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"Those little nimble musicians of the air that warble forth their curious ditties, with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art."

-Izaak White

I went to the San Francisco Zoo last week, on a cooler then normal day, which isn't the best time to visit the zoo, because most of the animals were cuddled up and not real animated, but one exhibit I did particularly enjoy was the new bird exhibit, "Binnowee Landing." For an extra $2.00 you can enter the large walk through aviary habitat. Included in the admission, is a feed stick so you can get up close with the birds, as they eat nearly right out of your hand. It was an awesome experience. I was able to get close to the Eastern Rosella, which is a large, colorful parrot, and for about 10 minutes or so, I had a friend in a small, blue parakeet, who sat on the end of the feed stick I was holding, as I walked around the exhibit photographing the other birds. I am getting real good at one handed photography! LOL. The birds in the above photo, are Australian Cockateils. I didn't get a chance on this visit to feed them, maybe next time. :)

Other birds...

Chilean Flamingos

Parakeets

Magellanic Penguin

Peacock

Eastern Rosella

My friend, the blue parakeet. :)

-OndineMonet
"At The Zoo"
San Francisco Zoo
August 23rd, 2006
Afternoon

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #127: "Goodbye Summer" Haiku

"If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance."

-Bern Williams

Weekend Assignment # 127: Write a haiku saying farewell to summer. A haiku, as many of you know, is a poem of three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five again in the third. Simple and fun, and anyone can do 'em. You can do more that one if you want. As a bonus, technically speaking, haiku are supposed to feature seasonal imagery, so we've got that going for us this time around.

Extra Credit: A picture of a fun summer activity you're saying goodbye to for another year.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

As you know, summer is not my favorite time of year, but it is necessary to have summer, so that beautiful autumn can comeback again. Still, summer is not without it's merits, such as the concerts on the beach in Santa Cruz. Opening night this year featured the Greg Kihn Band. For an old guy from the 80's he is still HOT! :) I looked hot that night too...tee hee...I had on my new shoulder cut-out T-shirt, and I wore my hair down, all 5 feet of it. Well, I pinned it up a little. :) Ok, so summer has it's moments. :)

Music On A Summer Night (Haiku)
By Carly Gordon

Summer music kiss
That's what a June night is for
Music on the beach

Extra Credit:

Greg Kihn on stage in Santa Cruz, June 23rd, 2006

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as seen from the Wharf

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."

-Ada Louise Huxtable

-OndineMonet
"Greg Kihn Concert"
Santa Cruz, California
June 23rd, 2006
Early Evening

Nuit de Papillon

"Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one. It got on at 42nd, and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake...as almost all hats are."

-Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) You've Got Mail

It was a long day. After a particularly fun time at therapy, I thought it might be a good idea to go to the butterfly exhibit, at the Conservatory of Flowers, to try to chase some sadness away. It worked. There were several new species to work with, but I was most intrigued with the White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae). It reminds me of fine ivory lace. I decided today, to take a few shots in b/w mode, just to see what it would be like. It was good for me to go out with the camera today, sometimes I think it is the best therapy of all. I tend to see things differently on days when I am a little sad.

I spent a lot of time with this particular butterfly, and soon, I wasn't feeling as sad, in fact, I found a good bit of energy from my visit with her. After I finished her portrait, I spotted a beautiful Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) and decided to spread my creative wings a bit. I turned my camera on video mode, and took two short movies of it dancing and feasting upon a lovely sunflower. I was very happy with how they came out, so maybe next week I will revisit the conservatory and take some longer videos. Just as an experiment, later tonight, I am going to make a movie in my Windows Movie maker with the two video shorts and some stills which I will run together with some music, not quite sure which musicial piece yet, maybe something by Rachmaninoff, or maybe I will try some jazz, with Harry Connick Jr. I wish the butterflies lives weren't so short, so much beauty too lose, doesn't seem fair.

Later in the day, I took a ride across town to the "Six Sisters," at Alamo Square Park. There was another bride and groom posing for their wedding photos. That makes the 6th couple I have encountered, since last spring. :) It was a perfect day for the camera. I have been enjoying photographing the young brides, as every bride is beautiful, and every groom handsome. Good day with the camera. A lot of happiness and contentment was to be found. :)

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserved a little sunshine."

-Jeffrey Glassberg

Note: I found a great butterfly resource, by way of my friend Steven, Butterflies and Moths of North America. It is an awesome website where you can learn more about these amazingly beautiful creatures. :)

-OndineMonet
"Butterfly At Night"
Conservatory of Flowers
San Francisco, California
August 30, 2006
Afternoon

Your Monday Photo Shoot: On Tuesday Or Even Wednesday Rated PG-13

"If being sane is thinking there's something wrong with being different...I'd rather be completely fucking mental."

-Angelina Jolie

Monday Photo Shoot: Post a photo of an award, plaque or certificate.



Our friend Karen, Mavarin, came up with a wonderful idea, which was to post a special subject for the completely underappreciated, and terribly overworked John Scalzi, AOL Journal Land's very own beloved BLOGFATHER. :) So, in honor of his recent win of the John W. Campbell award, this week's "Your Monday Photo Shoot," is to post a photo of an award, plaque or certificate. Our entries can be posted at John's blog, Karen's blog or at at both!

Well, see, I have won things, but never something which awarded me a statue, a certificate, plaque or the such. I have won a scrapbooking contest, which gave me a $10:00 gift certificate, and a mention at the stationary store where it was held. I won a diamond necklace from Sear's. LOL. I won a bottle of Champaign and a certificate for free Martinizing, but that was when I was in the 1st grade, back when children were allowed to win alcohol. Don't worry I didn't drink it, I gave it to my old kindergarten teacher. LOL. Still...as a grown up lady...I have never won an award. Came close though...I was nominated six times for a AOL Journal Land "Excellence in Journaling" award...lost all 6 nominations! ROFL. Losing that perfectly should really be rewarded with a certificate or something. Tee Hee. But it seems I can't win for losing. LOLOLOLOL

So, I suppose the closest thing to falling into the required criteria for this assignment would be the many, many, many certificates I have received over the years for having "successfully completed" all the various psychological programs required of me, after having either stressed myself out, or gone insane. LOL. Thank goodness I always enjoyed school, because I always stuck with my One-on-One classes, Group Therapies, MAP Groups (Managing Anxiety & Panic) Intensive Out-Paitent Therapy, and Adult Day-Care. Yep, I have been THAT nuts. LOL.

There were too many "certificates of completion," to scan and post, so I created one tonight, and framed it, so that it could be used as the official "What The Hell Happened," award. I know the print in the photo is a little small, trust me, you always want to read the fine print, so here is what my award says...

The Ondine Award or "THE WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED" Certificate.

This certifies that CARLY has completed years of Therapy, Group Therapy, Intensive Out-Patient Therapy, and...Adult Day Care!

"It's been lovely, but I have to scream now!"

Give her, I mean ME, a round of applause! And some Graham crackers. Man, Adult Day Care rocked! Good times, good times! :)

-OndineMonet
"Good Times Never Seemed So Good"
Berkeley, California
August 29th, 2006
Evening

Carly's Eggplant Capri... A New Recipe

"Mother's words of wisdom: "Answer me! Don't talk with food in your mouth!"

-Erma Bombeck

Well, my big New Year's resolution for 2006, was to create some new recipes. I didn't say how many. LOL. To date I have only come up with three new ones, so I decided it might be time to put the chef's hat on and get busy. LOL. The garden is beginning to harvest, and I have lost of wonderful fresh ingredients to work with, so, here is my newest creation. It's easy to prepare, and super yummy, so don't wrinkle your nose when you see it has eggplant in it...just give it a try. :) Then you can tell me you hate it. Now sit up straight! :)

Carly's Eggplant Capri

3 medium sized fresh Eggplant
(sliced in 1-inch slices)

1 8 oz.. pkg. Shredded Italian cheese blend (Provolone, Fontina, Romano, Mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesan)

1/2 lb. Hot Italian Sausage (bulk)

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1/2 cup. Chopped, Marinated, Sundried tomatoes

1/2 cup Broccoli florettes

1 cup Progresso Garlic/Herb bread crumbs

2 16 oz. Jars Classico Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo sauce

Heat oven to 375. In a non-stick skillet, over medium heat, cook the sausage until cooked thoroughly, drain and set aside. Prepare and cut the eggplant into 1-inch slices. Dip the eggplant in either, 3 tbs. Milk or 1 beaten egg, then dip into the bread crumbs to coat both sides of the slices. In a skillet, cook the eggplant slices in 2 tbs. vegetable oil, over medium heat until brown on both sides. Arrange the browned slices in two layers in a medium, non-stick, baking dish. Pour one jar of the sauce to cover the first layer of the eggplant. Add the cooked broccoli florettes as a center, and put the crumbled sausage, onions andchopped sundried tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with about half the cheese mixture. Top with the remaining eggplant slices, the second jar of sauce, and top with the cheese mixture. Bake for 35- 45 minutes or until brown and bubbly on top. Serve and enjoy!

Serves 3
NOTE: I like a lot of sauce with this recipe, but it can be made with one jar, if you prefer. You can substitute fresh, chopped, Roma tomatoes for the sundried tomatoes.

To see my other recipes, visit my recipe blog "Ellipsis...East Bay Cuisine."

-OndineMonet
"Ingredients"
Berkeley, California
August 28th, 2006
Evening

The Little Kitty

"Where there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it provides to us how little our eyes permit us to see."

-Dorothea Lange

Whenever I leave the house, I always take my camera with me. Even if I am off to run a little errand, because you never know what great photographic opportunity might come your way. A couple weeks ago, I was going through a black and white phase with my photography. I am not sure why, but sometimes the world seems a lot more colorful when view in black and white. Anyway, I was coming out of one of my Yoga session, when I glanced over at this little meter box, which was standing open, and right there, just inside was this beautiful, yet mysterious black cat.

The color of his eyes were so green, in fact, they almost glowed. He just sat there, very calm and content, if not maybe a little amused, at the site of my photographing him. I must have taken 40-50 shots of him, from every angle I could, and some in color, but when I got home, and looked at the photos on the computer, I saw that this guy was meant to be photographed in black and white. :) I want to try to get back over to the Conservatory of Flowers sometime next week, to photograph the newest butterflies at the butterfly exhibit. I think I will try taking at least some of them in b/w mode. I think I like the challenge, or actually seeing it in a different light...and with different eyes. Isn't photography awesome? :)

-OndineMonet
"Little Kitty"
Berkeley, California
12:00 PM
August 16, 2006

Talk About Rewriting History

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

-Abraham Lincoln

What do you suppose Abraham Lincoln might say about the America, if he were alive today? Now there is no way to be sure, but do you see him supporting the vast polarization that has occurred in America in the last 5 years? Would he be likely to adopt the current ideals and policies republican party? Would he strive to change things for the better...at least as he would see it...even if it meant going against the republican grain. Do you suppose, if he had been here to experience 9/11, and it's aftermath, would he have changed very much inside? We all changed a little that day, didn't we? Some became scared, some found some inner strength to look for the answers, some resolved within themselves to bring the truth to light, no matter how unpopular it may have been viewed. We all changed that day, to some degree, but collectively did we change for the better?

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

-Abraham Lincoln

Last week Fact Check.org, published an article about how certain members of the republican party, are "falsely quoting Abraham Lincoln as advocating, exiling, or hanging members of Congress who damage military morale in wartime." According to the FactCheck article, it has been going on for quite sometime, and in all forms of media from speeches, to letters to the editor, but most recently by Diana Irey, who is currently running against Rep John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Also according to the article, Lincoln never said anything like that... in fact,the "quote" that has been circulated so freely among the republican party, came from conservative author, J. Michael Waller, who admits the words are NOT Lincoln's, but indeed they are his own. Waller claims that it was an error that quotation marks were placed around those words, and that the mistake should be blamed on his editor for not catching it.

"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves."

-Abraham Lincoln

When FactCheck.org ran a search to see how many times the quote had been used against opponents of President Bush's war policy, there were 18,000 references to the quote, and on further examination of the original article written by Waller, there FactCheck notes that there were additional historical errors. FactCheck contacted the former managing editor of INSIGHT magazine, Scott Stanley, where the article first appeared, and he denies ever inserting the quotation marks as alleged by Waller, but Stanley went on to say that the mistake could have been made by any one of six "formatting editors," who were known to take liberties with an authors copy. The complete FactCheck article can be read here.

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."

-Abraham Lincoln

Here is what I am most curious about. What do you think? A lying politician is almost a given. Lying doesn't know race, gender, or party affiliation. So, tell me, with the midterm elections coming up, just few short months away, how much research do you put into the candidates you are presented with? Do you rely on the party you most often vote for, to provide you with accurate information, or do you do a little bit of the footwork or I should say, keyboard work yourself? This is an important election coming up, a lot of things could change because of it, and a lot of things could, unfortunately, remain the same. Ever since Rep Murtha dared speak his mind, last November, regarding his feelings about the war in Iraq, there have been some serious, and mean spirited stones cast at him in the name of patriotism. And as it turns out, those stones sometimes are made of lies. Given the amount of marginal behavior by members of both parties, can you really afford to not do some researching of your own before you cast your votes in November? Share with me, what do you plan to do to prepare yourself to vote?

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting, makes cowards of men."

-Abraham Lincoln

-OndineMonet
All quotes via ThinkExist.com