Tuesday, December 29, 2009

searching through images from this summer at Hot August Nights

It seems like every year I try to find different subjects to photograph at Hot August Nights. This yeat I shot steering wheels and dashboards. In between those photos, I found an opportunity to look closely at different aspects of autos. This image was one of my favorites.
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Sunday, December 20, 2009

santa meet the mustached hooligans

I was taking potos for Scraps Dog Bakery at the Sparks Marina this year and usually there are several little kids that happen by and want to talk to Santa. No little ones this year but a couple of skate boarders with mustaches came into the store and were playing with the dog toys and I convenced them to sit for a photo with Santa, skateboards, mustaches and all. I think it was a good photo.
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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Santa dances at Scraps Dog Bakery at Sparks Nevada -Santa Paws 2009

Santa is dancing a jig at Santa Paws at Scraps Dog Bakery at Sparks Marina 2009, I volunteered to take the photos of the dogs again this year.

Monday, November 16, 2009

wine legs

wine legs, originally uploaded by yodamon.

My latest in wine glass photo art. I was bored and wanted to take some photos so out came the wine. The legs had a nice feel and look but I had to try this several times as the fingerprints, bubbles and misc dust particles were making my life hard for that moment.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

I went over to PunkAss's for a little Call of Duty frag fest and had some of our homebrew beer http://sparkshomebrew.blogspot.com Sweet!
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009

I went over to PunkAss's house to taste the latest beer that we started brewing 3-4 weeks ago. If you're interested, please go and see my other blog "Sparks Home Brew" We brewed this beer in his garage so the above image was quite appropriate. We geek-ed out on shooting some photos of our latest beer and checking out the stats from the website. On the laptop you can see a map that shows all the locations that we have readers from. I'll go and get it and show you here:
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Monday, November 02, 2009

@PunkAss and I went to a new bar, Ole Bridge Pub‎, along the Truckee river in the back of the Palladio.. http://www.facebook.com/olebridgepub Great pub with no slots.
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tesla

I got to ride in a Tesla electric car today. For $90k-$120k it seems like a fiber glass ride. Nice but for that price I might like something else. The person who owns it said that it costs $65 a month for the electric charge and they also said that it has 6000 batteries. Hmmm.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

day out with the vette

I went to Punkasse's to make some beer and brought the vette along. A neighbor came by to take a look at her and he was impressed at her condition. I think the vette looks great from 10 feet but a just a few she needs some work.
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Monday, October 05, 2009

Anniversary trip to Napa California

Krissy and I went to Napa California this year for our 22nd anniversary. Krissy started feeling sick on Saturday morning and was suffering from a migraine for the rest of the trip. We had heard about a great winery, Gabrielle's Vineyard, and had reservations for a wine taste on Saturday morning. After a fantastic breakfast of small blueberry pancakes and maple syrup we got directions to the winery. These were total wrong and ended up east of Napa about 12 miles in the wrong directions but a quick cell phone call got us in the right direction. I was on my way to Oak Knoll on 29 and Krissy not feeling well so I dropped her off at the BnB while I went to our wine tasting appointment. The hosts were very nice and showed me a wonderful set of wines, olive oil and herb laden salts. I bought 8 bottles, two of each they offered. We tried to go to Zinsvalley Restaurant http://www.zinsvalley.com/ for lunch but it appears they have closed and later after the trip I found that they were opening at a new location at 1106 First Street, downtown Napa. Glad to hear that. I hope they keep the same menu and people. One of the best parts of the trip was we were able to bring home two cases of the Silverado Zinfandel 2006. I am such a big fan of this Zinfandel. http://www.silveradovineyards.com/ I got only a few photos taken in the Napa valley since Krissy wasn't feeling well the whole trip. We did trade a dinner at Coles chop house for a take out burgers to eat back at the BnB. The Bed and Breakfast, 1801 Inn on First Street http://www.1801first.com/ , was beautiful as always. We stayed in the #2 Alsace Amore for the first time. I will reserve this suite again!

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

Napa for our 22nd anniversary

We go to the 1801 First Inn in Napa CA most every year for our anniversary.  It has a great patio garden.




and went to Tra Vigne for some Mottsarella and good food.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

heat of the summer

heat of the summer, originally uploaded by yodamon.

The days are hot and the flowers are hot. I shot this DOF photo of Black Eyed Susans in Black and White.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Reno Construction Arch of the Galena Creek Bridge

 
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At lunch, @PunkAss and I went driving sown south of town and got this shot. It is crazy big. Four or Five buses of DOT retirees were there when we arrived. I got a huge panorama here Panorama Reno Construction Arch of the Galena Creek Bridge July 14 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009

The view from Mow Mow Pizza

I looked over my shoulder while I was eating lunch at Mow Mow Pizza in Disney's California Adventure and saw a surfboard with this logo. Very cool.

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Friday, June 12, 2009

black and white palm, five, coconut palm

While I was in Kauai Hawaii this year I decided that I would try and do a series of black and white palm photos. Here is the latest one, If you would like to see the rest of the series, go here Palm Black and White Series

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

a strange trip

I was in San Francisco or better yet San Bruno California this last week for training. I rented a car big enough to seat five to use over the week. I thought I would rent it here and drive it down to the Bay Area. I thought I should get a SUV but the had none available so I opted for the Chrysler 300. The trip over was fast and good. The weather was cold and wet in all week and that's where the problem started. I dreaded the drive back as I knew that the trip back would be icy. On Thursday I started looking at the road control for the Sierra Nevada passes on I-80. I checked the road controls and saw a window on Thursday that I should have left but that would have made me miss two days of class. Not an option as I need this training. I opted to stay at least until Friday. Friday morning I kept my looking at the road controls and thought about dumping the car at SFO and riding home with one of my class mates. I called and they stated that if I dumped the car and ended my contract without returning the car to where I picked it up I would be charged the full rate plus $65 a day for the one way trip. I even tried to get a plane ride home at the tune of $880 for one way that night. No way! After lunch Friday I decided to go. Class was good and I learned a ton.

The Trip Home...

I decided to try and drive it. I made it all they way into the Sierra's, up to the Alta exit and then I was denied access and forced to turn around. I got a room at the Holiday Inn in Auburn and had a beer. At midnight I got a call that my daughter was in a car wreck. She was bumped up and scared but ok. Back to sleep in an hour or so. Saturday morning I looked at the road conditions again and the conditions were not good. I waited another hour and it was the same. I thought and thought about the alternatives and thought I could stay and wait for an opening for $250 a day that the room and the car was costing me. Another option was to dump the car and riding the Greyhound bus over the hill.

I did just that. Time was short. I drove to Roseville and dumped the car. The rental attendant gave me a ride to what he thought was the bus depot and then return back to the car rental depot when he didn't know the way. I called a Taxi and the guy said 10 minutes. 20 minutes later and 3 phone calls a lady cab driver arrived. She had tattoos all over but all she had to do was drive and fast. We pulled into the bus station and the driver was closing the side doors and told me I was supposed to be early but he let me on. The fair was $26 from Roseville to Reno. Actually a bargain. It was 10am when the journey started. Only one seat was left and I took it. We stopped at Colfax to put the snow chains on.

Trip Observations:

  • I sat next to a guy with brain damage. He was going to Sacramento to renew his marijuana card and he was bringing back his stash. I learned of the car crash that ruined his life, several times (90 mph into a tree while on crank).
  • There was a girl in front of me, young and pretty with red hair. Every five minutes she texted. She was going to meet her boyfriend. She had lots of food and nice clothes.
  • A lady next to the red head was on the bus for the first time as her husband didn't want her to drive in the snow. She complained about the toilet and talked on and on about her grand kids.
  • It was a woman's birthday celebration at the Circus Circus.
  • A tall older black man kept coming back to the toilet every 15 minutes with a big smile.
  • A woman was standing up almost the whole ride. She stated to all that she had a cramp.
  • A young guy with long dread locks smiled.
  • The couple next to me kept filling these plastic Champagne glasses with Patron tequila.
  • The couple behind me was going to get a license to get married.
  • A blond french girl went to the toilet and came out immediately.
A six hour trip later and I know a whole lot more about people that I did at the beginning.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

An early morning shot, the clouds didn't come out as orange as they looked in the shy. The moon seems to be in a great spot.
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