Day 231 Sherylin The Great

 Contemplating her next great feat. 

 I think she's got it. Watch out!

Uh, Jenn, does that say Hot-N-Ready? We need to have a talk...

Day 230 Colors

If you like drab, dreary, pessimistic colors then turn back now! This geometric patterned decoration in the rafters of  one of our local haunts. If you've never had the opportunity of discussing anything with my son Sean then you've missed a real treat. He is one of the most intelligent and caring people that I know.

Day 229 glowing fields

This view met me as I walked into work this morning. The sun was shining of these whatever they are. Then I thought what is is like to see an entire golden wheat field lit up as if on fire from an early sunrise or a sunset. I'm sure that anyone who has been on a farm has seen that a few times. I have a heritage of that but grew up in the big city. I still feel somewhat claustrophobic in the big city and feel a very real unwinding of the pressures of the masses. I don't mind the masses, I just don't want them pressing in on my space. Guess I just want a bit more "space" than what I have.

Day 228 This way

Well, I know a few people that on principle will purposely go opposite to the given edicts we get in life.  I remember some wise counsel we received just prior to becoming parents. Rebelling is what many children today do very well. Don't fight it. Just teach them what to rebel against.

Think about it. Without a rebellious spirit of some great patriots this great nation would not exist. Just, well, choose your battles wisely.

Just liked this image. We got "tased" today at lunch.  Actually this is a pager and I would guess that this is the recharge connection.

Day 227 Texas Long Neck

Took this image walking out after dinner tonight. I think it amazes some people when they realize that I've never had any adult beverage

Day 226 Fish

This fish is one of Miss Olivia's friends when she comes to visit.

There is something wonderful and special that a grandchild brings. I know some that dread the day that they are old enough to have grandchildren -- a sign of getting older is what I guess.  I have wanted this day for many, many years. I celebrate this wonderful new life that my daughter and her husband have brought into this world. It's a touching thought to watch them raise this child. They've just started, but I have all the confidence and faith that not only will they be great parents, but that their children will be awesome people as well.  Sorry to make it harder by spoiling her, but I have to do my part ;)

Day 225

 Met this friend again on the way out to my car.

 Sunrise this morning as I drove into work.

This view looking into the side view mirror.

Day 224

 

Olivia

Olivia and Aunt Sherylin

Day 223 Heat

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I can do that with the best of them

Day 222 Historic Texas

Today Angel and I took off for a day adventure. We wanted to check out ghost towns near Brenham, but really there are not the type of ghost towns as you'd see in the old west. Instead we really just saw some older buildings and some of historic Chappell Hill. This is what appears to be an old gas station and merchandise store just across US290 at Chappell Hill.

We went into downtown Chappell Hill and noticed many vendors setting up. I stopped and asked Ms Whitmore (sorry if I have the spelling wrong) and she regaled us with stories of Chappell Hill. She informed us that everyone was getting setup for the Fall Scarecrow Festival.  She is 85 and her mind is much sharper than mine. I think everyone in town stopped by to give her a hug. What a wonderful soul and she is the essence of Texas hospitality.

Here is one of the many scarecrows in downtown. What I liked on this one is the shadow. Looks like the shadow is going to tip-toe away. (If you look close it's just the shadow from the arm.)

Another scarecrow.

Chappell Hill Bank building.

Looking up at the fire house.

As we walked about this big thing came through town. They had to have a few cars and trailers moved. Took about 30 minutes to get this through downtown. This reminded me of those self contained data centers. Some of the folks mentioned that in the past 5 a week of these would come through town.

Couldn't resist this view of the 18 wheeler. Actually I think it was a lot more that 18 wheels on this trailer.

:Lunch at The Royer's Round Top Cafe.

Inside one of the old homes at Henkle Square in Round Top -- population 77.

This piano in another room I love old pianos. No, I didn't get a chance to play this one. Not sure it was playable.

I liked the shadow of this oil lamp.

Wood burning stove.

And finally we found an older structure. This near Gay Hill on Wolfe Creek Lane.

And just past that building we stopped on the RR tracks where I captured these two images.

 These are the smokestacks at the site of the Baylor Female College near Independence, TX.

 This was part of the original plantation house.

And the placard right next to the smokestacks.

Day 221

This artwork sits on the desk of a friend at work. His heritage is from one of the first Americans. The symbolism here is powerful.

Tonight Collette and I visited some dear friends. This is some shadow and light play on their stairwell.

Day 220 UFO

This ceiling fixture reminds me of a UFO. And sometimes I think there are people at work that are from the outer limits. It's the only logical conclusion I can come to. Do you know someone like that?

 And this is the carpet underneath the above alledged UFO.  Just like the colors and patterns.

Day 219 Day's End

Walking out at day's end. I'm ready to get home. It was joyfully cool today. It was 55 this morning. Summer is officially over.

And just a moment and a few steps later I captured this image.

Day 218 Necessary Evil

I'm never excited to see this stuff...

This is one of the supposed haunted bridges on Patterson road. Perhaps I'll visit in the dark hours and see if I can capture an image of spirits of the Civil War soldiers who are supposed to make a trek past here.

Day 217 Soaring

What a thrill each time I fly and we rise above the clouds. This is at 31,000 ft.

 

Another view.

And at the grocery store for a few minutes before arriving home. Pumpkins are out everywhere in preparation for Halloween.

Day 216 Night

I took this image in the parking lot as I left from a14 hour long work day. Still have a few hours of work after dinner.  This image reflected my exhaustion. I had nothing more to give at this moment. I make to to a local restaurant and had to wait 20 minutes for a table. As I'm leaning against the wall trying not to be totally spent, I noticed an image out of the corner of my eye. It was a rainbow. Yes, even at times like this I can still look for rainbows. I have a good friend who loves rainbows. This made me smile.

Day 215 Midland

View from my hotel room in downtown midland.  I liked the warm colors as the day was coming to a close.

Day 214

I've always been facinated with flying. This is the cockpit view just prior to takeoff today.

Day 213 - Wild Hair

 

Ever have one of those wild hair days?

Day 212 Fuzzy grapes

This is a plastic fruit decoration that needs a wee bit of dusting. Ever seen people like this? I mean beautiful people with a lot to offer, but they just seem to not do much and just collect dust. But it wouldn't take much to shake off the dust and really take off. Maybe you've felt that way?  I know I have at times. And just like these grapes your greatness is just waiting to shine through.

Day 211 Flamingo

Went to the Houston Zoo today.  I captured this image of a flamingo on the way out. I really liked the vibrant colors. Strange birds.  Most of the time they had their heads upside down scooping up something from the water.  This was a rare moment when this one decided to strut around a bit. I understand that flamingos are very social and that they are monogamous.

Day 210 - Stuff

As I'm sitting at my computer tonight getting this blog up to date I capture this image of "stuff" just laying on the desktop. The 8GB compact flash card I normally use in my D200. My Blackberry  leash from work, keyboard to one of my computers and the long flashlight I got last Christmas. And that splash of blue at the top is a credit card piece of plastic used to spread thermal compound on a CPU. That's so the heat generated by your computer's CPU will more efficiently move to the heat sink and then removed by air flow generated by the CPU fan. And that little piece of silver just under and to the left of the blue card is the top of a CPU (Intel Pentium 4 1.8 Ghz). Well, really I just liked the 3D effect of the tall flashlight and so here it is...