Looks cold as hell, foriegn, like a martian landscape. Just a slice of a moment. Death / Rebirth.
Sure beats the ubiquitous, dispersion of man-made toxin.
mutha nature
(Mt. St.Helens - click)
volcanic unrest link
more eruption
« February 2005 | Main | April 2005 »
March 30, 2005
Steamin
Posted by Ocean at 06:33 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
ENJOY
Enjoy while you can. For better or for worse, nothing but eternity lasts forever.
Mysty Morning Hop
(Washington coastal forest - click)
Posted by Ocean at 06:28 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
Get Sober,You are Brainwashed,Not Drunk
OK, wake up the kids...READ, please!~~~"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need, if only we had the eyes to see. . . . No, wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, as vital to our lives as water and good bread."
~ Edward Abbey (1927-1989)
Posted by Ocean at 06:24 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 28, 2005
Combustion
St Augustine / Daytona Bike Week
(click a bit)
OK, that didn't work out well - piccasa's collage cropped it to bits. You can view pics here: Mini Gallery
~~~~~
...says the tourist site...
"Fort Matanzas is 14 miles south of St. Augustine on State Road A1A.
Built of coquina by the Spanish from 1740-42 to protect the southern approach to St. Augustine, Fort Matanzas was proclaimed a national monument in 1924, along with its sister structure, the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.
Nine years later, both were turned over to the National Park Service. In 1565, almost 200 years before construction began on the fort, another story was played out at the Matanzas Inlet -- the massacre of the French Huguenots.
A large French force under Jean Ribault had left their settlement of Fort Caroline in Spanish-claimed territory near present-day Jacksonville to attack the Spanish at their new settlement of St. Augustine.
A storm shipwrecked the French fleet farther south. When the Spanish discovered the French on the beach, they ordered them to surrender, give up their Protestant faith, and accept Catholicism. Being without weapons or food, they did surrender, but renounce their faith they refused to do. So the Spanish massacred nearly 250 Frenchmen as heretics near the inlet, which was then appropriately named "Matanzas", the Spanish word for massacre. This confrontation began 235 years of Spanish control in Florida. There is no admission charge to the fort, but because it is built on a barrier island, the only access is by boat.
There is a free, five-minute boat trip out to the fort. The National Park Service ferry transports visitors every hour on the half-hour, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and running to 4:30 p.m. daily, except Christmas. "
Closed Christmas. No blood on Christmas Sunday. There's always Monday for Matanzas. Religeous Zealot Combustion.
~~~Bikes. Combustion. V-Twin Vibration --->
Hormones. Combustion. --->
History. Combustion. --->
God. Combustion.
("Please allow me to introduce myself, ...Won'tchu guess my name.")(...btw, this is not the anwer, but may be part of the question --->
Evil Incarnate
wonder if its made ebay yet. ...rolling eyes )
~~~~~
Who IS this Saint anyway ? ? ? ...scratching head.
His statue is in St. Augustine's historic section. He is standing with his hand on a small Indian boy's head. Something cool about him, but oddly removed - I don't remember who he is.
"As the leading actor hurried by in the costume of a monk. There was no actor anywhere better than the Jack of Hearts." (???) - Dylan
Ah, found him. A man on a mission. Fits into the story rather nicely! ---- Friar Combustion
Posted by Ocean at 06:19 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 27, 2005
Sunday's Flower's
The Tao of Easter
Enjoy the day, whether you are Christian, Pagan, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, whatever - its all the same - enjoy the day.
~~~~~
"God created man, and in his image, he created him."
I think this is one of the most profound statements of all time. It is so profound that we cannot fully grok its meaning. We can come close at times. We all have our own ideas about what God is, or is not. Doesn't matter. Our current minds are usually not equipped to grok its deepest meaning. We are further confused by the following.
"Man created god, and in his image, he created him."
This is also a profound statement. It is an easier idea for many of us to understand. I think many people have understood this as is. Our minds are equipped to handle this. But in doing so, we often throw out the unknown of the previous statement. For those that don't agree with this statement, I think they still do not grok the previous statement, either at all, or more likely on a complete, divine level.
Both statements are true. Superficial understanding of the first, and understanding of the second, are all our current minds are capable of.
But we do get glimpses that are beyond our minds.
(Please disregard the use of god an man as meaning male - I'm just talking god and humans here).
Posted by Ocean at 06:14 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 25, 2005
Hard Rain
is gonna fall...
(water overcoming rock, Washing. click)
"A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water is akin to Tao. . . . In all the earth nothing weaker than water, Yet in attacking the hard, nothing superior, Nothing so certain in wearing down strength: There is no way to resist it. Note then: The weak conquer the strong, The yielding outlast the aggressors."
~ Lao Tzu (c.604-531 B.C.)
Posted by Ocean at 05:21 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 23, 2005
Chick sent me high-ee!
Parameters which promote Flow. The Flow Channel is the balanced "Zone". The balance is a perfect match-up between your skill level of an activity, and the challenge of the activity. The higher the skill level and challenge level, the more opportunity for intense Flow. The narrower you can fine tune that zone, the stronger you Flow on the razor's edge. Your ego and superego are obliterated, allowing your *body=mind* to take over and Be. Its amazing. Its magical. Its a healthy addiction, leading you out of boredom and anxiety, and into ...well - the real flow of life.
Its a fulfilling, effective way to get rid of anxiety and boredom, but it does entail getting off the couch and shutting off the TV.
There are two cool Flow links on the left.
(from"moflow" link)
"Csikszentmihalyi", the name of the guy who wrote "the book" on Flow, is pronounced "chick-sent-me-high-ee"! Seems to fit :)
Posted by Ocean at 05:16 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 22, 2005
Walk with Me
Over the Hills and Far Away...
"Oh darlin darlin darling, walk a while with me - oh, you've got so much, so much, so much..."
(Mt.Raineir, Wash - click)
Will you get up at 4:30AM to hike the sunrise?
Hell, will you get me up at 4:30AM?
Will you make the coffee?
Would you dare to taste mine?
Would you take blisters for a walk in heaven?
Or are your boots made for walking?
Posted by Ocean at 05:09 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 09, 2005
Ghosts in the Machine
...ghost swamp
The hanging moss was a white, ghostly grey, hanging down on a gloom clouded day, creating a bit of hazy sureality.
The water was organic, blackish, opaque. Hidden mystery. Primordial, reptilian swirls of ancient fears and urges. It oozes into life as unexpected illusionary chains, like grey moss tangled around your neck. Part of me wants to wade through it deeply, get a different picture, a different perspective. Wash away the chains holding me teathered to concrete walkways, and take a better shot at it all. The ghosts of dragons lay deep. Most people never even get a glimpse of them. How do you tame what you cannot see? Listen for ghosts whispering.
...Rolling and Tumbling. Swimming free. Swamps feed. Don't gather moss.
(swamp - Wilmington, NC)
Posted by Ocean at 04:31 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 08, 2005
Groovin on a Sunny Afternoon
...flowing
(pic of me by god remembers...)
Posted by Ocean at 11:50 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
WASABI
AHI !!!
(Ahi , yellowfin tuna, just back to the dock at Shinnecock Inlet)
Just for the record - this is not Pete, (I don't think...) : http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID ---> video= "Maria"
Posted by Ocean at 10:44 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 07, 2005
Toasted Marshmellows
Family... hmmm...
Here's some of 'em.
Huh. Will we ever figure each other out?
More unconscious mysteries of the universe...
Alfalfa the "Third", (aka Bro)
He actually helped produce these beautiful great kids below...
Jesse and Brandon (neice, nephew)
chillin around camp fire...
Victoria (middle neice)
squinting into sunny lake
Larry and Janine
I think Janine gets the credit for the great kids - and for combing her husband's hair.
Dad, Mom, (ghost)
Mom passed on in '85. Miss ya mom! Dad is happily remarried to Peg ( - not of Bundy fame). I didn't like to smile for pictures in school especially with an axe over my head.
Posted by Ocean at 10:35 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
Day One
(from New Years day...)
It was a beautiful out, a great first day. Mellow. I had just slowly driven over the three bridges from the mainland for the first time in ages. The clarity of the air allowed me an especially expansive view, as well as a bird’s eye view of the bays and marshes. The recently warm green marsh grass was now straw, the water still a deep dark blue. The back-bay cuts, the fishing holes, everything, ...looked fresh, seen from a different angle. Not in the mood for rock, I fiddled with the radio for something more fitting. The seek button took me to NPR where they were discussing Iraq-gate. "Nah, not today". Next station was playing Louie Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World". Perfect match for the scene. I smiled.
Off the last bridge and now on the barrier island, I slowed the car to a stop. A deer, no more than 15 feet away, didn’t run away. She looked up at me and seemed to smile. I parked where I had a view down a walkway to the ocean. Satchmo had finished singing, so I hit the beach. My path left footprints in the fine ancient sand, winding along side the windswept dunes. The gentle surf splashed out a rhythm, to which I set my pace as I absorbed the day. An elderly couple, out enjoying a stroll on this first day of the rest of their lives, was slowly approaching from where I figured to be heading. They both appeared to be around 85 years old, their faces, weathered by the wind, the sun, and life, looked as old and worn as the sand. Then from about 10 feet away, I really noticed them. Walking arm in arm, their eyes and smiles sparkled like they were 17 years old, or maybe even five! They were beaming, glowing with a happiness that was undeniably real, and we wished each other a Happy New Year in passing.
A few minutes later, a little girl, about 3 years old, ran from her father, and gave me a "Happy New Years!" sea shell, just for me! She, along with her father and myself were all smiling as much as possible.
Down at the water, Piping Plovers were putting on a show. Piping Plovers are a threatened/endangered species of water bird, very small, round bodied, about 5 inches high. They have tiny little legs and a tiny, but long beak to peck under the sand with. A bunch of about 50 of them were working the beach to the delight of about a dozen onlookers. They move as a pattern, staying about a foot away from each other. When a wave recedes, they rush in like mad, and feed with their beak for maybe a second before the next wave chases them all, all still in formation, back up the beach. Again, more smiles all around. I was feeling that today, the world was giving me something. Waves and waves of smiles, coming at me.
Then someone threw a stone and they flew off, still holding the pattern. I headed back to the car, and looked down at the water. I was going to do some reading, but I felt I was already "reading", ...just not from a book. I kept the radio off, and was just thinking about everything and nothing, looking around. Some guy in a minivan proceeds to pull up and park two spots in front of me blocking my view. There hadn’t been a car within 100 yards of me in the empty lot. The couple in the car are fighting and not even looking at the view! So I look out to the side where there was a flock of birds and a bunch of people. I see the old happy couple getting into their car, and smile again. I see a chaotic mess of seemingly evenly spaced, excited seagulls frantically screeching, flapping their wings like mad, flying every which way. I see another, gull, solitary, motionless, gently hanging on the breeze. Some guy is dragging his little kid behind him, and almost drags him in front of a passing car. In an almost empty parking lot. I see another father joyfully chasing after his son in a playful race, both radiant.
I start singing to myself, absentmindedly, "I see skies of blue…", and then go blank, forgetting the words. I turn on the radio, finding some really good old, old blues, which I love. The sounds are hitting the spot. And suddenly I realize, perhaps not for the first time, when I "ASK" for something, I all too often assume the answer will be "NO". By now, today’s footprints are gone, blown by the same winds that said YES today. Somehow, I’m sure the waves are still rolling in. I just can’t see from here.
Posted by Ocean at 05:31 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 05, 2005
Lemonade
Last summer, on a hot day, I was driving down a road in my neighborhood, when I spotted a lemonade stand. Two younster entrepeneurs, brother and sister, were open for business. I pulled over, and noticed they were selling both lemonade and iced tea. They smiled brightly as I walked up, and excitedly proclaimed, "We have lemonade or iced tea!, How can we help you?", very professionaly. I said, "Hmmm, I'd really like a glass of half lemonade and half iced tea". Apparantly unaware of this possibility, they spun their faces towards each other, eyebrows raised, eyes wide open, and a mix of horror and wondering on their face. With out speaking to each other, they spun back to me and said "Can you wait a minute, Mr.?", and ran off to the house to ask their mom if such a request was possible. They came back, big smiles, and very carefully poured out a glass half full of each drink. "That will be 25cents, please", indicating they wanted the quarter before they would deliver the goods. I said I wanted to taste it first, they didn't hesitate and said ok. I drank it down, told them how good it was - it really was! - and gave then a quarter. I slapped them a high five for thanks. Then I asked for another. Again they spun towards each other, no words, but priceless expressions. They mixed me another, and passed it to me, watching in anticipation, with out asking for payment this time. I drank it, smiled with a thumbs up. I gave them a mere dollar, and said thanks, great drink! Walking to my car, I caught them high 5-ing each other, then running to the house to report to their mom, smiling and giggling the whole way. Life is reciprical like that.
Posted by Ocean at 05:26 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 04, 2005
Friends...
They are swimming north. The Vernal Equinox approaches...
atlantic common dolphin of long island, ny
Posted by Ocean at 05:23 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 02, 2005
~~~Sens~u~all~~~
.....a flowing sexy faucett (washington coast, pacifically - click)
In 7nth grade, I had a poster of farrah faucett, with all that sexy hair, in my bedroom. Why does this shot remind me of that? ...(Yes, I scare myself too!).
Guess ya had to be there!
Posted by Ocean at 03:16 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
Miles... Strings...
o
MOONLIGHT MILE
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
When the wind blows and the rain feels cold
With a head full of snow
With a head full of snow
In the window there's a face you know
Don't the night pass slow
Don't the nights pass slow
The sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind
Just another mad mad day on the road
I am just living to be lying by your side
But I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road
Made a rag pile of my shiny clothes
Gonna warm my bones
Gonna warm my bones
I got silence on my radio
Let the air waves flow
Let the air waves flow
Oh I'm sleeping under strange strange skies
Just another mad mad day on the road
My dreams is fading down the railway line
I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
I'm hiding sister and I'm dreaming
I'm riding down your moonlight
I'm hiding baby and I'm dreaming
I'm riding down your moonlight mile
I'm riding down you moonlight mile
Let it go now, come on up babe
Yeah, let it go now
Yeah, flow now baby
Yeah move on now yeah
Yeah, I'm coming home
'Cause, I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road (jagger's voice)
Down the road, down the road (...Brilliant, hear!)
Yeah, yeah, hey hey hey baby, now.....
miles and strings... (lifted off net - click!)
just really like the pic...
...makes me wanna pick
up my guitar, and pick...
...away miles of blues.
Posted by Ocean at 03:08 PM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
March 01, 2005
snowflakes...
plowing snow, from winters past...
They say no two snowflakes are identicle. Same goes for us lost human folks. I'm feeling mellow, content. Its beautiful out tonight. Big flakes building up, creating a quite, serene, white, pure, world. Driving home, I had fun letting the tires skid a bit here and there, enjoying the sense of control, and brief lack of control. I was coming home from a volunteer support group. Only one person showed up, but it was still a great thing to do. Its very warming helping someone's pain. ...I also feel pain. The good familiar pain of muscle soreness, after a layoff from working out. My life has been total chaos lately, and tonight, I feel more in synch with myself. Now that winter seems to be finally arriving, I cant wait for spring next week. Didnt get to snowboard at all this season; bailed out of a trip...my friends are partying in Aspen right now. The snow tonight was sweet. It reminded me to keep having fun, keep doing things that make me happy. Should have done the trip and stocked up on memmories with good friends. Oh, well....next time. Meanwhile, tomorrow, I'll look for something positive to do, maybe hit my boss upside the head with a snowball for starters. The snow tonight stirred up a lot of good feelings for me. Some regrets, but they wont do me much good tomorrow. Snowflakes are all unique....but all cool and beautiful. Tomorrow, they may be gone. There is, however no need for us lost human folks to melt away. Take control and slide those rear tires a bit around the turns. I'm not sure how happy we would be if the road was forever straight and dry. Meet life. Tomorrow became today, and today will soon be tomorrow, which will only be today again. Learn to slide the tires a bit. The trick is to keep'em moving. (...and appreciate your snowflakiness. :)
Posted by Ocean at 02:05 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)
Ahhhhh...
october past...
After helping a friend out at a boat show, I had one of the best 1/2 hours of the year. After sitting on a $250,000 boat all day and surrounded by $500,000 boats, I was alone, driving my small boat home. My boat is worth about $500. I was a little envious, but, hey it runs. I started heading down the channel, a perfect sunset at my back. I mean really perfect. I had to keep turning around. The water surface was a mirror, not a ripple. The low warm light that photagraphers love, made the marsh glow. It was a deep, rich green with a bit of yellow gold to it, and it was speckled with the bright pure white of the many flocks of seabirds. Egrets by the dozens. At 14 I stopped counting the herons I saw. (Usually, a single one is a nice visual treat.) The orange, red, purple, pink and yellow of the sky was perfectly mirrored on the water I rode along on. I turned into a narrow cut in the marsh, a curvey, hidden, shallow passageway with an exagerated "S" shape. The water and sky became almost indistinguishable, with just up and down and some protrusions of marsh providing reference. It was exhillerating, I felt like James Bond cooking through there. Coming out of the cut, I entered the inner bay. The water was crystal clear and shallow, so I slowed the boat to about 20 mph and could still see large blue-claw crabs crawling and swimming in the eel grass on the bottom. The light was fading a bit, but you could still see all this. For a while I kept focused on the water in front of me, until it dawned on me to look back at the sun, which had set by now. The water and sky were blood red. I mean just about my whole damn field of vision was lit up deep red. I kinda felt like..."Oh...wow...wait a second here!". I turned down the throttle, and killed the engine. The eastern sky was purple and dark pink. Not much of this whole boat ride looked real. I had just had one of the best 1/2 hours of boating all summer, alone, in a $500 boat. It was kind of like a passive flow ..no thoughts, just observing, appreciating. I was back in the moment. I was where I wanted to be at that moment.(Anyway it got darker, and cooler and as I headed across the bay, I rested my right shoulder against the windshield. The refreshing wind almost felt like putting ice on an injury, but the magic of the moment kept the cold out. Still it felt good as my arm is in a sling due to a torn rotator cuff and separated shoulder. But hey, I guess its better than having your ass in a sling. Then again, as I write, I feel a bowel movement coming on, and I'm right handed. Ouch.)
Posted by Ocean at 01:00 AM | Permalink | | Comments (0)