Rose Quartz Necklace
Author Archives: jaclynmira
Copper and Sea Glass Bracelet
Geode and Metal Orb
Fire Island
Regarding Coronado – Southern California – Summer 2014
Regarding Coronado: The Island is blindingly colorful, all deep reds, verdant greens, and shimmering blue waters. My visit coincidentally coincided with the 50th Annual Wizard of Oz Convention. Coronado is, of course, the inspiration for the original L. Frank Baum story, aptly nicknamed “The Emerald City.” Coronado’s library boasts a collection of every make and remake of the classic tale, and much of the library’s art revolves around the fictional land of Oz.
Outside the library, the streets are either lined with yellow sand or public art. Coronado was a beautiful way to begin my exploration of southern California. Walk around, get some ice cream, appreciate the art and architecture, and enjoy the greenery. I hesitate to recommend any specific destination on the Island, simply because some places are best enjoyed when explored.
Regarding Cabrillo: To be Continued
Regarding La Jolla: To Be Continued
Regarding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: To Be Continued
Rough Still Lifes
Regarding Historic San Diego – Southern California – Summer 2014
Regarding Historic San Diego:
The best and worst destinations have too much to see, too much to do. You are never bored while there, but you are disappointed with your inability to go everywhere at once, frustrated with how little time you allotted to see something that looked so small on a map.
In other words, Balboa Park.
In a city where temperatures tend to range from the high 50s to the low 70s (Farenheit), anywhere with that has “Park” in its name is a good bet. Our tour  group (free, ranger led, 11 AM on Tuesdays and Sundays) departed the cheerful visitors center, meandered past architecture that is younger than is looks and older than it should be, and lingered mirrored ponds. Together we strolled through a botanical wonderland, then onto an avenue of theater and knowledge, then into another garden, gently ceasing at the start of our circuit.
After that it was a curious race against time where no one could rush. Up to artists village, that glistened with glass and metal and sweat. That rang with bells and singing gourds and murmured praise.
The Museums? Not this sunny day, with a beating clock and a panting wallet. Not this trip, not this year.
The organs exalted from their pavilion – we listened from the plaza, and from a garden (or two), and a tea shop.
Then to a tiny ring of houses from the corners of the world. Each represented a country, or at least a country as immigrants twice removed remember it. Each house was a country represented with knickknacks and pastries. Dressed up in dusty posters and and faded clothes, all the more glorious for its unashamed half garbled inheritance.
The United Nations could have been a lackluster tribute, almost was a tacky giftshop, nearly was a PC parody. But its unassuming support of everything from free trade to organics to handcrafted art to world peace elevated it to a noble, global bazaar in a sunny, southern park.
Old Town – I enjoyed Old Town San Diego. I can’t claim that you will. This is because the most engaging, affordable, and funny aspects of my time there involved learning about history. Old Town State Park run free guided walking tours every day, teaching about early California history through anecdotes, original artifacts and reconstructed gardens. After the tour, we wandered in and out of shops that can only be described as charming, where we drank fresh brewed tea, ate pickles on a stick (what it sounds like), and looked at very expensive silverware. Old town makes for a good day for those interested in history and pleasant (if pricey) shopping.
Regarding Cabrillo: To Be Continued
Regarding La Jolla: To Be Continued
Regarding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: To Be Continued
Human Spectrums
I know no way of starting this except with the obvious. Apologies, ect.
Some people are exactly five feet tall. Some are exactly 6. Some rise precisely 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, or 8 feet above the ground, and the following example applies to these heights as well.
More people fall between five foot and six foot than at exactly one or the other. In the U.S, we generally refer to these people by the closest inch they come to. “Five foot, two inches” or “Five foot, six inches,” something like that. But upon close observation, there are gradients even within these subdivisions. “Five feet, eight and a half inches” or even “Five foot, 4.1 inches.” And those are just the lines on the ruler! The space between is tiny, but large enough for billions of human beings to claim as their own. More than that, such measurements can change- over a lifetime, with a heeled boot, after a goodnight’s sleep, when a strict teacher walks in a room… I digress.
Such tremendous range is too encompassing to grasp, let alone communicate for daily purposes. So we abbreviate, and that’s all well and good; we quantify and those simplify.
This range does not just apply to height. It applies to weight, in pounds or in kilos. It applies to things that are not numbers. Color: of hair, of eyes, of skin. We use a few colors to describe an infinite and swirling cascade of visible light. Good for drivers licenses and other forms of photo I.D. Feelings: epics have been written on the range within Love, not to mention the awesome range between Love and Hate, Hope and Despair, Joy and Sorrow. Personalities: centuries could pass studying the subtleties that separate the kind from the caring, the compassionate from the courteous. Intelligence. Strength. Beauty. Age. Maturity.
I challenge you to name a single natural human trait that does not occupy an innumerable range.
Go on, I’ll wait. Come up with one.
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Southern California – Summer 2014 – Regarding Channel Islands
Regarding Channel Islands: For unpleasant reasons, I did not have the chance to visit the islands proper. But the visitor center on the mainland (bear with me) lived up to its name, and was one of the best I’ve ever visited. National Park visitor centers at attractions devoted to the natural world tend to be more minimal; after all, the point of going to the park is more often than not to get outside. While a mountain or forest is enhanced by a visitor center, pointing out trails and warning of dangers, historic sites need visitor centers to explain why the site is important. So, finding engaging exhibits, enjoyable (if a bit retro) films, and innovative educational displays that could stand on their own merits was an unexpected delight. Though I fervently hope that the center is not the entirety of your Channel Island Trip, I urge you to leave some time to visit the garden, the live indoor tidepool, and, if you enjoy a little science, learn about the remarkable formation of those remarkable islands.
Regarding Cabrillo: To Be Continued
Regarding La Jolla: To Be Continued
Regarding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: To Be Continued
Southern California – Summer 2014 – Regarding Boats
Regarding Boats:
I have suffered from motion sickness my entire life. This has not stopped me from travel. Airplanes are wonderful. Trains are good. Cars I can manage. Boats…
I have rafted on the Delaware and on the Colorado. I have kayaked in lakes at Camp and on rocks in Israel. Simple, manpowered crafts were, I thought, safe.
I have now tried sea kayaking, and learned better. Though a great way to spend an afternoon for some, I was put off by the most brutal case of motion sickness I have ever experienced (which is saying something).
Image taken from http://bikeandkayaktours.com/kayak-tours/kayak-la-jolla/
The highlight of the doomed expedition was my first sea lion spotting. They guard the entrances to the caves which I was supposed enter, before my inner ear betrayed me (I may be a little bitter). They are as loud as they are adorable. Although in general sea lions are not very aggressive, we were informed that California sea lions in particular are especially territorial, and that swimming in their waters was a good way to get bitten.
Ordinarily, I don’t regret trying something once- after all, I don’t know my reaction to something until I try it. Even this little adventure, painful as it was, would not inspire regret, had it not interfered with other plans.
Much of this California trip revolved around the chance to view Channel Islands National Parks. Considering we were flying into LA and spending most of the trip in San Diego, the islands were not an obvious destination. But my love of National Parks and everyone else’s incredulity at the prospect of visiting Joshua Tree in July (during our trip J.T’s temperatures averaged in the low 100s F) prevailed; rooms were booked, plans were made, and I would grin and bear the hour boat trip.
The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men… After spending a full day recovering from kayaking, in the interest of my health, the boat ride was cancelled. The cost of taking a plane to any of the islands was well outside of reason. Fortunately, Southern California is beautiful and full of opportunity. With dirt beneath hiking boots and hooves, we turned to the Santa Monica Mountains.
Regarding Cabrillo: To Be Continued
Regarding La Jolla: To Be Continued
Regarding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: To Be Continued
Jaclyn Mira 