Rusty barrel...

What more can I say? With the way the sun was hitting it, it looked like it would make a nice desktop. So, click it, save it, use it, and spread the word :)

Hard water...

Weaves...

Desktop sized.

Analog in a digital world...

I came across some slides from when I was in high school. I think this was '89-'90 sometime around Halloween. That was a Freddy Krueger costume I had made.

I thought it would be interesting to show a self portrait while taking a step back in time. An old piece of analog; brought to you through digital means.

...Mirror : rorriM... ah, close enough...

Two and a half weeks ago, MCF posted a PBW based on reflections. The great idea rubbed off and I worked on similar theme. I hope you will visit his post and enjoy the below photos.

What is it? It is an IZ! Can you guess where it is/iz from?


I love magnifying glasses.


Oink, oink...


Young love...


What "local" bands did you listen to as a teen?

Who needs a wing AND a prayer?...

I took these about a week ago and was still getting used to the camera's settings and feel for capturing a moving target on a not so bright day.




I only wish there were no other birds around this one. What a shot it would have been.


Just wait for a bright day, a steady hand, and a fast shutter ;)

WIIF #49

Next week is a big one, so don't forget to read THIS POST!

Once again, last week brought two more WIIF?s and good guesses by Junie, BeccaDink, and a finalization from MCF!

Without further ado...
and with apologies for the picture quality...
Here is What Is It Friday? #49



BeccaDink zipped this weeks "WIIF?" to a close. Tune in on Friday for the big 50th!





The fine print: On Fridays I will post an image in hopes that visitors will leave a guess in the comment section. The following Friday (or when someone guesses correctly) I will post a wide shot of the item. Each Friday a NEW image, along with a link to the previous weeks post, will be posted.

Karma...

What a great day for news...

"A WOULD-be suicide bomber fell down a flight of stairs and blew himself up as he headed out for an attack in Afghanistan, police say."

Click for full story...

I can't resist...

"Twenty members of the Polish Air Force returning from a flight-safety conference have been killed when a transport plane crashed in the northwest of the country."

Click for full story...

And the cow jumped over the moon...

Any questions?

All I need is a pipe and a Sherlock Holmes hat...

Can't you envision it ;)

Heath Ledger...R.I.P.

Heath Ledger was found dead in his NY apartment today. Sleeping pills were reportedly found around his body.

Here is a weird video where he is quite fidgety... HT Rey



This is a sad day :(

Eternal sleep...

This is a grave discussion (sorry) that needs to be spoken about with loved ones; before it's too late. I'm still deciding.

Burial(above or below) with embalming... cremation with scattered or buried ashes... I'm leaning toward the latter.

I found this old cemetery surrounded by houses on a country-like road. Most stones were weathered. Some were broken. Some were dated from the late 1800s.

This stone was new. A replacement as the burial dates were quite old.


When I saw this one, the only word that came to mind was scarred.


Have you decided?

Fenway...

Fenway is one of our pups that has been having a blast with his new owners these past few weeks!

A worthy winter desktop...

Click for super-size...

Lake Grove historical barn...

This barn sits on a a residential road with houses on either side. The property seemed to be 200 feet wide and then a few hundred feet back.


It is not in the best condition and tools are hanging in front for visitors to see.


I'm sure this was used to grab hay bales... but I'm not sure of the name of the tool.


If you hang a horseshoe this way... doesn't all the luck run out of it? I thought it was supposed to hang like a "U".


That is one old rake.

It's over Johnny!...

At what point is it just considered a mess? And when do you take it down?

Click it...

WIIF? #48-b

Since that was guessed rather quickly and Friday is not over yet...

Here is What Is It Friday? #48-b



BeccaDink's mind was plugged in to this weeks "WIIF?" and MCF finally got "JACK"ed...



The fine print: On Fridays I will post an image in hopes that visitors will leave a guess in the comment section. The following Friday (or when someone guesses correctly) I will post a wide shot of the item. Each Friday a NEW image, along with a link to the previous weeks post, will be posted.

WIIF #48

Don't forget to read THIS POST!

Last week brought two WIIF?s because MCF, Scott, and Ms. A are just too darned good!

Here is What Is It Friday? #48



Junie scores 50pts with a bullseye!



The fine print: On Fridays I will post an image in hopes that visitors will leave a guess in the comment section. The following Friday (or when someone guesses correctly) I will post a wide shot of the item. Each Friday a NEW image, along with a link to the previous weeks post, will be posted.

Thursday... in a nutshell...

I woke up at 7am. As I opened my eyes I saw that Devon was laying along side me; facing me. Then... "BAM" she batted me in the face with her paw and I immediately pulled a Kelso and yelled "Ow! My eye!"

I noticed throughout the day that my right eye was now impaired. During a meeting at work I covered my right eye and could see clearly. But when I covered my left there was blurriness. Together they seemed OK though as the left helped keep things in focus.

Driving home in the dark made it more noticeable. I noticed a bit of a rounded flair around any lights; street lamps, headlights, tail lights, traffic lights... Covering my good eye made me realize what a difference there really was. Things I could normally read were also blurred.

I called my wife to tell her what I was seeing and get her opinion. I decided that if my vision did not return to normal in a few days I would visit an optometrist.

Fast forward to dinner...

We sat down to a pizza dinner and I continued to cover one eye and then the other. Then with my good eye closed I looked over at my lovely wife and stated "Yu're Purrr-ty!"

I then switched eyes and said "Oh, never mind..."

Now both eyes are kinda blurry ;)

The Guardian...

Sit upon the throne
The world will be your oyster
Supper time is here
—b13

"Are we clear?"...

"Crystal" :)

I coulda' used some backlight...

Let's make some noise...

Awfully Quiet

I like noise that's why I'm livin' where I am.
I like the noise and confusion of a traffic jam.
I like the sound of a jet as it's shakin' my dwellin'.
I like ragin', rampagin', and screamin' and yellin'.

Sound of a fire engine headed for a fire,
Emotions so high they can't get any higher.
Goin' out of control in an outta-hand crowd.
I like noise and it's gotta be loud.

Awfully quiet on the streets yesterday.
People on the streets had little to say.
I walked the streets and barely heard a sound.
It was awfully quiet on the streets downtown.

Sometimes quiet's okay, sometimes quiet's alright.
Given the choice, I like noise, morning, noon, and night.

Awfully quiet on the trains last night.
People on the trains kept the conversation light.
I rode the trains and barely heard a word,
Quietest train I ever heard.

Sometimes quiet's okay, sometimes quiet's alright.
Given the choice, I like noise, morning, noon, and night.

It was awfully quiet and I needed some noise.
I got on the phone called up the boys.
I was jonesing so bad, I could barely hack it.
They came to the house and kicked up a racket.

They turned my place on its ear,
the boys began to riot.
It felt so good to hear
on a day that was so quiet.

I screamed and cheered them on,
And helped out where I could.
And when they all were gone,
I was feeling GOOOOOOOOOOD.
—Mighty Mighty Bosstones

"B" is for bitch...

And boy, do I have one in my house.

Let me explain, before I have feminists on my front lawn with pitchforks and torches.

Our oldest border collie is female and therefore a bitch (female dog.) My wife, as well as all her dog friends in their circle, refer to their boy and girl canines as boys and bitches. When on her cell phone in public places this can sometimes cause stares and guffaw from passing parents with young children.

But where am I going with this?

Lately, our bitch/princess has had a bit of an attitude. As my readers know, she had a litter of pups a few months ago and most are in their new homes with their new owners (and doing quite well I might add.)

We always had the little thievery's... You would be on the phone and she would be on the couch. You would leave the kitchen, with your burger on the counter, for a minute and it wouldn't be there when you returned. She wouldn't be on the couch either but you swore you heard the clap of the doggy door a second ago.

Well, a few weeks ago, mama chewed through a "bin" that held her dog food. Yes, CHEWED! Now, we feed her twice a day and we spoil her with our food... as well as biscuits, carrots and the occasional piece of cheese. The "bin" was a Rubbermaid garbage pail with a locking lid.

I came home to a destroyed bin, dog food everywhere, little plastic bits of the lid, and a bitch with a VERY full belly. First I checked to see that she didn't break any teeth... then I scolded her. She knows right away when she does something wrong. Scoldings are not even necessary most of the time.

So, we bought a hard plastic bin with a screw on top. But that didn't stop her from getting into the puppy's food. We kept that in a big metal canister with a metal lid. She knocked it over and beat on it until the lid popped off. VERY full belly number two. And another hard plastic bin with a screw on top was purchased.

Things calmed down for a week. (Did I mention that border collies are the smartest dogs?) They calmed down until she learned how to open the pantry door. Then she pulled the box of oatmeal packets out and had a feast. I came home and smelt the cinnamon and syrup right away. There were bits of paper everywhere... but not an oat of meal anywhere to be found. Easy fix, move all the food out of her reach. Pantry issue solved.

One week later, she stood up to reach whatever she could from the kitchen counter. That was a loaf of bread, a box of rice and whatever else we may have forgotten to put away the night before. Our mistake... I know. She did not get a scolding.

Fast forward two weeks. She knocked over the garbage pail in the kitchen and must have had a feast. But we had a mess to clean up. A week later she did it again... but after my wife left that morning, the bitch forgot I was still upstairs (or just didn't care) and I caught her in the act. I thought that might get her to stop. But, to be safe, I started to put an X-pen in front of the pail.

Well, where was I going with this? I woke up this morning and must have been having a VERY sound sleep... because I heard nothing. But as you'll see below she had a fine breakfast of the rice, beans, and chicken that my wife threw away last night after getting Caribbean take out.

When I came downstairs she was on the couch with a look of glee. As if I was about to take her out for a walk or to toss a ball. As if nothing had happened.





She is SUCH a bitch...

Is that a log in your hearth?...

Or are you just happy to see me? ;)


...Listen here, baby
and stop acting so crazy
You say your mum ain't home,
it ain't my concern,
Just play with me and you won't get burned

I have only one itching desire
Let me stand next to your fire (5X)

—Jimi Hendrix, Fire

You're gonna' wanna' click us both...

And you may wish that you have an extremely large screen...

My friend's pooches were so sleepy that they let me get really close to play with my macro lens. I have to see what these look like if I print them poster sized.

Bonus WIIF #47-b

In light of the insanely fast win for MCF and Scott below...

Here is BONUS What Is It Friday? #47-b



Boo-hoo... two insanely fast wins. I'm losing my touch. Ms. A gets a win though; and has some great new photos up at her site.



The fine print: On Fridays I will post an image in hopes that visitors will leave a guess in the comment section. The following Friday (or when someone guesses correctly) I will post a wide shot of the item. Each Friday a NEW image, along with a link to the previous weeks post, will be posted.

WIIF #47

Don't forget to read THIS POST!

MCF snuffed out last weeks "WIIF?"!

Here is What Is It Friday? #47



MCF didn't even give anyone else a chance to get this one. But Scott chimed in as well with a more accurate guess.



The fine print: On Fridays I will post an image in hopes that visitors will leave a guess in the comment section. The following Friday (or when someone guesses correctly) I will post a wide shot of the item. Each Friday a NEW image, along with a link to the previous weeks post, will be posted.

Coming soon...

In three weeks, I'll be posting my 50th WIIF?!

To celebrate, I will be giving a signed 8x10 professional print of the winner's choice!

I don't know how hard this one will be. Someone might get it right away... or maybe not. But I will be trying something a little different.

The first image will be up Friday through Saturday. I will comment if guesses are right or wrong, but will not give clues. Every day or so after ward I will add a picture to help you along with the guesses.

In the meantime we have three weeks to practice ;) Check back after midnight.

I've seen photos with "red eye"...

But blue?


And she squoze (it's a NY thing) hers soooo tight to hide her peepers!

Owen puppy...

Owen


...So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
–Bill Withers, Lean on Me

I don't enjoy politics....

But I like to stay informed...

At CNN.com, Bill Clinton was quoted as saying "But the idea that one of these campaigns is positive and the other is negative when I know the reverse is true — and I have seen it and I have been blistered by it for months — is a little tough to take."

Uh...
So, does that mean that one was negative and one was positive?

Devotion to ewe...

Ella


When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)
–Rihanna, Umbrella

Little, black-feathered, white-beaked, web-footed, duck-like bird...

Anyone have a clue as to what this might be?



Anyone have a clue as to what this may be?