Peace Drive

 
This is not our typical drive.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday we sought out peace and healing opportunities. Dr. King committed his life to achieving social justice through nonviolent means. I wonder what the world would be like if he were still alive. Would his impact have been as great? We discussed the subject while on the road.
This One Tank trip was a step away from our usual scientific-oriented—if not food oriented-- selves. As we were in sacred space we omitted the photos of our smiling, food loving selves.
 

 

The trip was 46 miles one way and primarily on the 5 Freeway. Although not open road, it was an uncongested Monday holiday.
 

Links to labyrinths (in general) and the cross (in particular) are below. All three locations fit with our goal to meditate toward peace.

First stop: Trinity Unity Labyrinth, Tustin

		Trinity Labyrinth VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Next stop: Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s Labyrinth, Fullerton

		Emmanuel Labyrinth VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Finally: The Healing Cross, St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glendale

		St Marks Glendale VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

If you need to know more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life, please visit the Biography Channel’s write up here:
http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086
Labyrinths
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_labyrinth#Christian_use
The Healing Cross
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/12/ancient-byzantine-healing-cross-finds-home-at-glendale-church/
Well, ok. Here is the smashing desert we had at The Recess Eatery, Glendale.

Tio's Tacos # 1 Seafood y Centro de Frutas Naturales-Riverside

 

Definition

art

noun

1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

Perhaps my brain is too logic oriented to recognize “art”. With that said…

This weekend we One Tankers (and a few extra friends) met at Riverside’s Tio’s Tacos on Mission Inn. For those of you that have not had the pleasure, let me introduce you.

The location:

“Tio's Tacos # 1 Seafood y Centro de Frutas Naturales” (I’ll call it “Tio’s Tacos” for short) is home to the Sanchez family and folk artist Martin Sanchez.

Sanchez has created an art display from waste and recyclable material. The found-object display has taken more than ten years to create and is ever changing. I have attended this location multiple times; I noticed something different each time. In the height of Riverside summer, restaurant goers can cool off in water flowing from a fountain garden. The garden contains items made of broken pieces of clay, old pipes, discarded bicycles, shells, dolls and much, much more! The hand sculpted metal ants are my personal favorite.

How many bottle churches with a mini Sistine Chapel-type fresco have you seen?

The food:

The Tio’s Taco menu is varied and in the Michoacan style (links below). We had noticed a difference in quality between visits. I guess this may have to do with whomever is working the kitchen that day. This particular trip is was delicious.

The selection of fruit juices is amazing. If you have a chance to partake, do not pass up the fruit juice.  

Why they chose the name “Tio’s Taco” confuses me. “Tio’s Taco” is the Mexican version of an “Uncle Tom”. It seems paramount to moving to Compton and opening a pancake house called “Uncle Tom's Cabin.” –Just sayin’.

Overall this location is worth a trip. I am not sure one word would sum up the place. I have heard the word “eccentric.” I also heard someone else use the word “gaudy.” Please enjoy the pictures and —you decide what adjective you would use.

Tios Jan 2013 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

References

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art?s=t

http://www.tiostacos1.com/HOME.html

http://unusuallife.com/riverside-folk-art-installation/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120062592

http://www.backyardnature.net/m/food/states/michoaca.htm

To Santa Barbara or Bust….

I actually had a better title than “To Santa Barbara or Bust….” , I now cannot remember what it was.

This little adventure involved just two of us One Tankers.

I was running a little early. As a paranormal investigator at heart, I took the extra couple of minutes to take a look around Hollywood Forever Cemetery before I picked Terrie up.

Running along the back gate of Paramount Studios, Hollywood Forever is the home to many Hollywood icons including but not limited to Douglas Fairbanks, Mel Blanc, Demille Family, Peter Lorre, Tyrone Power, Rudolph Valentino, and Johnny Ramone. I just read that that Paramount Studios was originally part of the undeveloped cemetery land. I definitely need to return with a team and some equipment.

Every time I drop by Hollywood Forever Cemetery I see at least one gravestone or famous name that I did not see before. Toto was a surprise to me on this trip. I am not certain how I missed him before.

		Hollywood Forever Dec 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After scooping up Terrie, we headed to Ventura area to meet up with an acquaintance. Once our meeting was completed we followed whim and headed to Santa Barbara for a late lunch.

Now we could not be that close to a historical site such as the Old Mission Santa Barbara and not take a peek!

Now those of us that spent our formidable elementary school years in California were likely to be forced to study missions in the fourth grade. When I was a kid a three-d scale model of one of the missions was required to accompany the written report. My nephews, however, were required to complete a coffee can project on the missions. I have been unable to wrap my head around the coffee can concept.

For those of you who missed the California Mission history in school here goes my condensed reiteration: King Charles of Spain enacted a plan to control the fertile land and create safe harbors for Spanish ships. The Russians were heading southward and threatened to take over this valuable land. Father (Padre) Junipero Serra was tasked to settle the missions. Padre Serra is often given credit for all the missions. However, Santa Barbara Mission was the first to be founded by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lusuen, who raised a cross on the site where the mission stands and made the first converts from the local Chumash people. Don’t get me started on the treatment of the Native people.

 

 

		Mission Santa Barbara VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only real problem is the speed at which you can exit Santa Barbara heading south…and the death of my GPS, called “Dori”—I killed another one. I think Dori checked out for a vacation before she crashed.

Lunch and the drive home was, simply, gorgeous.

		Santa Barbara lunch VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

http://www.missionscalifornia.com/

http://library.thinkquest.org/3615/bib.html (cool internet tour of missions)

http://www.californiamissionsonline.com/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_California

http://www.ehow.com/about_5047663_history-santa-barbara-mission.html#ixzz2Gpmgd5Cg