First Santa

Anikka’s first visit with Santa Claus; Dec 2021. 

Santa wasn’t actually being scary immediately. Anikka just started crying like crazy when he welcomed her. He did the scary pose real quickly and on the fly for the benefit of a photo when her back was turned to him. He just did that for a second and I’m glad Ericka was ready with the camera.

R.I.P. Jon L. Gilliom: Jan. 5, 1948 – Sep. 7, 2021

It’s been quite a week and I’m sad to say my father, Jon Sr, isn’t with us anymore. “Uncle Jon” was a lion-heart who loved adventure and family, and I know he will be missed by many.

(Photo: Columbia, MO; Aug. 2017, eating "Black Hole Sun" ice cream on the occasion of the solar eclipse).

Found: Marilyn

Found while browsing one of my mother's old yearbooks.

Marilyn was apparently hell on wheels at Lancaster (Indiana) High School in the late 1960s.

COVID Parking Control

Parking control in the sun’s glare. Caught a weird muzzle shaped reverse sunburn. County employees were traditionally tapped to assist with social emergencies, so we had the option of working at COVID vaccination sites, but at some point we were discouraged since our regular work sites were so understaffed.

Happy New Year, 2021

Happy New Year from Ericka, Anikka, and Jon.

Curbside

Back to work: Reopening Library of the Canyons for curbside service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Hulk Hands run in the family.

Apple Dumpling!

In Colonial times, "Apple Dumpling," is what people would say when they would punch somebody in the nuts as a joke, according to a children's history show I watched.

"Apple Dumpling."

"Apple Dumpling."

The Golden Lion

I got this when we saw Dick the Bruiser wrestle for WWA at the Fort Wayne Coliseum in the late '70s or very early '80s. I've kept it for the next 40 years, so may it be preserved digitally forevermore.

Tim Golden

The Golden Lion

WWA

Drive Through Farmers Market

Visiting the drive through Farmers Market in Irvine during the COVID pandemic.

It felt great getting out of the house.

Avatar Vault: Cat Man

Actually, still my current avatar (circa Nov. 2025):

Free Humanity

Sidewalk art, Melrose Ave., Los Angeles.

Free Humanity.

Live Forever!

Official logo of my 50th birthday, 2019. 

Six years later, still living.

Drawing by Kate. 

Avatar Vault: Yelp

2019

My favorite Yelp review: 

Rodrigo's Mexican Grill, Mar. 21, 2020 - Great take-out! We eat at Rodrigo's pretty regularly. I have become a great fan of their seafood enchiladas in recent months. It's almost always a delightful experience dining there. Staff are often welcoming. The dining environment is stimulating: Lots of flowers, refills on chips and salsa from the comfort of your own table.
Tonight we ordered take-out for the first time and I was a little bit nervous I would not enjoy the food as much without the bottomless chips and salsa. The razzle dazzle of the dining experience always stays with me longer than anything else.
What a shocker to find the food is just as good, if not better at home! It just goes to show that Rodrigo's has a solid foundation in delicious menu items. The stimulating dining environment and refills on chips and salsa are just the icing on the cake. Rodrigo's take-out is a great choice any (or every) day of the week.

Harley!

Got to meet living legend Harley Flanagan from the Cro Mags. What an honor! He seemed really surprised when I told him I bought his biography, Hard Core for the Laguna Beach library.

Cat TV

Ericka and I put on this show that was developed for cats, mostly we put it on as a goof, but the cats were, in fact, very into it! It featured footage of various birds in a woodsy environment and it really brought out our little guys' predator natures! In terms of entertaining cats, I rate this show 5 out of 5, at least based on One-Stocking's, Wispurr's, and Trinket's reactions.

Bikini Kill

Nap Time

 

Comic Quest: Captain Marvels

Comic Quest window art, Lake Forest:

Ring, Rang, Wrung

Ring front door cam is in effect - Here's me getting the mail:

Action Man.