Latest Work of Camarillo Artist Chuck Trunks: "Signs"

The latest work of Camarillo abstract artist Chuck Trunks (previous work posted here) juxtoposes scenes and experiences from his life with components of texts and emails. I think. Well, that's my interpretation of this interesting and unique piece :>

Speaking of texts and tweets and such, make sure to follow CVG for updates at www.twitter.com/ConejoJoe and www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide.

Looking for a job in and around Ventura County? Check out THIS LIST of over 200 local company job websites.

Go take a hike at some of these local trails and hiking venues.

Get involved at one of these 70 or so local service organizations.

What Happened the Year You Were Born? Here is a Handy Guide!

What world events took place the year you were born? What was the unemployment rate?  The big news in sports? Population of the U.S.? Don't know off-hand?  Well not to worry, a website called Infoplease has enabled us to provide a quick to this information by year, going back to 1900 (for any centenarian Conejo Valley Guide readers).  Enjoy!

19001901190219031904190519061907190819091910191119121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009

Rabbit Picnicking at Thousand Oaks City Hall

As we know, the Conejo Valley is home to billions, if not zillions, of rabbits. So it was quite appropros seeing this little guy dining at Thousand Oaks City Hall. He looked quite healthy while mowing down the lawn. And he was not afraid of me as I told him I was Conejo Joe.

We Are Halfway Into Febewary, Febrewary or February? How Do You Pronounce It?

I'll admit. Out of convenience I've pretty much always pronounced February as Feb-ew-air-ee. Pretty much most people I know pronounce it that way. But technically it should be pronounced Feb-rew-air-ee.

This discrepancy between pronunciation and how the word is spelled has always bothered me, but since everyone else says Feb-ew-air-ee too like me (except for a few really anal retentive friends), I've ignored that nagging feeling.

But today is a new day. We are living and breathing February right now and I am committing to saying it correctly from this day forward, no matter how obnoxious I sound to others and how difficult it is to say.

One of the problems I think people have with pronouncing Feb-rew-air-ee is that they place a 3rd "r" in there, making it sound almost like the Scooby Doo "ruh roh" sound "Feb-ru-rare-ree" which of course is incorrect. It's actually not that hard to pronounce Feb-rew-air-ee if you make a mental note not to sound like Scooby Doo.

According to Charles Harrington Elster in his The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations. "The traditional and cultivated pronunciation, FEB-roo-ER-ee, is hard to say, and so most people say FEB-yoo-ER-ee because it is easier and because so many others do, not because it is right." and "As far as this book is concerned, however, the -yoo- variant may now be standard, but it is still beastly."

OUCH! I guess we better pronounce it right so as not be considered beastly! And the following should help us all in our quest for proper pronunciation of our favorite short month, FEBRUARY! (No, this is not me. I still screw it up.)

Awesome Christmas Story - Two Brothers Surprise Father by Restoring His 1969 Norton Commando

This 15 minute video is worth the watch. Priceless. This is what the holidays are all about. Two brothers "steal" their father's 1969 Norton Commando motorcycle from his basement in September 2009 and have it restored for him for Christmas.

The Sun is Back Out, at Least Temporarily! My Five Favorite Sunny Day Songs!

It has been raining for over a week almost non-stop here in Ventura County, but today, Christmas Eve Eve, we have a reprieve (well maybe for a couple days). The sunshing brings to mind these five sunny day songs that are tops on my list. My kids' personal favorite is Johnny Nash's original 1972 hit "I Can See Clearly Now." The Beatles are awesome but John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulder" gets my personal nod.