To end the first week of October let’s go back to the evening of September 16th down at Its Beach. It was a pleasant sunset that night and the formation of pelicans that flew overhead didn’t exactly hurt my feelings. I was down there the night before and had missed a couple of shots that I’m still kicking myself over because I left my camera in my car. In the words of the Jewish Defense League, “Never Again.” There was an interesting sunset down at Its two nights ago as the light thru the arch was just spectacular. It’s been orange delightful and lots of exotic arch shots coming in the future.

So let’s go back in history and take a look at some of the highlights of the first week of October. Back on October 1, 1908, Henry Ford’s T, a “universal car” designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time. It was generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that “put America on wheels.” In the beginning the T sold for $850, not including cassette player, foam dice and air bags.

On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded with Mao Tse-Tung (or Mao Zedong) as Chairman. Mao was an unusual fellow who love to swim and in his youth advocated swimming as the way of strengthening the bodies of Chinese citizens. Mao was constantly swimming, whether in a large pool constructed for top party leaders, in the stormy ocean off of China’s north coast or the heavily polluted rivers of South China. His ruthless vision united a fractured people and inspired revolutions far beyond Chinese borders. And here’s a little known fact-Mao was also responsible for naming the sweet and sour chicken as China’s national bird.

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. He later added to that proclamation by designating the rest of the weekend as the Festival of Leftovers in accordance with National Cranberry Sauce week.

October 3, 1998, is the anniversary of one of the greatest travesties in American justice as O. J. Simpson’s double trial ended with an acquittal. Or as in the words of his now deceased lead attorney Johnnie Cochran, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” In this case Robert Shapiro, co-counsel for the Simpson defense, accused Cochran of dealing the “race card from the bottom of the deck.” Ah, brotherly love. Personally, I haven’t been impressed with any of O.J’s work since his appearance in the Zucker Brother’s comedy classic “The Gun.”

And finally, belated birthday wishes go out to Indian spiritual and political leader Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, who was born on October 2, 1869 in Probandar, India. He achieved worldwide fame for his devout lifestyle (which I my own after) and nonviolent resistance which ended the British rule over India. Gandhi, who married at the ripe old age of 13 to an even younger bride, was assassinated by a religious fanatic in the garden of his home in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. As stains appeared in his white woolen shawl, his hands still folded in a greeting, Gandhi blessed his assassin. He Ram! He Ram! Myself, I don’t think I would have been quite as forgiving.

So that finishes out the week. Remember, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life but more importantly, the first Day of Open Studios. If you like a variety of local landscape and nature photography at affordable prices, my home/studio will be the place to be. Feel free to tell your friends, neighbors or any visiting dignitaries. So enjoy the baseball playoffs and the NFL this weekend and we’ll catch you at the same place, different time next week. Aloha.

For our final gasp or blast of September, let’s go back to last Saturday night’s sunset that signaled the end of summer 2007. These shots were taken in a little park that overlooks the arroyo along Western Drive. It had rained that morning and the scent of the flowers and the eucalyptus trees was just magnificent. A visually brilliant and satisfying way to end the summer of love.

Here are some events that have occurred throughout the years in the month of September that I thought were worth mentioning. On September 19, 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote. On the September 22, 1776, Nathan Hale was executed during the American Revolution without a trial after he was caught spying on the British in Long Island. His final words, “I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country.” Also on the 22nd back in 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in territories held by the Confederates as of January 1, 1863. Now that’s a fairly mind-blowing concept.

Back on September 25, 1690, the first American newspaper was published. A single edition of “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick” appeared in Boston. However, British authorities considered the newspaper offensive and ordered its immediate suppression before they could include any Red Sox game stories or box scores. On this same day in 1960, the first ever televised presidential debate occured between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard “I am not a crook” Nixon. Many who watched said Kennedy won the debate as Nixon, who declined to use makeup, appeared somewhat haggard looking on TV in contrast to Kennedy. At least that’s what Marilyn Monroe told Entertainment Tonight. And then just four years later, after a ten month investigation the Warren Commission Report was issued stating a lone gunmen was responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. They’re still laughing about that one over on the grassy knoll.

And finally, belated birthday wishes go out to American folk legend Johnny Appleseed, who was born on September 26, 1774. For 40 years he traveled through Ohio, Indiana and into Illinois planting orchards. He was regarded as a “great medicine man” by Native Americans and all lovers of applesauce. Johnny Appleseed (born John Chapman) never married and when asked why, his answer was always that two female spirits would be his wives in the after-life if he stayed single on earth. And I bet they were golden delicious.

So that’s it for our final look at September 2007. Coming up on Monday I will give you all the details on the upcoming Open Studios Art Tour that yours truly is participating in for the first time. I don’t want to say I’m excited but I already have my clothes picked out for all six days. And congratulations go out to Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees for clinching a postseason playoff berth for the 13th straight year. I knew all along they would do it. My giving up on them months ago and badmouthing their pitching all season long was just reverse psychology.

Enjoy the colors and have a great sports weekend.

I was going to start off the week with a continuation of Friday’s blast by moving along West Cliff Drive to the same fog bank surrounding the action at Bird Rock. And then I thought to myself, “It’s a new week, your son is experiencing his first day of eighth grade and the site is Sunrise Santa Cruz, so get out of the fog and back into the light.”

The first shot features the coastline looking east to Lighthouse Point as it is entrenched in the before mentioned early morning fog. But then we get back into a more familiar mode as the next five shots are from a sunrise back in late February.

Sunrise season really kicks in around November and hangs till late March. That’s prime time for me, when I wake up every morning and bolt out of bed hoping for some outrageous cloud action. When I send out these blasts you only get to see a few segments of the dawn experience so many worthy photos don’t make the cut. There were actually a few mornings last winter that were just super spectacular, so much so that when I view them in my computer files I know they have to be seen again. It’s early morning magnificence starring the skies of Santa Cruz. This one wasn’t one of those unbelievably colorful, mind-blowing sunrises but I thought it was worth taking a second look. I hope you’ll agree.

And on a different note, a thanks goes out to my brother Brad who has brought my Santa Cruz based parents into the 21st century by hooking them up to the internet so they can actually send and receive pictures. But more importantly, these two people who brought me into the world are now the 100th members of this blast list so we have hit the century mark. On that front, a lot of people are new to this list so if I haven’t heard from you let me know what you think. As I’ve said before, I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoy taking them. And for those fans of the recently canceled HBO surf classic “John From Cincinatti,” no need to worry, “I’ve got my eyes on you.” Enjoy the day and enjoy the spray.