I You were tagged by me please see why in the comments Chronicles of lifting Light C (The Reception Game)

The alternate version of Chronicles of lifting Light B ( Bridesmaids) - Album

 

“The wedding was a little over the top. The bride wanted her girl’s dresses to be something they would wear out again. A nice thought, but the gowns she found were a little too long for anything but formal evening wear, according to our girls who were asked to be part of the bridal party. The maid of honor wore a red silk version; the six Bridesmaids wore theirs in black satin.”

 

“A few years ago, “Ginny” was watching some type of show when I heard her squeal out. Our Golden Retriever ‘Sam’ meandered back in to see what all the fuss was about? I obediently followed. Ginny pointed out to me a model who was wearing fetchingly a long black satin gown, That’s m’ gown Ginny exclaimed, you remember, the one I wore at “Sheila’s” wedding, the one where my necklace was.., But at that point her attention was diverted back to her program. Squirrel I teased as Sam and I watched with her.

 

It was a gown strikingly very similar in colour, cut, and material to the one worn by Ginny ( and me sister) at a chums wedding years before ( and winningly worn several times hence I might add). It is a pretty thing to behold my charming Ginny sporting it, and in its time, it has born witness to a few goings on that most ladies wearing a gown like that would never encounter…….”

 

Chronicles of lifting Light C

*************************************** **************************************** *****

This story is true, and is really pretty much told as it happened.

What we did may sound daft, but read and understand the circumstances, plus realize we all were pretty well lit up with drink.

 

I have enhanced certain aspects of the story, but not as much as on my first draft, for that one came out sounding more farfetched than it should have.

 

For indeed, truth can be stranger than fiction… and coincidences occur, both sweet and bitter….. as I’m sure someone once said.

 

So here goes it….

 

My twin sister and our friend “Ginny” were invited to join in a school chums bridal party. The groom didn’t have enough to go around so my sister’s boyfriend “Brian” and I were pressed, not unwillingly, into service.

 

At the reception my Ginny made a comment about the flimsy clasps on the rhinestone jewelry they were wearing. My Sister, touched her necklace, told her, “ no worries, luv, no one would nick them anyways, they are only rhinestones”. Except my ring isn’t, said Ginny looking down at the ruby ring she was wearing on her pinky. My sister, thinking a minute, retorted “Then one never knows… “ , It looked like she was going to add something, but at that point the band restarted, and we joined the swarm of fancy gowns, silky dresses, suits and tuxes heading to the dance floor.

 

As we headed off, I was still perplexed about what had been going on in Sis’s head that made her come out with that reply, and I swear she had stolen a look at me while saying it. But as I had watched her pull at an earring to emphasize how loose the sparkling jewel was, a seed was planted in my head about a subject I myself had always found fascinating, pickpocketing jewelry!

 

Much later that evening, found Brian, me sister, and I alone, and probably more than a little drunk (always a precarious time with us). As Sis and Brain chatted on about a topic I had lost interest in, I started to watch Ginny, who had been asked to dance by some twit with shifty eyes in a red silk shirt, (open colored), who had rudely cut in on us. As I watched Ginny’s swishing gown move and flutter about in quite an interesting exhibition, I found meself mesmerized by the manner in which her healthy display of rhinestones were sparkling about( as they had been all evening). I looked back at my sister, and her own show of jewelry, sparkling up nicely against a black satin backdrop.

 

Still not being able to shake me twin’s earlier comment, nor its answer, out of my head about nicking jewels, I finally chanced asking my twin about her comments. She looked at me, having to think back a bit about the question, ( As I said, we were more drunk than sober by then), placing a nicely ringed finger to her lips, while regrouping her thoughts. Got it, she exclaimed proudly remembering what had triggered her memory, and started to explain.

 

When she was a tyke of about 7, there was a show that she had seen on the tele that centered on this group of people trying to reform a thief. Believing that he had turned a new leaf, they threw a fancy dance for him in honor of his new ways. During the dance, he cut in and danced with each of the three ladies who had been trying to teach him the errors of his ways. From one he slipped off her long diamond earrings, from a second her diamond necklace was lifted away, but me sister was unsure what the scoundrel took from the third. Sis thought that the earrings and necklaces that she and Ginny were wearing that evening, looked a lot like the ones from that show.

  

Now, as me twin described the thief’s antics, certain emotions awakened, rearing their tantalizing heads; my mind began wandering in some deep waters, pulled bout by some deep personal emotions. Cause I had been sitting on the couch with her, when as quite young children, we had first seen that episode.

 

As it happened my sister had been outside earlier playing dress up in on of mum’s old party gowns and was still wearing it, along with a set of costume pearls. Suddenly, that day, I wanted nothing more in the world than to lift the pearls she was wearing. I simmered over it for the rest of the program, getting to the point of actually laying my arm on the back of the couch, inching my fingers towards the clasp of her pearls laying there upon the back of her throat. But then the show ended, and I got no closer to stealing anything more than a touch of a really soft old evening gown. After the show ended, I warily suggested we go back outside and play Robin Hood (my sister has always been into his story).

We did, and as Sir Robin led her to his hideout, conveniently located through a thicket of Hawthorne’s, the pretty Maid Marion’s pearls mysteriously melted away.

  

That is when I had I had my epiphany, hitting me like a brick wall! Waiting till sis finished her story, I pointed out to Ginny, and asked the pair, If Ginny had been the third lady he had danced with, what jewelry do you think he would have lifted from her while dancing?

  

Brian , always the more pragmatic of the group, snorted, that’s stuff that only happens in stories and movies. I said I would bet it can be done, a quid says I can lift a piece of Ginny’s jewelry with her never noticing. Sis chimed in, you wouldn’t dare, but she was looking at me like she knew the answer already. Brian caught her tone, and took me up on it, betting me the quid that I couldn’t get away with lifting her necklace,( I liked his choice, it had been a necklace that “Sir Robin” had first lifted from me sisters neck that day in the woods long past).

  

At this time the music ended, and Ginny swished back to rejoin us. We drank and talked for a bit more, and I’m was all but certain Brian and my sister had all but forgotten the wager. But I hadn’t, nor had I been able to keep my eyes from studying the rhinestones Ginny had wrapped around her pretty throat. When a slow song started up, I rose and asked Ginny to a dance. I caught Brian’s eyes, and read the dare reflecting in them, so we were still on with the wager. Leading Ginny to the dance floor, we embraced, and danced to the pretty song, a slow one. Ginny was absolute pure heaven in my arms, and I found me self so entrapped that I never made an attempt upon her lovely rhinestone necklace.

  

As the song was ending, I caught a look from Brian across the dance floor, noticing that he smugly was looked at Ginny’s throat. I did not want to lose me quid on principle (I swear), so as the dance ended I held onto Ginny, waiting. Soon a second song started, disappointedly a more fast paced one with a Latin beat. I spun Ginny around onto the floor before she had time to catch a breath, we danced, like the song says:

 

And we… danced like a wave on the ocean, romanced

We were liars in love and we danced

Swept away for a moment by chance

And we danced, danced, danced

 

And dance we did, hot, furious and fast. A couple of times I spun Ginny around, and the poor girl already a bit tipsy, fell against me, giggling. About the third time I spun her, she stopped, and dropped backside into me and began to do this sort of gyrating move, slithering up and down my front side, with her hands held high above her head, her longish ginger hair had fallen over one shoulder, exposing her necklace in all its fine brilliance. As her warm, sweaty figure slipped up and down against mine, I watched the back of her throat, eyeing the necklace as it sparkled brilliantly in the dim lights. Studying intently the sparkly chain with it’s the hook in eye clasp.

  

She brought her hands down behind me back, crossing them behind me waist. My right hand went to the front of her waist, holding onto her squirming, satin slippery figure, pressing it tightly against me. My left hand went up to her shoulder, gliding along the glossy slick fabric of her black satin gown, until I reached her necklace. It only took seconds for my fingers to lift, and slip off the hook from its”eye” , letting the shimmering chain slither down the front side of Ginny’s satin clad breasts. My right hand left her waist, and travelled nimbly, tingling, all the way up the front until my fingers grasped the dangling chain. My left hand let go, and the necklace whisked down the front of her perking bosom, tightly covered by the glossy black satin bridesmaid gown. The whole bit of thievery took me only a few chords of the music, but it seemed a lot longer in the process. We finished out the song, me basking in the fact that my gyrating partner was innocently unaware that her shiny necklace was absent from around her throat, and now resided in her dance partners vest pocket.

  

We made our way back to the others, Brian had a smug look on his bearded face, I knew he was up to something. As I sat down, he whispered double it or nothing mate, that she notices it’s missing before we leave. I nodded, taking him up on it. So, the game was still on, and for the last two hours that we stayed at the reception, Brain waiting for Ginny to notice her missing necklace, I tried to distract her as much as I could, even with me sister constantly played with her necklace whenever she held Ginny’s attention, but the poor creature never caught on that her necklace had been lifted.

  

We finally left the reception after midnight and made our way along the ten city blocks back to the hotel where Ginny and my sister shared a joining room with Brian and meself. Ginny walked calmly with us, unaware of the devils that were us, keeping pace beside her. As were making our way through a short cut in a wooded Provincial park, we stopped in a small isolated glen and circled around Ginny. Sis was grinning as she asked poor unawares Ginny, So luv, whatever did happen to your necklace? Gin’s reaction was absolutely, rewardingly priceless.

  

Ginny, a relatively innocent soul, who is prone to believing most anything told to her, started, and her hand went to her throat, feeling about fruitlessly, as her rustling glossy gown and remaining jewels glistened dark in the full moons’ light. “M’ necklace, why it’s gone? , where did it go!, she pleaded helplessly, her thought patterns and speech a little slurred by her rather intoxicated condition. We than got into it, playing dumb along with her, and tried to figure out the “mystery” I said the last time I saw it was when that seedy bloke cut in, and I ran my hand up her back, feeling the shivers going down her spine, did the blighter touch you like that, then luv. No she said, then thought hard, no she repeated, he couldn’t have, he was a proper gentleman, and it was only rhinestone, like your sister said. My sister commented that the bloke may have not noticed no difference, and she held out her own necklace, I’m glad the bloke didn’t ask me to dance. No, Ginny shook her head, her long earrings flickering a frenzied fire out from her hair, no one could have lifted them like that, I’d have felt it….

  

She looked desperately around at us, then seeing the look on upon our faces, Ginny froze with the realization that we had all been up to something, and, then a smile of relief showed up on her pretty face, as I held up her necklace, sparkling in front of her eyes. A sly look of understanding that we had been up to something crept into those dazzling green eyes , as she told us now to spill it out.

  

We explained the whole tale as sis helped Ginny place her necklace back on. Ginny, with her usual good humor, said she had never noticed a thing, and it probably was a good thing we weren’t real thieves, because if her necklace had been real, it would have been worth a small fortune. And shame on us for having her believe it was that poor blighter in the red shirt.

  

We wouldn’t’ make very good thieves I agreed we drink too much. She just smiled, a curious gleam creeping up into those witchy green eyes of hers. Let’s get going before we meet a real thief then, urged my sister, all this talk about someone thinking our jewels are real is giving me the chills.

  

Our drunken little group then merrily, if not a little more guardedly, made our way home..

 

This next bit is my favorite.

 

We rode the elevator up to the boy’s room, as the girls called our room, where we drank beer, danced to music and talked on a bit about the reception. The girls stayed in dress and I happily soaked up the pretty picture the pair of admirably attractive girls presented with their long sheets of straight hair just hanging down, their diamonds sparkling and all other assorted frills enticing. About two hours later found Brian and myself sitting on the couch in kind of a hazy stupor while holding onto our beers. Ginny and my sister were standing directly in front of us, holding beers of their own and giggling over some girlish nonsense, the swaying of their long glossy black satin gowns slowly putting me to sleep.

  

Brain, draining a beer, got up to get another, bumping against my sister and playfully grabbing a handful. My sister started giggling at him as he sauntered off grinning, turning her figure so the brooch at the center of her gowns’ waistline almost hit me on the nose. Half asleep I reached over and lifted it up.

Looking up at the girls I saw that neither was paying no never mind towards me. Ginny, however, laid a hand on my twins shoulder, drawing her close so she could whisper some girlish secret about Brian. I continued on, and was able to undo the brooch, and slip it carefully off without notice. I slipped her jewel into my pocket; until I could think of what it was I was going to do with it to tease me twin sister.

  

Brian stopped on the way back and reset the music, a slow song. Sis went to him, and the pair started dancing. I rose and taking Ginny by the hand, followed suit, leading her to the bit of a dance floor we had cleared. She was again, pure heaven in my arms as my hands slipped liberally up and down her smooth, slinky gowned figure. Ginny smiled, I knew that smile, and realized that something was going on behind her pretty green eyes. She flicked back her sheet of ginger hair, and leaned against me. I saw you, she whispered, her voice putting a tickle in my ear. Saw me I asked, not getting it. I saw you lift that dame’s diamond brooch, Ginny said in a sultry voice as she looked over towards where my sister was dancing, (no, she was actually swooning), in Brian’s arms. You see that one over there, in the black dancing with the bearded gent? I looked over, as she continues, look at ‘er necklace, I have a fancy for it, and if you don’t want me to call security, I suggest you get it for me, darling, she said, like she was some old time actress in a movie. I loved the devilishness of Ginny’s role play idea and threw me whole heart and soul into it.

  

Check out the Sonia clip shortcut at the end of my tale( recommend viewing)

  

Now wide awake, I got fully into Ginny’s game. As we continued dancing my eyes watched Brian and me sister, taking careful inventory of all her sparkling jewelry. Sis turned, and caught my eyes looking her over, she blushed, and not knowing what was really going through my mind, smiled at me. As I smiled back, my eyes drinking her fetchingly attired figure up, I was imagining that all of her ample collection of rhinestones so prettily positioned on her figure, were real diamonds. And that I was an actual thief after her lovely sparklers. I looked into Ginny’s eyes. You have a deal miss, I whispered, making my voice deep and throaty, as I imagined meself as Humphrey Bogart type character in some shadowy film noir movie.

  

The song ended and a second, even slower one began playing. Brian and my sister were still locked into each other’s arms, but I felt that the time to make my move was now. Throwing Ginny a wink, I went over and cut in, Brian looked drunkenly at me like “whattsup chap,” but Ginny was right behind and swirled him away before he could properly react.

  

And as I took the pretty, wide eyed with innocence looking “dame” into my arms I found it exciting that she was oblivious to my intentions. Naïvely unaware, that in indifference to her own words earlier, someone did now want to nick the jewelry so merrily dangling from her svelte figure. Don’t forget at this point she was no longer my sister, but my sweet victim, and I was nothing more than a thief hungering after her bright baubles, albeit, a slightly inebriated thief!

  

I bided my time, appearing to look into my twins half opened eyes ( she was really lit by this time, as we all were) , my mind was working overtime on how to best approach my objective.

  

Employing the same method that the thief had used in the Gilligan’s Island episode to remove his dance partners necklace, I began to compliment my twin on how devastating her and Ginny looked both looked that evening (no lies), slowly moving my one hand up the slick material of the gown covering her back until I reached the dangling part of her hook and eye necklace with its’ glittering row of single “diamonds”. She ate it up, blushing and closing her eyes, tilting her head down, exposing even more of the back of her throat, and laying bare the chain of her “diamond” necklace. As she fawned over my words of (not false) praise, I subtly lifted up the chain of her necklace, holding her ever so her tightly around the waist. As I felt the heat emanating from her figure, I used my free left hands’ fingers to unhooked the clasp, and let the necklace fall over her one shoulder. Sis never felt it hanging, or noticed it as I peeled it off her chest (whisking along smooth as silk) and pulled it over her gown’s satin shoulder till it slipped sparkling down behind her. I held it hanging behind her back for a few turns, still pouring out the compliments, until I pocketed it, letting it join her purloined brooch.

  

Meanwhile, Brian had left Ginny to go to the loo, and I saw Ginny, who had been watching all of it, give me a wink. Then she turned and stole out the apartment door, her longish slinking gown slipping through behind her as she closed the door. I made ready to make some excuse to break away from my sister and head after her with my loot.

  

But just as I opened my mouth to make that excuse , Sis pulled her arms behind me head, and laid her own head back on my shoulder and closed her tired eyes, getting into the music’s deep beat. One of her longish rhinestone earrings just hung there sparkling, mocking me to touch it, and like Gingers diamonds, was ripe for the picking.

  

With the prize within my grasp, I momentarily forgot about the departing Ginny, and I made my move. I found meself trembling a bit, as I reached up and placed my hands gently alongside her ear, her eyes still shut, my victim smiled. The rest of the maneuver was surprisingly easy, as I glided my fingers down and slipped it off the earring in one effortless motion. The sparkling beauty came away from her sweaty ear as smoothly as an ice cube moves along a steaming hot grill ( I actually did have a thought like that). I held it in one fist for a bit, watching my victim, she had not felt so much as a tickle on her earlobe, as I had taken her earring. Relishing in my success, I looked at it dangling and shimmering in my hand behind her back. Then I secured her diamond away. I thought about trying for the other, but thought better of it, knowing Ginny was just waiting on the other side of the door.

  

I finished out the dance, taking my sisters hand with its dazzling bracelet and rings, and admired them while I kissed it. I’d better be off after Ginny I said, and then let go of her hand. Nice doing business with you I said, bemused as I watched the puzzlement creep into her eyes. That is how I left her.

  

However it was my turn to look puzzled as I went out, Ginny was nowhere to be seen. I quickly looked around, then headed to the elevator and rode down in it, alone at this early morning hour, to the lobby.

  

I arrived there, and at first the lobby appeared deserted, cept for a lonely desk clerk with her head buried in a novel. Then breathed a sigh of relief, there, around a corner, Ginny stood talking to some older lady wearing a garish grey pant suit, with this blue tinted helmet of curly hair covered by a large silk head scarf, and carrying an overlarge purse. I suddenly realized that now my anxiety had gone, another urge had taken its place. Ginny looked up, and smiles happily at me, and I smiled back, indicated that I had to go for a minute, and headed meself to the loo.

  

Coming out after I finished, I saw that the lobby was actually now really empty, not even the desk clerk was visible. Thinking Ginny may have gone back upstairs, I first went to the hotels double doors to chance a look outside onto the street below. I just caught sight of a wisp of black gown moving just out of sight past the stairs, on the now smoggy sidewalk below.

  

I headed out, and there was Ginny walking with the Blue haired stranger, they appeared to be looking for something. I started wondering if Ginny had invited this stranger to go on out walk with us? But no, apparently the blue haired lady in the unfortunate grey pantsuit had discovered her keys were missing, and thought they had dropped somewhere after getting out of a taxi just around the corner. And Ginny, bless her kind heated soul, had offered to help the distressed lady look for them.

  

As Ginny was telling me all this after I had caught up, the blue haired older lady , her cheerful face now stern, had started rummaging in her large shoulder bag, I sneaked a peek over her shoulder and saw that is contained quite an amazing assortment of items , ( no wonder it had to be so big). Suddenly she uttered an exclamation, found them she said, triumphantly pulling out an interesting assortment of skeleton type keys on a small ring. Happily smiling at Ginny, she pulled her into an enveloping hug for her efforts, before quickly leaving, but not without first giving me a sidelong glance with a disapproving look from her now pursed–lipped mouth as she passed. But I at the time put it down as her just being stressed out from believing she had misplaced her keys.

  

I am so glad she found her keys remarked Ginny, taking up me hand. That lady was ever so nice, she wanted to know where I had been dressed up all pretty like I am, and when I told her about the wedding, she said it must have been lovely. Then she admired me dress, and rhinestones. Then asked if me ruby ring was a gift from the bride. Liked your ring huh, I asked Ginny, my mind clearing up a little. Oh yes she said, lifted my hand, looked at it an everything!

Then the poor dear missed her keys, and asked if I could be a dear and help her look outside, and that was that until you showed up. (Looking outside for keys at 2:30 in the morning? I thought to myself) As I said ti Ginny, it is a pretty ring, and taking her arm, we started down the block together.

  

My mind, now somewhat attuned to the reality of things, went back to the blue haired lady and her large shoulder bag. Among some of various items I had seen had been a penknife, a length of old silk sash cord, small bundle of lacy handkerchiefs, and a small torch! Then add in the odd assortment of keys on her “misplaced” keyring, and put it all together, it all began to sum up to a new, slightly more sinister meaning of her intentions, in my take on the episode.

  

As we walked, I said nothing in reply to the happily chirping, richly attired girl walking beside me , as for the first time, and not the last, I wondered if something had been afoot with the Blue Haired, pursed mouthed lady that Ginny had seen as a kind older lady needed help, like the bird with a broken wing she had tried to help a few days past( a blue jay!). So was the blue haired lady, with the silk scarf and wearing a rather unisexual pantsuit, acting out the part of a “blue jay”, using her “broken wing” as a ruse to lure my Ginny safely away for her own nefarious reasons?

  

Surreptitiously, I carefully checked over Ginny from head to heeled toes as we walked, to make sure nothing was amiss. Her rhinestones were still safely all in their place, but I did not see the ruby ring, and me heart went still, and chills prickled down my spine! Bullocks! I swore under my breath, that pucker faced tart walked away with it. Ginny, I said, a little choked, she swirled facing me, her green eyes questioning, as she raised her hand to her perked breasts, and there it was, the small, but rather pricey, ruby ring she so loved wearing, the glittery darling had turned around on her finger so it was hidden from my view

.

 

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, I just wanted to say how lovely you looked this evening my lass, I said saving myself. She smiled winningly, giving me a deep hug for my words. We walked on, as my beating heart slowed down, I convinced myself that maybe the incident of lost keys had all been harmless, and I was just being a worry-wort. I apologized silently for what I had called the fashion challenged blue haired lady in my mind. But I was still beginning to feel like ever a fool to have let Ginny, handsomely decked out as she was, out of my sight at this early hour of the morning.

  

I opened my mind and let all such thoughts flee my head, for the world was now ours, as we made our journey together, hand in hand. We ended up making a very long stroll in the Provincial Park, and reentering the same isolated, secret glen we had been in earlier, proceeded to continue acting out the role playing game we had started at the apartment.

  

Ginny went to the middle of the clearing to wait, pretending she was smoking, like a moll from a gangster movie. I circled and watched her sparkling figure, black in the glens shadows, move about a bit.

  

And as I did, my thoughts wondered a bit, and I remember reflecting ( not for the first time) how in the older black n whites, the heroine, or villainous, is always wearing gowns, elegant long gloves, and jeweled to the sparkling hilt. Then she walks alone to and then waits in some dark alley or other desolate spot for her contact, or hero to show up, much like Ginny was acting out now. So how is it that those fancy dressed and well jeweled unescorted dames, always manage to get to those spots, and are able to wait around in them alone, in those movies, and nary ever meet a ruffian who strips them of those pricy looking sparklers they are flaunting about? Just saying!

  

Saying a brief prayer that my thoughts were not tempting a fate of that type to occur to us now that I had been thinking it, I came out of the shadows and approached Ginny. Keeping my left hand in my pocket like I was carrying a heater. Hey sister, I said, been waiting long? No, she whispered, did you get the goods. Hot as ice I said proudly, producing the necklace and earring I had liberated from the dancing “dame”.

  

As I showed Ginny my take from “the dame”, she squealing over the fact I was able to take one of her diamond earrings, bonus she chanted. We laughed over what the “dames” reaction would be when the jewels were discovered missing. As we snickered, Ginny caught my eyes and then we got off on a tangent about jewel thieves in love, and ended up reenacting the “lure” scene from the movie ‘To Catch a Thief” ending up producing fireworks of our own making as Ginny lost all her jewels as well as her “innocence”.. We then made our way back home, as the cock crows, receiving a few odd looks from the occasional early morning lorry drivers.

  

And above all, I still remember feeling pretty bloody cocky as Ginny and I had sauntered our way to the park. And why not, I ask? Cause not only did I get to stroll about with the most captivating ginger haired lass, sparkling in fancy dress around, But I also had totally scored a hat trick in the jewelry lifting department, collecting two Quid to boot, and that’s what life is all about for us boys, winning the game, isn’t it?

 

So ends my story, of which I have written 2 versions.

My question is now this:

Which version, if one reads both, do you believe to be the truer?

Please leave a comment at the end of the story you believe is..

In appreciation,

Thank You

 

*************************************** ****************************************

In Appraisal

 

Tis story may be unique in its nature, but if not we would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment or drop an email ( or both) about you own experience.

Thank You

 

The Sonia clip shortcut ( recommend viewing)

youtu.be/HAZdjhNVjxk

Best viewed on black.

Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.

Oprah Winfrey

  

Day 22 (v 16.0) - understandably

Everybody understands and agrees the beauty of Manakins. One quick look on the bird is enough, you don't even have to see them dance (in Ecuador I saw Red-capped and Club-winged Manakins dance). They just got the looks!

Yes, you've read it well! Manakins dance. They're famous because of this; just check youtube with the words "moonwalking bird".....

For those of you who have viewed my first Ringling Brothers shot, you understand the Eleanor reference. Now that the train is no more, the circus train will truly be my Eleanor.

 

After a day of switching and spotting intermodal cars (on the left side of the photo), the yardmaster gave us one final move. Our crew was tasked with clearing up 2 tracks for the inbound circus train.

 

Had the train been on schedule, I would have missed this shot as I would have still been running a locomotive. Lucky for me, the circus train was running behind, most likely due to loading issues or problems doubling up the consist.

 

Believe it or not, I have never been to the circus. My wife and I took in a perfomance for the first time the following evening after this photo was taken. It was incredibly fun.

 

As it turns out, this would be my last look at Ringling Brothers Circus Train. Within two years, the last Show to travel by rail would be no more. The equipment was scattered to the winds or met by the scrapper's torch.

 

And not much longer than that, the engine that pulled this train would be gone as well. Lead SD60M 6798 was sold to Progress Rail, most likely for scrapping. The trailing unit, a standard cab Dash 9, still survives and is running as a DC/AC rebuild.

 

Just Clowning Around!

 

October 26, 2015.

I understand that my chipmunk photography can seem unbelievable at times, and I'm used to getting questions such as "How did you do that?" and "Is it all Photoshop?"

 

As this video will show, it's all happening right there in front of the camera. I get no satisfaction out of a composited photo—the challenge for me is to capture the chipmunk engaged in a real and rather extraordinary situation. And keep in mind that this is a wild chipmunk, not my pet. (Color correction and the lightsaber effect were applied in post-production.)

 

This video was originally posted to my secondary photostream, PowerPig Set-ups. Click on through and you'll find more behind-the-scenes videos, wide shots of various sets, as well as a selection of alternate shots and short tutorials.

 

You might also like to check out my other homes online:

Fan my Facebook Page: Chris McVeigh Photography

Follow me on Twitter: ActionFigured

Visit my website: chrismcveigh.com

   

PADDY: “I don’t understand why Daddy insisted that all three of us take Cabbage for a walk today.”

 

COUSIN PADDINGTON: “I don’t either, Paddy.”

 

SCOUT: “Well, it’s a beautiful spring day for it at least.”

 

CABBAGE: “Woof! Woof!” *Runs off across the lawn.*

 

COUSIN PADDINGTON: “Oh Cabbage! Cabbage come back!”

 

PADDY: “Too late! He’s gone!”

 

SCOUT: “But look Paddy and Cousin Paddington, he has stopped at something on our lawn!”

 

PADDY: “Goodness Scout! What is it?”

 

SCOUT: “I don’t know, but it looks like a picnic!”

 

PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON and SCOUT hurry over to where Cabbage has stopped.

 

CHIPPY: “Hullo chaps!”

 

PADDY: “Hullo Chippy! What are you doing out here?”

 

DADDY: *Appears from behind a rosebush.* “Surprise Paddy, Scout and Cousin Paddington!”

 

CABBAGE: “Woof… woof woof!”

 

CHIPPY: “Daddy thought the weather was so nice that it was time for a teddy bears’ picnic on the lawn and he wanted to surprise you! He thought I might enjoy it too!”

 

PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON and SCOUT jump up and down with excitement and delight.

 

PADDY: “Oh thank you Daddy! You certainly surprised us!”

 

COUSIN PADDINGTON: “Yes you did Daddy! Thank you!”

 

SCOUT: “Are those, jam fancies, Daddy?” *Eyes off jam fancies longingly.* “Grumby tummy Daddy! Grumbly tummy!” *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON, SCOUT and CHIPPY: “We love you Daddy!”

 

CABBAGE: “Woof! Woof… woof!” *Snuffles.*

 

DADDY: “And I love you all too! Now come sit, eat some jam fancies and I’ll pour some tea.”

 

The theme for “Smile on Saturday” on October 24th is “song title” where the image must portray the title of a song. Therefore, I chose one of my favourite childhood and adulthood songs: “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic”, which is a famous song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907 with lyrics added by Irish song writer Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It is still popular to this day and has been recorded by many artists over the last century including Henry Hall and the BBC Orchestra, Ethel Smith, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Jerry Garcia, John Inman, Anne Murray and my favourite version performed by a band called the Palm Court Orchestra who specialise in playing Edwardian light music in a palm court orchestra style.

 

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise!

If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain,

Because today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic!

 

Every teddy bear who's been good is sure of a treat today!

There's lots of marvellous things to eat and wonderful games to play,

Beneath the trees where nobody sees they'll hide and seek as long as they please:

 

That's the way the teddy bears have their picnic.

 

Picnic time for teddy bears!

The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.

Watch them, catch them unawares and see them picnic on their holiday.

 

See them gaily gad about:

They love to play and shout,

They never have any cares!

At six o'clock their mummies and daddies will take them back home to bed,

Because they're tired little teddy bears!

 

If you go down in the woods today, you better not go alone!

It's lovely down in the woods today, but safer to stay at home,

For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain,

Because today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic!

 

This beautiful nursery tea set is made by the Shell China company in the 1910s. It features six cups, saucers (not all the set is being used today) as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl, all gilt and featuring different nursery rhymes including: "See Saw Margery Daw", "Jack and Jill", "This Little Pig Went to Market", "Taffy ws a Welshman", "Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross", "Little Jack Horner", “Pat-A-Cake, Pat-A-Cake”, "Old Mother Goose" and "I Saw a Ship a Sailing" amongst others. It is the prequel set to the Shell China nursery and faerie tale tea sets I have from the 1920s and 1930s. The designs are very Edwardian and the set is made up of smaller pieces. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt spoons, and the spoon in the “Old Mother Goose” sugar bowl is an Eighteenth Century sterling silver mustard spoon.

 

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

 

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

 

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

 

Cousin Paddington is a recent visitor to our family. Travelling all the way from London, he was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, so it looks like he is stopping with us for a while. The more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.

 

Chippy the monkey came to live with me when I was four. His name is derived from his innards, which are broken chips of hazelnut shells. He was made in America some time in the mid Twentieth Century. He features beautiful brown glass eyes, a felt face, hands and feet. He was given to me by one of my Grandfather's friends who worked in a small high street toy shop which sold a mixture of new, vintage and antique toys. Chippy was vintage at the time, and had been well loved prior, so with a few holes, some worn plush and patches, he was too worn to be sold, but my family friend knew that my gentle nature and respect for my toys meant he could find a new home with me for a long time. All these decades later, she was proven right, for he still lives with me; a bit more loved, a bit more worn and with a few more patches. He also has some red chalk marks on his right hand which I remember putting on him by accident when I was six! He wanted to draw a rose on my chalkboard and I helped him do it!

 

Cabbage is Paddy's Pug Dog. He was a gift to Paddy from a friend who also likes Pugs. He is fiercely loyal to Paddy and Scout, but seldom stays around long enough to have his picture taken, as there are always new adventures to sniff out.

I understand the practicality of activewear and pants/shorts for women running casual errands. The comfort and convenience are hard to beat.

 

Sure, I own some jeans and leggings, but I almost always prefer a dress when in public: day or night.

 

Here I am at a shopping mall - all dolled up.

 

Part of me knows I'll act the part more authentically if a greater effort is put into presentation. My costume is a confidence booster that reminds me to act ladylike.

 

Also - I've plenty of other opportunities to wear sport/casual clothes when not Nora.

 

People may think my look is old school. I prefer to think I'm starting a revival trend.

 

Fashion is cyclic, so it's only a matter of time before dresses and skirts make a comeback.

 

Right?

 

Hope so....

 

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Trying To Understand - teresabcoelho.blogspot.gr/?view=snapshot</a

 

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I have seen these at this spot before but was pleased to get them this time, even if the light was a bit challenging. They are so distinctly different from the nominate race that I can't understand why they are not deemed a separate species. This one is probably the darkest I have seen. Check out my photo of 12 March !

I've never played any Metroid game but I pretty much had to get the outfit anyway. I'm sure you understand :-)

  

A heavy day of overcast. View Large. Humpback Whale. About 5 miles or 8km away. Kāʻanapali, Maui Hawaii.

 

Not one of my photos are to be used or reproduced in any way, shape or form. Please understand clearly these are my photographs and use of them by anyone is an infringement of my copyrights and personal artistic property!

 

© Copyright.. You can not use

© 版权..您不能使用

© 版權..您不能使用

© Авторские права .. Нельзя использовать

© Copyright .. Você não pode usar

© Derecho de Autor .. . No se puede usar

© Copyright .. Sie dürfen es nicht kopieren

© Copyright : "Vous ne pouvez pas utiliser cette photo"

© حقوق النشر محفوظة. لا يمكنك استخدام الصورة

 

© Copyright: Non utilizzare senza esplicita autorizzazione

  

Hello!

 

I finally understand the world of bento, so I've spent some time in Blender, and I've rebranded!

 

You can now find this set on mp here: marketplace.secondlife.com/p/space-cadet-pack-1/15272287

 

And at the mainstore here:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Stone/65/196/3000

 

Thank you for your support!

   

Double Tulips, speaking a silent language that I seem to understand.

Wouldn't it be a lovely thought, if I had been a beautiful flower in a 'previous' life?

 

As a youngster, a loner, being born in Bruges, West Flanders, I would often just walk into one of the many musea and churches (free in those days!), where you could admire all the great Flemish old Masters, I so loved their light!!!

I was a sponge, absorbed it, stored it, till now? I do aim for it in my photography!

SO,I adapted the lights and reflectors for the 'Flemish School of light' again, so suits these.

It is full on the time of the DOUBLE TULIPS in the shop... at the moment, I feel they 'might' be my favourites! They are a bit capricious, Baroque, so varied in shapes, with small oddities, I have become fascinated by them, aahh, and the colours, from deep red, through textured orange to veined yellow to green, the leaves also perform.

Oh, and that sweet honey fragrance... HMMMM, Love them.

  

A FLOWER STUDY, THE BENEFICES of FLOWERS! Double Tulip

FOR MORE, READ HERE: magdaindigo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/a-flower-study.html

 

I wish you all a very good day and thanx for all your kind words, time, comments and likes. Very much appreciated.

Magda, (*_*)

For more of my other work or if you want to PURCHASE (ONLY PLACE TO BUY MY IMAGES!), VIEW THE NEW PORTFOLIOS AND LATEST NEWS HERE on our website: www.indigo2photography.com

IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!!!) TO USE ANY OF MY image or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other

   

The trees,...& Me,...Amies,..

We were trying, to understand,...

The whole Universe,...:-)

Understand of depth of field

© All rights reserved - Do Not Copy

Parker Canyon

Arizona

Please just understand.

  

Beck sings this better.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWJuAzHl618

Abstract

To understand the evolutionary significance of geographic variation, one must identify the factors that generate phenotypic differences among populations. I examined the causes of geographic variation in and evolutionary history of number of trunk vertebrae in slender salamanders. Batrachoseps (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Number of trunk vertebrae varies at many taxonomic levels within Batrachoseps. Parallel clines in number occur along an environmental gradient in three lineages in the Coast Ranges of California. These parallel clines may signal either adaptation or a shared phenotypically plastic response to the environmental gradient. By raising eggs from 10 populations representing four species of Batrachoseps, I demonstrated that number of trunk vertebrae can be altered by the developmental temperature; however, the degree of plasticity is insufficient to account for geographic variation. Thus, the geographic variation results largely from genetic variation. Number of trunk vertebrae covaries with body size and shape in diverse vertebrate taxa, including Batrachoseps. I hypothesize that selection for different degrees of elongation, possibly related to fossoriality, has led to the extensive evolution of number of trunk vertebrae in Batrachoseps. Analysis of intrapopulational variation revealed sexual dimorphism in both body shape and number of trunk vertebrae, but no correlation between these variables in either sex. Females are more elongate than males, a pattern that has been attributed to fecundity selection in other taxa. Patterns of covariation among different classes of vertebrae suggest that some intrapopulational variation in number results from changes in vertebral identity rather than changes in segmentation.

Elizabeth L. Jockusch

Evolution

 

MORE INFORMATION

 

Images in this gallery were captured by:

 

Mark Smith M.S. Geoscientist mark@macroscopicsolutions.com

 

Daniel Saftner B.S. Geoscientist and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer daniel@macroscopicsolutions.com

 

Annette Evans Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut annette@macroscopicsolutions.com

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Trying To Understand - teresabcoelho.blogspot.gr/?view=snapshot</a

 

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In Explore: #18 (best position )

 

Handleturer på Ikea er ikke akkurat forbundet med glede. Heller ikke denne gangen. Jeg hadde derfor tatt med fotosekken for å gjøre turen mer hyggelig. På vei til Oslo regnet det så ille at jeg ikke stoppet. På vei tilbake regnet det fortsatt i bøtter og spann, men jeg stoppet på ren trass. Planen var å ta bilder langs elvepromenaden i Drammen. Jeg dro innom en butikk for å få pose rundt kamera og var nok ikke særlig optimistisk i forhold til mulighetene. Tok noen bilder i trappen ned mot elva, men manglet en menneskeskikkelse. Da kom det en mann gående mot meg. Han kunne ikke norsk og dårlig engelsk, men han lot til å forstå at jeg ønsket at han skulle fortsette opp trappen. Jeg rakk tre-fire skudd hvorav ett satt som det skulle.

 

Dette er et bilde med stor grad av symmetri. Det er bare rekkverket og stolpen til venstre som gir en viss asymmetri. Dybdeskarpheten er bra til tross for en stor blender. Bildet gikk inn på topp 20 på Explore den 17. september 2013 og er mitt mest sette på Flickr noensinne, med nær 25.000.

 

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For me, shopping at Ikea is not associated with pleasure. Nor this time. I took my photobag with me to make the trip more enjoyable. On the way to Oslo it rained so bad that I did`nt stop. On the way back the rain still poured down, but I stopped of pure spite. I wanted to take pictures along the riverwalk in Drammen. Went to a store to get the plastic bag around the camera and was probably not very optimistic about the prospects. In the stairs down to the river I took some pictures. I lacked, however, a human form. Then a man came walking towards me. He could not Norwegian and talked bad English, but he seemed to understand that I wanted him to continue up the stairs. I managed three to four shots.

 

This is an image with a high degree of symmetry. The depth is good despite a large aperture. The picture went into the top 20 on Explore, and is my most viewed shot at Flickr.

I understand this bird is a bit on the decline.

www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown_Thras...

  

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

 

www.nyharborparks.org/visit/jaba.html

 

www.brooklynbirdclub.org/jamaica.htm

You probably understand that school has started. Luckily it's weekend again, because tomorrow is a holiday in Groningen. But unfortunately I'm getting the feeling I'm getting sick..

 

These big buildings will become one building, they're going to make a something between both towers on the top, click here for more info.

 

When I was taking this photo, Arend Jan was taking some photos around there too, coincedence right?

 

Oh right and let's now talk about the photo :)

I used a damn lot of filters to get this shot. A ND110, ND8 and Cokin 121s (that's a graduated soft ND8 filter)

The picture turned out to be completly monchrome with orange tones and with out much contrast after 350 seconds of exposure..

I really like RAW :)

 

View Large On Black, please.

 

What a long story :)

That little guy was standing there for the longest time trying to make sense of the art piece to his right. Eventually he walked off, shaking his head.

There are so many photos of her... I feel a lot of you have watched both of us change and grow over time :)

I understand this bird is now called a Ridgeway's rail instead of a clapper rail. Anyway, whatever it's called, we're fortunate in having at least two families of these rails living in the Corte Madera Marsh, and on several occasions I've been able to get quite close to them and get some decent shots.

Understand of depth

Monky Series #12

 

Io voi umani proprio non vi capisco!! Oggi mi ha detto Gigi che è la festa della donna. Perchè c'è la festa della donna e non quella dell'uomo o delle scimmiette? Perchè se festeggiate la donna poi leggo sui vostrio giornali che c'è tanta violenza e disegualianza verso le donne? Mahhhh. Allora io dico che quello che conta è più semplicemente il rispetto e l'apprezzamento per le persone 365 giorni l'anno!! Questa mimosa la dedico quindi più semplicemente a tutti i miei amici di Flickr donne e uomini!!

 

I really don't understant the human race. Gigi said to me that today is the "woman feast"! Why there is the "woman feast" and not the "man feast" or the "little monkey feast"? Why you celebrate the woman while I read in your newspapers so much violence agains woman and so inequities? In my opinion it's right to simply appreciare 365 day/years the respect and the for other people, male or female! This mimosa flower is dedicated to al my Flickr friends Male o Female!!

 

Explore #190 - 8 Marzo 2009

understand the absence

"We live forward, but understand life backwards"

-Soren Kierkegaard

I have tried for 15 years to get this shot. It seems like a simple shot. But I wanted it to be organic, not set up, the right light, the right amount of real wear blah, blah blah....

So I got the shot. I have mentioned how bittersweet this trip was. Over the 15 years I have gotten to know members of the Cuban Olypic boxing team. They are of the group of people I look forwad to seeing and hanging with in Cuba. But the Pandemic had other plans for them. They all left Havana to go back to the towns they came from to be and help with family. It''s not that they chose to lay down their boxing gloves perse, they had to put them aside for a while.

(from my last trip to Cuba with Palm Beach Photographic Centre's Cuba workshop)

There is a powerful advantage to a camera that can focus at the speed of life and that is more silent than a breath held expectant. You can truly create a place when the spirt of the subject can hide in your camera

There is no camera system that has a better or more powerful one. This image was was shot using highlight center metering.

Shot with the AMAZING Z9. The Z9 is more camera than I am photographer.

The BW Version.

#Nikon100 #nikonlove #lexar #kelbyone #photography #onOne @NikonUSA

#mirrorless #Nikonz9 #NikonNoFilter #niksoftware #nikonUSA #Epson

#wacom #xritephoto #onone #sunbounce #fineartphotography #kolarivision

#DxO #iamgenerationimage #iamnikon #B&H #PhotogenicbyBenQ

#nikonLOVE #hoodman #infrared

#nikonnofilter #nikonambassador

For the flower I was waiting for

for your eyes and your hands

the walks along the shore

for you who couldn’t understand…

 

Pinktigger

  

www.cameralenscompare.com/photoAwardsCounterDetails.aspx?...

10/16/08 - I was so tired. My day was long and I came home and crashed. That is all. (:

 

I'm feeling happier and I'm no longer single! This is very alike to yesterday's with the window, but I love my bed being there.

 

sleep, sleep my darling << WHITE?!

 

[Explored #396!]

 

"Please sleep, my darling, sleep. Your cry for inspiration never reaches ears on distant stars. And every night, our lonely planet slides across the universe and I won't pretend I understand." - Plus 44.

The heart and mind are complex and difficult to understand, and the symptoms of an unwell heart are wildly diverse. Counselors have a daunting task: They seek to understand aching and fractured, angry and despairing people, and try to offer help. This is impossible, or course, without prayerful, Spirit-endowed compassion along with a careful, attentive, empathetic investigation into each counselee’s history. (Dan Wickert)

Understand depth of field

Unter Bodensee-Hinterland verstehen wir Landschaften, Orte und sehenswertes bis zu ~10 Km landeinwärts rund um den Bodensee, in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz.

 

Under Constance hinterland we understand

Landscapes, places and worth seeing up to ~ 10 Km inland around Lake Constance, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

>Translation with TranslatorTranslation with Translator<

 

Understand of depth of field

When are we going to understand that every single vote, every single action, every single thought which supports murderous, money hungry and blood thirsty leaders can only bring the stench of death and destruction every day closer to our own homes and our own families? Shots taken from the Don McCullin exhibition at the Tate a few years ago, shots that I would have never wanted to believe they will so quickly become a matter of current reality. Of course we all know that this is nothing new and so many countries in the world have been continuously plagued by these kind of violence throughout the last decades, yet seeing it plying out so blatantly open under the eyes of entire humanity which doesn’t even try to pretend anymore that peace and fairness would be a priority makes me feel so ashamed of being human these days. Anyone else?

You can Tweet THIS by clicking HERE:)

 

Explore #196 09.09.09

 

For the BIG signature;) Since this is a documentation photo. And I noticed that no photos of the after flood is around (newspapers, news, internet). I know for sure they will take this photo and put it as their own. Went threw that once. So sorry for that ugly address thing in the middle.

 

Today; 09.09.09...

I was thinking to take a photo for today..

But a big flood happened in Istanbul.

This is the first worst flood here for a very very long time.

Like a first in the last 100 years.

It rained six times more rain in two days than usual for an entire month.

These photos are a 5 min. walk away from my house. The flood happened this morning at 07.00am. I couldn't go because of the hard rain. And didn't want a wet machine:)

 

It's on the E-5 (highway) - Basin Express Highway; going to the Ataturk Airport.

26 people died going to work and the airport.

It was higher than my head.

Factories is up the road, so all kinds of stuff came by; coca-cola's, drinks, refrigerators, medications, china dishes and cups...etc.

 

I will put some photos, and news links for more information.

At least watch this VIDEO This VIDEO and this VIDEO to understand.

 

PS: Yes my friends, we are O.K. Thank you all very much!

  

___

 

SPRİNG CLEANİNG; (16.04.2010)

 

221 "comments" have been erased.

 

Because;

-Invites without comments

-Award codes without comments

-And because of these I couldn't read the REAL comments in all that clutter,

especially due to the Flickrs New Page.

 

16 pages... Of empty awards?

No thank you.

 

And I hug every one who did write something,

really it made me happy to see so much..