AFC Championship Game

The corner of Main and Magnolia is probably the busiest intersection in El Cajon, my hometown -- population 100,000+ and fifteen miles east of downtown San Diego. And why is this intersection deserted at noon on a fine Sunday afternoon? The AFC Championship game, featuring our beloved San Diego Chargers.



But the Chargers' Superbowl dreams died a cold death on the New England field. Congrats to the Patriots for going 18-0, but still, the Chargers have only been in the Superbowl ONCE: 1994. And they lost. We would have loved to have had our turn winning the trophy and rings. Just once.

There's always next season, I guess....

B's Baptism

Pastor Nathan questions B about his faith in Christ just before baptizing him in the Reynolds' jacuzzi this gorgeously warm January day.

If you'd like to see my post about B's baptism, click here to see my regular blog: Meditative Meanderings.

Friday: Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright

This tiger has always been E's favorite at the mall's indoor carousel, but every single time she's ridden the carousel, someone has snatched the tiger before she has. So she's never ridden him, beautiful though he is. I love his snarl and claws -- beautiful!

Tyger, Tyger burning bright
In the forest of the night.
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
-- William Blake

Thursday: January in Southern California

Aren't you East Coasters a wee bit jealous of January in San Diego County? Yep, temps in the high 70s forced me to turn on my car's AC today on the way home from shopping. Alas, a cold Alaskan storm is on its way by Tuesday, and much rain and possibly snow will be our lot by Tuesday. But until then, we'll take sunshine and palm trees. Julie -- these palms are for YOU, girlfriend!

Boys on Scooters

I tossed all three boys outside to enjoy the brisk winter winds and the weak sunshine. It was too nice a day for X-Box to be their only fun. T was soon outside drawing Star Wars dudes in sidewalk chalk on the large slab, and before long, the scooters were up-and-going. Enjoy the sunshine, boys!

Tuesday: Norm Daniels, The Surfer's Impressionist

This month our creative arts council hosted Norm Daniels as our Featured Artist. He paints in oils, and specializes in Plein Air Impressionism, specifically surfing and island paintings. Here he shows a few of his works, discussing how he painted each one. Norm and Keith knew each other in college, so that's a fun connection, plus Norm now works at the Christian Camp in our small town. He's a fun guy to talk to ... he's just great!



Norm also painted a work for us, talking the entire time, barefoot in deep winter. Here's he's working from a sketch of the Hotel del Coronado; many of his works are of Balboa Park scenes as well. He says he must paint barefoot. Currently his work is selling quite well from a gallery (McKibben Studios) in Corona Del Mar. If you'd like to see more of his work, check out this link right here.

While painting, Norm quoted, "Painting is just a series of corrections." He also said, "I want to paint on purpose," something he doesn't always do, I guess. He's a quick painter, spending an hour or two on a painting at most. We all sat there, watching him and asking questions while he painted such an amazing painting -- so freeform, so quick, and definitely barefoot. My favorite thing he said last night was: "I have two kinds of clothes: those with paint on them, and those that are gonna have paint on them." Norm Daniels lives art -- gotta love his passion in his laid back surfer dude way.

I'll post a few more photos on my Extras Blog if you want to see more of Norm at work.

House at Dusk

Early morning and late afternoon are my favorite times in the mountains. I just love dusk ... when the shadows deepen and the sky turns the most amazing colors ... when the air cools to briskness and the scent of pines stings the inside of my nose.

Yep. Dusk. When I truly love living 3700 feet above the city.

Sunday: Late Afternoon Freeway

The boys and I headed back down the mountain in the late afternoon for Lake Murray's semi-annual church potluck and business meeting. With kielbasa and rice in my best blue serving bowl riding shotgun, I reached over and snapped this one-handed, trying to capture the golden sun hitting the mountains. Not quite successful, this was the best of the shots....

Friday: T and Ronald

E's rat, Ronald, a.k.a. Ronnie, is a cute little thing, for a rat. He has taken a real liking to T as well as to E, and T likes to walk around with Ronnie on his shoulder, neck, or arm. I think Ronnie is cute, but I don't like him on me for too long as I don't appreciate rat pee or poop on my clothing or skin....

Thursday: Class Day

This is the main patio at our Class Day venue: Del Cerro Baptist Church in San Diego. On the level below are two playgrounds and a volleyball court along with a dozen classrooms, and on this main level are at least a dozen more classrooms. There's even a third level up the stairs from the patio where some of the high schoolers have their classes. It's a great place for Class Day, and although Class Day is a lot of work for all involved, the kids really enjoy it despite their initial reluctance. E is taking biology lab and self-defense, and the boys are taking art and PE, plus B takes science, J cooking, and T chess. And I teach two high school writing classes: Intermediate Writing (college prep high school expository writing) and Advanced Writing (honors/AP high school expository writing). Class Day has become a welcome change in our schedules every other week, and we're all enjoying it more than we thought we would.