Looking at the Sky on Friday ~ Top of the Mark

a photo of spy…taking a photo of sky

 An incredible sunset over San Francisco
as seen from…

The Top of The Mark.

If you enjoy looking at the sky on fridays…go visit the site where it all began:

Crazy Working Mom.

Looking at the Sky on Friday ~ westcliff

All is well….just kinda busy. This is a shot of the stormy sky during a walk along West Cliff in Santa Cruz that The Teamster and I enjoyed last weekend.

I think Tish is still doing “Looking at the Sky on Friday”…it’s been a while since I checked. (whew…yes she is) Surf over to “crazy working mom” and check it out. There are dozens of other amazing sky photos to enjoy. 

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ clearlake morn (15)

Time to play “Looking at the sky on Friday” with Tisha again…it’s fun to go over to her site, “Crazy Working Mom” and see what is going on with her.

Most of my sky pictures are in the evening…this one was taken in the early morning at Clearlake last month… while people were sleeping…and…

…while things were booting and steeping.
 

Thanks to Little Missy for having The Teamster and me up to the weekend with her Novio and his familia. 

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ Nine Eleven (14)

Usually on Friday I participate in Tisha’s photography meme, “Looking at the sky on Friday” by posting a photo I have taken.  This Friday…being 11 September, I am thinking of what it must have been like to look up at the sky as our nation, and our way of life, was under attack.  Or to be looking out of a window at the top of The World Trade Center, with the building burning up towards you.

If you have an hour or so, I suggest taking the time to watch this powerful film “The Falling Man” which documents the search for the identity of one of the victims of The World Trade Center attack.  Although it was not who they initially thought it was, the painful process eventually did bring closure for more than one family.  Several times I found myself reaching out to touch the screen while I watched it.

In the movie one of the researchers speaks of the reasons to look at these images…accept the witness of these images…and to discuss them.  The sister of the man who is believed to be the “Falling Man” speaks to not only finding out who he is…but who we are as well.

You can find the youtube link by clicking here.

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ Yosemite Fire (13)

Last weekend, we took a little motorcycle ride up Sonora Pass staying in Lee Vining and back down Tioga Pass skirting the edge of Yosemite National Park.  We were unable to visit the Valley without a significant detour, due to the fire.  Yosemite is my emotional mecca. I hate to see it burn.

                                    (click to bigify) 

Sometimes it seems as if the entire state of California is aflame.  We’re going to have a long autumn with everything so dry.

Treat yourself to other sky photos this Friday…. visit Tisha the Sky Hostess by clicking on her logo.

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ The Boardwalk (12)

(click to enlarge)
 

click to go visit Tisha and all the other Sky Lookers

Looking at the Sky on Friday ~ fire (11)

There are some great offerings over at our gracious hostess’s site…Crazy Working Mom. 
 
Just above the marine layer the smoke from the fire hangs over the Monterey Bay.  

From the University of California (UCSC) campus where I use to work, I can see where my neighborhood is located.  It became pretty smoky this afternoon.  The white building is Holy Cross Church…a place I am sure Linda remembers visiting. (Santa Cruz means Holy Cross) Most days from this standpoint you can see the town and the bay curving south around to the city of Monterey.

These next two are from Natural Bridges State Beach.  I did not alter them in any way…the sun setting through the smoke provides the almost sepia effect. 

     
   
Last and most important, I want to thank you for the emails checking on me and my family. Apparently the Santa Cruz fire made the network morning shows, as well as CNN and Fox.  Most of us live in town…and the Bonny Doon area is north of us by about ten miles. I know quite a few families who are under mandatory evacuation…it is frightening to wait helpless hoping your home and possessions will survive a fire of this magnitude.  Once again our community is thankful to CalFire for their skill and dedication.

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ with my cell (10)

I always love to play
Looking at the Sky on Friday with Tisha
check out all of her other players

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ Idaho Storm (9)

We had just left Fairfield, Idaho, rushing the fifty or so miles to Mountain Home…skirting thunder storms, braving harsh wind.  I’m on the back of the bike, without any face shield, protecting the camera lens from the rain…and my only thought is “I gotta get a picture of this for Tisha’s Looking at the sky on Friday.”  True Story.

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ mayan storm (8)

An afternoon tropical storm blowing in on the beach at the Mayan Palace. The warm wind felt refreshing late in the day.

I love having a meme to play that gives me a chance to post my sky pictures…I have quite a few!  Visit the crazy working mom…and play along with us next week!

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ pole twirling (7)

I admit this is probably not what Tish had in mind for her meme…I might be stretching the concept just a bit…but you DO have to look at the sky to see this….smile

The following aerobatic performance took place in Tulum, Quintana Roo,  Mexico last December.  We were there to see the spectacular ruins and had stopped for lunch and a little Christmas shopping.

After a rather aggressive collection of donations from spectators these five men climb to the top of this pole.

Some young and some old, their traditional costumes have heavy brocade made of ribbons and intricate bead work.

Suddenly four of the men pitch themselves backwards off their perches.  They are wearing the rope around their waist and knotted at the crotch. 

They each spin independently as the group twirls around the pole…slowly unraveling the rope and dropping towards the earth.

The one guy on top apparently ensures nothing gets tangled up.


It didn’t look comfortable….or OSHA approved…but I doubt they are Union.
  Just before their heads scrape the ground, they do a little flip.

Back on Earth, and back on their feet, they walk away as if they hadn’t been upside down, swinging, twisting and twirling.
It was a great show.

The fifth man winds back up the four ropes.  If I was part of the group…I would take very good care of this guy.

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ sixth

day's end…The Crow’s Nest, Santa Cruz Harbor
(could that be Sandee?)

( Enjoy other “Sky” players with Tisha)

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ fifth

Thank goodness Tisha launched this Friday meme….it sorta reminds me to post and not just read…surf over to see the other players.

I think I could call this one:

“riding off into the sunset…my perspective”

Looking at the sky on Friday ~ fourth

We rarely get golden sunsets...
so this one was special.

Go visit that Crazy Mom, Tisha and see all the other wonderful skies on Friday!

looking at the sky ~ third

 

        This is looking at the sky...tonight...
        from the harbor toward the wharf.

You can look at many other skies....here at Tisha's
maybe next week you can play along?

looking at the sky ~ the second

Here it is Friday already. 
What happened to this this week? 

Time again for Tisha's
"Looking at the sky on Friday"

I took this a while ago during an amazing sunset on a rather crowded beach.  I finally got to a place with a clear shot, when this surfer walked in front of me.  I was rather annoyed until I saw how it turned out. 

click to enlarge...
but you may need your sunglasses
(don't forget to visit the other players)

looking at the sky ~ the first

Tisha (not trisha) over at Crazy Working Mom launched this meme a few months ago when her site was rejected by another sky photo gig.  I've been meaning to join in the fun...finally got around to it. To see more of the Sky, surf over.

This photo was taken at a beach in my neighborhood, and shows why I try and take a camera with me where ever I go.

It makes me think a miracle is about to unfold...