T-Rex on Vaca

Let me start by saying, I can't believe I didn't get video and only snapped pictures as T-Rex made it's way through iconic national parks the past couple weeks.   It all started this June when my Sarah requested T-Rex for her 13th birthday and I loved the idea.

When she opened the gift her first question was, 'can I take this on vacation' to which mom laughed saying, 'you know dad is already planning on it.'  

So T-Rex traveled a few million years and a couple thousand miles via SUV to take pictures in the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier NP and Mount Rushmore.   Here are just a few of the adventures that we had while taking the airy beast around.

 It was very interesting to see the two most common reactions to T-Rex coming out.  First, I was amazed at the number of people who seemed completely unfazed by the giant nylon reptile.  They would see it and have zero reaction and go about their way.  The second reaction was genuine happiness with the most common phrase being, 'You have made my day!' followed quickly by, 'Here is my phone, please take a picture of me with T-Rex!!!'

The top picture is KK from the Teton Cabin rental office as T-Rex celebrated her birthday by taking a chomp out of her.   She couldn't stop laughing.   Next is T-Rex making a quick call, one dinosaur inside another dinosaur in a single picture.  Get it?

Here T-Rex does the unexpected and decides to do a little kayaking on Jackson lake of the Tetons.  Unfortunately for Rex, the short arm syndrome makes working the paddles impossible.  Here the kayak rental person becomes another person requesting a candid pick.

 In Yellowstone T-Rex made it's way through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone at the lower falls overview site.  At this location I wish I would have taken a picture of the number of people who were completely indifferent to this plastic animal posing for pictures.

Here Rex considers taking a Red Bus tour through Glacier NP, but realized that the average age of the clientele of the bus tour was actually older than Rex.  Yikes!

Here is T-Rex with the crew from the Flying Pig Adventure company who took us white water rafting.  They wanted to tweet that Rex visited.  With all of the excitement, Rex left her tennis shoes behind.  Fortunately, when you call a few days later and say, 'I think T-Rex left her shoes', the crew more than remembers the reptile and happily mails the shoes back to Texas!  Rex has surprisingly petite feet.

Always being nature aware, T-Rex reads up on the local beasts that dominates Glacier NP.   For the tale of the tape, T-Rex takes the grizzly on speed, canine teeth size and claw length with the grizzly having the 'reach' advantage over Rex.   We looked and found bear spray to carry but there was no T-Rex spray to be found.

 T-Rex spreading the word of keeping wildlife wild!  Represent!

Flashing little known presentation skills, Rex presents the latest ranger program, 'Jurassic Park to National Parks, Take a Bite Out of Adventure'.   Rex especially liked the air conditioning that made staying in the costume longer easier as we waited for the park rangers to take a picture with her.

At the Glacier NP visitor center we were getting Sarah into the costume when a retired couple came up to us and the husband looked perplexed and said, 'I just don't get it!'.  Before I could respond his wife chirped up and said, 'I just is, it's fun!!!'  and I excitedly pointed at her and said, 'Exactly!'.

With Rex plumped up, we waited for the park rangers to be available for pictures (their request not ours).  I noticed the same retired couple over at the park's topographical map, but the husband continuously watched Rex's interaction with complete strangers.  First, there were the two brothers, about 5 and 7, who came over asking for a hug and a picture.  Then the teenagers with huge smiles came over for a picture mimicking the short arms and sharing that phrase, 'You made my day'.  Then another family with Rex in action chomping the mother's head.  Finally, the rangers were available and T-Rex drove obvious fear into the park ranger!  Shout out to the two rangers from UT and Pittsburgh!!!

It was at the close of Rex's Glacier NP photo session when someone grabbed my left arm.  I looked over to see that it was the husband of the retired couple getting my attention.  He leaned in and said, 'I just want you to know, I think your daughter has terrific parents!' he then smiled then winked.

He made my day!


T-Rex closing our the marathon road trip at Mt Rushmore!  Boy I wish I had taken video.  I really wish I had taken video.

Tulle Time

It has been awhile since I've posted, but after seeing disjointed yet related occurrences of tulle handling in a single day, I took it as a sign.  During the day I noticed a post to the internet of an artist using tulle and an iron to create incredible pieces of art. 

His name is Benjamin Shine and here is a link to his website that includes the various pictures that he created using tulle.

http://benjaminshine.com/projects_to_view/tulle-works.html

I especially like the illustration of the hands as well as the tulle flows.  Simple and amazing.

The following is a video of Benjamin working on his 'paintings'.   The short video is well worth your time.  The dancers are subtlety beautiful and the two faces for his wedding portrait are incredible.   I've never seen anything like it.

http://www.boredpanda.com/ironed-fabric-art-benjamin-shine/

So after seeing what this artist could create, I found it that more interesting when Jill coincidentally that night decided to clear out the 'dance costume closet'.  Stuffing outfit after outfit with bunches of tulle into the vacuum storage bags.   Then buy sucking out the air created her own tulle inspired modern art bag.  It had to be a sign - so it was time to get back to posting a note, a Friday's Note.

Bakers Dozen

The following are some of my favorite pictures of the past year.  I found it difficult to whittle the thousands of pictures I had taken down to just these few.   I started with the elimination of some entire categories of pictures.  I discounted portrait pictures that I had taken telling myself that picking from those pictures would be like choosing from my kids.  I also decided not to include stained glass window pictures since I had recently posted using some of those pictures.   I also eliminated the bazillion dance and drill team pictures that I had taken of my daughters.  Facebook has been populated with plenty of those pictures throughout the year.  Eliminating those categories of pictures started to make the selection process easier, but the vacation to some of our nation's best national parks certainly complicated things.
So after all of that, here are the pictures I selected, along with some rational as to why I picked each snapshot for this yearly review.

Venus Setting

The first selection is a night time shot from the McDonald Observatory.  It was a great time during our spring break trip with a fun constellation presentation and the many mini observatories open for viewing the vast universe.  The only thing better than taking in the night sky were the tall hot chocolates that to take the bite out of the cold night air.  I picked this particular  shot since it shows Venus setting low in the west sky and the 'Seven Sisters' cluster of stars high above.

While the milky way wasn't as pronounced as we would have liked, the overall observatory experience was a great time during our trip.

Rio Grand at Sunset, Big Bend NP

The origin of this next picture was the discovery of a post card at the Big Bend National Park visitor center.  My daughter wanted to take this iconic shot of the suns reflection off the Rio Grand with the stark desert landscape glowing at the close of the day.  After asking a number of park rangers about the location shown in the post card we found the location which naturally was the southern tip of the park and at the top of a little knob where the Rio Grand makes the 'big bend' with Mexico being on three sides of the hill we were on. 

Of course taking a picture at this southern most outpost of the USA leads to interesting experiences at the US Border Patrol when you roll in late at night on the way back to the hotel.  But that is another story.

Des Monies Sculpture

During the summer went on a business trip to Des Moines Iowa.   A little walk from the hotel was a collection of sculptures in a city park.   I was drawn to this piece of art, a collection of letters in the shape of a human sitting with their knees pulled in tight.  It was so interesting from each angle and the lighting at night added a whole other dimension to the experience.

The next picture is of the Dallas skyline.  May 2015 was a month long deluge after years of a drought in north Texas.  A side benefit of the month long rain was the flooded Trinity River allowing for a reflection of the city at night.  The red, white and blue of the lights are from the Memorial Day themed lights outlining the building and Reunion Tower.  On the far right is the iconic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge with it's beautiful single arch suspension cable design.

Dallas Skyline Reflection

Centennial Football

 The following is part of my Friday Night Lights picture collection.  I got into the habit of taking pictures of my daughter's drill team and her friends in the Titan band.  This picture is a pregame snapshot of the football team coming out of the smoke tunnel.  Somehow this picture stood out as a particular moment in time, the anticipation of the game to be played.  Or maybe I just liked it.  Either way, this picture was one of my favorites of the fall campaign.

Grand Canyon North Rim

The next picture is from the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  Unlike the south rim, the north rim is has one tenth the number of people which leads to a calmer, quieter experience.  I liked this picture with the window opening of the rock and the sky clouds enhanced by Lightroom only slightly.  The north rim is certainly a place I hope to visit again soon. 

The next picture was a quick snapshot taken of a girl who spotted me taking pictures.  I just loved the composition of the girl against the blue garage door.  I textures of the location seem jump out of the picture.

Bangalore Girl

The next picture I went back and forth as to include it or not.  I ended up including it for a couple reasons.  First I don't believe that I've ever had the feeling of guilt when taking a picture like I had with this snapshot.  The picture of these two women begging had that impact on me.  Truth be told this picture could have been taken in any city, Dallas, Pittsburgh or in this case Bangalore.  The close proximity of poor and well off just seem a lot closer in Bangalore than from here is the sub-burbs.  The other reason I was drawn to this picture is that this one shot captured the two women and the people seeming to pass them by as just another part of their day.  Made me think of the number of homeless I had passed by in my home town over the years.  That compounded my guilty feeling as our driver was navigating through traffic to our brand new, state of the art office building. 

Bangalore Sidewalk Scene

Grand Canyon Sunset

If you want to feel small this next picture introduces you to that concept.  The picture is a trip back to the Grand Canyon.  This past summer marked a fundamental shift in my oldest daughter's view of visiting the national parks.  Here she is greeting the sunset at the close of the day.  The other reason that I liked this picture is that it shows that you can edit out six random people from the picture when they won't take the hint to move when you are taking the original picture.  Some people!

The Watchman Zion  NP

Of all of the national parks the Grand Tetons are my favorite, but Zion is likely my 1A park.  There is a reason that more than 3.6 million people visit Zion NP each year.  Zion includes my favorite hike (the Narrows) not pictured here.  Also contains the hike I couldn't complete (see last August blog post).  What I've included here is a picture of the Watchman mountain kissed by the setting sun and the trees in the foreground hugging the Virgin River for what little water is available in the desert.

Milky Way over Bryce Canyon NP

The next park in our summer visit was Bryce Canyon.  This picture I both like and regret.  I was standing on the rim of the canyon waiting for nightfall and star pictures.  It was then I spotted a photographer, with the largest tripod that I've ever seen lugged over his shoulder, headed down the trail into the canyon.  I watched from the top as he descended and studied where to stop on the switch backs in order to take the ideal picture.  He then setup remote lights that illuminated the hoodoos (hence the light in the foreground).  I should have headed into the canyon right then to take advantage of the situation.  Boy I wish I had, but rather I captured this picture from the rim.  The hoodoos are lit with the Milky Way high above.  It's an ok picture, but not what it could be. 

Due to the experience I created a new rule of photography life.  Rule number 47, if you see a photographer with a gigantic tripod, follow them.

I included this final picture from our hike back down the Angel Landings trail.  Alex was completely spent after scrambling to the top and Sarah was recovering from the disappointment of me not allowing her to hike to the top.  This picture reminds me of how genuinely happy they were.  No phones, no computers, no TV, it was as primitive as can be.  Well, primitive except for the camel back hydration packs, aluminum hiking poles and cool down towels.

 Just the two of them hiking together and talking,  Honest to goodness talking and laughing with each other.  Just a good day.

Angel's Landing Hikers

 So that is my baker's dozen of pictures from last year.  Hope you enjoyed them.

Tidings of Great Joy

Heinz Chapel Pittsburgh PA

This past Thanksgiving I had a chance to visit Heinz Chapel and St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.  For all the time I lived there I had never been to these two churches.  Between the two of them, I could have spent a day taking pictures of the stain glass windows.  As a matter of fact,  Heinz Chapel, constructed during the Great Depression, has the tallest continuous stained glass windows in the world. 

As I was taking pictures I noticed both churches contained depictions of the nativity and the related verses.  I love stained glass windows, a colorful kaleidoscope telling stories for those willing to stop and study them.  I was looking through my view finder when I received the concept of this Friday's Note. I hope you enjoy the following stain glass window story as a means of illustrating the 50th anniversary of a Charlie Brown Christmas.   

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?!

Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them!

Heinz Chapel Pittsburgh PA - The angel visits the Shepherd's

And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. 

St. Paul Cathedral - Nativity

And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.

St. Paul Cathedral Pittsburgh PA - Nativity window

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Thanksgiving and Neighbors

The following is a virtual tour of Thanksgiving Square situated in down town Dallas.  The park is a 3 acre wedge of peace, restful contemplation and a reminder to give thanks.  The Ring of Thanks and Circle of Giving leads to the bell tower with three bells in the shape of the Liberty Bell.

Peter Stewart presented a mosaic version of Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule” to the United Nations where Thanks-Giving Square was making global connections. This picture is of the lower third of the overall mosaic.  The mural is beautiful in it’s detail, colors and message.

The chapel itself is a unique spiral design with 73 stained-glass panels created by French artist Gabriel Loire forming the ceiling.  I find it interesting that 73 has subsequently been identified as ‘The Best Number’ as defined by Sheldon of the Big Bang Theory (see youtube for full explanation of why the number 73 is better than Chuck Norris).

This picture was gathered by laying flat on floor of the circular chapel taking in the beautiful collection of colors as they spiral into the glory window at the center top.  It is very quiet, contemplative and peaceful as you take in the kaleidoscope of colors.  The following picture is a little different angle of a section of the windows.

While the inside of the chapel is this flood of colors, the outside is a very un-assuming cement, plain finish.  Other than it’s spiral presentation to the sky it seems cold and just another part of the larger city around it. 

Adjacent to the spiral is a field of cobblestones with cascading water helping to mask the sounds of the city.  This industry design seemingly hides the wonderful surprise that is the stained glass windows that shine down upon visitors. Upon leaving the 3 acre park, visitors are left with a final message and life rule.  

Seems as though the definition of neighbor is a challenge at times.

Gourdian Fun

This is a little smorgasbord of Halloween related links.  We start with the annual goard art work created by Sarah and myself while watching the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.


Pumpkin photography is always a bug-a-boo for me.  Could be the lighting, could be the cell phone, could be the pumpkin guts on my hands as I'm trying to take the picture. Here are the best snapshots that I was able to take last night.

Brian's Pumpkin





 Sarah's Pumpkin





She had help with the power drill for the pixie dust trail.


Now for the conveying the real potential of using seasonal gourds as innovative lighting designs.  The following are pictures from the artist, Calabarte, who takes the pumpkin concept to a whole new level of lighting art.

Pictures from Calabarte website





His gallery can be found at:  http://calabarte.com/   This is where wonderful creativity and a Dremel tool come together.


Finally, people use to say that the code that I would write was scary.  Likely a fair assessment of my programming skills.  The following link will take you to what appears to be a fine line when judging programmers and serial killers by the cover.  Take the quiz to see if you can sort out the macabre from the geeks:


http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz/


Happy all Halloween.