Sunset, Ocean, Industry, Train ride, Holiday

Blue, In California

Kept on hearing about the album Blue by Joni Mitchell, from the film The Kids Are All Right, which I really like, from an article about this British song writer, who stayed inside and listening for Blue for 6 months straight. And on to Youtube, I found this live performance of her of the song California in Oct 1970.

I love it and want to share the lyrics with my photos of Blue found here in San Francisco. The streets here are still full of strangers to me, but I began to like driving on those hills, only, summer can be warmer in the shade.

The city with so much blue, how is that different from the blue in men, in a human soul.

California by Joni Mitchell

Sitting in a park in Paris, France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn't want to stay here
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Oh, but California
California I'm coming home
I'm going to see the folks I dig
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
California I'm coming home

I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, California
Oh California I'm coming home
Oh make me feel good rock'n roll band
I'm your biggest fan
California, I'm coming home

CHORUS:

Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues

So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue
They said, "How long can you hang around?"
I said "a week, maybe two,
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I'm going home to California"
California I'm coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I'm coming home

CHORUS:

Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh will you take me as l am?
Will you take me as l am?
Will you?

This Summer

Sunset from window
Daming lake, Jinan
Maine
long beach

Last Summer

Moments of Jazz

The part of Bleecker street I used to frequent has changed. My favorite Cafe Figaro is gone, on its site, a too bright Mexico eat-out is established.

But the music in Blue Note Jazz club is still as enjoable to listen to, as the tight sitting space and too many people ordering food during the performance.

I took this photo as part of my photography class assignment, and after bringing out the darkness further using the Light Room, I got the moment I always want to remember those moments spent there.

City In Color

The color gives the city, LA, a real and varied texture. I am touching it in seeing them.

City in Black and White

There have been more greyness and cloud in the sky of LA in these days, so I take the liberty to record the city in black and white. But it is also because I feel that although the world is colorful in its existence, we see the world more clearly in black and white, by reducing some information or turning down the volume, as if, in the purity of feeling of love, that it speaks more clearly about heart in the language of silent longing.

Happy Year of the Ox

牛年大吉大利

Divinity of the Ruthless Taste

Color coordinated of two separate scenes on the corner of 34 street and 8th avenue.

The winding Great Wall like Gator's hands took me a good 30 seconds to fathom. Who created this ad, although it is perfect for that part of the city, especially when you look up toward Time Square.

And the slim heels of a lady who makes me worry her balance. She dares to challenge the limit of height and color, in the first Spring-like day of New York in a long time, and that is also perfect for a crowd of tiring black and blue.

I sometime like the mundane, like I like the ruthlessness of taste in color.

Smile of Cambodia

Humbled, moved, that is my heart

by her great smiles

that of this country and its people

once savaged by war, and brutality of dictators

yet they smile with utter simplicity and truth

Only Olympian

Beautiful blue Sky over Bird's Nest, and it is not man-made.

Federer is determined for an Olympic Gold, even it means teaming up. He would win gold in 3 hours.

Most aloof tennis fan I have ever seen--he slept through the whole Federer game. Maybe he is too tired from rooting for Li Na, the Chinese woman player in the game before.

Great seat--everyone is running away from me as fast as possible--why I am not surprised, in man's 100 meter preliminary.

Bird Nest is packed with cheering crowd on the first day of the track and field games.

So the bird nest is huge, tall and yet seems light from its smartly and fully exposed steel structure, like a nest, by all means.

City and Me, Up and Close

Photo Essay --City and Home

Sunlight at the tree top

evening time at central park west

I saw the building at far

imagining what is still there

Those dark shadows of the modern tower of kings

Those small dishes of pleasure at Casa Mono

A wanderer's heart at columbus circle, rightfully so

I will miss Diners, bagle and best hot dog in town

I will miss this like love

And red again is on screen

I am the one who is in awe for so much that I was given