Winter in Togaville

Worship

Worshipping the pagan gods of Christmas

Christmas Tree

This year my Christmas tree is a small grape stem and Fimo ornaments. By-far, the smallest tree I've ever put up for a holiday season.

Along with the tree I crafted the Christmas Carp, who brings gifts to all the good little fishies around the world.

And we can't forget our visiting Martian Robot, here on Earth to observe his first-ever Christmas. The little Devil Troll tormenting bad children on Christmas morning, and the Easter Bunny, in high-spirits for the holiday!! Plus, the Candy-Cane Snake, slithering into a stocking near you!

They glow in the dark too!

I do believe my Christmas tableau is set for presents and festivities.
Ho Ho Ho ya'll.

Litter

It was a really dark and dreary Monday morning as I walked to work. I round the back of the Price Chopper and see this -

It seems the majority of litter I see is from fast-food chains, I wonder are the chains guilty of causing the litter by their choice of packaging or is it the type of people who choose to frequent such places? Both?

Proof

Graffiti on landfill debris, Albany Bulb, San Francisco.

Advertising

This was an ad on the side of a bus stop in San Francisco. I have no idea what the ad was for but the graffiti cracked me up.

toys

I picked this up at the Greenfield town-wide yard sale for a buck.

Hangin

Hangin with Devin and the family -

at the Bernal Heights Illegal Soap Box Derby.

West Coast

San Francisco.

The trip so far...

Part one of the vacation - Colorado and Utah
Looking at the Flatirons outside of Boulder.

Arches National Park

Chris standing in one of the Windows.

Looking up at Delicate Arch

Island In the Sky, Canyonlands National Park - twisted tree.

Chris and Margery looking out over big, big, country. And not as obvious, is the 1000 ft. drop just in front of them. Total elevation, we're at 6000 feet, the air was a bit brisk, and the sun was pretty hot.

Just a tiny portion of the view from Grand View Point.

More hot air balloons

One more from the balloon fest.

Hidden Togaville

Not sure what it means, if anything, but I like it. And that's the joy isn't it, not understanding?

Togaville

Uncommon Grounds in Togaville. Good coffee, good art.

Mellow Moo

Keeping the white wheels white.

Nostalgia

My dad, 1st Lieutenant Paul F. Chessare, Navigator, began his first missions in Europe in a B-24 Liberator, Snafuperman. The B-24s were also known as the flying gas tank, as they tended to explode when switching fuel tanks. Dad transitioned into B-17s when they came on-line. 31 missions later, 8 bombers shot out from under him, ditching twice in the English Channel, he finished the war without a scratch, physically.

I spliced 3 pics together to make this pic (large download). Notice under the wing the chubby guy on the left is doubled.

Because I was shooting with my telephoto lens at a long distance, I was using a very fast shutter speed. I inadvertently froze the props which were actually spinning at a high rate, only the blade which is pointing directly at the camera shows a little blurred movement.

Nine-O-Nine nose art



Here are a few pictures of Sentimental Journey when she came to Albany airport in '03.

Firing up No. 3

There nothing, nothing as beautiful as the sound of 4 radial, Wright R Cyclones.

Gear coming down.

Sentimental Journey nose art


On the enlarged picture you can see the listed crew weight of 1200 lbs. Men were smaller back in the forties, the B-17 had a crew of 10 guys, that's just 120 lbs a piece.

Adirondack Balloon Festival

Spinning, we turn towards the sun. Dawn breaks.



Climbing into the sunlight.

Sunrise.

Still more to take off.


During the week I'll get plenty more of the 250+ pictures I took, posted on General Atomic.

Things of Togaville

Sneakers

Hardhat

Bronze

Pouring Honey

Pouring honey.



A corner of the Country Corner.

Canon 50mm

More shots with my new Canon 50mm lens. What is it about the MINI that makes them so photogenic?

Pictured are MINI Moo, Mellow Moo and Scott's Checkmate S.

New Canon Lens

My precious old friend,
Withered skin reveals time's toll;
May I piss on thee?


Poetry courtesy of Dave the Hinder.

I got my first non-zoom lens, a Canon 50mm, f1.8 and it is sweet. Nice shallow depth of field. The autofocus is a little funky but that's not a problem. At $75, who's complaining?