Rattle and Shake on the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III

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Thanks to the crew, the ride on the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III was exhilarating.

At first glimpse, this big bird looks like it will never get airborne.  Well, to my surprise, the 4 PW* engines make the plane roar and my bones shake.

As the plane banked at full throttle, in no time the C-17 was over San Clemente and then on to Santa Catalina island.

C-17 Globemaster III – March Air Force Base

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A special “thank you” to Ms. Weiz who made this ride a reality on Media Day.

*PW – Pratt & Whitney

Solo: To Be One

Solo: to be one. True or not?

The world looks at one as odd if one is doing the opposite of others.

Everyone stands on two feet and walks with one foot in front of the other. True or not?

While taking a picture, I saw four, maybe six. photographers or picture takers all doing the same.  I decided to lie down and see what the artist was trying to create in his art work.

As I walked away and turned back to take another look, I saw that those picture takers were NOW, too,  lying down on the floor taking the photo from another point of view. That just made me smile and laugh!

Another man's treasure says a lot.  Although outsiders were laughing as this man made his art, he pushed forward with all his heart. Today the question is: does he who laughs last, laugh louder or laugh better?

I laugh to see all those people enjoy what a “crazy” man did.  He was not, after all, crazy; he was a visionary who saw what others were blind to.

To treat people as equal is to enjoy what they offer, rich or poor. The gift of being is priceless. I see it in the treasure of art.

Onto my next stop down the NESW highway to find a million dog ears … LOL!

In The Wind

Butterfly and California Poppy and the warmth of the sun

Mother Nature never lies: what you see is what you get.

The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yesterday was a great day to learn about being free.

The sun and wind made for great walking and photo taking. The humming bird had ADHD, and the butterflies were enjoying the nectar of the flowers.

The path of joy is taking a walk with your heart open to the beauty that surrounds us.

The Never Eat Soggy Waffles highway never lets me down.

Jack-O at Five is on the path.

Error 20

I never really knew when spring came.  It never really mattered.  That is, until this year, when I started hearing other photographers talk about the flowers. 

Spring is here and so are the flowers!  Great!  Time to grab the camera and take off for another adventure along the Never Eat Soggy Waffles highway. 

Last Saturday was one of THOSE days, when everything seemed to go wrong.  It was pouring rain and I should have stayed in bed.  But not one to be deterred by a little rain and bad luck, I get back on the highway today and head north.  So it’s raining again, what could go wrong?  ERROR 20, that’s what!

I arrive at my destination and within 20 minutes of my arrival, I get an Error 20 on my camera.  What the …?!  Try this, try that – Error 20 keeps returning.  Time to put the camera away before it becomes a fancy paperweight … and time to go home.  It’s just another rainy day …

Happy Green Day!

It started Friday with a computer error on my laptop,  “Can't find hard drive” Fatal error!!  Great start to a weekend!

Saturday morning in the rain, driving up the mountain in need of gas, I stop at the gas station and my credit card gets declined. “Great! What’s next?”

Continuing my drive, just around the corner, I miss a stop sign. Double great!!  Lights in my rear view mirror go on: one red and the other blue.  It’s a black and white … and guess what?  I don't know this officer.  As the rain comes down and camera in my hand, I now need to sign the ticket. Great! What's next?  I should not have asked that question. 

Continuing to my next destination, my tire blows out … and it’s STILL raining. Great! Wow! Holy moly!  NO WAY am I asking myself “what next?”  All wet from head to toes after changing the tire, I figure it can’t get any worse.  The trip must go on … after all, it’s only 9:30 a.m. Well, at least, the “check engine” light did not come on!

With a click of my heels, I must continue down the Never Eat Soggy Waffles road!!!

Never Eat Soggy Waffles

Never Eat Soggy Waffles* was my motto this past year.  As I reflect on the year gone by, with tears in my eyes and in my heart, I am overwhelmed with joy on what I have accomplished and the paths I have traveled.

Sometimes the paths were long and in the end, I got nowhere!  A funny thing about a good hike is that you may not know where you are going until the very end.  I can only look back at hundreds – even thousands – of photos to show where I have been.  Eight pairs of shoes and 14,000 miles later, the doctor now says I have to rest for three months and refrain from running. 

My last two trips were the “best”!  On one trip, the car brakes started to go out in China Lake; and then in San Diego, I got lost for 17 miles.  That was a trip!  But the adventure really starts when everything goes wrong.

With the wind at my back and a camera in one hand, I am off to the last adventure of the year.  Until then … Never Eat Soggy Waffles*

*mnemonic for compass directions