Shakespeare at the Park

I think we went to see this performance on July 26 at Memorial Park in Sierra Madre. What a charming little small town it is. Having a permanent stage in the neighborhood park must be fun for the young people. Around sunset we sat on the grass in our beach chairs with the neighborhood folk. The price was right and the entertainment was worthwhile.

In addition I noticed that my interest took more notice whenever one of the two leads was on stage. That must be a good sign. Unfortunately the program got thrown away so I don’t know who they were. Let me know if you can recognize them in the picture.

The play takes place in Sicily and this production made the interesting choice of setting it during the 1930s. That would put us in Fascist Italy. Other than the appearance of the actors, there were no other cues to the time period; never picked up on any subliminal signs of allegiance to The Leader ("Libro e moschetto - fascista perfetto!")

Camping with Sweeney Clan

We had a three day weekend the first week of August and met the extended Sweeney clan in Kings Canyon. Nicole’s first camping trip. You may be gratified to see there are photos of John clowning in this post. There are also photos of my cousin Jennie putting up her family’s tent, Dad making some breakfast.

I didn’t get any decent pictures of people. I can’t put my finger on the cause. Maybe I was lazy. Maybe folk were giving off the vibe of savages who don’t want their souls stolen by the camera machine. Hopefully I’ll be able to make more of my next opportunity. It’s better to experience Sweeneys than to examine them anyway.

The river was quite cold and the current very swift, but I crept on the rocks and eventually perched briefly. Due to drought, the campground showers were closed. I know Nicole was really hoping for shower access. Later the clan went further down the river and I splashed in the cold swift current, almost got knocked down.

On the way back Nicole and I stopped by a pond. I tried to create some Monster Hunter style candid photos of a mythic forest dweller creeping out to drink from the brackish water.

Later the clan gathered to make spaghetti dinner. There is often minor disputation regarding who is or ought to be helping out and who is or ought to be at leisure.

The last night we tried to get a picture of me inside the tent using only the available light from Nicole’s tiny battery-powered tent lantern. Nicole or Russell said I look like a gang member. I had brought my cowboy hat but our parked car got so hot in Fresno that the cowboy wilted. Gotta get it “reblocked”. I bought a Kings Canyon cap to cover my filthy unshowered hair. More comments to come (hopefully).

Mammoth 4th of July

We spent 4th of July weekend in Mammoth with Mom and Dad and my Auntie Chrissie and Uncle Sal. It was very lovely. None of these pictures is really funny, but this was our 4th of July.

Nicole put together a whole "Battlestar Galactica" puzzle in the livingroom. Uncle Sal brought his guitar, he is a fan of Blues music. I don't know how I got that shot of him playing away, I am usually a dirt poor photographer. Dad and Uncle Sal caught some fish and ate them for dinner, we others had chicken.

One day Nicole and I went out to Twin Lake, stopped by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store first and got an "Apple Pie" style candy apple. Russell said that picture of me contemplating the apple was Byronic, as in Lord Byron, all emotional and earthy. It wasn't posed; I'd describe my attitude towards the apple as more Robotic, as in unthinking, unstoppable consumption "You must be assimilated".

Anyway, we had a fine time and I was able to bring "Cinnabon" flavored coffee from L.A.