Thursday, February 27, 2014

Return to California--1969

FERGUSON

After spending the Fall of 1968 in Ashland, Oregon, I returned to Carmel in January, and found a job in the maintenance department at the Highlands Inn for minimum wage ($1.25/hr) with room and board for $30 a month.  I had a room in Ferguson--the employee housing structure (read: shack) on the grounds of the Inn.  There was a four foot diameter x 100 foot tall Monterey Pine around which Ferguson was built, and during the storms that lashed the coast that winter, the building, and more particularly my room, would creak and groan. The fact that the pine tree was leaning against the thin plywood sheet that served as the back of my closet made the violence of that winter memorable.  The filthy bathroom, which was used by the maintenance crew and gardeners during the day and a  few residents such as myself at night, was down the hall.  I kept it as clean as I could tolerate.

My room was large enough for a small bed, a small desk, a small chair and a light bulb.  That's all I needed.  

Here's a self portrait at my Dutch door.





I took this picture during a coffee break.  There were five or six of us rebuilding a retaining wall that had failed during the torrential rains that winter.






Here are some post cards from the 60's.  

That's Point Lobos in the distance.  I remember spending an afternoon sweeping the Monterey Pine needles from the road in the foreground.  It was before leaf blowers, and I'm grateful for that because it took me longer and I could listen to the sea.
  



I maintained the pool, and was proud to keep it beautiful even during the stormy winter of 1969.



One of my duties was to keep the pathways swept.  I can tell that I wasn't maintaining the pool when this picture was taken---the water is too green!



Looking south, towards Big Sur.



The fact that I didn't have any money, or plans for my life didn't matter a whit:  I was living in the most beautiful place in the world.  Would that I could return to that time and place and set a noble course.






Sunday, February 23, 2014

Litter Guy



MARK, THE LITTER GUY








Accepting a new pair of shoes.







Saturday, February 22, 2014

Dog Selfies



DOG SELFIES


























































Friday, February 21, 2014

L'elisir d'amore



The syncing is off, unfortunately.






Thursday, February 20, 2014

Balalaika Orchestra



BALALIAKA ORCHESTRA



Tuscon, Arizona




From the same convention.








Sunday, February 16, 2014

Hermitage Museum



HERMITAGE MUSEUM, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA






































Голубой вагон



My next project is to learn "The Blue Wagon" ( Голубой вагон), a 1980's Russian animation for children. I've learned to sing Crocodile Gena's Birthday Song, and that has helped me read and pronounce Russian. The lyrics and music encourage and entertain.





And slowly do the minutes tick away
Don't you expect to find them again
Even if giving up the past is a bit sad
Everything that's best still lies ahead
Just like a carpet, oh a carpet


A long road unfolds ahead
And it pushes up against the sky
Everyone, everyone believes in the best
Rolling & streaming ahead, a blue wagon


Unintentionally, we might have hurt someone
The calendar will forget that day
To all new escapades we are rushing my friends
Hey driver, add some extra speed 

A long road unfolds ahead
And it pushes up against the sky
Everyone, everyone believes in the best
Rolling & streaming ahead, a blue wagon

The blue wagon rolls and streams ahead
Rushing engine picking up some speed
Why, oh why, does this day have to end?
Wish it would last a whole year

A long road unfolds ahead
And it pushes up against the sky
Everyone, everyone believes in the best
Rolling & streaming ahead, a blue wagon






I come to my blog to practice, so here it is in Russian.


Голубой Вагон

Медленно минуты уплывают вдаль,
Встречи с ними ты уже не жди.
И хотя нам прошлого немного жаль,
Лучшее, конечно, впереди!

*****
Скатертью, скатертью дальний путь стелится,
И упирается прямо в небосклон.
Каждому, каждому в лучшее верится,
Катится, катится голубой вагон!

*****
Может, мы обидели кого-то зря -
Календарь закроет этот лист.
К новым приключениям спешим, друзья,
Эй, прибавь-ка ходу, машинист!

*****
Скатертью, скатертью дальний путь стелится,
И упирается прямо в небосклон.
Каждому, каждому в лучшее верится,
Катится, катится голубой вагон!

*****
Голубой вагон бежит, качается,
Скорый поезд набирает ход.
Ну зачем же этот день кончается -
Пусть бы он тянулся целый год!

*****
Скатертью, скатертью дальний путь стелится,
И упирается прямо в небосклон.
Каждому, каждому в лучшее верится,
Катится, катится голубой вагон!


Saturday, February 15, 2014

A not impossible itinerary



                                           A NOT IMPOSSIBLE ITINERARY


                                                   Fly from Seattle to St. Petersburg.

                                                   Train to Moscow

                                                   Fly to Volgograd.

                                                   Boat to Yalta

                                                   Boat to Istanbul.

                                                   Bus to Edirne

                                                  Fly to Cypress

                                                   Fly home





Monday, February 10, 2014

Jeffrey Cobb Ewing




JEFFREY COBB EWING


His 2nd birthday party













Sunday, February 9, 2014

Ashland, Oregon






ASHLAND, OREGON


I drove into the country outside of Ashland, Oregon after the first snow of '68, hoping to find something of interest to photograph. After I photographed a barn, I turned and took this picture of my ridiculously troubled, but surprisingly reliable 1956 VW.




Years later, after learning how to draw, I used the  photograph  to draw this for my mother, with whom I was living those few months in December of 1968.












Sunday, February 2, 2014

Добро пожаловать в Волгограде








VOLGOGRAD (STALINGRAD) 




Volgograd is known as the city of heros.









Here's a video flying into Volgograd.  This is something I would like to do!  

There's a good view of the Mamayev Kurgan starting @ 1:37.  I wish the vid was longer.







A Google Earth screenshot looking SSW as in the video, but with a broader view.









Red Army encirclement of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad.