LIB On Highland Avenue

Seen on the way to Amoeba Records this afternoon, where we purchased DVDs of 

Doctor Horrible's Singalong Blog and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Relaxing With Robbie

TSG enjoying the SF classic Forbidden Planet

TSG Trashy TV Triva: just a few hours later, a mint-condition Japanese toy Robbie from the 50s was featured in an episode of Pawn Stars. It fetched a surprising $1100.

Ye Olde Semper Fi Eye In The Sky

There's something TSG calls a "gem" in almost every museum, something on display that makes the visit worthwhile despite scads of stuff that we've seen a time or three before. Something rare or something we didn't even knew existed, perhaps...and our visit to the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum today proved to be no exception.

 The gem this time out was a AAI RQ-2 Pioneer Drone, first flown by the Marines back in 1986. We've seen similar UAVs in other museums, but we haven't seen one like this, with it's catapult mounted a big 4x6. Pretty scooby!

Ye Olde Stomping Grounds

Ah, what a beautiful day at La Jolla Shores today! (especially after yesterday's 104 degree temps in the desert) TSG took the opportunity to run up and down the beach a couple of times and frolic in the waves for a bit. Just like old times!

TSG/Veronica Mars trivia: this beach was the filming location for the scene where Wallace test flew his model plane in episode 3.19, "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down".

Still Together After 47 Years

 

Seen at the Bradshaw Hotel Museum in Hurricane, UT.

(hmm...Ken still has all his hair, but he definitely needs a new stylist)

Be Careful Out There!

Every year, dozens, if not hundreds of National Park visitors are injured because they fail to heed prominently-posted warning signs. Who knows why people ignore the notices? Maybe they don't think the  rules apply to them, or perhaps they just can't read . A word to the wise: when the sign says don't go off trail or don't climb on the canyon walls, pay attention. You don't want to end up like this poor fellow!

Photo credit: Elaine Linton

People You Might Meet On Angel's Landing

So, today TSG and Elaine encountered a remarkable octengenarian, Battista Locatelli. He was on the first shuttle bus this morning with us, heading up Zion Canyon to hike one the park's premier trails, the vertigo-inducing trek to Angel's Landing.

We chatted a bit on the short shuttle ride, and it turned out that Battista was summit-bound for the 47th time. He had set a goal to hike the great sandstone fin 50 times, and he was nearly there. Along the trail and up on top, his story got more interesting, with tales of singing for dignitaries and his brother's ill-funded attempt to summit Everest (Battista's sponsorship of $250K(!?) was only half of the amount needed)

Up on top of the Landing, he broke out into song and even gifted us a copy of his self-produced CD, "Battista Sings". It wasn't until later on that we found out that he was the owner of the landmark Rat Pack-era Vegas eatery, Battista's Hole In The Wall.

Photos from his self-produced CD booklet: