"The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn."
David Russell
Now there's a sage observation!
David Russell
Now there's a sage observation!
Friday, December 02, 2011
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Dune Light
Long Island's iconic Fire island Lighthouse....The December chilly winds have arrived making walks on the beach a bit less appealing. Time for this snowbird to start packing. Life is good!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
November Beach
Yesterday was a real treat from weather central. Is it really the end of November on Long Island with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees? Yesterday's record setting high temperature for the date (69 degrees) is a far cry from the record low of 20 degrees. Enjoy it while it lasts. Keep an eye over your shoulder as the weatherman promises a very chilly weekend and a stroll on this beach will be much less comfortable!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Brief Interlude
I love the "coming home"of family for Thanksgiving. The sharing of food, laughs, stories and good wine is it's own reward. Like all holidays Thanksgiving has evolved into more than just a day, we have the travel day, Black Friday, College Football-Left Overs Saturday, and Get Away-Sunday (when the relatives hit the turnpike). Lately, I have found another holiday reality that is equally as wonderful. It's rather nice to get one's home back and enjoy the solitude after helping to pack those mini-vans and waving goodbye. It's pleasantly quiet now and I do think that there just might be a enough left overs in the fridge for one more turkey sandwich.
I can't get too comfy though, it is after all Cyber-Monday and there are all those Christmas decorations in the attic! How many "shopping days" do I have anyway???
Saturday, November 26, 2011
End Of November
The last of autumn color shows in reflections as November draws to a close. Can next weekend really be December? Like the osprey and the songbirds my compass is beginning to point south.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Time To Shop?
To shop or not. The much ballyhooed "Black Friday" is upon us. I see it thusly, I can go out, get in line, fight traffic and hope that I can buy that discounted gift ( praying that there is one left )... OR... I can stay home and eat leftover turkey and pumpkin pie. It's a no-brainer for me.
BTW: Is it me? Is it fair? Do I see "Black Friday" creep? Does "Black Friday" now start while some of us are still doing dishes on Thanksgiving?
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues". ~Cicero
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Appreciation Energy
The day before Thanksgiving most of us are either traveling or we are cooking. Regardless, there's a good deal of energy that goes into saying Thanks with family and friends. More than just a meal, Thanksgiving is a day to count one's blessings and appreciate the gift of family, friends and loved ones! It's a special holiday and it's well worth the effort.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Traffic
The media keeps reminding us that tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving, is the busiest travel day of the year. From what I hear, over 40 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home in order to share Thanksgiving dinner with family. They also tell us that 24 million of those travelers will be flying to their destination, so.. take your headphones and try to get an aisle seat. The rest of us will have to deal with a whole bunch of cars on the highways....Happy Thanksgiving, and be careful out there!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Stepping In
My wife and I feel like kids again. The excitement comes with finally finding our own piece of Florida where we will be stretching our snowbird wings! Life is Good.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Heavenly Vintage
This west side storefront struck me as a scene from 1970's New York. I decided to play a bit with post-processing in an attempt to give the image that 60's-70's film process look. Remember when photos were "developed" in a darkroom, not to mention waiting a week to see the finished product!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Catching Reflections
There is so much to learn about photography. I often shoot with a group of friendly fellow photographers and the conversation is always peppered with f/stops, focal lengths, shutter speeds, etc. I have come to realize however, that a major part of photography is all in the "seeing" (as opposed to just "looking"). I'm always amazed how one or two of our group members always seem to get "THE" shot because they saw something that I just "looked at". It's where the real talent is I suppose, creative people just see beyond the ordinary.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cool Shadows
November afternoon shadows seem to pass quickly as the light sinks early on the horizon. The temperature seems to be dropping almost as fast as the sun!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Crowd
News Item: The world population has just exceeded 7 Billion. Seems as though the benchmark of the first Billion took over a thousands years, the following 6 Billion took a couple hundred years. While there's always room for one more, I for one am planning on getting that flu shot!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Street Sounds
I'm a sucker for street performers. There's always something special about live music. While most of these artist are playing for handouts, I really do believe that they love what they are doing. They certainly add enjoyment to my city meanderings.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Pier 54
Waiting for your ship to come in? I think I'll just appreciate the fall colors along the Hudson. Life is Good.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Veteran's Day
Two postings today to express gratitude to our nation's veterans. (See the second post below.)
Veteran's Day
In a salute to all our veterans of all our conflicts I was struck by the pride in this old soldier. Joseph is a veteran of the Korean War and he is also the commander of the Long Island Camp of "The Sons of Union Veterans of The Civil War". Civil War buffs will know that the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) was founded in 1866 as the official Civil War veteran's organization. The GAR remained very active through the first half of the 20th Century, it's last surviving member died in 1956. By an act of Congress in 1954 the SUVCW was designated the legal heir to the Grand Army of the Republic. Today, full members must prove direct lineage to a Union veteran.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Helm View
While every day is a gift, some gifts are nicer than others. Long Island enjoyed a 70 degree November day yesterday. If you had the day off and your boat was still in the water you just may have spent election day on the water. It occurred to me as I stuck the camera out the helm window that this could just be the last time Recess returns to port this season. Life is Good.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
High Line Walk
An elevated oasis in the heart of Manhattan's west-side, the High Line offers spectacular city views and a touch of Autumn color. A modern day stroke of green genius, the park has converted one and a half miles of urban blight into a natural garden/walkway. Put a stroll on the High Line on your "must do" list!
Monday, November 07, 2011
Stacked Up
A fisheye view of the old industrial and gritty New York is quite a contrast to the artsy and elegant new neighbors!
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Friday, November 04, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Data Buoy
"Hey...what's that?" After more than a few years on the bay I've got that whole green buoy/red buoy thing down pretty well. Seeing a bright yellow buoy where there just has never been any buoy certainly got my attention recently. My curiosity led me to discover that the folks at Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences have been busy collecting data about the Great South Bay. A long range study of the bay's ecosystem has been utilizing instruments on these buoys throughout the bay. Buoy placement has been mostly in the "off season" as to not interfere with recreational boaters.
Yellow buoys.."who knew?"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Halloween
Trick or Treat...I suppose I've become "grumpy" but I'm always glad when this holiday is over, it has changed so much over the years. It was always a fun holiday for kids and we carved a pumpkin the night before which pretty much was it for elaborate decorations. Adults and teenaged siblings helped the costumed little kids go about the neighborhood getting free candy. Many in my generation can remember being "too old" to go Trick or Treating, usually somewhere around Jr. High age. Later generations saw a pillow case and a can of shaving cream as an ideal way to extort candy from the neighbors and adults began to have lavish parties that did not include any children. ... So what has happened? Retailers now call the season "Falloween", consumers spend more on decorations for Halloween than any other holiday and The National Trade Federation estimates about $6.8Billion (with a B) will be spent this year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween has the highest proportion of alcohol related traffic deaths of any holiday. There are 3% more of these type of fatalities on Halloween than on New Years Eve!!
So...Happy Halloween and be careful out there!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Dad
I still love this shot of the napping Phillies fan! Hard to believe you've been gone a whole year. Thanks for the lessons, the laughs and the love.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Civil War Surgeon
Members from the 67th New York/ 1st Long Island Volunteers gave a presentation through our local library this week. I'm always impressed with the realistic manner in which these docents present themselves. For them, it IS 1862. Of course, no Civil War presentation would be complete without the vivid and gory details of early battlefield surgical units. This always causes those in attendance to squirm and to also develop a newfound appreciation for anesthesia. (Myself included!)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Fire Island Ferry
Another sure sign of the changing season is the decrease in ferry traffic on the Great South Bay. Nicolet's schedule, making the run from Patchogue to Davis Park, has gone from nine daily roundtrips to two. The service will stop for the season in November.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Fire Island Buck
This very healthy looking buck is enjoying a meal by the bay. Fire Island deer appear to be well fed of late, perhaps population control efforts are paying off. In past seasons the numerous deer of Fire Island had seemed to be undernourished.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Recess At Anchor
Recess is the latest in a rather long line of family vessels dating back to the early '70's. She's not fancy, plush, sleek or eloquent. What she is is salty, dependable, safe and fast. The perfect boat for us at this point in our lives, Recess handles well in almost any weather conditions. Her pilothouse cabin keeps us dry and secure when the waves of the Great South Bay break over the windshield, the aft deck serves us perfectly when cruising or fishing in calmer water. It's funny how a boat can almost become a part of the family and during the past five years Recess has been a part of many adventures. There still are a few weeks to be enjoyed in this boating season with cool afternoons and early sunsets. Soon though Recess will have to suffer the indignity of sitting in the driveway as the only waves breaking over her bow will be of ice and snow.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Union Pacific
Long Island trains, almost always LIRR commuter trains, may be ten or more cars long on average. I was reminded during my recent Wisconsin visit just how many freight cars make up a freight train! Rail road crossings require patience in the mid-west. :)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Bug Light B&W
There's something nostalgic about black and white photos. Now-a-days B&W is an effect that digital photographers can use in post processing. If you're of a certain age however, you may recall family snapshots always in B&W. The man at the drug store did some magic and within a few days a film canister was converted into a yellow paper billfold that held photos connected by perforated edges. And of course, B&W format was almost always the preferred medium of master photographers.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Two Sails
Our Long Island weather continues to please well into the Columbus Day weekend! Life is Good!
Friday, October 07, 2011
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Money, Money
Greed? Capitalism? Financial Elite?....Wall Street is always a worthwhile news item. Lately, Wall Street and the surrounding downtown area has become the scene of disenchanted crowds (10,000 reported yesterday) who have remained encamped at Zuccotti park. Occupy Wall Street seems to be a mix of various groups who claim that the nation's ills are rooted in "corporate greed". Gee...so what else is new? Did all these people "cut" their American History classes??
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
The Coach
Vol-un-teer (noun)- a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task........Community based youth athletic programs are almost always staffed by unpaid, hard working volunteers. The number of youth teams operating on any given weekend around the country truly is impressive. I am of the opinion that the coaches and organizers of these athletic programs are a very under appreciated bunch. An observation by my cynical side is that these coaches are often pressured and coerced to volunteer. The criticism, second guessing and verbal abuse starts soon after agreeing to help. All the more reason for the rest of us to say "Thank You".
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Wisconsin Surf
During a visit with the mid-western grandkids I got a good look at Lake Michigan. Living on the east coast I tend to think of surf as an ocean generated happening but I was impressed with the power and sound along the Wisconsin shoreline. To me, the sound was different in that it did not have that ocean breathing "hiss" but rather a constant pounding energy. I left with a new found appreciation for the Great in the Great Lakes.
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