Tuesday, March 31, 2009

March 31



It seems like nearly all of downtown Lubbock is deserted. This place - a former gas station, from the looks of things - had a vacant lot on one side, and three vacant houses on the other. And it looked empty, too. I can't quite understand how we can think of ourselves as a Big City on the one hand, yet have vacant lots scattered all through downtown.

There are redevelopment plans a-foot - but aren't there always big redevelopment plans a-foot?

Lubbock, Texas

Monday, March 30, 2009

March 30



I can see that my enthusiasm for this project is tied closely to the weather: today was windy and dusty and a little too chilly for me. This was the best I could do.

Once the wind stops, I will do better. I promise.

Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, March 29, 2009

March 29



If I had paid attention when I took geology, I might be able to understand how these black-and-white rocks seems to be everywhere.

As it is, though, I can just add new ones to my collection without being burdened by extraneous information.

Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, March 28, 2009

March 28



I love avocados so much that if I buy one, I also get an "insurance" avocado - just in case the first one isn't good.

I lucked out tonight: this one was perfect, so I still have the insurance one left!

Lubbock, Texas

March 27



So, the day started in California: we saw hills that were unbelievably green and incredibly lush. We saw a place selling firewood - oak and almond. We saw eucalyptus forests.

And when we got home, we saw this: SNOW and wind-chill temperature of 11 degrees.

And we already missed California...

Lubbock, Texas
(with a heavy sigh)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

March 26



Giant Burgers:
"This place was worth it for the sign alone." - comment posted by kellner at maps.google.com

Hayward, California

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

March 25



Sometimes you see things that make you do a couple of U-turns just so you can get a photo....

Hayward, California

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

March 24



Britex Fabric, Geary Street, San Fransicso:

Four floors of things you have to see to believe.

Floor 4: remants, leathers, faux furs
Floor 3: buttons, ribbons, tassles
Floor 2: cottons, linens, upholstery
Floor 1: woolens, silks, bridal fabrics

San Francisco, California

Monday, March 23, 2009

March 23



On a hill above the tiny town of Pescadero, side-by-side cemeteries overlook the green hills.

This grave has:

A music stand with two rain-weathered books

Two plastic bottles of water

One compact fluorescent lightbulb

A coil of wire

A bulletin board with push-pins

A ballpoint pen

A large seashell

A white box with four rocks, a dried corncob, and a fresh peach

And the 4th Edition of the Norton Introduction to Poetry.

But no name, no dates.


Mt. Hope Cemetery
Pescadero, California

Sunday, March 22, 2009

March 22



Moss Landing isn't that spectacular - it's got a protected boat harbor, a big power plant, and 456,981 sea lions. The sea lions have so completely taken over this dock that there are signs for kayakers to stay away, and other signs that point out the dangers of "vicious sea lions."

Moss Landing, California
(on the central coast between Santa Cruz and Monterey)

Saturday, March 21, 2009

March 21



Almost the best part about a vacation is finding interesting places to stay. The Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, California, fits that requirement perfectly. It is right on the beach, all the rooms have a water view, and it was recently rescued from boring-ness with renovation that has a groovy 1960s feel.

I am supposed to leave on Monday, but staying here for a long time has some things in its favor....

Santa Cruz, California

Friday, March 20, 2009

March 20



The Strip: where Lubbock goes on a Friday night for all their alcoholic beverage needs.

Lubbock, Texas

Thursday, March 19, 2009

March 19



This new fire station under construction, on sort of an in-fill lot. Three sides of the station are offices - mostly dentists, it looked like. The fourth side, across a narrow residential street, are condos. I bet those folks sure will enjoy the late-night fire calls, as the sirens on the fire trucks scream on their way down the block.

Lubbock, Texas

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

March 18



A locked door at a long-abandoned gas station. It is in the heart of downtown Lubbock, which could lead one to the conclusion that perhaps downtown isn't as vibrant as maybe it could be.

Lubbock, Texas

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March 17



My mom gave me this figurine - along with a story about an elderly lady who took a liking to me when I was very young, and wanted me to have the little statue. I have always displayed it; I think it arrived with that expectation.

My curio cabinet
Lubbock, Texas

Monday, March 16, 2009

March 16



Call me, if you want some homemade apple butter. I really need to work on depleting my stock before the upcoming apple butter season. Sure, I know I've got 6 months until then, but I wanted to make sure I could get rid of it.

Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, March 15, 2009

March 15



The Bridal Shoppe - you can tell it's fancy because of the fancy spelling. When I was little, we passed the shoppe frequently and I always gazed in awe at the puffy white dresses in the window.

My mom sewed my wedding dress, so I have never been inside the store. And it wasn't until earlier today that I found out the corner window of the place has a fine view to the alley and the trash dumpsters. Makes me think the spelling needs to revert to just plain "shop."

Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, March 14, 2009

March 14



We spent the day moving around part of the crap that is in the attic. At first, I was very good about labeling the boxes. "Nathan's striped shirts - ages 2.5 - 3.9" or "Books for third graders" were the standard level of detail. At first.

It went downhill a little bit with the box called "Misc. Toys and Misc. Miscellaneous."

But then this happened:

"Nathans Box of Complete Randomness #2" - and I DIDN'T EVEN USE AN APOSTROPHE.

Goodness.

Lubbock, Texas

Note to Carlos: Things in the attic are better, but it is still not completely alphabetized. I hope we are able to sleep tonight, considering the disorder just above us.

Friday, March 13, 2009

March 13



This is a very odd thing to see: rain in the rain gauge.

in my wet backyard
Lubbock, Texas

Thursday, March 12, 2009

March 12



When my friend Martha and I went on a vacation to far West Texas, we stopped in rock shops. There are LOTS of rocks in far West Texas, and I brought three of them home with me.

Lubbock, Texas

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

March 11



On grey days like today, the silvery aluminum panels on the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts almost disappear into the sky.

Lubbock, Texas

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

March 10



The underside of the gazebo roof looks like this. When it is warmer, and when we have the floor finished, it will be a great place to spend the night.

All around here, fruit trees are in bloom, bulbs are opening, and the grass is starting to green up. Last week, it was close to 90 degrees a couple of times. Snow - snow! - is in the forecast for the next couple of days. I didn't want to believe it. When I went to the canyon tonight, I was hoping to see fat buds on the mesquite trees: they never get fooled by fake spring, so I knew the outlook for snow was dimmed considerable if the mesquite were budding.

They weren't, so I am afraid it must be true about the snow...

Yellowhouse Canyon, Texas

Monday, March 9, 2009

March 9


This sculpture is called "Vortex of Ideas."  It is on the rim of the canyon at Mackenzie Park.  I like the way the spiralled metal claws its way upward, but mostly I like that it isn't symmetrical.  I don't care for symmetry.

Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, March 8, 2009

March 8


My dad likes to discuss unintended consequences.  My front door is an example of this, though it's never entered the conversation.

The door has this decorative trim all around, making it nearly impossible to unlock the door without scraping up your hand.  It used to be worse, when the wood was rough cedar:  at least now the paint has smoothed over the splinters-in-waiting.

Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, March 7, 2009

March 7



Seriously, who doesn't love some donuts with their Chinese food? It's YUMME!!!!

Seymour, Texas

Friday, March 6, 2009

March 6



The tags say that these were painted by one of Lubbock's well-known artists. If you need some Fine Art, mostly featuring fluffy clouds, I know where you can go....

Lubbock, Texas

Thursday, March 5, 2009

March 5



It's the senior citizens center now, but when I was a kid, this building was the library. The children's books were at the northeast corner; the blinds that are now drawn were always open, flooding the area with light.

I can still remember the general vicinity of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books, just to the right of the windows. And the heavy blonde wood furniture. And how quiet it was, and how it smelled. And the red-haired librarian, Mrs. Platz, who seemed skeptical that I'd truly read all the books I claimed during the summer reading program.

And I can remember the story my mother always told: that I would finish at least one book on the drive from the library to our house.

Lubbock, Texas

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

March 4



This wind-turbine sculpture is in a playa lake at Maxey Park. I would like to be able to tell you the name of the piece, and the artist. But for some reason, there's nothing to provide that sort of information.

And the ducks, quacking from the safety of the concrete base, wouldn't tell me anything.

Maxey Park
Lubbock, Texas

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3



The cast stone on the building dates it to 1917. The old paint on the front identifies it as a wholesale feed and seed warehouse. And the other sign indicates it is the home of American Boxing and Gym.

On a site hemmed in by the railroad and an underpass, the building seems abandoned, having left behind the signs of its past lives.

Lubbock, Texas

Monday, March 2, 2009

March 2



An urgent field trip to the Home Depot was necessary, because it had been a long time* since we'd been, and we were afraid for their long-term economic viability.

* "A long time" is defined as any amount of time greater than 17.75 hours.

Lubbock, Texas

Sunday, March 1, 2009

March 1



I drive by this law office every day on the way to work, and every day I hope to get stopped at the light so I can examine the glass mosaics that are creeping across the front of the building.

One day, I walked over to get a closer look, because I had a hard time believing what I was seeing. And today, I brought the camera to get some photos.

From the street it is colorful, and up close the amount of detail is incredible. The name of the law office is spelled out in tiny alphabet blocks, a glass monkey sits inside a large red glass circle, a chunk of glass says HOPE; there are more things to see than I could comprehend.

downtown Lubbock, Texas