So, you all saw the picture of the Capitol Building at one end of Capitol Mall. You may have asked yourself — what’s on the other end? This.

To be specific, this is the Tower Bridge, crossing the Sacramento River between the City of Sacramento and West Sacramento. It’s a drawbridge — it raises up, and allows the boat to pass underneath.

What’s under the bridge? Subject for another time, but you might have an idea after seeing this photo from last spring.

What’s on the other side of the bridge? Wait until baseball season, my friend!

Mirrored from retstak.org.

This statue is at my doctor’s office. Every time I come through there, I sorta admire her. No matter what the weather, she’s enjoying a good book.

But I am concerned about her inability to turn the pages.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

So, I’ve promised a friend I would start taking pictures of Sactown to show her. It gets me out of the office at lunch — most of these will be walking distance from work — and it lets me see a bit more of the city I live in. I’ll start the series with this shot, from last Friday, of the State Capitol building here in Sacramento.

I joke Sacramento is a company town. People look at me strange until I point out that the company is the State of California, and when the state hurts, everybody hurts. And it’s been really bad times for the State of California for years. We papered over a lot of it with the housing bubble, but eventually those things come back to haunt you.

That said, I love our state capitol building, and I especially love it this time of year with the Christmas tree in front.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

I have got to be one of the few people that keeps both their university fight song and alma mater mp3s on her work computer.

On the other hand, a stirring rendition of Fight for California on a midafternoon’s slog helps a lot. (And Hail to California, the alma mater, ain’t so bad either.)

(There shall be more shortly. I am still waking up from a long slumber. Please do not adjust your set.)

Mirrored from retstak.org.

Or, I guess, more precisely, they’re ellipses.

Anyway, I’ve managed another lap around the daystar — thus ends my 33rd year on the planet and the beginning of 34. Or to put it in terms that are more understandable to most human beings: It’s my 33rd birthday.

I’m not entirely sure where my head is — heck, I’ve never entirely sure where my head is other than attached relatively firmly to my shoulders — but if I get a moment or six, I’ll try to write something.

No guarantees though.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

Nip addiction is a terrible, terrible thing.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

Eventually, I will replace the right shoe’s lace with the match for the left, but right now it amuses me that my shoelaces don’t match.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

So, Coconut M&Ms have nifty designs on them. Things like this make me happy.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

And I saw this meme in dandelion_diva‘s journal. And I feel like playing.

Leave me a comment with the corresponding number(s) and (within reason) I’ll tell you:

1. Five ways to my heart.
2. Something I feel strongly about.
3. A book I love.
4. Things I want to say to an ex.
5. Five pet peeves.
6. What I ate today.
7. How important I think education is.
8. I’ll put my music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play.
9. Five people whom I find attractive.
10. My opinion about my body and how comfortable I am with it.
11. What I wore today.
12. My zodiac/horoscope and if I think it fits my personality.
13. Something I always think “what if…” about.
14. Something that I’m proud of.
15. A problem I have had.
16. Five items I lust after.
17. My fears.
18. How I hope my future will be like.
19. Something that I miss.
20. Five words/phrases that make me laugh.
21. Something I’m currently worrying about.
22. Things I like and dislike about myself.
23. A quote I try to live by.
24. Somewhere I’d like to move to or visit.
25. Five weird things that I like.
26. One thing I’m excited for.
27. Responders choice. (i.e. something not already on this list.)

I have other things on my mind, but I’m not quite at the point of writing them down. Maybe soon. In the meantime, have at it.

Mirrored from retstak.org.

Photo by Craig Glassner // (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Sadly, it’s not mine. But I got to hold it!

I’d love eventually to have one of my own, but that’s a longshot dream. My current goal is to show up on the long list.

Mirrored from retstak.org.