Today, Brian and Monkey and I went out to see the tide-pools at Half Moon Bay, down the Pacific coast from here. The tide wasn't at its absolute lowest, which means that we could only see the few tide-pools highest up (unless we wanted to wade out into 40 degree water -- yeah right!), but it was really cool. You might notice in the pictures that the SUN is nowhere to be seen. The SUN goes missing around here durring mid-summer. He apparently returns in late summer to the universal thrill of all (and the universal complaint of bay-area natives who find the 78 degree temperatures "oppressive" -- HA!!!), although our appartment is on the sunny side of town, which means more often than not, by noon, we're under blue skies, with a view of the rest of the city in fog. But that's all a bit off the subject: PLEASE ENJOY MY LOVELY TIDE POOL PHOTOS!!!

Brian and Monkey, Half Moon Bay  ¶ 11:34 PM (0) comments

 
I love how everywhere we visit out here has a sign warning of mortal danger... I especially like the graphic description in the third bullet point!!!  ¶ 11:33 PM (0) comments

 
Dead kelp, washed ashore  ¶ 11:28 PM (0) comments

 
Approaching the tide pool area: a couple of Russian(?) marine biologists(?) (friendly folk, with sketchy English) were already there ahead of us.  ¶ 11:27 PM (0) comments

 
part-way up the cliff -- notice the rock rubbed smooth and rippled: lots of handholds, good for climbing!  ¶ 11:27 PM (0) comments

 
Enormous anemone  ¶ 11:26 PM (0) comments

 
Tide pool beauty  ¶ 11:22 PM (0) comments

  from the National Council of Churches:

Christian Principles in an Election Year

Our Christian faith compels us to address the world through the lens of our relationship to God and to one another. Public discourse is enhanced as we engage civic leaders on the values and ethics affirmed by our faith. At the same time, religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy will be protected as candidates refrain from using faith-based organizations and institutions for partisan gain. We offer these ten principles to those seeking to accept the responsibility that comes with holding public office.

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to conflict.

2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation. We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.

3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well-being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.

4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.

5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and equal opportunity for everyone.

6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God's creation.

7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out against xenophobia.

8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health care for all.

9. Because of the transforming power of God's grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal justice system and the individuals within it.

10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God's children is a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who will advocate for equal educational opportunity and abundant funding for children's services.

Finally, our religious tradition admonishes us not to bear false witness against our neighbor and to love our enemies. We ask that the campaigns of political candidates and the coverage of the media in this election season be conducted according to principles of fairness, honesty and integrity.

(National Council of Churches USA, June 15, 2004)
  ¶ 1:22 PM (0) comments

 
Sure, it's pretty, but it's not quite finished....  ¶ 7:46 PM (0) comments

 
NOW it's finished!  ¶ 7:42 PM (0) comments

 
OUR TRIP TO ALCATRAZ.


Approaching Alcatraz Island.  ¶ 2:40 AM (0) comments

 
The Bay Bridge (east from the city to Oakland) and downtown SF.  ¶ 2:40 AM (0) comments

 
You can see some beautiful sights out in the Bay: here's a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.  ¶ 2:39 AM (0) comments

 
Starting the walk up from the docks: a beautiful day over the SF Bay.  ¶ 2:39 AM (0) comments

 
I stopped during the long climb up to the cellblocks to snap this shot and catch my breath...  ¶ 2:38 AM (0) comments

 
The ruins of the warden's house. It was destroyed in a fire that occurred during the island's Indian occupation from 1969-1971.  ¶ 2:37 AM (0) comments

 
The outside of the cellblock, from an angle prisoners would never get to see: this is from the side of the island near where the guards lived with their families, a small-town-style community. (The kids took a boat to go to school in SF.)  ¶ 2:35 AM (0) comments

 
The Alcatraz Yard.  ¶ 2:33 AM (0) comments

 
The prisoners' view of the Golden Gate: the rec yard was considered a special privilage.  ¶ 2:31 AM (0) comments

 
The only sight they were guaranteed. (While I think this is what people go to Alcatraz thinking they want to see, the views from outside really did it for me!)  ¶ 2:29 AM (0) comments

  July 3rd: we're getting ready for a little 4th of July bbq here tomorrow, but something's strange...

Fireworks are illegal, and (more to the point), impossible to find and purchase. NOT EVEN SPARKLERS. This is apparently (and reasonably) because this whole area is covered in tindergrass. Fire bad. So that's that. No bang-bang.

Also: IT'S COLD. It's early July, and it's not just temperate, not just "cool"... it's COLD. Completely misted in, pea-soup fog, icy cold. In July. For the 4th of July. WEIRD.

That said, we're looking forward to our I-day bash. I'm going to make a dish in the shape of an American flag out of strawberries, blueberries, and freshly whipped cream. (A photo will surely appear here!) This part of the world may have weird weather, but it sure does have AMAZING berries!

So Happy 4th, everyone! Here's to raging rebellious Democracy! Here's to the "traitors"-cum-patriots who risked everything to break free of a doltish imperialist named George, and to everyone who is inspired by that action, whether in France, or Liberia, or 2004.

LOVE!!!  ¶ 1:12 AM (0) comments