Category Archives: Photography

Harvest Full Moon 2026

The big, bright full Moon rising along with the pink clouds was fine enough, especially with that huge, curved wisp of clouds over on the right.

Enough clouds out there to make everything pink with the setting Sun, but not enough clouds to block my view of the Moon.

If you’re patient and want to screw around with the iPhone’s camera settings, you can get a decent picture.

And if you zoom all the way in, you need something to steady your image or it will jump all over. The top of that cinder block wall works well.

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Filed under Astronomy, Photography, Sunsets

High Desert Saturday Night Out On

We’re old, we’ve never been “party animals” to begin with, so Saturday nights are far more likely to be at home watching sports or a movie or Ted Lasso than out at a bar or club.

However, when The Long Suffering Wife makes an aquaintance who happens to be a singer in a small, local band and they’re performing at a local brewery…

Across town, up near Apple Valley, I actually got 90% of the way there in the dark without needing the GPS! That is not an inconsequential milestone.

The airshow two weeks ago, the work event last weekend, this tonight, a Halloween event at the local astronomy club next week, another work event… If we’re not careful we’re going to lose our “Fuddy Duddy” accredidation cards and just be “Fuddies!”

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Filed under ALS Network, Forever Home, Photography, Ronnie

Surprise! More Clouds!

Keep looking up, they said. I took them literally.

Probably 60% of the time up here in the High Desert it’s clear and a gazillion, not a cloud to be seen from horizon to horizon. Maybe 10% of the time it’s totally grey and cloudy. But that other 30% of the time, the contrasts between the deep blue sky, the bright sunshine, and the billowing, bright white clouds.

Fifteen months, it hasn’t gotten boring yet!

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Filed under Photography, Weather

Proof Of Life – October 22nd

Overnight we got some pretty good rain amounts, but no lightning or thunder here.

By this evening, the Moon was rising into a mostly clear (and cold, down into the 40’s) sky, with layers of black, ugly clouds over the mountains to the east. It was quite the contrast.

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Filed under Astronomy, Photography, Weather

Tasks To Check Off The List

It was one of those mornings when it felt like I was jogging in quicksand and not getting anywhere or getting anything done, so at lunch we dashed out to take care of some tasks that were nagging loose ends.

We had filled out our ballots a couple of nights ago. One simple rule made the choice on about 2/3 of the choices – “Never, EVER vote for a Republican candidate again. No exceptions. From President to assistant dog catcher trainee. ***EVER***” For most of the rest we had Propositions, with the advertising being heavily funded by billionaires, well over $1M per day. We voted against the billionaires under the assumption that they were subhuman sacks of shit who were a waste of perfectly good oxygen.

Today we ran by City Hall where the local vote collecting box is located. Dropped in our ballots and we’re done!

If only our “smart” television was smart enough to know that we have voted and could stop showing us bullshit election ads. Especially the ones for Ohio and Texas and other states.

Then it was off to the local Kaiser MOB (Medical Office Building) where they have the daily flu and COVID shot walk-in clinic.

One of each, por favor, with the olde phart extra juicy doses where possible! Nine hours later, zero side effects, easy peasy!

The nurse who was running the clinic and double checking our online records pointed out that this was our twelfth COVID shot, presumably the original two shots and then ten boosters over the next six and a half years. We’re apparently doing a truly shitty job of being anti-vaxxers, and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. I would also note that, to the best of our knowledge, neither of us has ever had a bout of COVID, at all, so it looks like we made the right decision. That shit can kill you!

Tonight we’re just riding out the stormy weather that’s rolled in. It’s been raining fairly steadily since about 18:00, with occasional downpours and gully washers for ten minutes or so. Our drainage seems to be holding up well so far. It looks like my simple, common sense prep paid off!

Stay dry, stay healthy, all y’all!

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Filed under Health, Photography, Politics, Weather

Reaching For 15,000′

The next front is moving in, the air coming down from the Pacific NorthWest is cold, the waters off of SoCal are at record high warmth, and it’s starting to mix.

They’re talking about rain, thunderstorms, possible hail, possible tornados. In SoCal!

 

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Filed under Photography, Sunsets, Weather

Sunrise Moment

When we had to get to the work event yesterday by 08:00, we had to get up at 06:00. Given my own choice, I NEVER get up at 06:00. I’m NOT a “morning person.”

However, I had to admit, having a serious sense of admiration for sunsets, the sunrise wasn’t bad.

I wish that I looked as good. Dazed, confused, unable to set the phone for photos instead of videos, unable to set it to use the normal rear cameras instead of the forward facing camera, unable to notice that I had messed it up – as Arlo said, “I looked and felt my best!”

And then I got in the car and got on the freeway to head over the edge of the Cajon Pass and go down the hill at 80 mph. Fun times!

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Filed under Photography, Sunsets, Video

ALS Network Inland Empire Walk & Roll 2026

Fall is the time of year for most of our community outreach & fundraising events. Today was the 2026 Inland Empire event, just like the one last year.

The weather was great, the crowd was large and energized.

A good time was had by all.

And unlike last year, when tragically the Chiefs game was starting at 10:00 PST and we were only able to listen to it on SiriusXM using my phone, we were able today to finish up and boogie back up the hill (the event was in Fontana, about 30 miles away) and get home in time to watch 90% of the Chiefs game. Winner, winner!

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Filed under ALS Network, KC Chiefs, Photography

Proof Of Life – October 16th

Hope is a dangerous drug – a hope deficiency is probably more dangerous in the long run.

I could use a hit right now…

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Filed under Paul, Photography

Down Go The Dodgers!

The Los Angeles Dodgers had won the World Series the last two years and were expecting to win again this year for a “three-peat.” In order to guarantee this result, they have one of the biggest payrolls in baseball. In fact, their payroll was bigger than the other three remaining playoff teams (Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay) COMBINED.

This does not endear them to many baseball fans, myself among them.

In addition, after last year’s World Series win, they accepted an invite to visit the White House and kiss up to the fascist chucklefuck traitor who currently occupies the Oval Office. The one who keeps shitting on California and Los Angeles and who has recently suggested that an Iranian missile strike on Los Angeles would be “a small cost to pay.” I will never, ever forgive them for that.

So when the “lowly” Milwaukee Brewers not only knocked the Dodgers out of the playoffs, but SWEPT THEM in four games, it brought joy to my black little heart.

This is not to say that I’ve never had a good time at a Dodgers game or Dodgers Stadium. I’ve seen many games there where we had fun, and four years ago The Long Suffering Wife and I saw Elton John in concert there. It was great!

Even though it’s something like the third oldest MLB stadium, it’s still a nice place to visit, even if you’re in the nosebleed seats.

From behind home plate on the top level, the view of Downtown LA is great. (The LA Marathon also starts at Dodger Stadium, goes to Chinatown and downtown, then up toward Hollywood – an excellent way to get VERY familiar with the area on a personal level.)

LA’s downtown is beautiful at night as well.

On Fireworks Nights, the Dodgers let you come down and sit on the outfield grass if you want.

This is a REALLY old picture – Fourth of July 2000. My hair was dark, my glasses were huge, and I hadn’t had Lasik yet! Among other life changes that awaited…

So, yay for Dodger Stadium and all of the memories, but the current iteration of the Dodgers management and ownership can take a long hike off of a long pier!

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Filed under Los Angeles, Photography, Sports