ROCK2007 -- Snowbound in Front of Longs Peak

In front of Longs Peak on CO-7, a few pics of me with the snow blowing all around. . .

Being snowblown on the fenceline. . .

. . .the wind died down for the moment. . .

. . .just chillin.

Attack of the Puffster

A friend of mine thought it would be funny to put her bird Puffy on my head. Cute bird, fun musical churp. . . very pointy claws. And it was at that point that Puffy decided to clamp down with both claws to (im guessing) let me know he was there. (which explains the goofier than usual look on my face. . .Later, crapped on my leg on his way down -- which amused my dogs when i got home. For some reason, the birds in the back yard just dont let them get close enough for them to know what that smell was. (i cant imagine why). . .

NY2006 -- Random Run-in with Keith Olbermann

On the way through the door to 30 Rock, i see Keith Olbermann walking out the other.

After shaking off the "what the hell, was that?!?" -- i think to myself that i shouldnt be that idiot who when they see a celeb they throw away both tact & shame as they run & tackle their target in ways that call for both restraining orders & weaponry. And then I realize I had a camera. So I do a quick 180.

And that was just about the moment in time that I went in to stupid fan mode, talking like I needed meds or a refresher hooked-on-phonics course.

That aside, he smiled and was very polite about the whole thing. Little standoffish, but far less than im sure I would be if somebody random came up to me on the street. I asked him if he minded if I took a pic, and he said sure w/o hesitation. Thus the 'sticking the camera out at the end of the arm and pointing it back trying to get everybody in frame’. . .

Me and LuLu

Lulu and i have come a long way in the last year or so since coming to the property. Back then, she would never have been anywhere near calm enough for me to be able to scratch her nose while sitting down on the ground.

But that was then, and this day i spent an hour or so doing this while talking to the friend who took this pic. . .

Random Rocking Climbing Pics

Random pics from my latest rocking climbing exploits. . .

AK2006 -- Horseback Riding in South Alaska

On the backroads, i came across Kim's Horseback Riding (www.reindeerfarm.com) and checked it out. The horse given to me was named 'Nightmare' and had a stubborn personality similar to Scooter and Mocksee. The trail was short, and amounted to going up the hill and back down. Relaxing none the less -- and great way to end the trip, especially since i had been missing the horses back home. . .

One of my favorite photos of the trip when cropped for the site banners -- a photo of the back of Nightmare's head. . .

. . .not so good pics of me on top of the horse, Nightmare. . .

. . .with Bashful Peak in the background. . .

. . .with Mount Goode and the Knik Glacier in the distance. . .

. . .i was far more comfortable than this picture looks. . .

. . .a shot of Bashful Peak. . .

. . .the Chugach Mountains from the overlook. . .

. . .spiffy shot that proves again the best views always seem to be from being at the highest point. . .

. . .they also had a Reindeer Farm at the stables. this was the first time i think ive ever seen one in real life. . .

. . .the obligitory “Here's Where You're At:” sign. . .

AK2006 -- Me Trying to Get a Decent Shot at the Arctic Circle

Tried to get some pics of myself at the Arctic Circle marker, with varied results. . .

. . .doah. . . damn timer. . .

. . .i had didnt think i had a gut that day. . .

. . .better lighting, still same gut. . .

Waldo Meets Waldo (DMN)

From the Dallas Morning News on June 7th, 1992:

"Waldo lookalikes Luke Whithread (left), 7, and Christopher J. Marcinko, 17, talk Monday about the new summer reading club at the Garland Public Library. Waldo is the tital character of the Where's Waldo? books, a series created by British illustrator Martin Handford. The object of the books is to find Waldo in the elaborate settings of each story."