Day 125

This image speaks for itself.

Let us not forget the elderly and infirm among us. My nephew Ammon shows us the way. A simple gesture. Just reach and take someone's hand -- with child like love.

Day 124

My niece Emma enjoying life.

Day 123

I took this image this morning at breakfast. What kid wouldn't dream of having a tree like this...

Image taken with a Canon PowerShot SD1000

1/25s f2.8 ISO 200

-tom

Day 122

Day 121

Something a little different tonight. Took this image with my Blackberry. Just thought it an interesting view.
( I seriously thought about editing the speedometer to show 140 mph...)

This picture sits on Norman's desk. I took this image with my Blackberry as well.

Day 120

I really like the colors in this image of a stained glass lamp. 

Nikon D200 Nikkor 85mm 1/40s F2.8 ISO 400 on a tripod.

Haven't really been able to really open up and share my thoughts for a while -- not really. Obviously the joy of being a grandfather is topmost in my heart. It's amazing to witness the miracle of a newborn. Oliva has two fantastic parents in Heather and Andrew. Maybe this image reminds me of Olivia's inner glow and the beauty she brings to all of us. Maybe I'm reminded of the wonderfully beautiful happy child that Heather was. If you ever saw her on the soccer field you would wonder if that was ever the case. Heather is a true friend. I think that's one of the things that brought her and Andrew together -- they both have that quality. True friends are hard to find, but when you do there is an eternal bond. Sure you can go through tough times, but a true friend will be there no matter what. And it's not always just about them. Friendship can't be one-sided. Won't work. I can testify to that as most of you probably can. Turn it around and if it's always about you then that won't work either. Seek to understand then be understood (something from Covey). That's a powerful thought yet very difficult to do at times. Take a deep breath and try it out sometime -- you'll be amazed. I always am when I remember to do that. Ever hear of a "streak player" in sports?  That's when everything seems to go right and you can do no wrong. And then it kinda goes back to normalcy. I, at times, find my self a "streak player" in my friendships. I can really open up and then for a while I'm the biggest clam. Maybe you can relate. Wish I could explain it, but I just deal with it and hope others understand.

I think friendships harbor on different levels. We sometimes hear the term "best friends". Perhaps that's when you have a deep filial love for another person that is returned. I think a friendship is a two-way interaction. You can give unconditional love and not have a friendship. But I think in a "best friendship" unconditional love is there. 

Just some thoughts I'm pondering tonight.  Hope you know who your friends are. I believe these wise words: by their actions you will know them.

-tom

Day 119

This image speaks for itself...

That's the smile I fell in love with when we were 18. It still looks the same to me.

I took this image with my Nikon D200 and Nikkor 85mm 1.8D with an SB-800 speedlight and a Gary Fong  lightsphere diffuser. Settings: 1/60s F5 ISO 200

Day 118 - Partial Lunar Eclipse

I took this image at 5:48 CST this morning. You can clearly see the partial eclipse which is the earth's shadow.  I checked around midnight and it was a full moon last night. This was low on the western horizon this morning and I had to shoot between a tree just to the left of the moon and a neighbors roof line just to the right of the moon.You don't see them because they are too dark in this image. I also had to shoot from the middle of the street with my tripod. Gladly no one was out this morning...

Just for reference, this is my post back from March 28, 2010. I had more time to get the settings right back then. This is what the moon would have looked like in the above picture without the eclipse.

I'm thinking I need a good telescope with a T-mount to attach my Nikon D200. Yikes! This could become an even more expensive hobby. Angel has some contacts with the McDonald Observatory -- maybe we can get some time on one of those telescopes? They have amatures nights and more likely we can talk our cameras onto one of those telescopes.

-tom

Day 117

Day 116

So, I got to hold my beautiful granddaughter tonight for a long while. What a treasure!  I'm sure she will be perfect like this always... OK, let's just enjoy the moment.

So here's a few more images from today.

Now that's a loving grandmother.

And this image taken with my Blackberry.

Day 115

Day 114

Olivia Michelle Brown

Yes, I'm a proud Grandpa.

Day 113

I passed by the Cig forest on the way home from work. Remember that only you can prevent forest fires.

Olivia Michelle Brown

Thought I'd throw in an extra post tonight with some images I took yesterday of my new granddaughter. Here is Heather with Olivia just hours after her birth. Fortunately they arrived in time at the Nativiti Birthing facility. As I understand it they almost qualified for a drive-thru delivery.

This image taken about 30 minutes after birth.

Proud papa. Andrew had a wonderful Father's day gift.

New Grandmother...

Aunt Sherylin

Uncle Sean

Aunt Jenn

More proud grandparents -- Howard and Paula.

And now for some more images of Olivia...

(Jenn took this image with my D200)

In the car and ready to go home. This is about 3-4 hours after birth.

I wrote this poem just before lunch back in 1994. I was trying to capture a moment in time when all seemed right in the world. Now seems an appropriate time to share.

Just a Moment

A warm remembrance of gleeful chuckles
Wafts gently, inspiring a playful dose of stifled giggles.
Aglow with wonderment, foretelling a gentleness
Known and reborn, is that next precious moment
When inspiration, full and enraptured
Radiates the warm knowledge of all that is good.
How uncommon that Fountain of Youth, intimate to all,
As espied over walls of self-doubt.
The trifling act of seeing what's there
Compels another chuckle as pure, honest simplicity
Overpowers the most futile self doubt.
The bubbling lift of heart swells eye to joy
And soul to soft, cloud like buoyancy.

-tom mcmurtrey

Day 112

Father's day today. Took this of Jenn and I at dinner tonight with Sean, Jenn, and Collette. I am so blessed with 4 great kids, 2 great son-in-laws and now a grand daughter. Life is good today.

Day 111

My new grand daughter!

-tom

Day 110

My baby.  Meet my Nikon D200 that I prefer to use. I have the 50 mm 1.8D lens attached for this image. I used my Canon SD950 to take this image, which is my favorite travel camera when I want to be more discrete. It's an interesting phenomenon, but when I pull out the D200 everyone gets self conscious. No one cares if you pull out a small point and click. I have a Heliopan UV filter. I like this one as it is thinner than most of the others. A filter is also good to prevent scratches on the lens. I learned that one when I dropped by D80 with a 18-200 lens attached. It crushed the glass in the filter and only a tiny minor nick in the lens that doesn't show up in images. That cheap $35 filter protected the $750 lens. However, I did drop that lens when I was in the Alkmaar cheese market in the Netherlands. The lens was fully extended and hit the brick surface. Repair cost: $150. It worked fine, but I bought a new one and gifted that one to Jenn. She now uses it on my old D70 that I gifted her as well. It still takes great images. And yes, I've learned my lesson and hang on to my camera.




-tom mcmurtrey

Day 109

A small statue at dinner tonight with Angel at Pho Miss Saigon.

Day 108

The occupants of this nest left and are in South Africa attending the World Cup. If you listen to any of the games you can hear them.

Day 107

Dunno, but my salt and pepper have always gotten along just well.