Category: Living

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 16, 202310:16 pm

The (Honorary) Cats of University Heights: Floofy

Members of the Honorary contingent belong to a special group: twenty-three profiles (including this one) out of 535 since the series started on Oct. 17, 2016. By definition, these animals live outside the neighborhood boundaries, but usually not more than a few blocks.

But three are far beyond, and the farthest share something in common: Our daughter. Moophie lived nearby one of her apartments. Comber was seen in Pacific Beach, after my wife and I visited our girl in the community on Christmas day. Today’s kitty appeared nearby the hospital where our daughter recovers from a tragic, life-changing incident.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 15, 202310:23 pm

Java Blues

Another archived find, once again saved by Google Photos, is a mug Mom sent for my birthday nine years ago. The thing isn’t my style, and I fumed she spent so much money shipping the bulky thing. Mom was sweet and notoriously generous, but her resources were limited. I ached when seeing the postal costs.

As such, the coffee cup languished until Annie recently remembered it tucked away. She kindly sends black Café Bustelo to the hospital with me, which saves $2.60 (buying Starbucks from the facility’s eatery). The mug is too big, but that’s okay. Taking the present along, I am reminded of Mom when visiting our daughter.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 14, 202310:23 pm

Peek-a-Mew

Keeping things simple tonight, and a bit more cheerful, I share something sweet and silly. Neko hides in one of two blankets that Annie and I received following our blessed marriage ceremony in Korea on Jan. 12, 1989. I can’t find the original file; this comes from a Google Photos backup.

I used Fujifilm X-E1 to capture the Featured Image, on Nov. 24, 2013. Vitals: f/4, ISO 3200, 1/28 sec, 55mm; 4:32 p.m. PST. This camera, like its successors, is greatly underrated. Detail here is sharp, even at higher ISO.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 13, 202310:02 pm

From Intubation to Extubation

I am a committed practitioner of Occam’s Razor, which adapted to my troubleshooting thinking translates to something like: A problem’s simplest solution starts with answering “What changed?” Applying that principle, I honed in on a simple, specific cause of my daughter’s lethargy. I stepped back from my obsession about dialysis and asked the question. Answer: She started receiving antiseizure medicine the day before her sudden sluggishness.

Recap: Last night, I explained that our daughter is in one of the local hospital’s intensive care units. To be clear, I won’t turn this blog into a blow-by-blow account of her recovery (whatever that may be). But open-ended story about her plight, and today’s happenings, are reasons for quick follow up.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 12, 202310:36 pm

Our Family Emergency Revealed

Tonight I reached into the box of @Work Android Collectibles and blindly pulled out a new figurine to photograph and share. Whoa, what unexpected, sad serendipity: Healthcare Worker / Doctor / Nurse. That compels me to finally, clearly reveal our family crisis. Our daughter is at one of the local hospital’s intensive care units. Her condition is grievous.

Around 4:20 p.m. PST, on March 2, 2023, her best friend texted about being at the hospital waiting to see our only child. Someone they both know called him about an emergency with her. By amazing coincidence, he was six minutes drive from the facility and actually arrived and parked seconds before an ambulance arrived. He saw EMTs quickly haul her out of the back.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 10, 202310:02 pm

Old Glory Waits With You

While waiting more than 90 minutes in an ICU and surgery recovery waiting room today, I let distraction interfere with my appreciating the brightly-lit, tastefully charming, spirit uplifting surroundings, which included an American flag. Considering how the Stars and Stripes has come to represent all that some people see as wrong about the country, the banner’s presence surprised but delighted.

I took the opportunity to use Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s 50-megapixel camera. The Featured Image shows off some fine detail (zoom in to see)—only rivaled (and exceeded) by the smartphone’s 200MP alternative. Vitals: f/1.7,ISO 160, 1/60 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 1:36 p.m. PST. The photo is cropped but otherwise unchanged.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 8, 20239:41 pm

Sideways Swallowtail

I will teach you a new word: 나비 (or nabi, Romanized), which means butterfly in Korean. The genus is Tiger Swallowtail. The Featured Image isn’t recent. Vitals: f/5, ISO 200, 1/200 sec, 70mm; 6:19 p.m. EDT, Aug. 29, 2005.

Location: Wilcox backyard, Kensington, Md. Camera: Canon EOS 20D.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 6, 20239:41 pm

Natural Night Shots Feel the Heat

What about the Featured Image and companion appeals to me? The shimmering effect is something someone might add during post-production, but not here. What you see is authentic—heat-distorted air rising into the night sky.

Both photos come from Canon EOS 40D and attached EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. Vitals: f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/60 sec, 115mm; 9:40 p.m. PDT. The other is same but 135mm, two minutes earlier.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 4, 20239:35 pm

That’s Good Advice

For the third day in a row—and possibly many more for awhile—I present another placeholder post. I used Nikon D70 to capture the Featured Image on March 12, 2005. Vitals: f/4.5, ISO 200, 1/60 sec, 70mm; 5:51 p.m. EDT.

I believe that our daughter made the penguin thermometer during school art class. Location is my basement office, where we all shared computer space. She had her own PC but activity was monitored by the best parental software available anywhere: Me. She had unrestricted Web access because I monitored her with a glance. Besides, the Internet was less dangerous (and pornographic) to youngsters 18 years ago.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 3, 20239:28 pm

The Fiery Sky

I am not a big fan of sunset snaps, simply because they’re so cliché. But this one, from Aug. 22, 2008, brings back memories of bonfires on Mission Bay Park. I used Canon EOS 40D to take the Featured Image. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 800, 1/200 sec, 85mm; 7:57 p.m. PDT.

We had only lived in San Diego for about 10 months. So much about the city and region seemed so exotic. In the weeks following, our innocence disappeared, along with that of many other people, as financial dominoes rapidly fell, leading to global economic crisis, which somebody coined the econolypse.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 1, 20238:33 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Bristle

From the door we go to the window: Different resident owners and different wonderous pets. In August 2019, we met Misty, during her last days living in an apartment listed for rent. Same flat, on Jan. 21, 2023, a seemingly scowling tabby looks onto the world where he (or she) cannot go. That’s lucky, too, because it’s pup season and more coyotes hunt the neighborhood streets than is typical. These are dangerous nights (and days) for any of the scrawny scavengers’ potential prey. This situation also partially explains why so many of our recent profiles are indoor kitties.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 40, 1/900 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:16 p.m. PST. For perceived manner and fur coloration that reminds me of a brush, this fine feline earns nickname Bristle.

Photo by Joe WilcoxFeb 26, 20239:33 pm

Better Than Mardi Gras

The days when rain isn’t falling, but the ground is wet and the air sweet Spring fresh and moist, are delightful. Over on Louisiana Street, some young men made festive the late afternoon of Feb. 22, 2023. They skateboarded to boombox rock, and I absolutely loved the spirit and ambiance they created. Why not bang on doors and have an impromptu block party?

Pepto, who is among the “Cats of University Heights” sauntered through the mayhem, taking up observant position by a car. That’s his block, baby.