chezanne, a photolog - chezannegallery

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Mom's back yard in snow

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Mom's house in snow

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(Some snow pictures... only a few weeks behind everyone else, lol.) Mom's yard in snow, as viewed from the carport

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Finally! A picture of my latest 'do that I don't hate! (Photo Taken: Jan 28, 2011)

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Spring flowers around my mom's house

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More spring flowers around my mom's house

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We took a business trip to El Paso, Texas. The south side of the hotel offered this view, which includes Juarez, Mexico and the Juarez Mountains. (My room was on the north side, overlooking a very noisy freeway.)

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The most tourist-y thing we did in El Paso was drive 30 minutes to eat at the Cattleman's Steakhouse.

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Cattleman's Steakhouse (outside of El Paso) has plenty for tourists looking for the Western experience, including this strategically placed horse.

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Cattleman's Steakhouse claims to be a functioning ranch, and its Western setting has been used in several movies.

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Since I had on makeup, I took some pictures. (One of these days I'll remember to put on lipstick before getting the camera...)

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It may not show here, but I thought several times that I was probably the palest person in all of El Paso.

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Tornado damage. I count this one as two because it's a double.

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If this one had fallen five feet to the left it would taken out our best shop.

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Yet another tree toppled by a twister.

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Tornadoes toppled nine of the big trees at my mom's place.

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Nice catch, barn.

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This is what the yard looked like after a group of lovely volunteers worked for three hours, cutting the fallen trees and then moving the pieces into piles.

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This was that double tree that was free-loading on the magnolia tree. The magnolia took quite a beating, but it's still standing!

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Ants and a tornado brought this tree down, but some of our wonderful neighbors helped clean it up. :)

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When your tree becomes an ant nest, kiss it goodbye. (Kiss the tree, that is. Not the ant nest.)

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We went to Oklahoma... "and that's all I have to say about that."

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We hired people to get the bouquet of trees off of the barn. Happily the barn looks only slightly worse for wear. It's so true: they don't make 'em like that anymore.

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After a haircut. Yes, I'm back to the bob. :sigh: At least it's shorter for summer.

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Another day, another business trip, this time to Silver Spring, Maryland.

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This is the view from my Maryland hotel room.

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My Maryland hotel room was set up so that you can see this mirror upon entering. It is *creepy* to enter one's hotel room and see movement. It's like, "Ack! There's a shady character in my room! Oh, wait that's me..."

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This is the lobby of our swank hotel in Maryland.

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I love how the sign says to keep your ticket, and then the figure backs up the wording by showing the guy going on his merry way, ticket in hand.

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We were told that Maryland's Timbuktu restaurant has critically-acclaimed crab cakes. Since it was conveniently on the way to the airport, we stopped in.

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Behold, the critically-acclaimed crab cakes at Maryland's Timbuktu restaurant. Those critical acclaimers did not lie, because it was *very* tasty. And applesauce is offered as a side!

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Arriving home from Maryland, I see that straight-line winds toppled more trees at my Mom's place.

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Jeff and I had planned to go to the WC Handy Festival in Florence, Alabama, but as we arrived it seemed that our plans were a washout.

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However, the rain cleared up. But since the musical WC Handy events weren't scheduled until evening, Jeff and I went to Wilson Dam looking for photo opportunities.

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I saw that these geese were about to cross this road. I wanted to take a picture and caption it "to get to the other side." However, as soon as I got out of the car, every goose turned and started walking toward me. It was kind of creepy. I quickly jumped back in the car.

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Seriously? During the WC Handy Festival, some event organizer had the bright idea to set up the porta-potties right next to the statue of the man himself. Way to honor the "Father of the Blues," Florence!

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With no other WC Handy Festival events to attend, Jeff and I watched some of the semi-finals of the Regency Jr. Idol competition.

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A passerby offered to take a picture of Jeff and me on the Regency Jr. Idol stage, so I accepted. (True to my word, as I told Jeff, "I'll crop out our pale legs.")

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It's like a PBS nature show, right outside the dining room window!

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I had a window seat on the plane to Colorado Springs (via Houston), and I thought the clouds looked great.

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Outside our hotel in Colorado Springs, the clouds were still out in force.

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It was windy in Colorado. Looks like a front is moving in, as evidenced by this picture.

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I had makeup on while on the trip to Colorado, so I thought I'd take a picture. (Actually, I took several, but only this one was (somewhat) suitable for sharing.)

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On the way home from Texas, I looked out the window of the plane and discovered that I was seated *under* the wing. What? Was I in the basement? (And at these prices?!)

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I was a bit surprised to find that I was seated under the wing, but it seems that with this sort of plane, that's just the way it's built. I'm not sure how old this style of plane is, but it doesn't even have built-in oxygen masks.

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My sister and I went to help out at our church's Trunk or Treat, and we dressed in costume. In case it's not clear, she's a hippie and I'm a nerd.

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I found out what happens when you tell your (scissor-happy) stylist that you want to try something "layer-y"...

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One of Mom's co-workers gave her flowers for her birthday. (And Tusky the cat/camera hog just had to investigate.)

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Brrr!

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The mist from the big fountain in this pond turned this spot downwind into a winter wonderland, when temps stayed below freezing for two days.

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Nothing like a snowstorm in March to remind us that the weather has a mind of its own!

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I got a new camera, and its zooming ability was a primary reason for my choosing it. These are the blooms on a dogwood tree.

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This is Paco, the cat. (Actually, we have two Pacos, so I call this one The Dark Paco.)

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My boyfriend and I went to the ATHS truck show in Huntsville, Alabama. It sounded interesting, but - more than that - admission was free. ;)

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There were some old, fancy trucks.

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They also had some old, non-fancy trucks. (As I approached this truck to take a picture, my boyfriend cautioned that just standing too close might result in tetanus.)

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There were also plenty of non-trucks at the truck show. According to the signage, this is a 1972 USAC Sprint Car.

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Tractor rides were offered. Alas, my boyfriend and I did not partake.

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There were *lots* of trucks. (Should be expected at a truck show, huh.)

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I soon became enamored of the shiny surfaces.

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Ooh! Another reflection for me to capture!

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One more shiny surface. (Reminds me of a certain Tom Petty album cover.)

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Looking at engines was one of the main activities of the truck show.

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I took a picture because this is the cleanest, most minimalistic engine I've ever seen.

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My boyfriend took this picture - with my other camera - of me gawking at this 1929 Mack.

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This truck's owners didn't take the traditional route, choosing instead a sparse approach to the interior.

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My boyfriend took this picture for the "tee hee" factor of the Hooterville Haulers.

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The Mack bulldog hood ornament is ready for his close-up.

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Face to face with the Mack bulldog hood ornament.

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On Saturday my boyfriend and I decided to try the WC Handy Music Festival again this year. Unfortunately we discovered that most of the events were happening at the same time. At least they were somewhat close together in location. We made the rounds and heard four or five different groups perform.

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Jeff and I visited Joe Wheeler State Park/Resort. I'd been there before, about ten years ago; I think it was Jeff's first visit. Many other things in North Alabama are named for Joe Wheeler, including a wildlife refuge and a highway.

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This is a view of the Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge - in the background - and its neighboring marina.

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A closer view of the Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge.

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The balcony at the Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge overlooks the marina.

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Alas, only "slip holders" are allowed on the piers near the boats, so this is as close as I could get.

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I'd like to say that I was a guest on this boat, but that would be a lie. Darn it.

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The boat on the right had signage that told of offering "scenic tours" of the river.

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Apparently, the piers were held in place by winches like these.

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This boat was left next to a pier, so that I could conveniently take a closeup of it.

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The tour boat (seen in p082209g) has all of the appropriate safety gear. Good to know!

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Note the lack of customers at this gas-station-on-the-water. I recall the words of a wise boating ex-co-worker: "ALWAYS fill your boat BEFORE you get to the water!" Unless you just like paying more for the same stuff.

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This moth (probably about two inches long) was found on the stairs at the Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge.

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Jeff and I decided to take ourselves out to the ball game: a playoff(?) between the Huntsville Stars and the Jacksonville Suns. There was a threat of rain, but it didn't develop, and it turned into a nice evening to be outdoors.

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I was amused by the stadium's titles for the restrooms, but after I took this picture I realized that I would've much preferred the Bat Girls sign. (I would've gone in the room just so I could have the Bat Girl title apply to me.)

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We chose really good seats, so that we could look straight at home plate. Plus we only almost got hit by a wayward ball once, so yay for that.

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Here we are at the stadium. As you can tell, there wasn't a huge turnout for the game.

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The mascot lingered near us, opting at one point to lean on Jeff's head while watching the game.

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I've been quite busy lately: I got a new job, moved out of my old apartment, and am in the process of moving into a new apartment. Hopefully when I get settled into my new routine, I'll post more pictures!

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The fam and I visited Joe Wheeler State Park. We had lunch in the restaurant - our table had a great view, btw - and then walked around by the water, checking out the fall colors.

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It was a really beautiful day to be outside.

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This flower was growing among the rocks by the water at Joe Wheeler State Park.

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Jeff and I made another trip (our third or fourth) to Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville, Alabama. We opted for the Sinks Trail, which we hadn't traveled before, but next time I *really* want to check out that Goats Trail. (Alas, from the map, the Goat Trail looks to be about a four mile trek.)

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Here we are on the Sinks Trail. The colors here don't do justice to what it really looked like.

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These colors are a bit more representative of Monte Sano State Park during our hike. The sky was clear and blue, and we could see the bright sunshine filtering through the trees. Plus there was still a bit of fall color in the leaves.

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We've driven around the past week to look at the leaves changing, but there is quite a bit of nice fall color in my Mom's yard.

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This is a belated picture of the haircut (and style) I got last month. Apologies for looking so serious/peeved...

2009 - 2010
The pictures in series before this one are from 2009.

The pictures in series after this one are from 2010.

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Our Washington hotel had a view of Mt. Rainier from the South Side.

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Alas, this is the view from my hotel room: the Hosmer Street Self Storage.

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I found this "ladies' tote" for $30 at Tuesday Morning.

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My hotel room at the Tacoma, Washington Hampton Inn. (Yes, my suitcase is straight out of 1975.)

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The sun coming up behind Mt. Rainier

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Another view of Mt. Rainier

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On the way to the airport. That lump in the middle is the Tacoma Dome.

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Sunset as viewed from the plane, en route to the Denver airport.

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Finally got around to taking some pictures - on Jan 28, 2010, for those who need details. :)

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I like this picture because I think it really represents me: not looking at the camera, just looking off to nowhere in particular...

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Yep, I've still got that nose.

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Unfavorable on-line reviews scared me off of buying new luggage. I found this carry-on at a thrift store in Huntsville for $9, and it's working out great, so far.

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stopping at Checkers in the Atlanta airport for a soda

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Why do I suddenly feel like a sardine?

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my hotel room in Augusta, Georgia

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The best part of my Georgia hotel room: Jacuzzi!

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the view from my Augusta, Georgia hotel room

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the view from my Augusta, Georgia hotel room at night

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Trip #3: We drove to Kentucky in a Nissan Altima.

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I bought this suitcase after traveling a little with my previous job. Naturally, after I bought the case, I only took one trip with it before things changed. Years later, it finally gets a second outing!

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I must've set the timer incorrectly, but I liked this shot better than the one where I posed.

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Six inches of snow fell the first night we were in Kentucky, but thankfully the roads stayed clear. This is what it's like walking in snow. (I'm impressed that someone found the sidewalk to clear it!)

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Our Holiday Inn Express, as viewed from the McDonald's parking lot.

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sunset over snowy Kentucky

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Being a small town girl, I'm impressed with city skylines, and I photograph them whenever I can. Unfortunately, I was driving while I got this shot, and that made the boss very nervous. In my defense, he can't have been any more nervous than I am when he checks his email via Blackberry while driving.

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my Arizona hotel room

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Me in my Arizona hotel room. I was glad I forgot to turn off the flash, because the desert did not agree with my hair. (That's right: in Arizona, I blame the desert. In Alabama, I blame the humidity.)

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The view from my Arizona hotel room. The high temps were near 70 all three days we were there.

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There were no billboards along the Arizona highways, and I found that to be AWESOME!

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Something for the tourists... so of course, I took a picture. :D

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For dinner on Wednesday, we drove to Bisbee, which was an old mining town. Someone thought it would be a good idea to take our picture next to the big mining pit, which of course could not be seen in the dark.

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The Bisbee Grille was SO quaint and nice.

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Woo hoo! I had a window seat on the plane out of Tucson, but of course it was over a wing. (I swear, they save those for me!) I worked around it and took some shots of Arizona from the air.

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So long, Arizona. I look forward to seeing you again!

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Before going for a haircut. (Not sure why I felt compelled to make a fish face...)

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After the haircut, at the office. On March 18th.

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After the haircut again. Now if only I could learn to style it myself!

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my Missouri hotel room

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The "vanity" in my Missouri hotel room. With the rack behind it, it was kind of like getting ready in a closet.

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The view from my Missouri hotel room. Apparently we were on some kind of hill, because I could see quite a long way.

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My latest haircut. I liked it, but again, I lament that I just don't have the skills to style it like this myself.

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Date taken: 2010-06-20
Any day is a good day for checking out this guy... um... that is... *film.*

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Date taken: 2010-06-20
The train bridge over the Tennessee River, near Decatur, Alabama.

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Date taken: 2010-06-20
It was a gorgeous day to be on the Tennessee River.

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Jeff and I went to the WC Handy Festival in Florence on July 31.

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This group performed Jazz at the Zodiac Theatre in Florence, Alabama, as part of the WC Handy Music Festival.

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It wasn't exactly Standing Room Only at the Jazz performance at the WC Handy Festival.

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Nor was it Standing Room Only (but it was Bring Your Own Chair) at the outdoor performance on the UNA campus as part of the WC Handy Music Festival.

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Before a haircut on August 4 - and wearing my Haircut Shirt obviously, heh heh. I don't want to jinx myself, but lately I've been able to style my hair with some consistency... and I don't hate it! (Many thanks to those internet how-to videos. :)

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After the haircut on August 4. (Hiding because I didn't have on makeup.) And no, I didn't get my hair darkened. It just looks that way in this low light.

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Before the haircut on 9/20/2010. (I look so tired because I'm tired of my 'do. Yeah. That's it.)

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After the haircut on 9/20/2010. My goal was to add layers in and change my look a bit. I was dismayed to find that the style looked much like the previous one, just a little shorter. Ah, well. It *feels* better, anyway. (See how much more upbeat I look? lol) And maybe next time I can be a little more bold.

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Jeff and me in front of the Justice John McKinley Federal Building in Florence, Alabama.

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At the Renaissance Faire, there are shows like this one, with a trained pot-bellied pig. (Plus a *boatload* of vendors.)

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Also at the Renaissance Faire, you'll see people wearing costumes... and people in costumes giving their pet snakes(!) an outing.

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These are some of the fine silver goods available for purchase at the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama. (Looking at this, I regret not buying that cute, shiny elephant.)

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(11/30/2010) Wave bye-bye to this look that I've had for about two years!

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(11/30/2010) Before the haircut, and after. My sole aim was getting something different. Mission accomplished!

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(11/30/2010) No two angles of the new 'do look the same.

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(12/16/10) An attempt to style my new 'do myself.

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I could see the Mississippi River from my New Orleans hotel room.

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A view of Canal Street in New Orleans from our 41st floor meeting room.

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A view of Canal Street from the 21st floor of our hotel.

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Bourbon Street at night. (Don't be too impressed that we went there. It's mostly a tourist trap, and a largely deserted one on a chilly weeknight.)

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During the day, Bourbon Street is pretty quiet.

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I'm told that stopping at the Cafe Du Monde is a tradition when one is in New Orleans. Ever the tourists, our group went.

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Beignets and coffee = a yummy part of New Orleans! (Lesson learned: do not wear black when eating sweet treats topped with mounds of powdered sugar.)

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New Orleans is quite the historic place.

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New Orleans is also quite popular with the movie industry. If I'm not mistaken, one of the chases in the Bruce Willis movie "Red" ensued here on Decatur Street.

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Our group took a New Orleans streetcar up St. Charles Avenue to Tulane University.

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St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, as we wait for the streetcar to pick us up.

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In the residential section of St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, you'll find strings of beads hanging from trees, electric wires, signs, etc.

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Another view of Canal Street from the 21st floor of our hotel.

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I purchased these "stackable units" over a year ago. I was looking for something that looked good (IMHO, anyway) and that I could use for storage. Well, I love the way they look, but I learned that storage units with see-through doors are not especially useful to me. (If everyone's going to see the stuff anyway, I should've just got some more shelves!)

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For some time, I've been looking for baskets with lids. I really liked the idea of hat boxes - hello, no nooks in the weavings where dust can collect - but I couldn't find any with patterns that I like ... until I found these.

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This is how the boxes (in p011408b) look inside the stackable storage units (p011408a). I especially like the way the ones look behind the glass doors. It makes me think of window shopping.

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Who says it doesn't snow in Alabama? It's up to my toes out here! :)

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This is another shot of my hair after it's been twisted up in a clip all day.

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Memories of a lovely Valentine's Day

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Do *not* adjust your monitor: that fluffy cat is pink. We call him "Tusky" after Pinky Tuscadero (from Happy Days).

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Lately I'm trying a slightly different hairdo: parting my hair a bit off-center. 

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We had one of those freak March snowstorms ... well, one of those freak March snow dustings, anyway.

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This is a before-the-haircut shot. (Please try to focus on the reflection in the mirror and not on the tangled mess of hair in the foreground. Thx.)

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This is my after-the-haircut shot. I got an inch trimmed off the bottom layer(s), and the dear beautician attempted to style my hair.

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...So I thought, "I haven't posted many pictures lately. Why don't I take a picture of my messy desk at work, so it looks like I've really been working hard?"

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From my desk I can see into the hall. I'm supposed to cut my officemate off when he's talking about someone who is approaching.

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Yeah, this shot is posed, but you can imagine how hard I have to work with that antiquated monitor. (Everyone except for three of us has dual flat screen monitors.)

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This is the Von Braun Center Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. Not long ago the area had a major redesign and that swank fountain was added.

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The swank fountain mentioned in p032208a can be seen near the center of this shot. This swank canal runs into the fountain pool. (They pretty much tried to "swank" up the whole area.)

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Extreme closeup of the canal in p032208b

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The two previous shots (p032208b and p032208c) were taken on the other side of the overhead walkbridge.

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These shiny koi are in the pond (p032208f) in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

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The pond and the skyline in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

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Jeff and me in downtown Huntsville

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The Alabama Constitution Village was closed, but visitors can still walk around outside the buildings.

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This shot was taken through a window at Alabama Constitution Village.

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This shot was also taken through a window at Alabama Constitution Village.

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Yet again, this shot was taken through a window at Alabama Constitution Village.

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After a walking-filled day of picture-taking, my boyfriend and I stopped at one of our favorite spots - Nothing But Noodles - for some food.

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We were number 66.

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Sunlight is not my friend. Note to self: always sit with the windows BEHIND me!  

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I was trying on shoes. I had my camera. I noticed the reflection. I forgot to turn off the flash.  

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Do they ever clean the mirrors in the shoe department at WalMart? 

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Nu shooz! I thought I'd best take a picture of them right away because my white shoes don't stay this white for long...

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This was taken at a company function, and it shows me being so typically me. I knew they were taking a picture, so WHY didn't I look at the camera? :slaps forehead: (On the bright side, since I'm not directly facing the camera, the flash didn't reveal (more of) my fish-belly whiteness.)

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My boyfriend and I went to the new shopping center in Huntsville, Alabama: Bridge Street Town Center.

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Bridge Street Town Center actually has two bridges.

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Bridge Street Town Center is an open-air (is that what they call it?) shopping center with some very swank shops.

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Watch out for the spurty fountains!

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At one end of Bridge Street Town Center there is a Westin hotel.

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Next to the Westin hotel, there is a theater.

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The Monaco Theatre at the Bridge Street Town Center has a very nice lounge area, but not even the fire could lure people out on a chilly night.

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The view from the west bridge at Bridge Street Town Center.

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Another view from the west bridge at Bridge Street Town Center.

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It seems that whenever I think of getting my hair cut, THEN it decides to look decent. Decent, at least, in the lovely controlled lighting conditions of my bathroom.

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At work, I was finally given double monitors, and OOH, are they nice! (Hmm, you think the higher-ups will expect this to double my productivity?)

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It was the ample, natural lighting in this - i.e. my mom's - bathroom that spurred me into seriously considering a shorter haircut. And do you blame me? THIS is what my hair looks like in bright light: one can see every broken strand and uneven layer.

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Here, I'm trying to get a feel for what I'd look like with chin length hair...

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... and this is what I actually look like with chin length hair. I decided on this 'do after seeing a picture of Mariska Hargitay in next week's issue of TV guide (page 30, I think).

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This is the back of my new haircut. (And there's my trademark for this type of shot: a closeup of my hair at one side.)

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I think the new 'do looks better when I smile. :)

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For those of you who don't know, this is what dogwood blooms look like.

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This was Walk at Lunch Day - or so our health insurance company said - so some of us did just that. He we are, off like a herd of turtles. (FYI, I'm the one in the red jacket.)

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Ooh, an action shot of us walking at lunch. Yes, that's me again in the red jacket, but no, I wasn't trying to hide. The wind was blowing and I was trying to get my hair out of my face.

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The after-walk group shot. I'm guessing this was a warm-up because not everyone was paying attention.

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I set the camera on the wall of one of the buildings near the courthouse in Huntsville, Alabama, and pointed it up.

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The view from a downtown (Huntsville) parking garage.

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Another view from a downtown (Huntsville) parking garage.

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Yet another view from a downtown (Huntsville) parking garage.

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I didn't expect to find this while viewing Huntsville from the top deck of a parking garage.

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A different view of the building in p051008e. Alas, vehicles and dumpsters prevented me from getting a better shot.

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I really love the look of that weathered brick, and the writing - maybe from some old business sign? - only adds to the effect, IMHO.

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That porch is pretty high off the ground. 

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"What else is there?"

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These are collages of various watercolor paintings that I did back around 1990. The two on the ends have been at my apartment for a while, so I took them to my mom's house and hung them on my bedroom wall there. I took the Van Gogh that was hanging there to my apartment.

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The painting at the lower left is my favorite, followed closely by the one on the lower right. Looking at those, I really want to get my old paint and try to recreate the effect.

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This is the old railroad depot in Belle Mina, Alabama. I seem to recall having my picture taken on the front porch of that place when I was a kid. 

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Yes, the paint is peeling, but overall the old depot is holding up pretty well.

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I really like the way that red-orange around the door looks against the weathered gray of the wall. I also like that design on the screen door.

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These roses are what made me decide to take some pictures here.

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Another one of my trademarks: the setting-the-camera-down shot.

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If that window could talk, I bet it could tell some great stories.

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I took this shot the day I discovered that they'd painted the local Wal-Mart orange. o.0

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To prepare for my next visit to the salon, I decided to attempt to take some pictures of my hair.


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During my next salon visit, maybe I'll ask what they can do to better hide my forehead on the non-bang side.

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I'm *really* leaning there, aren't I.

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Yes, I'm wearing a sweater in May. (It's REALLY cold in my office.)

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I like how determined I look in this picture. Maybe I'm determined to clean(!) the(!) mirror(!) before I take any more pictures.

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Although I'm looking at the picture preview, I have a hard time believing that *this* is the look I was going for.

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I took this shot because I imagined the future laughs I'd have thinking about the "Smurfit" company.

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While cleaning my room at my mom's last weekend, I found this old makeup. And when I say old? I mean, had-some-of-it-in-high-school old. Note that I haven't been using this stuff, I've just been a packrat. Anyway, I call this the Great Makeup Toss '08, because after this shot, all of it went into the garbage.

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I planned to jot down just a few notes for the blog entry I was writing for today. 

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My "just a few notes" for today's blog entry used both sides of the envelope. Yes, the text even runs up the edge in the margins. What can I say? Sometimes you just get on a roll..

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I went photo hunting on a nature/fitness trail and I found this bridge.

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This is what the covered bridge (from p053108c) looks like on the approach from one side.

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This is a close-up of a covered bridge that I've taken pictures of before.

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My boyfriend and I again visited the Cold Water Falls in Tuscumbia, Alabama. p122907c is the same scene in the bland brown-ness of winter.


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A shot of the upper falls, and my boyfriend's head.

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Waterfall mist plus sunlight equals rainbow.

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I took a similar picture (p122907f) before, but I'm including this one to show it in different light.


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Again I took a similar picture (p122907g) before, and again I'm including this one to show it in different light.

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A shot of the lower falls, and beyond.

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Yet again I took a similar picture (p122907e) before, and yes, again I'm including this one to show it in different light.

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This is a looking-down shot of the stone wall in p060708f.

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I can attest that the water from the Cold Water Falls is indeed cold.

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I'm thinking this was an old boat launch ...? In any event, the stone construction reminds me of an old fort. Ooh! Or a castle!

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As luck would have it, there was an old-timey car show at the park when we visited. Woo hoo, photo ops!

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I'm guessing that this engine was so powerful, it blew its hood off.

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Color was a big theme among the old cars at the car show.

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I wanted to take a picture of the interior of this jalopy, but its owner was nearby, and he didn't seem very approachable.

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The heat must've been unbearable for those exhibitors who weren't in the shade, but the bright light makes for better pictures.

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There was much fun and frolicking among the cars at the car show.

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This is the Harrison Entrance to the University of North Alabama in Florence.

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This flower bed is home to numerous chipmunks. 

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This big fountain is the focal point of the landscaping at UNA's Harrison Entrance.

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After walking around at the park and on the UNA campus, my boyfriend and I sought cool refuge - and water! - in the campus library.

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In search of something to do, my boyfriend and I returned to Tuscumbia, Alabama, where we were at the beginning of June. This time we attended the Helen Keller Festival, which makes the second year in a row that we've been. One of the festival's big features is that musicians perform at Spring Park all day long.

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Another prominent feature at the Helen Keller Festival is people selling crafts. This oh-so-solid teak furniture attracted a lot of looks.

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As noted in this reflection, the day of the Helen Keller Festival was quite cloudy, and there was at least one downpour of rain.

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This train goes around the park.

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Not far from the events of the Helen Keller Festival was this train depot.

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The Tuscumbia train depot from a different angle. (Does that little engine at the right remind anyone else of Thomas the Tank Engine?)

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The caboose near the Tuscumbia train depot is open, and visitors are permitted to climb on board.

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A view from inside an old caboose.

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This was an old ticket window inside the Tuscumbia train depot.

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My boyfriend and me inside the Tuscumbia train depot. Despite Tuscumbia's efforts to have an authentic looking old depot, the very modern keypad for their alarm system is quite noticeable on that wall next to the electrical panel. 

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The before-the-haircut shot. Okay, my hair looks a little ratty here, but I was happy with the length.

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The after-the-haircut shot. So NOT what I wanted. My first efforts at styling it myself have not gone well. (Ergo, there will not be any more pictures of me for a while.)

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This is my favorite picture so far of my latest haircut.

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While I was on vacation my mother, sister and I went to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.

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This is a view of the main building of the Tennessee Aquarium from its second building, "Ocean Journey."

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This is the starting point for the "Ocean Journey" building at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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Sting rays in the "Ocean Journey" building at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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Penguins in the "Ocean Journey" building at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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The big shark tank was a popular feature in the "Ocean Journey" building at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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After our "Ocean Journey" the family and I walked to Chili's for lunch. Outside Chili's, the glass top of the Aquarium is visible, just a few blocks away.

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Another view from the Tennessee Aquarium.

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The entry passage of the main building of the Tennessee Aquarium.

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Doesn't that alligator look pleased to be sitting on top of that turtle?

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There are huge glass walls for peering into the tanks at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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Another view inside one of the tanks at the Tennessee Aquarium.

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This is Wilson Dam. A nearby sign describes it as "a multi-purpose dam completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1925, turned over to TVA in 1933...Its reservoir inundates the dangerous rapids known as Muscle Shoals, making this reach of the river commercially navigable."

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Having been to Wilson Dam before, my boyfriend and I re-visited looking for photo opportunities.

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A view off the north(?) side of Wilson Dam.

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A view off the south(?) side of Wilson Dam.

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My boyfriend thought of the caption for this one: "The water is so dangerous, they had to fence in the sign."

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This is a view of the massive lock at Wilson Dam. (As a side note: after taking over 3500 pictures with this camera, I still manage to get part of my finger in the shot. :sigh:)

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A view across the lock at Wilson Dam.

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A view across Wilson Dam, taken near the lock. My boyfriend and I walked all the way here from over there, and then we walked back again to get to the car.

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This building is on the non-lock side of Wilson Dam. I said, "Hey! Let's pose between the arrows and point!" I like his pose, but mine ... well, in my defense, the timer only allowed me ten seconds to run over and pose.

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These two barges are near Wilson Dam. There are no "No Trespassing" signs posted, so my boyfriend and I ambled on board.

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This barge looks as rusty in this shot as it does in real life.

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My attempt at an artsy shot.

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Another attempt at an artsy shot.

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My boyfriend's office. Hmm, does this mean that I'm the organized one in this twosome? We're doomed.

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My boyfriend and I attended Big Spring Jam in Huntsville, Alabama, for the first time. Although, had we known that "Moshing is Strictly Prohibited," we might have skipped the event altogether. :D

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The sun sets upon day two of Big Spring Jam in Huntsville, Alabama.

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Hay people!

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I started my birthday with a cinnamon waffle, coffee, and birthday cards. 

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I also wore eyeshadow for the first time in a few weeks.

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Under the new regime at work, we're only supposed to wear jeans on Friday, but I decided to dress up this pair (just a little) and go with them. Turns out one of the visiting higher-ups also wore jeans, so my non-compliance was a non-issue.

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Part of dressing up the jeans meant wearing boots with them. Of course, if I wear these jeans with flats, a good portion of the leg will be on the ground.

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There's the spot where my officemate used to sit. At least he left some papers to keep me company.

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Work-wise, things were pretty slow, as evidenced by the lack of projects on my desk.

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I finally got a (busy-work) project only to find that my software was in a mood.

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Since my first choice for lunch was closed - despite answering when I called that they opened at 11:00 - I settled for the buffet at CiCi's Pizza.

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I also did a little shopping.

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My birthday presents to myself: a new flash drive, a pair of black earrings, and the Robert Plant/Allison Kraus CD Raising Sand.

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My biggest birthday treat was watching the Beatles' movie, "Help!" I purchased it back in June, but I saved it "for a special occasion." I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed it very, very much.

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Before the haircut. Thanks to taking this pic - and previewing it - I was able to fix the tag on my shirt before going to work. Alas, I don't think I noticed how unevenly styled the back of my hair was...

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After the haircut. I specified "JUST a trim" and that "I'm trying to grow it longer." And you know for it to be styled so evenly, the stylist did it.

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Note to self: the next time you get the urge to rearrange your office furniture, be sure you're *not* wearing these shoes.

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My office, shortly after I began work two-plus years ago.

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On a whim, I rearranged the furniture in my office. Now I can look over the top of my monitors and stare out the window. The other advantage of this arrangement is that my back is no longer to the door when I face the computer screens.

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My boyfriend and I decided to pay another visit to Monte Sano State Park to enjoy the fall colors.

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View from the overlook (near the lodge) at Monte Sano State Park.

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My boyfriend and me, near another overlook at Monte Sano State Park.

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On our next visit to Monte Sano State Park, my boyfriend and I have decided that we *will* climb on this rock. (We didn't this time because it was about to get dark.)

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This is my apartment, with just a bit of holiday decorating.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: Sweet Peppers Deli, Florence, Alabama
comments: I liked the atmosphere and the style of this place a lot, but I found my sandwich to be just "okay."

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date: May 13, 2006
location: Sweet Peppers Deli, Florence, Alabama
comments: While scanning the deli through my camera's view finder, I decided that this shot of my water was a keeper. (That elbow on the left belongs to Jeff.)

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: I had to have a picture of this charming little inlet, which I keep referring to as a "lagoon."

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: Yes, the Tennessee River is quite large.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: These barges - there's a very rusty one without railing behind the one with railing - were the reason Jeff and I came to the river. We'd been there before when I didn't have my camera. There are no signs warning against trespassing, so we wander around a bit on the barges. (Hey, it's not every day I get to say, "I walked on a barge.")

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: This is the two barges in the previous picture from a different angle. As you can see, the one without railing (partly visible on the right) is almost entirely rusted. Still, it's solid enough to support the weight of a couple of explorers, lol. (Again, there's Jeff's elbow at the left.)

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: Yet another attempt at a creative shot.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: on a barge near Wilson Dam, Florence, Alabama
comments: This, um, sound advice is written on the edge of a very rusty barge. The tin and rust color at the top of this picture is part of another barge. Those are Jeff's feet, and you can see his shadow and my shadow.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: Wilson Dam, Florence, Alabama
comments: Although there's a sidewalk across the dam, the traffic gets pretty close.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: Wilson Dam, Florence, Alabama
comments: No, I was not hanging off the edge of the dam. (They frown - heavily - on that sort of thing.) I extended the camera a bit past the railing to get a different perspective.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: Wilson Dam, Florence, Alabama
comments: This is what you see when going the other way on the dam. That building's presence requires drivers to take a very sharp turn as they exit the dam. Who decided that THAT was an acceptable place for it? Then again, the dam was built in the early 1900's - if I recall correctly - so they probably didn't have a big problem with speeders.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near Wilson Dam)
comments: That shadow was created by a set of trees to my left as I took this picture.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near a park)
comments: I took this shot while sitting at the edge of the water. I was trying to show the gentle rippling of the waves as the river flows ... Well, you can see one small wave just above the rock on the right.

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near a park)
comments: I noticed that this picnic table/unit looked as if it could slide in the water at any moment. So I said to Jeff, "Ooh! Let's pose as if we're pushing it in the water!" We gave it a shot, but I was caught looking over to see if the picture had taken. D'oh! He really looks as if he's trying to move the thing. I, meanwhile, look like a poser. D'oh, again!

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama (near a park)
comments: If I recall correctly, the name of this tug boat is the Mary Claire. I remember that because I remember thinking that they could've called it the Marie Claire, but maybe they're not a big fan of that magazine...

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date: May 13, 2006
location: the Ruby Tuesday parking lot, Florence, Alabama
comments: The sky was *so* beautiful as we were leaving Ruby Tuesday. I was glad that the camera captured the sunset pretty well. :)

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date: January 22, 2006
place: our bathroom
comments: We *finally* hired someone to re-do our bathroom. I took a lot of pictures of "before," but I doubt I'll ever post them. (I'm telling you, the room was terrible.) Here's a shot of the "during."

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date: February 12, 2006
place: our yard
comments: The night before this was taken, we had enough snowfall to blanket the ground, but by the time I got out to take a picture, this was all that was left.

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date: March 8, 2006
place: Rhodes Ferry Park in Decatur, Alabama
comments: Yes, I've spent time at this park before, but this time Jeff and I went. He decided to stand on this old grate, so I decided to take a picture.

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date: March 8, 2006
place: Rhodes Ferry Park in Decatur, Alabama
comments: Jeff is the shadow on the left. (He's squatting down.) I'm the shadow on the right, trying very hard to appear long and lean. :) The body of water in the background is the Tennessee River.

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date: March 8, 2006
place: the Old State Bank in Decatur, Alabama
comments: This is Jeff and me reflected in the window - and a mirror - at the Old State Bank.

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date: March 8, 2006
place: the Old State Bank in Decatur, Alabama
comments: I thought that "Old Bank Parking Only" sign was funny.

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date: March 8, 2006
place: Bank Street in Decatur, Alabama
comments: Bank Street at sunset. 'Nuff said. :)

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date: March 11, 2006
place: the Red Trail, Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: This is Jeff and me, on our second trip to Monte Sano. The time before we hiked the White Trail (I think!); this time we tried the Red Trail. Next time: the Mountain Mist Trail. Yes, that's the camera strap in the lower right of the picture. D'oh!

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date: March 11, 2006
place: Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: It was a cloudy day, but this is my attempt at capturing the view from Monte Sano Mountain. Right after this, my camera batteries died, so I had to settle for this shot.

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date: April 14, 2006
place: Bessemer, Alabama
comments: I had a job interview in Bessemer. Since it was my first visit to the city, I decided to take my camera. I thought this picture was the most interesting one - that should tell you something about the set, yes? - so it's the only one I'm posting.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Big Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: I really like this picture.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Panoply (Festival of the Arts), Huntsville, Alabama
comments: As noted above, Panoply is a celebration of the arts. It's held each year in the spring; features include displays of artwork, dance demonstrations, crafts for kids, and music playing on several stages.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Panoply (Festival of the Arts), Huntsville, Alabama
comments: All of the artwork in this tent was contributed by local students.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Panoply (Festival of the Arts), Huntsville, Alabama
comments: When Jeff and I left for lunch, we got our arms stamped (they used a dinosaur print) so that we could return. I wanted to get a picture of the stamps with something representative of Panoply: this is the result.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Panoply (Festival of the Arts), Huntsville, Alabama
comments: As the sign says, this is the (or perhaps a?) location for the Alabama State Fiddling Championship.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Museum, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: Because of Panoply, admission to the museum was free. I really liked that colorful picture in the background. To my surprise, the museum had several pieces that I'd seen in my art history books, as well as a work by Andy Warhol.

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date: April 29, 2006
place: Museum, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: The museum featured a collection of glass art. Glass art isn't my favorite, but it's good to gain exposure to new ideas. (That's my boyfriend Jeff, looking at the glass plaque-thing.)

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date: September 14, 2006
place: my apartment
comments: After I got a new job in August (Woo hoo! btw) I got an apartment to avoid having to drive about an hour each way. For the record, I did *not* pick that pattern for the kitchen floor.

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date: September 14, 2006
place: my apartment
comments: There's where I sit and get information for my websites as I'm watching DVDs of my favorite old shows.

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date: September 15, 2006
place: my office
comments: No, that's not my name above the office door, but that's my desk, straight ahead. Yes, my computer screen is *highly* visible to anyone who happens to pass or stop by; this helps motivate me to stay busy and use it (mostly) for work-related purposes.

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date: September 16, 2006
place: gas station near Alabama Hwy 72
comments: I like the paint job on this bike, but with all that stuff bundled on the back, it sure doesn't fit with the carefree image of a motorcycle.

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date: September 16, 2006
place: gas station near Alabama Hwy 72
comments: Like the people on the left, I stopped to watch the Trail of Tears riders go by. (I think being near people who own motorcycles makes you cooler by association...)

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date: September 16, 2006
place: gas station near Alabama Hwy 72
comments: Quite a few people were waiting to join the Trail of Tears riders as they passed.

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date: September 16, 2006
place: gas station near Alabama Hwy 72
comments: An estimated 90,000 riders participated this year. Ride safe!

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Pictures from 2006 are before this one; pictures from 2007 are after this one.

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This picture was taken by my boyfriend at Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama. We were there last weekend for the Helen Keller Festival.

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This is a (low-quality) close-up of the art on my focal wall. I took the pictures of my family's barn. The idea was for each picture to show one part of the scene. Instead, there was some overlap, but, for a first attempt, I liked it. Anyway, the swirly piece on the right is from Pier 1 (although I found it at Big Lots), and the camera once belonged to my grandfather.

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This shows my new furniture arrangement where I try to make my focal wall, well, more of a focus. (Yes, I've still got some work to do on it...)

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Jeff and I visited Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama. I'd visited it many years ago when I was in elementary school.

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This is the entrance to the largest section of Ave Maria Grotto.

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The large cavelike structure at the right is the grotto. Note the replica of St. Peter's and the yellow flowers at the front left of the picture because I have closeups of them.

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This is a closeup of the model of St. Peter's Basilica. I absolutely love the colors!

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This is another shot of the main section of Ave Maria Grotto.

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Ave Maria Grotto has some really lovely plant life.

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Jeff and me, in front of the grotto.

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Me and Jeff at my company's picnic, which was - as noted in the title of this picture - July 14, 2007.

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It was a really lovely spot for a picnic.

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This is a closeup of me and Jeff (from p071407i). This is actually my favorite picture of me from the picnic, but that's not saying much...

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There I am, stuffing my face. For some reason, I look like I should be eating fried chicken.

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And here I look like I should be saying, "Hey, lookie thar!!!"

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Either I blinked right as this picture was being taken, or I was praying over my bottled water. At least I think my hair looks good here.

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I have no idea why I'm doing that inward-lips thing.

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Here I am being Ms. Squinty Face.

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"I'm too sexy for this picnic..."

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Frowning is *not* a flattering look for me.

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I rented this 2007 Toyota Camry while my own car was in the shop for repairs.

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Oooh. Shiny!

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My empty freezer. And why is my freezer empty? Because it stopped working - for the THIRD TIME IN A MONTH - while I was out, and all of my food went bad. To describe me as "angry" would be an understatement at this point.

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After a very firm phone call from me to my apartment complex manager, my broken fridge was removed and replaced with a new (albeit scratch-and-dent) model.

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Two guys at work (thanks J and N!) made and painted the black bookshelf unit on the tables, because N wanted to help my officemate and me get organized. (Um, yeah, we're not quite there yet...)

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I was going to a party, and I decided to wear my hair in a ponytail. Since I had some time to kill, I took a few pictures. For the record, I changed my earrings to some silver dangly ones.

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This is what my hair looks like after it's been twisted up all day in a clip and was put up when still slightly wet.

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I stood at a gas station and watched the Trail of Tears riders go by. Some of them stopped for a fill-up.

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Yesterday I had the carpet in my apartment cleaned. In preparation, I tried to get as much stuff as I could off of the carpet, so I moved it to the 10% of floor space that isn't carpet, like the kitchen. Today, the carpet is probably dry, but because I obsess over things, I'm giving it one more day. Maybe two.

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I know, this isn't my best 'do. My bangs were cut too short to look good flipped to the side, like I usually wear them, so I decided to try this look. Yeah, a headband. At work, I called it my Gidget Tribute.

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Although I didn't have any holiday plans, I decided to dress up to answer the door. Sadly, I didn't have even one trick-or-treater.

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I made this cape to wear to my senior prom. I had a simple white strapless dress, and as I recall, when I couldn't find a nice black jacket to wear over it, I thought, "Ooh, wouldn't a CAPE be cool?" So my mother and I made this one. I still regret that I chickened out and didn't wear it because I didn't want to stand out that much.

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This picture was taken from a bridge in - or maybe near - Garden City, Alabama. I think this is the Warrior River; when I find out for sure, I'll post a comment.

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This is the second picture that was taken from a bridge in - or maybe near - Garden City, Alabama. I had to stand on the guardrail curb and hold the camera up to avoid having low-hanging power lines running right in the middle of my shot.

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This bridge leads to a nature trail near Wilson Dam, on the Tennessee River in Alabama.

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This is the view from over the right side of the bridge in p120107a.

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This is a closer view of the small waterfall in p120107b.

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Another close-up view of the small waterfall in p120107b. (Thank you, litterbugs, for ruining this shot for me.)

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This is a full view of the pieces shown in the previous four pictures.

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I loved the way the water rippled when it hit that small rock in front of this large flat rock.

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From here, the water fall and bridge in p120107e are not far off to the right. The water on the left is part of the Tennessee River.

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This picture was taken about five minutes after p120107g, and it really wasn't this dark. Anyway, this is the Tennessee River, and Wilson Dam is barely visible near the center of this picture.

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This picture was taken near the ramp that is visible in the previous shot (p120107h).

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At the company Christmas party, I joined some of the gals in a karaoke of Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

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A close-up of p120707a. At the company Christmas party, I joined some of the gals in a karaoke of "Pour Some Sugar on Me." As I recall, when this shot was taken, someone had just tried to put a microphone in my face.

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This bridge is not far from the starting point of the Blue Trail (i.e. the North Plateau Loop, I think) in Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville, Alabama.

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This stream runs under the bridge in p120807a.

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A close-up of the water running over the rocks in the stream in p120807b.

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The stream from p120807b drops off in a very small waterfall, but I didn't feel like climbing down to get a better shot of it.

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Yet again, the stream (p120807b) and the bridge (p120807a) from the blue trail in Monte Sano State Park.

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This overlook is near the Monte Sano Lodge.

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Jeff and me on the lookout in p120807f.

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Jeff and me on another lookout on the blue trail in Monte Sano State Park.

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Wearing outfits like this to work frequently gets me accused of having a job interview.

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After a guy (!!) at work received flowers, I continued a long-standing complaint about my lack of floral, um, receipt. So, a coworker let me borrow this fancied-up pine cone from someone else's desk.

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As part of my family's Christmas tradition, we take pictures of everyone's gifts. These are mine.

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I thought my hair looked okay today, but yeah it didn't photograph well. And yes, that *is* the face I usually make when I take pictures like that. And yes, I definitely need to clean that mirror.

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As I was driving on I-65, I noticed that the sky was really beautiful. Since my camera was in reach, I decided to try to capture the moment. Alas, the really beautiful scene had changed a bit, but I thought this shot turned out okay.

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My boyfriend and I paid another visit to Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama. According to one sign at the park, the Big Spring has an average daily flow of 35,000,000 gallons. As you can imagine, "water" is the main theme at the park.

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This sign - and the falls - are also in Spring Park in Tuscumbia. (Yes, I did notice the grammatical error on the sign.)

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These are the Cold Water Falls in Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama. According to a nearby sign, Tuscumbia was originally named Ococoposo, which means Cold Water.

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This is another shot of the Cold Water Falls in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

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A closer shot of the upper Cold Water Falls.

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A closer shot of the lower Cold Water Falls.

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An overhead shot of the lower Cold Water Falls.

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Another overhead shot of the lower Cold Water Falls. Note: at no point was I actually in the water. There are plenty of large, dry rocks to stand on.

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The sun as it sets across Spring Park in Tuscumbia.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: North Bend, Nebraska
comments: According to another sign, the population of North Bend is roughly 1200.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: Columbus, Nebraska
comments: This building survived an atomic blast in Yucca Flat, Nevada, on May 5, 1955.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: Columbus, Nebraska
comments: This mural was painted in honor of the city's 150th anniversary, a.k.a. their sesquicentennial. (I spelled that without looking it up, so please let me know if I'm wrong... )

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date: October 15, 2006
where: Columbus, Nebraska
comments: Glur's Tavern is the oldest tavern west of the Mississippi River. Word is that Buffalo Bill stopped in back in the day.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: Columbus, Nebraska
comments: To get this shot, I ventured up a sidewalk bridge that ran alongside an overpass. To my dismay, the sidewalk shook a bit with the traffic moving nearby. I almost lost my nerve and turned around, but I pressed on.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: Columbus, Nebraska
comments: As I recall, this is the Loup River. Yes, it is extremely shallow; I'm told this is because it is heavily irrigated for the corn (and other?) crops. I'm also told that when it's low like this, one can fourwheel across it.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: The Platte County Museum, Columbus, Nebraska
comments: My grandfather had a piano that looked *very* similar to this one.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: The Platte County Museum, Columbus, Nebraska
comments: That kind of school desk always makes me think about Tom Sawyer.

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date: October 15, 2006
where: The Platte County Museum, Columbus, Nebraska
comments: The museum features an old cabin, and this is what inside looks like when it's lit up by a camera flash.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I visted Nebraska for two weeks on a business trip. For something to do on the weekend, I drove two hours from Columbus (where I was staying) to Omaha to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo. It was a nice day to be outside - with a jacket - as you can see from the crowd here in the bear area.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: These black bears were the most active of any of the animals that I saw, except for maybe the fish in the aquarium.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: As I recall, I yoo-hooed to get him (or her?) to look at me. For the record, that's as close as I ever want to be to a polar bear.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: This scene looked much better in person; the koi were so bright, and the colors were just beautiful.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: This walk-bridge goes through the zoo's large aviary.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The zoo features a lovely garden area. Again, the colors looked much better in person.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: When I passed the elephants again a few minutes later they were both on the side closest to the visitors, and I thought how that would've been a better shot...

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I was afraid these ostriches would rush the fence if I got too close. :sheepish:

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The little bird in front (and to the right) of the giraffe in the middle is a penguin of some sort.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The dome over this desert display is a prominent feature in the zoo's landscape. (Yes, it was hot in there.)

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: This faux cave art was in the desert display.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I was glad to get a picture of the Mutual of Omaha logo, because that's what I always think of when I hear the word Omaha. (Blame it on their show, Wild Kingdom. ;) That dome covers the desert exhibit.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The zoo's large indoor jungle displays were pretty impressive, even though my pictures of them aren't. (There are huge skylights, so I thought the light would be sufficient. Obviously, I was wrong.)

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I thought this rope bridge might be for display only, but I was fairly certain that the people in front of me had crossed it. So, I ventured across as well. As the picture shows, some of the planks were wet, and they bordered on slippery.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: These are tapirs. I'm told that they do move from time to time.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: Going through the display takes visitors down to where they can see this mama and baby pygmy hippopotamus duo at the water level. FYI, they were still sleeping when I got down there.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The trail behind the waterfall was a nice touch. In retrospect, I should've asked a fellow zoo visitor to take my picture at some point. This point, for example.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: It's just like a trek through the Amazon - without all that pesky danger. ;)

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date: October 14, 2006
where: 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: The zoo is across the street from Rosenblatt Stadium. Continuing on 10th Street will take one to downtown Omaha.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I *really* wanted to get a picture of the Omaha skyline, but, caught in the flow of traffic, I couldn't decide on a good place to stop. I took this shot while paused at a red light.

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date: October 14, 2006
where: 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: Hmm, I think I should send Power Window Services a bill for the publicity they get from me posting this pic. ;) Anyway, this is the closest I got to a picture of the Omaha skyline. I had no more film with me, and I wanted to head back to Columbus before it got dark...

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date: February 11, 2007
where: the plane to Nebraska
comments: If I believed in omens, I would've been concerned that my seat on the first flight was right next to the bathroom.

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date: February 12, 2007
where: at work in Nebraska
comments: The lights weren't quite as overpowering as this picture makes them seem.

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date: February 13, 2007
where: the view from my hotel room
comments: The snow was my ever-present companion, and yet the roads remained passable. (So much for them calling off work.)

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date: February 13, 2007
where: driving back to my hotel after work
comments: There were piles of snow everywhere from where the plows cleared the roads and parking lots. The sun came out more than once, but the outside temperature remained in the single digits. Overall, I'd say I handled the cold fairly well.

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date: February 14, 2007
where: at work in my chilly cubicle
comments: A lady from work was kind enough to lend me a blanket. I walked around with it when I left the cubicle to ask a question. I think people started to suspect that I was not a native of Nebraska. (Their laughter was my first clue...) And yes, that calendar behind me is old.

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date: February 14, 2007
where: at work in my still-chilly cubicle
comments: Some guy was kind enough to lend me this jacket. I still held on to the blanket.

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date: February 14, 2007
where: looking out of my (chilly) cubicle
comments: This shot is more representative of the lighting - and work - conditions.

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date: February 14, 2007
where: on the road to the hotel
comments: My rental car was a Saturn of some sort. I never did get accustomed to the speedometer and such being in the middle of the dashboard. It makes a great place to set a camera though...

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date: February 14, 2007
where: on the road to the hotel
comments: Have you ever wondered what I look like driving west in a Saturn in Nebraska in single digit temperatures on Valentine's Day with no makeup on? Well, wonder no more!

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date: February 14, 2007
where: the hotel parking lot
comments: This is the view of the parking lot from a second floor sitting area. I think the car at the front of the picture on the left is my rental car, but honestly, I'm not sure...

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date: February 14, 2007
where: my hotel room
comments: Yeah, this shot is totally posed. I didn't actually wear the scarf out like that, although I had planned to. The hood kept me warmer than I thought it would.

(This picture got a lot of views when I posted it at my old flickr account: what *are* you people looking for??)


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date: February 16, 2007
where: on the way to the airport
comments: So long, snowy flatness!

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date: February 16, 2007
where: on the way to the airport
comments: So long, snowy hills outside of Omaha!

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date: February 16, 2007
where: Omaha, Nebraska (near the Qwest Center)
comments: I waited so long to get a picture of the Omaha skyline, and some thoughtless city planner had to ruin it by putting that red thing in the center.

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date: February 16, 2007
where: Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I settled for taking shots from the warmth and comfort of my rental car, which - of course - largely limited me to whenever a stoplight caught me.

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date: February 16, 2007
where: 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: There's that car** again. I was actually pleased to see it, since it was another familiar sight. I consider myself quite at home on good old 10th Street now.

**see picture "o101406v"


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date: February 16, 2007
where: Omaha, Nebraska
comments: I actually stopped and got out of the car for this one. I'm sure I could've got a better shot, but I'm pretty happy with this one. I had a location in mind, and it worked. With that done, I headed to the airport to wait on my delayed flight.

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date: February 16, 2007
where: the Western Heritage Museum, Omaha, Nebraska
comments: This is where I stopped to shoot the skyline. In my wanderings during the previous trip, I had thought this was a good location, although I had run out of film. If I have to come back to Nebraska, hopefully I'll have time to actually visit this museum...

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For my third visit to Nebraska, this was my rental car: a Dodge Caliber. I thought it looked like a modern version of the station wagon, but the people at work seemed to like it. Maybe they just liked the fact that I was the one driving them to lunch. :shrug:

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While in Nebraska, I attended several company functions. At this one, someone listed me among the visitors and a few people applauded. Did I mention that there was an open bar?

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I know. My hair looks beyond terrible here. I posted this picture to show that although I complain about my hair a lot, indeed I have much cause to complain!

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Since I was visiting, I parked in the visitor/customer space at work. Hey, my lunch companions insisted that it would be alright.

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This is what happens when a place starts taking down the cubicle walls to make room for the installation of new cubicle walls. No, it ain't pretty.

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My work space was right next to the walkway, which was very distracting (for me) after they started taking down the cubicle walls.

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This is what much of my drive to the airport looked like.

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When the use of electronic devices was "approved" on my flight out of Omaha, I decided to take a picture. Sadly it doesn't do justice to how beautifully clear the sky was; I think that's the clearest the sky's been during any of my sixteen or so flights in the last two years.

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For my brief stay in Houston, this was my hotel room. I thought it was pretty swank - despite the fact that the dust ruffle on the closest bed is noticeably uneven.

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The hotel room had this swank kitchen "area" with a tiny one-cup coffeemaker.

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My definition of a classy hotel: one that folds the towels into things.

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If I'd have known the hotel bathroom was so nice, I'd have brought some nicer toiletries. Maybe.

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Here's a glimpse at the Houston highway system. There are *many* overpasses. Sometimes the overpasses pass over another overpass.

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Another sight on the Houston Highway system, at least if one travels on the toll road.

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The downtown Houston skyline is off in the distance, along with some wicked-looking clouds.

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Of the 20 or so pictures I took of the Houston skyline - most of them from a distance - this one is my favorite.

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This is Minute Maid stadium where (I'm told) the Houston Astros play.

(FYI, this picture was used as part of an on-line photo tour of Houston.)

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This train engine is outside Minute Maid stadium, and both are found near downtown Houston.

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A shot of downtown Houston, from downtown Houston.

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Another shot of downtown Houston, from downtown Houston. I'm told that the city is always undergoing some sort of expansion/building project. I see a crane here, so it must be true!

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The colors around the windows create a basket-weave effect, very unusual on a building.

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Yes, I'm all about shots of the skyline.

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When my tour guide (aka my boss) said that we'd drive by the Toyota Center, I thought, "What? I've seen car dealerships..." Apparently, the Toyota Center is some sort of stadium. 

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This is Reliant Stadium (on the left) and its predecessor, the Houston Astrodome.

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A closer view of Reliant Stadium.

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An even closer view of Reliant Stadium. Note the legless bull statues under the traffic lights.

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Across the street from Reliant Stadium is this training center, which is an "air supported" structure. However, I suspect that there's more than air holding it all in place.

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date: May 7, 2005
where: Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA
comments: I enjoyed the aquarium but I didn't take many pictures inside because I didn't think I could avoid the reflected glare from the flash.

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date: May 7, 2005
where: the Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
comments: This picture was taken near the Aquarium of the Pacific. Visitors can board the Queen Mary (for a fee) but I was content to just take a picture and continue walking around Long Beach.

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date: May 7, 2005
where: Long Beach, CA
comments: Long Beach has a very nice shopping/eating area beside the water. I would've joined one of the boats for a whale-watching expedition, but I didn't think I had time.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: where Sunset Blvd ends at the Pacific Ocean
comments: I was following Sunset Blvd to avoid one of the freeways; I was surprised (although I shouldn't have been) that the road ends at the ocean, so people on it can ride off into the sunset. Until they reach the water, anyway.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: Santa Monica Beach/Pier
comments: I wanted to take pictures of the ocean without getting sand in my shoes. So I came to the Santa Monica Pier. It was *so* lovely, and not nearly as crowded as it looked from a distance.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: Santa Monica Beach/Pier
comments: It wasn't terribly hot but plenty of people were in the water. I was tempted to walk along the beach but I didn't feel like trying to clean the sand out of my rental car.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: Santa Monica Pier
comments: The pier is a great place to spend an afternoon, but do *not* try to buy film there, unless you want to spend $9 for a single roll.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: Santa Monica Beach
comments: I sat for a long while listening to the waves.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: the Rite Aid parking lot
comments: This is my rental car.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
comments: It was raining so I drove around downtown. I was looking for the Museum of Contemporary Art but I missed the parking garages near it, and I didn't feel like trying to find my way back to it. I wound up at the Central Library, that short brown building at the lower center of the picture.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
comments: At the library, I tried to take a few pictures despite the rain. I think I've seen the building on the right in several movies/TV shows.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
comments: That spiky building near the center of the picture is Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I had driven past it the night before and was surprised to find it in the middle of a row of other buildings. From all of the pictures I'd seen, I thought it was on a lot by itself.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Griffith Park (near the Observatory), overlooking LA
comments: The rain was starting to clear so I visited one of the other places on my list: Griffith Park.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Griffith Park, on the Mount Hollywood Hiking Trail
comments: It's hard to see in this picture, but the Hollywood sign is slightly left, above the fence post

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Griffith Park, on the Mount Hollywood Hiking Trail
comments: This sign absolutely ruined my hike because I couldn't stop imagining that a mountain lion was stalking me.

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date: May 11, 2005
where: over the 405 Freeway, Los Angeles, CA
comments: I didn't have time to stop anywhere, but I drove around and took pictures before finding my way back to the Burbank airport.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: the Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
comments: The Getty Center offers lovely views of the city, but it's very hazy in the area in the morning hours.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: the Getty Center Gardens, Los Angeles, CA
comments: The gardens were beautiful; I saw a hummingbird, and I found $20 there.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: view from the Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
comments: This picture isn't quite as clear as the view was.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: view from the Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
comments: This is the city as viewed from behind the Cactus Garden.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: the Getty Center Gardens, Los Angeles, CA
comments: The gardens were one of the most popular spots at the Center.

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date: May 8, 2005
where: the Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
comments: This is the tram that ferries visitors to the Center from the parking lot.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: This is outside of the gate, which explains why I have a picture of it the day before I visited the park.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: I'm not sure if this theatre was real, but they took advantage of the marquis.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: I should've made them an offer for that cut-out figure of Matt Damon. ;)

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: They offer a glimpse of Europe, without ever leaving the park.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: The collection of buildings at the lower right of this picture is a variety of street settings; the Studio Tour takes visitors in for a closer look.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: As the studio proudly points out, their sets are still used for movies, TV shows, music videos, etc. Someone was filming the day I visited.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: In part of the tour, they display their ability to create rain and flash floods.

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: A series of escalators - and stairs for those who enjoy a challenge - connect the upper lot to the lower lot. I rode the Mummy ride (the entrance is at the left) but I kept my eyes closed for most of it. :sheepish:

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date: May 10, 2005
where: Universal Studios, Universal City, CA
comments: This was taken as I waited in line for the Special Effects show. My hotel is visible above the trees over the red canopy.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: my hotel room
comments: I was trying to capture the lovely view that I had of Universal Studios and the Citywalk.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Citywalk, viewed from my hotel room
comments: That dark block is the shadow from my hotel.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Citywalk, Universal City, CA
comments: The Citywalk is full of places that sell food and souvenirs.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Citywalk, Universal City, CA
comments: This is the restaurant where I met the other Guys Next Door fans - and the Guys themselves!

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Citywalk, Universal City, CA
comments: A view from the CityLoft.

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Citywalk, Universal City, CA
comments: Something for everyone!

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date: May 9, 2005
where: the Guys Next Door fan get-together
This is the Saddle Ranch Chop House, where we enjoyed drinks and conversation after our meal. :)

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date: March 12, 2005
comments: These are the very unstable steps at the entrance of our barn. (Needless to say, we don't go in there much.)

misc054.jpg
date: March 12, 2005
comments: These three buildings are in our yard. That crooked tree by the middle building is a chestnut tree; the chestnuts scratch the metal roof when they fall, that's why the area under the tree is more rusted than the other half. (The barn and the other shop are much older, that's why their roofs are more rusted.)

misc055.jpg
date: March 12, 2005
comments: Another shot of the buildings in our yard.

misc060.jpg
date: September 10, 2005
comments: I took this picture during a stroll with my boyfriend in Florence, Alabama. (The location is probably obvious from the writing on the base of the statue, yes?)

misc061.jpg
date: September 10, 2005
comments: Another picture from my stroll in Florence. This was a cute theatre - I hope I did it justice. :)

misc065.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: Florence, Alabama
comments: This was a Halloween display near downtown Florence. I thought it was cute. Apparently, others thought this shot turned out okay: I posted it in my, um, secret photolog, and the people in charge added it to the Halloween collection.

misc066.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: My boyfriend and I spent much time wandering around the Renaissance Faire, which is an annual festival celebrating "ye olden days." Merchants set up booths and sell their wares, people wear costumes, and sometimes people wearing costumes will demonstrate things such as sword-fighting.

misc067.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: As mentioned on the previous picture caption, at the Faire, people in costumes do things such as demonstrate how to sword-fight.

misc068.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: Although the Faire celebrates things that are "olde," they take advantage of modern conveniences. (Note the porta-potty near the center of the picture...)

misc069.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: No costume? No problem! That's one of the many things they sell at the Faire.

misc070.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: Here be the Queen and King of the Faire and their royal court. (I'm guessing the jeaned girl forgot her costume. I have no idea what the guy on the left is doing.)

misc071.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: Hmm, I never did catch the name of that instrument...

misc072.jpg
date: October 22, 2005
place: the Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama
comments: I thought these were the best performers at the Faire. Yes, a lady from the audience is stepping on a guy on a bed of nails.

misc021.jpg

date taken: February 14, 2004
comments: Star likes to chase my feet while I walk in the yard; here she is, waiting for me to move.

misc022.jpg
date taken: February 14, 2004
comments: I went to get the oil changed on my car and the mechanic gave me this carnation. I tried to be artistic and turn it into a Still Life With Bricks.

misc023.jpg

date taken: February 14, 2004
comments: This is yet another attempt to get a Still Life shot . . . my camera doesn't do so well with fine details, such as the petals on a flower.

misc024.jpg
date taken: February 21, 2004
comments: I washed my car and thought the reflection was interesting. (I like this picture also because it doesn't show all of the nicks in my car's paint.)

misc025.jpg
date taken: February 21, 2004
comments: That circular shadow is actually a wheelbarrow but if you look at it right, it also resembles an odd bird.

misc026.jpg
date taken: February 28, 2004
location: the University of Alabama in Huntsville
comments: While I was at class I noticed that someone had tee-peed the campus. I decided to take a picture, for posterity, although it occurred to me that passers-by might think that I did it, and was taking a picture to brag about it. . .

misc027.jpg
date taken: February 28, 2004
location: the University of Alabama in Huntsville
comments: That's me - and a very artsy-looking tree - near the art history building.

misc028.jpg
date taken: February 28, 2004
location: the University of Alabama in Huntsville
comments: Me again, this time near the administrative science building. I took several pictures of myself around this building but they all looked too much like what I see in the mirror. :shudders: Note that this one is me from a distance.

misc029.jpg
date taken: February 28, 2004
location: the University of Alabama in Huntsville
comments: This is a pile of unfinished projects - I think - at the back of the art history building. So, if you think you see a face in that piece of wood, you're not losing your mind, or anything. (You all do see it, right??)

misc030.jpg
date taken: February 28, 2004
comments: I took this picture on 2/28/04, but the picture on the bulletin board was from a class trip on November 24, 2003. Any guesses on which one is me? (Hint: I'm a girl.)

p022904a.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I wanted to celebrate Leap Day with a new set of photos. Since it was such a lovely day, I drove the short drive to Decatur, Alabama: Rhodes Ferry Park is on the banks of the Tennessee River.

p022904b.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: The middle section of that railroad bridge raises to allow barges to pass underneath. (I was hoping it would do so while I was there with my camera, but no such luck.)

p022904c.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: Those are the bridges that I drive across to get to and from Decatur. On my trip back, I took a picture from the bridge without the metal frame covering it.

p022904d.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I think I took about fifteen pictures of the bridge from various angles. Well, I don't have the opportunity to do so every day . . .

p022904e.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I love, love, love, LOVE this house: the colors, the style, the tasteful yet somewhat elitist gate to keep out the riff-raff and photographers . . .

p022904f.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: This guy tried to get me to take a picture of another guy in a nearby truck instead. I said, "But he's not on a train!"

p022904g.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I really like the earth tones in these buildings.

p022904h.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: This is a closer view of the opening in the previous picture: yep, that's the Tennessee River again. (Any guesses on what office space in this building will cost?)

p022904i.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I went through the opening and down the steps in the previous picture, then I decided to set the camera down and use the timer so that I could be in one of the pictures. (Why did I do that? I'm not really sure . . . ) As you can tell from my hair, it was a very windy day - I was hoping the wind wouldn't blow my camera off of its perch. (Need I point out that the camera is okay?)

p022904j.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I added this picture so that I can refer to this set as "Planes, Trains and Water-mobiles."

p022904k.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: This picture is considerably more dim than the actual light was.

p022904l.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: I left the park to find the end of that railroad bridge; a walkway allows pedestrians to cross over the tracks . . . and take pictures. (That blur in the top left corner is part of the chain-link fence that completely covers the walkway.)

p022904m.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: This is the picture that I mentioned earlier taken of the railroad bridge from the non-covered traffic bridge. When my sister saw this she asked, "You stopped on the bridge?" I said, "Um . . . I didn't stop." (After I took the picture I scolded myself to put the camera down and drive.)

p022904n.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: Yes, this is another shot taken through a chain-link fence.

p022904o.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: That is one orange plane. (I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've ever used that sentence in my entire life.)

p022904p.jpg
date taken: February 29, 2004
comments: Next stop: the month of March. ;) Next leap year: 2008

misc031.jpg
date taken: March 30, 2004
location: Huntsville, Alabama (near the Burger King parking lot)
comments: Ahhh, tulips. The essence of spring. *g*

misc032.jpg
date taken: May 20, 2004
comments: Have I mentioned that I love living in the country? One morning I watched a deer nibbling on brush in our back yard, and this fox frequently visits our back porch to help itself to the cat food.

misc033.jpg
date taken: May 30, 2004
location: the North Hall of the Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: The sole purpose of this shot was to get a picture of that guy standing behind the woman in white. (I could probably take better pictures if I'd stop trying to be so sneaky about it.)

misc034.jpg
date taken: May 30, 2004
location: the North Hall of the Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: I attended a Hindu wedding; the bride is carried to the stage, where the groom waits behind the veil.

misc035.jpg
date taken: June 11, 2004
comments: Yet another of my famous(?) stopped-in-traffic photos.

misc036.jpg
date taken: July 12, 2004
location: Big Spring Park in Huntsville, Alabama
comments: A nearby sign says that this "mini-lighthouse" was a present from another country. (I should have written it down, because I don't remember which country ...)

misc037.jpg
date taken: July 19, 2004
location: Constitution Hall Village Gift Shop
comments: I almost used this one for the "through" entry in my July 2004 26 Things collection. I don't know that it exactly conveys that theme, but I really like the way the picture turned out.

misc038.jpg
date taken: July 19, 2004
location: UAH, near the University Center
comments: Again, I considered using this one for the "through" entry in my July 2004 26 Things collection.

misc039.jpg
date taken: July 22, 2004
location: near the "Scenic Overlook," Huntsville, Alabama
comments: I considered using this one for the "found" entry in my July 2004 26 Things collection because of how the sun found this interesting-looking rock.

misc040.jpg
date taken: July 19, 2004
location: the Huntsville Historic District
comments: This was a possibility for the "underground" entry in my July 2004 26 Things since this is obviously the window to a basement.

misc041.jpg
date taken: July 24, 2004
location: Athens State College campus
comments: I took this while on a photo excursion for the scavenger hunt. I wanted to use this picture for one of the entries, but it didn't exactly fit any of the themes. (If there had been a "brown" category, I would have used it for sure.)

misc042.jpg
date taken: July 30, 2004
location: the Old State Bank in Decatur, Alabama
comments: I need to return when this building is open and take a tour, because I think it is *so* lovely.

misc043.jpg
date taken: July 30, 2004
location: the Old State Bank in Decatur, Alabama
comments: This courtyard reminds me of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.

misc044.jpg
date taken: July 30, 2004
location: the Old State Bank in Decatur, Alabama
comments: Doesn't it look like I climbed in the fountain to take this picture? Well, I did not; I just sat the camera on the edge. Yeah, that's it. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. ;)

n070204a.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: Here I am in our new office; we moved in at the end of June, after the lease expired on our old one. Yes, this office is quite cluttered, but I refuse to take the blame for it. Technically this isn't my office, it's the boss's - as are the boxes at the right in the picture.

n070204b.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: I'm trying to disguise this box as a shelf . . . It's not working, is it.

n070204c.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: This is the view from the desk. Perhaps I should move some of the clutter so that it isn't the first thing people see when they enter the room.

n070204d.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: This is the view from the door if I look to the left. (If my neighbor saw me taking pictures, he was kind enough to ignore me.)

n070204e.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: If I look to the right from the door, I can see the lobby, although the colors in this picture at not the ones viewed in real life.

n070204f.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: We also have the office next door, which belongs to our business manager. Say "hi," Tony! Oh yeah, he wasn't exactly aware that I was taking pictures...

n070204g.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: This is a better view of the lobby; the receptionist's desk is on the right, but since she was there, I was too shy to ask if I could take her picture.

n070204h.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: the place where I work
comments: I'm glad the complex has a fridge and a microwave, because I usually bring my lunch. Even though the glass turntable on the microwave is broken, if I set my plate on it right, it will still turn.

n070204i.jpg
date: July 2, 2004
where: outside a local bar
comments: This isn't part of my office complex, but it isn't too far away. I have intended to take a picture of it for a long time; now I can check "limosine" off of my list of things to photograph.

misc047.jpg
date: November 12, 2004
location: Athens, Alabama
comments: While hunting for objects for a photo scavenger hunt, I found this shot, and even though it wasn't usable for the hunt, I still like it.

misc048.jpg
date: November 13, 2004
comments: This picture was taken near downtown Pulaski, TN; I thought the scene was picture-worthy. (Yeah, that's a boring story, but I still like the shot. :)

misc049.jpg
date: November 13, 2004
comments: This was taken through a broken window on the campus of Martin Methodist College (in Pulaski, TN). I really like the darkness of the room contrasting with the light through the windows. I also like the chicken-wire, which must be there to prevent people from trying to steal stuff through the broken window.

misc050.jpg
date: November 14, 2004
comments: I drive by this cottage every day on my way to work. I had planned to take of picture of it, but before I could, arsonists set fire to it. Since the block frame is still standing, I decided to take a picture of that.

misc051.jpg
date: November 29, 2004
location: Huntsville, Alabama
comments: Usually I take roof-top shots from that parking garage in the lower middle of the picture, but I found another one that I was able to, um, sneak into.

misc052.jpg
date: October 1, 2004
location: the Visitors' Center near I-65, Athens, Alabama
comments: My fascination with structural elements - and reflective surfaces - continues.

misc056.jpg
date: November 16, 2004
location: Brahan Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: I'm thinking of turning this one into a computer desktop wallpaper.

misc057.jpg
date: November 16, 2004
location: Brahan Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: I have no idea why the pier ralling dips down on one side. (That doesn't seem very safe.)

misc058.jpg
date: November 16, 2004
location: Brahan Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
comments: If you place the camera on the edge of the walkway and take a picture, it looks like this.

misc062.jpg
date: November 16, 2004
comments: This was taken at Brahan Spring Park in Huntsville, Alabama; good thing I have a picture of that structure at the left, because it has since been demolished.

misc059.jpg
date: September 17, 2004
comments: I took this picture primarily to remember the flowers, but the more I look at it, the more I find it a very unremarkable shot.

sep04a.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: frame
where: near my house
date: November 14, 2004
comments: After arsonists set fire to this cottage, all that's left is a frame.


sep04b.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: glass
where: SouthTrust Bank in Huntsville, Alabama (downtown location)
date: November 15, 2004
comments: For this entry, I first tried three or four pictures of windows, but none of them seemed "glassy" enough.

sep04c.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: arrow
where: Pulaski, Tennessee
date: November 13, 2004
comments: I found this arrow in a parking lot; in the absence of a better-looking shot, at least this one was clear.

sep04d.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: numbers
where: Huntsville, Alabama ("downtown")
date: November 15, 2004
comments: The number of minutes left on a parking meter is important for avoiding a citation, but whoever was using this one left with time to spare.

sep04e.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: small
where: Pulaski, Tennessee
date: November 13, 2004
comments: After I decided to use this shot for this "thing," I realized that those small wagons look quite large in this picture. Hopefully it still fits the theme since one wagon is small compared to the other.

sep04f.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: open
where: outside a dry cleaning business, Athens, Alabama
date: November 12, 2004
comments: Even if I hadn't been looking for scavenger hunt items as I passed this building, I probably would've stopped to take a picture because old buildings are one of my favorite subjects.

sep04g.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: fruit
where: Kroger in Huntsville, Alabama
date: November 18, 2004
comments: Citrus, anyone?

sep04h.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: wheel
where: the Tractor Supply Company parking lot
date: September 25, 2004
comments: There were lots of wheels to choose from, since some old tractors and vehicles were on display.

sep04i.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: plastic
where: Kroger in Huntsville, Alabama
date: November 18, 2004
comments: Yes, this is the "fruit" shot from a different angle. I like to have 26 different "things" but I made an exception because I thought the plastic really stood out.

sep04j.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: cover
where: Athens, Alabama
date: November 6, 2004
comments: I saw this bridge in the paper, and I went in search of it to take a picture.

sep04k.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: natural
where: the Tennessee rest stop at exit 5 on I-65
date: November 13, 2004
comments: I was surprised that this picture turned out to be so colorful; most of my outdoor shots from around this time didn't turn out nearly so well.

sep04m.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: multi-coloured
where: Brahan Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
date: November 16, 2004
comments: This isn't the most original depiction of "multi-coloured" but it's better than the other ones that I had.

sep04n.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: home
where: Athens, Alabama Visitors' Center (near I-65)
date: October 1, 2004
comments: Instead of showing where I live, I opted to show me, making myself at home. *g*

sep04o.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: shadow
where: the lot that previously held the house where I lived years ago
date: September 25, 2004

sep04p.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: sticky
where: my office
date: November 29, 2004
comments: Yeah, that sticky note is a prop. At first I was using a blank one, then I decided that it needed a little something.

sep04r.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: foot
where: my front porch
date: November 19, 2004
comments: The porch was *cold* the day I took this picture.

sep04s.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: sport
where: Athens High School, Athens, Alabama
date: November 20, 2004
comments: I had no idea that tackling dummies were so cute! *g*

sep04t.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: round
where: "fitness park," Athens, Alabama
date: November 12, 2004
comments: This is in the kids' section of the park: I think it's supposed to resemble the steering wheel of a ship.

sep04u.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: group
where: "fitness park," Athens, Alabama
date: September 25, 2004
comments: I never see anyone using these.

sep04v.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: man-made
where: Huntsville, Alabama ("downtown")
date: November 15, 2004
comments: That's the closest thing Huntsville has to a skyscraper.

sep04w.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: half
where: in the yard
date: November 25, 2004
comments: This thing peeps out from behind a plank on one of our storage buildings.

sep04x.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: path
where: Bank Street, Decatur, Alabama
date: July 30, 2004
comments: If you followed this path to its end, and then went another couple hundred feet, you would find yourself in the Tennessee River.

sep04y.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004
what: full
where: Rock City (near Chattanooga, Tennessee)
date: August 9, 2003
comments: Apparently, a lot of other people also decided that it was a nice day to visit Rock City; happily the crowd thinned out once we were on the trails.

sep04z.jpg
Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 2004

what: the end
where: Brahan Spring Park, Huntsville, Alabama
date: November 16, 2004
comments: The only way I could like this picture better is if the pier didn't have that odd railing around it. Despite that, I think this is a fine shot to end the set. Thanks for viewing my 26 things!

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tn080903a.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: This was taken on one of the trails near the start of the tour. Well, actually the "tour" is self-guided, since visitors just wander through at their own pace.

tn080903b.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: One of the attractions at Rock City is "Fat Man's Squeeze" but there are several "squeezes" along the path.

tn080903c.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: Rocks and white reindeer.

tn080903d.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: My friend suggested that they rename this "Hobbit's Underpass" to take advantage of the popularity of Lord of the Rings. :)

tn080903e.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: In Goblin's Underpass there are several places to peer out of the ground at the top of the tunnel; it's easy to imagine being a character in a fantasy-type movie or story. Not that I did that, of course. :winks:

tn080903f.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: Rock City has plenty of trails to wander down. Bring comfortable shoes.

tn080903g.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: The "Swing-Along" bridge is one of Rock City's main attractions; on a clear day, I'm sure the scene behind it is a bit more impressive. I have no idea who those people are on the bridge, by the way.

tn080903h.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: I can attest to the fact that the bridge does indeed swing along. I'm surprised this picture is so clear, because the bridge moved the entire time I was on it. Again, I've no idea who these people are.

tn080903i.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: This was taken from the "Swing-Along" bridge.

tn080903j.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: This is another of Rock City's named attractions: "Lover's Leap." That is the point from which one can (on a clear day with just the right conditions) see seven states. Note the bridge and the top of the waterfall behind it, because I have pictures from there. I like for people to have some perspective on how these shots relate. :)

tn080903j2.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: This is another perspective of the previous shot. The two people in the red (or reddish) shirts at the right of the picture are in front of the "See Seven States" sign. (I think)

tn080903k.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: Here's the bridge from the previous shot. The guy with the hat, taking a picture, is my traveling companion - he was photographing the falling water. As ever, the other people in the pic are strangers to me.

tn080903l.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: Rock City, TN
comments: I like this shot because it offers a new angle - definitely not the average waterfall shot. Unless, of course, a person visits Rock City with his or her camera. :)

tn080903n.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: That blurry figure in the middle of the picture is a seadragon. (The diagonal curvy lime green thing in the top right corner is one as well.) I wish this picture fully showed their surreal adorable-ness. *g*

tn080903o.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: These are pot-bellied seahorses - yes, apparently they're supposed to look that way. (If only the seadragons had been this stationary . . . )

tn080903p.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: This was shot from an overlook near the start of the Aquarium tour. As you can see, it was rather crowded when I was there. Note to self: do not go on a Saturday.

tn080903q.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: This is a continuation of the vista in the previous picture. Remember this waterfall because it's seen from a different angle later in the tour.

tn080903q2.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: The first of many Blurry Fish shots that I took. These are Brook Trout or Rainbow Trout . . . some sort of trout, I'm pretty sure. Oh, and look - there's me and my traveling companion reflected in the glass.

tn080903q3.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: One of the many tanks at the Aquarium.

tn080903q4.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: This is one of the large rays in the tank in the previous pic. Finally! Something that isn't blurry!

tn080903r.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: This is the underside of the waterfall near the start of the Aquarium tour, but this picture doesn't really do it justice. The water isn't nearly that dark. The bubbles in the water are very calming; I watched them for several minutes, much to the dismay of those entering the path behind me.

tn080903s.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: This picture creeps me out, although when I was actually there in front of the tank it was no big deal. The alligator isn't extremely large - maybe four feet - but he looks like he's about to zip over there and get me. :shudders:

tn080903t.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: Yep, more Blurry Fish. (I didn't post most of the BF pics, by the way.) These wicked little guys are piranhas. A sign nearby said that their ferociousness is exaggerated, and that natives often swim in piranha-infested waters. I still remember a certain nature video that showed a capybara who tried that . . .

tn080903u.jpg
date taken: August 9, 2003
where: The Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
comments: I thought this was very picturesque. This was the last non-blurry shot I took before the batteries on my camera gave out.

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