THE RAIN GODS HAVE SHAKEN THEIR BAG:

So, California got some rain yesterday...It has been bad here; really bad in fact - So bad that Governor Jerry "Moon Beam" Brown declared the State of California in a Drought Emergency earlier this month.

Here is a comparison graph of just how bad things have been in California lately as it applies to annual rainfall...Yeah, this is pretty messed up guys:

... Ultimately this got me thinking of some of the natural beauty of this state and there is quite a bit of it - I pulled the photos below out from of our archive; they were taken on a hike in early Spring nearly two years ago in 2012...We had just experienced a drier than normal winter (...Interesting, in retrospect I think most people in the North State would be jumping for joy right now if we had seen the level of precipitation from 2011-2012 over the past few months - Funny how time distorts things) - So, yeah this was around two years ago, we had just went through a dry winter and Sandra was about three and a half months pregnant with or Son, Theodore...

Talk about time flying by - That calendar fact is hard to believe!

Anyway, regarding the hike and California's natural beauty - It relies on rain...Obviously...You know that old saying, 'April Showers Bring May Flowers?' - Yeah, well this hike happened in April...We packed a picnic lunch, our DSLR Camera, drove to Table Mountain (...about a twenty minute drive from my Office) and took a hike - Literally...We took a hike with both of our Mothers and enjoyed some unique scenery, fresh air and pretty clear skies...

... Here are the photos for your enjoyment:

The Perfect California Poppy (...with some Lupin for context):

Some Typical Rock Totems Often Seen around the North Sate:

A Pink Monkey Flower (...a.k.a. A Pink Mimulus):

Lots of this Sort of Rusted-out Farm Installations Up Here:

... And for those Who have Hiked Table Mountain in the Past:

Here also is a Pink California Ice Plant:

Some Abandoned Barb Wire (...You Might Recognize One of these):

... And I leave you with another shot of our delicate Sate Flower:

So...

Dear Rain Gods - Please keep shaking your respective bags...We need it - AND - So do the flowers...

Thanks,

B.

NERD ALERT!

... I know, I know - I am a HUGE Marvel-dork - WHATEVER - Just get over it and enjoy these amaze-balls Marvel Cinematic Universe posters - They were realeased with the Blu-ray Edition of "Marvel's The Avengers" a few months back and I swiped them from www.screenrant.com - Pretty tight:

P.S. Totes NOT the first time I have done something like this:

http://lostarchitectsunite.blogspot.com/2013/10/retro-iron-man-movie-posters.html

... Hey, maybe if I keep pushing this sort of stuff down your throats my guilty little pleasure might gain some traction with you guys.

Just a thought,

Hot Mama

CANADIANS BE LIKE:

... Okay, so next month the 2014 Winter Olympics (XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics) will kick-off in Sochi, Russia - AND - Right now Athletes and Countries all around the world are preparing and qualifying for their trek into the Russian Winter...Oh yeah, and this will probably not be my last post about the upcoming games because, well, because I love the Olympics...Sad but true - Sad, but true.

So, with the Winter Olympics you get a few things - Yes, yes...Snow - Got it.

... But you also get fast moving events like the Skeleton - AND - When one is hurling oneself down a man-made half pipe constructed of super-slick ice frozen over concrete with nothing but what appears to be a broken ottoman under oneself and said half pipe you need a helmet...What a wonderful way to incorporate a splash of design, flare and team unity right?

I mean, am I RIGHT?

Well...Here are a few images of the Canadian Skeleton Team's Helmets...Some pretty slick stuff right here:

Here is a Sugar Skull with Maple Leafs in the Foreground:

... And what would the Olympics be without a Radioactive Brain:

Want more? - Of course you do:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/behold-awe-inspiring-beauty-canadian-skeleton-team-helmets-232115839--oly.html

Happy Sunday,
Hot Mama

HIPSTER NFL LOGOS:

... Huh, I came across these at www.kissingsuzykolber.com - A collection of what all the NFL Logos might look like if they were Hipster-themed; the logos are pretty cool...But the text descriptions below each image are the best part - Some really funny stuff!!!

Here is the Hipster Version for my beloved Bears:

... Not too bad - But check out the rest of them here:

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2014/01/nfl-logos-hipsters.html

The Titans, Jets, Jaguars and Cowboys are really good - And probably actual improvements on their current logos...

Hee hee,

B.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST:

... In case you did not know I was pretty lucky growing up - My Mom has three sisters and they each had a son and a daughter - And we spent a lot of time together when we were younger despite the fact that my sister and I grew up in New Mexico, one set of cousins grew up in Colorado and the other pair grew up in Minnesota...My grandparents retired to New Mexico and were a twenty minute drive from our house - They had a huge retirement home with a large pool located right on a golf course - It provided the backdrop for many, many wonderful childhood experiences.

So, yeah...We spent a decent amount of time together and it was almost like we were brothers and sisters rather than cousins growing up - And, we have a lot of talent among the six of us - We have a Lawyer, a dedicated and loyal Mother, a Middle School Teacher, an Musical Theater Performer - Of course there is also me, "The Architect" - And, last but certainly not least there is Tommy...

Tommy is my baby cousin; but he is no longer a baby by any means - I am the oldest of the six and he is the youngest; it really is crazy to think that we are all grown up now...Tommy lives in Minnesota and is going to design school - He is a serious street skateboarder, a huge fan of doughnuts, a talented DJ and developing some serious conceptual design chops while in school - But in my opinion, Tommy's real talent lies in photography...He has a refined eye and well-developed set of technical skills.

... AND - Since this is my Blog and I can pretty much post and promote whatever I want (...within reason, of course) I have decided to share Tommy's websites for your enjoyment:

http://tommy-ellis.com/

http://tommyellisphotography.com/

... And here is his Blog:

http://cameratom.tumblr.com/

I hope you enjoy Tommy's work as much as I do - Please #BeInspiredToday...

Proud of you buddy...Cheers,

Hot Mama

P.S. For more on my Cousin, here are some pictures I took in 2005 that I posted when I started this Blog - They are...Well, honestly...Not nearly as good as Tommy's snaps but hey; I tried:

http://lostarchitectsunite.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post.html

B.

BEAR DOWN:

#BEARDOWNARIZONA

#ThisIsWildcatCountry

#WildcatForLife

#ASWho?

SO SIMPLE IT JUST MIGHT WORK:

THE LIFE AND TIMES:

... Photographer John Dominis passed away this past month at the age of 92; December 30th to be exact - He was a very talented photojournalist during his lifetime...Responsible for such recognizable imagery as this picture of Mickey Mantle tossing his helmet following a poor at-bat at the original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY:

... As well as this iconic photograph of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Gold Medalist and Bronze Medalist respectively, with their fists raised representing the Black Power salute during the 1968 Summer Olympics (XIX Olympiad) in Mexico City, Mexico - #UNREAL:

... Mr. Dominis worked for LIFE Magazine for much of his amazing career and was referred to as "...one of LIFE magazine's most versatile staff photographers and one of the the most celebrated photojournalists of the 20th century" in this spotlight last month:

http://life.time.com/culture/john-dominis-celebrating-the-work-of-a-master-photographer/#19

R.I.P. John Dominis, (June 27, 1921 to December 30,2013)

(Dominis in Indonesia, circa 1958)

SWEATER WEATHER:

One love, two mouths...

One love, one house...

No shirt, no blouse.

...