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You read that right, this is the 3 year anniversary of my first post on Flickr.
What a ride it has been thus far. Many ups, many downs, many laughs, many tears... I can't thank this site enough for the experiences it's brought me, both good and bad. It's shaped me into who I am now and who I am in the process of becoming.
And I want to thank all 178 of you for sticking with and supporting me. I know to some this site is dead, but in my eyes it is invincible, and I shan't leave until I'm forced to.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, I will be holding a Q&A in the comment section. Ask whatever you please (unless the question is offensive and/or inappropriate, in-which case I'll delete your comment)
~Madam Web
I read somewhere that Badlands under moonlight looks like the terrain on Moon. Not sure if that's true(:)), however, it does look terrific. Here is how it looks in daylight. The glow in the sky is light from nearby town of Wall, South Dakota.
This image was taken at 12:15am and it was hard to get the focus right. Severely Lightroom-ed, and, unsure how to process it, still felt I had to share this.
If you plan a trip to Badlands, definitely look for a full Moon night.
Nikon D5000 at ISO 200 with Tamron 17-50 @ 29mm, f/13 and 96s. Press 'L' for larger size.
Got to be able to read the sky…storm clouds rolling in😉 hope it washes the massive amount of pollen away!
I got the front vest part done but I need ideas for the pistol holsters and pouches. Please give any suggestions jude depp
Hello! I've been only posting Lego related content on Flickr for a while now and I figured I'd share a different type of image. If you think this awesome then you should check out my instagram! I post about 5 times a week there for several reasons. 1. the community is larger 2. the layout is better for me. 3. And easier to post. If you want to consistent images from me then go check it out! Copy and paste this link! www.instagram.com/worn_out_trooper/
"The galaxy is on the brink
of total darkness. The evil
GALACTIC EMPIRE has overthrown
the Old Republic and now
holds countless worlds in the
grip of fear..."
Hello everyone!
I'm glad to tell you, that "Dark Times" RPG group is now open to join! :D
/// How to join? \\\
Create a MOC or a scene (or even both!) what contains a random execution of Order 66. Size must be between 8x8 and 32x32. Don't forget to TAG me, Malen Garek, Bric_ and Ace Bricks. We are the admins and we send invites.
/// What our group offers? \\\
- We focus on timeline right after Order 66.
- 6 classes of creating your own SW character (Rebel trooper, Jedi, Imperial soldier, ISB Agent, Smuggler, Bounty Hunter).
- Each class has got different objectives, levels etc.
- Galactic Market where you can spend Credits to unlock some things faster.
- Building size is the same for everyone, it doesn't matter which level you have!
- In objectives we mix both Canon and Legends with some of our own stuff. ;)
- Kind and helpful administration. ;P
Hope you guys like this idea and you're able to join us! Everyone is welcome in DT!
Huuuge thanks to Malen Garek for his amazing Photoshop skills used on this picture. Thanks fam! (and you guys, go follow him now ;))
~Jan
back at it again with making a group. well a while ago i was making one but i didnt have the funds or the gear to make it but now im making one so im looking for some people to help be leaders of the group i tagged people who i thought would want to be apart of it. so it going to be a futureisic purge like group where we will make fqctions and have a storyline i already was coming up with these concepts which we and co leaders will have private pics to cone up with designs and group mecanics . tell me what you think
Read that nude coloured lipsticks suit Blondes so here is my first dabble into the nude. I'm always up for a change in my appearance but I think I've wasted £7 here, mind you it was so creamy and it did have a lovely aroma. xxx.
If you are not French, it’s likely you haven’t ever heard the word “Saintonge”, and have no clue what it means. If you are French, it’s probably the same thing. Unless, that is, you are a fan of Romanesque, in which case you know that Saintonge, that small region of France centered around the town of Saintes (hence the name), not far from the Atlantic Ocean, just North of Bordeaux... features the highest density of Romanesque churches of all the country!
I had never visited that area of France, and so in the middle of October 2021, I took that long overdue trip and stayed two weeks in Saintes, driving left and right daily to photograph all the most significant Romanesque churches... and unfortunately leaving out many others, as they are so thick on the ground!
Being by nature a human activity, even the best and purest of arts can, in time, overdo itself and teeter upon the brink of baroque, exaggeration and overabundance. Built around 1160, about ten years after its magnificent neighbor in Rétaud (which we have seen a few days ago), the Notre-Dame church in Rioux is largely regarded among specialists as having gone slightly over the top in terms of outside decoration.
I have seen the exact same thing with the enclos paroissiaux (“parish enclosures”) in Brittany: the desire to do better and grander than the neighbors, combined with the existence of generous financial means, often leads to an overdoing of things in which the spiritual appears to be drowned in a wave of refinement and superficiality.
This almost exaggerated decoration is often cited as one of the chief reasons why this church was only listed as a Historic Landmark in 1903, while its neighbor in Rétaud was listed in 1862. In the late 1950s, François Eygun, Director of Historic Antiquities, wrote: “This is no more the elegant richness, but the exaggeration of a quality pushed beyond the limits of the reasonable and into bad taste.”
We, visitors of the 21st century, may take a more lenient approach... or maybe it is our own taste that has been distorted over the years by lack of backbone, cheap and self-fulfilling enjoyment (read: selfies!) and reality TV... I will let my viewers decide.
Strangely enough, the façade is probably the most understated part of this church. The top part of the bell tower is from the 15th century, but all the rest shows a remarkable restraint, with only the Virgin in a mandorla and abstract motifs on the voussures around and over the main door.
So here we is what’s going so far I am placed more bricklink orders for a small battle of Sicily moc that’s why I built the PAK 38 and I am going to work on a ww2 winter vinegette so ya.Also I can’t keep building little willie because I am to lazy to work on a big tank so if you guys can give me ideas on small tanks I can build pls
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Remove all dog feces, can't you read the sign?
For assistance call...
Explore!
Mar. 27, 2008 #21
Thanks!
© All Rights Reserved
Summer enrichment for growing kids like myself. ;)
*Frustrated idea. I swear. The moment I get good at post processing and get more clothes and props. Gah. :)) Originally, in my head, the photo was supposed to have this glamorous girl sitting in an old elegant chair in the corner of our staircase reading books from a path. Of course, this is far from that, but, I swear. Haha.
This is sort of conceptual but I don't think the message might be clear 'cause it was a kind of spur of the moment thing. Haha. :)
please read :)
this is my first film upload!
i found this a few days ago along with some other old prints from a disposable camera. before it would have been dismissed as another snapshot, but now i find it beautiful. if i could go back there now - oh how i'd have used that light!
i took this photo in year six before i had any idea how much i would come to love photography. i probably didn't even know a sun flare existed.
EDIT: woooooow ok this made EXPLORE! whhhat!? i took this when i was 10! thank you all so much!
Want to win this in print??? Go here!
He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend,
a wholesome counselor,
a cheerful companion,
an effectual comforter.
By study, by reading, by thinking,
one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself,
as in all weathers, as in all fortunes.
~ Barrow
hi all I'm being really cheeky here but you all probably know me anyway from Flickr and my blogs rryfon resident Aka Charlie Amor I'm devastated I've lost my main page not able to get it back as of yet Flickr are being idiots so I'm guessing I'm gonna have to start new one its took me years and year's to get where I am now with my blogging and sponsors that I'd been trying to get for years that have recently had me on there team I'm heart broken I'm gonna lose them all again if I can't get my followers up to where I was on my old page if u could be so kind in helping mé get my followers back up it would mean the world to me please follow me thank you with all my heart
The one where the bad guy doesn't rescue the princess, because she didn't need it.
She was whole, he just loved her ferociously for it, knowing she would come out of her tower when she was damn well ready.
JAGO: *Reading aloud to Scout, Bogart, Paddy and Cousin Paddington.* " When Cinderella arrived at the palace, it was the king’s son who offered her his hand as she alighted from her golden coach. He led her into the palace to join the glittering company gathered there. Upon her entry to the ballroom there was an immediate and profound silence. Everyone stopped dancing, the musicians ceased to play, and all heads turned, so entranced was everyone with the singular beauty of the unknown newcomer..."
BOGART: "Cinderella is going to be the belle of the ball, Jago!"
COUSIN PADDINGTON: "She certainly is, Bogart! It’s so wonderful!"
SCOUT: *Sighs.*
PADDY: "Scout! Are you paying attention to the story?"
SCOUT: "Oh yes, Paddy! Of course! I was just wondering when the woodcutter was going to arrive."
PADDY: "What woodcutter, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Why the woodcutter who is going to save Cinderella from the Big Bad Wolf to is attending the ball."
JAGO: *Looks perplexed.* "I think you might have your faerie tales confused, Scout."
BOGART: "There is no woodcutter in Cinderella, Scout."
COUSIN PADDINGTON: "Not a big bad wolf. They are both in your favourite faerie tale, Little Red Riding Hood, not Cinderella!"
SCOUT: "Well, we’ll see! This time the story might be different! Cinderella and the Prince might be dancing when suddenly the Big Bad Wolf bounds in from the garden through the French doors, scattering ball guests left and right and then they wood need a woodcutter to save them all!"
PADDY: "I’m sorry Scout, but what would be the purpose of that happening? How would that help Cinderella escape her life of drudgery and live happily ever after with the Prince?"
SCOUT: "Well, the way I see it Paddy, everyone would be in such a commotion running away from the Big Bad Wolf, that Cinderella wouldn’t notice that it was midnight."
JAGO: "But Cinderella does that already! She loses her glass slipper on the palace steps so that the Prince can find her again."
SCOUT: "Well, if that is true, Jago, but if she and the Prince were chased by the wolf and she forgot the time, her dress would get changed back to rags, but the Prince would love her so much that he wouldn’t care about her rags, and she wouldn’t have to go home to her mean old stepmother and nasty stepsisters and wait for him to rescue her!"
BOGART: "Scout does make a good argument for the introduction of the Big Bad Wolf, Paddy and Jago! "
COUSIN PADDINGTON: "I have to agree."
SCOUT: "Thank you Bogart and Cousin Paddington." *Proud.*
PADDY: "Persuasive or not, Scout, I don’t think it’s going to happen."
SCOUT: "Well, we haven’t read this version of Cinderella before, so it might be different. Please keep reading, Jago. "
JAGO: "Oh, yes, where was I? Oh yes, ‘Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of, ‘Who is she? Do we know her? How wonderful her gown! How elegant her hairstyle! How beautiful she is!’ The king himself, old as he was, could not help watching her, and telling the queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature’ Oh, hullo everyone! Paddy, Scout Cousin Paddington, Bogart and I are reading one of Daddy's very special copies of Cinderella from the 1902." *Looks up.* "Why you ask? Well, because today is International Tell a Faerie Tale Day."
BOGART: "What is International Tell a Faerie Tale Day?"
PADDY: "Well Bogart, International Tell a Faerie Tale Day is an informal observance held on the 26th of February every year. It provides a perfect opportunity to read faerie tales."
SCOUT: "But Paddy, we read faerie tales all the time, not just on the 26th of February."
PADDY: "I know Scout, but some adults need an excuse to reconnect with their inner child."
SCOUT: "Daddy doesn't! He reads as many faerie tales as we do."
PADDY: "More than us I think, Scout."
BOGART: "Oh that's sad that others don't read faerie tales as much as we do. They are missing out on so much! They are beautiful!"
SCOUT: "Except when that no good break-and-enter homewrecking Goldilocks breaks into the home of the Three Bears and makes a nuisance of herself, or when the Big Bad Wolf gobbles up Little Red Riding Hood and that was the end of the story, and when the Beast gets turned back into a crummy old prince when Beauty fell in love with him as the Beast."
PADDY: "Well, whether you think they are beautiful or not, Scout and Bogart, Daddy and I encourage you all, even if you don’t have children or your children are not at home or grown up, to not miss the opportunity to reacquaint yourself with faerie tales. It’s perfectly acceptable to read faerie tale books alone, although I prefer reading them with Daddy, Scout, Cousin Paddington, Bogart and Jago. Make a cup of yummy hot chocolate, curl up in a chair and immerse yourself in the world of princes and princesses, evil witches and mischievous faeries, dragons and unicorns, talking animals and magical plants."
SCOUT: "Hot chocolate Paddy? Oooooohhh! I'd love a hot chocolate. Grumby tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy." *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
Paddy is right, he, Scout, Jago, Bogart and Cousin Paddington have much reading to do, as I have lent them my 1902 copy of "Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper" published by E. P. Dutton and Company.
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.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. After so long here he has decided to stop with us permanently. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. A gift from a dear friend in England, he is made of English mohair with suede paw pads and glass eyes. He is a gentle bear, kind and patient who carries an air of calm about him. He is already fitting in with everyone else very nicely.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
Read about the PX fun and see other shots from the pack (not on flickr) on my blog:
gingercaravan.blogspot.com/2010/07/px-100-experimental.html
Comments on the blog are always welcome!
Hugger Mugger
Apologies in advance to anyone who peruses this and comes away with thinking that it reads like the plot of yet another badly directed flick. Real life can appear to be played out that way in the sometimes!
That bit being said...
Unescapable Boredom has always been a trigger for some of my most peevish muses, and sometimes that has landed me in quite hot water !
And whilst dwelling in my Unescapable boredom on this particular evening….
I had noticed the youth, a typical 13 year old male, with typical, shall we say yearnings, scampering happily about at the reception hall which was our lot to be in on that late night.
And this particular lad’s activities were quite interesting from my admittedly cynical standing point of observation...
But first, please allow me to explain one’s self and reason for being in that posh venu .
I was one of several fellow professors at the university whom had been invited to the son of a female colleague’s nuptials ( in other wards, no close relationship to the groom, whom I only had bloody met, once... can anyone say free gift for the gits?!).
He was marrying a rather affluent young Lass he had hitched up with from Wrexham way, and it was in that city, several hours away, that the couple decided to tie the knot, dragging his family, and us I might add, all along with him to travel there.
Now Wrexham is a nice enough place to visit, but preferring not to waste the whole weekend away from the stone cottage ,its quiet gardens, me pipe, and a snifter of fine old brandy, I had only booked in for an overnighter...
So it twas, that on an early, misting Saturday Morn, our entourage left for the long trog to make it in time for the noon wedding.
We arrived in the city of Wrexham with twenty minutes to spare, and began our pleasant wind along the old Girl’s nostalgic neighborhoods.
There are quite a few fine old churches in Wrexham, and the one where the nuptual ceremonies was to be held was, in my personal opinion, the finest.
The wedding was upscale smashing, starting with the rather gothic Blackstone church decorated like it was a set up for some fancy magazine photo shoot for an even more posh magazine.
The bride, once she made her appearance, continued on with the opulence, wearing a high priced designers rhinestone decked, white satin number, while the girls in her bridal wore matching rhinestoned inlayed gowns by the same designer, all formed fit in flowy blood red satin, ‘cept the maid of honour, a stunning red head whose matching gown was of a bewitching midnight black! The groomsmen wore jet black tuxes, the groom wore a white tux and tails, looking like Fred Astaire complete with top hat and cane( but sans rhinestones ) … and indeed there was a bit of a movie like ambiance hanging over the whole affaire!
The reception venue was held at a fancy hall that had been repurposed from an old eel tinning factory. A most interesting venue, with no taint of its former occupant. And with all its most opulent trappings, looked like a stark continuation of the posh photo shoot from the church , set up in an alleyway like ambiance!
So I guess the affair overall was a nice enough bit of eye candy for those of us “privileged” enough to be invited. I must add, I personally did not feel privileged, but judging by the openly blurted remarks of a gaggling trio of someone’s elderly maiden aunties( not mine thank Lord) we all were supposed to feel that way for being there!
Privileged was not a verb I was going to choose!
Especially seeing that only 4 of us from the group invited from the university made the trip ( the others successfully coming up with valid excuses, the lucky prigs!) I was feeling more of being on an isolated island in the stream of gaily dressed guests!
So outside us four, and the bride’s parents, we were complete strangers to everyone else. Including the son of my colleague, the groom, whom I had only met once on a golf outing some few years back. And pretty much the four of us found ourselves alone and ignored… !!
Then as the evening wore on, there was no pretty much about it,being stranded alone I dare say!
For I found myself completely alone! Due to two of our group taking early leave ( The devils decided not to spend the night) and the fourth had taken up with a young man she had met ( I would say cougar if I was not a proper gentleman and actually rather fond of the lass meself!) ….
So I was sitting there, at an empty table, and soon the boredom began it’s subtle creeping..
I had not been guiling enough to plan a quick excuse to exit, nor so lucky to find someone dance with , so I made my way off the island and waded over to the bar and took up a solitary vigil on a padded stool. The watered down drinks were free, so after about 5 old fashions I was feeling pretty good actually, but even though I was enjoying meself in that aspect, I was still a wee bit bored, and therefore started peevishly musing…
And it was during my boredom tinged thoughts when I again caught sight of the lad…
I of course had seen him earlier when we first arrived and was busy getting drinks for my group from the bar. His mother was the satin gowned maid of honour to her bride sister, and he had been latched onto her at the waist of her midnight black bridesmaid’s attire , hanging on joyfully as she was in conversation with the best man.
I soon found out that the lad’s Maid of Honour mother was single. But though very pretty, she was no older than some of my students !
But at that time my attention was pulled away anyways’ by a plate of Hors d'oeuvre’s being passed around and as I ate and mingled with my colleagues, I continued to watch the lad and his antics from the corner of my eye.
Then dinner was announced, and as We made way to our seating, the lad totally escaped my mind… till now..
And now, here I was, observing the lad’s promiscuous antics again
Taking sips of my current old fashion, I had been watching with mesmerized interest, the Bride’s Mother. She was a rather attractive lady, young for her age, who was wearing a rather fetching gown of sleek blue ruffling satin that flowed jauntily along her figure, swishing and swaying in a most delightful manner.
She was wearing a rather pricey ensemble of fine jewelery, including a short gold herringbone necklace set with a large fiery diamond at its’ centre, flanked by four glittery smaller stones. I found the whole package enticing enough that I was pondering over the dos or don’ts of asking for a dance...for she appeared not to be attached to any male courtesan.
It was as I was watching that I again saw the thirteen year old lad, sneaking up from behind a table and hug his grandmother, who leaned down to reciprocate...( the lady was petitely short, so she didn’t have far to bend) the diamonds in her swaying necklace rippling with pinpricks of expensive fire!
So he was still at it I thought…
Now, when I had seen him darting about earlier, while hor d'oeuvres were being served after finally being shaken loose by his mother, he had preformed this hugging antic on his and his grandmother several times, and once each on his Bride Aunt and Maid of Honour Mother!
Now this lad was also obviously across the threshold of young puberty: as was witnessed by his actions, in the way he was sneaking up and giving those graspy hugs of his, the fingers digging into the shiny satiny gown of his targeted female.
They all though it cute enough, especially the gullible Grandmother, who thought it was “precious” and just laughed, and squealed happily, “look another drive by hugging”, or “thanks for the hug honey, it was needed”, encouraging to no end the youth to keep his voyeuristic advances up, for he attempted this several more times as I stood watching from the sidelines … Though his Grandmother was the only female not to fend off repeated attempts!
But, and damn me own eyes, I had noticed that far more was going on than just a bit of runaway hugging !! The little miscreant was also Copping a feel!
The Lads arms, as he hugged his grandmother’s warm figure before running off, were noticeably brushing just under her perk breasts, molded nicely by the tight fitted ‘mother of the bride” gown she was attired in.
I also knew that , along with copping a feel, he was had also enjoying the tingling sensation from the slick satin material of the long, swishing gown the rather youngish ,stylish grandmother was wearing…
Perhaps I was jealous ?
It was as I watched him repeat this performance again and again , that my mind was taken off asking anyone to dance, and my attention started to follow the lad to see what he was all on about, to confirm my hypothesis if you will.
I soon saw that he was now turning his attentions upon a different source for his promiscuous behavior.
The youngest of the bridesmaids by far was the 15 year old sister of the bride. A rather immature teenager at that. Looking like some Disney princess in her red satin gown and rhinestone necklace and earrings that matched that of the rest of her fellow, though much older, lady bridesmaids. But she certainly was not acting like a proper princess as she now whisked about playing at cops and robbers with my 13 year old mischievous lad.
Said Lad, whose fingers were doing more touching than just tagging the fancy dress of his fetchingly attired playmate.
So, ordering yet a another old fashion( my seventh for those keeping tabs), I watched the pair, Not really being a voyeur in my defense, for my professional interest does lay in the realm of the study of human nature, though as a criminologist this was a thin argument at best for applying it to the situation today..
Soon the girl was pulled away to join the bridal party whom had started swishing about on the dance floor, and the lad, looking glumly on, and with all his “victims” out of reach on said dance floor, eventually headed off, and the direction he took was going to lead him straight past me I perkily noticed
I looked up over the top of his head to the dance floor, rather envious that I was not able to participate!
I spied the young 15 year old bridesmaid dancing, she seemed to be enjoying herself. I also caught site of her necklace as it was caught up in the lights, it glittered , sparkling madly in the dim lights, as were the rhinestones on her dress. I looked around, all the bridesmaids opulent rhinestones were sparkling. The Grandmother was also sparkling about on the floor, dancing with some spiff in a tailored suit!
Despite of my misery at being there, I felt something stirring up inside of me.
Not surprisingly ( to me) a rather mischievous thought came into my head propelled by a combination of the resplendent bridesmaids dancing on the floor, the attractive glittering of rhinestones, the approaching lad, and the fact that I was really quite blasé about the whole affair ,being stuck there and all! Of course, I was probably a wee bit more drunk than sober by that period in time...
My thought was in the direction of doing a quick, possibly amusing study, on channeling this approaching Lads spirited passions by broadening his horizons! In simple terms, Tune the lad in on expanding his conquests through an adults apparent permission, then turn him loose to give “drive by hugging’s” amongst the flock of dressed up bridesmaids may be most amusing... Like an amorous puppy scurrying in amongst a group of shiny feathered clucking chickens!
So while I eyed the approaching lad, I nonchalantly put my hand into a jacket pocket fumbling for a selection of ever present coins.
Now my Grandfather had been a magician of sorts, and I had been weaned on watching his slight of hand tricks with coins. As a young man I had leaned a few of them meself, ( as a way to meet the fairer sex of course) as well as a slew of card tricks, and always had a few props with me.
So as the lad sauntered by me, I caught his attention by dropping a penny. He obligingly retrieved it for me, and as he handed it back, I turned down my wrist, then took my hand to his ear appearing to change the penny into a twenty pee piece… Which I handed the coin to the amazed lad for keeps. Thereby also gaining his full and undivided attention.
“Want to see another?” I asked, and he shook his head eagerly. I pulled out a deck of cards, and had him ruffle them up a bit. Talking it up him as I did.
The simple card trick would allow me to banter and stoke the id of his sexually driven impulses whilst the ego thoughts in the lad’s head where following the cards. With my intents to stocking up the super.
The first trick was an easy one that had him picking his own card from a group laid out on the bar. It was as I went through the motions, and watching his focus on the cards, I mentioned his Grandmother asking if he thought she looked pretty. I knew I was firing up the lad, and after I set him loose, planned on watching him take off like an exploding rocket to give her another hug before he started branching out.
I than showed him a second trick. Talking about hugging and how all girls liked to received them...like his grandmother,……. like the girls in the red gowns I added after a dramatic pause for effect. I saw his eyes quickly dart over to the dance floor, than quickly back at the cards as I finished up my trick
By then the bridal party , blissfully unawares that they were being primed for a series of hugs, was leaving the floor and I saw that the young brides maid was standing off to the side watching the departing dancers…..
And that gave my inspiration a new course totally...
I knew I lit a fire in the back of his mind about dancing, hugging, and such! So I went a step further, mentioning how wonderful it was dancing, almost like a long continuous hug. I could tell by the way he stiffened that my words were quite well received by this promiscuous lad.
He quite obviously was “rising” to the bait, and appeared more than eager to listen to me. I turned him around and pointed out the young brides maid, suggesting he should dance with the lass…
Like a puppet on my string , he obediently went off and I watched as he approached the lass, and talking to her, she took control and led him off to the dance floor.
The pair did make a cute couple and it was rather entertaining to watch the two of them acting like young adults. She was by far more graceful at it, but in her partners boyish fumbling’s, I noticed a rather strategic placing of his hands and chest that could not have been mere accidental. At one point she reached around and moved his latched hand from around her waist to a less compressing spot on her upper back.
All in all it was a quite satisfying observation of young hormones in action, and I was quite satisfied thus far with the results of my “experiment” when the dance ended. I fully expected him to toddle off to find his Grandmother, or Mother to do a bit of “Drive by Hugging” and having quite enough of that to fill my day, rose to bid my adieu and congratulations to the happy couple before heading out into the wilderness outside to find a friendly pub.
So I was both rather shocked, and a little bemused, when as the dance ended the lad came back towards me, dragging along his pretty partner like some panting puppy with a bone. ( and yes, there was a very good reason for thinking up that analogy, but please get your mind from that gutter)!
He wanted me to show her a trick…. And how could I resist, as they both looked up at me all wide eyed and expecting me to work some miracles !
I smiled at her, her eyes large with excitement, glittery like her long earrings swaying freely from her ears, bouncing off her cherubs cheeks.
I reached again into my pockets, and pulled out a penny. I took up the lass’s gloved hand and appeared to place the penny onto her palm, curling her fingers over it before she could have a proper look. I told her to hold it tight now. And as she did, she looked down upon it, her free hand plying with the shimmering rhinestones of her necklace. As all sets of eyes were glued on the clenched hand,except my own, I was idly looking the necklace over, and noticed that chain of her necklace was clasped around her throat by a simple hook in eye, but at the time did not think it of any significance to it.
I said something about needing a wand, and reaching back, pulled the straw from my drink. They both giggled at my impromptu choice, as I took the straw and tapped it on the back of her hand holding the “Penny” I told her to open her hand and she did, both gasping that the “penny” had turned into a shiny fifty pence piece. I told her to keep it, her face beaming .
“Here miss,” I said, “let me see that hand again?” She gave it to me and as I pulled two more pennies from my pocket.
I Laid the penny on the backside of her hand and had the lad hold open his palm under neath, after apparently placing a penny into it also. I than brushed my hand along the young Miss’s making the penny vanish.
I told them to look in the boys hand ,had him open his fingers and there was not a penny, but another fifty pence coin, which I let the lad keep as they both gasped over the magical transformation!
The pair were quite keen for more after that, so I began to show them some tricks with playing cards, keeping them both spellbound. It was passing the dreary time by I will admit, having a chance to amaze the young urchin and the princess with my simple tricks!
But the opportunity to be excited by my tricks led to other things, and the girl took her leave shyly and headed off hurriedly to the loo in a swishing of her long gown.
As I watched her scamper off, I again eyed the lad, who also seemed keen on also scampering off after her.
The little hugger mugger I thought as he made to dart away. But in that second , with those words in me head, I had a most epiphany like flash of brilliance( at least to me) inspired by that thought as it travelled down an avenue of my mind that had caused me to take note of how loosely a rhinestone necklace was being held up around the departing young lass’s neck and at the same instant I saw the girls prying the lad’s hand from her waist and placing it just under….. said necklace’s clasp !
It all put me in mind of a trick I had once heard of performed by magician Harry Kellar....!
I quickly grasped the lad by the shoulder before he took flight.
“Ere now, how would you like to play a magic trick on the lass yonder?” I asked as I directed his attention to the girl who was just at that second disappearing down the hallway leading to the girls’ loo?
He nodded exuberantly!
I than conspiratorially explained a slight of hand trick he could help me pull off on his very own.
He had rather caught onto the idea as I explained to him in simple terms, making is sound far easier than it would/should be.
I gave him a gentle push ..” Go get em tiger!” I said with unbridled encouragement.
And so, with a rather lustfully smouldering fuse lit, making any additional need of persuasion moot, off he scurried!
I watched with growing anticipation as the lad approached the hall way, waiting and eagerly watching.
The young bridesmaid ,reappeared, and upon her approach, the laddie moved in behind her, placing a hand on the young bridesmaid’s sleek back, grabbing at her attention, and started talking with a pointed affably.
In a few minutes the pair of them were on the wooden dance floor, once again looking exceptionally cute as a couple, as they danced to a rather preferable romantic slow tune whose name has slipped my mind, so focused was I on my mischievous endeavor being carried out !
The young darlings mimicked the adults around them, and embraced closely against one another.
I looked around, Nor were any of the said adults paying the pair any heed..
I had directed him to try and slip off the girl’s necklace as the first part of a trick to play on her. But I was really figuring that he would bumble it and get caught out, which would be an amusing thing to witness...
He pulled her in closer, an she fell all in for it… maybe she was experiencing the same female feelings as his partner, for her eyes were also tightly closed. With his partner so engrossed, my lad easily reached over a satin clad shoulder, then moved his fingers to the back of her neck, where he gently pulled at her rhinestone necklaces silver chain and it’s quite easy opening clasp.
He fumbled a bit with said clasp, but I saw him peeking over her shoulder for a better look, and he managed to studiously slip out the hook on his second attempt.
He then carefully began to pull it up along the front of his dance partners blood red satin gown, then over her shoulders’ sleeve and down her back where it dangled for a few precious seconds
As they sparkled away down her back I began to feel a prickling myself as I perked up, this may actually bloody work!!
I watch as he then, quite unnoticed, secreted the necklace into a side pocket of his suits’ jacket pocket as I had instructed him to do.
I released my breath not realizing I had been holding it.. He had gotten away with it, and his prettily dressed partner hadn’t a bloody clue as to what had just transpired with her departing necklace, and no one else had either.
They finished the dance, it seemed like an eternity, but it was thrilling to try and catch glimpses of the cousins’ now bare neckline He had pulled off the first part of the trick without being caught out.
I had figured he would get his hands caught in the till, which is the show I had been expecting to watch play out on the hapless lad.
It would have been amusing in and of itself if he had been caught red handed, but this new game would be almost as fun.
Finally they broke apart and he walked off with her. I held my breath again, but he seemed to inherently realize that as part of the “trick”, he didn’t want her suspicions raised by being quick to leave. God bless his natural budding adult male like deviousness!
He had done it, but I wasn’t through with him yet. The game, and watching it being played out, had been all far too exciting for me also, and there was the encore to pull off !
He brought his innocent victim over , grinning ear to ear.
Well done I said to him, as the girl looked at me, a bit confused as to what well done was on about.
“Another Trick my lass?”, I asked, and she shook her head happily.
I lifted up the girls gloved hand, palm up, and placed a penny onto it, keeping my hand on her palm..
I then told the lass to close her eyes, and winked at the lad, who smiled back knowingly, as she obediently did so.
I motioned him to hand me the necklace, and he did so. With the quickness of a dip, I lifted the penny and replaced it with her necklace.
I took the straw and tapped it along her throat , she giggled at that, than tapped it on her palm, telling her to open her eyes.
She did so and the went wide with astonishment as she saw a rhinestone necklace dangling there. Her hand went to her throat, discovering the “cupboard was now bare!”, she gasped as she realized the necklace was her own!
I had her hold up the necklace and had the lad reclasp it for her, her eyes wide with the belief of an innocent who thought she was witnessing real magic. She gave me a hug, and I shook the lads hand with a wink before sending them off…a pub somewhere was still calling, and I wanted to go and follow its enticing voice.
I thoughtfully watched the young couple whisk of weaving amongst the crowd till they were lost from my sight, my mind half taking in once again the swishing of a most delightful gown as I mulled it all over while watching.
That had been easy enough trick, quite well played I thought, like in a movie.
My mind drifted onto various movies I had seen, and one in particular jumped out. ( read on and see if at the end you can guess which movie?)
As the movie flashed across my mind I looked in the direction the lass had gone, lucky for the young lady her necklace had not been real, for if I was a rogue of that thieving nature like the actor from that movie, well I could have easily rearranged the sequence of things and have walked off pretty as you please with diamonds in me pocket.
I chuckled at the thought as it popped itself in me mind , for I had not been thinking anything of the sort as I had orchestrated the trick, and would not have if I hadn’t thought about the movie! Besides, ladies that young never wear the real thing anyways, not unlike actress’s, and .....stylish grandmother’s !
For said Grandmother was once again in my line of vision, her back to me, as she merrily was chatting away with one of the prune face spinster Aunties! I tipped my head in her direction, for it was time to finally, happily , vacate the premises.
Then as I rose to leave, my last remaining ( cougar) chum from the original group, joined up with me. her “friend” had deserted her for his school mates. I regained my seat as she took the vacant one next to me, ordered her a drink, and a refill for me..
I decided to stay and hold the fort with the lass for a bit before shoving off.
We sat and drank for about 15 minutes, and as my chum was chatting away merrily about her conquest that evening. I found my eyes lazily drifting over the dancers out on the floor. It was still quite a show,, a mixture of flowing, colourful evening gowns and flickering jewels contrasted by formal suits and severe black tuxes.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Brides mother, the young Grandmother, who had managed to squirm her way from the severe Auntie. Her blue gown shimmery under the lights, rings on her fingers dancing with glittery flickers. Amusingly enough she was now dancing with her grandson, the same huggy lad who I had done a bit of magic for, and who had been my most willing accomplice for a trick played out upon the young bride’s maid.
I had been watching the pair with causal awareness when “Blimey!” suddenly something I observed forced me to snap out of my reverie and sat straight up in my seat..
“What’s up? “my friend asked me with curiosity.
“Nothing really” I said, as my eyes confirmed what I had seen was real.
Better “eeflay ethay emisespray” was what I was in fact thinking, and the sooner the better my mind added...
I turned towards my mate, “you know, I really feel like a proper drink and not this watered down tosh. Lets say we take a stroll towards our hotel and try to find a nice friendly pub on the way?”
“Capital “ she said jumping at the chance to leave squeezing my arm,” Ive had it with this scene too lad!”, and as I looked in her eyes I saw her look towards a table off to the side where the young man who had caught and discarded her fancy, was perched with another, younger, lady- one of the bridesmaids.
We went to the exit, and as I helped her on with her faux mink wrap I looked over her shoulder for the grandmother and my touchy lad. They were still dancing. And the thorny issue that had me fleeing into the night, was still , well, an issue !! It looked like I was going to just make it out before....
My mind was a mass of whirling thoughts as we walked out of the venue an onto the smoggy street. I suggested we continue to walk, I needed the time to clear my head for a proper think...
We strolled off, arm in arm ( her idea). I was vaguely aware of my friends fancy party dress whipping along my leg as it fell swaying in the light breeze from beneath her Faux mink. But my churning mind was not properly appreciating the experience, for it twas entirely back at the reception.........
And here we have reached the end of Part one ( of two)
"The Wheel of Life"
Yesterday was the most beautiful inspirational day I've had in a long time, I walked for miles on a beautiful winters day up to my ankles in squelchy mud I love, read books, nearly fell into the river and dropped my camera! But they were all nearly's and I had the best day!
Today, I was at work...
This represents to me the coming of a much needed spring, the regrowth from what we thought was dead and long gone, and the mystery of life's ever turning wheel
A short hike in Read Mountain Preserve, to play with two vintage lenses: the Helios 44-2 58mm f2 and the Tokina AT-X 90mm f2.5 in Nikon mount (AKA Bokina). Both adapted to Sony A7Riv. This picture was taken with Russian made Helios lens.
These are a few of my favorite books. Missing: Hesse's Steppenwolf and I can't for the life of my figure out who I loaned that to as well as Coupland's Life After God, which I have read a few times but like to keep handy in the car to read in waiting rooms. Oh and JD. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey...I have no idea why or how I forgot these...maybe too obvious?
From top to bottom:
Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse Five
Galapagos
I know I'm probably not supposed to like the classic Vonnegut that everyone else likes but the book Slaughterhouse Five was there for me when I needed it and that's pretty much all you can ask of literature. Galapagos I think is Vonnegut at his best in alot of ways but it's also Vonnegut at perhaps his least hopeful...or atleast it shows he thinks we'd be better of as simpler creatures. I was sad to hear of his death recently...had tried to see him read a few years back and couldn't get into the downtown library as it was filled to capacity.
Virginia Woolf: To The Lighthouse:
I love Virginia Woolf and this book is not only flawless but WAY ahead of it's time. Virginia is both why I love being a woman (because we're wildly creative in the tangential way men aren't) and hate being a women (because we're just not very rational).
Don Delillo: Mao II
I know alot of people love White Noise but Mao II is an excellent delve into mass media and culture as well as the parallels between the writer and the terrorist. I found it fascinating.
Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray
I love so many things about Oscar Wilde and I suppose without him, we might never have had Morrissey if you think about it a certain way. I think his plays are of course hilarious but there's a darker side to Dorian Gray that he explores much more thoroughly than the mere inferences of many of his play characters.
Graham Greene: The Power and the Glory
I don't know...you know, there's something comforting and yet revealing and insightful in Greene. Haven't read this one in awhile and I feel it's about time I revisit it.
Paul Auster: City of Glass
I started reading Auster for an experimental fiction class I took in college and I find he is really one of those who is wildly creative and adept at speaking to the reader so that you feel you are almost part of the storyline...which is intriguing even if it is complex enough to warrant taking notes on.
Haruki Marukami: Norwegian Wood
I've read several of Murakami's books but none really hit me like this one (Hard Boiled Wonderland is perhaps a close second). I think maybe because it involves music intertwined with the frailty of relationships and the lives particularily of the women the protagonist falls in love with
Italo Calvino: Invisible Cities
This is the first book I read by Calvino-a collection of stories that really made me sense and dream more than any other short stories have...in the way that I wanted to just live in that place and nowhere else.
Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Being
I'm no stranger to Kundera and, though I haven't quite read everything yet, every book I have read is profound in its own way and gets me to think about identity, gestures, and moments in a consideration and perspective I would never have before. The problem is, every time I read Kundera, I actually go through a major depression.
John Berger: To The Wedding
Berger is an art critic as well so some of his descriptions are just very visually appealing. I've read G and King as well and enjoyed those but To The Wedding had that extra something that made me read it twice and cry both times.
Andrew Sean Greer: The Confessions of Max Tivoli:
Soon to be made into a film starring Brad Pitt (blech!) is this book. I discovered it a year or so ago and it was one of those books I read frantically as if I was incredibly scared I might die before finishing it. It is fantastic-about being born as an old man and aging in reverse and losing everyone around you as you slowly become so young you are an infant. It's also about the nature of changing relationships and, of course, despair.
Sarah Vowell: Assassination Vacation
I love Sarah...she's such a political geek but she equates alot of the politics and feelings to music somehow in a way you don't see coming and she makes trekking across America to find various plaques on Lincoln seem like the most exciting thing on earth.
DBC Pierre: Vernon God Little
I still haven't read his new one as I've had trouble finding it...I thought this book was as creative as it was grim and I'm still not so sure about the ending (as in what end up actually happening) Set in the death penalty capital of the world, Texas.
Flannery O'Connor (Stories)
I've been pressuring a certain friend of mine to read Flannery (sorry Rory) because I love her sometimes even more than Virgina Woolf, which I didn't even think was possible. Flannery is one of those short writers that is always profound and brilliant. She has endings that just make your jaw drop. Favorites: "Parker's Back" "The Lame Shall Enter First."
Jose Saramago: Blindness
Seeing (techincally the sequel) is also brilliant but you just have to read this first...it's about the nature of seeing and the fabric that sight weaves into our reality and world. Any must for a photographer who is curious about how a society would react if they all went completely blind. And, of course, it's a character study into the darkness of man and all that. Seeing is more political and explores the idea of how far pretty much any government will go to oppress its own people in order to keep in power.
Douglas Coupland: Girlfriend in a Coma
I've read every work of fiction Coupland has ever written and I have a great friend in NYC who is always getting me Coupland's autographs. This one is a definite favorite-particularily for the ending which encourages you to get out in the world and actually change things at the expense of your livelihood and sanity-question everything and make the world a better place...a place you'd actually want to live in. I've read this book several times-have memorized passages of it-and tend to read it whenever I feel I am slipping into a very deep depression.
John Irving: A Prayer for Owen Meany
I read this book when I was in high school and it was one of the first books that made me weep. It is so moving and I really cherish it as a complete work of fiction.
Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex
This book is epic in its coverage of the multigenerational story of a family who came from Greece to Detroit. The main character is an intersexual (born with both organs) which goes undiscovered by his parents. He is raised as a girl even though he strongly feels male. It has alot to do with psychology but it just also makes you feel with excellent writing. The Virgin Suicides misses the mark relative to this one. I'm not sure if he'll ever write anything as good.
Douglas Adams: Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Everyone needs a little lightness once in awhile and the kind Adams provides is guilt free because it is so intelligent and creative that you don't feel bad for laughing even if famine and global warming are making you feel like it's the end of the world.
Salman Rushdie: The Ground Beneath Her Feet
Ok...so the ending isn't as great as 90% of the rest of this but it is still a brilliant book filled with rich storytelling and connections to music. Any avid photographer will read it and fall in love with the protagonist Rai who takes photographs despite all danger and forsaking rational thought. And when I mean fall in love, I don't mean some flippant way. I mean...you wish he existed.
Last but not least...
The Riverside Shakespeare
It's funny because I never fully "got" Shakespeare when I was in high school and had to read play after play. I mean, I liked Romeo and Juliet (duh! Romeo was hot and obviously good at poetry!) and all that but I didn't really connect with it until I took Shakespeare in college. There are many brilliant plays that you don't fully sense until you really study them and analyze them at length but the one that is my favorite above all the others is King Lear and the ending always makes me weep like a little girl:
"Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life and thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more, Never never never never never."
NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft completed its 1.2 billion-mile (2 billion-kilometer) journey to arrive at the asteroid Bennu Monday. The spacecraft executed a maneuver that transitioned it from flying toward Bennu to operating around the asteroid.
Now, at about 11.8 miles (19 kilometers) from Bennu’s Sun-facing surface, OSIRIS-REx will begin a preliminary survey of the asteroid. The spacecraft will commence flyovers of Bennu’s north pole, equatorial region, and south pole, getting as close as nearly 4 miles (7 kilometers) above Bennu during each flyover.
The primary science goals of this survey are to refine estimates of Bennu’s mass and spin rate, and to generate a more precise model of its shape. The data will help determine potential sites for later sample collection.
This image of Bennu was taken by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a distance of around 50 miles (80 km).
Image credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
I have just recently started this fascinating book called Crucible by Charles Emmerson. It is a history encompassing the time frame 1917 to 1924, from the ending of the First World War to the setting up by various forces in Europe for the much more dreaded sequel. Whilst I have read countless books on this time period, it is always interesting to read new interpretations and newly revealed information. I'm about 1/6 of the way through it but so far a recommended read, if you fancy early 20th century European history.
We're Here looks at At Home with Books today.