Day 328: Tag and a View out My Window

This is a photo taken outside my office window, a little after 5pm, yesterday. I love the line of trees leading to the county building, and am so happy that there are Christmas lights on the evergreens this year. (Would you consider this photo to be using "leading lines" in terms of composition? I'm thinking about using it for my photography class.) Last year, the city didn't put up the lights, and I so missed them!

Raw, Manual, ISO 200
F/22~25"
Nikon 105mm 2.8

I was tagged by Pat and Amy M to play along with the 4th month of my blog, the 4th photo. Ironically, I had been looking at this set of photos just the other day, thinking I'd like to drive down to Fargo again and take another photo of the Viking Ships at the Hjemkost Center, now that I now a little more about photography. I'm not very good at figuring out who has not been tagged. It's strains my organizational/attentional abilities, right up there with trying to collate pages in a copy machine! (I always botch this!) Today, I'm tagging Heather, Becky, Nessa, and Liz. You know, the talent on this POTD thread is pretty phenomenal!

Day 327: Some Book Club, Huh?

This was the dessert that my friend made for our book club. Pretty fantastic looking, isn't it? It was delicious! Especially with the pumpkin ice cream, and little red candy balls from Harry & David. We read these nice, socially conscious books (sometimes), and then totally indulge ourselves.

Sadly, my desserts and house are not nearly as pretty. Not even close.

Next, we're reading The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn. I'll let you know what I think of it. . .

Day 326: Give Me Hand

Another rerun from January. Last January, though, there was snow on the ground. And this time, I used a tripod. Amazing how much more sharpness you can get when you use a tripod! I noticed that behind this hand are some Christmas lights. . . I may have to head back to this area when the lights are on, although it may creep me out a bit to be in this alley in the dark. Just to the right of the photo is a sign which proclaims this to be the "alley of love."



Tonight in my book club, we're discussing one of the most disturbing books I've ever read: A Long Way Gone:Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah. This is the true story of Ishmael, a boy caught in the civil war of Sierra Leone at the age of 12. He becomes an involuntary soldier in the army and recounts details of his desperation, hunger, and violence in the war.

Day 325: Fishing--Boring or Disgusting?

"Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting."~Dave Barry

Hey! You talking about my photos??????




I'm posting retreads here. Way back in January, when I first started POTD, I'd posted this fish. Today, I headed off to the same spot, with a tripod this time, to get a different angle. But WHY oh WHY am I doing this in cold weather? I could have been out there in June! And I suspect I'll head back there again this winter, as I search for spots to photograph. . .

Day 324: Eternal Flame

Thanks for putting up with my Ms. Potluck-CrankyPants snit yesterday. I tried to remain in my "happy place" today.

These are photos of a sculpture on the University of ND campus, symbolizing life-long learning. It's so true! Who stops learning just because formal school days are over?

Day 323: Seattle Scenes and Unseemly Potluck Sacrilege

This weeks theme is "on the road," but the closest I'll be to being on the road this week, is in my memories and fantasies. So here are a few photos, one literally of the road, remembering my visit to Seattle two months ago.






Have you ever noticed how there are two types of people in the world: potluck people, and Not potluck people? I would like to say that I'm a potluck kind of person, and it almost seems like there's a kind of nobility or saintliness that would come with being a potluck person.

But I can't quite make myself like potlucks, and I've tried! I'd like them better if I was participating in a potluck because I really wanted to hang out with the people I was having the potluck with, and trusted their food. (Trusted, as in, no one licked their fingers or spoons while preparing it; the cats weren't on the counter and the only pet hair in it is from my own dog(ick!); and it's not 90% cornstarch and sugar and salt.)

The bigger issue for me, other than the virus/bacteria/cesspool issue, is the coerced, having-to-hang-out-with-people that I don't really want to hang out with issue. In my heart, I know I should love it, and the people, and the small talk, but having time to even get to think my own thoughts is often scarce, and having eyes-glazed-over conversations where I have to bite my tongue and nod politely makes me want to pull my fingers nails out. And then I just feel guilty. And then I get to go home and clean up the mess in my kitchen from whatever I made for the potluck in the first place. Anyone know a sure-fire cure for a bad attitude?

Day 322: Cue the Scary Movie Music . . .

. . . or SCREAM!!! Because doesn't this image just shout "Winter's Coming!" At least that's the first thought that came to my mind, seeing all these picnic tables being readied for storage. (Cold storage.) I see signs of Winter Coming everywhere; snow, warnings about winter survival kits for our cars. I've even used my Beloved auto start a few times this week. And then there's the fact that I almost froze my fingers off taking this photo! I'm going to have to get much quicker, and more dexterous in operating a camera shutter with gloves on!

Day 321: A Vestige of Color in November

. . . at the Garden Center. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see such things all year round?

Day 320: Cinnamon Bridge

Just for fun, I ran Jess's Cinnamon action on this bridge photo. Thanks, Jess!

Day 319: The November Geranium

In November, geraniums, no matter how bold, have no choice but to yield to the winter frost.




F/2.8
1/250
105 mm 2.8 lens
ISO 200
cloudy wb




F/3.2
1/100
105 mm 2.8 lens
ISO 200
cloudy wb