Cam

This is my handsome nephew, Cameron.  I was able to spend 24 hours in Colorado on my way back to Vegas (from work travels) and while I was there I took some shots of Cameron for his Senior class pictures.  This one is my favorite.  I love it because it reminds me of an album cover...very cool.  It also reflects his personality...pensive and full of depth and heart.  I feel lucky that I had the chance to capture  him on camera (willingly!).  I love that boy so much!

Chicago Lights

Some things never change...I'll always remember these lights every time I travel through this airport.  It's so dated an yet, so familiar and fun.  Very groovy, Baby!  Half-way home!

Syracuse Sunshine

My last shot of Syracuse (yesterday morning...).  This place was just too cute to pass up.  Everything in this area seemed that way, quaint, simple and full of smiles.  Lots of nice people, good visit, Syracuse, thanks!

The Boot

The book sitting on my bedside table is called "Wild."  It's fitting that I'm reading this book as the wildfires rage across the West mercilessly and make my heart so heavy in the process.  I wish I could give those fires the boot!  I've been away from my family for a couple of weeks now and I miss them so much...I want to give this trip the boot too.  My suitcase is still not packed, it's after 11pm and I have to wake up at 6am, shit!  I need to give this post the boot...good night!

Lovely Chap

I met this lovely chap in the lobby this morning in the lobby of the hotel.  He and about 30 others were setting out for the last week of their bike ride from L.A. to Boston.  They began the ride on May 13 and end it this Friday, June 29th.  Talk about sore butts!  I asked them the name of their group and they said they were with the "CrossRoads Cycling Adventures" (out of Littleton, CO). I was hoping for a "cooler" name like "The Union Jacks" or the "Bum Sore Gang" (over half of them were Brits) but the only thing they offered was a sub-group called the "Gang of 6." I only saw 3 of the 6 this morning so I just stuck with one of them, this man I'll call, "Sir Jack, Leader of the Bum Sore Gang."  Good Luck, Sir Jack!  

Syracuse

Here's a shot of Syracuse on a rainy day.  The flowers are really indicative of the lovely people who populate this area and the old building in the background is the standard architecture.  I have been greeted with more pleasant "hello's" here than I have in Las Vegas in over 5 years.  It's a casual place that is teeming with green everywhere you look and nice, cool, cloudy skies.  Coming from the desert this is a welcome change...I'm sure the locals aren't as enamored with the gray skies and rain.  The grass is always greener...isn't it?


By the way, I must recommend a wonderful French restaurant:  L'Adour Francais at 110 Montgomery Street, Syracuse--it's fabulous!  

My Sweet Wall Street Suite

Yes, from Stockholm to Manhattan.  It's been a pretty crazy week!  I was so pleased to relax in my swanky suite after a day wasted at JFK (cancelled flight).  I felt instantly decompressed as I walked in the door and was welcomed with warm lighting, crisp bedding and buttery looking soaps.  What a sweet suite!  (Andaz at 75 Wall Street--highly recommended)

Euro Coffee Art

Isn't it beautiful?  The art of coffee drinking is truly perfected in Europe and Sweden is no exception.  They have lovely little dishes for the single biscuit that may accompany your thick, creamy cup of artfully presented java.  It is every bit as delicious as it looks too--food porn at its finest!  Speaking of which, I'm thirsty...off to get my last cup as I head to the airport.  Farewell, Sweden, you've been fabulous.

Sally Mann

This is a photo of a Sally Mann piece I swooned over in the photography museum in Stockholm today. I had to come a long way to see her work and it was worth the wait, simply amazing.  This is my favorite piece (part of her Family series) because of it's purity, etherial quality and symbolism.  Simply incredible to see in person.  Wow.  I'm such a fan!  She makes me want to get my fingernails dirty and dive into the dark room.  However, she also works with a pretty incredible large format camera that costs an arm and a leg (I imagine).  I hope you enjoy this work as much as I do!

Stockholm City Hall

Here's a shot I took at City Hall this morning.  This is a statue that was carved into one of the pillars that surround the structure.  It's a beautiful place and quite a different vibe from any City Hall you'll see in the states!  I do think the creepy baby on his shoulder is a bit strange...but so is Sweden and they seem to like things that way.  I love the pagan influence all over the city--this building has astrological signs painted all around the rooftop, it's beautiful.  They are now preparing for the longest night of the year (summer solstice) and I wish I didn't have to leave the night before the festivities begin but then again, I don't know if I could hang with this crowd...they are total night owls.  Off to drink a vodka in an ice glass tonight...good times.

The Jan

This little, round, pink structure reminded me of something I saw in "It's a small world" at Disneyland last week but alas...it's not a ride, it's a toilet!  Every city needs them, right?  This one is painted so fancy (and even has a spire) because it's next to a beautiful historic cathedral, and we don't want people going into an ugly toilet near a pretty building...only in Stockholm!  I love it here.

ps. I'm sure only my Dad got the joke in the title.  :p

Medieval Stones

These Medieval cobblestones were shot in Stockholm's Old Town near a fountain on Brantingtorget.  I decided to create a series of images of the textures and shapes of Stockholm.  I took a walk this morning and was impressed with two things--the ratio of bicycles to vehicles and the tactile feel of the city.  It's something one probably never notices if they live here but struck me instantly.  I hope to capture it so I can take the feeling home with me.  


A little fun fact...apparently the king is known as a womanizing bafoon.  Not unlike other kings, I'm sure...but interesting nevertheless.

Nutty Swedes

I've gone from California to Stockholm, Sweden in the past 2 days...it's been a very, long weekend.  Yawn.  I was tickled to see this beer bottle opener in the bathroom as I checked out my room.  Since I come from a long line of Scandinavians, this didn't surprise me in the slightest...just made me giggle.  (and wish I had a beer)


My blog is all in Swedish!  I hope I get this right!  

The Letter E

My Alpha quest concluded at Disneyland on Friday with this letter "E."  Dig it?  I think this should be the door we use for our future wine cellar...to keep the kid out!  See the hidden Mickey's?  :D

Aliens?

Another magical day!  I decided to take on a Disney Alphabet challenge by searching for the alphabet shapes in Disney objects such as these fun fellows.  I am going to turn this one up-side-down to make the letter "i" and also play off the word "eye" at the same time...hee hee.  I hope to make a poster for both kids as a moment of our trip.  We'll see how it goes...still searching for a "k"...1/2 day tomorrow and we are hitting the road, we'll see how I do.  My sis has been a great sport helping me with my silly quest.  She is awesome.

Mud Flap Belt

This is an excellent example of the kind of tacky Americana you witness when you visit amusement parks across the USA.  Ah yes, the classic mud flap chick has evolved from semi-trucks to this mans' belt.  I also hope you appreciate the 2 keys on his carabiner (as if).  Loving the peek-a-boo polkadot boxer shorts too!  This guy is so classic...and he's everywhere!  Keep your daughters away!

Ocean Fun

I love the ocean.  I love her energy, her generosity and how calm I feel in her presence.  We were all rocked to sleep by the crashing rhythm of the waves and awakened by the same sounds this morning.  We had to say good bye to the ocean this morning, but not before a lot of running around the sandy beach and dipping our toes in the cold water.

The internet crashed on me last night before I could post but I rather like these two images beside each other...a happy accident.  Disney tomorrow, yikes.

We spent the day at Sea World and the kiddos took a moment to make 10 wishes a piece (because I only had dimes).  I really love it when children stop to smell the roses...to put the distracting rides and shiny things aside to enjoy something simple.  We can learn something from them.

Hello! Sponge Bob.

These little cousins are so happy to be together again.  It's been a sweet reunion (after 9 months), like it's only been 9 days.  You have to appreciate the "Party!" tattoos, ahem.  It's been a wild 2 days already with these guys.  We are in California now and looking forward to a fun day at Sea World tomorrow...I hope they let the Moms sleep tonight!

Hula Hannah

Here again is one of my favorite subjects, Hannah.  She's so much fun and a girl with lots of spunk (I wouldn't know anything about that!).  She was doing the hula dance for me and asked me to take her picture (so I did) but I love this one soooo much more because it was after our "shoot" that I caught her playing in the sprinkler having fun with the other kids.  I love the joy on her face, her bandaid, her bruises, her disheveled hairdo...all of it!  As her "mum" would say, "that's Hannah."

Sunflower

I can't think of a more beautiful name for a flower than "sunflower."  It's joyful and warm like the flower itself.  It feeds the birds and they sing to it...what a gift!  It's thick stalk is strong yet soft and the yellow petals are so velvety soft.  If I could be any flower, I would certainly be a sunflower.  It always makes me smile.

Too Cool for School

I swear I did NOT ask them to pose like this...they are just naturally too cool for school!
I remember feeling so cool when I was with my best friends (I still do).  It was very empowering to be with someone who likes you and thinks you are the coolest.  To have a friend who you think is the coolest person on the playground was the BEST feeling, knowing that together you had ultimate power!  There's no doubt that these two own the joint...just ask them!

Matinee

I love seeing Matinees--especially on a weekday when the rest of the world is working!  On rare occasion I can convince my hard working hub to play hookie with me and today was one of those days!  I'm so glad the movie was good (bonus)! We still had the rest of the day to play "Mom and Dad" but for those 2 precious hours, we were dating again...

Little Fingers, Big Keys

She's not exactly a prodigy but there's hope!  Play a little something for your Mom, please...it's always a struggle but she'll thank me one day, I just know it!  Right?  It's still cute to see these little fingers on the big keys...

Trail of Flowers

"Mom, don't watch what I'm doing with your special Mom Vision, it's a surprise." 
"Ok" I replied with my toothbrush still in my mouth and as my husband slept soundly.
"Ok, Mom, you can come down the stairs now!" she said.
I was welcomed with, what she called, a trail of flowers to brighten my morning.  She made it from a disassembled, silk flower lei.  It was her way of saying, I love you so much!  I enjoyed my trail of flowers almost as much as the hug and kiss that followed...being her mom is such an amazing blessing, I hardly feel worthy sometimes.

11 Years Today

His clothes are arranged not only by color but by function (his shirts are too).  He folds his underwear and socks and rotates his t-shirts so they are all worn equally (same with the underwear).  He is tidy, he's bordering OCD and he's all mine...for the past 11 years and for the next 50 (I hope)! Happy Anniversary, Bebe, I love you like crazy.

Chicken Chuck

This is family picnic fun?  Yikes! My vegan friends, look away!  These chickens are being chucked with reckless abandon...by CHILDREN!  They line up to see the rubber poultry be strung by the neck and giggle as they sweep the sky with their silent shrieks!  The rest lay in wait...knowing their fate as they watched the ones that went before, gulp.  What a hoot!