Picture of the Day - Earthquake Potato Chips

While shopping in the Atascadero Food 4 Less earlier this evening I picked up some canned goods for my "earthquake" shelf both to replace cans from that supply cache I had recently used as well as to enlarge that supply cache. Upon accomplishing that task on the canned food aisle I proceeded down that aisle and as I was about to make a turn off that aisle I spotted a promotional display featuring amongst other things, California Chips brand Earthquake Chips flavor. The odd coincidence of this sequence was not lost on me.

Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)

Shit Wine Tasters Say

A good friend of mine co-created this and I am sharing it here with the intent of scoring a job in the wine business. Ha-Ha!




NOTE:I have done much wine tasting over the course of the past couple of years and have NEVER uttered a single one of these refrains... just sayin'.

Of Stalactites & Phalluses

Last year I posted a column here entitled A Vagina Stone Monologue about chalcedony conchas which distinctly resemble vaginas. In the spirit of gender equality I feel compelled to give the men some equal representation here. Of course, because I have included five images of phallic-looking quartz stalactites from India I am now thus compelled in that very same spirit of gender equality to at some point post four more images of Vagina Stones to even the accounting. All of you may look forward to that coming soon to this space.

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)

Cuesta College Cloud Structure Study

This evening at sunset the incoming storm front manifested itself rather dramatically over the Cuesta College North County Campus in Paso Robles, CA, as these images clearly show:

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)

My First San Rafael Gem Faire

The past few days I had the privilege of helping my friend Dave in his Rocks & Relics booth as he returned to the San Rafael Gem Faire for the first time in several years. The show was a hoot to do as well as quite fruitful. We also broke in a new helper for Dave's business. Our friend Desiree did a wonderful job in her first show with us adding feminine energy to the booth chemistry which enhanced the effectiveness of the sales team and expedited the breakdown of the booth at the end of the show.

For me personally this was my first time working and staying in inland Marin County. Previously I had devoted my time to the coast when visiting Marin County or simply was passing through on US 101. I found I enjoyed it much more than I had anticipated in light of the political culture of the area. Indeed, I am now quite smitten with the area from San Rafael down to Sausalito and hope to return often in the future.

Note: we had a cool visitor to our booth this weekend which I discuss HERE. 

The booth under construction.

Marin Center

The booth upon opening for business Friday morning around 10 AM.

Front-end view of the booth.

Druzy quartz stalactite from India.

Druzy quartz stalactite

Monster lingum stone from India.

Druzy quartz stalactite cluster formed in a geode-like structure.

Oreodont skull from Wyoming.

Back-end view of the booth.

Marin Center

Carved rock crystal quartz "flame" from Madagascar.

Indian druzy quartz stalactite cluster with Uruguayan amethyst vug behind it.

Druzy quartz stalactite from India.

Druzy quartz stalactite from India

Camera flash gave this Indian druzy quartz stalactite a bluish tinge.

Booth "eye candy" including Ice Age Cave Bear skeletal pawys and Brazilian smokey quartz point.

Green River Formation fossil fish from Wyoming.

Native copper from Michigan with mounted slab of a large Arkansas quartz crystal.

Arkansas quartz crystal at left with Brazilian smokey quartz point at right.

Quartz stalactite and points from India, Brazil, and Madagascar.

Beads of various colors of Beryls.

Fossil turtle.

Large quartz crystal point from Coleman Mine in Arkansas.

Opposite side view of same extinct oreodont skull as earlier image.

Another view of previously identified specimens.

Introducing our newest addition, Desiree, a self-described....

...."Texting Whore", getting caught in the act... OMG... LOL!

Scripture of the Day - Jesus Christ (Matt 24:6-8)

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."

~ Matthew 24:6-8

Quote of the Day - St. Francis of Assisi

"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." ~ Saint Francis of Assisi

*Note: this is often attributed to St. Francis but that is unverifiable. I believe he probably said this or otherwise something similar unto it and this being merely a paraphrasing.