month. We all know that there is no shortage of nonsense and bullshit out there pretty much everywhere, but I would argue that this is an unadulterated good thing. I might argue with how long they’re taking or their launch cadence or other details, but going back to the Moon is a good thing.

Savor and enjoy the good things. There aren’t enough of them out there.

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Filed under Space

March 31, 2026 · 23:53

Petrichor & Train Whistles

Tonight we got some drizzle, nothing too wet, just enough to water the artificial turf, but it led to a very strong smell of petrichor, which was heavenly. While I was outside getting moist and sniffing the rain and dirt, I could hear the train whistles blowing with the freight trains coming up through Cajon Pass a mile or two away. That was a nice moment. Take them when you can!

But with that, March is over. Thanks for pretty much NOTHING.

Internally, it was memorable and there were a lot of fun things. The birthday, which I had been having issues with, turned out to be fun, especially the hair thing.

The crazy eyes and lack of an available comb didn’t hurt in establishing the desired mood.

The baseball was fun, the IMAX movie was fantastic, it was good to take a few days away from work.

Aside from that…

Externally, it was chaos, headed straight to Hell at Warp Factor Ten. Just read a headline. Any headline.

Is there hope, light at the end of the tunnel? I wish. I’m trying to “maintain an even strain,” but it’s getting harder.

Okay, April! You’re up! Maybe we’ll go back to the Moon tomorrow? Maybe? That would be a nice start to the month.

I understand that the best way to get the future we want is to build it, but damn, I am tired. Doesn’t matter. If life knocks you down 100 times, get up 101 times. So let’s do that also. To the best of our abilities. It’s that whole “marathon mindset” thing where you have to remember how to not stop or allow yourself to give up, just keep pushing through no matter what.

It would be nice if April could meet us halfway at least. But if (when?) it doesn’t…

We’ll get by with a little help from our friends. And crazy princess hair.

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Filed under Paul, Photography

March 30, 2026 · 22:59

Late March Snow On Mount San Antonio

Just what it says! It’s the end of March and while I’m disappointed that we never actually got snow on the ground here in Victor Valley at about 3,574 feet (the closest was about 4,200 feet or so), it is beautiful to look off to our southwest and see Mount San Antonio every day, still covered in show.

Some of the snow has melted away since the bigger, colder storms of February, especially on some of the lower side peaks, but there’s still very impressive coverage.

Depending on where you are in the area and which nearer, lower peaks might be in your line of sight, you can also see snow capping Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio, and Butler Peak, all off in the distance. But no matter where you are, Old Baldy (Mt San Antonio) is the closest and looms over the horizon the most.

As seen from the Farmer’s Market up in Apple Valley on Sunday. Not getting tired of the view.

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Filed under Forever Home, Photography

March 29, 2026 · 23:49

ForeverHomeHenge – Spring Edition

At Stonehenge in England the Sun rises on the Spring Equinox so that it can be seen between a certain set of stones – that’s how they know that it’s some sort of ancient astronomical observatory. In Manhattan, with streets laid out east-west, there are two times a year when the setting Sun shines straight down the street and illuminates the steel and concrete canyons of the skyscrapers. They refer to that as “ManhattanHenge.”

Which brings us to what I’m going to refer to as “ForeverHomeHenge.” Last August 29th I posted about how the setting Sun had lined up to shine directly through the security peephole in the front door, like a laser beam. Seeing as how the Sun moves in a predictable way, I figured there would come a second day about now when it happened again. I got a glimpse of something going on about three days ago when I just happened to open the front door at the exact correct moment, and then the last couple of days have been cloudy around sunset.

Today was perfect.

Like a laser! And when you open the front door, facing due west, with a long hallway leading past my office, the library, the dining room, and into the kitchen and living room and out toward the back yard:

Perfect alignment. But wait, there’s more! Directly above my head from this point is a large, crystal chandelier in the foyer. Now, outside the Sun is setting and will go down behind the roof of the neighbor’s house across the street. As that happens and the Sun sinks toward the horizon, that top line of direct sunlight (seen on the wall next to the closet) is climbing. Will the direct rays of sunlight get to the chandelier before the neighbor’s roof or my front doorway frame start blocking them?

Why, yes! Yes they will!

The sunlight only hit the bottom handful of crystals – I can only imagine what it would look like if the chandelier were two feet lower and the entire thing got lit up.

Nice spectrums! Not enough definition or detail to see spectra, but the colors were INTENSE!

There were rainbows all the way down the hallway – and then the Sun set behind the neighbor’s roof and the display was gone.

It might work again tomorrow or maybe even a couple days, and then I’ll be waiting again for the next window of opportunity, in late August.

So cool!

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Filed under Forever Home, Photography, Sunsets

March 28, 2026 · 23:18

The Maple Tree Is Popping Also

Last week I shared how the fruit trees in the back yard are starting to bud and blossom – the maple tree in front is also showing signs of spring growth.

Spring has always been my favorite season, in large part because of the explosion of bare branches into leaves and flowers.

Okay, having warmer weather, longer days, and my birthday doesn’t hurt spring’s odds in the grading.

All of these little helicopter-blade seed pods will soon go spinning off into the wind, looking for fertile ground to make new maple trees. Good luck with that! It’s nothing but sand, rock, mountains, tumbleweeds, lizards, and rattlesnakes for hundreds of miles in any direction. But I love the optimism!

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Filed under Flowers, Forever Home, Photography

March 27, 2026 · 23:47

No Context For You – March 27th

We’re two days into the new Major League Baseball season. My beloved Angels, who are perennial cellar-dwellers and who are widely expected to be there again this year, have won their first two games of the season for the first time since 2007.

My kids, who have all been raised as die-hard Angels, Chiefs, and Kings fans (something something sins of the father…) are already talking about our upcoming 162-0 season. It’s madness.

Hope springs eternal.

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Filed under LA Angels, Photography

March 26, 2026 · 23:27

Before Dawn

I’m not a fan of being awake at 6:21 AM, but if you happen to be awake then, this isn’t a bad reward.

I checked but there were no sailors nearby to warn, so I went back to sleep.

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Filed under Forever Home, Photography, Sunsets