While as a child my perspective of a “real” desert was a complex mix of reality and the shrouded truth of camera angles and a mistaken imagination. I thought a “real” desert should be like the nearly-lifeless, rolling sands of the Sahara as depicted by National Geographic or Tatooine. I thought a desert should be nothing but monotonous sand and sun. I did not see the beauty found in the rock-strewn Mountains and scrubby sage covered plains of the Mojave. In fact, the Mojave is considered one of the vastest and ecologically diverse deserts in the World. As an adult I have a greater appreciation for this diversity and majesty of the Mojave and its inhabitants.

Not only do I now see the Mojave as a real desert, but also I see how its topography and ecology make it perhaps the most interesting desert in the World.

As a publisher I see as much diversity among digitally produced coffee-table picture books as I do the World's deserts. We may call any photo or art book a coffee-table book, but do all such books offer the variety and depth as the Mojave?

Perhaps this is indicative of the difference between the two of us. My family and I were at the VIP Preview for the Orange County Fair last night and we ran into Weird Al Yankovic.

What was really neat about this event is the ribbing my daughters gave my son and me... Like father, like son. Both of us like Weird Al's music... often better than the original artist's rendition!

Now the two of us have another something together we can fall back on when growing up gets rough.

Too bad he forgot his camera at home. He has now applied his Corollary to his Camera Axiom: Your wife’s lousy cell phone is a darn fine camera 
when you forgot your real camera at home and you unexpectedly run into Weird Al Yankovic at the VIP Preview at the
Orange County Fair.

I met a cousin yesterday. When you attend as many genealogy conventions as I have, you will meet some distant cousins along the way. However, meeting one that shares your last name is less common. Especially, if your surname is not Smith or Cooper.

During an open house for Facebook users, I coincidentally sat down next to a women asking question about Facebook. I offered to help her setup a Facebook account right there. She accepted and I asked her name. To both our surprise, her maiden name is my surname.

So, to Pamela Pomeroy Journey I say, “Welcome to the family!”

It's official... according to popular vote we've got the swankest booth at Jamboree. I guess wood flooring and a purple couch make all the difference.

Day 2 is off and running at the SCGS Jamboree. Among the book I publish are coffee-table books. My company has actually started making a speciality of these book. At the show we are highlighting these books in our booth. Tom and I decided you cannot show coffee-table books without a coffee-table. You, also, cannot have a coffee-table without a couch.

If nothing else, attendees are glad to have a soft place to sit for a few minutes.