December 7, 2013: Rock City on Mount Diablo in Walnut Creek, California with Kevin

We picked the coldest day of the year to do a favorite hike at about 3000 feet.  It was a good excuse to warm up with good Baltic food at the new Lithuanian restaurant in Alameda after, Mama Papa Lithuania.

Mount Diablo overall, but Rock City in particular, is a good spot for tarantula spotting during their mating season when it is warmer.  Usually late September to early October is peak.  This year, though, there was a wildfire on the mountain at that time, so we had to wait.  This day would have made tarantula-sicles.  So I was glad they stayed safe and warm in their burrows. 

Rock City provided me with two photographic challenges: rocks (notoriously hard) and sky (notoriously impossible).   I almost feel ready to graduate to a DSLR.   :)

Me on in a wind eroded crawl space

Dappled light on the rocks--a good one to click large

Kevin at the destination point

Me at the destination point

Kevin on the diagonal

Love the German Romantic lighting. This photo says, "Click large and frame me."

More German Romanticism

More dappled light

Sensuous rocks. Another best viewed large--just click.

I liked the fluidity of this composition, yet rock is fixed relative to water.

Hello up there!

Watch Kevin scamper down like a billy goat!

I like this shape, like it is growing in a spiral.

November 23, 2013: Mission Peak, Fremont, California with Kevin

How many times did I drive or ride past this peak traveling on 880? I never realized there was a regional park in them thar hills.  Spectacular hike with stunning views of the bay to the west and the hills to the east.  Not for the faint of knees, as it is very steep and rocky.  Take a jacket in the fall as the peak is about 2400 feet.  (Yes, an ant hill to my Rocky Mountain friends, but we coastal wimps feel the chill up there in the fall and winter!)

No, Mom, the sock thing is not a fashion statement.  It's tick country.  YES, we did a tick check after, stop worrying please.

November 1, 2013:  Day of the Dead celebration/ritual in Alameda with my housemates and my friend Kelly

Honoring the ancestors, Mexican style.  Hard to say if people get more passionate about Dia de los Muertos in California or in New Mexico.  I think we have more community altars, they have more kids' mariachi bands.  But it is a very special day in both states!

October 31, 2013: Halloween in Alameda

October 27, 2013: Pumpkin Carving with Kevin!

 Fruits of our labor!  Kevin's is the big one on the left, mine is the small Modigliani inspired one on the right.  You can't tell so well from the photo, but his has 3D features. I went with a focus on line...

Note my pumpkin socks.  Sweater is from Santa Fe. Very toasty.

October 16, 2013:
Goats on the Way to Work, near Sutro Towers San Francisco
with my co-worker Marina