• Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    Early Thanksgiving

    Shelley's Girls
    Shelley’s Girls

    Sunday morning. It is cloudy, cold and a few flakes of the white stuff is falling. The flat grey sky does have the dull look to it today, rather looking more like the skies I’m familiar with back in Colorado. There is texture and distinct shapes to them. I watched the American flag at the entrance to my apartments as it swayed in the stiff wind showing its stars and stripes. And, oh how that wind makes it colder. I am at a favorite coffee shop to enjoy a hot mocha and use the internet.

    One of my roommates, Shelley and her two daughters, celebrated their Thanksgiving yesterday. OMG! Shelley and the girls cooked up turkey and ham with all the fixings and I mean fix’ins: mashed tators, yams, corn, green beans, Chelsea’s beets, macaroni and cheese, salad and followed by desserts. There was so much food we were running out of bowls and spoons and space in our small kitchen. There was no way we could eat at the table as there was not room, so some of us found a place on the floor. And, of course I was forced to eat along with them, including the dessert! Here is a snapshot of Shelley’s daughters with plates of food.

  • computer

    Learning Curve

    New MacBook
    New MacBook

    I am a believer in being a student in life. I have lived life as if I knew what was good for everyone and doing my best to convince them and only created conflict and isolation. When we live life as a student always expecting to learn from others no matter their age or background, we build relationships and can live life with great expectations. As of yesterday I became a student on my new computer. So I am now on a learning curve with a new laptop and new operating system. After 15 years working on a Windows based system I moved over to a MacBook. So far I have enjoyed the challenge.

  • leaves,  quotes

    Intoxication

    Autumn Leaves

    “Photographers must be intoxicated with their subject and dive into its universe. That’s the only way the viewer will be able to see and feel the work. When you believe strongly in something, you stop creating art and start releasing art. It’s all about the will, not only the skill.”

    Voices of Light by Yousef Khanfar
  • People/Portraits

    The Beautiful People of New York City

    At the Wine Bar

    If you’re into wines then I suggest visiting the Morrell Wine Bar & Cafe in New York City. It is located at One Rockefeller Plaza. As part of our wandering around the city this past week, Kirsten and I came across this place. She had talked earlier about drinking a glass of wine at an aoutdoor table overlooking the plaza and Morrells fit the bill. We went inside to get her wine and I noticed this woman sitting at the bar enjoying her glass of wine and emailing with her PDA. It made for an interesting photo so I asked if I could take her photo. As with most people when you ask them they want to know why and this can lead into some good comversation. The three of us had a good conversation and I got more than one photo of her. We shared a bit about each other and why we were there and where we were going. We discovered this is one of her favorite places when she visits New York CIty. I am embarassed as I did not get her name. Anyway, as you can tell from this photo there are some beautiful people in New York City.

  • quotes,  spirituality,  writing/reading

    Our Inner Life

    The Inner Life

    It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased with everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without any instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition.

    New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton
  • Cityscapes/Urban

    Autumn Rain

    Autumn Rain
    Autumn Rain

    We had two days of sunshine and temperatures just above 70 degrees. People were out in short sleeve shirts, sitting on park benches and eating ice cream. The next day it is cloudy and has steadily been raining since about 10:00 AM. Now people are inside coffee shops sipping on coffee, tea or hot chocolate. So, can you guess where this was taken?