John & Anne Wiley

2012/04/27

Oil Hills

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 23:48

The hills in SoCA are alive with oil, and the manses it built. Now I don’t know if this particular manse between Calabasas and Simi was built with “Beverly Hillbilly” oil money, but I like the moat.

1640 Moat Manse

1640 Moat Manse

The moat is actually a runoff control system, and the fence might be as much for falling rock as invading hordes. I like the golf green lawn, and how the whole castle and pool fits into the hillside. The nearby oil facilities, not so much.

1642 Rock Oil

1642 Rock Oil

Granted it almost disappears amid the rocks, but it still seems incompatible. With all the cool rock shapes, seems to me the native peoples used to hang out here. So I guess it’s just my imagination of the ancient silence there being broken by the machinery that doesn’t fit for me. Are these holes in the rock too deep to have been used for making food?

1648 Food or Fantasy?

1648 Food or Fantasy?

If I were living in a stone age culture, stones like these would appeal much more than the relatively small amount of petroleum harvested here.

1649 Oil Town

1649 Oil Town

Of course, a few decades ago it was a veritable flood, and until biofuels are available we get above it all by burning a gallon of the stuff they’re pulling out of the ground to traverse 20 miles of ancient stories.

2012/04/22

Dreams

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 22:17

I woke from flying dreams this morning, and they felt related to the passage of our Fathers. As I’ve described before, flying itself seems dream-related. So yesterday’s flight with friends was probably a catalyst for last night’s dreams too. Looking at pix from yesterday’s flight, it’s easy for me to see why flying and dreams can be so healing for me.

0054 Dreamscape

0054 Dreamscape

I can feel the refreshing air from the open window and I’m right back in Tripp over this Lompoc flower field. The colors, shapes and textures draw a deep nourishing breath of relaxation through my body and soul. I’m a child wandering that river bank.

0066 Quiet Hilltop

0066 Quiet Hilltop

I’m alone on a hill looking at the rusting water tank, strolling through the mustard flowers, and gazing out over the hills and valleys. And I’m a passing bird glancing at the lone figure.

0069 Crossing

0069 Crossing

The road across this creek evokes the sense of passage permeating my consciousness right now. Through the flow from one shore to another with Life all around.

0074 Greens

0074 Greens

Spring greens along our way filled my heart to overflowing with the healing joy of Life renewed. Climbing past the colors and shapes for the return home, the rolling hills hid our future in an inviting way.

0075 Here & Beyond

0075 Here & Beyond

2012/04/19

Scale

Filed under: Aviation,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 06:01

We returned from our very emotional and tiring trip to San Diego just before sunset, with our hearts full of appreciation for family and friends. We were well ready for rest and recuperation. It was a surprise then, as we taxied Tripp to her parking spot, to see this USAF plane that looks far to large for moving under its own power, much less flying. Yet fly it does, and pretty fast, with lots of big and heavy things inside. Take a long look at this pic for a sense of the scale of this thing.

1806 Big Bird Butt

1806 Big Bird Butt

Not just the people standing next to it. Check out the large jet at the left, that itself dwarfs our 4-passenger Tripp. Or the line of large tanker trucks on the right. At the same time, giving it a human scale is this other pic.

1807 Family Size

1807 Family Size

This big scary machine is operated by caring and warm-hearted people supported by their families and friends. It seems the crew, rarely landing at SBA where military planes from any service are unusual but USAF planes even more so, got permission to show off their bird. It was so sweet to see them all ogling it and looking in awe at what their loved ones operate. Seems to fit perfectly with our reaffirmation the last few days, of the value family and friends have in creating and sustaining a meaningful life.

May your family and friends always be the wind beneath your wings.

2012/04/15

No Escape

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 04:47

Long ago when I lived a winter in the woods far from any towns and 10 miles from the nearest neighbor, it was a surprise to learn that hunters on snowmobiles enjoyed coming to that area for their riding and shooting. I felt sad to learn that there is no escape from “civilization.” Now of course, I love living in sunny Santa Barbara and have no desire to “escape.”

This place might have been built back when I was in the woods, and gradually upgraded to the lovely escape it is now.

1407 Geodesic Home

1407 Geodesic Home

I thought at first it was an observatory, but looking at the full-res pic now it’s clearly an especially creative private residence in this neighborhood on a ridge this side of Santa Monica.

1408 Mountain Escape

1408 Mountain Escape

That’s the dome house just below center. Just out of frame to the left on the ridge is another structure I find interesting.

1400 Communication Problem?

1400 Communication Problem?

How do the people who have built their homes so far above the city, feel about the graffiti on this communication tower? How does the owner of the facility feel about vandals apparently being undeterred by the razor wire? Since there are no other apparent attempts to prevent or paint out the tagging, is there some sort of detente in place? Is there any contact between the residents, taggers, and tower owners? I wonder what if anything the taggers’ form of expression has to do with their powerful need to communicate their inner feelings and creativity. Maybe similar to my motivations in snapping this pic and typing these thoughts atop this little “hilltop” I’ve claimed in cyberia.

2012/04/12

More Murdock

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 19:23

Everyone knows (if they’ve seen this and this) that I’m fascinated with Murdock’s marvel. Most flights past the Hidden Valley area we look at his estate again. This time I snapped a different view aided by clear air and a higher sun angle.

1387 Murdock Manse

1387 Murdock Manse

If you click to see the largest version here, you can make out the courtyard of the pagoda left of center. Plus another view of the manse and of course the Kwai rocks. At the top-left is the pond where another pagoda sits, and I got a new angle on that too.

1389 Pond Pagoda

1389 Pond Pagoda

What’s more interesting to me: the many quirky features of this estate, or my own fascination with it? Given his funds, would I build something as elaborate? What additional details are invisible from this distance? I’m unlikely to ever be invited to tour the estate, so I content myself with snapping it when passing so I can pore over the telephoto pix back in my own little castle.

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