Holiday Nighthawks

i'm not sure what to say about holidays anymore....

Christmas Tree at the Pan handle GG park

they seem to be holidays

for the merchants...

the shops in the malls are 

set up to ensnare the

shoppers with signs

 advertising substantial

discounts as if they're

at all true for the consumer...

If one had memorized prices before

the holidays he wouldn't be

surprised that holiday prices

are jacked up by whatever discount

is being offered to compensate and

to retain the same levels of profit....

But nobody seems to pay attention 
to that stunt...

anyway, the Christmas spirit

is more alive among the younger

whose pristine optics 

of love, peace and 

prosperity are

genuine and clearer than

the older generation...

at least from what i've observed...

Delia...a Swiss tourist at my easel

As an artist I had to work

on a cityscape painting on Christmas eve

simply because it's paramount for me

to see first hand the scenery on

California St. in the Nob Hill area...

mainly that of the fog rolling in

and light rain pouring...

almost on the finishing stage...

I painted for 2 hours and 

soaked myself in the rain...

without getting sick after...

On Christmas day 

after church I ended up

in the Laurel heights area.

Laurel Heights Starbuck

Starbucks which was opened

till midnight...

Christmas eve customers

 I observed in the cafe

what Edward Hopper

Holiday Nighthawks...

had seen generations ago that inspired

him to paint the "Nighthawks"...

it's no longer a surprise to see

in people that sense of isolation

and loneliness hovering in their

holiday nighthawks

psyche despite the so-called

progress in an urban environ.

Grapevine on I-5 N

Couple of days later  i had to drive down to 

Southern Cal where I spent 4 days

and 3 nights and driving

Sunset in the Bakersfield area I-5N

500-some-miles 

back to Sf on New Year's eve...

that was truly exhausting...

Happy New Year to all!

jt

A touch of San Francisco

a city differentiated for many reasons

San Francisco...

 has 7 micro climates....

depending on the locality

one can experience the

sun, mild climate

or cold foggy area.

neighborhoods are just as varied

as the people therein...

generally there is a pattern

of alternating sun and fog...

the sun is there for 3 or 4 days

in a row then followed by

the fog of about the same 

number of days.

Some tourists like Mark Twain

come out

here to experience winter

when their summer heat waves

become unbearable...

and sometimes simply to

spy on the lifestyle of the

natives...

this weekend's 18th annual music fest

at the Golden Gate park

is the 

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

I caught a glimpse of the concert

and sniff in the air of the 

"right weeds" burning

in some corners of the park

as attendees

either habitues or first timers

we're smoking it.

that's all folks!
jt

troubadour

troubadour of note

"Ol' blue eyes"

Frank Sinatra...

for many decades had given 

 music lovers around the world

something money can't buy...

timeless joy, pleasure and memories...

his lyricists, composers and band of

musicians properly had given

his music romantic

expressions .

A native of New Jersey of Italian lineage...

his career began in the big band swing era...

his songs covered human experiences

mostly about love,

romance...

the funny encounters,

the sad, 

 even the masquerades..

which a lot of us go through

in life... 

almost of infinite dimensions....

 the lyrics were composed

in a literary poetic manner...

carrying the listener to 

a strange but familiar 

wishful ecstatic place of romance

and love...

that's all folks!

jt

what in Tar-nation

Pageviews by Countries

Entry	Pageviews
United States	7494
Germany	699
Russia	632
Philippines	490
France	424
Ukraine	243
United Kingdom	133
Poland	119
Turkey	49
China	44

This is an up-to-date viewership...

Friday traffic in San Francisco is starting

to look like Los Angeles

or heaven forbids

 even New York...

Russian Orthodox church on Geary blvd

northbound traffic on hwy. 1 

Traffic on the streets are getting

terrible particularly around

2:30ish pm

at least it's something I have not

seen before....

view of city hall

 but it's the sad and

annoying fact...

and there's

nothing you 

nor I can do

about it...

long waiting lines to get aboard the Powell cable car 

i heard that the tragic fire in Sonoma, Napa counties
was theorized to have been started by
a dangling live wire....matters are still

under investigation....

but the dry grass and winds blowing

at 50mph added to the rapid spread

of fire destroying commercial buildings,
homes and lives...

in some parts of Norcal....

they let loose goats to take 

care of dry grass as fire preventive 

measure...

i think that's a smart idea...

very economical and

naturally efficient...

it could give us a sense of peace

at nights when we go to sleep

that at least one risk factor

was taken cared of....

we wouldn't have to cry for water...

high schoolers from different schools

instead enjoy rowing competitions

at Lake Merced...

getting organized for rowing competition in summer

rowing rehearsals

art exhibit reception

...Or spend time attending art exhibits

Diego Rivera gallery at SFAI

that's all folks!

jt

cuckoo in the sky

This plane flew so low you'd think it would
touch the top of the trees before it made its ascent

it was Fleet week in San Francisco 

last weekend...

the crowd at the Marina Green

the usual crowd of sightseers, local

and foreign tourists,

were awed by the flying feats

I made a request to the commander to see if
he could make my first initial

of phantom, and F series

jets as well as the 

vintage aircrafts while

battleships and sailboats

crowded the bay...

at Safeway Marina's

parking lot, I was taking these

photos while busy munching

potato wedges...

I wouldn't be surprised if there were
foreign spies among those who were
taking photos and filming with their
cameras.

the sky above the Golden Gate bridge

and the bay looked like a playground

for the air force...

Stealth planes

the pilot of this plane deserves to work

for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey...

Safeway Marina parking lot

he flew the plane vertically to such
altitude with twisting
ascent pushing its
limits till the power ran

 out and no engine roar can be
heard at the top
and the audience goes ooh no...
then with the nose pointed down
dives with no power
but midway before hitting the waters
restarts the engine

for a glorious climb to safety....

Pacific Ocean, Montara, CA

Barnum and Bailey is not

 a bad place to work for...

I almost worked for them

when I was out of job and

looking to make a few dollars...

They were happy when I showed up at 

their doorstep and told me there

is a job opening.

I cowered about the gig

 croc's appetizer
 is not exactly what i'm looking for....

Looking back i thought 

that was the smartest

thing I've ever done ...

Hwy 1, Montara, Ca (in progress)

that's all folks!

jt

COMPLICATED

life is complicated....

the moment you're born.....

some have learned somehow 
to quiet down every
so often
to mitigate the harsh
impact if any
of the daily grinds
 associated 
with contemporary
living...

fox cubs at Sharp park golf course

 this is more advisable
 if one's level of expertise 
is that of a hobbyist...

though,
we see in everyday life
someone, somewhere, 
gets attracted
to make an attempt
to do something
beyond his true reach...

i.e one should not practice
medicine and pretend to be
a doctor if he's a quack; 
one cannot profess to know archaeology
when he makes a living digging
city sewers...
things do get
complicated this way...

there must be respect for the
integrity and genuineness
of true knowledge
This should be the crux 
of recognizing
reality...

Segovia will not be Segovia 
as we know him had he not spent a
considerable amount of time
becoming a master in guitar ...
Tarrega lived half the life span
of Segovia but produced
a LLobet who in turn
produced a Segovia....
the passing of correct knowledge
is paramount and critical
if one is to expect
good results...
and this paradigm
i think
will not change...

there is a social responsibility
tied to everyone's expertise
and knowledge particularly
when imparted
and shared...
for within and at the end of the
learning pipeline
if something erroneous
was passed ...
dreadful output could be
spewed out and
could just be unbearable 
for society in
general to take.  

that's all folks!

jt

Another Season

Pageviews by Countries

Entry Pageviews Russia 64 Germany 1 France 1 United States 1

readership for the hour is dominated by Russians....

Country road in Half Moon Bay

" Oh sacred world now wounded we pledge to set you free. Of hate and war and hunger and selfish cruelty. And here in this small corner we plant a tiny seed. And it will grow in beauty to shame the face of greed" ,

Peter Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone....

 a song made popular during

the troubled times of the 60s and 70s...

different versions by
Peter Seeger,

Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio,

Joan Baez 

Peter, Paul and Mary,

 Joni Mitchell,

Marlene Dietrich, Olivia Newton John,

Dolly Parton, 

Earth, Wind and Fire,
Dolores Keane

even by current singers

like Melissa Harding 
are great reminders
of a great era.

Lands End in San Francisco

that's all folks!

jt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-uSWcF13Js
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDuQ4uCnxHk