Hold High Your Parasol Aloft

I'll admit I can take some weird travel photos. It's just what I see when I look at the world.

It's not me. The world is weird.

The Wharf at Night

Capitola, California

Museums and Monuments

A muggy July day in the nation's capitol and museums offer a respite from the summer heat. Cool, dark, and full of art.

If you look closely, you'll notice these license plates read out the preamble to the Constitution. It takes a while for that spark of recognition to ignite.

In a more somber mood, a Sylvia Plath exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery.

Sometimes it feels like the art is watching you.

And sometimes in our modern techno-world we don't see the art at all.

But, hey. Dinosaurs. No museum visit is complete without dinosaurs. Rawrsquawk.

Outside, we can sit by a fountain.

Wait for the sun to set.

Nightfall brings cool temperatures and cooler colors. It's the selfie hour.

And then we have our moments of quiet contemplation.

Dinner Party

One thing about having a fully manual, large sensor, prime lens camera in my pocket is sometimes I play with it during dinner, put it on the table, wide open f/2.8, slow exposure, close focus.

You Are My Sunshine

She was singing a lullaby to her niece.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear just how I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

"That's a very sad song to be singing to her," I said.

"What do you mean? I'm singing you are my sunshine, you make me happy."

"Yeah everyone thinks it's a happy song because everyone knows the chorus because it was in a TV commercial, but nobody knows the verses, about a guy pining over his lost love. Most people don't know that. Even the first verse."

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you by my side

When I awoke dear, I was mistaken

And I hung my head and cried

"Oh."

"But then comes the chorus, the happy hot dog and mustard TV commercial part."

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear just how I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

"Oh," she replied, "Well now it sounds sad. Don't take my sunshine away?"

"Yeah and it gets worse. The next verse he talks about how she left him."

You once told me you'd always love me

And that no one could come between

And then you left me to love another

You shattered all my dreams

"Oh my."

"And then he gets downright bitter."

I'll always love you and make you happy

If you would only say the same

But if you leave me to love another

You will regret it all someday

"Aw."

"He's basically saying, straight up, you'll be sorry when I'm gone. But then it goes back to the happy verse."

You are my sunshine my only sunshine

You make me happy--

"Okay! Okay! Sheesh, I'll find a different lullaby to sing."

"Why? It's such a happy song. Catchy, too."