Cutie

I need to find the male version of these glasses.  They would be the perfect thing to wear during those long, drawn-out, boring meetings where I just cannot keep my eyes open.  Oh, and I guess I would also need some sort of rebar from the top of the back of my head down my spine to keep my head from nodding of when my eyes close.  In the meantime I enjoyed this cutie.  She does the glasses well.

Cutie

Colored Markers

Every office should have the standard things--desk, chair, telephone, computer and white board.  It is just not the same without the whiteboard and neon colored markers.  Sketch out ideas, diagram concepts, entertain kids, even make fun of your own "artistic" talents.  When it is all over just wipe it clean.  Now it's gone forever unless someone took a picture and posted it on the internet....

Colored Markers

Follow the stars

Follow the stars.

Follow the stars

Loaded Dogs

Yesterday's post was from our company hot dog eating contest event.  Of course, after every hot dog eating contest there are always plenty of dogs to go around.  Load 'em up and away they go.....

Loaded Dogs

Iron Man

Just another day at the office.  Oh, but on this day lunch was special.  It was our annual company hot dog and hamburger picnic and hot dog eating contest.  Our department had two contestants vying for the crown--one a past champion trying to regain the trophy and bragging rights.

A hot dog eating contest is a sight to behold.  This was my first opportunity to be present at such an event.  Contestants had a short time--the length of a long song or about 4-5 minutes--to down as many large hot dogs and buns (they don't count if you don't eat the buns too) as possible.

Unbelievable what a serious eater can do!  Man the hot dogs and buns were stuffed in, semi-chewed and almost inhaled.  At the end of the music the current reigning champion demonstrated his continued dominance of the event.  He won for the second straight year.  Congratulations Mike!

Anyway, that is a long introduction to today's image which was taken Mike's trophy.  A bit of post-processing using Filterstorm for cropping, mostly curves work and some saturation and then finished off in PhotoStudio for the frame wraps up the image.

Iron Man

Just for some perspective, below is the initial photo before any post-processing:

Initial image

Surf's up. Teach'm young.

Nice to see the grandkids try to emulate grandpa.  Surf is up and she wants to play on the surf  board.  Another few years and she'll be riding the waves too.

Surf's up.  Teach'm young.

Wakeboard meets head

For almost 20 years we have enjoyed boating and all the associated activities that go along with it.  On our boat we have never had any issues needing more that a regular band-aid.  That is, until this season.  A freak wakeboarding faceplant, wakeboard meets head and wakeboard wins.  (in black and white for the faint of heart....)

Wakeboard meets head.  Wakeboard wins.

Round and round we go...

Home canning season is over at our house.  Bottles are now full and will supply us a few things over the next year.  This close-in image of one of the canning jars reminds me a bit of the adage "Round and round we go..." 

Round and round we go...

Breaking bricks is for sissies

Joe has been practicing his karate lately.  He is a second degree black belt you know!  Nothing around the house is safe.  This is one guy you don't want to mess with......

Heeya!  Breaking bricks is for sissies.

House on the Hill

Seems like most communities (at least here in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains) have them.  Here is just one example of the house on the hill.

House on the Hill

Summer drawing to a close

Best tasting watermelon we have ever found.  Days getting shorter, temperatures slowly cooling down, school in full swing, and last good watermelons of the season are out.  Reminds us that summer is coming to an end...

Summer drawing to a close

Ice Water

Another stealth photograph.  Taken at a restaurant with two associates while waiting for our food to be delivered.  Neither one of the two associates had any idea that I took this photo.  We were all checking email on our smartphones in the middle of a business trip.

Morals of the story:  The best camera is the one you have with you.  Image opportunities abound everywhere.

Ice Water

Cone of Silence

Cone of silence.  The title is appropriate as I was at a restaurant with several co-workers when I causally captured this image while checking email on my phone.  No one at the table even had any idea that I had taken a photo.  A little post-processing in Filterstorm  for cropping, removing distractions and adding a little saturation.  Finished it off with my standard frame from PhotoStudio.

Cone of Silence

Black Hole

Yes, black holes really exist.  Don't get too close or you might get sucked right in....

Black Hole

Duct Tape Trap

In the Rocky Mountains we learn early not to put out tongues on exposed metal in sub-freezing temperatures.  Joe just learned another life lesson--don't put your nose on the sticky side of duct tape.

Duct Tape Trap

Tron Racers

This one reminds me of the Tron movies.  For those who have seen the movies you remember the racing scenes--racers driving through the computer circuits for their very lives.  The light reflections on this aluminium picnic table in the park look like the circuit racers barreling down the track....

Tron Racers

Lake Day

Nice day for a picnic at the lake.  This painting effect turns the place into a dreamland--which it would be if we could actually live there and enjoy such views every day.

Lake Day

Caribbean of the Rockies

Bear Lake straddles the border of Utah and Idaho.  This Idaho view gives only a view of this gorgeous lake. Its unique turquoise-blue color is the result of suspended limestone deposits in the water.  It literally looks like the shallow waters over white sands in the Caribbean.

Caribbean of the Rockies

Matchbox Babes

When love is shipped in a small package more than half way around the world, these are part of that package.  Gifts from Kiwi land.....

Matchbox Babes

Snagged and Bagged

Joe got a little more than he bargained for this time....

Snagged and Bagged

King of the Hill

Occasionally there are times when you are King of the Hill for no reason, for nothing that you have done.  Enjoy the view, it may not last long.....

King of the Hill

Looking Back

There comes a time in life when memories are priceless.  A time when things slow down and bit and quiet time brings reflections of days gone by....

Looking Back

Mountain Farmland

The mountain plains are always beautiful.  I stopped by the road to capture this image on a recent trip past some mountain farmland.

Mountain Farmland

Fire in the Glass

Amazing the way light can dance within a drinking glass. This reminds me of fire in the glass.  Turns out that this is just a plastic, disposable drinking glass used at a picnic.  I was fascinated by the dancing light.

Fire in the Glass

Wedding Bouquet

Nothing like flowers to brighten up the day.  Put them in a bouquet, take them to a wedding and see them with the new bride.....priceless.

Wedding Bouquet

Underfoot

At times there are items right under our feet that we overlook and take for granted.  That is where I found this walkway drain grate.  Looks like a designer accessory made to bring a little class to the neighborhood.  My guess is that no one would even be able to tell me where this is located even if they walked over it day by day.  Hint:  somewhere in downtown Salt Lake City.

Underfoot

Life is too short

Life is too short.  Avoid all the pricklies you can.....

Life is too short

The Buck Stops Here

The end.  It goes no farther.  Someone has to take charge, be responsible and see that it gets done.

The Buck Stops Here

Pucker Power

When life hands you lemons take a big bite, pucker up and make some lemonade.

Pucker Power

Mountain Stream

Nothing as refreshing as a cool mountain stream nearby.  

Mountain Stream