For KB who gets us together for weekly mountain meanderings

today's hike, originally uploaded by emdot.

We get together once a week
To trek up on old volcanic tower
On Tuesdays we hike Bishop Peak

After work we form our clique
A hodge-podge group on trail for hours
We get together once a week

With eagerness and interest piqued
We take a path of dust and flowers
On Tuesdays we hike Bishop Peak

Somedays sunny and others bleak
We'll stay inside if the sky showers
We get together once a week

Hushed rabbits hide while vultures seek
Hear bird songs, cow moos, nature's bellowers
On Tuesday we hike Bishop peak

On Sundays we ready for the week
On Mondays - sigh - we're underpower
On Tuesdays we hike Bishop Peak
We get together once a week

— Marya Figueroa

Yes I was a scaredy cat

nostalgia: me at the san diego zoo, originally uploaded by emdot.

5 things I was afraid of when I was 12

1. scoliosis
2. punk rock
3. heavy metal
4. not going to heaven
5. 8th graders

last day for the old chairs

last day for the old chairs, originally uploaded by emdot.

Today an old list-serv chum Derek ran into a very old email I'd sent said list back in 2002. It made me smile today, so I share it with you, too. :)

that spam i am
that spam i am
i do not like that spam i am

would you like it in a can?
would you like it from a man?
would you like it in email?
would you like it from female?

not in a can, not from a man, not in email, not from female.

i would not like it on the net, i would not like it at the met, i would
not like it on tv, i do not like it, spam you see.

I guess there must have been some spam going around. Ah, how somethings never change. ;)

I love you, Rob Brezny

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): "Dear Rob 'Fat-Burner' Brezsny: I used the Sweet and Sassy Toner video and lost only two pounds in five weeks. I tried the No More Love Handles program and actually gained weight. The only thing that really worked was your column. Reading your horoscopes has, I'm convinced, been responsible for bringing me much closer to having my dream body. You've helped me jettison a ton of psychic fat, not to mention a wad of guilt, a load of concern about what other people think of me, and a mass of remorse about the past. I never realized how much of my extra weight had to do with psychological burdens I was carrying. This is the lightest I've ever been! Grateful Virgo." Dear Grateful: Give yourself credit, too. It has been courageous of you to get rid of your unnecessary buffers. By the way, this week will be the climax of the shedding process. Celebrate your success by emptying out even more.

Super Creative Graffiti Wall-art Animation

Amazing the creativity that some people have. This is mind-boggling.
» MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU

homemade

homemade, originally uploaded by calvo.

My dear friend and fellow goofball Calvo made this and took the pretty picture. I'm inspired AND I have a half-a-ton of carrots from the Miss KB. So, I'm going to try to make this. You can too. Click the photo -- the recipe is there.

Bonus: Calvo is coming to visit me and 7s in mid-ish/late-ish August. He's got a regatta in Long Beach and I convinced him to travel north for a couple of days. Fun! His fifth trip visiting. Who says Internet friends aren't real friends? :)

Calvo and I met ten years ago through Ye Ol' Listserv (not it's real name). I've made some pretty great friends through that list. Thanks Dave Siegel.

Tom Sellack Birthday Cake

Is awesome.

a keyhole garden

a keyhole garden, originally uploaded by a.sheu.

Today, a friend sent a link about Keyhole Gardens, a type of raised-bed garden that protects soil and creates a bigger crop for difficult growing areas. I think this is one of the greatest ideas ever.

They are teaching this type of gardening to the people in Lesotho, but I think it would be a great type of garden to have here in California: easy to maintain, easy to plant, easy to harvest.

I found the above photo on Flickr. You can also see this harvest-ready garden also on Flickr. Or visit the Save a Cow web site. It has more photos and instructions. Or see the AfriGadget web site for more photos and information.

July 4th Campers

July 4th Campers, originally uploaded by 7-how-7.

We had a perfect Fourth of July. It was one of those dreamy, pinch-me so perfect lazy days. It was the kind of day that you day dream of in the middle of winter. It was heaven on a hillside.

Flickr Set: Lotuses of Echo Park

Speekina lotuses, I put together a set of lotus photos I took from Echo Park in 2006. Check 'em out .

www.flickr.com