TRANQUIL QUADTYCH

Photo credits © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 27, 2009 in Van Nuys, CA
The Japanese Garden / Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant

I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I

My friends and I were OBSESSED with Pee Wee Herman when we were in high school. The mix of queer sensibility and kitsch just enthralled me. We quoted lines from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" ALL THE TIME.

Some of my favorite Pee Wee isms:

"I don't make monkeys, I just train them."

"Why don't you take a picture, it lasts longer."

"Where's the basement?"

"Large Marge sent me."

"I know you are but what am I."

Whatever Paul Reubens did or didn't do to himself in the dark of a porno theater really should not have brought Pee Wee and Reubens pariah status. In today's world, the incident probably wouldn't make a lasting blip. After a nearly 20 year absence, it's great to have Pee Wee back!

Here's a very funny clip of him on the new Jay Leno Show.

LABS GONE WILD

Dodger Blue & Cali


Cali had her first puppy play date with Dodger Blue, a chocolate lab belonging to my Flickr friend Matthew aka RuggyBearLA). Dodger is almost a year old and weighs 90 pounds. Cali is six months old and 33 pounds. The two played for a couple hours and never wore each other out. When it comes to young labs, there is no "off" button.

Cali & Dodger Blue


Despite the almost 60 pound weight difference between them, Cali goes after Dodger with gusto!

Tastes Like Chicken!!!


Tug is Cali's favorite game. At first I was reticent to start playing tug with her because I didn't want to create a dog with dominance issues, but after studying up on it a bit, I realized that that tug would be an appropriate game for us. Instead of creating dominance, tug actually is a very even and balanced game for us. As soon as I let go of the rope, Cali immediately brings it back for more play. She wants to keep the tug going, not run off with the rope.

When it came to wrestling around, Dodger had a clear advantage because of his size. With tug, Cali took the lead. Except for a couple of times, Dodger couldn't seem to grab the rope away from her. Here she is basically trying to get him to engage in the game. She's egging him on saying, "You want a piece of this!"



Tug O' War!!!! Two labs having a very fun time.


Photo credits: © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 20, 2009 in Encino, CA

THE RACING STRIPES MAKE IT GO FASTER

1970's era Chevy Vega Wagon
Photo credit: © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 17, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA

FUN! FAIR! FOTOS!

For the first time, I submitted my photography to the L.A. County Fair Photography Competition
(aka Millard Sheets Center for the Arts at Fairplex Photography Competition)

I sent in the maximum photos allowed and to my amazement all three images placed and two even got special "Best" mention.

The theme and categories change every year and this year's theme is “Recycled: Fashion, Food, and Lifestyle in Advertising Photography."

In the past, photographers had to print and frame their own work for exhibition, but this year the Fair had all winning photographs professionally printed and mounted, and when the Fair ends in October, the prints will be mailed to the winners.

Here are my shots:

“Rochelle” Fashion Category (Polaroid 195 / Expired Polaroid ID-UV Film)


“Time Traveler” Lifestyle Category "Best Alternative Method in Category" (Polaroid 110B / Expired Film)


“50's Livin'” Lifestyle Category "Best Depiction of Lifestyle in Category" (Nikon S2 Coolpix)


Photo Credits: Lydia Marcus

2009 L.A. County Fair
1101 W. McKinley Ave.,
Pomona, CA 91768

The exhibit is in the Tapestry Building under the Grandstand from September 5 - October 4, 2009.

CALI GIRL

My fluffy puppy is almost six months old!

Photo credit: © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 2, 2009 in Encino, CA

THE NEXT SIGN OF ARMAGEDDON

A fiery moon courtesy of all the fires raging in SoCal.

Photo credit: © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 1, 2009 in Encino, CA