jane, stop this crazy thing!

Saturday hit the Chandler parade of lights. Kind of a bust for shooting as bright lights in the dark on moving floats is not the most conducive situation.

However, I did like this shot of a little girl on a pony ride. No weird lights here.

Dawn and.... Santa!?!?!?!

Dawn's school had some fundraising events on Friday night and Saturday morning and I had the opportunity to take pictures of kids visiting with Santa on both days.

Here's one special kid who got to share her Christmas list...

santans

random desert image...

Old Town Scottsdale

Found ourselves in Old Town Scottsdale, today. Very much a shopping mecca for the tourist. Kinda cool, all the same. Dawn and I got some pix. Only the boy with the branch is mine. Here goes.

no 'mo

So we took Cosmo to Cosmo Park today and he had a swell time. See?

Except that this isn't Cosmo! It's a younger, svelter, softer-coated aussie that happened to be hangin' at the park, too! Aside from the skinny, pretty close resemblance, eh?

Happy Thanksgiving

... and how can ya not be happy when you're thinking about all you have to be grateful for!?! Of course, friends, family, health, shelter, and..... food!

hope everybody is having a nice day and enjoying their food comas! And how about those Lions, eh?

a spread from the Novack photobook

...so I've been working on a photobook for Becky and Kevin Novack's parents. I just finished yesterday and here is one of my favorite spreads...

Weekend Winnings

Hello Our Peeps and Homeboys! (eh?)

We had an interesting weekend of minor treasures.

First, some barely related grocery shopping. Saturday morning we ventured out to stock the pantry (in general and for Thanksgiving). When it came to look at the turkeys, they were pricier than we expected as Dawn had seen them cheaper elsewhere. So we resigned ourselves to going to the other store later.

Then in the afternoon, 2 events were being held around the corner at the golf club. One, a car show, and two, a vendor thing from a local business group. So, over we went. I figured I'd shoot some cars. The car show was lame-o. Only like seven cars and they weren't that impressive.

So, into the vendor event. One of the main sponsors was an computer repairman, web design, etc. etc. guy. And he was offering free laptop computer tune-ups! Now, Dawn's laptop has been slow, slow, slow for about forever. So we let him do his magic and voila! Now the machine is working MUCH better!

Then, to add compliment to terrificness, they were holding a raffle and we won a turkey!

So, sometimes the good fortune comes in small packages! Small, delicious packages! Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. The bird is actually rather large, so... to our friends and family from MI, feel free to drop in for Thanksgiving dinner!

The Non-News Gazette

Hello Friends and Family!

I feel the need to make a post even though nothing very interesting has been going on!

Dawn's been an extra busy lady, what with work and being a super-terrific wife and doggy-mama! The dog and I have both been extra needy lately. Thanks Dawn!

Last week was Veterans Day and Dawn's class had a special visit from a vet. Thank You, veterans!



Then Dawn made an appearance at a birthday party for one of her students. The pinata lost it's head in one swipe!

Lessee, what else? There are new balls in the air around these parts. In addition to the daily dose of golf balls, yesterday I found a football in the yard! Much easier to hit with a golf club, I guess.

Cosmo recently met his new veterinarian. Within walking distance from the house. They seem nice enough. But Cosmo was still a bit wary. Treats helped. Helped to make him fat that is!

Guess that's about all there is on the homefront. Hope everyone is gearing up for a terrific Thanksgiving. More soon.

Bye-0!

Weird Highways

We've got some odd highways here in the Phoenix area. Weird, weird, weird.....

How Hot?

Kind of fun to watch one of this big bad boys get all puffed up and rarin' to go.

fire hydrants...???

Three crazy fire hydrants that sit in front of a now defunct Tempe restaurant that Dawn once dined at. Those wacky college towns!

Mary's Gonna Fade Away...

Seems Mary had a rough Halloween. Something about a wasting malady or a flesh-eating disease. See for yourself, she's just a shadow of her former self...

Balloons in Anthem

A few miles down the road, there is a community called Anthem in the town of Florence. And part of that is Sun City, a planned community for retirees. They had a small festival today that included a handful of hot air balloons. Here are some pix:

I Shot The Cover (but I did not shoot the deputy)

I shot the cover of Glamour Magazine!

The super special in-my-mind-only November issue!

Oh, what have I become!?!?!

Oh, woe is me!

You Votin'?

You votin'? I'm waiting for Dawn to get home from school (she has the automobile) and then we are off to vote at the local elementary school (not hers - closer).

So, Go-bama!

I hear some places will give you yummies if you flash your "I voted" sticker. I heard Starbucks and Krispy Kreme but don't hold me to it.

HAPPY VOTEY VOTEY DAY TO YOU ALL!

The Nautilus Engine (online mag)

... of awesome speculative fiction has just put out another fantastic quarterly issue!

I just got done with the crazy little puppy and it reads pretty swell. Finished up Christian's Holmes story with part 2, and we've got 4 brand new stories. They are fun/spooky/thought-provoking, etc.

So check it out at www.thenautilusengine.com !

Thank You!

I'm little Ronnie Warren and I approve this message!

Last night the town of Queen Creek hosted a Halloweeen Trunk or Treat Night.  Folks (like us) sponsor a car trunk, decorate it, and serve up candy to the chillins in a nice, safe environment in the park, while simultaneously trying to promote our business.

Here's Dawn with our happy Halloween Candy Monster trunk.

Reading Night

Last night was "reading night" at Harmon Elem. Teachers dressed up as childrens book characters and read the kids a book. Then organized related activities for the kids. Ms. Nelson, from Dawn's second grade team, dressed up as Ms. Nelson from Miss Nelson is Missing! by James Marshall and Harry Allard.

Of course that would be her choice!

A swell time was had by all.

Makes You Think

Dawn took this intriguing picture at a cemetery just outside of a church on an Indian Reservation to our west.

I find it very thought-provoking, the juxtaposition of the flags and the twisted barbwire, all haunting the gravestone of a lost veteran.

Kudos, Dawn!

more nay-chur

moo

horseys!

I know, should be on the other blog, but this was the "most purtiest" stuff on my journeys this week. Coming back from the bank on Monday, I found myself near a field with a bunch of horses. So here are two of 'em.

Black Bart?

Good guy or an outlaw?

I didn't stick around to find out. He looked mighty eager to use them six-shooters.

I ducked into the saloon because everybody knows that trouble never breaks out in a saloon.

Stanley Out and About

Exploring Sunday

Hello~

Today we did a bit of exploring because this weekend the temperatures have been extremely bearable! Even a bit chilly at night. So... we went to the neighboring town of Coolidge. Pretty much their only claim to fame is the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. Some rocks that constituted homes for the Hohokam Indians about 1,000 years ago. Not amazing, but we've passed it a few times and we had to check it out.

Then we meandered in Chandler. We've journeyed through parts of it before, but we stumbled upon their downtown area today. Kind of cute. Just window-shopped as most of the shops were closed. Here's Dawn enjoying some swell columns. Perhaps a bit too much.

Literal A-HA video

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

This thing's getting a lot of play on the net. The video is just the old "Take On Me" thing from A-Ha in the 80's. But some clever folks changed the words to literally reflect what is going on, bit by bit.

We think it is mighty funny. Later!

A Very Skinny Visitor

Guess who just popped in for a visit?!?! Flat Stanley!

Evan Sketch shipped over Stanley from his third grade class Barnard Elementary in Troy, MI!

We have one week to have adventures! The timing is great. I have fall break next week (after conferences on Thursday and Friday this week). I don't know what type of adventures we'll go on, but we'll try to do some cool things together in sunny Arizona. It's 96 degrees right now.

Well, I will keep a journal of his adventures and perhaps a video as well!

Take care!
Aunt Dawn

Sick Little Monkey

Sell photos on photrade By RonnieD

Dawn is home sick today (sore throat, little run down). So, in her honor, we post:

SICK

"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more--that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is. . .Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

~Shel Silverstein~

Cool as a Cucumber

Sell photos on photrade By RonnieD

Why is there a polar bear here? Basically I'm just testing out a new site/service/stock type joint called Photrade.com. Ya post your pictures, then other folks can grab 'em for their blogs and whatnot, but it goes with a little ad and the original photo dude gets some money every time it is viewed. We shall see, we shall see...

Mummenschanz

Dawn is a major fan of that old-school performance art, Mummenschanz, a sort of experimental Swiss mime troup. She says we have to go see them if they ever tour again. But, I fear (gasp!), that not only is mime dead, but so, probably, are these people. Not that any ol' mime inclined folks couldn't pull it off.

This here is a Mummenschanz bit from the Muppet Show from 1976. Ah, I remember the bicentennial fondly, but not in any way, shape, or form involving Mummenschanz!