Travel Tuesday: So What Do You Take Pictures Of

I stopped recently to have my car washed and the windows done inside and out.  I had a camera with me, and didn't want to leave it in the car so I carried it with me when I went inside to pay.  The runner who drove cars from the end of the wash tunnel to where they wipe them down and clean the windows asked "are you a photographer, what do you take pictures of."  Before I finished my answer he had to say "that is great, but I have to run."  

Landscapes, when I travel I try to take photos of changing landscape.  I have a student this spring who is not from this side of the earth, I was trying to explain to him how the terrain changes in just 100 miles from where he is going to college.  He has flown in and out, he does not drive.  His home country is less than 100 miles across.  

Cityscapes.  There is a genre called street photography, and I probably don't fit in that.  But cities are such unique spaces.  

Wildlife, birds, trees, flowers, insects.  And when I travel and they are different that are especially interesting.  Aspens in California last October, in full autumn yellows and golds.  I may never be there at the right time again to see those.  

Dogs, I find most dogs love having their picture taken.  

I could go on, but you probably need to run,  

My Music Monday: Barbra Streisand - Evergreen (Love Theme from "A Star Is Born")

Maybe it was the original movie with Barbra and Kris, there seemed to be chemistry, certainly some of her best work (if you haven't seen it, do so when you can) or maybe it is the voice and lyrics.  This song makes it onto my top ten list.  We are starting to advise people to make lists of the music they would want to listen to, or the movies they would want to watch if they become unable to say what they want.  This one belongs on my list.  Actually almost anything by Barbara. 

The Sunday Five: Warning Signs

I don't know why, but I have started photographing signs, stickers, notices. I kind of enjoy it. It would be helpful sometimes if people came with warning stickers, hence this weeks Sunday five:

What would your warning sticker say about these:

1: Caution if you ask about ____ be prepared for a long answer. 

2: Caution, this person has an inappropriate sense of humor when it comes to ______. 

3: I won't understand references to _______. 

4: Please don't ask me for advice on ______.

5: A mention of ____ will invoke anger. 

My answers: 

1: Caution if you ask about _Cameras_ be prepared for a long answer. 

2: Caution, this person has an inappropriate sense of humor when it comes to _sex_____. 

3: I won't understand references to _novels___. 

4: Please don't ask me for advice on _the law_____.

5: A mention of _he-who-must-not-be-named___ will invoke anger.  

Please share your answers in the comments.  

The Saturday Morning Post - In the light

Reading blogs one morning recently I was reminded of several things, a nice ramble. 

One night about 13 years ago, I forgot to set my alarm clock.  I had used a clock radio since my parents bought me one as a christmas gift when I was about 10 years old.  I awoke the next morning with a start, concerned that I was not alarmed to start the day. Then I realized that I was not late, just shocked by the change.  The next day, I didn't have anything early on my calendar, so I didn't set the alarm, and found that I woke up in plenty of time, and more relaxed, better rested.  Over the years I have heard motivational speakers talk about it being an "opportunity clock" trying to convince us that being unnaturally jolted awake is somehow a good way to start the day.  It isn't.  It is how we are conditioned to live.  And You can undo that.  Only rarely, maybe a couple of times a year do I set an alarm, usually because I have an unreasonably early airline flight.  13 years, I have been late to work maybe twice because I overslept.  And I wake up naturally, often with the rising sun.  Try it, maybe you will like it. 

Another blog (one of my favorites but it might be impolite to show favoritism) asked about acts of kindness.  I had a recent example, of overlooking anger and focussing on solving the core issue.  Sometimes we need to turn the other cheek and search for common ground.  This was not a random act of kindness, it was intentional to defuse a tense situation, and get the two of us back headed toward the light of day.  

Another blog posted about bird feeders. Living in a high rise, a bird feeder is against the rules as the detritus drops on the neighbors below.  But over the past two years I have become much more aware of birds.  When I walk, even in the tree outside my bedroom window.  I have overcome my unnatural fear of flighted fowl. No idea where that fear came from, probably watching "The Birds" late at night as a child. As I sit here watching the rising sun, the doves are in the tree, doing what birds do.  

One recent Mural Monday there was a post of a painting of a watch that has no hands and simply says "Now." It is a line from a Jimmy Buffett song, "I bought a watch from the crazy man, it has no hands, it just says now, and it is always right." The past is past, and can't be changed, I make plans for the future, but I see too many people make plans for a future that will never happen, when what we really need to do is live in the now. If the sun rises for you today, that is when you have to live. 

Another of my favorite daily reads posted a series this week about a wonderful house and garden, a couple of acres of garden, a large comfortable house.  It is the kind of house and garden that I couldn't take care of alone, if I lived there I would need a few of the mistresses houseboys and a couple of farmhands.  I don't usually buy lottery tickets, but it can be fun to think what would I do if I suddenly had all of the money in the world.  I usually sleep easily, if I don't it is usually because I need to divert my mind from the day to day decisions.  One way of doing that for me is to think about what would I do if I won the lottery.  Over the years I have come the conclusion, that I don't want the big house, the big boat, the farm. They are too much work, and employing the people to operate and maintain them would take much of the joy out of life.  I want to be able to watch the sun rise without worrying if Bob is going to show up for work to trim the trees today. Maybe this is a sign that I am largely content with what I have, and were I am in life.  And that is a good thing. 

We went out to Mt Vernon last week for a nice walk. The photo above was taken there.  Great light. 

Fabulous Friday - Happy Birthday to my Sister

March the 18th, two landmarks on this date, my sister's birthday, she is almost two years older than I am - welcome to Medicare.  And second as a family we twice arrived at the Grand Canyon on the the 18th of March, back in the early 1960's.  

I think this is a great early family photo.  It is a little underexposed, not one that was printed or framed.  My sister is squirming a little.  It wasn't favored, but it is the earliest photo of the entire family that I have found.  

Have a fabulous Friday. 

The Thursday Ramble: Adventures I have experienced

Commenting on blogs and reading you comments has reminded me of some of the adventures I have experienced.  I have been fortunate, I have traveled a lot, spent a lot of time with many very bright people, seen and done a couple of lifetimes of adventures, with a few good years left to go. Here are a few unique highlights. 

Attended a tea party hosted by the archbishop of Canterbury in the rose garden at Christ Church College, Oxford. 

A private after hours party in the Gateway Arch in St Louis.

A construction tour of EPCOT, and a pre-opening day at EPCOT. 

A private after hours party in the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.

Flew on a Zeppelin. 

Seen two Popes in St Peters Square. 

Ridden in multiple steam trains. 

Had a conversation with the First Lady (when Biden was Vice President.) 

Driven on the Autobahn - at over 100 miles per hour legally 

Been passed while driving 100 miles per hour, legally  

And in the words of the bard, "Jimmy there is still so much to be done."  https://youtu.be/8NBWcClR6lY

 

The Way We Were Wednesday - Two Years

Two years ago today, I went to the office, picked up a laptop and copied of a couple of folders and came home for what I thought would be a couple of weeks of work from home isolation.  Not in my wildest imagination did I think that we would still be primarily working at home, two years later.  That I would still be in my box.  

A lot has happened at the office, someone died, someone left, someone retired, two new people have joined us, I have been promoted, all without being there in person.  The way we were, the way we worked, may never be the same. 

But I do hope I get more time outside of the box. 

I have no idea what the story of the guy in the box above is.  I was walking near the King Street station in Alexandria one day and he is in a front yard, with a spotlight. I knew this image would come in handy someday.