[Leica] Re: Jim Brick: Stay-at-Home

[firkin@netconnect.com.au]

Jim Brick writes:

> History of where I've been other than Santa Cruz:
> 
> Four years at Oregon State College, Corvallis, OR. (55-59), two years at
> Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, CA. (60-61), six months
> active duty (7.5 years reserve) US Coast Guard, Alameda CA, and Hawaii, six
> year contract with Omnipoint in Colorado Springs, CO. (commuted 200 times
> from CA). Worked in Darmstadt, Germany, summers for six years (European
> Space Agency - ESRO back then).
> 
> Things I learned while in California:
> 
> Started surfing at age 12. Taught my kids how to surf when I was 45.
> Started skin diving at age 12. Was one of the original CA coast divers.
> Made an underwater movie while at Brooks.
> Started skiing at age 14 at Soda Springs, CA and worked on the ski patrol
> through college (OSC) at Hoodoo Bowl and occasionally Mt. Hood. Worked on
> the ski patrol at Mammoth Mt. CA while attending Brooks.
> Taught my daughter how to ski at age 55. All four kids now snowboard. I can
> still cruise with the best of them. Next I take up snowboarding (with hard
> boots.)
> Published four books of the CA coast areas.
> Made and sold dozens of MF & LF landscape photographs, printed 30x40 and
> up, of the CA coast area. Will soon be represented by a gallery in Pacific
> Grove, CA.
> Working on eastern Sierra fall colors and coastal wildflowers photographs.
> Working on a Napa Valley Wine Country book.
> Working on a scenic quilting book.
> All within a few hours of home.
> 
> Other than this state being run by politicians of the brain dead ilk, and
> bug huggers (why we now have no electricity) there is everything from
> mountains (14,494 feet, highest in the US), to desert (-282 feet, lowest in
> the US), picturesque sand dunes, gorgeous ocean coastline, seas of
> wildflowers, giant redwoods and sequoias, active volcano (Lassen), lake
> Tahoe, Yosemite, San Francisco with the Golden Gate, sailing on the bay,
> wildlife sanctuaries, clear sky, rain, fog, thunder heads, freezing
> weather, boiling weather, windy weather, perfect weather, sun, rain, hail,
> lightning, snow. And enough space so that it can all be happening, in CA,
> at the same time.
> 
> And a plethora of LUGgers.
> 
> I wonder why I have never moved away?


Yes yes yes, but apart from that, what's there in California worth staying
for. (with apologies to monty python)

Cheers

Alastair