THE WEEKENDER

WONDERMENT

     INTELLIGENT IDEAS

              John Muir appreciated wonders of nature. 

        His sensitivity points us to behold the power and even mystery of life beyond or beside human parameters. 

             Out there, up there, even in there are forces and natural occurrences that form the basis of science and dumbfounds rational tools.  We theorize.

              Watching star populated night skies over the Pacific and lightless mountains propounds the dazzling concept of interstellar space.  Seeing depth in a star field lends credibility to the vast distances of space and time. Out there are perhaps dark holes, worm holes and theories  we can't fully explain.  And now the little Voyagers are about to pass the limits we biped's have postulated to in up there. 

              Learning about in there is accelerating in a post DNA gene sequencing world. Medicine is getting more precise. The closer we look, the more we see forces beyond our making and which influence destiny.

           And there are spirit, heart, soul, religion and philosophy which bind an alternative in there. Wisdoms, truths, transcendence and riddles are pondered yet they too  stand in the face of mystery.

           

           Let something give you a sense of wonder.

           See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) ENJOY THE GAMES

IT'S ONLY EVERY FOUR YEARS

     Late the other night, or early one morning as it was, I headed off to bed, wondering why I had stayed so late at the party, watching BMX racing.  I don't usually watch BMX racing, but this was of the Olympic variety, and well, a gold medal was on the line.  And it was fascinating, maybe because of the newness.

     The Olympics do this sort of thing to me.  Maybe it is the pre-event hype and background, but I get kind of addicted to the games.  I find myself suddenly in possession of knowledge about lives and histories of athletes that a few weeks ago I didn't know existed. 

     I do marvel at the talent, skill and power of the competitors.  I'm particularly keen on track, since that was my best high school sport. I was even captain of the team, but when I see how quickly Husain Bolt covered the 100 and compare it to my best speed and wonder if we were on the track at the same time, well, the best I can say is that we started at the same time.  
     Anyway, we head into the last weekend of the extravaganza and I leave you with a sport and young sportsman that you'll likely never see on an Olympic medal stand, but I suspect you'll find this amazing.  It's all in the spirit of the Weekender :).  Have fun with this.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) CALIFORNIA STARS

SUMMER COOL

&

THANK YOU WOODY

     Summer party and picnic season is in high gear so THE WEEKENDER :) offers a visual tribute to cool summer salads.

         And of course a strawberry treat is a good finish.

AMERICA'S MINSTREL

     I've enjoyed all of the tributes to Woody Guthrie on this

weekend celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth.

     It's fascinating to know that 3000 of his songs have been recorded, but there are thousands more in his archive.  His daughter says "he wrote all of the time."

      I was also surprised to learn he was the writer of the 

great tune, CALIFORNIA STARS, which Wilco recorded.

THE WEEKENDER OFFERS UP FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

THREE (3) VERSIONS.

This is a sweet "live" version

And a studio version

"California Stars"

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight 
On a bed of California stars 
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight 
On a bed of California stars 

I'd love to feel 
Your hand touching mine 
And tell me why 
I must keep working on 

Yes I'd give my life 
To lay my head tonight on a bed 
Of California stars 

I'd like to dream 
My troubles all away 
On a bed of California stars 

Jump up from my starbed 
Make another day 
Underneath my California stars 
They hang like grapes 
On vines that shine 
And warm the lovers' glass 
Like friendly wine 

So I'd give this world 
Just to dream a dream with you 
On our bed of California stars 

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight 
On a bed of California stars 
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight 
On a bed of California stars 

I'd love to feel 
Your hand touching mine 
And tell me why 
I must keep working on 

Yes I'd give my life 
To lay my head tonight on a bed 
Of California stars 

I'd like to dream 
My troubles all away 
On a bed of California stars 

Jump up from my starbed 
Make another day 
Underneath my California stars 

They hang like grapes 
On vines that shine 
And warm the lovers' glass 
Like friendly wine 

So I'd give this world 
Just to dream a dream with you 
On our bed of California stars 

So I'd give this world 
Just to dream a dream with you 
On our bed of California stars 

(Dream a dream with you)

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) IT IS WONDERFUL

IMMERSE YOURSELF

    I can't help myself.  When I see a solitary boat in a cove

my mind starts leaping through, where did it sail from, where is it bound, how did they choose this berth and those

all lead to the perpetual question, what would it have been like to sail into a new land for the first time?

    BTW sailing this part of the California coast is tricky and dangerous, so anyone putting into San Simeon has navigated   some difficult water and shoals.

SPEAKING OF THE WATER

   A dear friend visited from the Washington DC area recently.  Before coming he inquired about swimming in the Pacific. He and I have both shared the Atlantic chill, but when I told him the average water temperature was mid to high 50's he opted out.   Hey Frank-look at these guys-

 --they are either too young to know better or from some 

northern clime, where 59 degree water feels good!!!!

  My thanks to the BBC and several friends who suggested

this video would make a great WEEKENDER :) treat.

IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL WORLD

Thanks to Sir David as well.

Enjoy the weekend.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) GIFTS FOR ALL

THE CONCEPT IS TO ENJOY

     On most Fridays the words of Tamar, a driver I hired in Israel come into mind, "no self respecting Israeli man would come home on Friday without flowers."

      Friday's and weekends are special, especially here at THE WEEKENDER:) where the point is fun.

     ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WATCH

But these may make you want to move

     A couple of special WEEKENDER :) videos this weekend and they've been highly suggested by friends and readers.

       The irony of the first video is part of the amusement-

(as always I suggest you watch on youtube in a larger format-just remember to come back to Light/Breezes)

     You don't need to be a basketball fan to enjoy this one.

You are in on the secret-the "old man, Uncle Drew" is really 

Kyrie Irving, the 2012 NBA Rookie of the year.  Make sure to 

watch the faces of the people who are looking on once 

"Uncle Drew get's going."

(as always I suggest you watch on youtube in a larger format-just remember to come back to Light/Breezes)

Have a great weekend.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) ANIMAL HIJINX & THE MOB GETS SERENADED

ECLECTIC TREATS

    It's a real mixed bag THE WEEKENDER :) brings you this June weekend.

BETTER THAN PET TRICKS

     Thanks to Brian and a couple of other friends for alerting me to some incredible video. These are lots of fun.

        This piece from Brazil is fascinating and speaks volumes about species interaction.  What an uplift! The video was shot and is copyrighted by Gerd Traue.

THEN THERE IS THE EXERCISING SEA LION

No explanations needed-

but who came up with the training idea?

     Neither of these pieces are earth shaking, but they are evidence of how the world can share and enjoy, thanks to YouTube. And after all it is the weekend and THE WEEKENDER :) is about enjoyment and maybe a nap.

DAY BOOK

CAT TIMES

     Nap time comes easily to Hemingway and Luke.

    Daughter Kristin was working on a shot of the buck when

out of no where up pops "stealth kitty" Hemingway.  

    Then there was the time when Hemingway encountered

a new gate for the first time.

FRIDAY LUNCH FLASH MOB GETS SERENADED

    Have a great weekend.  See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) LIGHTER-BRIGHTER

THE CHANGE OF PACE

    After weighing in on a couple of heavy topics this week

the WEEKENDER :) arrives to bring cheer and something you may never have seen.

I NEVER DID THIS

    I will acknowledge that as a news anchor we did, sometimes, amuse ourselves (us and the studio and control room crews) during breaks.  But in all of the clowning-we thought of it as stress relief-we never got this elaborate. This is kind of fun, though you may never look at a news anchor the same again.

CALL THIS "THE ANCHOR DANCE"

Courtesy of WGN Chicago

DAY BOOK

CHEERY BLOOMS

 The orchid cactus is an heir of Lana's grandmother and her mother.  It was one of the plants she refused to leave behind when we moved west.

 We've tried before, but this is the first year the 

"Bird of Paradise" has bloomed.

 Lana has done a wonderful job in creating a beautiful garden where once it was just a hill and ice plant.  I'll provide an update in a future post.

Enjoy the weekend.

See you down the trail.