I've been very busy trying to settle into my new job. Feel like I'm making progress, and almost know what I'm doing this week (week 4). The work is challenging, it benefits birds, the people are terrific, you can't beat the commute (5 blocks!) , and, considering the state of the economy, I feel very lucky to be gainfully employed.

Nonetheless, it's been difficult to adjust to working full-time again. I work 9am - 5:30 pm with a half hour lunch break, and the nature of my job is such that I work like crazy all day and never come close to getting everything done that needs to be done. I'm hoping that, at some point, I'll get in the groove and be able to make time to do things like cook and update the blog and get in a garden this spring - which is closer out here than I think. I'm still amazed at mild winters and having tomatoes ripening on the plant in our yard in January. I hear spring migration is about to get underway, and it's time to start thinking about what I'm going to plant outside!

In the meantime, here are a few recent photos that haven't yet made it online:


Saw this van near ultra-trendy 4th Street (maybe I should start a series on super-tricked out autos - there are a lot out here!).













We had a really nice (but too short) visit with Brian's mom, Pam...













...on which we took Morty to the dog part at Point Isabel. (He enjoyed it much more than this photo would suggest. Really.)













On my last free Friday before starting work, Brian and I took the train into San Francisco to see the miniature San Francisco model train exhibit at the SF Botanical Gardens.











Lots of people came to see the model trains (it was a pretty neat exhibit).















One of my favorite random shots in the botanical gardens.












Beautiful ornamental ironwork on the pathways at the botanical gardens.














Carnivorous pitcher plants, with Brian in the background.













We stopped at the merry-go-round on the way back to the train; way cool!

Obamarama

Feeling a bit left out of all the inauguration hoopla out here on the West Coast. Thinking of jumping on the Obamawagon and renaming the pets after Sasha and Malia. Question is, which one should be which?

The Dastardly Deeds of Perfesser Mortyarty

In which Morty, the pug, acts out his displeasure at spending time Home Alone now that both of his humans have jobs.

Episode I: "I Can Haz Choklats?" LOL Pug (AKA Count Chocupug) will find the last holiday chocolates and eat them all, even if they're closed in a box and under a pile of stuff! Your puny ipecacs will have no effect on his cast iron stomach, and will only make him thirsty. Very, very thirsty.

Episode II: "Barky Barkerson's All Night Barkathon." People talking in the street? BARK! Neighbors coming home late? BARK BARK!! Invisible, silent-but-deadly terrorists lurking outside at 3AM? BARK BARK BARKITY BARK!!!!!!!!

Episode III: "What's In This Bag?" If Mr. Pottymouth finds himself barred from using the cat's litter box as his own personal snack tray, scattering fresh kitty litter all over the floor is his idea of poetic justice!

Episode IV: "What's In This Bag, Redux." There might be an IED in the recycling - you can't be sure until it's been knocked over and its contents examined thoroughly! Your loyal dog risks his life for you, even when you're not home!

Episode V: "Barky Barkerson's All Night Barkathon, Part II - Electric Boogaloo!" Join Barky for another Bark-O-Rama, with special guest stars Sir Whinesalot and the Growlinator!

Stay Tuned - more exciting episodes are, no doubt, coming your way!

Christmas Misc.

Well, we've weathered our first Christmas in California (though the weather itself has been quite mild, in our opinion, despite what the locals say). Have been on some nice hikes, spent time with some wonderful folks, and Yours Truly even landed a job (at the Golden Gate Audubon Society, where my daily commute will be ten blocks, round trip!). Even managed an overnight getaway to Monterey, from whence we went on the Monterey Bay Christmas Bird County Pelagic Birding Cruise (will post a link to the complete list from the count once it is posted).

Here are some highlights:


Brian and Stephanie go hiking at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.













Morty got his vaccinations updated at the Pet Food Express recently, where I snapped a photo of this little cutie, blissfully unaware of the needle in his future.











There are many extensively decorated cars in the area, this one was parked outside the artists studios near our house the weekend before Christmas.












View of San Francisco under a very dramatic sky, shot from the car window on a recent jaunt.












Sunset at Point Pinos , near the inn where we stayed during our trip to Monterey.














Jellyfish in Monterey Bay, shot from the deck of the boat.













Birds, otters and sea lions sunning themselves on the breakwater at Monterey Bay.













Jet trails over the lighthouse at Point Pinos - said lighthouse being the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast (now don't say you never learn anything on my blog!).












Birders on the rear deck of the boat. Yes, that's Sibley's Western in the waistband of the guy in the middle, and no, the guy on the right doesn't really have a bird perched on his head, it just looks that way.










Dude, I said use the BIG lens!














Bri with sea gulls.