Our Beloved Phillip

 Phillip Adam Bishop

1986-2014

Most Traveling Wonderful Shoes!

My feet always hurt when I go on a trip that involves a lot of walking, no matter what kind of shoes I've worn. This time, for my recent trip to a conference in San Francisco, I wore these incognito crocs... And they were fabulous! Here they are  peeking out from underneath a lunch table...

Here they are on Alcatraz...

I wore them traipsing through vineyards, 

...and hopping on and off those famous San Francisco cable cars!

So here they are in closeup views-- marvelous, marvelous CROCS!

My daughter has even asked me to order a pair for her :). 

Scarborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

This has been one of my favorite summer wines since I first discovered it in 2012. It's crisp and just a little fruity-- perfect on a warm summer day. I fell in love with this wine even before I knew it was from New Zealand (not that I know what difference that makes!).

However, wines seem more fun to me now because I like to look them up and learn more about where they come from and where and how the grapes are grown. This Starborough Sauvignon Blanc is from New Zealand, and I gladly admit that I love wines with caps that screw off so that I don't have to struggle with finding a cork screw, or when I'm out and about, hunting down something to pull out a cork! 

For instance, I didn't know, until I looked it up, that this winery is located on New Zealand's south island. The winery's website also has a special page dedicated to this wine. I love the winemaker notes which explain the specifics of the weather and how it affected the grape in any given year. 

It's rare that a wine sticks with me the way this one has... but it's clearly a winner!

My New Lowepro Camera Bag

Yesterday was a lot like Christmas! Several things I had ordered online arrived, and now I am a happy camper! I am so in love with this Lowepro camera bag! It's a sling which is perfect for street photography. I can fit several of my favorite cameras on here and when I'm in the mood, just grab it and go.

This is the Lowepro Passport sling. It must be an older model because I've also seen the Passport II online, but ever the cheap Dutchman (or woman) I opted for this model from Amazon because it was cheaper and suits my needs just fine. What I love about this bag is that it doesn't scream CAMERA BAG- COME GET ME! It's just such a nondescript bag and could pass for any generic bag worn by a man or a woman in urban settings.

I've situated 3 of my favorite cameras in here so that it's ready to go anytime I want to run out to shoot. I've got my larger Sony, a smallish Fujifilm in the area that's not really for cameras, but it fits nicely, and then my old workhorse Canon in the smaller slot. Plus, I have loaded chargers, batteries, and cables. This bag also has an outside zipper which allows the bag to expand, so I'm travelling I could put all of my purse things in there along with a wrap or sweater. 

This may seem to be a bit much for point and shoots, but I love my point-and-shoot cameras. Each one of them does something special and it's fun to play with them. These are my grown-up toys! Life is good :). 

Marginalized Populations

I've survived the first week of the Fall semester, even with a sprained knee which immobilized me for a day or two (painful enough to send me to the doctor- which I hardly ever do!). I'm still hobbling around with a knee brace- but this too shall pass.

Being confined did give me a chance to develop a lecture on homelessness in San Francisco. I hadn't intended to take photos of the homeless, and felt weird about doing it, but then again, the sociologist in me decided that this was an opportunity to bring first hand observations of the homeless as I observed it in San Francisco during my recent trip to attend the ASA conference there. Homeless people sleeping on the street or sorting through garbage were everywhere- shockingly so just because it was almost inescapable!

Most important to me was to establish guidelines for taking photos so that I would not be revealing anyone's identifiable features or compromising their humanity by being disrespectful. All photos below were taken discretely, as I didn't even want other people on the street knowing that I was taking photos of homeless people.

 Shown above is a man picking through the garbage at Union Square- it's in the center of downtown SF surrounded by outdoor restaurants... and below is a man in the Haight-Ashbury district using a wheel chair to travel with his belongings. He used his feet to move himself along.

The city of San Francisco spends millions on getting the homeless off the streets and into some alternative lifestyles like halfway houses and rehab programs, but the city also admits that there are 3-4 thousand of what are called "hard-core" homeless who live on the streets.

People walk by as if this is not out of the ordinary. These people sleeping on the street seem to cover themselves with an assortment of dark colored coverings as though to make themselves invisible. And after one gets over the shock of seeing people thus, they do become invisible because you simply get used to seeing people sleeping on the street. 

I could have taken many more photos of people begging, panhandling, and sleeping on the street but I didn't. It just seemed too self-serving to continue taking these photos, so after a few I stopped, and like every other passerby, I tried not to look. It's just too hard. 

Goodbye Summer--- Hello Fall!

I have been so in denial about summer’s ending that I have mostly refused to check my email this weekend—not wanting to acknowledge that classes, and the whole semester, begin this week! It seems that I have been more reluctant than ever to let summer end—it began so beautifully with an emergency management conference in Emmitsburg  (always lovely to see old colleagues and meet new ones),

Elizabeth’s visit, which included beach trips to Cape May,

Rehoboth
and running up to New York City to meet Sophia’s young man, Tait,

and an Amish buggy ride through Lancaster County.
Next came some shopping, and a few college tours for Elizabeth.
In July, Ed and Fawn and I enjoyed a day exploring Herring Point

and having lunch in Lewes. That’s also where I took some great shots with my new Sony camera.

Finally, August brought a trip to SanFrancisco ...

...to attend the ASA annual meeting, which included being picked up at the airport by my son, Michael, and meeting his lovely Annie.

This was the cherry on top of an already lovely summer! ASA also included a pre-conference tour of sustainable wine growing in Sonoma...

...which also included wine tastings... (yes, note the plural!)...

And I also took a combined day trip to Angel Island (exploring the history of Pacific immigration) and to

Alcatraz (to explore the history of this island as a notorious prison from which everyone wanted to escape but very few actually did!).

In between, I finished Chapter 4 of my dissertation and have been working on purging papers stored in the garage. This weekend I’ve purged and cleaned my office, rearranged the furniture and now I am soooo looking forward to writing there in the coming months!

Yes, summer is over… sigh…The Old Farmer’s Almanac  

forecasts a terrible winter much like the brutal one we had last year. I’ve decided to treat myself to some great new boots (already ordered) and a great cashmere sweater to make it all bearable. Haven’t found the sweater yet, but this will give me something to do and look forward to. I’m also mentally preparing for revising Chapter 4 and drafting Chapter 5. It will be great to be done! It’s been a long time coming.

In between I will also be developing several new programs at work, as well as Chairing the Curriculum Committee. It’s also time to put the plans together for a family beach vacation at a pet friendly place for next June. In my spare time (haha!) I will continue to purge—and that feels oh so good!

Hello Fall! I might as well get used to you being here J.

Labor Day Weekend- Musings

It's Labor Day weekend in the US-- it signals the social end of summer because school starts right after Labor Day. For many, school started last week if not the week before, but after Labor Day, the summer ends seriously! Stores that have been stocked with back-to-school supplies will have a clearance sale and all the Halloween merchandise will now be put out.

Mentally, I'm not ready.  I had hoped to get in another beach trip, but instead, I'm cleaning my home office (which really needs it!). Reluctanctly, I cleared the beach paraphernalia out of my car and am loading it up with stuff to donate, take to the used book store, or consign. Besides emptying out my clothes closet, I am also purging the office. Yes, cleaning out is fruitful and I love the process!

Today started off with an impromptu trip to meet my daughter at Janssens Market for coffee... we were waiting for Talbot's to open because she needed to get uniform apparel for her new teaching job. The plus to this morning's experience was running into an old friend and colleague!

Sigh... all these things were good, but now I have to mentally prepare for the coming winter, which, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, is supposed to be just as bad, if not worse, than last winter. So-- I will be shopping for some serious boots and a gorgeous cashmere sweater, and try to find a bargain southern getaway for Ed and I around the end of January. We deserve it- I just need to find someone to babysit the dog!

Homegrown Peach

This is a rare peach from Phillip's garden-- it was sweet and juicy, just like peaches are supposed to be! He's also growing a pear tree (bottom picture).

This peach was so wonderful and sweet! The best peach of the summer...

This is the peach tree that grew this peach...the only peach on the tree, but then again, the tree has only been in the ground for two years...

Summer Wine

Ah-- I'm trying to decide whether today will be my Friday or whether tomorrow will be Friday... Choices, choices ! It's sunny and in the high eighties, with some humidity. White wine should help me in the decision making process, and I will admit I bought this one purely because I liked the label! Stay tuned to see how this one plays out...

POSTSCRIPT Verdict: I could definitely taste the pear notes in this wine. It's fresh and when you pour it seems to fizz a bit, almost like a sparkling wine. But- it is a true light summer white wine, very fresh and light. This wine comes from Mason Cellars in California's Sacramento Delta area. This Pinot Gris has won an award from Wine Spectator as the best value wine. So one of my questions was What's the difference between a pinot grigio and a pinot gris? I didn't know this either so I did some quick research-- a pinot grigio is the Italian version of the French pinot gris and typically has a more citrus flavor. They both come from the same grape, originally grown in the Alsace region of France (now grown all over the world), but the Italian Pinot Grigio became popular for it's light bodied white wine. the French Pinot Gris is a fuller bodied white wine. 

Since my recent tour of sustainable wine growing vineyards through Sonoma County, I was interested in checking out Mason Cellars online. Unfortunately, they don't discuss sustainable grape growing practices, (Yes, I can now say the words "sustainable viticulture" without tripping my tongue!)  so I'll assume they haven't reached that point yet. 

Checking Out

Ok- I knew this day would come-- has anybody else had this feeling? You know, that feeling of now you're floating around on your own with no place to call home? No anchor to help you feel secure?

It's that time between checking out of your hotel room and the hours and hours before your flight departs. What do you do in the meantime? Where do you hangout?

For me, I guess it means taking up residence in the hotel lobby....finding a seat to call my own and settling in with some reading. Hmmmm...there's a lot more to this concept called home... amazing how a few hours of displacement can be so unsettling for me!

Jawbone and My Walking Routine

One thing about cities is that you certainly do a LOT more walking! On Thursday by jawbone noted gat I'd walked over 4,000 steps, and yesterday I walked over 6,000 steps, and today I walked over 10,000 steps! Today those 10,000 steps equated to 4.8 miles and I burned over 1600 calories just by walking. Whew! It's the suburban lifestyle of always getting in the car that's do unhealthy. Looks like I need to move to the city!

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOPHIA!!!

Sophia... you are so special and have been such a delightful person to watch grow into adulthood. Sophia is... loving, kind, thoughtful, wise, strong, determined, and just an all-around fierce woman!

Here are some random pictures celebrating Sophia (in no particular order)...

 She's not yet 2 years old in the photo above...

 And here she is all grown up!

With her Oma... pushing Lili in the stroller...

feeding Lili one of those awful pixie straws during Michael's swim meet...

And finally, courtesy of Erika's FB pictures, here's the latest of Sophia...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sweetie! May your life be full of love and joy!