Tag: photography

Never forget. 

Fourteen years.  So much has happened.  In each of our lives.  In the world. 

But in an instant I am taken back to that day.  That morning.   Aren’t you?  The sunny, stunningly clear blue September sky.  Getting ready for the day.  

I have tried before, unsuccessfully, to write what I felt on that day.  I cannot.  It was a powerful mix of emotions.  Anger.  Sadness.  Pride. Fear.  Uncertainty.  ANGER.  Pain. 

But here is what I can share….

I watched the planes hit and the towers burn.  I called my family. I prayed. I went to work.   I talked with colleagues in NY.  TVs in the hallways were tuned to the news.   We were glued to them. Three planes.  Maybe more. The pentagon was hit. One tower collapsed.  2 towers collapsed.  Heroes on Flight 93 gave their lives to stop even more carnage. 

Flights all across the country were grounded – a business trip the next day and a flight to Seattle for my mom’s 70th birthday celebration were put on hold.  And I was ok with that. 

I went home from work.  Put a flag up in the window.  Mostly I remember the numbing, profound sense of national mourning – and pride – watching what unfolded for weeks. 

We must hold this in our hearts and Always Remember. 

  
There are so many memorial reminders today.  A friend shared this with me today, and it touched me.  So I share it with you here. 
Hug your loved ones, ya’ll.  

Labor Day weekend.

We had alot of fun with Fran and Rachel this week.   The house is guest-free again.  Well, except for the parrot we are house sitting. 🙂

We enjoyed a fun weekend on the lake – Saturday’s sunset:

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We spent Labor Day down by Zilker Park and paddling on Ladybird Lake.  A friendly swan:

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The paddling scene:IMG_4823

Then we threw some lambburgers and hamburgers on the grill to celebrate the holiday.

A short work week is a busy work week.  I didn’t make time to post til now.  I’ll try to not be so slow with my updates.  Have a great weekend!

Blue Bell fix.  

It was April 20th when Monte and I last picked up a pint of Blue Bell ice cream at Walgreens on the way home.  We each had a scoop or two and then read the news about all their products being pulled from the shelf that day due to listeria contamination, and, sadly people had died. 

Well a long 4 1/2 months later, and after a lengthy cleanup and with FDA approval, Texas’ favorite ice cream is back on the shelf.  We should probably wait a while, but we couldn’t stay away.  

  

The river giveth, and the river taketh away.

Well, mostly the river taketh away.

It’s a risk we deal with, spending so much time playing on the water.  And, it so happens that this past weekend I lost yet another pair of prescription sunglasses.   I was helping put up a friend’s wind scoop on the bow and the wind whipped things up and the next thing I knew they were sinking below the surface of the lake.  I summarily jumped in to try to grab them, but to no avail.

I lost a different pair of prescription Raybans on the San Marcos rapids a few years ago.  Monte lost a pair of prescription glasses there, too.  A friend lost their wedding band on the same rapids.  I’ve lost three favorite hats, a towel, and know of at least one bathing suit top and diamond earring sitting at the bottom of the lake.   And, amazingly, we lost our entire flag and flagpole that was flying off our transom – on the Fourth of July, no less!  It happens so frequently that we keep a Lost Sh#t Log on the boat.

But every once in a while, the river gives back.  About 10 years ago, I lost a pair of prescription eyeglasses in the lake.  One minute they were sitting on the cabin-top while I tightened my pony tail.  The next minute they were gone.   Over the following few years the lake alternately rose and dropped.   Until, about 3 years after I lost them, the lake was finally low enough that the place where we anchored the day I lost my glasses was high and dry.  So one Saturday morning, I announced that I was going back to that part of the cove to look for my glasses.   And I did.   I combed that dry cove for an hour or two.   I found a snorkel, swim goggles, a swim fin, numerous pieces of fishing tackle, several pairs of sun glasses, a hat, an anchor, lots of trash, AND my lost-for-three-years eyeglasses!

They were sun-bleached and cruddy and one ear piece had broken off.  But there they were!  I can’t bring myself to throw them away.  So they sit in a drawer until I take them out for a chuckle every once in a while.

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Red glads.

I picked up a bunch of gladiolas this weekend.  They are blooming and look stunning – vibrant red.

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iPod wars. 

When rafting up with friends on Lake Travis, we invented this game to amuse ourselves – everyone takes turns playing a song from their iPod that they think is awesome.  We pass the plug from one person to the next.  You strive for a song that others will agree is awesome.  Some songs take people down their own memory lane, some are just funny, some songs everyone sings along to, some are songs other people never heard before.  It’s a great way to pass the time, under the stars, on a boat, with friends, slightly impaired, at anchor, off the grid, into the wee hours of the morning.   Here’s the typical scene.  

 

Awesome!  🙂

A busy two weeks and a new find.

I have been challenged in posting the last two weeks.  We are in the middle of a 3 week set of back to back visits from family.  Which we absolutely love, but it means a little less time to tend to my photoblog.   The real challenge though is that the WordPress for iOS app that I use primarily for quick posts is broken and completely useless since the last 2 updates (both updates ver 5.4 and 5.4.1) of the app.  So I’m using the browser version of the app for this post.   I hope they get it together and fix the problem in the next update.

One set of guests were unaccompanied minors, so I had to get a pass to go through security and accompany them to their gate to pick them up and drop them off at the airport.   As I was strolling along the concourse on the west end of the ABIA terminal, I spotted some lovely, colorful prints on display from a Texas artist that I hadn’t seen before.  The artist is Margie Crisp, and her prints are simply beautiful.   I took a picture of one – couldn’t avoid the reflections from the lights in the airport.  This one is called In the shadow of Buchanan Dam.   Inks Lake is in the foreground, with images of all the things I love about the Central Texas Hill Country.

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I googled her to learn more about her and found that she has produced a book called  River of Contrasts: The Texas Colorado, which features many of her river prints.  As I’ve come to love the Colorado myself, I’m going to order one.

You might want to check her out, too.

As for me, i need to get moving… we are headed to the lake to raft-up overnight.

Perseids show. 

Pre-dawn today was to be the peak of the annual Perseids meteor shower.  So last night after work, and after the rush hour traffic had subsided, we headed to the marina.  We anchored in the cove after sunset and made comfy spots on deck to lay down and watch the stars.    

   
The best time is typically between 1AM and 4AM.  There was no moon to interfere.  We just had to wish away the partly-cloudiness that arrived with sunset.   And the clouds did clear up and we saw the first burner by about 10:30.  More clouds came.  And then the sky became crystal clear around 12:30.   We were treated to a nice show – dozens this year.   Star gazing on a boat does not lend itself to photographing meteors, so I have no awesome pics to share.  

Even if we hadn’t seen any meteors, sleeping under the stars and this morning’s sunrise would have made it all worth the trip out. 

  
Now…off to work!

Sunday’s for sipping.

I met some friends over the weekend to catch up.  We’ve all been off doing our own thing for quite a while.   Yummm – white sangria!

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Peaceful, easy feeling. 

We enjoyed a slow day at the lake.  Anchored in our spot and had the cove to ourselves by nightfall.  

  

Bubbly and pinochle. 

Happy Champagne Day!!  My calendar tags August 4th every year for this bubbly celebration.  Google also lists various other champagne-related days in October and December.  I, for one, will celebrate them all!

We sipped as we played a few rounds of pinochle with these nifty vintage cards – found in the time capsule. 

  
Cheers!

Fair city.

My seat for my flight home on Saturday was on the side of the plane that usually faces away from Mt. Rainier.   So, I was happy to hear the pilot announce that we would be taking off to the west and flying around the city, due to the fact that Seafair was underway and the airshow that accompanies it over Lake Washington.  It turned out that I was treated to the most beautiful views on the way up after all.  Thanks, Mom.  🙂

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This shot is taken looking to the south east.  Queen Anne Hill is the treed hill to the lower left.  Lake Union is above it.  Downtown is in the center of the picture.  Elliott Bay is to the lower right.   Above downtown is the south end of Lake Washington, and the wispy loops of smoke to the right of the I-90 floating bridge are from planes in the airshow flying over the hydroplane race course.  And, of course, Mt Rainier watching over it all – Mount Adams poking out to its right.  If you look closely you can find the Space Needle, Seattle Center, CenturyLink Stadium and Safeco Field, Boeing Field, Elliott Bay Marina, among other landmarks.

I love this town.

Goodnight. 

Goodnight mountains.  

  

Goodnight moon. 

 
Goodnight Mom. 

I’m going back home in the morning.  

Nite, nite. 

Monday Monday. 

Worked from mom’s house again, and then headed out to meet Colleen and Jake for dinner.  Our table had a beautiful view overlooking Elliott Bay.  Simply gorgeous. 

 The Great Wheel after sunset:  

 And….. The golden hour: