iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 28/09/2026

Today's View From a Run: the promenade along West Harbor is (mostly) open, now. Lots of folks around; more than expected, considering the only business actually open at this point is a Starbucks.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 21/09/2026

Today's View From a Run: The shape of this tree and this corvid seemingly hanging in mid-air should give you a pretty good idea of the direction of the wind on this hillside.

A photograph of a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There is a wind-swept tree with a corvid (unsure if it's a raven or a crow) hovering on the air current above it.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 18/09/2026

Saw Bear McCreary in concert tonight, courtesy of Santa Monica Studio. Incredible show! Lots of songs from his latest album, some stuff from Battlestar, Rings of Power, and - of course - God of War. They performed the Laufey theme twice!

A photograph of Bear and his band performing the Laufey theme on the stage of the Belasco, covered in purple lights. Backstage you can see Deborah Ann Woll watching the show.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 31/08/2026

Today's View From a Run: The So. Cal. Pointe Break Summer Music Festival, apparently. I was running by Point Fermin and heard some decent music and stopped for a sec to check it out. I guess I'd call it ska? Or at least ska-adjacent.

A photograph of the band stand at Point Fermin. A band is playing on stage, while a small crowd stands directly in front and more people are on folding chairs and under tents farther out, under a large tree.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 17/08/2026

Today's View From a Run: you can always tell when a fishing boat has just come back to harbor.

A photograph of a marina, focusing on a fishing boat named Monte Carlo. There are workers cleaning up the deck and surrounding the boat are at least 4 herons and several other seabirds, in the water, on the dock, and on nearby poles.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 10/08/2026

Today's View From a Run: The railing did NOT look like this last week. I feel like someone who hit the railing hard enough to do that damage would have gone over the cliff if that railing wasn't there. That railing saved their life.

A photograph of a metal railing attached to wooden posts along the outside of a sidewalk next to a road. On the other side of the railing is a cliff that drops down to the ocean below. The railing is very dented and the closest wooden post is leaning, snapped at the bottom.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 31/07/2026

Got to see Spider-Man on the Sony Pictures lot courtesy of SIE, but the first email with the time had the time wrong, so I showed up 20 minutes late (instead of ten minutes early). Still enjoyable, but very in media res.

The Sony Pictures Tower against a night sky

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 27/07/2026

And a bonus pic because it was funny.

A photograph of a paper flyer taped to a pole. The sign says "CAN'T GROW A" and then has a large graphic of a mustache. Below that it says, in smaller letters, "TAKE A COMPLIMENTARY MUSTACHE". The bottom of the paper is all torn off, indicating all complimentary mustaches have been taken.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 27/07/2026

Yesterday's Views From a Run: in two years time the Olympics will be happening RIGHT HERE, and I guess we're starting to see signs of it. People are probably starting to learn the area to prepare for the real deal.

A photograph of a beach with several sailboats on the shore and one in the water. Behind the boats there are buildings and trees. The sails of the sailboats have different countries flags.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 12/07/2026

Today's View From a Run: a heron that was annoyed I was trying to take its picture. There was also a police chase that seemed to follow me on my run, eventually coming to a head in downtown Pedro. The circling helicopter was a constant companion for most of the run.

A heron walking along a pier in the marina, with many docked yachts in the background.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 06/07/2026

Today's View From a Run: this trail doesn't quite drop you directly into the Pacific, in spite of what it looks like. It is a bit steep past this point, though. Warm day, but quite pleasant in the shady bits with that ocean breeze blowing. Just a shame there aren't that many shady bits around here.

A photograph of a dirt trail with dead grass on either side leading straight ahead. It reaches the edge of a crest and disappears, with nothing but the blue of the Pacific Ocean stretching out beyond, and a mostly clear blue sky above. To the left there are a few palm trees and the edge of a house.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 04/07/2026

Today's View From a Run: Skeleton Steph! Who is Skeleton Steph? No clue, but I saw a couple of these sprayed along the sidewalk and I thought they were cool.

A stencil sprayed in red spray paint on the sidewalk. It shows a skeleton with long hair and sunglasses smoking a cigarette. The words "Skeleton Steph" follow the right-hand side of the skeleton. On the lefthand side, by her shoulder, are two other words that are hard to make out. Something like "Sticky Stan", but I'm not sure.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 22/06/2026

Today's View From a Run: it's always an impromptu classic car show along Paseo del Mar. There were a couple other groups of cars I didn't snap a picture of, too.

A photo of two low riders parked with their front left wheels in the air. They're next to a sidewalk which is next to a park. Behind them is an ice cream truck double parked.

A dozen or so classic cars are parallel parked next to a park. They stretch off into the distance.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 15/06/2026

Today's View From a Run: a cat! This cat looked at me as I stopped to take the picture like, "this human doesn't see me, right? I mean humans have shit vision and my natural camouflage is amazing. Yeah, he doesn't see me."

A photograph of a large cat with stripey shades of brown sitting in a section of dead, brown grass in front of some green shrubs and a chain link fence.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 07/06/2026

Today's View From a Run: A new and entirely ineffective sign at Pt. Fermin. Five feet away was a massive pile of peanut shells from someone clearly feeding the squirrels.

A photograph of a sign with white text on a red background that reads "Please do not feed wildlife"; the sign is attached to a cement fence at the edge of Pt. Fermin Park with some bushes on the other side.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 04/06/2026

In honor of Pride, another personal career highlight: naming and implementing the Over the Rainbow achievement in Bully: Scholarship Edition for kissing boys. Achievement hunter homophobes everywhere can curse my name. 🏳️‍🌈

A screenshot from Bully: Scholarship Edition showing the protagonist kissing a boy. An Xbox achievement has popped up for the Over the Rainbow achievement.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 25/05/2026

Personal highlights: Creating Atomic Green Lantern, being an official cosplayer at New York Comic Con, making the Typhon Spore in a game jam at Arkane and getting it into Mooncrash, internal game jams at SMS, future weapons in EE3, supporting the team with kick-ass tools, so many more

An illustration of the character Atomic Green Lantern from Infinite Crisis. He is punching towards the screen with a giant construct arm, and is cracked and green all over his body.

A photograph of myself as Gaslight Batman and my partner, Fenix, as Atomic Wonder Woman at New York Comic Con. The photo is by Martin Wong.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 25/05/2026

This week marks 20 years as a professional game developer! 3 cancelled projects 7 released titles Genres: RTS, open-world, MOBA, immersive sim, action Teams: Mad Doc Software, Rockstar New England, Turbine, Arkane Austin (and Bethesda Austin), Santa Monica Studio Incredible coworkers: so many

The box art from Empire Earth III, my first game. It shows a man in a militaristic outfit looking over the globe, with his fingers steepled. On the left, behind him, it shows people fighting with armor and swords and shields, and on the right it show futuristic warfare.

A splash image from Infinite Crisis. It's a triptych showing Flash and Superman fighting Doomsday on the left, Batman fighting Nightmare Batman in the middle, and Wonder Woman and Green Arrow fighting Mecha Superman on the right.

The box art from God of War Ragnarok. It shows Kratos and Atreus standing front-and-center on the frozen Lake of Nine next to Tyr's temple. There are two wolves pulling a sled behind them.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 25/05/2026

Today's View From a Run: is there an aircraft carrier docked at outer harbor? Must be Fleet Week in San Pedro! Though, I must say, one ship does not a fleet make. (It's almost like too many ships are deployed this year or something...)

A photograph looking across a walkway towards a channel in a marina. Either side of the channel is lined with a mix of sailboats and motor boats, and in the distance you can see an aircraft carrier anchored just on the far side of the marina.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 11/05/2026

Today's View From a Run: a trail running through Peck Park! The main trail splits, and you can choose to go up and follow along the top edge of canyon, or down and go through the canyon. Normally I go through the canyon (it's a little easier) but today decided to take the high road.

A photograph of a dirt trail going into the distance with a hill rising on the left and dropping off drastically to the right. There is grass and trees on both sides of the trail, and the trees are casting shadows on the trail.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 07/05/2026

Today's Views From a Run: snaaaaiiiiilllls! I know I've mentioned the snails at White Point before, but I feel like I didn't really get across how many thousands of snails there are here.

An informational placard about "Early Rancho Days" covered by dozens of snails.

A close-up photo of some dry grass that is completely covered in many dozens of snails; every inch of this plant is covered in multiple snails.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 04/05/2026

Today's View From a Run: Bandini Canyon Park! You can't tell from this picture, but it's squeezed in-between residential streets and only runs about three blocks. I've cut across it width-wise before, but this was my first time actually running the entire thing length-wise.

A photograph showing a dirt trail running straight ahead. Green trees hang overhead, and the grass is a mix of green and brown on either side of the trail.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 21/04/2026

Yesterday's View From a Run: A cliff-side trail running through Ocean Trails Reserve. I just like how it sort of disappears in the distance, here.

A photograph of a dirt trail running down the middle of the photo, flanked on each side by wooden posts and metal cables to keep you from straying from the path. On the left the Pacific Ocean is visible. There are green bushes and a mix of green and brown shrub on either side of the trail.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 09/04/2026

Today's View From a Run: snail! When you're running through White Point it's easy to be distracted by the ocean views and the pretty flowers, but if you actually stop and look closely you'll realize that you're surrounded by THOUSANDS OF SNAILS. They're EVERYWHERE.

A close up photo of a snail. It has a predominantly off-white shell with a dark brown line following the outer edge of the spiral. It's attached to a bent, purplish plant stalk.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 30/03/2026

Today's View From a Run: a bend in the trail in Peck Park. Everything was pretty overgrown there, right now, but it's a nice change from the brown landscape it tends to be in the summer.

A photograph of a dirt trail heading from the bottom of the photo and bending to the right. There are a few trees on either side of the trail, and a lot of low-lying plants and flowers.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 21/03/2026

Oh, you have a pair, too?

A photo of Gaslight Catwoman's claws and mask from the game Infinite Crisis. You can also see some Wonder Woman art and statues.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 20/03/2026

Today's View From a Run: a rare selfie among a field of flowers over in White Point.

A selfie showing me in a multicolored running hat and a white t-shirt. I'm half lying in a field of small yellow flowers with long, green stems that stretches off into the distance, with the Pacific Ocean just visible beyond. The sun is beating down on my left side.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 16/03/2026

Today's View From a Run: A small canyon stream in Miraleste. There's water in this stream almost all the time, which makes me think it's not just natural run-off. It's very pretty, though, so I won't think about where the water might be coming from.

A photograph of a stream cutting through dirt embankments. The streambed is a mix of dirt and rocks, and there are roots sticking out of the embankment on the right-hand side as a tree leans over the stream.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 09/03/2026

Today's View From a Run: looking East along the coast at Ocean Trails Reserve. There was a heat advisory in effect today due to the Santa Ana winds, and with good reason. The worst part of the Santa Ana winds is that they're super dry, so you get extra thirsty. Too hot for the beginning of March!

A photograph looking along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The coastline is a mix of green shrubs and brown rocks and dirt. It snakes in and out of view, with a slightly hazy blue sky overhead.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 16/02/2026

Today's View From a Run: Looking through one of the WW2 bunkers at White Point towards the Pacific Ocean.

A photo of a cement passageway through a man-made embankment covered in grass and trees. Through the passageway you can see the Pacific Ocean. There is a dirt trail crossing the photo laterally in the foreground.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 05/02/2026

Tonight's View From a Run: the lights along the marina. It was stupid hot today (upper 80s in February?!) so I waited until sunset before I went for my run. Definitely the right call.

A photo at dusk. There are two lines of palm trees running parallel to each other heading away from the camera in a wide walkway. Each one is lit from below by lights placed in the sidewalk and have string lights wrapped around the trunk.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 26/01/2026

No, Raddle, no it doesn't! That's not how that works! @elizhargrave.bsky.social, I'm irrationally upset by this. 😅

Text from the game Raddle saying ROCK beats PAPER

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 26/01/2026

Today's View From a Run: a bench that looks out over the Pacific (which is directly behind me). I don't normally come down this way, since it's just an extra small hill. Happy to be running in another gorgeous, sunny day here in SoCal when family members are in 16" of snow out East.

A photograph of a stone bench in the middle of some grass on a hillside. There are a bunch of trees behind the bench, and a bright, blue sky overhead.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 25/01/2026

Went to Persona Live Awakenings today, and, while I enjoyed it, it was not what I was expecting at all. I've watched videos of the Persona Super Live concerts in Japan, and I've been to a ton of other video game concerts, and it wasn't like EITHER of those experiences. 1/

A photograph of the curtain on the stage in the Dolby Theater saying Persona Live 2026: Awakenings. The house lights are on and the seats are all empty. I think we might have accidentally snuck in before we were supposed to, because there was NO ONE else in there, yet.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 20/01/2026

Today's View From a Run: a cruise ship sails off into the sunset in front of Catalina Island. Managed to cut it real close today in terms of making it home before it got dark; at least the days are getting longer, now.

A photo of the Pacific Ocean. On the right edge of the photo the sun is setting, with orange hues interrupting the blue sky. In the distance you can see the outline of Catalina Island, in front of which is the silhouette of a cruise ship.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 15/01/2026

Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers

A screenshot from the video game Return of the Phantom from MicroProse. It shows the stage of an opera house, with the Phantom of the Opera center stage and a woman in a white dress pulling back from him. Next to the stage are three box seats with various people sitting in them. The art is pixelated.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 12/01/2026

Today's View From a Run: filming along the coast! I was approaching from the far side (as seen here) and it *looked* like they were filming over the cliff edge, so I jogged to the railing to look over. Then I got yelled at for being in frame. Not my fault, the actor was also dressed as a runner!

A photograph of a cliff overlooking the Pacific coast along Paseo del Mar. There are a bunch of trucks filled with various equipment necessary for filming.

A photograph of someone jogging along the sidewalk along the cliff's edge, being followed by a director telling them what to do.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 22/12/2025

Today's Views From a Run: Some birds! First I saw a ton of seagulls and went "man, what's got them so excited?" only to discover a family feeding them. Then I saw this magnificent fellow just chilling on this porch.

A photo of dozens of seagulls flying and standing around a family feeding them on the edge of the cliff in a small park, next to the Pacific.

A photograph of a peacock standing at the top of a set of stairs leading to the porch of a white house with black trim. The peacock is a striking blue color, though its tail feathers are not extended.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 20/12/2025

It's getting towards the end of the year, so how about a look-back on the games I played? Didn't do a ton of gaming this year, but what I did play was solid. White stars mean I rolled credits and a yellow star means Platinum. I also dabbled in a lot more Playdate games, but didn't bother adding 'em.

A grid of video game cover art. A single asterisk will represent a white star (rolled credits), and two asterisks will represent a yellow star (platinum). The games listed are:
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle*
Astroneer
Eternal Strands*
Avowed*
Atomfall
Little Kitty, Big City*
Blue Prince*
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*
Fantasy Life i
to a T
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Dig! Dig! Dino!*
Death Stranding 2*
Otto's Galactic Groove!*
Sword of the Sea*
Silksong*
Ghost of Yotei**
Once Upon a Katamari
Squirreled Away*

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 11/12/2025

If you're going to be in the LA area this weekend then you should swing by Blue Water Clay in San Pedro for some quality, hand-crafted pottery by a variety of local potters. My partner, Fenix, will have a table set up with lots of great pieces! Did I mention pottery makes a great gift?

A flyer with a painted image showing a variety of pottery in a festive setting. The flyer says: Blue Water Clay winter pottery sale. 801 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731. Dec 13th: 11AM to 6PM. Dec 14th: 10AM to 3PM. Cash, Venmo & Zelle accepted. www.bluewaterclay.com

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 07/12/2025

Today's View From a Run: a decorated tree next to the Seasonal Festivities Field (previously: pumpkins, currently: Christmas trees). As someone who grew up in the North it's really hard to feel festive when I'm out running in a t-shirt and short-shorts. A decade in warm climes and it's still weird.

A photograph of a large conifer covered in ornaments shaped like stars, snowflakes, reindeer, and sundry others. Behind it you can just make out a lot filled with Christmas trees for sale.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 01/12/2025

Today's View From a Run: approaching sunset at Ocean Trails Reserve (this is juuuust past the halfway point of this run). By the time I got home the sun was already below the horizon.

A photograph of the sun, low in the sky, over the Pacific Ocean. The sky is full of clouds, rim-lit by the sun. The foreground shows the top of the cliffside, covered in brush and grass.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 28/11/2025

Today's View From a Run: I'll never get used to how absurdly large cruise ships can be. If you see those four wooden poles on the water's edge, in front of the cruise ship, those are the masts from the two tall ships docked there, which really helps put things into perspective.

A photograph of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship leaving through the main channel. The setting sun is illuminating the ship, while everything else is in slight shadow. The sky is blue with hazy clouds above, and in the foreground is the San Pedro Fish Market, a parking lot, and a small green space fill with small trees and bushes. Along the main channel there are two tall ships docked.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 24/11/2025

Today (and Wednesday)'s Views From a Run: some of the local wildlife spotted along the coast. Today I saw one of the local peregrine falcons chilling on top of this pole by Pt. Fermin, and on Wednesday I saw a bunch of bunnies at White Point (but this was the only one that paused for a pic).

A photograph of a wooden pole with electrical equipment (maybe cell phone relays?) on either side, in front of a bright blue sky. On top of the pole sits a peregrine falcon.

A photograph of a small brown bunny sitting on the edge of some brush, just in the shade. There's brown grass and brown brush all around the bunny.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 17/11/2025

Today's View From a Run: a rare Los Angeles rainbow, set against the gorgeous backdrop of San Pedro (shipping containers, a cruise ship, and a parking lot - so majestic).

A photograph of a rainbow on an overcast day in front of the bow of a cruise ship docked next to a parking lot on the other side of the channel from shipping containers.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 13/11/2025

Today's View From a Run: a comparison to last week's pic, this time much closer to high tide.

A photo of a rocky beach on an overcast day.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 06/11/2025

Today's View From a Run: Royal Palms Beach is funny because the only time it looks like a normal, sandy beach is at low tide. The rest of the time it's just rocks.

A photograph of a small sandy beach. The beach is U-shaped, surrounded by rocks. The sand is wet showing the tide recently vacated the area. On either end of the beach are dark, rocky outcroppings that stretch slightly into the Pacific Ocean. The Ocean stretches off into the distance, with Santa Catalina Island just visible on the horizon. Overhead is a blue sky with faint clouds.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 01/11/2025

Our annual piratical set-up for Halloween. My two main crewmates are getting appropriately aged by the elements from a few years of service. I also decided to throw our extra skellies in the window boxes. We once again had a treasure chest full of candy; we ended up getting through half of it.

A selfie showing me in an off-white long coat over a white blouse with a medallion necklace and a tentacled bandana. Behind me is my pride-painted house and driveway. The driveway is lined with cardboard cut-out waves with blue lights. There's a skeleton hanging from a rope over some purple tentacles in the bushes. On the house there are two window boxes with skeletons sitting in each, next to some pride flags.

A treasure chest loaded with candy. It's a mix; you can see Skittles, M&Ms, candy ramen, taffy, Reese's, Snickers, ring pops, pop rocks, and more.

A skeleton dressed in a red acket, a pirate's hat, and blue trousers hanging from a palm tree's trunk. It's holding a plastic sword in one hand and is leaning around the tree. Below it is a green bush with pinkish flowers.

A skeleton is wearing a vest and green pants with a red sash. It has a bandana and is holding a sword in its teeth. It is hanging from a rope strung between two palm trees, and there are lanterns hung from the rope as well. Below the skeleton are three purple and green tentacles, as well as some green bushes and flowers. There is a cardboard cutout of waves in front of the bushes with blue lights strung throughout.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 27/10/2025

Today's Views From a Run: Dia de los Muertos in San Pedro! Every year there's a pretty big celebration here in Pedro, with tons of food trucks/booths, merchants, multiple stages of entertainment, and a ton of other things. I decided to wander through on my run, and it was hopping.

A photograph of a street packed with pedestrians. In the middle of the road there are women dancing in colorful dresses with skull make-up on half of their faces.

A photograph of a tall statue of a skeleton. It has a moustache and is wearing a checkered short-sleeved shirt with blue pants and a belt with a steer belt buckle.

A photograph showing three skeleton statues. One is a merperson, one is wearing a monarch-butterfly-themed dress, and one is holding a giant fish. There are people standing around these statues on the sidewalk.

Another skeleton statue; this one is sitting up in a canoe(?). It has a red veil and is holding red flowers. Near its feet are orange flowers.

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Josh Phelan @joshphelan.com · 20/10/2025

Today's View From a Run: this seagull is completely unphased by the fountain going off.

A photo of the Fanfare Fountain in San Pedro. The bottom of the photo is an expanse of water with a seagull floating in it. Behind the seagull the fountain jets are shooting up into the blue sky. Beyond the fountain are a string of palm trees in front of a bridge and a lightly cloudy blue sky.

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