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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The day of days

Well... we are headed to the airport... next post... (i hope) from Ireland!






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Today's Random Pic...

"Autumn down on the bayou..."






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Today's Random Pic.....

I know that this is a bit of an old pic - taken back in October... but I have been wanting to post it for some time.

This spot in the woods Virginia is one of my favorite retreat areas.... I always pay it a visit when we have to come back through there.






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A few more from the airplane...

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Where does heaven begin?

I took this photo from the plane window as we flew back south from our time in Boston. It just worked out that we were flying at the right time and the right place. The conditions were perfect: the sun was setting (which lit up the mountains and gave contrast) and their was this amazing cloud cover that enveloped the landscape. Best of all the plane only carried about a quarter of the people it could have, and so I the had freedom to keep moving from window to window and side to side to take pictures. I don't know exactly where this was taken, but I do know that it was over the Appalachian Mountains... I would guess around North Carolina.


I ended up with about 100 photos that I happy with... but this was by far the best. I'll plan on posting a few others in the next day.



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More from V-day...

The Veterans Day memorial took place in a large memorial park. There were all kinds of old tanks, planes and even ships. I toured an old WWII submarine and watched the sun set over a battleship. Amazing! Here are a few pics.


















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Last of the Washington pics....

Washington DC really was a cool place to hang out. Dee and I sent every night walking through the monuments and enjoying the sites - most of which were more beautiful at night. My favorite place to just hang out was the Lincoln monument. The stone monument seemed to radiate the heat of the day and was an awesome shelter from the wind. Dee shopped in the book store (so she was happy) and I sat at the top of the steps and admired the sights of this amazing city. The Lincoln monument it's self was awe inspiring. The great man eclipsed all that approached and there was a certain reverent silence among everyone in the shadow of the giant.

















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It is all over now....

Wahoo!!!


Yesterday was definitely a historic day in America... not only did the Democrats win the white house, but they now control both houses of Congress.








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Today's Random Pic...

From the south shore...






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Leaving Boston....

Well... we leave Boston in less than 12 hours from now. We have had a blast up here... and are sad to be leaving!

Here is a picture I took from the south shore looking back at the Boston's skyline.







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In the streets of Boston...

We had another great day out in Boston. In fact, we were able to meet up with some other old friends (from NC) that are now living up here. Kinda strange.... but we have several old friends that now live up here. We spent the afternoon at the children's museum and just hanging out at a local cafe. Another great day. Here are a couple of pics. This first one was taken in the museum (in one of the exhibits)... the second one was taken as we walked back to the subway (T)at the end of the day.







(Click to see this one larger)



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Today's Random Pic...

Sunset in Virginia







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A Post from VA...

We have been in the Commonwealth of Virgina all this week... We have spent most of our time in meetings and indoors, but we have had the opportunity to get out a couple of times and to see a bit of this beautiful state... I mean Commonwealth. I got up early this morning and went for a bit of a hike, and I saw one of the most beautiful sites of my life. It was a cold crisp morning without a whisper of wind. There was a blanket of fog that was so thick that I could hardly see three feet in front of me. I went down to a beautiful lake where the only sounds were that of frogs splashing in the water and Canadian geese calling in the mist. The sun was fighting to come out.... and slowly.... it was able to cut through the cool gray blanket with a dramatic beam of golden light. I stood there in waist-high grass speechless and awestruck at the beauty of creation.

In Ireland I often think about those early Irish Saints who so loved nature and felt that it has something to teach us........... today I think that I was a student and I learned something unspeakable...

















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Today's Random Pic...

Sunrise over a church in Oklahoma City








Another update coming soon!

Today's Random Pic...

We started seeing oil wells from the plane.....






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One of my favorite spots....

I wanted to share a couple of pictures from one of my favorite spots in my hometown. There is a beautiful nature trail on one of the mountains that just screams to be photographed. My family often goes up there to fish or have a picnic (but only seniors and children can fish the lake). I can remember as a child running the trails... feeding the fish... and having an adventure or two in the old houses and buildings along the trail. I have to say, however, that as an adult and photographer the coolest bit of the trail is the old covered bridge that spans a narrow section of the lake.












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