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Thunderstruck Thursday: Commander of the lake

If you leave a comment, Russel will visit your blog and comment. Since Wordless Wednesday Wasn't Working Wednesday (check out that alliteration!), I've come up with Thunderstruck Thursday (more alliteration!).

Last week, whenever possible, my husband and I celebrated our fifteenth anniversary together by going out into the streets of San Diego to help stimulate the economy. I think we were successful -- LOL.

One of the great places to visit in downtown San Diego is Seaport Village, which is directly on the bay and directly across from Coronado Island where the USS Ronald Reagan nuclear aircraft carrier is currently tied up after coming home last month.

Along with all of the ships passing by on the big lake, there is a small lake within Seaport Village where many ducks hang out, mostly mallards. We saw what had to have been the world's biggest mallard take command -- to use a military term -- of the little lake. We'll call him Commander Mallard.

Commander Mallard

Commander Mallard was having problems with one smaller mallard that seemed intent on challenging his command. We'll call the smaller mallard Lieutenant Mallard. Here they both are:

Commander Mallard

You can see that Commander Mallard is demonstrating to Lieutenant Mallard the proper way to clean the neck feathers.

If a smaller mallard was somewhere that Commander Mallard wanted to be, he simply ran the other mallards off. Ultimately, Commander Mallard took command of the lookout post:

Commander Mallard on Lookout Rock

Once everyone understood the action plan, Commander Mallard and Lieutenant Mallard swam off together....

Commander Mallard and Lieutenant Mallard

....to check on the new recruits:

New recruits

*****

This week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

If you're trying to get your ActiveRain comments in for the day.... - 5/28/09
Suicide journey leads to a 15th anniversary - 5/26/09
Memorial Day for me.... - 5/25/09

Last week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): I can't inspect it if I can't get it - 5/24/09
Be proactive with your homeowners' association - 5/23/09
How do you determine if repairs were done properly, or even done? - 5/22/09
How to lower your blood pressure naturally - 5/22/09
My first Foto Friday: Tree textures - 5/22/09
Thankful Thursday: Hydrangea - 5/21/09
My new digital SLR camera system - 5/20/09
Providing FREE HELP can be fun (if there's a rose garden involved) - 5/19/09
Manic Monday pop quiz: Concrete cracks - 5/18/09

Previous week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): A visit from Mr. Monarch Butterfly - 5/17/09
Russel's Gardening Handbook: Jacaranda - 5/16/09
"Dear Home Inspector: Please try not to kill the deal...." - 5/16/09
"Dear Mrs. Realtor: No I won't...." - 5/16/09
Make your home dog friendly - 5/15/09
Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Chimneys - 5/15/09
WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Huh? - 5/13/09
An Open Letter to the ActiveRain Powers That Be - 5/11/209
Manic Monday pop quiz: Electrical - 5/11/09
What's the point to ActiveRain points? - 5/11/09

Need help with marketing? Join the Guerrilla Marketing Tactics Group.

Inspired by nature? Join the Inspired By Nature Group.

Classical music lover? Join the Classical Music Group.

Want to share a good book? Join the Active Rain Book Club.

Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector on 05/28/2009 01:04 PM

Comments (16)

Thunderstruck Thursday in the ActiveRain Channel

thunderstruck thursday, seaport village, san diego county

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16 Comments on Thunderstruck Thursday: Commander of the lake

MAY

I love Seaport Village but it would be nicer if the parking situation was a little better.

Hey, Steve - Obviously you haven't been down there since the recession started. Even during tourist season there's parking now.

Russel, I can't believe that you're pandering to the Active Rain community, for comments, by printing pictures of "duckies"... shame.... shame...

I'll be down there in a few weeks to help out!

Hey, Alan - These are special duckies. They were out helping us celebrate Memorial Day.

Hey, Steve - Make sure you bring some money to stimulate the economy.

The babies are so cute. Although you confused the heck out of me with this post. I scrolled up and down about 5 times, trying to figure out who was writing this post, as the line about your husband. Months and months of commenting on your blogs and I never saw mention of anyone other than Zoey. Then I thought you were pulling a Broker Bryant/TLW on us. I thought someone else was writing the post. My brain hurts >.< lol

Russel-Great photos, Thanks for sharing.

Hey, Lisa

Jim and I met each other on May 26, 1994. We commingled our lives on November 1, 2005; registered with California as Domestic Partners on July 31, 2004, when Domestic Partnerships were established; and then got married on October 30, 2008, when marriage was legal.

Two days ago the California Supreme Court ruled that because we got married under legal circumstances in the State of California, we are still married and California will recognize our marriage. If by some unfortunate chance we were to get divorced, though, we could not marry again since gay marriage currently is again illegal in this State. So we have four separate classes of people here in this so-called liberal and progressive state:

straight couples who can marry,
straight couples who are married,
gay couples who are married,
gay couples who cannot get married.

Life is so wonderful (small dose of sarcasm).

We are so thankful that we took that window of opportunity to get married and at least get the various California benefits that come with marriage. In our case, of course, there are two husbands, one a home inspector/marketing & business consultant, and one a Realtor with Century 21.

Hey, Joseph - I wish I would have had my new DSLR camera when I was taking that second picture. Alas, when it gets here in a few days, I'll just have to start my tour of San Diego all over again, as if I've never been to anything here.

Russel, I love your mallard pictorial! Of course the babies are stealing the show! I have geese and there babies, as well as mallards in my neighborhood. Lots and lots of babies! The geese seem to have a dozen at a time!!

Love the Duckies! Love Love Love them! we have ducks, chickens, Guinea hens and geese! They are all special and we never tire of watching their antics! Thanks!

Hey, Caren - I had never seen a mallard, ruddy duck, or wood duck until I came to San Diego. They are everywhere out here, and so beautiful. The ruddy ducks and wood ducks are more difficult to get a picture of because they won't sit still long enough.

Hey, Lisa - You're like me. I need to find a job where I can just sit and watch wildlife.

MAY

Hey, Russel. I love your pictures. I could sit there all day and watch them. Thanks, Jim

Regarding your response... now my head hurts even more >.< LOL I wasn't expecting a big response, but thanks for the insight =)

Hey, Jim - I've been known to sit and watch duckies for quite a long time. I just find it so relaxing.

Hey, Lisa - Sorry I made your head spin -- LOL.

MAY

Hi Russel, I like all the duckies......I take quite a few pictures of them myself. They are very entertaining!

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