Never forget 9/11/2001

There are events you'll always remember where you were when it happened.

For me, I was arriving at my office in Baton Rouge, finding long line of people were waiting for the Tuesday Morning store to open just before 8:00 AM..  Two or three people had just received cell phone calls informing them that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center buildings.

After logging on to my computer, I walked back to my break room and flipped on the TV to check the news.  Sure enough the crash event was on and I saw smoke billowing from one of the buildings.  Of course, my mind was racing on how in the world such a tragedy could have happened when I looked and saw the second airplane hit.

It didn't take long to process that and know, I had just witnessed an attack on America.

At that point, our lives had changed forever.  I'll never forget. 

Harvest Moon - Victoria County, Texas

The moon was beautiful but the mosquitoes were more than plentiful.  

 

Checking my compass trying to decide where this thing was going to come up, I stood just off the road across from a small pond waiting for 8:09 pm to arrive when this moon would appear.

Just before the rise, it began to become much darker and I could hear a swarm of mosquitoes approaching with a whine like a loose fan belt on an old truck.  As the moon rose, I found myself 25 yards or so too far to the north so I scurried through the weeds trying to get this shot with the windmill in it.  When I stopped moving and began to focus those blasted insects finally caught up with me.

Sure I'd love to have taken a bit more time setting the camera just right on the tripod but I found it nearly impossible to do so swatting those things off my legs. *Note* It's foolish to go into the weeds wearing only shorts and sandals.

Anyway, a day later, I'm still scratching what is probably a hundred or more bites.

Hope I remember this in August

Blizzard conditions in South Dakota.

More Whales

Out today on the Mahana Naia for a snorkel trip.  The fish were ... eh...so-so but the whales coming back were crazy good.

Ahhhhh...

Kamaole Beach I, Kihei, Maui, HI

More Whale Tails

More whale tails and a couple of highly manipulated (no shame) 
shots at Kamaole Beach 1 in Kihei, Maui, HI.

Whale Tail

Skeptical at first, Ms Darlene and i took one of those 2 for $30
whale boat tours from Boss Frogg's.
















It was packed with people but it turned out well for a 2 hour tour.
We saw lots of whales.

Flying Fish!!!

Calm down, I know it's not a fish.  Darlene and I were cruising the Piilani Highway between Ma`alaea Harbor and Lahaina and stopped off at McGregor Point (lighthouse) to watch a pair of whales show out in front of boats.  This shot was about 500 yards out near a very small boat.

Changes in latitude; changes in attitude.

What a difference in a week and a few thousand miles can make.

Before

After

Yeeeeee...hawwwww, Bronco Billy Rides Again!!

It seems as if the snow, wind and cold is relentless here in South Dakota.  With temps for the past week that never got above 20°,  all I felt like doing was go to work, stop off at a restaurant near the hotel then head back to my room. 

However...there was this big rodeo and stock show going on in Rapid City so I bundled up in a Pea Coat, down vest, scarf, hat and gloves and braved the -8° for the show.  I sat between two old former rodeo guys who continued to give me blow by blow, hoof to the dirt descriptions of what every rider was doing right or wrong.  This rodeo had laser light shows, high tech clowns and instant playback screens that focused in on the hands of the riders rosining up the ropes and gloves.

This night, the show was on bareback and saddle bronc and bull riding.

Here's a few shots from it all.