Grounded: The Art of Looking Down (Part 10)

I took this picture in a parking garage in downtown Orlando. My intention was to photograph the number of the parking spot in case I forgot where my car was located. I didn't realize until later that I captured my feet as well as my shadow. 

My typical weekend view: The mop closet at DRIP. 

Back in the parking garage on my way to see my friend Daniel perform in the Orlando Ballet as Dracula.

Dipping my feet in the Pacific for the first time at Oceanside, California. I stood still long enough to have the sand leave trails on the way back to the sea. 

The water was cold, refreshing, and contained numerous golden flecks. 

My feet swathed in seaweed at the Pendleton Base Camp. 

Another type of seaweed floating about at Pendleton. 

Taking a break from training at my new job in the lobby at the main office in downtown Orlando.

Seaweed (Part 2)

La Jolla Cove was an absolutely breathtaking place to visit. Even though it was cold and overcast I couldn't resist dipping my feet in the ocean. While exploring the shore I found a washed up piece of seaweed and had a unique opportunity to recreate a photo I had taken on the gulf coast years earlier. 

To see the original photo please visit: http://currentsandcolor.blogspot.com/2012/07/seaweed.html

California

One of the best highlights of going to California was getting to visiting my best friend Emily and her husband Frank. Here are some random pictures from our great adventure:

Driving through the Pendleton Base Camp. 

Bad hair selfie at the Oceanside Pier. 

Jelly Donut and Khaleesi. 

Jelly Donut. 

A proper sleep over, complete with Ninja Turtles blankets. I actually had my very first sleep over at Emily's house when were both kids years ago. 

A young man dragging in an enormous strand of washed up seaweed. 

Our shadows on the jetty at Pendleton. 

I hadn't laughed like that in ages. 

Driving through Oceanside. 

The super moon over the desert.  Emily and I were driving through the base listening to "Pepper" by the Butthole Surfers and singing at the top of our lungs with the windows rolled down. 

Walking through the desert. 

In-N-Out Burger - it was just as good as everyone says it is. Photo by Emily Jensen. 

La Jolla Cove. 

Dinner date with Emily at JWok in the Gaslamp District just before my flight home. 

La Jolla Cove

My friend Emily took me to La Jolla Cove only a few hours before I had to be at the airport for my return flight. La Jolla Cove was home to a wild sea lion colony and people were permitted to climb to cliffs alongside them. It was cold, overcast, and absolutely perfect. I felt like a National Geographic photographer on assignment. Of all the amazing things I got to see in California this was my favorite.

I left a piece of my heart in La Jolla. 

These four cuddling sea lions melted my heart. 

Adorable baby sea lion. 

I took this photo of a scuba diver (far right) and the two sea lions who came in to investigate him. 

The view of La Jolla Cove from the cliffs above. 

Sunset at Pendleton

When I went to California I stayed with my best friend and her husband on the Pendleton Base Camp. Pendleton had its own private beach and this is where we got to see the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

The coast line. 

A washed up strand of seaweed. 

Shallow waves creating beautiful textures across the sand. 

The beautiful symmetry of waves gently rolling in and out. 

The ethereal effects of dusk along the coast. 

The San Diego Zoo

Photos from my visit to the San Diego Zoo.

Sleepy little koala. 

Adorable serval entranced by a leaf falling from a tree. 

A beetle struggling to navigate a narrow branch. 

A stick bug. 

The elephant enclosure. 

A sun bear. 

Giant panda. 

The Andean bear - the only bear that lives in the southern hemisphere. 

The Andean bear was one of my favorites! It was very active and had beautiful markings on its face. I even captured this  bear resting with its head on its paws. 

This orangutan had just woken up from a nap and pulled his blanket over his head. 

An albino python. 

A curious Malayan tiger.