O.B. Law - throwback to another surf dog place and time

Ah, the good old days! Of television. Graphic arts. And Ocean Beach, my old home town. OB - home of Dog Beach.

Just found this on YouTube - an old episode of OB Law! One tongue-in-cheek moment on the KFMB TV series San Diego At Large.

In my career in the 80’s as Assoc. Art Director at Channel 8, I made this OB license plate prop and many other graphics for the locals-only TV series.

I also air-brushed a bra on top of the San Onofre nuke “boobs” for the show.

The show starred Larry Himmel, an incredible on air host, storyteller and comedian. Now, there was a guy who made us all laugh at life.

It was a wonderful time in TV - local news producers, writers and photogs wrote, produced, and starred in the show. No actors involved. The two blonde attorneys heading out to surf OB pier were videographers. The serious-looking attorney in the office, and the judge - producers.

What a hoot. I played a couple of small bit parts. They called me “stunt girl.”

We all made it up as we went along.

This was long before consultants micro-managed on air talent, and decades before reality television came on the scene.

It was like breaking rules, breaking ground and laughing at yourself, all at the same time.

• Special thanks to Ocean Beach Living Beach Cam / Charles Landon for finding this YouTube gem.

RIP, Larry Himmel. Thank you. You made us all proud.

Speaking of proud - just look at what the Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation is doing.

First day of spring. In spite of COVID.

Looking back on March 2020:

Funny. It still looks the same. Out front. In town. On the trail.

In our dinky dog town - Mosier, Oregon. Population 430.

Columbia River style.

Rock Creek pond. In Mosier’s from yard. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And the sky is still reflecting.

And the fish are starting to jump.

For joy.

And bugs.

And you only see a flitter -

but you hear the splash

and their ripples remain, long afterwards.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And after the cold and grey

and challenge of winter.

They return again.

To lift us up.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And we are reminded of what matters most.

On the winding trail ahead.

Behind.

This one.

This uncharted path.

And the ones we’ve walked for years.

Our old farmhouse, in the distance. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And the layers.

Of lichen.

And light.

And life.

And in the distance…

our home.

Twin doxies. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

In spring, I get two dogs, for the price of one.

As my doxie and his shadow twin drag me along the trail.

And we’re not social distancing.

Doodle ‘n I. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Nope. Not Doodle ‘n I.

We’re in it together.

As we humans reinvent the social norms -

of 6 feet away - or more.

And businesses are closed.

And we’re worried.

But I know we'll find each other.

I know we’ll invent new ways to show we care.

And new ways to care for each other. 

Social media - a whole new meaning.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And PS, those huge rainbow trout in the pond right now are just spring crazy. Showing off.

Jumping for joy.

And bugs.

A great reminder.

Just when we’re getting all wrapped up in our human condition - Trout speaks up.

And makes us smile.

And just around the corner… sleep walking trees. And rusty dinosaurs.

Our home beach.

Our home beach, Rock Creek. Mosier, OR Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And kiters.

Like trout. 

Just waking up.

Making up. Lost time. Free time. No time like this.

A couple brave kiters already out there. Getting big spring air.

Tiki Dude, Rusty the recycled toaster dog ‘n spring friends, in the yard.. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

There is no place like home.

We’re stuck here, after all.

But are we really stuck?

'Tis spring.

Easter almost.

We'll come back from this.

We daffodils.

We trout.

We reflections.

We can be stronger. Closer. And farther away, all at the same time.

We are one.

FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 2020

- Barb Ayers, Emergency Manager, Hood River County (on my day off from COVID response)

Our GetReadyGorge.com website - to help your neighbors prepare. www.GetReadyGorge.com

Hi, my name is snow. Remember me? Snowmeggadon, in words and pictures

Hi, my name is snow.

Remember me?

I hang out in winter.                     

I am winter.

Oh, this isn’t winter? What, with the Ides of March and St. Patty and Spring Forward and all?

Coyote Wall Syncline of the Columbia Gorge. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Surfboards and boat floats, Snowmeggadon March 2019. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I was a Snow Angel

when you were a kiddo.

A snowman you patted together with soggy gloves,

beaning neighbor kids with snow ammo.

Snowboarding the front yard - super-G downhill Olympics! The THRILL OF VICTORY! The agony of defeat!

Sticking your tongue out,

gulping down snow flakes like frosted flakes.

Doxie Doodle’s snow day. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I am a snow dog day.

Nose and paws

porpoising up from the depths in the yard -

skying up, up and away!

Surfing frozen waves -

paws and tail and tongue

in mid air!

Barking and biting at little white treats…

sprinkled from above.

Catatonic inside. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I am a Snow Day.

And another

and another

and another...

AM commute. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I threaten life if you’re not careful.

I am power outages and

long term sub-freezing temps.

I am no internet! (Like, O M G!)

I am no longer just a day, or

a week, or

a month….

I am Snowmeggadon.

Snowpocalypse.

Hear me roar.   

A force of nature. 

I AM nature.

Was there ever any doubt about

who was in charge?

And you…

far below,

shovel driveways and sidewalks

and plow and scrape the roads,

unearthing cars from

my smothery, mothery snow blanket.

Yellow vee-dub. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Cars don’t work in this stuff, so we go old school. Snow boots. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I am icy roads and

spin outs

and

I am the heart of the hearth -

the fireplace glow.

And I am

digging out with my neighbors,

taking care of the quail in the yard,

defrosting the hummingbird feeder. Daily.

Quail neighbors and friends. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I am snow bus routes and

snow days,

delaying school,

cutting into summer.

But it wasn’t so long ago

that I was

Drought Emergency Declaration 2015.

And Eagle Creek Wildfire, #1 fire in the country, 2017…

Be careful what you wish for.

Garden party. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Oh, that’s right, but this isn’t winter.    

We’re springing forward!

This isn’t Global Warming.  Or Climate Change.

This is just…. The New Norm.              

Snow day still life. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Endless summers.

Never ending winters.

I once was

your Snow Angel.          

Don’t you be so

Snowmeggadon Curmudgeon

now.

Our Snow Man. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org