5 Photos of Blue Skies with White Clouds

Not This Way Earlier Today

Horrible gray sky with on and off rain showers sort of ruined my temperament today.

Some of the crazy remedies, I have consist of going out under a carport for exercise.

Several times a day, I get away from the computer monitors, to rest my eyes and get refreshed.

About 4:30 PM the sun, finally started shining. I decided to go for a walk, to buy some drinks.

The clouds, looking like a plowed field, I noticed as I left the office. Camera ?  Not yet.

Knowing, my luck if, I ran to grab something for photography, it would start raining, again.

 I spent 15 minutes, walking and enjoying the sunshine, while going for my refreshments.

It's a 2 minute walk to the vending machine but, I was formulating a plan.

By the time, I returned the clouds started moving in a direction, that suited me.

There wouldn't be time, to catch the scene, I wanted if, I fooled around changing lenses.

So, I grabbed the camera, I was using yesterday, equipped with an 18-250MM zoom.

Not too wild about telephone and electrical wires in my compositions, I shot, anyway.

Those distractions can be removed, afterwards but, I didn't feel like doing that.

When the timing was right, I climbed up on the roof and, shot this scene at 18MM.

Then, I started wondering, what those clouds would be called. I did some research.

At Allexperts (dot) com, somebody asked the same question, I put in the search engine.

What are those clouds called, that look like furrows, in a plowed field ?

They could be Altocumulus Undulatus.

Er maybe, Altocumulus Mackerel Sky 

 At the National Weather Service, 10 basic types of clouds are listed so, you can learn.

These clouds only lasted a few minutes, I'm guessing but, they made me happy.

Next time, I went out for some exercise and a break, they were all gone.

The wind blew and stuff flew and, who wants to be a weatherman anyway ?

Endangered Species: Chelonia mydas Pacific Green Sea Turtle

Aoumigame (アオウミガメ) in Japanese

This juvenile sea turtle was spotted below the cliffs at Hedo Misaki (Hedo Point) Okinawa.

English speakers say, "That ain't green."  And Japanese, don't think it's blue, either.

Well, I don't go around, making these name up. That's a Green Turtle and, it's in the sea.

Go check ARKive if, you like and see, what they have to say about Chelonia mydas.

The IUCN Red List of threatened species, can tell you why, they're endangered.

And, Wikipedia let's you know, how they breed and, where they hangout.

Whatever you do, don't get caught messing with any Sea Turtles. You could go to jail !

Wordless Wednesday: Peace Marker at Hedo Misaki

5th Visit to the Temple and All I Got Was This

My 2017 Fortune

This morning, I walked the back road to my office and, swung by the temple, again.

Food tents, were all zipped up; that was a good indicator, nobody would be at the shrine.

So, I walked down the lane, to check things out. Only a few people were there.

Acting like I knew what I was doing, I went over and washed my hands.

A family of four, was on the temple steps, showing children, what to do.

When, they got done praying and tossing coins, they stopped at the bottom of the steps.

Knowing, they would be reading their fortunes, I walked away from the scene for awhile.

It must have been, 10 minutes or longer, before they got done. I'm patient, sometimes.

Once, they departed the scene, I was the only one there and, did my thing.

Bow, climb the stairs, kneel in front of the altar and, all that stuff.

Then, I actually put my hands together, pointed towards the sky and, squinted my eyes.

It's sorta dark inside the place and, I wanted to see if, anyone was watching me.

Then, I said, "Whatever god is around here, make 2017 a year of world peace. OK?"

The sign, on the donation box says "20 Yen" but, I tossed in 50, cuz, that's the way I am.

Opening the Written Oracle

That would be "Fortune" if, you were wondering what an "Oracle" might mean.

The ritual is normally performed on the grounds of the temple. I do things differently.

If, you get a bad fortune, it gets left behind, tied to a tree or anywhere at the temple.

Knowing, I never have bad fortunes, I took mine to work and, opened it there.

That way, I'd have a camera handy, to shoot the thing and, show everyone.

The Japanese version, I posted over on Facebook, for folks to see.

Does Anyone Believe This Stuff ?

Anyhow, they say my fortune, this year is excellent. And, I got some free advice.

All I have to do is, be strong willed, modest, faithful and patient.

Everything else seemed alright, until, I read the last few lines.

See, I really ain't planning on getting pregnant or doing anymore marriage proposals !

Two Trips to Kinkannon-ji Temple in a Day

Rituals Last About a Week

There was a line of people, stretching out into the street, when I went this morning.

The temple is only about a two minute walk, out behind my office.

Going to work, with a massive hangover from last night's celebrations, I stopped by.

The first visit was, without a camera.  I just wanted to see how busy the place might be.

If, it wasn't crowded, I would have let the wife know and, we'd do our shrine thing.

She prays and, I make believe then, we toss coins in a box and grab our fortunes.

But, she doesn't like waiting in lines, any more than, I do. No sense rushing.

Across the Street They Have Festival Tents

It seemed like a good idea, to buy some food and bring it to work.

Not a big fan of greasy festival things, I settled for some yakisoba, to munch on for brunch.

The fried noodles, meat and vegetables, would wait about an hour before, I got to them.

Computers needed to be fired up and, I wanted to change calendars for the New Year.

The plastic, takeout orders come in, Doesn't look microwaveable, to me.

So, I scrapped all the food into a Tupperware container before, nuking it.

A minute and a half later, I began shovelling the meal down and, it was delicious.

So good that, I thought of writing a review on this delicious festival food.

Suddenly Trumpets Began Playing

Not, the brass kind, you hear in a marching band.  It was my rear end !

Some verification, will have to take place, in order to determine what caused this situation.

Massive quantities of beer had been consumed, over the holidays so, we're not sure.

It wouldn't be fair, to blame it on that chef's mouthwatering yakisoba.

Maybe, I'll skip the beer tonight and, have the same festival food, again tomorrow.

Should, we not have a recurrence with the same effects, blame it on the beer.

Back to the Temple

Once things started getting organized at work, I realized something.

None of my cameras, had been outside, since last year.  Some photography was in order.

It seemed, like the crowd at the shrine, was never going to die down.

It was an unbelievably beautiful day but, I wanted to avoid people, as much as possible.

Walking around the temple grounds, I greeted a few folks, wishing them a Happy New Year.

Little old ladies like, to come up and joke with me. Some wanna touch my beard.

When, they hear me, speak their native language, some of them start cackling.

If, you haven't taught your younguns, not to fart in church, you should.

Teach them this trick, for when, they feel one coming. Tighten up your ass muscles.

Hang on and take short, little steps until, you get outdoors. Works for me.

Before Anymore Eruptions

Weaving my way, slowly through the crowds, I finally got back across the street.

Something in my stomach, told me, it would be best, to leave the temple grounds.

So, I went around the tents, acting like some kind of a foodie photographer.

The scents of charcoal, soy, frying foods and barbecue sauces is pretty strong.

You can smell it hundreds of yards away, when there's a festival going on.

The food, is all tempting but, I wouldn't want to get greasy hands, with the camera.

People are real friendly at these events. They see a big DSLR and, move out of your way.

The folks, doing the cooking are polite, too. I thank them for allowing me to shoot.

The plan was, to work my way back to where, I bought that yakisoba.

Then, I tooted my horn, one more time and, went back to the office !


VISIT KINKANNON-JI