I just went for a walk in the rain.

I like walking in the rain and I always have, because whenever I do, I recall all the fond memories I have of walking in the rain. Alone, with a loved one, in a special place, during a certain time of year...
Its unusual because it's one of the only times I can only recall happy memories, in fact - it's probably why I love rain so.

When I walk, I seek out the places where the water is falling down or rushing by, washing away or dripping off of. I love all the sounds the rain makes and even the way passing cars sound when they drive in it. I keep an eye out for earthworms and snails either evading or making the most of the moisture. Sometimes I lift the worms and carry them--writhing--to dryer, higher ground. Sometimes I squash the snails because the poping sound is so ultimately satisfying (the todler inside me would be bursting with delight). If I'm wearing galoshes--and sometimes even if I'm not--I make a point of finding the deepest puddles and wading through them. It's so much fun!

I love the way the air smells and tastes, and how like wind, it's one of the few things in the natural world that caresses us whether we move or not, as long as we are in it, it reminds us that it's there. The soft taping pitter-pat rhythm on my hood or umbrella, the way the front of my legs feel clammy cold after a few minutes of walking. A gradual dampening of the toes from less than water-tight shoes or a drip that's gleefully managed to make it's way down my galoshes and onto my bare feet.

And when I've just about reached a decent level of sogginess and it's time to come in, to me there's no decoration more perfect than a pair of dripping wet galoshes by a back door. Warm, dry, contented, refreshed....good night!

• 00:02 My fave gift this year? Same as always: new friendship anklets from my cousins! It's been at least 13 years since my ankle's been naked. #

• 16:24 RT @mikemcgee: "And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course." --Khalil Gibran #
• 00:02 My fave gift this year? Same as always: new friendship anklets from my cousins! It's been at least 13 years since my ankle's been naked. #

( Do not click... )

• 19:35 Anyone know any good local kid's yoga teachers? #

Last night I had one of those excellent dreams that are highly meaningful and spiritually fulfilling.

I've written about the world I was in and so this entry gets much more interesting later so please bare with me, but as a prologue, I finally had a good night's sleep last night. The last few nights, I've either not been able to go to sleep or I've had a cough that has kept me up. Last night though, I was so exhausted and sleepy that I couldn't help but crash. I still had a cough, so we brought in a humidifier and almost immediately I stopped coughing and slept soundly until I was woken up around 8:30 a.m. Not very exciting to the rest of the world who may be reading this, but GREAT news for me.

I had a dream last night that I was an angel, but the angel world was just like ours with a few modifications. ( Read more... )

Current Mood: enlightened

I know how much everyone loves to share what they know, so here's your chance. :)

I'm looking for places with scenic vistas and views. Parks, trails, vistas in the bay area- about as far North as Marin and as far South as Big Sur. Also interested in places where there's animals- zoos, farms and aquariums.

Though I'm interested in art museums and other places, I'm looking specifically for locations to paint plein air and/or field sketch/draw.

I've got a list going (see below) but if you have any thing to add, please let me know! Also it'd be helpful if you can tell me what you know about it- whether there's a parking/admission fee and how safe it is go go alone- that sort of thing.

***ALSO*** If you'd ever like to offer up your time and join me to scout out any of these places, please let me know! I'd love company.

Parks and trails
Almaden Quicksilver park, New Almaden
Ed Levin park, Mt. Hamilton
Mt. Madonna retreat center
Niscene Marks trail, Felton
Fall Creek Road trail, Felton
Lexington Dam trail, Los Gatos
Pogonip trail, Santa Cruz
Henry Cowel State Park, Santa Cruz/Felton
Neary Lagoon, Santa Cruz
Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing
Alamitos Creek Trail, San Jose/New Almaden
Big Sur (in general- I know there's a great trail over where the bird observatory is but I don't remember what it's called)
[Mystery trail in Livermore over by Mt. Diablo]
Rancho San Antonio Park, Los Altos?
Alum Rock Park, San Jose

Farms and Gardens
Vila Montalvo garden, Saratoga
Hakone Gardens, Saratoga
Emma Prusch Park, San Jose
Wilder Ranch farm and wilderness preserve, Santa Cruzish
Hidden Villa farm and wilderness preserve, Los Altos Hills
Filoli manner and gardens, Woodside
Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens, San Francisco
Golden Gate Park Conservatory, San Francisco
UCSC Arboretum, Santa Cruz
UC Berkley Botanical Gardens, Berkely

Museums and Aquariums
California Academy of Science, San Francisco
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey

Other points of interest
Mission San Jose
Mission San Juan Buatista
UCSC Campus
Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton
Possum Lodge/White Rock, Carmel Valley
Alviso, Alviso Community Annex

• 23:03 Change is not immaculate, it's fecund. #

My friends may well know - I'm a big fan of the Peter Weir film "Master and Commander - Far Side of the World." I gush about it all the time, and I know I've mentioned it several times in my blog and elsewhere. It's a beautiful film, with great attention to detail and historical accuracy. I have always wished that a sequel would be made but like many wonderful films I adore, it failed to appeal to hoi palloi. Perhaps it was "too good."

There used to be a youtube AMV for Master and Commander that I really liked. Many "fans" of the film have made slash MVPs, and while I can understand the reasons for doing so, I always thought it cheapens and greatly oversimplifies their relationship.

The one I liked used the song "Where I end and you begin" by Radiohead. It was well edited, and despite the song being contemporary to the 21st century, to me it seemed to fit the mood of the film and friendship without being tacky or slashy. As far as I can tell, this video no longer exists.

When looking for it recently, I found the following:



It's one of my favorite moments in the film and comes at the end when Jack (Crowe) has just learned that the captain of the French ship (the "Acheron" of Napoleon's navy) has outsmarted him yet again and he can't resist pursuit. He had only just promised his best and greatest friend, the doctor (Bettany), that they would be setting course to return to the Galapagos islands, so that he (the doctor) may continue to collect specimens and make natural history observations for the betterment of western scientific study (including that of the endemic flightless cormorant, mentioned in the script).

Of course, in order to "keep with cannon", this fictional expedition does not occur, so that it may be done in reality by the HMS Beagle, 30 years later.

Just... do it.