Monthly Archives: June 2012

Day 163 – Toy

I may have mentioned previously one of my cats, Jezebel, is a talker. I mean she’s really a talker. She will wander from room to room meowing and meowing. I’ve tried distracting her with the laser pointer, but that only lasts for the length of time I am willing to play. So today I went to the pet store for cat food and to search for something that would engage Jezzie’s mind.

This toy has a well in the middle to add loose catnip. The cats can’t get it, but the odor wafts out to them while they play with the ball that rolls around the outer circle. At first they were far more interested in the catnip than they were in the ball.

First Jezzie had a turn . . .

Then Maya . . .

Then Jezzie again . . .  Once she got used to the eau de catnip, she started playing with the ball. She returned over and over again to the toy throughout the evening.

This toy may have done the trick, her meowing seems to have abated a bit, and  instead of being asleep on the back of one of our sofas, right now she is sleeping  next to the toy on the floor.

Photos of the Cities by the Bay

Friday evening: San Francisco skyline from the Oakland Estuary just south of Jack London Square.  (click on photos for larger version)

Saturday morning:

Morning jogger.

A view of the estuary.

More shots of Lakeside Park, Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA

Walkers

Lots of birds!

I don’t know what is stuck to the one fella’s beak. At first I thought it was a bird, but it’s not. Appears to be some kind of large barnacle.

That’s all for now. I’ll post more of the lake and surrounding real estate later. Gotta get back to work. Lunch is over.

Day 162 – Black & White Doggie

Nina poses quite a challenge when being photographed, not the least of which is her propensity to bolt at a second’s notice. Her energy notwithstanding, the challenge is actually her black coat which can come out quite flat or as just a black blob if she isn’t lit well. And so, with a little help from my off-camera flash with soft box attachment, I set myself to the task.

At the front door . . .

Looking sweet on the sofa . . .

With her big dawg bone . . .

From above . . .

And one in color . . .

Day 161 – Lake Merritt

It’s been a long day and I’ve got a lot of photographs to go through, so I’m just going to post a few.  The Congenital Heart Walk was at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA. It was a picture perfect day and the temperature was great too.

Rowing Club:

Lake Merritt Bird Sanctuary:

Just a kid having a good time.

Day 160 – Roses and Mended Hearts

Same rose, different treatment.

HDR:

Black and White:

On another note, Sweetie and I will be hitting the road for the Bay Area this afternoon to be in Oakland for the Congenital Heart Walk. As many of you know, I have a congenital heart defect and am doing my part to bring awareness and dollars for research and care. It’s not too late to make a donation to support me and this worthwhile cause. In case you didn’t know, congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the United States, affecting more than 40,000 babies a year, yet we hardly ever hear about it. Thanks to medical advances, those of us who may have been condemned to an early demise are living well into adulthood and living pretty normal lives but CHD requires a lifetime of care, and so I walk.

Day 159 – Out Front

Post cap on our sign at the foot of our driveway.  I love what the weather and the elements have done to it.

This Desert Spiny Lizard lives under our front stairs. I think he may be a relative of a much older guy that’s been around since we moved in eleven years ago.