Good morning and greetings, autumn fans. Yes, just a week ago, we experienced the change of seasons. What this means is that summer, like my 40’s, is now pretty much history. We are talking solstice city. In New England, the leaves are turning red and orange, in Colorado, the aspen trees are painted gold, while in California, my once brownish-blondish hair continues to evolve into various shades of silver.

Somehow, somewhere, in last week’s post I failed to acknowledge the passing of my favorite season. Actually, I’m very much into the Four Seasons as grew up listening to Frankie Valli. I’ll always cherish those words, “Dawn, go away I’m no good for you” yet my path still led to Sunrise Santa Cruz. Who knew besides Sherry baby and I wonder, will we ever really know if she came out tonight?

So let’s reflect back for a moment on summer, 2009, a time of love, peace and happiness, or at least that’s how the Chambers Brothers might have described it. In our own bankrupt Golden State, raging fires burned out of control, scorching everything in their path. In Washington, the Republicans felt the love and got behind President Obama and his national health care plan by shouted, “You lie!” And most importantly, in Hollywood, fireman Tommy Gavin was shot in the shoulder by his crazed Uncle Teddy in the season ending episode of “Rescue Me,” thus leaving us to wonder, will he survive this carnage and if he does, will he be covered by his health insurance? Once again, I try leaving no rock unturned in my continuing quest to probe the important issues of our day.

For this week’s photosynthesis we are looking at three days of pelican action along West Cliff Drive. The first two shots are from a feeding frenzy that was an all-day affair. The birds were going wild for some kind of baitfish that was running-I hadn’t seen a feeding frenzy like that since back in the 80’s when we used to hit the Ming Dynasty in Aptos for their Friday all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. We’re used devour those crispy eggs rolls, tangy cashew chicken and outrageously delicious garlic shrimp like they were anchovies in black bean sauce. It was pure mu shu madness.

The only thing missing from these these pelicans on parade are sounds of the screaming gulls and some sweet and sour sauce. The beautiful thing is the next morning I came back to shoot the sunrise and there wasn’t a pelican or fried won ton in sight. I later learned they had gathered at the Dream Inn to eat breakfast-turns out they’re big fans of the Ahi Benedict and the stuffed french toast.

Moving along, in the words of the Allman Brothers Dickie Betts, “You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day,” is where we find our next squadron of pelicans cruising the cliff before heading off into yonder. We commence today’s aviary activity with a backdrop of the clouds that have convened upon the Monterey Bay skies. The fall is always prime time on the central coast for these prehistoric-looking birds so I’m trying to be seaonally correct. I heard the other night that pelicans can actually be found in Montana, which I found rather interesting as much like myself, I thought they were only a coastal bird. Well, you know what they say, live and burn. Disco inferno.

On to the late night hilarity. “Speaking of President Bush, did you see him last night at the big football game? It was the Giants and Cowboys down there in Texas. And President Bush did the coin toss at the start of the game. Now here’s a bit of trivia. The coin that they used to start the game was the same coin that the Supreme Court tossed that won Bush the election. You know the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin? She’s traveling all over the world now, speaking gigs. And she went to Hong Kong and gave a speech. They paid her $300,000 for the speech, the Chinese, $300,000 for the speech. I guess she apparently could see the cash from her house.” –David Letterman “Today’s the first day of autumn, although Sarah Palin said today the dying leaves are because of Obama’s health-care plan.” –Jay Leno

“Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is coming to New York to address the United Nations, but many restaurants say they won’t serve him. You can tell which ones because their signs read, ‘No shirt, no shoes, no Holocaust, no service.’ Today’s a big day. The MacArthur Foundation gave out its annual genius awards. This year’s awards went to a journalist, a mental health scientist, and a couple who sold their house three years ago. The Senate just passed a bill allowing Amtrak passengers to carry guns in their checked luggage. However, folks, Greyhound passengers are still not allowed to carry deodorant.” –Conan O’Brien

“You know who was here last night? President Barack Obama was here last night. Politics notwithstanding, what a graceful guy. I mean, after the show, he was nice enough to autograph my swine-flu mask.” –David Letterman “The U.S. government is giving American Indian tribes $224 million of stimulus money to help fight crime on reservations. The tribes say that they’re grateful for the money and plan to bet it all on black.” –Jimmy Fallon “Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, the immigrant population in California actually declined last year. When asked if they had noticed, 80 percent of the people in California said, ‘Si.'” –Jay Leno

So that’s our show for the week. Congratulations go out to the New York Yankees for sweeping the Red Sox over the weekend and clinching the American League East title. And further congrats to the Giants and the Jets, who were both NFL winners yesterday and now stand at 3-0. And if you’re a 49er fan, that was a devastating loss yesterday on a last second TD pass by 80-year-old Brett Favre. NFL action-its fantastic.

So thanks for tuning in and I hope to see this weekend at the Open Studios Art Tour 2009. I’ll be the guy in the Hawaiian shirt. We’ll catch you in the deep center. Aloha, mahalo and later, C.C. Sabathia fans.