How many times does your average person take claim to the center aisle in their lives? The big occasion that comes to mind is the wedding where we get to take center stage for a brief period of time. After that, we get to share the center aisle with everyone else as we come and go to all those various events we attend over a lifetime. I remember being 18 years old and taking this girl I was madly in love with on a date to see Ray Charles and B.B. King at the old Circle Star Theater in Redwood City CA. The theater had one of those revolving stages and one of the aisles was designated as "Center Aisle" because this is where the stars entered the theater and made their way to the stage. So I had these great tickets, center aisle on the row. Man was I living high. It was a great concert and I even got to shake Ray Charles' hand as he made his way down the aisle. Of course, he didn't have the slightest idea who's hand he was shaking. But in the end it came for naught. My date broke my heart and married someone else. i guess center aisle ain't all it's cracked up to be.

FYI--this picture was taken in Stanford Memorial Chapel on the Stanford University Campus. The Steve Jobs memorial service was held here. Not that I was invited or anything. Come to think of it, that's probably the next time I'll be able to solely occupy the center aisle myself. So much to look forward to.

A much better center aisle experience can be had on black.

Stanford Memorial Chapel, Palo Alto CA

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Can you gamble on a cruise ship? The answer is, sometimes. When docked in an American port, the casinos are closed, but when in route, the boats make sure to cruise outside of the U.S. coastal boundaries. Then, all bets are off--or on, depending on your point of view. And....if you don't like to gamble---then I guess you can stare at the semi-naked women. :-)

Ketchikan, Alaska

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During my working years, I always viewed the boss's office as a place to be avoided. No matter how I looked at it, a visit there never came to any good. Either the boss had a gripe to chew on me about, or the other employees thought I'd been singled out for some special favor. I guess I'm a rebel at heart, but I always disdained the idea of "a boss." It seems a bit unnatural for someone to have power over other people that he/she wouldn't have as a normal Joe Blow on the street. Just saying.

The scene: the boss's office at Empire Mine. I bet the miners hated being called for a visit here. Check out all those rocks and metal tools. Perfect implements for a good flogging me thinks.

Grass Valley, CA

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Having been born in a city and raised in the 'burbs, I've gotten used to an orderly garage, which if the truth be told, comes mostly from the encouragement of the wife. So when I see a garage that looks like this, I get instantaneously envious--envious of a man who can do justice to clutter. There's nothing like a little clutter to add color to your life. Which brings up an interesting question: is creating clutter a simplification process or an accumulation process that leads to complexity? Think about that for a while? Discuss it with your book group.

Nevada City, CA

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Not every musician has to weather the elements for their quarters. Some even get to sit down while they work. It was a chilly night in Nevada City and the old Methodist Church was lit up and open to all. This pianist was playing some lovely music in the soft candle light. It was a nice place to get out of the cold for a while.

Happy Sliders Sunday everyone. Hope everyone is well.

If you have 26 minutes to relax, enjoy a little piano music:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKJHZd_TT_k

Victorian Nights Celebration, Nevada City, CA

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