Tag Archives: San Diego

The fragments we treasure, held together in sandstone and dirt

You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, but the future will never taint me. What am I?

History

And, where am I?

Everywhere

That’s where one may find bits and pieces of the past, with stories we leave behind wherever in whatever. But my favorite found is in the dirt and rocks, because they reveal much in story. Sometimes in plain sight on site, uncovered and waiting to be be seen.

That all brings me back to one my favorite places visited multiple times through my summer adventures in San Diego of southern California, just south of the Ocean Beach Pier. There is this rough, rocky area stretching far among the tide pools, not easily accessible. Just walk south of the long pier during the low tide, over what initial may look like a closed off area, and watch your step. Then tread across some much more stable ground, but still be careful…

Then comes my favorite parts, the stories the ground tell there. There are markings etched in the sandstone that tell partly of memories and sentiments. They tell of marriage proposals, memorials to lost loved ones, bindings of friendships, and many other moments that may be insignificant to many, but important enough to leave carved for the many to still notice. Also, there are curious bits of man-made remains of what I guess belong to aged structures, parts of things, many curiosities that bring about imagination. There’s definitely deep history there.

Then, there is nature itself, shaped and defiant to the high cliffs and made-made sea walls. The ever-crashing ocean waves reshaping the land slowly, choosing what to preserve and taken away. Look closer, and you will observe tiny little crabs in the little pools and crevices, sharing in their own little stories of preservation and striving in crazy times of changing climates.

These markings and shapings are all wonderful little story fragments, that I left behind but keep treasured together.

– Orion T

The towering giants of advertising over the SDCC

There is an aspect of advertising that may add a surreal atmosphere to a grand event, especially the San Diego Comic-Con. With this big crazy thing I go to when a pandemic is not overwhelming, I expect the the crazy hands of big production studios to hype (and overhype) new TV shows and movies. Afterall, the SDCC gathers a ridiculous amount of attention as over 100,000 attend, and exponentially more gather to the connected outside events spread throughout the downtown San Diego area.

The most noticeable is the ridiculous display on surrounding hotels, turning them into ridiculous oversized billboards. Does it work? I wonder if they do, given the probable high costs. But advertising can be an art too.

Here are some noticeable adds that I think worked for their purpose in San Diego during the SDCC, catering to some very distinct audience. I personally welcome the return of Beavis and Butthead, curious about Severance, will give any animated work a chance, and always take in new Star Trek for better or worse.

Also closely related, love the nearby weird giant statues of Ozzy Osborne and a robot Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. It’s a visual you can only get at this San Diego Comic Con.

Very noticeable overall, and mission accomplished!

– Orion T

Sand castles outside the San Diego Comic-Con

I love sand castles.

I appreciate the forming of whatever can be made from any loose and building dirt. The natural process can be mesmerizing, but often slow for those impatient. That’s where the artfulness come in, with an instinct built from childhood, to shape from the imagination into reality. To look at a pile of the most basic of supplies, build with their own hands to shape and create anew, to create create work is what humans are meant to do.

So here, are my initial pics of my most recent trip to southern California for the San Diego Comic Con. This show, I will write much about and finally share, after a very busy two weeks. But for now, enjoy my pics of these temporary sand castles just outside the SDCC, promoting new original audio books from Amazon’s Audible service.

Promoting Impact Winter by Travis Beacham
Promoting The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Promoting Moriarty: The Devil’s Game by Charles Kindinger

That’s all for now. Look forward to more pics and notes of my recent adventures soon.

– Orion T

Summer Surfing Love in San Diego

Ocean Beach in San Diego, we meet again.

This time, for only a couple days after the annual San Diego Comic-Con for my 25th year. I have much to share in that story on, but for now…just appreciate the peace at the end. Details later…

But for this round, I partake in the best of this wonderful piece of California, where I enjoy the amazing Mexican food, embrace the tropical warm summer weather, take a long walk on the Ocean Beach Pier, smile back at the hippy culture vibe. Such are some of the better reasons I love San Diego as one of the best California coastal experiences a visitor could have.

But even better of that experience is to surf the mighty waves, something I wish I could take time to learn (along with swimming, and getting over my fear of drowning), and engage. San Diego seems ideal for such, as Ocean Beach is one of many known for its big waves, and large sandy fronts. I shall return, again and again with a renewed dream to ride the waves.

– Orion T

 

 

Days of the San Diego Comic Con 2018 past…

img_6387

Since last reported of my arrival in San Diego, I attended the San Diego Comic Con for the 24th year in an annual row. Much happened there, mostly fun and networking among creative work appreciators and proprietors..

Some of my experience is shared through strangerworlds.com, another site I write for. You are invited to read Part 1 of my commentary with pics. Check it out here.

That’s all for now. More happened since the Comic Con, which I will eventually get around to sharing.  That’s a promise.

– Orion T

 

Wandering Nights of Ocean Beach

img_7619

Time for a rewind, till almost a month ago in San Diego, California. The place, Ocean Beach

The place is Ocean Beach, a wonderful beachside town in Southern California. The time is of two weekday nights, with a few hours to spare before some business downtown. The temperature was fairly warm, with the nearby breeze of the mighty Pacific Ocean nearby. The time was well spent, with light drinks, ruminating, and small talk with local strangers. Such is the wonderful atmosphere of Ocean Beach, where the time is just before midnight.

Here are some pics I took between destinations on the main Newport Ave. Look…

A cool two-dimensional display, guarding a parking lot

img_7614

A very colorful hostel, of which I would like to stay at someday.

img_7620

A colorful place to express one’s image.

img_7622

The upper interior of The Electric Chair, seen through the front window.

img_7623

The front of the famous Burger spot, Hodads…right before closing.

img_7618

A peek inside Hodads before closing. No space is wasted…

img_7616

Another peek into Hodads before closing…

img_7615

An awesome window display of one of many shops on the main street…

img_7626

Another store display of Ocean Beach, but on the outside.

img_7627

A cool neon sign…

img_7624

An alleyway by a bar I visited. Johnny Cash and Jimmy Hendrix welcome you.

img_7619

And past the stores of and streets of Ocean Beach, is an amazing pier that doesn’t close. More on that, I will share in another posting…

img_7628

 

Grow as People…

"Listen to me, Morty. I know that new situations can be intimidating. You lookin’ around and it’s all scary and different, but y’know … meeting them head-on, charging into ‘em like a bull — that’s how we grow as people."

-Rick Sanchez, of the Rick and Morty show.

Picture is taken by me, from outside the 2017 San Diego Comic Con, in a special area event hosted by Cartoon Network's Adult Swim cable programming. I love Rick and Morty, and ready for the new Season 3 episodes.

Late Night Fuzzyness

A personal favorite shot above, showing my mood hours later after first arriving in San Diego two weeks ago.

The location, the end branch of the long Municipal Pier in Ocean Beach. It's a lovely place, no matter the picture. Just enjoy it, in any mood.

– Orion T

More shots to come, later and clearer.

Catching up time!

img_7519

Lately, I have been ridiculously busy. So much, that I barely noticed a rushing illness while the sudden demands and happenings in life are constant, and overwhelm. Still, I think I worked a lot out, with much to sort out in the coming days.

Such that is my recent trip to San Diego, for a massive San Diego Comic Con gathering. Much happened there, with some reports from me on another site (strangerworlds.com). I also took some time to see some spots in San Diego and parts of the Orange County and LA coastline area. I will share many findings soon, in a series of rewinding posts.

Look forward, because I am much treasure to share.

-Orion T

My picture above is from downtown San Diego, during the time of the San Diego Comic Con nearby (July 19-23, 2017). Cartoon Network represents its current line-up with friendly faces.

Big Bird in a Big City – last weekend in San Diego, California

  

I was in San Diego, with feathered company.

And I was constant with busy activity, with a huge comic convention and other business going on. I stayed on a boat during that last weekend with new friends for some days. I wrote and photographed quite a bit of that trip for another web site (strangerworlds.com), and will feature some of that work with personal commentary on that, in my next posting here.

For now, enjoy with mild amusement these pictures, of what I believe is a blue heron..

  
   

– Orion T

Summer Daze at Ocean Beach part 2/2

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Continued from part 1.

Put the world behind you, and enjoy the best part of Ocean Beach.

The dense and plentiful sand, a grandest sky, the endless water, the resonance of unending tides. OB has it all in wait.

Further out, is the amazing Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, standing tall since 1966, This is my favorite escape, within an escape. The OB pier is where one takes good time, slow walk and let the worries of the wold fade out with each step out. Among you will be those with fishing poles, casting out for good catch. Maybe, I will someday join them.

Look out and far, especially on a clear day.

SDCC 2013 1292

Also, the OB Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast at 1,971 feet (601 m).

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Looking over, the pier is a great place to watch surfers in action. Like much of California’s Coast, OB is a prime spot for the surfing culture.

Here in OB, the surfing lifestyle has its early roots. Surfing was been traced back as far as 1916 when local lifeguard Charlie Wright borrowed a wooden surfboard from the Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfing’s living legend, Duke Kahanamoku. Wright went on to produce more boards, gave lessons, and promoted surfing to the local area. Afterwards, that surfing community grew as the sporting became native to San Diego.

Photo Jul 22, 5 20 35 AM

Some surf late, enjoying the best of the golden Californian sunset.

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Ocean Beach, San Diego

For me, I often go for another walk on the great OB pier. The coming night offers a different reward for those looking for quality alone time. Also, one could enjoy a more illuminate view of the coast looking back. On my last visit, the camera battery power faded. So, I present these views from the same place from a previous time some years ago, upon the night of a Harvest Moon.

From here, there are no more words..

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Summer Daze of Ocean Beach part 1/2

SDCC 2013 1292

Welcome to Ocean Beach, at the coast of San Diego in the great California state.

I tell myself this, often coming back after some annual business in San Diego. This is my end priority, after seeking out some fantastic yet cheap tacos. Visitors should be anxious to settle the many great beaches here. Choices are great, depending on your surf and sand desires. One is greater in surrounding youthful party energy (Mission Beach, further north), another is more upper crust (La Jolla, more further north). Ocean Beach is always my choice, the perfect balance between California’s more chillful beach culture and a small town vibe that doesn’t overwhelm in tourist behavior, yet still holds great entertainment value.

Ocean Beach is that surfside place of simple joys. Here, a medium family-friendly community connects to a beach big enough to support appreciators of the Pacific Ocean soothing roar. OB has nothing to draw attention to itself to the abroad travelers flocking to popular beach elsewhere. Lacking are the visible souvenir shops, tacky tourist museum traps, carnival and stereo noise.

Ocean Beach is the better escape.

I get that sense just walking down the main Newport Ave. Within the surrounding area, I see little of the big name stores or snobby label fashion outlets. Fast food is pushed away with only one Starbucks (with a very aggressive no-public bathroom policy). More inviting, are some great thrift stores including the 2 Dollar Thrill, a store store chock full of DVDs, fun beach-themed clothes. Near to that was a five (or was it 3.99) dollar store with similar themes.  Also, I found Galactic Comics, a collectibles and sequential art store with good geek treasure (hint: look up). Down the way, some tempting antique stores, especially the one with an army of tin robots in the window.

Ocean Beach, much to love before the beach.

Ocean Beach, San Diego

The eats are plentiful and good on choice; with much local-owned or exclusive to San Diego. One personal favorite is the Lighthouse Ice Cream & Yogurt, where one could grab their amazing hot waffle and ice cream sandwich. Another fav is the South Beach Bar and Grill, where I found the best fish tacos ever. Also, the taste of fumes of the BBQ House on Newport Ave are hypnotic, heavenly, a must for carnivores. All this and more, very reasonably priced.

However, the biggest star of Ocean Beach’s local food scene is Hodads, a bar and restaurant that claims the worlds greatest burger on their menu. I come here often questioning that, but always face a line down the block. I ask a few in my waiting attempts on the worthiness of Hodad’s great burgers. Heads nod, and replies imply its lengthy waits are rewarded.

I always consider Hodad’s olate, full of tacos or ice cream. Next time..

Photo Jul 22, 7 13 08 AM

The most colorful building on Newport avenue is Ocean Beach’s International Hostel. Someday, I must go inside, perhaps even stay the night. Otherwise, there is another hostel of choice for me; the Point Loma Hostel, of which I personally recommend for visitors. That and this hostel, you will likely find a friend or few to further explore this wonderful area.

Ocean Beach, San Diego

There is more to share about Ocean Beach, but must wait until next blogging time. Then, more time at the beach and a walk on the pier. Also, a some surfing and some moonlight later. Come back!

Ocean Beach, San Diego