Gratitude regained....

Today we are reminded that "gratitude is the key to our serenity".

And here's today's adventure from the world of animals.

The "Menchaca Affair".....

Had I only known what fertile ground for healthy anger management therapy would be presented with the "Menchaca Affair", I might have entitled "Mean Street Kick Ass"...Idle Rich: The Ric Menchaca Story. Today's installment.....I Feel Sick.

Shopping Around.

When it comes to taking care of the taxpayers dollars......
it pays to shop around!

A great job...even when you're fired!

Oh the outrage and indignation!

Quite possibly so.....

Some quotes with more than just a little humor.....


"Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same."
--Oscar Wilde

Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken.
--Unknown, presumed deceased

Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your wife wants to leave you, she should give you two weeks' notice. There should be severance pay, the day before she leave you, she should have to find you a temp."
--Bob Ettinger

"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry

Blog Think Tank...

The second annual West Texas Bloggers Rountable and Mobile Home Symposium was held today at the exclusive Harvest Caffe. The increase in membership since last years Roundtable was amazing with participants from varied fields attending. Among the members were farmers, engineers, TV stars, sales representatives, executive chefs, web designers and a few of the occasionally idle rich. A great and worthwhile time was had by all. In fact the conversation was so stimulating, most of us extended our coffee meeting into lunch. In attendance in spirit but not in person was spiritual mentor Jimmy; but he was represented graphically [the little dot of a head behind Kinky Friedman in the green room photo] and he will be reminded of our admiration for him when he gets the bill for the whole wonderful affair. Kinky couldn't make it either.....

The other members in attendance were:
The Fireant Gazette, Bleu Chocolate, Walked with the Angels, Streams, ArchaeoTex and Sounding Forth

Making News....

The star of the TV Guide Channel's Making News West Texas Style was good enough to recognize my efforts in making this reality show a national phenomenon with this fabulous photo. He especially liked my innovative idea about doing weather during the news show and,of course, suggesting that his news staff play the Hooters Girls in basketball. Keep up the good work Jose.

Bloggers Roundtable...

Many of the Midland-Odessa-Stanton triangle of bloggers will be meeting this Friday morning at 10 A.M at the "Harvest Cafe" located next to Dunlaps Dept. store at the corner of Wadley and Garfield streets. The discussion promises to be stimulating and varied with such special presentations as Jeff and Eric's dramatic PowerPoint show describing in detail their near fatal coffee related auto accident and I will be delivering my always popular lecture entitled- "XYZ: The Forgotten Consonants". All are invited to drop by....especially if you are buying.

A view of "Shangri-La".....

A stunning view of "Shangri-La" taken in March by one of my contacts there, a very good photographer in her own right it looks like. Gorgeous landscapes and adventure around every turn in the road, literally, what more could one ask for.....

Travel Wardrobe......

Good news in planning my travel wardrobe. I think that I have found a Kevlar body armor vest. Slightly used but functional.

Vacation Images: Stills ...and Video?

The trip to "Shangri-La" has taken a new turn. One of the local TV stations, the best one frankly, is graciously putting together a professionally done DVD of our West Texas Troop Salute for distribution to all those who helped with the event. We are doing an hour long version, a 15 minute version for the Internet and a short 3-5 minute cut for mailing out with a promotional package for next years event.

While working on the DVD with the News manager of the best local TV station I mentioned my plans with the newspaper for visiting and photographing in "Shangri-La". TV guys, I think, don't like to be out-done by the press media so the manager asked if I would like to either take a videographer from the station with me, or perhaps take one of their cameras for nightly reports...hopefully live. He even mentioned the words, "you could work for us for the time you're there".

This sounds promising as "working for" might imply that some of the expenses that are sure to occur beyond the travel plans I'm working on might be covered. He also assured me that getting my press credentials though them would be no problem. Press credentials are the key to going on vacation in "Shangri-La". In the meantime things are progressing. I've now been assigned my own personal travel guide who is in "Shangri-La", he's with the 82nd Travel Agency. They sound very professional and full of good ideas for fun things to do and see while on vacation there. So professional that he has already sent me a list of vacation clothing and items I need to bring. That damn Kevlar body armor keeps coming up.....

Nuthin' to do....?

Nuthin' to do in Midland. If you can't find some interesting things to do on a Sunday afternoon, you're not trying hard enough. There's always something to do...like borrowing a NASCAR vehicle and takin' her for a little test drive!

Gary P. Nunn......

It was a great evening to be at the Museum of the Southwest. Many friends, a pleasant night and getting to meet and photograph Texas music legend Gary P. Nunn. Gary invited me to shoot from the smallish stage. He wanted some of the shots and for my trouble I got an autographed Gary P. Nunn hat. I wanna' go home to the armadillos, with country music from Amarillo and Abilene.... Here's some shots.

Vacation plans

My summer vacation planning is still underway. "Shangri-La" awaits. I am now in direct communications with a government official in Shangri-La who is helping with my planning and getting the red tape taken care of. Since Shangri-La is now officially being overseen by the international community there are a few more forms to complete, but it's not bad.

I've also discussed my accomodations and hosts and it looks like the best place to be is at the 82nd Motel at the corner of Pleasant Dr. and Nirvana Ave. I am still in need of Kevlar body armor however, I think they suggest this since the golf club is very crowded and they worry about visitors getting hit with golf balls. Whatever, but if anyone has any body armor I'd like to borrow it. Thanks.

New look....

In an effort to move into the 21st Century, I've been updating a few websites to handle the higher resolutions that have become more standard. That, and I bought a new high resolution monitor that makes me [well almost] use a higher resolution setting than the old favorite 800x600. At 3000:1 resolution my photos look superb on the new flatscreen, but the websites looked....well dated as many of you know.

In addition I'm attempting to make them a bit more "cross browser" friendly for the few non conformitsts and liberals who use things like Mac's and Firefox. People like that FireAnt Guy and a few others I've run across. Hope this views a little more easily.

Memorial Day....

Memorial Day, a day of remembrance and gratitude for the gifts that those who have served, and are now gone, have given us. My Dad and I, over the years, grew to love to be together on Veterans Day. Now he is gone and I am left with his loving memory on this day, the last living veteran in my family. The greatest gifts in my life were given to me by my Dad, seen above [front right] aboard the liberty ship Rensselaer Victory in 1943 on his way to land at the beaches of Italy. One of the men pictured in this photo, his best army buddy, was killed the day they landed. I don't know which one it is because we found this picture and many more after my Dad was gone. His absence is with me every moment of the day.

Summer Plans...

I'm sure you've heard the old adage, "be careful what you wish for, it might come true". Even crazy, far fetched ideas that you know are crazy and far fetched.

Over the last year I've taken, literally, 3-4,000 sports photos, mainly for Midland High School. And I've loved it; met some nice new people and had fun being in the midst of the action. But, frankly, I got a little blase over the last several months. How many images of "guy on 2nd base, guy on 3rd base, guys in football pads" can you snap before they all start to look the same. Well about 3-4,000 I guess, because that's where I am.

One of the key elements of photography, that people forget, is that to get good and intersesting shots, you first have to be where the good and interesting shots are. So, over the last month or so I started to think of somewhere to go where there would definitely be good and interesting shots. There is a country I'll call "Shangri-La" that I've always been fascinated with, more so in recent years because it's been in the news. And my interest increased when I was in Washington in February and spoke to an old Army friend who is now a senior state department attache. He had recently returned from a years posting in Shagri-La and related that Shagri-La was one of the most interesting, historic and beautiful places he had ever been. I spoke with him again this week and he said he had met numerous photographers roaming Shangri-La taking photos for various news agencies and they all seemed to be faring well.

So, as crazy as I knew this was, I at least wanted to see if it might possible for me to get to Shangi-La too. I started with a local media outlet, whose assistance I would need, fully expecting them to ask for my release papers from the Nut House. Instead I was told that this seemed like an interesting idea and pending corporate approval, they would be interested in assisting me. Next using a contact I had met in Washington I got the name of the federal official in charge of media affairs in Shangri-La. Knowing a few leaders in his branch of the government helped, since I could use their names to establish that though possibly insane I am not crazy nor a subversive. He was very helpful and told me if I wanted to go to come on...and where do I want to be and when do I want to come!

I had thought that by this stage in my inquiries some official would have just simply said, "hell no you can't go to Shangri-La" and I would have said simply "OK at least I tried". But that's not the way it's working and it's looking like Shangri-La may be a distinct possibility. There are some key points to be resolved including travel, my hosts in Shangri-La and communications questions. But today I received the form necessary to be a "legal" photographer in Shangri-La.

It looks like such a friendly place, Shangri-La, but I wonder due to some of the questions on the form

Do you have your own body armor/kevlar *required

Do you have any disability that prohibits you from running?

In the unlikely event of emergency, death or declared missing list next of kin for notification.

What kind of vacation resort asks those questions?? :>]

Some Days...

Today, 24 May, would have been my folks 61st wedding anniversary. Some days are sadder than others, but the loss of my Dad is an everyday thought with me. Still, living through 60 years of marriage as my Dad did last year is a blessing and a tribute mainly to my Dad's patience and understanding. Last year at this time he was still healthy enough to enjoy the day.

The Spring Game....

Fall like temperatures made Thursdays MHS Spring Game all the more festive. Good game previewing the Dawgs, good company and good food! Spring Game photos.

Are you ready for some foootball!

Thursday's weather is supposed to be very cool, almost autumn like, which should make you think of football. We'll pawdner you're in luck because Thursday evening is the annual MHS spring football game! Sponsored by the Bulldog Football Booster Club you'll have a chance to see the potentially very good 2007 Dawg team in action. With two offensive linemen over 300 lbs. on the left side, watch for more than a few plays to go that way.

Come early for a bargain priced fajita dinner. Dinner will be served from 5:30 until 7:30 for only $5 bucks! The game begins at 7:00 pm on the new and beautiful turf at Memorial Stadium. While you wait, fire yourself up with my photos from last weeks scrimmage!