Day 13, July 26th, Moon Germs

After returning home, and a day off, Jen, Vince & I took a field trip to the USS Hornet, at the old Navy Base, in Alameda. Just a 5 minute drive from our home, the USS Hornet was celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. We missed the Saturday event with Dr. Buzz Aldrin (I wish I could be called "Dr. Buzz") but still had a great time. It was my 3rd visit, but this trip had new meaning. Besides the other important chapters in the ship's history, the Hornet had the honor of picking up the astronauts after they returned from the moon, and splashed down in the ocean. Upon their return to Earth, the astronauts were quarantined for 21 days, for fear of spreading "moon germs", in a custom built 1968 Airstream, the same year as ours. Fascinating. It was great to see how similar the amenities were in the Airstream Mobile Quarantine Facility. Same sink, cabinets, curtains, & toilet, plus a few things we didn't have, like the airplane seats and conference table. Pretty cool.
After we returned home we listened to the 1972 CTI recording, Joe Farrell's "Moon Germs"; a quartet featuring heavy hitters Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, and Jack Dejohnette. You know that's good.

Those of you familiar with George Lucas's THX-1138 may recognize the
Posey Tube as one of the underground expressways in the film.
For us it's just how we connect Alameda.

Colonel Vicente Aello and Captain Skidmarks return from Mars

The 1968 Airstream Mobile Quarantine Facility being loaded
onto the Hornet prior to Astronaut recovery

Apollo 12 capsule. The Airstream was used to quarantine astronauts
after this mission, as well.

Vince found ashes in ashtrays of these seats in the Airstream.
Smells like somebody's smoking moon rocks.

The Airstream MQF in some of it's glory.

Beachside Airstream

Still a couple days behind on entries. July 24th Avila Beach. We couldn't take this "thing" home to Berkeley without it seeing a little California sunshine. I took a nap inside while Jen shot photos and Vince sat in the sand.

Able + Baker on Apartment Therapy

Thanks to Apartment Therapy for their recent write-up!

New Desk (Model) Design

Before we left on our Airstream trip, we went to a BBQ over at the Linden St. Brewery, here in the neighborhood. As we were sitting around talking, this design came to me. I quickly sketched it out, and the next day started this model. It took several hours to complete, and is 1/5 scale. It is made from mahogany, poplar, and walnut ply that I found lying around the shop. Clear lacquer finish.

Los Angeles Style

Back in California. Will write more tonight, but have to get back on the road...

Visting the Airstream in Berkeley

A few Bay Area residents have expressed an interest in seeing how the Airstream project evolves. In general, when I'm in work mode, I'm not very social. For those of you who know how to get things done, you know it's the name of the game. Never-the-less, everyone needs a break some time. Without directly divulging the location of the Airstream, I'll invite anyone to stop by and take a look or say "Hi". If you plan on staying more than 3 minutes, make it late in the day, and have a couple extra beers with you. Otherwise, we may have some kind of open house at the end of the deal. Also realize that this isn't going to be a restoration, so much as a re-model. When it's done, it will be a fairly simple office/ studio, and may not end up that interesting. Don't get me wrong; it'll be done well.

4 Corners, Monument Valley, Flagstaff

There are several ways to get from Santa Fe to Berkeley. All of them are beautiful, but none of them are very direct. Since no direction seemed particularly efficient, I decided to travel at least some of the way through places I'd never seen. High on my list was Monument Valley Arizona.
No matter how many amazing photos we took, none of them could do this place justice. Words can't either, so I won't bother, but it's obvious when driving through why Monument Valley has been chosen as the backdrop for so many Western films as well as the surface of many a distant planet. Is that Commander Pike?

Landing in Flagstaff