The thing about pomegranates is it’s hard to tell when they’re ripe, but easy to tell when they’re overripe!

The Pomegranate

The spoils

The guardian

I’m not sure if this is a thing that people do, but I usually don’t let that slow me down.

In an effort to reduce the number of physical possessions I have – that I have no real use for – I am getting rid of my earrings.  Maybe you like one or more of these and would like it/them.  If so, lemme know.

I have not worn an earring in more than a decade.  My ear was always super sensitive, anyway, so it’s probably just as well.

Ellyn and I took a four day weekend and went up to Pinnacles. It was really good to get away for a few days.

We had really great weather. Rained just a bit on Friday – but it was in the mid 60’s instead of the mid 90’s, as it was a few days before and after.

I was going to do a whole bunch of detailed stuff about our visit to China. But it looks like I’m not. Instead I’m going to drop a few details and a few pictures.

We were in Hong Kong for a week with our good friend, Kenny (born there) and his sister. Then two weeks in China. We traveled just the two of us with guides everywhere we went – totally unlike our usual travels.

We had a great time, saw a whole bunch of China, and generally enjoyed ourselves.

Felt an earthquake late last night.  First I’ve felt in a long time – more than a decade?  It was a shaker.

Wow!  An earthquake.
Where should I hide if it’s serious…
I guess the dining room table will do.
<shake-a shake-a>
OK.  all done.

It was 5.3 about 100 miles due north.

Ellyn and I went camping in Sequoia National Park the other weekend.

We had a wonderful lazy time.  Found a great campsite.

Saw some deer above the site the first evening.

I heard a shnuffling noise in the night the first night.  When I lifted my head to take a look, I could hear it trample off.  Figured it was a boar or something, though I had no idea if there were boar in Sequoia.

Here is the view from inside our tent at 10:40am 🙂

While wandering around the park the next day, we happened upon a momma bear and her cub.  We backed off and a juvenile bear came down from our right – and right up a tree!  Here’s some video of the juvenile, who was worried about Mom & cub.  (full screen for best viewing)

And after he took off, here goes mom & cub down the path.

While the juvenile was up the tree, he tested the air – it was the same shnuffling noise I’d heard the first night!  So I guess a bear had come to check out our camp.

Six weeks after discovering our first watermelon, it’s eating time!  Since this one was hanging over the wall, we had to move it.  Maybe that’s what stunted the top.

Verdict: yummy!  Not the best I’ve ever had, but lots of flavor – not too sweet.  I might try a slice with salt, or maybe I’ll go crazy and try cayenne.  We’ve spotted at least 3 other melons, and they seem to have grown a little bigger.

We walked the full length of the trail at Montaña de Oro.  Along the way we took the obligatory pictures of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  By the way – the last 8/10ths of a mile after these pictures is not nearly as nice a walk as the previous couple of miles.

From Montaña de Oro

Ellyn and I went to Noi’s Little Thai Takeout in Los Osos and then had a picnic. You can see Morro Rock in the background.

After a fair amount of frustration, I’m thinking of moving from typo to wordpress.  I just don’t need to maintain a blog engine when there are perfectly functional ones available.