Two Days (in One)

World Rainforest Day 

Rainforest Leaf: photo by Cliff Hutson

Some say that “luck” is when preparation meets opportunity. So, luck or not I always appreciate it when a Monday rolls around, it is a notable day, and I have a photo in my archive to go with it. It makes that week’s blog post easy-peasy. This week I am going with a twofer. 

June 22 is World Rainforest Day. A rainforest is not my favorite environment - too humid, too buggy. But, I do recognize their importance; they support more than half of all known plant and animal species and play a crucial role in regulating the world’s climate; and was once in a place where I took a photograph that is a personal favorite. It just captures that day for me.

National Chocolate Eclair Day

Eclair: photo by Cliff Hutson

On the other hand, I love eclairs, and thought that I would have several images from which to choose. But, when I ran my search of the archives the one photo that came up as not the one I had in mind. I guess it is on a drive to which I no longer have access to or otherwise has become lost in the mists of time. This one will do nicely though.

National Chocolate Eclair Day is also observed on June 22 every year in the United States to celebrate this delicious dessert.

Feuilles esthétiques

Good-looking Leaves

"Photographers are the only people who can turn a normal walk into a 45-minute investigation of shadows, walls, puddles, and suspiciously good-looking leaves."  -  Anon

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

World Ocean Day

 A Not So Deep Dive

A Dive Watch: photo by Cliff Hutson

World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on June 8.  The day is supposed to  highlight the ocean's vital role in life, this year's theme focuses on reimagining humanity's relationship with it.  Oceans form an integral part of the Earth’s ecosystems as well as human culture. 

Casio Duro (MDV106-1A)

Some might think it strange, given my background, that I have long had a love of the ocean. For many years, I once spent as much time as I could near it, in it, and on it as I could. However, it has been a while since I have the ocean. It was May 19, 2024 to be exact. It has longer since I did any diving. That may be as far back as 1979.

Bulova Snorkel: photo by Cliff Hutson

Back then, we called it "skin diving".  Wearing just flippers (or fins), a swim mask and snorkel it was fun to swim with the fishes down at the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  There was no need to wear a watch as there was no air supply to track nor decompression time to calculate. 

Today, I have even less excuse to have a "dive watch"; yet, somehow I own two of them as pictured here.  However, I am not alone in this. I have read that arguably dive watches are almost certainly the most popular style of traditional men’s watches today, and it’s an open secret that the vast majority of those who own one don’t actually take them diving.. Some refer to them as “desk divers”, as that is where they are more likely to be worn.

So, at my age, while I have no plans to go diving again, it's been so long since I've seen the ocean I guess I should.

Reading Log: May 2026

The books that I finished reading in May 2026

May 2026 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Casino Royale,” Ian Fleming 

“In a Pickle,” A.J. Stewart

“Cat on a Hot Tin Woof,” Spencer Quinn

“The Hunt for Red October,” Tom Clancy

“Ironwood,” Michael Connelly

“First In,” Gary C. Schroen 

Pacific Asia Museum

 A Family Outing to the Pacific Asia Museum

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

British Sandwich Week (18–24 May 2026)

 Seven Days, Seven Sandwiches

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

National Eat What You Want Day

A Day of Indulgence

Observed annually on May 11th, in the USA, National Eat What You Want Day is a day of indulgence. It is all about setting aside dietary restraint to enjoy the foods you crave. Though, for many of us it is a day much like any other day. I try to  make wise choices, but I don't always succeed. 

Poking around the Internet I found out that it was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy who have invented at least 80 American "holiday" observances. 

I also came across a list, created by a Vancouver marketing agency, of the foods Americans would mostly eat everyday if they were not worried about the consequences. The list of these foods accompanied by photographs I took - because of course I would have at least one of each - is as follows:

#1: Pizza (13%)

#2: Pasta (12%)

#3: Burgers (11%)

#4: Ice cream (11%)

#5: Tacos or burritos (9%)

#6: Chocolate (9%)

#7: French fries (9%)

#8: Donuts (7%)

#9: Cake (6%)

#10: Chips (5%)

#11: Cheese (4%)

#12: Cookies (4%)

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Reading Log: April 2026

 The books that I finished reading in April 2026:

April 2026 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Extremely Happy Holidays,” Devin C. B. McEwan

“The Spy Coast,” Tess Gerritsen

“The Summer Guests,” Tess Gerritsen 

“Smiley’s People,” John le Carré 

“Casino Royale,” Ian Fleming 

Soap Opera

 I try my hand at product photography:

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

En transition

 Les feuilles vertes deviennent brunes

En transition: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Et les feuilles vertes deviennent brunes,

Et elles se flétrissent au gré du vent,

Et elles s'effritent entre tes mains."

- Paul Simon

Artemis II / Trombones

Moon Watches

MoonSwatch: photo by Cliff Hutson

My father was born in 1889 and passed away just about a month short of his 99th birthday. One of the things he enjoyed most about his long life was that he could remember reading about the Wright brothers' first flight and that he lived to watch men walk on the moon when he was eighty years of age. I will turn eighty in a few months and am not sure that I will mark my life with such momentous events.

But, it was with some eagerness that I watched the lift off and splashdown of the Artemis II mission as humankind once again ventures into the further reaches of space. I wore my MoonSwatch "Mission to the Moon" watch for the ten day duration of its journey to the moon and back as an admittedly silly way to commemorate the occasion. 

Some readers might realize that this watch is a nod to the Omega Speedmaster that was so essential to the successful return of Apollo 13 after it ran into trouble on its voyage. There were Omegas onboard Artemis II as well. But, some of the technology has changed over the years. One can find what is old and what is new here and here. 

There is other big news this week:

International Trombone Week

This year’s official International Trombone Week is April 12-19. Find out more about it at the International Trombone Association site.

Reading Log: March 2026

 The books I finished reading in March 2026

March 2026 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Culpability,” Bruce Holsinger 

“Crown City,” Naomi Hirahara

“See No Evil,” Robert Baer

“James,” Percival Everett 

“The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” Margareta Magnusson