Portuguese Bend Landslide

According the the Natural Sciences Department at Cal State University Long Beach, this is a translational landslide. Slides like this move pretty slow. This one, in particular, has moved about 600 feet over the past 50 years. The motion is enough, however, to keep the road builders and line painters busy along this stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South. After a few months movement, however, it looks as it does in this shot taken by Damsel last week.

Portuguese Bend

New Years Eve

Damsel took me for a drive today to Malaga Cove at the south end of Santa Monica Bay. It was nice enough that we could wear short sleeves and have the top down on her little convertible. We went out and about to get some last-minute items in preparation for our new year’s eve at home.

new years eve

Last 2007 Target Practice

On our last session at the target range for the year, we left the 9mm pistols at home and took the .357 magnum and the .38 special Smith & Wesson revolvers. In addition to the revolvers and our shotguns, we also took the Glock 30 and Damsel’s Para Warthog. The hand guns are shown ready for cleaning in Damsel’s photo below.

last guns

groupWhen it was my turn to put up a target for my .45 caliber Glock 30 pistol, I surprised myself when I got 9 out of 10 rounds in the red and black part of the target. Four rounds were in the red, two grazed the red and three were in the black (the one at the left below the 8 is a double).

I shot one round which missed badly and nicked the bottom of the target (out of the frame).

If it’s true (like Robb Allen says) that Sarah Brady cries when you hit a bullseye, I wonder if she snivels when you come close?

I hope so.

A Crummy Commercial?

Here’s an unusual photo opportunity – a scenic lighthouse with an island in the background with a seagull flying above – thrown into the mix this time, however, is a crummy commercial.

blimp and lighthouse

I think the occupants were there trying to spot migrating whales. Taken today at Point Vicente.

A Quick Gourmet Meal

Today, we took the old burned-out TV to the electronic and hazmat disposal site. After that, we did the weekly grocery shopping and stopped at the sporting goods store to get some pistol and shotgun ammo and targets – you know – the bare necessities.

Before we went on our errands we made the marinade for some 1-inch thick pork loin chops, We juiced some oranges from our recently-harvested dwarf orange tree, added some honey and coriander with a little salt and gourmet pepper and refrigerated with the chops in a zip lock bag.

When we got home, we sliced up some fresh pineapple and put the slices in to the broiler with the chops. I whipped up a bourbon-orange reduction, and steamed up some rice and broccoli.

chops

Orange-pineapple pork loin chops with steamed broccoli and rice

On a busy day with lots of errands to run, it’s nice to be able to whip up a sumptuous meal in about 45 minutes. So easy and so good.

New 42″ HDTV

We did some post-Christmas shopping at WAL*MART® to get our present to each other, this new 42-inch HDTV. We waited for the after-holiday sale prices to kick in. It sure looks good with “Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End” playing on the screen.

HDTV