11th Hour Photo Year in review

This year in review for 2023  is really just photos that provide me with some wonderful memories.  These aren't really in chronological order, but still photos that bring me peace and contentment.  

Rusty and Yosiell enjoying a frosty margarita. 

Felicai Ann's artwork at Hellvella, 

Easter at Hunky Jesus. Wicked, wicked Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  

:) 

Yosiell in repose. 

Di Drew and I at Joshua Tree (January)

Arizona floating down the river. 

Hiking the East Bay with a rag tag group of artists. 

My nephew, Haven - such a great kid. 

B'ham whale watching with Jamie, 

PNW sasquatch realness, this cryptid is everywhere, 

Fairhaven lighthouse. 

Olympic National Park...worth a trip. 

Olympic Park- summer snow.

Palm Springs (January) 

Olympic Park, so many diverse biomes. 

My nephew and his family in Eastern Washington, 

Oakland Hills. many hikes. 

Okland Gay Pride...

Oak-toberfest in the Dimond.  

Alameda beach walk. 

Halloween with my niece. 

Halloween on our street - googly eyes...

Halloween night. 

Trick or treat on a warm fall night. 

B'ham in the fall. 

Rusty's 60th...

Shenanigans on Rusty's 60th.

Yosiell witnessing a Christmas Miracle. 

Christmas with loved ones. 

CHristmas warmth with Anand and Ivan. 

Monique enjoying the traditional Christmas sushi. 

Christmas lights. 

The year has been adventful and all in all a pretty good one.  I look forward to the 2024 year, and the new adventures to come. 

Solstice, the Real Reason for the Season

Technically, the Winter Solstice is when the tilt of the Earth's axis is farthest from the sun.  This results in the shortest day of the year and the slow seasonal march toward longer spring and summer days.  But the Winter Solstice is so much more historically, spiritually, and culturally. 

One would be hard pressed to find a culture that doesn't celebrate some sort of holiday around this time. From the Neolithic period to now people have developed rituals and holidays to honor the return of the sun.  The rituals, the celebratory meals, the songs, the prayers are different from culture to culture but the one constant is...yes, you guessed it, gentle reader, Light! 

"After the longest night, tomorrow we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished. As of tomorrow, the days begin to get longer as the light of day grows. While the gentle winter sun slowly opens its eyes, let us all bring more light and compassion into the world." (by Dache Avelin) 

Light as a metaphor is endless: light of my life, facts brought to light, light at the end of the tunnel, light in his loafers, beacon of light, light in the darkness, light of knowledge, and so on and so on...

We have looked to the light to illuminate not only the dark but as inspiration to be better, to be greater, to stare up at the heavens away from the murk and muck of just being human. Crawling through the darkness on the daily, the light elevates us above the mundane, provides a sense for honor and dignity, a reminder to be compassionate, to practice kindness, to feed the needs of our minds and souls.

One of the terms used to describe this time of year is the Hibernal Solstice.  I like this term because it more accurately reflects my approach to the solstice. As an introvert (yes, it is true despite my outgoing nature, I am an introvert), this is the time of year for reflection, for regeneration, renewal...we are biologically hadwired to celebrate the return of light as a source of hope...and I am optimistic enough to fall for this every year on the solstice.  I am often infused with a sense of hope and wonder and yes, even the slightest nudging toward a belief in the magic of light. 

So, gentle readers, let us celebrate the piercing of the darkness with pictures of lights from our area. 

Sales Force Park in SF, a park 4 stories above the street and an absolute engineering marvel, A rainy day but still the stars are out.

Sales Force Park enjoying twinkling lights even during the day, 

The tree in Union Square...iconic, much more impressive at night but still a sight to behold, 

San Francico Center dome...not exactly lights but still a lovely feature, rebuilt in 1908 and installed when SF Center was built.  The symmetry and beauty brings light into my life. 

The Palace Hotel,  An impressive tree in impressive surroundings. 

The angel on top of our tree, 

Christmas eve at our house,  The gnome was left in my office anonymously, but is currently adorning our front yard and bringing a smile to our faces. 

Every year on facebook, I post this from the final scene in one of my favorite shows, Northern Exposure...enjoy gentle reader, this fills me up every solistice, Enjoy the lights around you until the return of the sun. 

Northern Exposure End Scene: More Light from Markus Avrelius on Vimeo.

A Belated First Day of Autumn

Here in Oakland the official first day of Autumn, September 21st, was warm and dry. Today was the first rainy overcast day of the season and as such has forced us all in doors to reflect on the past few months. I'm considering today, October 22nd, the first day of Autumn due to the change of the weather and my constant longing for fall. I'm looking forward to the cold weather and the longer nights thrust upon us by mother nature, kicking in our natural instinct for hibernation. If spring is infancy, summer our teen years, then Autumn is definitely our adulthood as a species.  As such we are prone to question our previous life decisions, settle our flights of fancy, and enjoy a maturity of thinking that allows us to take pleasure in the simple things in our lives. 

A cold and rainy walk along the Alameda shore, watching the Sandpipers scurry about. 

Lately, I've been questing my priorities and have decided that in several ways I need to pivot and change aspects of my life. In order to maintain my health and energy, I definitely need to reduce my work load and stress. This may mean a change in schools or a change in the amount of blood, sweat, and tears I've been devoting to my work. I have always given way more of myself to work than is sometimes healthy, but really it is because I also consider education not only my job but my mission. I've always believed my service to the community is through my servant leadership. OK, so the last paragraph seems entirely sanctimonious or at the very least self righteous...but as I remind people I do get paid for the job and in this current district quite well - so not entirely self less.  

Another change has got to be diet and exercise...my doctor has been recommending changes to diet and exercise for quite awhile, so of course instead of following his advice I've been contemplating just getting a new doctor, but damn if he isn't right. As someone within five years of retirement, it is time to focus on steps to ensure my quality of life is good post retirement. 

So gentle readers, within the next 6-9 months I'm anticipating changes in my life, some bold and some minor but all with the intent of exiting into retirement in 5 years with a better quality of life. My retirement goals include travel to all of our national parks, visitng family and friends on a regular basis, and enjoying my loved ones as much as possible (and maybe some international travel). I want to have the health and energy to accomplish these humble goals. 

Gentle readers, expect to read more about this "journey" in the next few months (yes, I know the word "journey" is tired and best reserved for posters and sweatshirts).  I'm considering this blogpost my declaration and commitment to make the changes so desperately needed, so gentle readers you've read this here first and are welcome to hold me accountable for my goals. 

In the meantime I still want to update you on my Late Summer/Early Autumn adventures. 

Oakland Pride in September, compared to SF pride, definitely a small town family vibe. Anand and I enjoying the parade. Not as many marching as in SF pride but definitely a decent showing. 

a hydraulic low rider...only in Oakland's pride parade. 

The BART pride mobile. Creepy? Absolutely! 

My next door neighbor contributing to the festivities. 

Following are some random photos from the past few months. Really just things that stick out in my memory. 

Early morning foggy walk at the Huckleberry loop in the Oakland hills.  One of my favorite photos so far this year. 

My neighbors do a Candyland display every year for Halloween, this year vandals added googly eyes to their display...yes, it was us and yes the display needed it. 


Everybody loves googly eyes! 



Hooray for whimsy and practical jokes. (we have lots more eyes and will be adding to the mayhem soon). 

This is actually Rusty's photo from Maui, he has been working there for the EPA to do press regarding the Lahaina fires. Sounds great to be in Hawaii but the work is intense and emotions as you can imagine are raw.  Still, a double rainbow? It doesn't get better. 

We got to see one of my favorite comedians, Fortune Feimster just last night. she is absolutely hilarious. 

Preshow drinks at a funky Oakland bar, the Night Heron.  The drinks are all named after songs from bands that originated in Oakland. I love a themed bar! Drinks were expensive but definitely in the craft cocktail genre.  

Well gentle readers, another fall is under way. In Northern California, we get a late start to fall, but we are making the most of it with pumpkin flavored everything, and fall leaves strategically sprinkled throughout the house.  Enjoy a tea and a good book sitting by the heater vent in your neck of the woods.