I've been on vacation the past week. On one of those days, December 14, I decided to use my (fairly recent) member ship in the San Diego Zoological Society to roam about the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly known as the Wild Animal Park.)
The highlight of the visit was the lion enclosure. I could see only the male, who was out in the middle of the area, reclining in the shade. He looked relaxed, but was also very much alert to what was happening around him, constantly looking around.
I was the only person at the enclosure for the entire time I took photos of him, so I was not surprised that more than once he looked directly at me. (We had unimpeded views of each other.) I was very happy I captured one of those moments in this photo.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Fall
San Diego has had two days of rain sweeping through the area in a series of bands, with the rain generally falling at moderate intensity. But it came often enough to mostly keep me indoors.
So, when what seemed to be the last of it having passed through on Sunday afternoon, I wanted to get out for a good walk, and take my point-and-shoot camera in case I came upon anything interesting. I drove to one of my favorite areas for doing that, the relatively skinny portion of Balboa Park that is immediately west of State Route 163.
On a sunny Sunday finding parking there can be a challenge, but today there was no difficulty parking at all.
During the walk I came upon an absolute riot of changed sweetgum leaves laying on grass below several large sweetgum trees. But there was one curious matter: The trees appeared to be full of still green leaves, so I couldn't imagine what seemed to be a major amount of changed leaves on the ground had come from.
But I could only imagine before the rain the trees had been a mix of still green and changed leaves, and the rain had been enough to knock down all of the changed leaves.
So, I took several photos of the scene, and decided this was the best of them.
So, when what seemed to be the last of it having passed through on Sunday afternoon, I wanted to get out for a good walk, and take my point-and-shoot camera in case I came upon anything interesting. I drove to one of my favorite areas for doing that, the relatively skinny portion of Balboa Park that is immediately west of State Route 163.
On a sunny Sunday finding parking there can be a challenge, but today there was no difficulty parking at all.
During the walk I came upon an absolute riot of changed sweetgum leaves laying on grass below several large sweetgum trees. But there was one curious matter: The trees appeared to be full of still green leaves, so I couldn't imagine what seemed to be a major amount of changed leaves on the ground had come from.
But I could only imagine before the rain the trees had been a mix of still green and changed leaves, and the rain had been enough to knock down all of the changed leaves.
So, I took several photos of the scene, and decided this was the best of them.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Not gone
No, I haven't given up on this blog. Must admit I really can't say why I haven't been writing anything here, because I have had time.
Anyway, I'm going to try to write more here, especially about my photography.
Anyway, I'm going to try to write more here, especially about my photography.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Doing that jury thing
Yesterday I received in my home mail a jury service summons for California state court.
And today I received a questionnaire from Federal court to determine my eligibility for Federal jury service.
Man, oh man.
Now, regarding state court jury service and me: I don't recall if I have written in this blog about it before, but I get summons for it an amazing rate. And I think I've realized why. I'm aware the state courts get names of persons to summon by using both DMV driver license records and voter registration records. My name is slightly different on those records: for the DMV, my middle name is spelled out; not so on my voter registration.
And I have never been put on a state court jury. Every time I'm sent to a court for the voir dire procedure, I'm always dismissed by one side or the other, usually pretty quickly. I can't imagine never being on a state court jury is a factor in how often I get summons, but who knows.
However - I have been on one Federal court jury. This was in the mid-1980s. I was an alternate through the length of the trial, so did not participate in deliberations.
So: regarding the current situation. Please note I have no objection to jury service whatsoever, but, I don't care for the possibility of being summoned to both courts in the same time frame! Looking at the questionnaire from the Federal court, I see nothing that would disqualify me.
But, a valid excuse for getting out of state jury service is that one was a potential juror for at least one day within the past 12 months. I am recalling such may be the case here, but having no memory for dates, will have to check with my employer's Payroll department on Monday.
And today I received a questionnaire from Federal court to determine my eligibility for Federal jury service.
Man, oh man.
Now, regarding state court jury service and me: I don't recall if I have written in this blog about it before, but I get summons for it an amazing rate. And I think I've realized why. I'm aware the state courts get names of persons to summon by using both DMV driver license records and voter registration records. My name is slightly different on those records: for the DMV, my middle name is spelled out; not so on my voter registration.
And I have never been put on a state court jury. Every time I'm sent to a court for the voir dire procedure, I'm always dismissed by one side or the other, usually pretty quickly. I can't imagine never being on a state court jury is a factor in how often I get summons, but who knows.
However - I have been on one Federal court jury. This was in the mid-1980s. I was an alternate through the length of the trial, so did not participate in deliberations.
So: regarding the current situation. Please note I have no objection to jury service whatsoever, but, I don't care for the possibility of being summoned to both courts in the same time frame! Looking at the questionnaire from the Federal court, I see nothing that would disqualify me.
But, a valid excuse for getting out of state jury service is that one was a potential juror for at least one day within the past 12 months. I am recalling such may be the case here, but having no memory for dates, will have to check with my employer's Payroll department on Monday.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Comic-Con 2010: Anticipation and Being
Image via WikipediaThis is in anticipation of attending San Diego Comic-Con, usually for multiple days. This year I had every intention of buying a 4-day membership. So, in early March I went to the web site for Comic-Con, and proceeded to learn all 4-day memberships for this year had sold out in November of last year, which truly blew my mind.
So, I decided to go for a 1-day membership, for July 22 (tomorrow), and find other ways to fill my time during the week of vacation.
One good innovation Comic-Con is doing this year is offering early distribution of membership badges on July 21at a place away from the San Diego Convention Center (the site of Comic-Con) for those with 4-day memberships and 1-day memberships for July 22. I'm back from going to that. It happened at the Town and Country hotel's convention facility. The announcement of this that was emailed said this distribution would be available starting at 3 PM. I decided to get there about 2 PM and wait in line after parking at Fashion Valley mall, which has free parking and is next door to the Town and Country hotel.
As I was pulling into Fashion Valley property, I saw people walking away from the Town and Country wearing Comic-Con badges. Huh. There must have been a major line of people waiting for the distribution to have been opened early!
So, tomorrow morning it will be very nice to go straight to Comic-Con programming areas without having to get in line first for the badge.
One complication tomorrow is that in the evening I have a meeting of a class I am currently taking at UCSD Extension. Can't afford to miss that, so I'll probably leave Comic-Con somewhat earlier than I would have otherwise.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Impatience
Earlier today I drove to UCSD to do some wandering for photo opportunities. I like going there for that purpose occasionally because it has many variations of architecture and other sources of inspiration.
As I was walking to get a view of the front of one building, a car pulled up to the curb by me. The passenger rolled down her window and asked me if I knew the way to Thurgood Marshall College (which is one of UCSD's several colleges.)
Now, as a frequent student at UCSD Extension, I am aware Thurgood Marshall College is basically a neighbor of Extension's on-campus complex. (Extension also has some off-campus facilities.) So, I had a pretty good idea how to describe getting there from the point we were at, as it wasn't too far a distance. I said "Well", turned myself towards the direction the car needed to go, and before I could say another word the car drove away. Excuse me? Hello?
I could only presume they were too impatient to wait for someone who didn't instantly spit out exact directions. I threw up my hands in disbelief, shook my head, and moved along.
As I was walking to get a view of the front of one building, a car pulled up to the curb by me. The passenger rolled down her window and asked me if I knew the way to Thurgood Marshall College (which is one of UCSD's several colleges.)
Now, as a frequent student at UCSD Extension, I am aware Thurgood Marshall College is basically a neighbor of Extension's on-campus complex. (Extension also has some off-campus facilities.) So, I had a pretty good idea how to describe getting there from the point we were at, as it wasn't too far a distance. I said "Well", turned myself towards the direction the car needed to go, and before I could say another word the car drove away. Excuse me? Hello?
I could only presume they were too impatient to wait for someone who didn't instantly spit out exact directions. I threw up my hands in disbelief, shook my head, and moved along.
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