San Diego alleys are chock full of oddities, treasures, and throwaways—sometimes all three together. The Featured Image and companion capture one item that I am remiss to share, for concern that you will get the wrong idea.
I also wonder what happens with respect to Internet searches. Hey, we’re marginally wholesome around here. Sarcasm may be thick sometimes but you won’t find much profanity or content generally deemed unsafe for home, school, or work.
After a long hiatus, Alabama returns to grace us with another kitty. This black-fur is the ninety-sixth feline from the street, between boundaries Adams and Lincoln, to appear in the series since its start in October 2016.
My neighbor Pat lives on the property, where once was the rusted Triumph Spitfire (the vehicle is gone now). He is nearly blind but nevertheless hardworking. Pat collects cans and bottles around the East side of Park Blvd. Most of the redeemables are face value five cents, although the redemptions are typically paid by weight (which means less).
So said I to my wife when we passed by the discarded can today. I don’t drink beer—or any other alcoholic beverages—and am only aware of the Bud Light boycott because it blasted across every avenue and alley along the Information Superhighway (yeah, call me archaic), starting in April 2023. Anheuser-Busch made the marketing mistake of aligning with a transgender TikToker.
Sales plummeted, and the brewer stumbled into “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” territory. Distancing damage control precipitated a backlash among the Rainbow coalition of gender-identifying letters. Along the spectrum of staunch conservatives to prickly progressives, Anheuser-Busch managed to offend just about everyone who drank Bud Light, which was the most popular beer in the United States before the fiasco’s start.
This evening, I stepped out for a late-day walk and came upon the owner of Bruce walking her dog Apple. Guido came along, somewhat reluctantly; he isn’t quite as enthusiastic about the jaunts as his housemate.
Bruce disappeared four weeks ago tonight—to what end no one knows. Everyone hopes not to a coyote; sightings are more frequent all around this part of University Heights and neighboring Hillcrest, Normal Heights, and North Park. But Bruce typically stays in at night, and rarely roams when do the predators. Best scenario is abduction and his eventual escape.
Along University Ave., in San Diego neighborhood North Park, two billboards that typically market local drug dispensaries warn about syphilis and gonorrhea. There are two! A block apart, straddling Louisiana and Texas streets.
Take my advice: Stop smoking pot and sleeping around. That’s how you reduce—or eliminate among faithful spouses—the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Advertising that changed from cannabis shops to STDs—drugs and sex—there is a connection.
I don’t for a second doubt that the owner of this dog regards it as a collectible—and the “Ty” tag surely means something. You remember Beanie Babies, right? Well, this pooch isn’t one of them. He appeared in the window as my wife and I wife walked by on June 15, 2023.
Ha! After I put away Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, after taking the Featured Image, a smaller dog poked up its head and vamoosed before I could react. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/3200 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 11:50 a.m. PDT.
According to one of my neighbors, who tends a butterfly garden in her front yard, a female Monarch lays eggs on milkweed. As such, the mom-to-be stayed still long enough for me to shoot six shots, the last being the Featured Image.
This one is composed as captured and as produced by Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Meaning: No post-production. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/850 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 11:25 a.m. PDT, today.
Marking a trendy trend among the trendy artisan set, Communal Coffee in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood won’t accept your money for payment. Your credit or debit card is legal tender, even Apple Pay, but keep bills or coins in pocket, purse, or wallet.
The privilege of digital currency comes with a perk—and one some of you won’t want: The tip nag screen that appears during the purchase process. Oh, don’t feel guilt or pressure, with the glaring eyes of the barista bearing down on you with expectation of 20-percent or more gratuity to top off that swank latte with almond milk.
Around my neighborhood are many little lending libraries. Some are fancy, others large, then there those paying homage to something. All are wooden boxes of various types placed and placarded (as LittleFreeLibrary). Someone made them.
But why go to all that trouble? Today, I happened upon the best book sharing station ever. Why build something new, when you can repurpose something else—in this instance a fence post upon which to place a cardboard box with books. I love it! Use what you got instead of making something new.
As the hunt for my neighbor’s missing kitty Bruce continues, I take a moment to regard one of our two felines. Neko has started to occasionally nap on the bed in my old office, which is now our daughter’s bedroom. She moved into our apartment on April 11, 2023, as part of recovery from a traumatic event, which her medical record describes as “severe hypoxic injury and bilateral subcortical infarctions”. Her progress so far is nothing short of miraculous, considering where she was on March 2. That said, doctors have counseled us to expect one to two years for her brain to heal as much as it will ever.
Our girl’s arrival kind of sent the cats (Cali is the other) into exile from one of their main rooms in the residence. But the Featured Image, taken today using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, shows how Neko is starting to share territory with our girl. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 125, 1/60 sec, 70mm; 10:40 a.m. PDT; composed as shot.
June is when come out the proud boys—and I don’t mean the group caught up in what occurred inside and outside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Rainbow banners fly in homes and businesses around San Diego, supposedly supporting the prideful.
So I was quite surprised, today, to come upon colors of different character and national pride. At the corner of Madison and Texas streets, someone set up a stand selling the flag of Mexico and related sundries. Driving to Costco and stopped at a red light, I rolled down the car’s window and used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to shoot the Featured Image and companion.
While walking together today, my wife and I came upon Mr. Frankie, enjoying some sun with his owner. But they weren’t alone! Housemate Mickey was outside with them. She is two years old and joined the family at four months. By the way, Mr. Frankie just celebrated his fourth birthday.
I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to capture the Featured Image and companion. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 64, 1/120 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:46 p.m. PDT. Second shot: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/2900 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 3:45 p.m.