I love airports. I always wonder what story lay behind the travelers; are they going on vacation; to see loved ones; business? There's always a level of anticipation in the air, regardless of destination, that makes me wonder "Where are they going?"

Last evening, as I flew in from my Mom's services in Omaha, I was looking out my seat window. We were pulling up to the terminal and I was anxious to see Tami and Kyle. I observed a lone soldier in desert combat fatigues standing at attention as our airliner came to a stop. Knowing the restrictions on flight tarmac access, I wondered why he was there. As quickly as the question formed in my mind, the answer also came in the form of a deep sadness down in my soul. I recognized it so quickly because I had been living with it in the absence of my mom during my visit. I knew our plane had flown a very special person home.

When I reached the top of the skywalk, I heard the gate steward say "Ladies and gentleman, if you would join us in honoring a young man who is coming home." Outside, an honor guard had formed up. Just past them, a family, wearing t-shirts bearing a photo of the fallen soldier, held each other up. His mom and dad looked no older than Tami or I.

The flag draped casket came down the conveyor belt and into the hands of the soldiers. They were not a true 'dress blue' honor guard. Rather, they were most likely comrades of the young soldier. They smartly escorted their friend to a waiting hearst. Inside the terminal I saw hundreds of people, stopped, paying their respects to this soldier and his family. Many had their heads bowed. Some, who might have been in the military long ago, stood locked at attention- only their bellies to betray their age. Travelers with places to go and people to see, stopped to pay their respects. And then it was over. The airport came to life, and the buzz in the terminal returned.

And for once, I knew where a traveler was going.

The truth About Weiner Dogs

Finally, a weekend at home! It's been since August 10th that I have had a chance to be a home-body over the weekend and I certainly have made the most of it. I actually enjoyed winterizing the garden beds, cleaning the garage, and working on a novel (that I've been writing in my head for the last 5 years). Tami & Kyle were up north for a wedding, so I had the whole house to myself. Were it not for a buddy coming by Saturday nite, I don't know that I would have even showered and shaved...

Anyway, photographic evidence now suggests that the evolutionary development of the Weinerdog came about, not so that they could enter into gopher burrows in order to hunt, but so that their tongues could retract in a safe & efficient manner. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. Enjoy your Sunday!

Fall Colors

Nothing like the fall colors of Aspen trees to make you feel good. These were surrounding South Lake, in the Sierra's. At about 10,000 feet altitude, fall is definitely in the air. Click on the photo for a large shot; it's worth the effort!

Goodbye

Good bye, Mom. You showed amazing strength and dignity through your last breath. I wish we could have mended fences earlier because we were so much alike and probably would have gotten along grandly in old age. The last few months, though painful, were very dear to me.

I'm sad you are gone, but relieved that you don't have to suffer anymore. I love you.

A Whale of a Time

Kyle and I went out with a good friend on his boat to do some tuna fishing. I know, surprise surprise.... Anyway, we happened to have a nice visit with what we believe was a blue whale. I've been along side California Gray Whales, and this was more elongated and probable 70 feet or more. Just amazing to watch it blow and sit on the surface. At one point, it eye balled us as if to say "what strange looking creatures you are..."

It was a bitter sweet day as I learned that my mom's stopping feeding and hydration and it's basically over. If you need to send good thoughts, send to my Dad and my Sister. The have been right there during all this and I worry for them the most. My mom's not feeling any pain, nor does she have any awareness of what is going on. I'd say her mind and spirit have already gone home. They are waiting for her body to do the same.

My wife, Tami, is heading out to Nebraska on Wednesday to help out. She's amazing and I absolutley appreciate how lucky I am to be married to her.

The Yellow Cancer Bracelet

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a huge Lance Armstrong fan. I'm just not convinced that he won all those Tours de France in a clean fashion. And, I never wore the Livestrong bracelet as I viewed it as trendy.

Not too long after my mom got diagnosed with cancer, my buddy, Pete, gave me a couple of the Livestrong bracelets. He told me "I know you don't like Lance, but....." I put the thing on to thank him for his caring, and to honor my mom's fight. Funny thing happened.

Everytime I look at the yellow rubberband on my wrist, I feel proud that people are fighting for a cure. I feel safer because I know there's other who have, and will share my mom's story, and my sadness. And, I am reminded of what my mom is enduring as cancer is pulling her away from my dad, her family, and friends.

She's not winning the fight. The cancer's returned to her remaining lung, spine, and adrenal gland. I went out one last time and it was tough. Fortunately, I enjoyed a few golden moments of lucidity and clarity with her on the morning I was due back in California. I'm fairly certain my good bye was last and I savored it, sad as it was.

When it's all said and done, I'll take off the Livestrong bracelet and put it safely along side my Sigma Chi Fraternity badge, my grandfather's Mason's ring, a gold bracelet passed down to the mother of the 1st born son in a new Bayer generation, and my important papers. As far as I'm concerned, it's an heirloom.

The Things that get by Security

I received on of those unsolicited, random emails that my work firewall usually disposes of. This one snuck in and it's absolutely worth sharing.

Be understanding to your perceived enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.
Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.
Be generous to those who need your help.

Be frugal with that you need yourself.
Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be foolish enough to believe in miracles.
Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.
Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be last to criticize a colleague who fails.
Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.

Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.
Be loving to those who love you..
Be loving to those who do not love you; they may change.
Above all, Be yourself.
Just Be Yourself.

Regards
Nicci Ray
Photographer
City Magazine
Roanoke VA
USA

The Passing of the Torch

I'm sure that every culture has a something that celebrates the moment when a father sees his son for the first time as something other than a child. Sometimes, it's cloaked in ceremony; sometimes its a silent recognition of something done right. For me, I got to have that experience this week.

Kyle and I went out on a 3.5 day tuna trip into Mexico. I told him the normal rules didn't have to apply (as in 'what happens in international waters stays in international waters....'), but that he still had to be respectful of others on the boat.

At then end of the first day, I had landed a couple of 15-20 pound yellowfin tuna, but Kyle had not even seen a single bite. As the sun was setting, I heard the cry of "FRESH ONE!", meaning someone was hooked up. I looked down the boat to see Kyle fighting to hold onto his rod, which was darn near bent in half.

To my fear and dismay, he was using a freshwater quality reel on a light weight rod bass rod that did not have the backbone to stand up to a tuna. I knew what the end result would be and prepared myself for consoling Kyle with the 'that's why they call it fishing, not catching' speech.

The fish walked him 4 times around a 95 foot boat. That poor rod looked like a pretzel. And Kyle? He was shaking from the strain, trying to grab his back, which was seizing up. He was seriously hurting. He could hardly manage to get the rod tip up just to crank in some line.

The deckhands were surrounding him giving him advice; I'm right behind him yelling encouragement and doing everything in my power NOT to reach in and help him raise that rod. It's his moment, and even if it means losing the fish, he'll do it on his own. After 45 minutes, we could see the fish under the surface. It was a monster. As soon as it saw the boat, it peeled off line heading for the deep. But Kyle kept fighting.

Then I heard the deckhand yell "Just a couple of more cranks..." Up and down the boat, 24 other fisherman on the trip were cheering him on. With a final lift, the fish was gaffed and in the boat. When it hit the deck, thunderous cheers broke out and men swarmed Kyle to congratulate him as one of our own. They saw what I did; a kid taking on the big fish and not quitting til the hard work was done.

And me? We'll, you know the buttons were busting off my shirt! And not just because of what he'd done. It was the comments through out the trip of what a fine, polite young man Kyle was and how they'd "share a rail, anytime" with Kyle; the highest praise in the world of off-shore angling. And they are right. I look forward to sharing a rail with him for many years to come.

The Great American Experience

So, if you follow my wife's blog, you had to laugh your ass off about her comparing our camping trip with the classic "The Long, Long Trailer" with Desi Arnez & Lucille Ball. Can't say I blame her! As with any maiden voyage, I was pretty sure the car would overheat, or the camper would become unhitched, or the fridge would open in transit, sending food items flying everywhere. I was waiting for the "I told you so...." But, I'll be damned if it all went off just fine. Except for not knowing how to turn on the furnace the first night (which was remedied for nights 2 & 3), it was a great family experience; like I remember when we had a camper and would go to Myrtle Beach. Cooking trout on a campfire, watching meteor showers in the Sierra sky, and luxuriating under the warmth of a good shower at then end of the day- just a few memories spent with my two favorite people. Oh, and honey if you read this, I seem to recall that the Long Long Trailer brought Ricky and Lucy closer together than they ever could have imagined. I look forward to many more adventures!

Rugby Camp Re-cap

Kyle and I rolled down for his first summer camp experience; Rugby Camp at UCLA. Actually, the experience began as soon as we got into Kyle's Coach's van to drive down. You see, Bill (his coach) has 10, yes 10 kids. 7 of them went to camp, along with Kyle and I.

At one point, Bill asked Kyle if he had brothers or sisters. Upon hearing he was an only child, Bill just laughed and said, "Well, you are in for an experience..." I have to hand it to Bill. His kids are great. But, even great multiplied by 7 in a van is something to behold! I enjoyed being able to chat with Bill, who is a good father and coach.

Camp was fun. We shared the field with a cheerleading camp that had Kyle staring off into the distance on more than one occasion. The Barcelona FC soccer team (one of the world's best) was also practicing at the field.And, right next door was the LA Open Tennis Tournament.

For Kyle, it was a crash course in rugby. He really picked up on the nuances, though he was frustrated he wasn't as good as some of the other campers. I had to remind him he was 14 and only had 4 games under his belt whereas the kids were older with several years playing. Plus, you know it's a serious camp when the girl players show up with t-shirts reading "RUGBY- No Pads, Just Balls"

And finally, I practiced with them. No hitting or anything, but the movements were enough to leave me hobbling at work until Wednesday. Guess I'm not as fast as I remember!

Rise

Here's the latest print completed for a wildlife exchange. Surprise--- a trout!!! We'll perhaps not a great surprise as I seem to have an obsession in capturing the beauty of these wonderful fish. I wish I had more time and energy for printing, but it's been a crazy summer.

As to the specs, it's 5x7 printed with Akua intaglio ink onto white Stonehenge paper.

Cabo Wabo, Bay-beee!

We'll, we just got back from Cabo San Lucas, down in Baja California Sur (Mexico). It was an educational trip in that I learned the best way to remember Baja California Sur (BCS), is Beer, Chips, & Salsa.

We stayed at the Villa Del Arco Resort, which is absolutely top notch. The rooms are stunning and equipped with kitchenettes. Our room overlooked the pool, including the replica pirate ship floating in it, and the beach another 50 yards beyond.

We relaxed and enjoyed the Cabo vibe, did two wonderful days of snorkeling in a marine preserve, and seriously imbibed in------ food! No tequila this time around, and just enough cerveza to keep us cool. But, as I mentioned, the food was awesome! We enjoyed a monstrous seafood platter at Mocambo that included baja style lobster, cracked crab, butterflied shrimp, grilled shrimp wrapped in bacon, a whole red snapper, and calimari. The chips n salsa were off the chart as well.

We also sampled some more traditional dishes, including an ethnic fusing of middle eastern and Mexican styles where the meats are skewered and shaved from a spit, lightly grilled in pineapple and onion, and mixed with jalapeno, tamarind, and other spices. And, we found some of the best gellato we have ever enjoyed. This was a culinary trip!!!

The grand finale' was getting intentionally bumped from our return flight in order to get $900 in travel vouchers for a future trip to any where US Air flies. Thanks to Tami's thriftiness and sprinting abilities, we'll be enjoying another 'fly-a-way' vacation in the next year.

Too Long between Posting

I wish I could say I was sooooo busy that I did not have time to post, but the truth is, I didn't have much to say. But now I think I have some good stuff for the blog.

Father's day was awesome! A celebration of the manly bond between father and son. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Sierra's, Kyle presented me with a duck decoy he had hand carved out of a block of cedar and stained to look old. I learned from Tami that he had spent the whole semester in woodshop working on it. Shortly thereafter, we were out on the water, fishing for trout with my father-in-law. Truly a great day; a real dad's day!

Flash forward to the 4th of July. A deep discussion on purchasing a small RV for our camping and fishing trips.... By way of backdrop, I've worked this purchase for the last 10 years (or more) before Tami finally said, wellllllllllll, alright....

The family vote hinged on Kyle saying "OH YEAH!!!!" and I was already planning the next great adventure. Then it hit.... "We'll, you know, dad, this'll probably be the last summer we hang out because I'll want to spend more time with my friends in high school."

OOOMMMPHHFHHH. That's was the sound of the air going out of my sails. Tami knew the feeling, having been relegated to 'mom' status a few years ago as 'dad' became the hero.

In the end, it's just a part of growing up. Which is why I suggest to anyone that they not let those moments go by.

Ahhh, the Sierra's

Just got back from the Mammoth Lakes region in the Sierra's. There were afternoon thunderstorms which made foe some pretty sunsets. Anyway, here's a few pics from the weekend.

Fish and Women? Only a Man Could see it.

Seems like I put a lot of posts up on fishing trips. Occassionally, it has to do with the fact that we caught some serious fish. But, more often than not, it's because it's such a quality time with my son.

I've learned that one of the best ways to teach, and be taught, is to have a day on a body of water looking for fish. If it's an overniter, I defy anyone to say they get 24 hours of quality time with a child like that.

Some of the things we have both learned while fishing? Patience, respect, pushing past the tough moments, shared joy, the value of a good joke, taking in beauty when it's around you, and working as a team.

I've watched Kyle mature on a trip as tuna are boiling around the boat and his reel gets a birds nest. Last year, I would have passed my reel off to him while I fixed his mess. This year, he handles it and gets back to business. He's really growing up.

Unfortunately, all this is in grave peril. Recently, Kyle's started styling his hair and taking showers with soap. Girls are definitely amassing on the horizon. I'm wondering if he's ready. Then I realize, he understands patience, respect, pushing past the tough moments, shared joy, taking in beauty when it's around you, and working as a team. I think he'll be okay....

The Wild Kingdom in Omaha

We just got back from Omaha. We were out visiting my mom, who has lung cancer, along with the rest of the Bayer Clan. It was pretty emotional to see everyone, including a couple of nieces and nephews I'd not met before.

It's been close to 10 years since I'd been back to visit. Some things had changed; more gray hairs, people softer around the edges, less worry about stuff and more enjoyment of the moment.

One thing that hadn't changed was the culinary tour of Omaha. It started with Angus aged steaks (Nothing like them, ever!), continued on with an apple and melted brie omelet, then spinach and artichoke calzone, and finally Jamaican jerk bean soup and club sandwiches. Pound for pound (pun intended), you can't beat Omaha for good eating. Go figure!

My mom looked good,all things considered, though she was definitely a bit weary. I only saw one spark from her all weekend, and when I did I couldn't help but grin because I knew she was in there somewhere still fighting. Bottom line, cancer sucks.

Anyway, from L to R: Josephine, Kyle, Jay, Colin, and Emory- the latest incarnation of the family.

Deep Creek in Springtime

Kyle and I went hiking into Deep Creek in search of the native rainbow and Brown Trout. Didn't catch any, but still enjoyed a beautiful morning scrambling over boulders with the sounds of rushing waters at our side.

When we got home, we found a note on the table. Seems Tami went on her own adventure; to the Carson Convention Center for a Stamping Expo. To each his (or her) own!

Bendo, Baby!

So, Kyle & I are sitting around trying to figure out how to afford more fishing trips. Understand that when we go out, everything cost double out of pocket because it's two of us. Kyle was lamenting that he couldn't earn enough money as a 13 year old to make a significant dent.

I was holding onto a logo design, which I proposed to him to develop as a fishing apparel company to earn a little money for fishing. It's called BENDO, a slang term for when your rod is bent from having a fish on. So, on the shoe-stringiest of budgets, we made some hats and sold them pretty quickly. Most were sold to the very genuine & decent anglers on getbentsportfishing.com.

Now we have some seed money to try a t-shirt. The design above is a collage collaboration between Kyle & I called "Tuna Slam." Hopefully, folks will get excited about it.

The best part of the whole thing has been working with Kyle on this venture. Granted, he has 13 year old attention span sometimes, but he also has 13 year old energy and unabashed enthusiasm, A win-win for both of us!!!

"Try" Rugby

With yet another winter storm bearing down on us, we made the escape to San Diego for the IRB 7's International Rugby Tourney. If you have never been to an international match, it's an amazing cultural experience. The best part, though, is my brother and his team, Hyde Rugby, are also out for the games. Since we only get to see Tal once a year, we really go all out and enjoy it.

If you happen to get Fox Sports Network (FSN) on your cable TV, look for the documentary on Hyde Rugby, which is running all month. You'll find through watching it that the players are phenomenal young men. Tami got to meet them this year and see first hand why Kyle and I love the tourney and the guys on the Hyde team.

Of course, when we finally made it home, we were greeted with 2 feet of new snow to shovel....

Pics are of the tourney, my bro, the Mexico National team, and Kyle & I with the Hyde Rugby players, and the rugby family.

Like Smoke Through a Keyhole

One of my favorite movies is Bucket List, with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It's bittersweet, but with a message that life's to short to short your life. One of the lines in the movie is "Like smoke through a keyhole...." I'm not exactly sure what that means, though it referenced time passing by so quickly, but it seems to make perfect sense and it's got a lyrical quality when spoken.

That's kind of how my relationship with my folks has been the last ten years. Like smoke through a keyhole.... It started with one of those heated family arguments where neither side saw fit to compromise. After a bit, it was an uncomfortable distance, slowing leading to life just getting on down the road. A child, a family, a career, up and downs and adventures. And ten years gone by.

Now, my mom has lung cancer with some serious chemo & radiation in her future. She's just mean enough to beat it, but then again..... Sometimes I look at her and think about how amazingly stubborn she is only to realize that the same trait was passed on to me.

I'm not naive enough to think that there's a storybook ending in all of this. No emotional reconnection on grand scale. But, when the chance comes, I will tell her I appreciate many of things she did give and that we shouldn't go another ten years without talking.

Today's photo's are right after a massive snow storm. The clouds lifted right about sunset, making our little valley a beautiful winter landscape.

Sorry for not Posting

Man, it's been a tough January. I've been knock down sick now for about a month, but I promise I'll get busy taking photo's, working on prints, and getting back into life real soon. 

The photo is not of me being sick, that is unless you consider it was right after Kyle and I partook in the tradition of eating the heart of the first large sportfish we ever caught. Kids, don't try this at home.......

Moon Glow on Mt. Baldy

It's a full moon tonight; the brightest of 2009. I tried to get some time lapse shots, but the wind was blowing so hard, it was buffeting my car. Anyway, this was shot at 6 seconds, well after sundown. The glow on the horizon is caused by Los Angeles and not twilight. 

Shot's of the Day

Tami and I rolled down to the Armand Hammer Art Museum today for to look at the Gouge Exhibition on wood and linocut. Matisse, Picasso, Munch, and others. WOW! Anyway, here's shots for the day for 01/01 and 01/02.

Happy New Year

I hope 2009 is a productive year for everyone! One of my resolutions is to post a 'photo-a-day' and I hope to capture a years worth of stuff for a homemade photo-book when it's all said and done.

Meanwhile, here's the last photo of the year, shot at 6:00pm on 12/31/08. Call it Ghost Train. Shot 6.7 @ 8 seconds. Click on the image for a good look!

Finishing 2008 with a Bang

Kyle and I jumped off the mountain today for a last fishing trip in 2008. It was beautiful out on the water. Chilly at first, but it warmed to the low 60's. We knocked it out, bring home about 10-12 pounds of fresh caught snapper, rockfish, and perch. Kind of fun to look east today. We could see our mountains nearly from Catalina Island, or about 75 miles away.  Nice end to 2008!

Slow Train Coming

There was a time when "hoppin' a rail" meant freedom, manifest destiny, a chance to stumble into something greater than ones self. Or, as a photographer once waxed nostalgic, where Woody Guthrie would have roamed.

But the rails are dirty, dangerous ribbons of metal and men; where hot days and cold nights rule. The rail riders today are not the charming hobo's from the past, sitting around a campfire singing in simple prose. They are outsiders; beyond Madmax and the Matrix. All at once angry, but scared to admit a simple fact, that they are alone, tossed aside, discarded.

I see the rails a lot in my job. I never considered them for anything other than for their utility, which is why I decided to 'train' my camera lens on them for a day. The result is the above photo, entitled Slow Train Coming. Hopefully, it evokes that sense of taking you some place further than when you started.

Mac Daddy

So, the computer got a virus. Ended up losing a bunch of programs and about 800 songs on my music library. Plus, the pop-ups and spam were horrible. The PC was getting long in the tooth at about 5 years old, and it was the first (and only) PC I've ever owned.

After looking around, I decided to return to Macs. I arranged for a no interest purchase through work and snuck in a beautiful iMac this week. While Tami was teaching on Friday, I set it up in her craft room and said nothing. I swear she walked in an d out of the room a couple of times before she finally saw it.

Her initial response was an ass-whuppin' for me (not for the purchase, but the lack of consultation), but now she's had some time on it and she's pretty darned pleased. Whew!!!! Anyway, now the whole family will get more out of the computer experience because this thing rocks!

When at First You Don't Succeed

Well, the print in the last post was just not working. Getting the registration right for the plates was just about impossible, considering I needed to print 25. So, I did a quick wood cut version of a paper craft type tree I had seen before.

Hopefully, this will be the one that works. First print was good.

Both Sides of the Looking Glass

Patrol in a police car is one of the most boring things imaginable. So, it was with great delight and amazement that I ran into a photographer of renown while parked next to a rail crossing known for transients. Of course, I was not aware of the 'renown' bestowment at the time (and I apologize to Justine for probably sounding ridiculous...), and thought she was an intriguing artist on a tragic calling; to find the romanticism in modern day train riders.

It was great to be able to discuss art with someone while wearing a uniform. I don't know that I've ever had that opportunity, unless you count arguments with fellow officers that their Velvet Elvis constitutes fine art.... What I found was that she was humble, completely open to conversation, and lacking in anything I would consider as pretentious. Just a decent person pursuing a vision.

Of course, I got home and found that her work commands prices greater than my combined photographic income over the years, but then again, she's the one 3000 miles from home pursuing the perfect shot.

Anyway, it's nice to know that a parallel world that finds beauty in decay can occasionally bump up against the world I occupy at work. Gives me hope for the future!

The aspen print is a two plate relief print for a Holiday Printmaker's Exchange I'm participating in.

Silverwood Sunrise

Every now and again, you get honored to see an amazing sight. This morning, Kyle and I were heading down to do some fishing and got to witness one amazing sunrise. The colors were as vibrant as I can recall. The way the light played off of the lake was incredible.

The fishing wasn't nearly as good as the sunrise, though Kyle did manage to bring home a decent size sturgeon. I was a bit concerned about cooking it up because it is such an ugly fish. But, the fillets were probably the best freshwater fish I've ever had; kinda like alligator. Deep fried them in an eggwash and beer batter and they were seriously tasty!

Hope you enjoy the pics! Click on the sunrise; it'll enlarge and it's worth the effort!!!

Happy Anniversary

Curtis & Tami Bayer

1st Dance

November 17, 1990

Thanks for 18 years of being the best wife I could ever hope for! It's been an amazing journey, with the best yet to come!

BOOOO!

Kyle 'outgrew' Halloween this year. Instead of fishing for candy, he out out fishing for, well, FISH! We went out to Catalina for the day and had a great time. Caught some nice sheephead and kelp bass and enjoyed an amazing sunrise with rainbow. Even saw a half dozen grey whales. Enjoy the pics!

Knott's Scary Farm

My son loves Halloween as much as anyone could love a holiday. Aside from the candy, anything involving gore and costumes is his idea of fun. For the last 5 years, he's wanted to go to Knotts Berry Farm during the Halloween season, when it transforms itself into a 'monster sized' haunted park. I always told him when he turned 13, we would go. Well, guess what........

We arrived at the gate at sunset and I was immediately terrified. The guests waiting in line were as frightening a bunch of goths, emo's, vato's, and metal heads as I've ever seen (for definitions, ask your teenager). Once inside, there were literally hundreds of ghouls and freaks in wildly outlandish costumes trolling in the shadows for a good scare.

Several mazes were set up with names like Club Blood, Killer Clown College, etc. Within the mazes, all manner of freaks would jump out and scare the beee-jeeeesus out of you. The props were Hollywood quality with body parts strung out and blood galore.

The scariest moment occurred when we were in the Lost Vegas maze. Aside from two-headed gamblers and pit bosses looking for souls, we stumbled in a gentleman's lounge, complete with pole dancing vampira's. What was scary was Kyle and his friend Wyatt transforming from giggling laughing neo-teens into wide eyed teenage boys. All of a sudden, they were very attentive and focused. It wasn't until Freddy Krueger tickled them with his blade fingers did they move.

Overall, a fun night with big burgers and onion rings at Johnny Rockets 50's Diner finishing out the night. Happy Halloween to all!

Kyle and Wyatt and a fun open lenses shot capture the essence of the night.

The State of the Union Address

The silly season, ooops, I mean the Election Season is upon us. Actually, I wish it was silly, but this time around it is far, far from it.

There are some profound choices to be made this year at both the Federal and State levels. With all due respect to the Republicans, I admire John McCain immensely. He is an American hero with the credentials to prove it. Beyond his war experiences, he has often voted his conscious rather than falling along Party lines. A genuine figure.

That being said, his choice of Sarah Palin is such a monumental failure to his legacy as a public servant that the only thing potentially worse is the effect it will have on qualified women seeking the White House or Executive Mansion in the future.

Obama? He certainly is intriguing. I don't really care about his pastor or whether he associated with a member of the Weather Underground. But, his lack of experience has to be considered. What will he bring to the table in the next four years when Americans will be in a position and status they are not accustomed to? Will he bring our folks in the Middle East home?

Joe Biden ain't a bad VP choice. He's too hot headed for the top spot, but his background and experience could certainly help.

Kind of a shame that McCain didn't reach across the aisle to choose a Democrat for his running mate. Talk about a 'maverick' move! The line could have been "Not a Republican Agenda; Not a Democrat Agenda; An American Agenda..."

Personally, I've been a Green Party voter for over 20 years. As an outsider looking in, the Presidential Election is not choosing the lesser of two evils, but the evil of two lessers. So, what do we do?

I think it's time to take stock of ourselves. We need to do the right thing for the right reasons, and at the right time. We should help our neighbor knowing it may never be repaid. If we are receiving charity, we should not consider it a right but an opportunity to pass it on and be gracious in the process.

We need to respect that we are all different. Diversity in Community, Unity in Purpose. We are men, women, conservative & liberal, straight or gay, young and old, black, white, brown, red, yellow, Christian, Muslim, or Atheist. In the end, we are hoping that happiness comes our way and that we make a difference when it comes time to call it a day.

So, make sure you vote. And more importantly, regardless of the outcome, show dignity, respect, and sacrifice so that we can leave things a little better than when we found it.

Photo was during a massive forest fire in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Change is in the Air

I think Autumn is here.... One day, it's 80 degrees and sunny and the next day it's 40 degrees and foggy. The leaves are turning and falling in the wind. Squirrels are busy loading up on acorns and pine nuts. You can smell the spicy scent of smoke in fireplaces. A great time to be on the mountain!

Tomorrow, I'm showing at the Pine Cone Festival in Twin Peaks. Hopefully the weather and economy don't put too much of a buzz-kill on the event. I did a few new pieces for the show and offer up "Happy Hour" as a tribute to shortening days and crisp nights.

A Bad Day of Fishing Beats a Good Day at School

Kyle played hooky for a day on the high seas. We left out of Dana Point Harbor for a day of fishing. While we were looking for yellowfin tuna, all we could find were bonito, a lesser known member of the tuna family.

We both caught our limits and had a great time trying to haul up the mean, nasty, aggressive fighters. And, I walked away with my 3rd consecutive boat jackpot for the large fish of $100.00. Not a bad day at all.....

The Bronchitis Blues

Well, I thought I beat the early seasonal flu until Sunday night, when I was (literally) up all night with coughing fits. Rolled my sorry butt into the doc's office today and confirmed I've got a good case of bronchitis going. Hope with antibiotics, I'll get to improving. My fantasy is to be at least well enough by Saturday to go out fishing on some kelp beds with Kyle; the red snapper, rockfish, and sea bass are biting.

At least the ladies made it through their bout with kennel cough and are basking in some early morning sun.

First Show Success

I exhibited at my first real show this past weekend. The traffic was slow, but I still ended up selling 10 pieces. It was a watershed moment because while I was busy with the art show, Tami was busy teaching her first class on papercraft techniques. It showed me we can earn some fun money in retirement when we get to that point.

The best part of selling my work wasn't the money; it was the validation that someone else might actually enjoy what I'm trying to do. Knowing that some of my prints are now adorning some walls (even the bathroom wall would make me proud) in folk's homes makes me feel pretty good!

I learned some good things as well; Be polite, not pushy; pass on your excitement for the work; be gracious with compliments and criticism's; don't judge a customer by their cover; everyone is a critic; and fellow artist's are the greatest resource.

Leaf Etchings

I've got a full head of steam going into this Autumn Show! Here are a couple of etching's of oak and maple leaves. Being a warm color person, these were very satisfying to do. Image size is 4x4, framed and matted to 9X9. Used Akua soybased inks. Back to the studio!!!!

Latest Offering

Just completed a nice print and presented it on torn wallpaper in a floating frame. The frame size is 16x20, so it's pretty large .The title is "Fly Away Home" after the movie about Canadian Geese. I have my first Art Show in two weeks, so I'm very busy trying to get enough quality work for a show. Hope it goes good!