Mini-Reunion

2011 Mini-Reunion Attendees

Several of my classmates from the Iowa Falls High School Class of 1969 meet once a year, typically in Coralville, Iowa, for a "mini-reunion".  There are treats and wine tasting in the afternoon, followed by an evening meal intertwined with stories and conversation.  After dinner - there is a no-holds barred game of Trivial Pursuit.  This year the women struck first, second, third... well, you get the idea.  While the men were not "skunked" the women's victory string continues for another year.

Trivial Pursuit Pie

Hart Office Building

Mountains and Clouds

This past week the Iowa Credit Union people who went met with Senator Harkin (D-IA) in the Hart Office Building.

The centerpiece of the atrium is Alexander Calder’s mobile Mountains and Clouds.   The piece combines black aluminum clouds suspended above black steel mountains, with the tallest peak being 51 feet high.  It was one of Calder’s last works. The sculptor came to Washington on November 10, 1976 to make the final adjustments to his model, and died later that evening after returning to New York.

Jogging and Juggling or Joggaling?

My mistake on the earlier post it's 5 FIVE red balls - I'm impressed...

Sometimes You Do

And Sometimes You Don't

I SomeTimes Can't Walk and Talk

There are times I can't walk and talk and this guy is jogging and juggling 4 red balls.  The Jefferson Memorial can be seen in the background.

Veteran War Memorials

World War 2 Memorial

I visited the memorials in Washington DC yesterday.  As I was sitting on a bench next to the Korean War Memorial I was reflecting on the speakers we had this week at the Credit Union Convention. We had the Speaker of the House Speak and a host of Senators and Representatives.  All of them spoke to the looming deficits and that we, as a country must deal with it. What struck me is that both parties used verbiage, "...doesn't matter what side of the isle... this is a problem we all need to address."

Why do we have to have an isle?  Instead of Republicans or Democrats can't we have just Americans in each chamber?  As I visited each one of the memorials I realized that there probably weren't any Democrats or Republicans in the foxholes in WW2, Korea or Vietnam - just scared American kids.  Just like we have scared American kids in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe.  It's going to take Americans to fix our economy and frankly I don't care what party affiliations Congress might have - get in a room and get to work and get rid of the isle...

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

Visit With Congressman Bruce Braley (IA 5th Distrct)

This is photo of the people from Iowa who visited with Congressman Braley this afternoon on behalf of credit unions.  Now - since I'm in the photo I did not take the photo - however,  one of Congressman Braley's staffers took this photo with my camera.  I did detect a bit of lens envy...

Senate Reception Room

I am in Washington DC with the Credit Unions Government Affairs Conference.  Yesterday was our (Iowa) day to visit our 2 U. S. Senators.  Senator Grassley was on the floor of the Senate so he asked if we could come over to the Capital (from the Dirksen Office Building) to meet with him.  Once there we waited in the Senate Reception Room located in the north wing of the United States Capitol adjacent to the Senate Chamber.  The Senate Reception Room was designed in 1853 to function as a meeting place where constituents could meet informally with their senators, the room continues to serve primarily as a public gathering space. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time there - I wanted to take at least another 100 photos.

Colorful Wall

The Washington Convention Center has several colorful pieces of Art.  The exhibit hall opened last night at 7:00 PM.  I made a quick pass through - some good eating... scoped out the vendors I want to visit today.

Sunrise Over the Wing

30,000 Feet

Up before 4 to the airport by 5 in the air by 6:00 AM...a long day.

Still Testing

Thought there may be an opportunity to take a photo or 2 with my iPhone instead of my other camera. Getting the photo posted mobile is easy - getting the text is posted is another matter. I may end up with just a series of photos as I travel along...

I am leaving tomorrow for DC.  I'm flying into Baltimore and then catching a shuttle to the hotel in DC.   Flying out of Iowa is challenging because you generally have to go somewhere else first.
You'll know f I do the text on the phone as there will be a ton of typos (more than normal)...

Peppers

Peppers

Testing the ability to post via my iPhone without logging into Blogger.

Enough Already!!

Enough already.  Spring is around the corner and I have the fever.  We had a near 60 degree weather day a week ago and I have been infected by the fever.  I'm off to Washington DC tomorrow and the weather is warmer there - so, I really do hope and that this is winter's last hurrah!!

But, it is Iowa and the weather is subject to change without notice, but still, enough already!!

Shapes

Circles

Any guesses of where this was taken?  Or, what it is?

A Long Hard Winter

A Long Hard Winter

St. Patrick's Day

Our neighbor decorates for every holiday - she's got her St. Patrick's Day stuff out...  Look's cooler at night...

Dinner Time

Spring Is Near - I can Sense it!!

Melting Snow

Spring is around the corner - green grass, green grass....

Although rumor has it Mother Nature is going to give us a bit of snow tonight - green grass, green grass...

Still Chasing Water Drops

Green Water Drop

I'm still chasing that "Perfect" Water Drop Photo.  I set up in the kitchen sink with a white bowl 1/2 filled with water.  I add food coloring to make the water  different colors.  I then get the faucet to just drip - not too fast - slower is better.


I make note of where the water is hitting and place a pencil in the same spot and manual focus on that spot.  I have a flash on my camera and a remote flash to the left of the bowl.  I am using my 100 MM Macro Lens with a low ISO (100).  Shutter is set f/14 at 1/200 speed to freeze the water drop.  I then fire off about 3 or 4 in succession - any more than that and the flash says "enough already".

Red Water Drop

Art

Anne Bancroft

26 Years ago my spouse and I purchased 7 pieces of art depicting Anne Bancroft, Theda Berra, and the Artist Kathy S.  They have hung in every home we have lived in and are displayed prominently in the living room.  It just wouldn't be our home without this art.

If you can remember back 26 years ago - in the world of graphic arts - there was film you could purchase, cut up and shape to make camera ready art - screens for printing.  That's the material she used...  there was an 8th in the series - one of Lucille Ball with red lips - but it went missing before we acquired the set.

I'm not sure if Kathy follows my Photo A Day Blog or not, but if she does - I just want her to know how much we have enjoyed her work over the years.  Thanks Kathy...

PopCorn

Water Drop

Chasing The Perfect Water Drop

Blue

Framed Eagle Print

Framed Eagle Print

I have printed and framed this eagle photograph to donate to the Habitat for Humanity fundraising auction in March.

The print looks much better than the photograph of the photograph - but you get the idea.  I had museum glass added so the colors and detail in the wings "pop".

I may end up bidding on it myself...

Chubby Cardinal

When You're Tired...

...sometimes you just have to take a power nap.

Chili Judge

As part of our churches annual meeting we had a chili competition.  This is a photo of one of the judges - moments later he spontaneously combusted... it was gooooood chili!!!

Out To Lunch

A Mother's Love

Tootsie Pop Bouquet

Time For Another Squirrel Story

It's Here Somewhere

Tasty!

The Last member of the Maynard Avenue Squirrel Gang was foraging for food yesterday.  He has learned to be careful since the other members of the gang are no longer around to stand watch.  He is ever vigilant as rival gangs roam the neighborhood - the Nasty Blue jay Gang, the Cranky Crow Gang, and the occasional carnivorous Hawk Gang.  Oh and the sometimes Pissed Off Possum wanders through as well.


It's tough to be a lone squirrel. 


He has been seen observing the birds feeding and he has made copious notes as to the location of dropped morsels.  And, when the time is right he scurries out - digs frantically, chomps a bit and then checks around - chomps a bit more - but, what was that?  He doesn't care what it was - better safe then sorry so he scampers off.


He does this routine all day - I hope he meets another single squirrel and then they can revive the Maynard Avenue Gang and share the foraging duties...

What's That I Hear?

Outta Here!

Either Incredibly Early or Late?

Early or Late?

Pep Band

Pep Band Calls It A Night

Scrubbers

Netting Waiting for "The Hook"

Hooked

My spouse makes "scrubbers" for her group at church, "Chat and Sew" and one of their projects is making these kitchen scrubbers.  They are quite the popular item.  It's not uncommon for a mother to come in and buy 20 of them to send to her girls....  They are frequently sold out, as in this week, so production has begun...

Snow Hat

After The Blizzard

Sunrise After The Blizzard

Snow Sculpture

A Good Night To Stay In

Toasty Fire

Cold Rabbit's Feet

Cold Feet

We're in the middle of a blizzard, we're anticipating 10 inches of snow, the wind in blowing 45 MPH and the windchill is WAAAAY below zero and this bunny rabbit looks happy.  He should be - I just watched him feed on the corn the squirrels drop.

He didn't appreciate his picture being taken and hopped off...

Snowy Night

Snowy Night (Again)

Macro Shot of A Lamp Shade

Macro of A Lamp Shade

Indoor Parking Ramp

All Parking Spaces Were Full