SEEING WITH 'A PHOTOGRAPHER'S EYE'

If you have a keen interest in photography you may see things a little differently than other people & tonight’s entire post is a collection of my thoughts gathered together from previous posts on, ‘Seeing With A Photographer’s Eye.’

I first heard the term, ‘Photographer’s Eye years ago back in the old 35mm film days when I first developed an interest in photography around 1965. My eye for photography didn't develop right away but after a few years I began noticing things I had never paid much attention to before.  It was a seeing & learning process that just gradually worked it's way into my mind.

I became aware of colors & shapes & how they interacted with the environment. Maybe it's how an old fencepost leans into the background or how the rusted color of an old hubcap stands out against the graying fender of an aging derelict car in a local junk yard. Maybe it's big billowing cloud formations on a bright sunny day or a radiant yellow Daffodil on an overcast day.

Gathering storms take on a new beauty if you have a photographic eye. Bird formations overhead take on meaningful shapes & a cactus bloom backlit by the morning sun suddenly becomes an object of wonder. Lengthening shadows stretch across landscapes as gentle winds ripple across resting ponds begging for your attention. It's a world of beauty we live in & we just have to open our eyes & minds to see it.

An interest in photography will greatly enhance that world for you.  Be aware & be prepared when a photo gently steps up & taps you on the nose.  Let the world around you become an unending source of inspiration as your photographer's eye constantly wanders through the environment around you whether it be subconsciously or in a deliberate search for the beauty that envelopes us.

You do not have to have all kinds of expensive equipment to take great photos. Thanks to the digital age my photography interests returned about 12 years ago. My 35mm film camera days had ended years before that & my Pentax cameras sat unused in a closet for nearly a decade.

After we bought our first computer in 1998 I slowly began to gain some interest & knowledge in something called, digital photography. Not knowing if this would interest me or not I bought a cheap little Hewlett-Packard 1 megapixel camera at a store in London Ontario.  As soon as I uploaded my first few pictures to the computer screen I was hooked. My head was immediately awhirl with all kinds of ideas & possibilities.

 
I used that simple 1 megapixel camera for years before moving up to something better but it was this first little digital camera that renewed my interest in photography all over again. Of course the resolution quality wasn't there but it opened my eyes once again to the beautiful world around me. I began to see things once again in a photographic way. Couldn't change lenses with this camera but I knew about composition. Couldn't change shutter speeds or apertures, but I knew a bit about lighting. Couldn't afford a more expensive camera but knew I didn't need one at the time. It was first things first & the first thing for me was to get my photographic eye back. The art of seeing!! All the greatest camera gear in the world is not going to help you if you do not see or are not aware of your surroundings.

 
Depending on their interests, a couple driving through a town will see different things. The lady may see the shopping mall on the right with it’s clothing stores, specialty shops & big bargain sign prices. The man, on the other hand will see the Golf course on the left & note the golfers, the golf carts & maybe any particular water or sand trap hazards. If I am in the back seat of that car the mall might only catch my attention if it’s an old town type mall with interesting architecture. But, for sure the Golf Course will catch my attention every time simply because of it’s beauty. The sweeping manicured greens, the swaying trees, flower colors, symmetrical landscaping, birds winging over the course & if it was in Florida, maybe I would be looking for Alligators too. And yes, I have seen Alligators on Florida golf courses.  With a photographer's eye you are going to see things differently than most folks around you.

 

A Corvette Car Club member will spot all the Corvettes on the highway where I probably would miss them. RV'ers will notice other RV's where many non RVing people wouldn't give them a second look. Bird watchers will see birds in a tree where other folks may only see the tree. It is the same thing in the photographer's world. I see things that others don't see simply because my conscious & subconscious mind is attuned to the things that interest me.  And, that's the key.

In regards to the photo above….Ten people standing in our sunroom looking out the window at the front yard probably might not have seen a small shaft of sunlight gently alight oh the Fuji Cherry blossoms coaxing them out of the darker background. The only reason I saw that is because of my 'photographer's eye.' Out of those 10 people looking out the window, one might be a bird watcher so it is the bird's at the feeders they will see. Another person's interests might be aggregates so they are probably looking at the many rocks in the gardens. Somebody else might be interested in old cars so their attention is triggered by the 56 Ford Crown Victoria going by. A horticulture person will notice all the shrubs, greenery & flowers. Out of all those things which I am aware of as well, my attention was grabbed by a moment’s ray of sunlight on a cluster of Fuji blossoms.  And, remember me saying earlier about being aware & prepared when a photo steps up & taps you on the nose:))

In beach sunset photos a lot of people will see the sun & water & take a picture of that just as I did. However, my eye spotted a lone chair further down the beach & my mind immediately began calculating the position of the descending sun, the water, & the silhouette photo that combination could produce. This is one photo in a series of 10 that resulted because of, 'the photographer's eye.'

Because I think in the terms of photography, I see in the terms of photography. Everything out there is a photograph to me. Shadows, cloud formations, colors, textures, foregrounds, backgrounds, people's faces, animals, birds, etc. Everything....... It is the art of seeing & it is the art of wanting to see. The art of looking & understanding what you are looking at. The art of seeing the finished photo in your mind before you even take it.

  
Now, let me back up on this 'art' word I have been using quite a bit here. It's one I hesitate to use but haven't come up with a good substitute for. In the true sense of the word I do not consider myself an Artist. However, the art of seeing with a photographic eye is something that I believe a person can develop if they want to, but it takes time. Like most anything, the more you do it the better you are going to become at it. But, the interest has to be there if you are going to be enjoying what you are seeing. And, if your enjoyment is there it is going to show up in your photos.

Here's what I suggest you do if you have a beginning interest in photography. There are many great digital cameras on the market & I would say start out with a simple point & shoot camera. Read your manual & understand what your camera can & cannot do. If you are in an area offering photography courses, do that. I did & it was a huge help to me in the beginning to understand the basics of photography. Pay particular attention to the art of composition because that is a biggy. I am fortunate in that composition has always come natural for me. Makes up for my struggles trying to understand the technical side of photography.

Would you believe that back in 1990 I was able to finagle myself into being accepted to Fanshaw College’s (London Ontario) well known professional photography course. I lasted 10 weeks & I was gone. Learned & enjoyed a lot of practical stuff but could not nail down the mathematical oriented side of things. Realized too late that the course was really geared to professional & commercial type high end photography with much emphasis on calculating studio light ratios, etc. I had absolutely no interest in being a wedding, portrait or baby photographer. When it got into learning & understanding something called logarithms I knew my days were numbered, & they were & I was out of there!!

I think my first digital cam was under a hundred dollars. In this computer age we are soooooooo fortunate that we can step out the door, crack off a bunch of pics, step back inside, upload them in the computer, & within a couple minutes we can have our results right in front of us on a screen. And, no cost:)) No more pricey film, expensive development charges, with days or weeks of waiting for results. Now, how easy is that. What a great advantage for people with photography interests nowadays compared to years ago. So, grab your cam, open your eyes & mind to your surroundings, & start clicking away:)) Don't just think about it.....get out there & do it!!

  
THE LAST PARAGRAPH: These photography opinions are just my opinions & are not coming from a professional photographer. They are just the thoughts of someone who happens to enjoy the hobby of photography just like the rest of you who have had the interest & taken the time to read all the way through this loooooooong post:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Having a camera makes you no more a photographer than having a hammer and some nails makes you a carpenter.  And, also keep this in mind....The quickest way to make money at photography may be to sell your camera.

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

SOME MEMORY PROBLEMS ALONG WITH A FEW PLANKABLE THOUGHTS:))

ALL OF TONIGHT'S PHOTOS ARE FROM BAYFIELD'S PIONEER PARK HIGH ATOP THE CLIFFS OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON

A big thanks to LAURIE & TEXAS YELLOW ROSE for both reminding me about the editing feature in Live Writer.  I have actually been using this feature ever since beginning with Live Writer several years ago & it has been my main editing tool.  However, because I hadn't used it for awhile my mind's memory recall department failed to retrieve the stored memory bite I needed, when I needed it & I headed off to Blogger's editing program!!  Soon as I read Laurie's first words about Live Writer I instantly remembered.  Duh!!

Some folks may have noticed that I have briefly touched on this before in some of my posts but I am experiencing some increasingly frustrating times with my memory.  Yes, I know, we all do but I'm thinking this is a bit more than that now.  These past few months have been particularly challenging, especially right here at the keyboard.  I was never a real tech smart kinda guy but I was able to learn & figure out my way around a computer not to bad, considering.  My logic based problem solving patterns were in place & I was always keen to learn new things, & did.   But, I noticed a change in all that starting maybe a couple years ago.  I became increasingly frustrated because that I could not seem to sometimes understand the tasks in front of me.  Could not quickly retrieve info from my memory banks as needed.  My memories 'instant recall' feature seemed to be malfunctioning. 

 

Fast forward to now where I am experiencing 'blank spots' which I am particularly noticing as I am working on the blog.  I will go to a site for an address link & then sit there for maybe 10 or 20 seconds trying to remember what I was there for.  I may go to Google in search of a word meaning & two seconds later I am looking at Google trying to remember the word I had come there to find.  It used to happen every once in a long while but is now happening more frequently  Very frustrating to say the least.  If I am out in the garden & decide I need the shovel I may head for the shed to get one but by the time I get there I can't remember what it was I was looking for.  That's fine if it is just once & awhile, but it isn't just once & awhile anymore.  Just figured I would throw this in here right now in case the blog comes to a sudden end somewhere down the line because I can't remember where the heck my computer is one of these days!!  

Have you ever met a Plank person, maybe two, or maybe a whole group of Planks.  Don't know what a Plank person is or what they do?  Don't feel alone, I didn't either.  Stands to reason though that a Plank person would have something to do with Planking.  More than one Plank person may include a whole herd of Plankers out Planking somewhere.  To Plank or to be Planked....this is the question that must be answered.  Well, fortunately right here within our very own RV Blogging ranks we just happen to have a couple Plankers.  They are older Plankers but definitely new to Planking so without further ado lets skip on over to Donna's TRAVELS IN THERAPY & get the whole lowdown on just what the heck this Planking stuff is all about anyway....but wait, I'm not done with Planking yet.

For some of us out here Planking is not something new.  Back in the bad old drinking days we didn't call passing out, 'Planking'.  Some of us just simply crashed into the dirt & stayed there.  Sometimes it was face down in a parking lot while other times it could be face up on sidewalk or a floor.  A crumpled sideways Plank could happen anywhere at anytime & last for hours.  I once Planked out face down in an onion patch.  That was not a good Plank!!  Oh, & there's more............

Having already been to Donna's site & read about Planking I am thinking I am maybe more of a Plunker.  You know, like Plunking one's self down in a a big cushy recliner.  If I am really super tired my Plunk may take on the stumbling looks of a more serious tumble into the chair known as a Ker-Plunk, but not to be confused with a Ker-Plonk which is an entirely different thing of course.  Ok, ok, ok, I am going to Plink myself right out of here.  Remember though, don't ge..........oh, never mind!!

It was with interest I read JERRY'S number 3 & 4 items in his post today.  Number 3 deals with something called, The 7 Links Challenge.  I, like many others, received this as well but have decided I just don't have the interest, energy or time it would take to dig through a bunch of posts for submission.   I'm not a contest kind of guy anyway & it's rare for me to go back & stir up any dust from my older posts.  This 7 Links Challenge has been suggested as a good way to attract attention to one's blog but for me now, I find the priorities from my earlier blogging days are changing.   

However, number 4 looks like something that would be much more up my alley.  Interesting concept indeed.  With the countless thousands of photos I have here, this could be a pleasant challenge.  I like the concept of no words, just a photo.  If I were to do something like this I would probably do it a little different now than I would have a few years ago.  I would probably not enable either the 'Comment' or the 'Followers' section.  Just a simple photo left to stand on it's own for folks to enjoy if & when they happened to drop by:))

 The other popular thing going around right now of course is the new Google+ social network craze.  Undoubtedly a great thing for many folks who like to hang out, socialize & chit chat, but after thinking about it for a couple weeks I have to be honest with myself & accept the fact I just really don't have the interest in any of that.  Thanks to all the folks who have sent me 'Circle' invitations.  I accepted them all of course but please don't wait up for me, Ok:))

I have some thoughts up my sleeve regarding photography & hope to have them in the blog very shortly. And, of course I will continue my Astronomy wanderings as well.  I just don't like to repeat same topics night after night after night so will try to mix up the Photography & Astronomy posts.

Note to ED....thanks for your comment today which cleared things up.  Appreciate that my friend:))

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  Motivation is a wonderful thing....when it's working.   Read somewhere that it is sometimes thought of as, 'the need to have a reason behind our actions to achieve our goals.'   Motivation can be an elusive & slippery thing.  Here one day, gone the next.  It is the force that drives those high powered engines of the successfully inclined younger generation.  Oh, it's still here in the older generation as well but I would hardly call the engine high powered anymore by comparison.  I'm sure some will claim to be motivated 24/7 while others may be a little more practical with their feelings & expectations & understand the coming & going part.  I love it when motivation taps me on the shoulder & says, "come on Al, lets take the old head for a spin around the block."  Love those days.  Those are creative days filled with fine thoughts & good feelings.  Good days indeed:))

GROANER'S CORNER:))  A few Aviation thoughts:

From an old aircraft carrier sailor we hear,  "There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky."  And did you know that with all the "Progress in airline flying it is now possible for a flight attendant to get a pilot pregnant."

From a jet pilot we hear, "Yay though I fly through the Valley of Death I shall fear no evil for I am at 80,000 feet and climbing."  From that same pilot we may also hear, "When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, I always have enough power left to get me to the scene of the crash."  If that same pilot were to make it back to base after his harrowing flight he might also say, "You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to taxi to the terminal."   10-4!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

ME & THE KID TOOK THE RIG FOR A SPIN

THIS WAS ME BEFORE I MET PRINCESS KELLY BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 93

Sure was nice to open the patio door this morning & feel some slightly cooler air for a change.  Felt so good in fact that it energized me enough to clean all the interior mirrors in the Motor Home.  Cleaned the inside windshield as well.  With that done, me & the furry Kid strapped on the rig & headed out for our monthly country cruise to shake out a few summer cobwebs here & there.  Always a nice way to keep myself in touch with my travel feelings.

With the heat being the way it has been lately I sure have been appreciating our cool little abode here in Bayfield.  Even I have noticed my absence of grumbling lately.  I think another thing that has helped is knowing we are past the half way point before heading out again in mid October.  Every little bit helps:))

  

SNACKING & RELAXING IN THE 5VER BACK IN OCTOBER OF 06 

I'm sure not doing well in keeping my posts shorter.  Had to cut a couple topics from Thursday night's already way too long post so have included them below in tonight's post.  In removing one of those two topics it seems I made a little blooper which Kelly caught this morning but I have since been unable to correct because of 'Google post editing problem I am now experiencing . 

I had answered a reader's photo question but when deciding to move that topic to tonight's blog I removed my answer forgetting to take out the reader's question.  That happened because I had decided to split the topic into 2 paragraphs in order get away from running too many paragraphs together. Of course I then forgot to remove the first paragraph!!  This blooper did have a positive side though because I was able to add some additional info to it this morning.  

So, with apologies to Hobopals here goes again......  "Hobopals asks.... "I have a Nikon D40. I really don't know what lens I have on it--it takes pretty good pictures. If you were to recommend one good all around lens for travel (and you could only have one), which would it be?"  Al says....  Can't honestly give you a recommendation for that simply because I am not familiar with the lenses available but I am sure there are some great lenses out there that would fit the 'best for travel' idea.  I carry two cameras with two separate lenses covering the field from 18mm to 300mm & figure that is the general range you would be interested in. 

Fellow RV Blogger FRED WISHNIE emailed me this morning saying he has a Tamron 18-270mm lens which has not been off off his camera since he got it.  Back in the old 35mm days my camera's were Pentax's & all 3 of my lenses were Tamron.  Here is an excellent no nonsense photo info site that I like & think you may find very helpful....KEN ROCKWELL 

Received this comment from commenter Ed this morning about my photo question blooper...."
Is this part of your 'new' blog. Creating suspense, driving up interest or testing the waters to see if there is any interest?"  No Ed, this is none of that,  I made a simple mistake.

TAKE A LOOK AT MY DOUBLE 'LENO' CHIN & YOU WILL KNOW WHY I HAD TO GROW A BEARD WHEN I GOT OLD ENOUGH!!!! 

I am now wondering if anyone else is having a problem editing their posts.  Blogger Dashboard > Posts > Edit.  If I click on the post title or click on View I get a blank white screen & if I click on Edit I get a screen followed by a Blogger error message.  This site was working fine a week ago.  As soon as this problem is cleared up I will make the correction in my post regarding the photo question blooper. 

While reading John's RV LIFE ON WHEELS about his DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE I was reminded of a post I wrote a few years back called, A LIFETIME OF OLD CLUNKERS & some nice one's too:))  It is a look back at the many vehicles I have had over the years & lists all 43 of them as best I can remember. A few old photos along with some text as well. Our Jeep now makes number 44.  This count does not include RV's & Motorcycles.

A COLD DAY AT THE BEACH

I only subscribe to one Astronomy site.  It comes once a week, it's short, easy to understand, has no advertising & keeps me up to date on what's happening in the sky overhead including new discoveries.  Each week may feature a different part of the sky, talk about where a certain Galaxy is located or point the way to a far off Star Cluster.  Check out........................

ONE MINUTE ASTRONOMER 

In the early beginnings of my sky wanderings I read about, and through my sky charts, found a real treasure trove of stars.  Often referred to as the 'Jewel Case' it can be found by looking south during the summer months towards the constellation Sagittarius.  It is at the southern end of the Milky Way.  Views are great with the naked eye but a good pair of binoculars will bring into view some of the beautiful jewel like star clusters to be found there.  The key is to keeping those binoculars rock steady.  I well remember the first night I began finding these gems, one after the other & it just deepened my excitement, my interest & my feelings about the mysteries of the Universe.

Kelly is pretty much the Captain of the good ship Lollypop here.  She makes all the inside environmental decisions such as how cool she wants the house in summer to how warm she wants to be in the colder months.  I know better than to touch the thermostat.  The Captain decides what we are having for supper every night & how much of that supper I will be eating.  I know better than to touch cooking utensils & that includes the BBQ.  She takes charge of the TV remote from 6 to 10 & takes priority on who gets into the bathroom & shower in the mornings.  I get to dress myself but I suppose that's why people point & stare when I'm out in public.

 

OUR FIRST TRIP WITH THE RIG  KELLY TOLD ME TO TIE THE CAR ON THE BACK..............SO I DID:))

The Captain feeds the Kid every morning but I am able to sneak in a Burrito once & awhile when me & the Kid head to town.  The Captain frowns on my cleaning abilities but I do manage to sweep a few floors, vacuum a carpet or two & clean an occasional window when she's not looking.  And, she makes me do the dishes.

She also holds me responsible for any & all stormy seas brought on by me stirring up the normally calm placid waters of Blog Land on occasion too. 

I've had to relinquish the now confusing technical reins on the computer for the most part but hey, at least I don't have to answer the telephone when it rings.  I'm not allowed to make the morning coffee & I'm not allowed to eat any of the Captain's specialty foods or drink her morning orange juice.   But hey, am I complaining?  No sireeeee, I like it here aboard the good ship Lollypop.  Me & the Kid got the most best Captain a feller could ever want:))      

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  To post a reader's question & then deliberately not answer it would be a totally rude & blatantly inconsiderate thing to do.  I am hoping Ed's comment was not said in an accusatory manner & is just a simple misunderstanding.

WHEN OUR FRONT YARD SUMACS TAKE ON THESE COLORS WE WILL KNOW IT IS TIME TO GET THE BIG WHEELS ROLLING ONCE AGAIN..........:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( "The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop." 

---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

SO HOT TODAY NOT EVEN THE SQUIRRELS WERE FLYING!!

Ever wished you could have some kind of 'Dream Recall' button implanted in your mind somewhere?  Something, that with the twitch of a nose, the raising of an eyebrow or the tweaking of an ear would instantly activate & play in it's entirety the dream you were just having.  So many times I am off with old or new & often deceased friends or family members on some great disjointed or bizarre adventure to familiar or strange places.   Not unlike a Harry Potter movie sometimes.  

Whether it be distant Galaxies, old home towns or darkened castles, the dreams are always there every night.  They are there during the day as well.  Dozing in my recliner brings them on too.  And oh, how disappointing it is to be pulled out of a good dream.  And to know you are being pulled out of the dream is the hard part as the subconscious mind struggles to remain where it is & the waking mind struggles to regain consciousness. 

Sometimes when I am becoming annoyingly aware of that transition from dark to light I consciously try to hold on to the dream, but it is a losing struggle & as the conscious world begins to take over, the dream suddenly fades into obscurity. 

Oh how many great adventures & memories are lost each night & how many old friends once again fade away, lost in the shadows of our minds, waiting for us to return once again in our dream state to seek them out & begin anew another journey, another adventure:))

By the time I am fully awake, only snippets of memory remain, if any at all.  This is the time I would like to twitch my nose, raise an eyebrow or tweak an ear to activate my implanted Dream Recall button & replay the adventures of where I have been & what I have seen.

ANY IDEA WHAT THIS LITTLE FELLOW IS JUDY?

And speaking of adventures.....Harry Potter certainly had himself knee deep in monstrous fire breathing dragons, magic wand duels & invisible cloaking devices Wednesday night.  Of course, & as usual, it was hard for me to know what all the plots & twists were all about again but that doesn't really matter.  It's the big visuals, big sound & big special effects that always attract me to those types of magical movies. 

I especially love Hogwarts, the ominous dark old castle with it's many foreboding long hallways & huge cobwebbed rooms of antiquity. 

Hogwarts is the ancient school of Wizardry where young boys & girls travel through a time portal to board the Hogwarts Express taking them to the school of Wizardry in hopes of studying the ways of magic, sorcery, & things beyond.  Love the concept, love J.K. Rowling's creative imagination & loved the whole movie series.   No, I did not read any of the books but know I would have really enjoyed them if I had. 

Didn't maybe understand all the little plots & twists along the way but I am glad to have been a part of the movie followers being whirled through time warps, transported in a flying car & the old Hogwart's Express train.  Happy to have been hurled over cliffs, chased my monstrous snakes & thoroughly zapped by lasers of fire & ice.  Thanks for having me along Harry, it has been an excitingly memorable journey these past 6 or 7 years.  I'm gonna miss ya guy:))              

IVAN has a great photo of a couple Wolves on the trail that is in competition for publication in Field & Stream Magazine.  It is a photo contest & you might want to slip over & cast a vote for Ivan's great very up close photo.  He's in the hospital now recovery from wolf bites....'NO, JUST KIDDING':))

There are probably as many Astronomy sites on the web as there are stars in the sky but a simple little site I have had on my desktop for years is EARTHSKY.   It tells me what Constellations & Planets are visible each night & was a big help years ago in sending me out each evening in search of what was currently in the night sky.  But, it was mainly the star chart page in my SKYNEWS magazine that blazed the trail into the night sky for me.

AND YEP, I EVEN HAVE A REVOLVING FIBER OPTIC LAMP IN MY ROOM TO REMIND ME OF THE NIGHT SKY WHEN I AM SLEEPING 

We all know where the Big Dipper is & it was from here using the Dipper as a focal point that I began looking for the same familiar star patterns in the sky that I was seeing on the pages of my Skynews magazine & in my larger NIGHTWATCH book with it's pages of star charts.  I first found the big W in the North sky which is the constellation Cassiopeia & soon I was on to the wonders of the Pleiades known sometimes as the Seven Sisters or Subaru.  Yes, it is this tight star cluster in the Autumn/Winter night which the Japanese Subaru automobile is named after.

I have decided as I go along with my Astronomy thoughts that I will not go into any great detail on Astronomy because all that is available on the internet.  What I will tell you is about some of my own favorite constellations, when & where they are & my thoughts & feelings about the night sky. 

In the meantime I leave you with this, which, when I first read it years ago was like a brilliant light bulb going off in my head.  It was not only a verification of my thoughts but it was a major piece of the puzzle in my struggles to understand, The Big Picture.'

ASTRONOMY vs ASTROLOGY

"Astronomy is a science that compels us to seek beyond ourselves and our small world, a science of discovery that enriches our lives by exercising our brain and our intellect. It empowers you to think clearly and rationally. It improves and sharpens critical thinking skills." It may even encourage you to free up your mind to think beyond conventional religious beliefs.

"Astrology disempowers you. By placing your future in the accidental configuration of planets and stars, you avoid taking responsibility for your actions, you fail to make decisions based on your own best self interest, and you give up the power to control your own destiny. Belief in astrology results in a degradation of critical thinking skills, which, combined with the loss of power to control your own destiny, can only serve to degrade your life, not enrich it."
"Be in charge of your life. Experience the mystery, awe, and excitement of observational astronomy.........

THE LAST PARAGRAPH(s):  A reader commented on my Wednesday night's post regarding me being off to the final Harry Potter movie & in part says, " I am not sure why, but I would have not thought that you would have been a Harry Potter fan" :) 

Inside the walls of this at times blustery old Cursmudgeon there still lies the excitable imagination of a small boy. A small boy still looking for the lost magic & mystic in life.  A small boy on the station platform wanting & waiting to be whisked away on the Hogwarts Express to a land of enchantment & wonder. 

Do we not all have a part of that small child in every one of us.  That yearning for those early childhood days of innocent fun & laughter before any of us knew anything about the realities & truths of the world we were all about to embark upon.  We were told fantasies, we were given books & we were made to believe.  It has taken me many, many years of searching to understand & undo some of those beliefs.  It will take me many more years to love & appreciate the fantasies.  Say, is that the train I hear approaching?  I sure hope so..................

HOLLYHOCK 

GROANER'S CORNER:((    Leaving Minnesota for Colorado, I decide to make a stop at one of those rest areas on the side of the road. I go in the washroom. The first stall was taken so I went in the second stall. I just sat down when I hear a voice from the next stall... - "Hi there, how is it going?" Okay, I am not the type to strike conversations with strangers in washrooms on the side of the road. I didn't know what to say so finally I say:

- "Not bad..."

Then the voice says:

- "So, what are you doing?"

I am starting to find that a bit weird, but I say:

- "Well, I'm going back to Colorado..."

Then I hear the person say all flustered:

- "Look I'll call you back, every time I ask you a question this idiot in the next stall keeps answering me."

---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

TONIGHT I AM 'OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD'...THE HARRY POTTER WIZARD THAT IS:))

A YOUNG ROBIN DROOPS IT'S WINGS IN THIS AFTERNOON'S HEAT

Our front yard was awash in Moonlight this morning as I was out of bed early again & headed for my recliner.  Didn't fire up the laptop or my usual ambient music.  Didn't even turn a light on.  Just sat quietly in my chair with beams of gentle moonlight filtering through the Pine trees & alighting softly on our living room floor.  Sometimes, I wish quiet moments could last forever.

Like many other folks across the land right now we are spending our days in the safety, security & comfort of our A/C.  We are sooooo glad we made the decision 3 summers ago to put in central air.  I did slip out earlier in the day figuring on trimming some weeds but 10 minutes later had me back in my recliner enjoying the air conditioned cooling Arctic breezes from a fan near my chair.  I was soon considering the addition of a sweater.    
When I saw on the news awhile back that Slave Lake in Alberta was deluged with rain & saw the sudden flash flood that resulted I wondered if Ivan from ROADTRIP 2011 had been caught in that & had to break out his boat paddles.  I knew he had been in town schmoozing with Royalty's Will & Kate a few weeks earlier & we hadn't heard too much from him sense.  Figured he & Hailey had got themselves a little Star Struck maybe.  Ivan finally 'surfaced' in Blog Land Tuesday with his own photos of the flood that could very easily have turned his truck camper into a boat swamper!!

It was the pure magic of the first Harry Potter movie I saw years ago that brought me back to each movie thereafter.  However, the simplicity & charm of that first movie quickly gave way to a darker and murkier form of magic & madness.  By the time I saw the last Harry Potter movie in the series I had been left so far behind in the thickening plot twists that I had no idea of who was being most violent to whom. 

Tonight I shall don my round black Potter glasses once again & head off to the land of Muggles, Quiddich, Hogwarts & Half-Bloods.  I shall grip my theater seat tightly, expand my lungs deeply & oxygenate my brain thoroughly.   I shall focus my mind on the big screen before me in hopes of not being left in the wretched dust when I am once again swept up & whisked away to the land of magical mayhem & violence .  Wish me luck now.... lest I cast a spell upon you all.

My interest in Astronomy began in earnest while we lived in the old tumble down farm house back in the late 90's.  We had crystal clear night skies with hosts of shimmering diamonds overhead.   I found myself increasingly drawn to the infinite darkness that enveloped us each & every night of the year. 

Subscribed myself to a Canadian Astronomy magazine called, SKYNEWS.   This quickly led me to editor Terence Dickinson's book, NIGHTWATCH third edition. 

On many warm & not so warm nights, armed with my new book & it's open page star charts I headed out the door, across the driveway & into the field about 10 yards away.  There, I set up my tripod with a pair of 7x50 binoculars steadily affixed.  Seated in a lawn chair with Astronomy book on my lap & a dim red beamed flashlight to read by, I began pouring over the star charts trying to figure out what I was observing all laid out above me. 

Tomorrow night I will tell you about my early night sky discoveries & the beginnings of many pleasant nights under the stars with no one to ask for directions to where I was going.  I would have to find my own way to the far off Stars, Constellations & ever elusive traveling Planets.

The photo below actually shows a very typical boon docking set up for us in the desert.  I included this photo to show my binoculars set up on the left hand tripod for day or night viewing.  On the right tripod is my Stellarvue 80" Nighthawk Refractor telescope which I have 3 separate eye pieces for.  More about this telescope in a later post.  This is the same telescope/lens I use on either my Nikon D40 or my Nikon D90 cameras which turns that Telescope into an equivalent 700mm photo lens.  The way the telescope appears in the photo does not show either a camera or the eyepiece set up on the far end. 

Ok, time to saddle up my Quiddich broom & head off in search of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows..........the final movie.  But first..........

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  Being I was in a big hurry to get the blog out early tonight I didn't come up with anything for the last paragraph except to say that the old nugget, 'Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained' has been rattling around in my head all day..........   

I TOOK THIS MOON SHOT WITH THAT 700mm TELESCOPE LENS ATTACHED TO MY NIKON D90 ON DECEMBER 21ST 2010 NEAR ELFRIDA, ARIZONA...ONLY CONTROL I HAVE ON THIS MANUAL

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

I halve a spelling checker,
It came with my pea see.
It plainly marks four my revue
Mistakes I dew knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait aweigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the era rite
Its rarely ever wrong.

I've scent this massage threw it,
And I'm shore your pleased too no
Its letter prefect in every weigh;
My checker tolled me sew.

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

A 'SPUR OF THE MOMENT' GET TOGETHER IN ARIZONA'S KOFA MOUNTAINS...2010:))

Instead of the two Burrito Bums Jeeping off to town this morning we decided to take ourselves for a walk, just like we used to.  Had to carry little Cora for a ways because every time I set her down she wanted to turn back.  By the time we reached the trail into the Pine forest she was fine & raring to go & so was I.  We didn't get far!!  Entering the shaded pathway we were immediately set upon by biting Black Flies, irritating Gnats & miserable Mosquitoes.  We beat a hasty retreat & headed for home.  Cora spotted her little Pal Rocky outside playing as we were walking by our neighbor's house so she took off over to say 'Hello'.  We didn't realize our hello would also be a 'final farewell.'  Rocky is a 13 year old Dachshund who always  liked to come over to our place & see the guys.  He especially favored Max & they were big buddies.  Rocky's health has been failing & his Mom, Rita finally had to make that decision all we pet owners know & dread so much.  Cora & I said our goodbyes to Rocky & then had to leave because both Rita & I were crying & there was nothing more either of us could say.    Rocky headed off early this afternoon to catch up with his old Pals Max & Checkers.  Oh how I know & feel Rita's pain tonight.

It was the year 2010 February 13th in the Kofa Mountain Range of Arizona just south of Quartzsite that I had myself a rare brainwave.  From being in contact with fellow RV'ers through our blog, Facebook & emails it suddenly dawned on me one fine sunny warm morning there were 5 other RV couples in the general area we were.  Folks were located in Yuma, Quartzsite & Bouse, Arizona.  Another couple were just over the State line in Blyth, California.   In a Hermit's moment I decided to contact everyone & see if they all wanted to drop on over for a get together.   We were centrally located to everybody & just figured it might be kinda nice for folks to meet each other.  And, that is exactly what happened.   I encourage you to check out my blog for that days activities where I have lots of people photos posted.  You might see someone you know:)) A GET TOGETHER IN THE DESERT...2010 

With all the talk about this heat & humidity upon most of us now I decided to fire up our A/C.  It has only been used 2 or maybe 3 times in the past 5 years.  The 2 roof unit A/C's in the Motor Home that is.  I always forget about those big air suckers up there.  In the southwest areas we travel during the winter it is rare for us to ever need A/C.  The rear bedroom A/C fired up fine but the front living room unit seemed to have a problem with the motor only running for a few minutes & then shutting down.  Guess if I was looking at it as the proverbial water glass half full or empty I'd say, 'well at least one out of two works':))

Note to Dan in Santa Barbara California....Not sure if you have seen my Bayfield Photo Album but I have a bunch of Bayfield photos here at....... BAYFIELD ONTARIO, CANADA

Kelly informed me this morning that we finally hit the 300 mark on our Blog Followers list so a big Bayfield Bunch welcome goes out to Davender Gola as number 299 & William McKibbon for bringing us up to the 300 Followers mark.  Thanks guys:))

Check out GYPSY'S post today & especially her last paragraph where she describes her feelings about the RV lifestyle perfectly.  Hits the nail right on the head for many of us out here & I could not have said it better myself.  You go Girl:))

I'm still banging away at the blog site with my Kindergarten crayon set.  Got a little flak on the home front this morning about mixing pink & blue.  What does a fella know about pink & blue anyway eh!!  Been trying to get the size of the font in the right hand column shrunk down but for whatever reason that font size tool does not seem to be working over there.

I see this Google+ thingy is picking up speed as more requests are coming in from folks for me to join their Circles.  Once I take the time to get a handle on all this  Googleator stuff I may even have one of those darn Circles myself.  Imagine that, a Square Head with a Circle:))

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  Years ago when I attended many AA meetings, one of the Slogans frequently used in the program was, Principles Before Personalities' & it is a tough one to follow.   It has various interpretations but basically means you do not have to attack a person personally just because you do not agree with their ideals, beliefs or policies.   I may not agree with a person's religion or political leanings or someone's choice of color for their car.  I may disagree with somebody's ideas on hunting or their choice of travel destination but it is the issues (Principles) that should be debated & not the individual (Personality) slandered. I have always remembered that & tried to keep it foremost in mind when composing my posts, responding to or leaving comments on other people's posts, forums, or social networks.

GROANER'S CORNER:((

Knock! Knock!

Who's There?

Amnesia.

Amnesia Who?

Oh, I see you have it too!

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

OH HOW I MISS THE BEST PALS I HAVEN'T MET YET.......

THE KOFA MOUNTAINS AS SEEN FROM SOUTH OF QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA WHERE WE WERE BOON DOCKED IN FEB 2010...A FEW DAYS LATER WE MOVED OVER THERE CLOSE TO THOSE MOUNTAINS 

Lawns are turning brown & our large lush ferns are browning & wilting in the heat.  How nice it was sitting in my recliner about 5 this morning listening to the sound of rain on our roof.  Had the patio door beside my chair open & could swear I heard the laughter & giggles of all our greenery outside rejoicing in the refreshingly welcome shower.  It was a nice positive way to start my day.  But, then the thought occurred to me.......hope I don't screw it up!!

BOON DOCKED IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS...WE HAD TO PLOW A LITTLE MUD TO GET IN HERE THE DAY BEFORE:)) 
Reader's have suggested I maybe include some photography thoughts & tips along with maybe a bit of tech info on some of my photographs so I intend to do that.  Keep in mind I am not a professional photographer.  I'm just like everybody else out here in Blog Land with a camera & an interest in my surroundings.  I'm always happy to share my thoughts on photography though so I'll get started on that in a few days. 

BOON DOCKED ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTH OF QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA 
Another suggestion from Russ over at TRAVELS WITH THERAPY was maybe some interesting things about Astronomy.  This is a hobby of mine that has really fallen by the wayside over the past few years & that was very apparent to me one night a few weeks ago when I took a walk over to a clearing area nearby in the trees.  At one time not long ago I could zip around the night sky at any time of the year rattling off most of the constellations, current planets visible & some of the major stars.  I could point & show you where the center of our Universe is located as well which happens to be at the southern end of the Milky Way in the constellation, Sagittarius or as some might know it as, 'The Big Teapot.' It is tipped slightly to the West in the direction the large 'Scorpion' by the way.  Used to know the exact times & location of the space station going over as well.  Standing alone in the clearing I was hard pressed to remember the names of the July night's constellations I was looking up at.  I don't blame this on my memory as much as I blame it on me not repeatedly being outside under the night sky almost every night of the week refreshing & traveling my mind around from star to star, constellation to constellation & planet to planet like I used to do.  

MAX WAS MY BEST NUMBER 1 STARGAZING BUDDY FOR YEARS & YEARS & YEARS:)) 

As much as I like all our stately Pine trees around us now I sure do miss the open night skies we used to have at the 'old weenie roast ranch' years ago.  Max & I were out for our nightly walks for years & years, Spring, Summer, Winter & Fall.  There is something very special about the night sky that is very hard to explain & I do have some thoughts about all that but will save them for another time. 

BOON DOCKING IN THE DESERT......WE JUST  LOVE IT:))))))) 

One of the main attractions of the Southwest for me has always been the wide open spaces & unobstructed views of the night sky from horizon to horizon.  And, no light pollution in those big black inky New Mexico & Arizona desert skies either.  I am soooooo looking forward once again to heading back into the desert lands of peace & enchantment:))

CHECKERS IS HOLDING THE MAT DOWN FROM BLOWING AWAY
I read somebody's post or comment this morning touching on the subject of traveling with pets.  Of course this is a very dear subject to us.  Having Snow Birded with our 3 dogs for the past 5 years it is sure going to be different with only our little Motormouse this winter.  As most readers know, our two big guys passed away back in April.  As some folks know, it is no easy feat traveling in a small space with two adults & 3 dogs.  I won't go into all the pros & cons of traveling with pets but just want to say we miss our guys dearly & wished they were once again here & coming with us.  But, they are not & that brings up a decision for us.

 

A FIERY ARIZONA SUNRISE AS SEEN FROM SOUTH OF QUARTZSITE

We know our travels will be easier with just the little Motor to look after.  We know the hard work, time & energy that goes into finding & bringing home another great Pal for Cora, Kelly & myself.  We have not talked about it but it's on my mind every single day.  Yes, there is the extra work & inevitable inconveniences.  Yes, it is a huge commitment & responsibility but oh how I miss that love & devotion that only treasured best Pals can bring into one's life.  Oh how I miss the best Pals I have known & oh how I miss the best Pals I haven't met yet.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!! 

Two new blog Followers to welcome tonight.  Levonne from  A CAMP HOST'S MEANDERINGS: AN RV ADVENTURE joins our site as blog Follower 297 & WESTIEWAGGIN' comes in as 298.  Thanks to both of you folks for tagging along with the Bayfield Bunch:))

THIS DAY WE WERE HUNTING CRYSTALS ON CRYSTAL HILL BETWEEN QUARTZSITE & THE KOFA MOUNTAINS 

LAST PARAGRAPH:))  Still plugging away on improving the blog site trying to make positive changes.  I know the simple solution is a white background with black printing, but....... These past 4 days have been a learning experience & I thank everyone for their support & input.  Received some great advice.  Going to try confining some of my comments & opinions to the 'last paragraph' slot of each post & see how that goes.  Hope to shorten up my posts as well by organizing what's on my mind better instead of dumping it all into one looooooooooong post every day.  Well, sounds good in theory anyway....And, tomorrow night we will have a photo look back at a rare happening as the Bayfield Bunch actually pulls together a bunch of fellow RV Bloggers for a great get together in the deserts of Arizona's Kofa Mountains.  Yes, you read that right so be sure to drop by because you are going to meet some of your fellow Blog Land Bloggers:))))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Concerned about what will happen to cities if the polar ice caps melt? Don't be. New names have already been chosen.
-Atlantis City, New Jersey
-Pariscope, France
-Sail 'Em, Massachusetts
-Floodelphia, Pennsylvania
-Helsunki, Finland
-Sao Marco ... Paulo, Brazil

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

THE BIG ‘HOWDY DOODY’ WAVE:))

A FAMILY FISHING DAY
I figured this morning it might be a good idea for me & my keyboard to put a fair bit of distance between us for awhile. Saddled up my Motorcycle & headed for the hills. Well, for whatever little hills we have around here anyway.

Don't know why it is that I can't seem to remember to check my fuel gauge on the bike before heading out. Maybe it's because I don't have a fuel gauge. I always set the odometer to zero after fueling up & when the mileage gets up to a certain point I know my tank is getting empty. Last two times out I have blissfully been on my way to nowhere in particular when I remembered to check the mileage.  Both times I was nearly out of fuel. This morning, a quick calculation with my between the ears GPS system told me the closest fuel stop was all the way back to Bayfield from whence I had just come.  U-turn!!  Made it back to the gas station OK but it bugged me that my slow leisurely trip to nowhere had quickly led me back to somewhere.....the gas station!! I re-launched my journey & spent a few quiet hours wandering the back roads of our beautiful rural & agricultural countryside. I needed that.

Lots of bikes on the road this morning so that meant lots of waves. You may or may not have noticed that when motorcycles meet on the road a customary 'cool' wave is exchanged. Same thing with Jeep owners. There is quite a hierarchy of motorcycle waves of course & being new to the sport a bunch of years ago I had to learn the embarrassing way on how to 'properly' exchange that 'cool' hand gesture. Of course being as new as I was I always gave the oncoming biker a great big smiley Howdy Doody wave with my arm way up on in the air flappin like it was on the end of a puppet string. Kinda like, "hey there big Buddy biker guy, I got a big bike too, see." Took me awhile to realize the guys coming the other way were not responding with the big Howdy wave. They just seemed to casually slip there hand off the handlebar, drop their arm a bit & spread a couple fingers as they rolled on by. Well, at least some of them did. After seeing my big Howdy wave coming down the road most of them just put their heads down in disbelief & rolled on by.  Especially the Harley guys.  The few that did give me a glance probably figured I looked like Howdy Doody too.  Took me awhile to clue in on that but I think I got er down pat now. I hear the Harley driver's have a special wave but I don't know what it is. I do know what it isn't though. It's not the big Howdy wave that's for sure. And, do you know how I can tell a new biker coming the other way? Yep, I see that big Howdy Doody wave coming down the road about a mile away.......10-4:))

The summer months find most Snow Birds at home waiting patiently for their upcoming Autumn & Winter departure dates to warm sunny southern locales. Many of the Full Time folks hang out in the cooler climates of the Northern States or Canada. The folks over at TRAVELS WITH KEVIN & RUTH have been spending their time on the east coast of Canada & have just slipped down into the state of Maine. Most RV blogs I read center around Americas Southwest & Northwest States as well as the Southeast but not often do we hear from people traveling in the Northeast States or Eastern Canada.
Ever thought about cooling your Phannie? Well, the folks over at PHANNIE & MAY sure did & it took them a third A/C unit to do it too. When you get there, Mike will tell you how & why that happened:))


A bit of nervous excitement going on over at Merikay's place these days as her & hubby are looking at buying an RV. A couple days ago she wrote about the FEELINGS OF BEING BOTH SCARED & EXCITED. Oh how I remember those RV shopping days alright. Nothing like some good old nervous excitement to keep you awake half the night that's for sure. It's a big step, a lot of money & a huge decision with an unknown future.  Welcome to Planet Earth:))

And, it's not too late to climb aboard the MOHO YUKON EXPRESS with the gals heading north up the Alaska highway. Check out Sue's great header photo as she kicks her new Nikon D5100 into high gear:))

Not sure what to think about this new Google+ social network I am seeing popping up here & there. We are getting friend requests to join people's ‘circle of friends’ or something & I'm not sure what that is all about. I did have a look at the new Google site but had difficulty understanding the concept. What is it, what does it do? I need someone to give me the 'simple Seniors version’. Seems it might be along the lines of Facebook & Twitter. I'm no great fan of either one of those so am wondering if I really need another social friends network. I rarely use the two I have & it's a chore trying to be socially friendly when deluged with all those game requests, group joining's or sending flowers to a flock of lost Rhinosaucerus's up in Aklavik. Saw something about 'video chat' & that scared me a bit. I'm just not a 'chatter' whether it be on camera or off. I am going to hold on to the Google friends requests I have received until I somehow better understand just exactly what Google+ is & what it does.


I have received some excellent suggestions on how to improve our blog site so have been busy doing some slicing & dicing. I had a lot of stuff on our side bar that wasn't necessary & slowed down the site loading process so some of that is now gone. Next to go may be our Blog Followers list & if I can't figure out a way to condense our Blog Role on the right it may go as well as soon as I can figure out an alternative way to keep up on fellow RV'ers blogs. I don't mind adding people to the list but then I feel bad about having to take some folks off because of the list getting waaaaaaay too long. Google Reader has been suggested but I tried that once & couldn't seem to get a handle on it. I think I better have a look at that again.

Saw another slightly lighter 'Template' on the Travel section of Blogger's dashboard I kind of liked but have to admit I am a bit leery of changing templates. I'm not as fast on my feet around the computer anymore & I'm a bit concerned about loosing what I already have. I changed some of the text colors today (or at least I think I did….but maybe not) in hopes that may make the blog more easily readable. Changed the font style as well. Any feedback would be welcome. I’m publishing this post on the Win 7 laptop tonight so if it doesn’t look any different from before when I publish it then it’s back to the drawing board for Al in the morning.  By the way, just because I am a man doesn't make me too proud to ask for help & take suggestions you know. Well, except I might not ask for directions if I was lost.................:))


GROANER'S CORNER:(( Just a few signs you might be Trailer Trash......
-Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.
-You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.
-You think loading a dishwasher means getting your wife drunk.
-You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia boss.
- If a tornado hits your home and causes $10,000 dollars worth of improvements.
--------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.