The Story of Two Wolves...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Albuquerque Favorites...

As mentioned in the previous post I recently had a photography workshop adventure. It was during the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. There were over 750 balloons participating from all over the world.

Clicking on the window below will take you to slide show on PICASA.
There you can select the "full screen" option.
Then hit F11 to view in full screen mode. (The best way to view it).
Or just sit back and watch it here.



As usual your comments are requested, please let me know what you think.

Albuquerque Fireworks

A recent adventure gave me the opportunity to participate in a Photography Workshop in Albuquerque New Mexico.

This was during the annual Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. On the final night we photographed the fireworks display.

Clicking on the window below will take you to slide show on PICASA.
There you can select the "full screen" option.
Then hit F11 to view in full screen mode. (The best way to view it).
Or just sit back and watch it here.



As usual your comments are requested, please let me know what you think.

Wyoming Teaser...

The north end of the Chief Joseph Highway and Pilot Mountain.

Teton Teaser...

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Just a sample of the beauty of the Tetons.

Re-incarnation?

Would you believe......Groucho Marx !!!
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Lakeshore

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Trees

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Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...
Love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't..
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a wonderful, garbage-free day!

My Back Yard

Haven't posted to this for a while. Summer has taken me outside.

I'm constantly commenting on the poor state of my yard.

The main complaint is the never ending weeding.

Early this spring I was surprised by the blooming of a mystery plant. I queried friends and family and was told this was called "fritalaria".

Most likely from bulbs planted by the previous owner.

The battle continues and I procrastinate and the weeds slowly take over again.

Finally, when I can't tolerate them any longer, I resume the battle.

Only to find another hidden treasure. Obviously the previous owner was much better at this gardening thing than I. Amongst the thistles and other various weeds I find this little beauty.

And if you look a little closer.

Upon further weeding I discovered that just behind this I have Cacti growing.

In Wisconsin??? Who da thunk!!

Back to weeding and clearing out the dead remnants of previous years.

Pulling weeds and pulling thistle and Cacti spines out of my hands.

Sore back and sore knees. So what do I get as a reward for all this effort?

Darned if the thing doesn't bloom!

And if you look a little closer.

I guess that's reward enough for me.

That's it for now. Gotta get in the yard and do some weeding.

Photogs Note: Sometimes you have to travel miles to find beauty, and sometimes it's right in your own back yard.

For What it's Worth

Interesting Quote....
There was an interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine this week. Here is the quote:

"If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington, DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means you are about 25 % more
likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the U.S., than you are in Iraq."

Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington

On This Memorial Day

Go to the Web Site Born Again American

In Search of the Light...

It was a beautiful bright day in March. The light seem to say go find my brother light. So my partner and I set off on another quest for Wisconsin lighthouses.

Technically speaking, Grosse Point Light Station isn't in Wisconsin. However, after Whiskey and I talked it over, we decided it was close enough. We loaded the camera gear, ourselves and set the GPS to search for Evanston, IL.

The Light is in a interesting little lakeside park just north of Northwestern University. Interesting not only for the Light, but the park also houses an art museum and art school with classes in progress. Which the amateur photog can walk right in on while he's walking and gawking Ooops!

To see the rest of the photos click here and choose slide show.
For a little history of Grosse Point Light follow this link.

Wyoming 2007

Now you know why there's gotta be a Wyoming 2009

Wyoming 2006

Worth thousands of words

Somethings other than Lighthouses..

About the middle of last year I had one of those conversations that occur late in the evening in a bar with a good friend. After I had described my photo interest in Lighthouses, my friend (Jack P. Woerfel) politely disagreed and told me that his interests leaned more toward rural buildings, specifically Old Barns.

This got me thinking., and eventually led to another back roads adventure with Whiskey and camera. Wouldn't you know it, another calendar project and gifts for friends and family. If you'd care to see more, click on Barns and Farms and take the slideshow option.

Quote of the day..

I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places.
He told me to quit going to those places.
- Henny Youngman

from the child still living in me

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

Mark Twain

For your consideration.....

Photogs note: Best with speakers on

Back to Get Go..

As my loyal blog followers will remember. The initial idea for this blog was sharing. Not just my thoughts and ideas, but also some of my photos and videos. Since Whiskey and I haven't done any photo excursions for a while I thought maybe some of you would like to see more of the Lighthouse pictures.
If you click here.
You will be taken to a album of the pictures I used for my lighthouse calendar.

Photogs Note: You can learn more about Wisconsin Lighthouses at www.lighthousefriends.com

Strike two....

Well, after all that trouble with the bad hard drive, I think I've pretty much got things back to normal in PC land. It wasn't just a bad drive. After I got it back from the shop, I was installing software and found a second set of problems. Back we go to the repair guys. To make a long story short the replacement drive was malfunctioning also. Thank goodness I didn't delete my backup files. Another week and a half and a complete new drive from another source and here we are. Warranties are wonderful.

Photogs Note: Have you backed up your PC file yet??

One More...

Turn up the sound.

Wonderful World of Windoze

It's been a while since the last update.

Believe it or not, it's not due to procrastination.
I have some Ideas where this thing might go.
Like more dog stories. More photos.
Mebbe even a link to an online album of photos.


Alas, those all have to wait.
Thanks to a major malfunction,
my hard drive crashed about two weeks ago.
Had it in the shop for about a week and a half.
Even after all the efforts of the techie, the drive was unreadable.

Being the geek that some think I am, I do have backups.
Perhaps not as current as I'd like, but backups none the less.

My priorities are now to restore the photos, videos and music etc.
So stay tuned kids. More update to come.

Photogs note: As soon as you finish reading, go backup your system.

Don't encourage me...

So.. after shamelessly promoting this blog to friends and family via email, I received a few compliments. Imagine that!
Well, that's all it took.

The second adventure in Lighthouse searching led me to a place called Wind Point. I had heard there is a light in Racine by this name. Once again Whiskey and I set out to discover it's location.
This time I used a combination of Google maps and GPS. Just a short drive S.E. of my home (A little over a half hour.) you can find the Village of Wind Point on Lake Michigan just north of Racine.

The Wind Point Light is a working navigational light. It has a nice little park that is open year round. The area is also home to "Wingspread" and "A Prairie School". For Frank Lloyd Wright fans. Check out Wind Point for more interesting information.

Photogs note: This time Whiskey and I played first. Then I took Photos. Much better results.

North Point Light Station

This is the one that got me started chasing lighthouses. Not that they're hard to catch.
They're usually hard to find.
Most folks know about some of Wisconsin's lights, but they just have a general idea of their location.

I first heard of North Point Station from my cousin Joe Konkel. His story is that he lived there back in the forties when his dad was the keeper. This got my interest up. One Sunday afternoon Whiskey and I went searching.

I thought it was near the north end of Lincoln Memorial Dr and Lake Dr. My luck being what it is, I went north from there. When I got to Whitefish Bay I figured I was too far. So I turned back south. ( Don't try to use a GPS to find North Point Station. They search all day till the batteries die) I finally stumbled over it in Lake Park. ( It's located at N. Lake Dr. and Wahl Ave.)

Photograhers notes: Don't Try to photograph Lighthouses with a large dog attached to you via a leash. You get many blurry pics. Thank God for digital.

Sponge Bob Brown Pants ??!!??

How true it is...

Another year has passed and we're all a little older.
Last summer felt hotter and winter seems much colder.

I rack my brain for happy thoughts,to put down on my pad,
But lots of things, that come to mind just make me kind of sad.

There was a time not long ago when life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand about "Living in the Past".

We used to go to friends homes, baseball games and lunches.
Now we go to therapy, to hospitals, and after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,from parties that were gay.
Now we suffer body aches and sleep the night away.

We used to go out dining, and couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags, come home and take a pill.

We used to travel often to places near and far.
Now we get backaches from riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping for new clothing at the Mall
But,now we never bother...all the sizes are too small.

That, my friend is how life is, and now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...before you're too damn old!!

You pass this way only once so enjoy it while you can;
Live A Lot, Laugh A Lot and Love A Lot

An Epidemic???

Shortly after the New Years wish email was sent,
a friend sent her dog's picture.

Based on the this.
Is it possible there was an epidemic?

Over indulgence??

News Years Wish

On News Years Day I sent out the following picture with wishes for a Happy New Year.

This implied Whiskey might have a hangover.