February 15, 2020
gem
art, mixology, nature, ocean, who knows
alexandria, american visionary art musem, aquarion, avam, baltimore, bell ringing, boots, catoctin creek, gigantic champagne, greta, homeslyce pizza, jellyfish, last word, majestic, maryland proton treatment center, old town, parking angel, proton tuesday, radioactive valentines, spool, spoolia, the national aquarium
As usual, it started with zapping
But it was a special day! The last day of treatment! Which means bell ringing time. Pizza was devoured. Bells were rung.
Feels good to be done.
A happy spool
There was little time left for Baltimore’s museum collection. We headed directly to the American Visionary Art Museum.
AVAM
Das boots (slightly radioactive)
After purchasing some items, many of which were plastic, we headed to the aquarium, driving like lost tourists.
The parking angel (really does something indescribably to the Audi)
The National Aquarium was mobbed on a Valentines Day night.
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And then it was back down to Old Town for a very late dinner indeed at the Majestic. Super fun at the bar (happy Catoctin Creek day!), and a delicious dinner.
A VERY VERY LARGE BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE. VERY LARGE.
The bar at the Majestic
Scallops. If you can’t watch them in an aquarium, by all means eat them.
Last word
I will dearly miss Proton Tuesdays (and Radioactive Valentines), but I hope they never happen again.
February 2, 2020
gem
animals, nature, ocean, Photography, travel
maritime museum, photography, sea life sydney aquarium, squarium, sydney, video
The aquarium was a first. So was the maritime museum. Visit both.
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January 1, 2020
gem
art, nature, Photography
architecture, art, boyle, building, falling water, frank lloyd wright, gem, novel, photography, tc boyle, the women, video, waterfall
A trip to Falling Water has been on my wish list for years. Though I knew a fair amount about Frank Lloyd Wright and the house itself from studying architecture, I was not prepared for the power of the building itself. Just incredible. The way nature integrates with the structure filling all of your senses is stunning.
This visit was life affirming in all the ways. Part of a perfect day.
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November 29, 2019
gem
nature, plants, travel, trees
Arashiyama, bamboo, eli, japan, kyoto, nature, photography, travel
November 29, 2019
gem
nature, Photography, trees
autumn leaves, eli, gem, jackie, japan, kyoto, nature, photography, travel
November 28, 2019
gem
film, nature, Photography, travel
eli, Fushimi Inari, gem, jackie, japan, kyoto, nature, photography, shinto, shinto shrine, shrine, travel, video
Four years is the blink of an eye for this Shinto Shrine in Kyoto since it has been here for over 1300 years. A previous visit was pre-Fall in 2015. This visit happened at the height of Fall in Japan.
November 25, 2019
gem
nature, Photography, travel
beeline, eli, ginko, jackie, japan, Meiji Jingu, peace, photography, shinto, shinto shrine, tokyo
This Shinto Shrine in Tokyo is an oasis of peace in the bustling, teeming city.
Ginkos in full turn.
April 27, 2019
gem
mountain, nature, Photography, skiing, who knows
cross country, downhill, nature, Norway, Skarvheimem, ski, skiing
Day one involved cross country skiing. This is not a thing we do well. We got better.
At least there were waffles and beer! Though I think that home brew knocked my internals out of whack.
Our skiing all happened somewhere around here
Day two was also cross country.
On the third day, we arose from the dead and did some downhill.
Then it was back on the grindstone for more cross country.
This guy had better skis than we did
Fin
Cheers!
After skiing, there is always bubbly!
March 18, 2019
gem
hiking, nature, trees
amy, armstrong redwoods, armstrong redwoods state natural reserve, california, california coast, gem, giant redwoods, guerneville, hiking, nature, photography, redwood, trees, video
Whatever you do, make sure you visit the amphitheater (though this time of year it might have better been called the “amphibian-theater”). Also visit a winery and catch a buzz before you park the car.
The posse
Amy dwarfed by a giant redwood
The band at the crest
Crown
More crown
March 18, 2019
gem
hiking, nature, ocean, Photography, trees
california, california coast, David Joseph State Park, hiking, nature, pacific ocean, photography, Russian River, shell beach, sonoma, travel, video
On a beautiful Spring day (one of the first for months) we went to the edge of the continent with Uncle Jim and Chloe. Just south of the Russian river is Shell Beach and across Highway 1 from that is a nice set of trails traversing the coastal hills.
All told, we may have hiked 3.5 or 4 miles.
From the Pacific
Vernal mud on the trail
Spring mushrooms were everywhere (irises too)
To the fern forest
Then it was back down to the ocean.
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