ardenstone

Christy and I have just returned from a delightful weekend with a magnificent hostess. While we were there, we visited The Getty which was just fabulous. If you make it out to LA it’s well worth the price of admission (also, admission is free, although there is an $8 fee for parking). Many great works of art in a truly beautiful setting. We also managed to spend some time at various beaches, ate everything from scones to sushi, choked down a Chilcano de Pisco or three and even managed to smoke some cigars (ok, Christy didn’t do that part). Throw in things like lunch at a biker/surfer bar in Malibu and it was a great time.

Anyhow, there are pictures of the Getty up on my Flickr Page for those interested in such things. AE’s place of employment required her charms whilst we were at the Getty, so y’all only get pictures of Christy and I.

We were fortunate enough to see a bunch of friends over the holidays. During The Dayton Gathering, Robin mentioned the video of the hermit crabs we’d taken at Cabrillo National Monument (a few months ago). I figured that was as good excuse as any to play around with YouTube, so here it is:

Some hermit crabs in the tide pools of Cabrillo National Monument. Unfortunately, the conversion to YouTube lost a lot of detail, so you can’t see the crabs’ legs, etc. Looks more like a bunch of wiggly snails.

Christy and I went back there yesterday, and stopped by the tide pools about midway between the two tides, and they were all quite covered.

The fuzzball that needs no further introduction: Omar. Ok, so I have a cold and haven’t left the house in two days. Results? You get cat pictures. Frankly, I wouldn’t expect much better when I return to health.

We really do have three cats, but here’s another picture of just Audrey. I love how she silhouetted nicely looking out the window. The tree behind her was lovely and full, as were the rest in our complex, until the maintenance team came through and turned them into trembling skeletons. Hello, neighbors!

If you look into the corner of the bathroom, you will always see your reflection, minus your face. It’s a wonderfully creepy effect of which I’m rather fond.

Happy Halloween from wonderful friends!

This is the toy they brought our kitties. You’ll note it’s already starting to accumulate a second coat of Omar hair, as does everything in our house. I pulled a suit out of its cover today to match it with a shirt, and before I’d even moved it 2 feet to the shirts, it was covered in fine, grey hair. Fuzzy buttheads.

I was walking to the tree under which I sit between classes, when I chanced upon this spider. When I first noticed it, it was squatting happily above a large, desiccated grasshopper. I was standing close, and zooming in closer to get a good shot when the spider suddenly thrust out its legs, growing three times its original size and taking up my entire viewfinder for the half second before I leapt backwards.

Ok, I am going to try and take one picture a day as per the popular meme. We’ll see how it goes. Starting off the bunch with Audrey on her pillow. Cat pictures = official membership into Legion Of Bloggers.

UPDATE - Daily picture idea lasted all of about five days. For further pictures, please see my flickr account.