Here's a view from the National Center for Atmospheric Research here in town. It's a wonderful place to visit, on top of a hill overlooking Boulder Valley. The locals were concerned when it was proposed but the government hired I M Pei as the designer. He managed to make a beautiful building for a beautiful site.

Once the boys and I went up to play with their tornado maker and decided to dine in the cafeteria there. It was funny listening to the scientists tell their scientist jokes that we couldn't understand. They seemed to think they were very funny.

I can't find a webcam of my favorite day of the trip but here's a view from where we slept that night. Lovely day.

SF from Sausolito

Wow. I never knew how beautiful the area around San Luis Obispo, CA was. I'd like to spend a week between Santa Barbara and SLO looking all around everywhere.

Now for a warmer view of the planet:

Hermosa Beach, CA

Click on the Picture of the Day for some beautiful scenes.

Ok, so I like webcams. I like Raoul Dufy, too, remember? He painted windows on the world. Webcams are like windows on the world. Here begins my "Windows on the World" webcam series.

Live from the North Pole

Remember this?

"Stand
In the end you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand
There's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're going anywhere
Stand
For the things you know are right
It s the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand
All the things you want are real
You have you to complete and there is no deal
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
You've been sitting much too long
There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong
Stand
There's a midget standing tall
And the giant beside him about to fall
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
They will try to make you crawl
And they know what you're saying makes sense and all
Stand
Don't you know that you are free
Well at least in your mind if you want to be

Everybody
Stand, stand, stand"


I heard that several artists are getting together to put out an album of Sly and the Family Stone's music. I'm looking forward to it. Had to go to iTunes to get some of that music.

"ohhh sha sha... We got to live together......"

This is an interesting clock. Worth a click.

Big Tex is coming to Colorado!!! I'm so happy that we will get to see him race! What an amazing athlete!

More information from the Pro Cycling Tour:


PRO CYCLING TOUR ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PCT ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLASSIC AT VAIL IN SEPT 2004
07/07/2003

PRO CYCLING TOUR ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PCT ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLASSIC AT VAIL IN SEPT 2004 Vail Named Official Resort of the 2004 Pro Cycling Tour Norristown, PA – The Pro Cycling Tour (PCT), owned and operated by Threshold Sports, and the Vail Valley Chamber & Tourism Bureau (VVCTB) announced today the 2004 PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail professional cycling event. The inaugural weekend of races is set for September 3-5, 2004. Vail has also been named the Official Resort of the 2004 PCT. Top United States and international cyclists will compete on September 4th & 5th in a one-day circuit road race through Vail Village and Beaver Creek as well as a shorter criterium event expected to be held in Vail Village. A large recreational ride is being planned for September 3rd.

I'm off to buy my whistle!

Bay of Angels by Dufy
I like his window paintings.

The Active and Contemplative Life is a blog I've been checking into recently. The "Words and Pictures" link is pretty cool.

I don't read his column but Dave Barry's blog is a frequent stop when I go surfing. Lots of goofy stuff.

Something about the end of winter in Colorado that is endless. We have the harbingers of Spring - more birds singing, early pollen alerts (with snow on the ground?!), tiny shoots of iris and tulips and squirrels running circles in pairs. What holds winter in place is the prevalence of brown and bare limbs. This year has been better in terms of hard and soft ground. More snow = more soft brown dirt and even puddles in our yard. Soon there will be a smidgen of perfect weather that's not too hot/not too cold during which I'll get out and try to rearrange the yard somewhat. Then the dry heat moves in and I move to the hammock on the back porch.

I wouldn't like to be a plant or wild animal in Colorado.

Big Sur webcam
We're planning a road trip to the California coast in a few weeks. I can't wait for views like this.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

No idea where he said it, but I like the quote anyway.