My Dear ‘ol Dad …

had a big birthday soiree last week.  We were celebrating his entrance into a whole new decade.  Dad’s officially an octogenarian (!!) now.  And he doesn’t even shy away from announcing that fact.  Mostly because he knows the first thing people will say is, “No Way!  You don’t look …”  And they’re right.  He doesn’t. 

Hey Dad, let’s go have another fancy dinner for your 90th, ok?

Lots of Fish. Scripps Aquarium.

During Papa and Nana’s visit, we put our tourist hats on …photography geekoid detail:  my iso for most of these super dark exhibits ranged between 3200 & 6400.Oh dear.  That mirth you see written all over The Teen’s face?  It may possibly, sorta, definitely be due to some mocking of sketchy “scientific fact”…  (Kellers are not known for accepting at face value the determinations of “experts”.Scripps Aquarium is beautiful and has fantastic exhibits.  But.  I must say, their tidepool cannot touch the splendor of the real ones in Laguna Beach.  Which we also visited.  I'll blog those pics soon (I hope).  

The Rock Picture–The Back Story

So, Mother’s Day was our first off-road experience with the Jeep.  Along our meanderings, we saw these guys rock climbing.  I shot this through the window (which was rolled up, ‘cuz it was H.O.T. out there), but in this case I was quite pleased with the pattern created on the rocks by the reflected mountains in the windows – happy accident. 

Fast forward to the end of our off-roading … these guys were now off the rock, relaxing in the shade.  I asked Big Dude to let me out, so I could offer to email them the picture.  Here’s what you need to know about me:  “friendly-outgoing-extrovert-who-talks-to-strangers” is not my middle name.  Truly.  But I was thinking that if I was the one on the rocks and there was such a cool picture of me, I would want it.  So I got over myself, and asked if I could email them the pic.  The one guy was all like, “yeah. whatever.  I’ve got lots of pics of rock-climbing.”  And in my head I was screaming, “DUDE.  You don’t have this one.  Wrapping a giant landscape around people is WHAT I DO.”  Anywhoo, not to leave you with the impression that he was rude (he wasn’t).  I emailed.  He thanked.  And I’m left with this neato pic for I Heart Faces’ “in the distance” challenge.

He Set My Feet Upon a Rock …

I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,

out of the miry clay;

And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust,

And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,

And Thy thoughts toward us;

There is none to compare with Thee;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They would be too numerous to count.

Psalm 40:1-5