Saturday, August 29, 2009

Session No 2

Traveled down the coast last weekend to a break that has been good of late. Got down there and was welcomed by semi-overcast sky. My buddy I went down with knows his way around cameras and encouraged me to shift to B/W mode. While I like the feel of the shots I took, unfortunately there were not a lot of really good pics snapped. Below are just a few "interesting" shots. The tide was really high this day and caused the waves to break on the mushier side. And of course, by the time we had to leave (had to be back home on time) the tide started to drop and the waves were getting better and better. We left with our buddy from SC telling us, "another hour or two and this place will be firing!".

Just good to get out.




Friday, August 28, 2009

Some things don't change in CA

I started this blog with the comment that CA has changed so dramatically over the course of it's relatively short history and that even dramatic changes are evident within two generations of my family. Rather than focus on what has changed about CA, I'd like to highlight something in CA that has not changed for 5-6 generations.























In the latest issue of Bay Nature, a great local magazine (and website) dedicated to, "Exploring, celebrating, and understanding the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area", they highlight one of the largest and oldest Blue Oaks in CA. This amazing 400 year old tree (pictured above) is located within the Ohlone Regional Wilderness, located near the South East corner of the East Bay near Sunol, CA.

Just think about that, 400 years old, puts the tree just springing up out of the soil around 1609. I'm no historical scholar but I believe that Spanish explorers were just beginning to ply the waters off the CA coast and only up to Monterey at this time. So this tree was really only surrounded by its natural environment and any human contact would have been with the indigenous CA Native Americans of the area for the first half of it's life.

Pretty amazing what this tree has been through, humans, animals, disease, development and just about anything that mother nature could throw its way. Its good to know there are some things within CA that are greater than US and they can withstand the pressures our modern societies place on them. Fine examples of both natural selection and our East Bay Regional Park system at work.

Here are a few pics from my first hike with my Daughter this past Spring in the Sunol Regional Park not too far from where this tree is located. I highly recommend a Spring time hike through this area - simply amazing - you feel like you have stepped back 400 years.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Shark Attack, Baker Beach, San Francisco
















OK... so I'll propagate this one. By "this one" I mean that every word typed beyond this point should be considered hearsay rumor. 

So a friend of mine and I are driving down to the Santa Cruz area to go surf and take some photos this past weekend. He asks me, "So did you hear about Baker Beach?". This being a very broad question, I replied, "What about Baker?". I'm expecting him to tell me that the Bodysurfing had been unreal recently or that another tourist got pulled into the surf and had to be rescued or worse recovered by the Coast Guard. He responds by telling me that some beach walker with his or her dog were having a nice day recently. The beach walker throws a ball or stick out into the surf and "little buddy" goes running out to fetch it. Well no sooner than he gets to the ball or stick then, WHAM!!! A great white shark nails "little buddy" from below and takes him under. Supposedly a 911 call was placed during the incident.

Wow.

I'll let you decide what to make of it. I've felt relatively safe bodyboarding and bodysurfing Baker Beach a handful of times. I'll look into this some more and see if it is legit. Did you hear anything about this? If so drop me a line/comment.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

SUNSET PRIDE: Carol Schuldt, Queen of the Beach

In my continued effort to highlight what makes the Sunset District so great, I'd be in error if I were not to mention Carol Schuldt, "Queen of the Beach". At one point in my life a few years back, she was my landlord (a story for another time).


















She has been a fixture, better yet a foundation, out in our neighborhood for years. One of the original locals to hang out at Kelly's Cove back in the day. Describing Carol is really tough to do. Much of who she is can be best described by her actions. Here are just a few I can rattle off (keep in mind that she is in her 70's):

- Bikes to most of her destinations on a daily basis
- Body surfs damn near on a daily basis on the very south end of Ocean Beach - NAKED!
- Recently completed a hike up Mt. Shasta (I don't think that she summited but close)
- Has biked Death Valley not too long ago
- Has (2) hip replacements
- Retains a keen eye on her environment (especially the ocean)
- Has a kick ass garden in her backyard (not neat and orderly but just thriving and beautiful)
- Raises chickens 

I believe that most people who cross paths with Carol find her on the "eccentric" side and to their credit she does dress a bit tusseled (the dirt is typically from her garden). She can be a bit in your face if you are not used to her demeanor. And certainly if she is standing in front of her house on La Playa (her domain) you really get a sense of her eclectic style in the form of the bright colors, painted murals, stuffed animals, buoys, statuary and random found artifacts that she utilizes to decorate the exterior.

I'll end this by saying that she is truly one of a kind. One of the unique personalities that make the Sunset District so great. I truly enjoy talking with her and catching up. She has greats stories to tell. If you pass by her in front of her house, I'd encourage anyone to stop and say "hello". If you have time ask, "I hear you have a terrific garden in back?". Chances are she'll invite you to take a look. Time worth spent from my perspective.

Here is a link to The Surfers Journal which recently highlighted her lifestyle and body surfing in an article. Worth the read.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

California State Flag Redesign

OK so I'm not what you'd call a political activist. However, I must say that the headlines these days sure are focused on CA's 4 BILLION budget shortfall and I'm not just talking local headlines, national as well. An expose from the Newshour w/Jim Lerher:

California Grapples with Cuts to Safety Net Programs (Republicans should just skip this link)

With all the chaos and confusion of where CA is headed, and as a graphic designer by trade (currently employed too, thankfully) I was inspired to redesign our State's flag to bring it up to date to match today's headlines. With so many topics and issues I could not capture it with just one design. So I'll be posting a couple batches for your review, would like to hear which design you think has the most potential. 

DISCLAIMER: These designs are in no way to communicate any disloyalty or disrespect to the State of CA. I love my home State, the Golden State, and will work hard to do my part to dig us out of this debacle. Now if we could only get our politicians to help out too!

















DESIGN #1:
CA - Going Nowhere Quickly


















DESIGN #2:
CA - We laid-off the Bear, the Gopher was cheaper



















DESIGN #3:
CA - The price of education cuts 5 years from now


















DESIGN #4:
CA - Furlough Fridays


















DESIGN #5:
CA - For Sale! Cheap rates.


















DESIGN #6:
CA - TAXES! Besides, it's not that dangerous. Right?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Eureka! The GREEN RUSH is on!

So I'm speculating that some day I might look back at my life and say to myself, "you damn fool why on Earth did you not grow weed (marijauna, cacker, green buds, da' kush, buddha, ganga) when you had the chance to make a fortune?". Well of course being the law abiding parent and citizen of this great state of CA, the risk is not worth it. 

Not so for everyone in this City or even this neighborhood I choose to raise my daughter in. You heard it here first the Sunset District can now be referred to as Sunsetsterdam! There have been several articles recently on the growing number of busts on "grow houses" within this neighborhood. Just today an article in the San Francisco "Chronic"le caught my attention and focused on this very subject:


Tough one to call. Having spent five years of my life in Humboldt County as a student at Humboldt State University (Art Major / Speech Comm Minor / '94) I have learned to live around and respect those who choose to indulge in the ever so fragrant weed known as Mary Jane. But then again, not sure if I need my daughter walking past a "grow house" run by individuals not necessarily "our neighbors".

One thing is certain though, people are currently making a FORTUNE and those who wish to get in on the GREEN RUSH better hurry up before our local governments start to legalize it, tax the hell out of it and drive the selling price down significantly. This will be very interesting to watch as it unfolds and I'll just be watching from the sidelines.

If you by chance have never run into marijauna before and are curious as to what it looks like and the culture surrounding it I suggest that you go to High Times, a leading periodical on the subject.

Monday, August 10, 2009

What the F#%K is a fen?

That is the first question that I asked my wife's, cousin's, husband (perhaps not in such exact words). He works for the Nature Conservancy in Montana, specifically out of Choteau. He manages the Pine Butte Swamp Preserve roughly 20 minutes out of town toward the mountains along what is called the Rocky Mountain Front. I had asked what makes the area a "swamp", clearly there being nothing "swampy" about this area. We are talking all BIGSKY and mountains, spanning out and spreading down to rolling grassland and ranches. Simply beautiful.

He politely responded by saying, "That is actually a good question, because technically it is not a swamp, it is what is referred to as a fen". He went on to explain the differences not unlike the WIKI link above.

As I recently posted, my family and I just got back from MT and are now reflecting back on the great trip we had. Visiting my wife's, cousin's family up in Choteau was a highlight. Being the Manager of the preserve he took us on a quick driving tour of a portion of the 20,000+ acres he manages. He specifically swung us by Pine Butte.

Now what makes this so interesting is certainly not the ecological difference of "swamps" VS "fens" (although I did find it interesting and plan to use the word in SCRABBLE some day). What is so interesting about this unique area, or "fen", is the following:

First it is one of, if not the, largest "fen" within the United States. And secondly it is PRIME grizzly bear habitat and boasts the highest seasonal densities of grizzly bears (and their cubs) anywhere in the continental U.S. So when I asked the likelihood of there currently being a grizzly sow with cubs down in the lush vegetation of the pic below, the answer was, "very likely". Very cool. More info to read about the preserve here.

Yes, Montana is a very wild and beautiful state. Can't wait to go back next year. Below are some additional pics from our trip look closely and you'll find a coyote within the landscape.

















































Sunday, August 9, 2009

First Pics of the Season

Had an opportunity to visit a friend down in Santa Cruz yesterday and spend the night. Had a great time connecting with these fellas, it has been awhile. Good conversation, good beverages all topped off with a great BBQ. Woke up this morning and found some surf and was able to take my first water shots of the season. Felt good to get in the water and snap a couple. Had to get back home so could not stay long unfortunately. Paid the price for not stretching out prior and my back is STIFF.

No spectacular shots with the one below being the best. Just good to get out.

I'm hoping this will be a good season for me out in the water with the camera. I feel like I have the basics down, now I just need good waves and surfers/bodyboarders to shoot.














Saturday, August 8, 2009

SUNSET PRIDE: UFO Response Team

I live with my family in the Sunset District of San Francisco on the far western edge of the United States. I love this neighborhood and have lived here off and on 8 years - I think. Hard to pin-point exactly what I love about this neighborhood, so many different facets. The people, the fog (world class), Golden Gate Park, the ocean... So I'll try and write about my hood whenever inspired.

What not a better way to start off this series than with the UFO Response Team. Yeah, they are headquartered right down the street from our apartment. I know this because their response vehicle is always parked a few blocks down the street. Can't tell you how nice it is to have them close by. After all there are a lot of unexplainable activities going on inside Golden Gate Park and around the hood these days.

Are you a believer? Have you run into the UFO Response Team? Do you know what to do if you run into a UFO? If not go here and find out more about UFOs.


















Friday, August 7, 2009

MT: Coyotes to Mermaids to Fens?

We are back! Each year my family and I take a trip out to Montana to visit my wife's relatives. Great Falls to be exact. I really look forward to this trip. I truly enjoy the people we spend time with (Grandma/Great Grandma, Uncle, Cousins, Neices/Nephews, Family Friends). Typically our time is spent hanging out on the deck, relaxing, napping, drinking a beer (or two), and engaging in conversation. Serious downtime. We also spend time visiting the State Fair, the Sip-N-Dip, Farmers Market, fishing if there is time and what would a trip be to MT without a visit to the DQ and the Taco Treat. We'll also try to break away from Great Falls and check out another portion of the State. This year it was a visit to Heather's cousin and her family up near Choteau. What a great time we've had. Below is a small collection of images from the trip. We always find we are never ready to come home and that just another couple days away from CA would be just right.

I'll be posting a couple separate exposes on our trip that are worth writing about. Stay tuned.