Live from the Oscars!

Don't know if you know it... but I have made my way to the west coast of the USA. I've been out here for the past week working... and taking photos in my spare time! I have not had too much time for sightseeing... but I was able to get over to Hollywood yesterday. The place was crazy with preparations for the Oscars Sunday night! BUT... I did get a piece of THE Red Carpet!!!

I was collecting some dirt from the base of a palm tree (for my dirt collection - of course)... one of the workers saw me and came over to see what I was doing. He then asked if I would like a piece of the red carpet and handed me a section through the fence. How crazy is that??? I think that it is the perfect Hollywood souvenir!





















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Mexican food... Wal-mart...Sweet tea... oh my!

We are really down to the wire now! I spent most of today packing and organizing. I have also suddenly realized that I need to be enjoying those crazy little American things that I won't have when I get back to Ireland.

So today...
I stood out in the heat (it was around 70 here! )
I wore shorts .....
I ate sunflower seeds.....
I bought cheap gas.....
I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant....
I drove with the windows down.....
I at Capt'n Crunch for dinner.....

Tomorrow............ I am going to go to Wal-mart and Best buy!

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a great new year's celebration... here are a few pics of ours...


















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We are NOT sore losers!

Go Auburn! War Eagle!

The Iron Bowl

Forget the super bowl... It is time for the Iron Bowl!

For those of you who are not from Alabama - Today is the most important football game of the year. It is when the two largest (and some would say best in the nation) college football teams in Alabama meet for their annual game. To call it a game is a bit of an understatement. In the south - College football is more than just a sport or a hobby. It is life and death (well, maybe not - but for many people it is close!). Today at 2:30 The University of Alabama take on Auburn University. Alabama is currently ranked #1 in the nation, has an undefeated season, and has everything to lose. Auburn has not had the best of seasons, but have won the last six Iron Bowls.

Dee and I are going into the lion's den (aka my sister's house full of Alabama fans) to watch the game. All I can say is "war eagle" and "Beat Bama!"!



A scene from this afternoon's game?









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Veterans Day

Yesterday was Veterans Day. This year this national holiday was especially meaningful to me. I am all too aware of the wars that are going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as I am getting older I grow more and more appreciative for those who have sacrificed so much for others. Lately I have been reminded of this all too much......

Whenever we fly back to the states we are confronted with the droves of American soldiers on a layover at Shannon Airport (this is the refueling stop for troopers on their way to and from Iraq). We were there several Christmases ago and watched the long line of service men and women calling home to exclaim that they had made it to Ireland and would be home soon. I was heart broken while we were in Washington DC. We went to the museum of health and medicine. I had no idea that it was located on the campus of Walter Reed army medical center. The sight of so many injured young men was haunting and heart breaking.

So... this year we went to a local Veterans Day celebration to show our appreciation. Here are a few pics from around the memorial park...




















I will be posting more pics over the next couple of days.


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War Eagle.....

There have been many things that we have lost touch with while being over seas. One of those things is American sports. I really had forgotten just how football crazy everyone gets at this time of year. I have to admit.... It does not really feel like fall when you don't have the sounds of a band or see all of the T-shirts degrading other Universities' teams. This past weekend we went with two of my sisters and their families to the Auburn University football game. The fact that I had not watched a football game in five years or the fact that I had no idea who any of the players or coaches where didn't lessen the fun one bit! We had a great time... and all of a sudden it really does feel like fall.....

I have to say that the highlight really had to be seeing my niece - Lauren - march in the halftime show. Here are a few pictures from the day.



Lauren




The crowd




An extra point!




Touchdown!!!




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The day of days...

Well..... today is that magical day when America heads to the polls and votes! When Dee and I started thinking about all of the things we were going to participate in while we would be in the states - the election was one of the first things we thought of! Living abroad has given me a greater sense of my Americaness and I am very excited to join in this process! While we were in Washington DC I could not help but think of all the changes about to occur and I was filled with a sense of pride that my vote was going to be counted (and not simply mailed in absently). Seeing the White House and Capital building really brought out all of this sense of patriotism and duty.

Having said this - I am so SO excited to have the election over. I ask - who out there is NOT sick and tired of all the election commercials and coverage? I feel as if this day has taken years to actually get here, and there will be a sense of relief when it is all over with tonight (I hope that it is over tonight!). Well... I am headed to cast my vote!







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A few SCARY pics.... for tonight...

I don't know why... but this cat really creeped me out.
(taken on my parent's road)






(taken on my parent's road)






(taken at my dad's fishing spot)




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Only in America....

I saw the funniest thing the other day. It started with a dog in a bee suit... and then a dog dressed as a hot dog. As I followed the trail of dogs in Halloween costumes I had no way of knowing that there was an actual costume contest going on. A local Boston radio station was hosting the contest at the old hay market. I have seen some funny things.... but this was hilarious! There must have easily been forty dogs dressed to the hilt. The crowd made it hard to take pictures... but I was able to get a few of the faithful contestants.


My only regret was that I didn't get to see the Elvis impersonator... ha!


















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How long is your resolve?

This is Concepcion Picciotto. She - along with her partner - live and protest in a makeshift tent on Pennsylvania Ave - across from the White House. They trade off each six hours, and give the other a chance to go back to a local homeless shelter to rest. They survive on the generosity of others, and have held the "White House 24 Hours a Day Antinuclear Peace Vigil" continuously since 1981.

Thoughts from DC...

We have really enjoyed our couple of days here... but (WOW!!!) we never knew that we were going to have to walk SO much here! Each night we have crawled into bed absolutely exhausted.... and I don't even feel like we are seeing/doing as much as we could.

The one thing that seems to be the overarching theme here is "war". Whether that is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or past wars like WWII, the reminders are on every corner. The most sobering part was yesterday when we went to see the National Museum of Health and Medicine. We didn't realize it was located at the Walter Reed Medical Center. For those of you who don't know - this medical center is where many wounded veterans are coming for treatment. I have to say that it was very humbling to walk past so many injured young men.

From the fair...

Being out here has really been fun. We have done so many things that there really is no way to share them all. Over the weekend Dee went with her aunt for a few days, and I stayed with my family here in the city. Saturday night we went to the Oklahoma State Fair. Ok..... I know that this might be hard to believe... I don't think that I have ever been to a state fair before. It was a blast! I didn't ride any rides.... I did eat a few strange things... but best of all it was great to pal around with a couple of other photographers. Ron (my brother in law), Jason (Ron's son), and I ran around like a bunch of kids taking pictures.... pointing out shots to each other... and occasionally stopping to eat something fried. Here are a few of my pics...



















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More pics from the fair....

"The moment of discovery" - Ron (on the left) showing a few of his pics to the rest of the family. I think that my favorite part is the fact that Jason is in the background already framing up a new shot.




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