Sunday, April 25, 2010

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 4/25/10

It's time for my weekly look back at the week gone by in photographs I've taken and in words. This week will be more photographs than words as I know I'm showing a lot of images! I was on vacation in San Antonio, Texas, with a group of wonderful blog friends. Who says you can't meet fine people on the Internet? It all depends on where you hang out. If you're in sketchy places, you meet sketchy people. If you're on Jackie's TV Blog, you meet a fantastic array of fine folks!

Vincent made it through his boarding with flying colors. They loved him! They said he was one of the friendliest and sweetest cats they've ever had boarded there. He seems no worse for the wear and behaved well both coming and going.

I'm tired and a bit lame from my trip and need a vacation to get over it. I took way too many photos. I'm in the process of creating albums on my Photobucket account for them, breaking them down into categories. From there, a slideshow can be created. I have the feeling you'll be dealing with Texas in bits and pieces over the next bunch o' off topic Sundays.

Here we go, in kind of a random order -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:


Airport Security

Yes, I set off alarms with the knee replacement and had to go through extensive screening. They used that body scan thing on me once, then went on to wand and pat me down. It took an extra five minutes or so beyond "normal" people to get through. It was interesting and I always gave myself plenty of time. I have no issues with the TSA folks, but think if someone were to be determined, they'd get through anyway.


The Pool

This is the pool with the waterfall at the estate we rented. It was too cold to swim. The pool was unheated and needed cleaning. But it still was a focal point and really cool.


Water Lily

I took this at Wildseed Farms


Bobcat!

This huge Siamese cat was always hanging around outside the house. He had to be more than 20 pounds.


Use Cars - Sale

A building in one of the towns.


To the pool at the house


Fiesta Real Life vs. "Art"


Sunset over the wing above the clouds

I told you these are in random order!


Oh, deer

The place is infested with deer. But they're so beautiful I had to stalk and shoot them ... with my camera, of course.


Doe, a deer, a female deer


It's an illusion

The "tallest building in San Antonio" is merely a facade.


Ghost Signs



ED Mill in Johnson City

Note the pink armadillo. I wish we had spent more time here. We just passed through.


Alamo Fish Market


Faces

We were told the faces on the building in San Antonio were to ward off evil spirits.


Don't sit on the donkey



Another deer



Eek! A crowd!

I can't breathe! Help! Fiesta Week in the Marketplace is like a combination of Mardi Gras meets New Year's Eve in Times Square. SO not my scene. Help!


Cactus



Mom and fawn



Another bobcat

Dang, these Texas hills cats are HUGE.


Abandoned Chinese Restaurant

I like the seedy and decrepit. What can I say?


Where have all the cowboys gone?



Indigenous to Texas, we have camels

They must be. They were there. Well, along with cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, and horses.


Pretty, but will poke you



Butterfly

Wildseed Farms


Another butterfly



BEER

Fiesta Week in San Antonio, edited to keep people in color.


Rainy Baltimore layover


Remember the Alamo

I'll be getting more of the photos categorized and such, but need to get this up!

Slideshow of the house --



How was your week?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Blog Party Post 4/22 Episode



Yes, I'm back from San Antonio, although it would have been a ton of fun to watch the show with the group! It's starting in a minute or so. This post will be updated with the major events as they air here on the East Coast. Late tonight, my full review will be posted on TV Squad. But, until then, the real fun is in the comments area right here -- feel free to jump in with your thoughts on the show, everyone is welcome! Survivors ready?

The merge is on! Tribe name is YinYang. Danielle won immunity. Russell gave Parvati his idol, now she has two ... he doesn't know that.

Whoa ... Pavarti gave Sandra and Jerri the idols! The vote would have been Jerri, but JT sent home.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Off Topic - That Was the Week it Was - April 18, 2010

I'm posting this latest off topic photo post from San Antonio, Texas! I'm here with a fantastic bunch of blog readers and staying at a luxury estate. Photos of that can be expected next week, along with inevitable airport shots.

I'm going to make this entry a bit short and sweet, with photos I took before heading off to Texas ...

You're leaving me?

Vincent settling into his cat condo at the pet resort. I told him he needs a vacation from me!

Bold

What's that? Don't tell me they have dogs in the kitty condos!


You're really going?

Align Center Just a violet


I'm not sure what this one is ...

Venus flytrap, maybe? No, I'm sure it's not, but it looks that way!


Poison Ivy

It does look pretty! And, no matter how much they chop it down, it keeps coming back.

I want to say hydrangea or something to that effect.

I'm better at photographing them than naming them.


Wee baby buds


Why are you looking at my butt?

Scarf Lady, meet Sweater Dude

A romance set on NJ Transit trains

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Imagine, if you will, a picture ...

An ocean of violets in bloom ...


Animals strike curious poses ...

My apologies to Prince. Hmmm, a good caption?

1. Don't go to Texas!

2. Jaws of Death

3. Just a yawn.

North Street, Plainfield

I took this shot with the sepia filter of my old Pentax. You see, I left for work one day with my Canon which is my usual. However, its memory card was in my computer at home. Just as well, I like to play with the various filters on the camera. It's kind of like editing photos, but it takes the shot that way to begin with.


North Street with the illustrator filter on the Pentax.


East Front Street

I edited this one (taken with the Canon) to leave only bits in color.

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Even weeds have beauty

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When you miss a train, you miss it

You can't be one second late because they close the doors on you!

East Second Street billboards, edited

Well, I must get back to vacationing! How was your week?