Trick or Treat
November 5th, 2007
Archive
Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category
Monkeying Around
August 15th, 2007
This really should have went with the Product Shots post I made not long ago. I was just testing out different lighting methods for various smaller objects.
? 
Fashion shot. I thought it was funny.
Sorry for the boredom but I took them, so might as well post them.
Product Shots
July 30th, 2007
I spent some time experimenting with different strobist style lighting, but using small items as the subject.
Shot using a 1ft diameter homemade softbox.? Neither products for sale.
A couple years ago I spotted this sailboat at Big Lots.? Being a huge fan of Napoleon Dynamite, I just had to buy it.? Of course it was defective and broken just like most everything else they sell.? Not that I would actually pay full retail price for one of these anyway.? Some overseas child surely put a lot of time into knotting all the strings and hanging all the sails.? Multiply the kid’s income by 4,000 and you’ll find a retail price of $200.
Add in some water colors.
The wood came dented in multiple places and a rescue boat was missing on the other side, as purchased.?
Contents not to be spoken of.
This post has little theme, so why not.? Next post we’ll be returning to the conformity you know and love.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo 2
July 28th, 2007
Continued from PAGE 1.
These water misters were a necessity as it was blistering hot this weekend.
This tiger reminded me of our cats Conquistador and Shnookums who are probably in the same pose back at home.
The lion kept licking his chops. Either we looked appetizing or he was expecting a meal soon. You could almost see the saliva flicking off his tongue.
Not a shabby place to call home.
Everyone was amazed by a loose squirrel that was running around. A couple people tried catching it as it sped by. Probably not a brilliant plan, nope.
Here’s the photo opp we’ve been waiting for.
Who’s in the cage, us or them?
This guy kept licking the lady’s finger.
The girls patiently wait as daddy takes pictures.
This one didn’t like something about me. He ran full speed across the yard and pounded with all his weight into the window I was at. He became a blur due to my quick hip-shot reaction and his speed. Check his eyes as he starred right into mine.
Hey, you got poo on your butt. Uhhh, nevermind, just kidding.
Spectacular views
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo 1
July 28th, 2007
Finally we made it to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. Omaha is a great place for a very short vacation on a whim. No complex itineraries or transportation woes here. If you’re very quick you can see a majority of the zoo in a whole day, opening to close. You’ll likely want to spend another half or whole day exploring the historic Old Market area.
The animals run for cover and hide when we come around.
Strange birds
The desert decoration went well with the temperature this weekend.? It was about as hot as it was steamy.
The underwater tunnel was really neat, unfortunately everyone else seconds that.
Grays Lake
July 7th, 2007
? Went to Gray’s Lake in the evening, to check out the fireworks from Principal Park, Following the Icubs game.? I’ll have to find a better spot next time.
The angle prevented me from capturing all? the colored lenses on the lights of the Grays Lake bridge.
Creative Lighting
June 8th, 2007
After receiving my Nikon SB-28 flash purchased? off Ebay, I went to Christian Photo and got a cheap studio lighting setup.? I? bought a lighting stand, umbrella, umbrella holder, and optical flash trigger.? Time to test out the new gadgets.? Lighting shall be boring no more.
? Cats don’t make the best test subjects.? Light doesn’t reflect off fur the same way as it does off skin.
Apparently I have to share my toys.
? 
Now for the humans…
Britt reads a bedtime story to Conquistador
The Puppy Love Thing and the Goodyear Swing
May 19th, 2007
? We met a couple originally from Missouri, with a young bulldog.? They said they’re moving back soon.? Can’t remember the name, but it was a sweet pup.
How many times do I have to tell you?? I’m not sad!
Party Palace
April 14th, 2007
? Went to Shuey and Crazy Joe’s for? “cheap night.”
? They have the ultimate “bachelor pad,” as they say.? It’s a huge house so there’s plenty of room for huge parties.? This room is a favorite of most, not only because of the pool table but the blue walls create an atmosphere.
? Not paying attention
? Cali’s got enough energy to wear anyone down.
? Crazy Joe tries on the Big Pimpin glasses.
Trying hard to get the dog’s attention.? Cali wasn’t impressed.?
They were delirious from getting only three hours of sleep last night.? ? We? drank some more so we could get the jokes too.? Ty is whipping up some funky cheap drinks.?
? Cali chased me in circles throughout the house until I got dizzy, enough of that.
“What you mean?? I’m not done playing!”
? Ty was the first to fall asleep.? Can’t blame him at all, I would’ve been first under the same conditions.? I can’t function on low sleep, anything less than? 4 hours and I’m no good.
Cherish hasn’t had much exposure to dogs, especially dogs this size and excitable.? She was bit by a Cocker Spaniel as a child and holds a grudge.? No offense if you have one, but Cocker Spaniels have a poor temperament and they’re just not very smart.? Two of the four dogs I grew up with were? Cocker’s.? The Australian Sheppard was by far my favorite.? They’re intelligent and a lot fun too.
Double Trouble
April 4th, 2007
Growing up, my family always had dogs.? ? As a kid I had? a couple friends with cats but? I didn’t pay much attention to them.? I? always thought they? were fairly stupid and? uninteresting.? That couldn’t be further from the truth.? Cats have explosive amounts of personality, and I believe they have as much intelligence as dogs.
? Defensive stance
? Pounce
Having two cats is the way to go.? Although they are less social pack oriented than dogs, they do benefit from the company.? I think both of ours are much more happy because they keep each other occupied.
? No one will find me here
Parking in the Garage
March 30th, 2007
? Went over to Adam’s and hung out in the garage.? We? looked at his bike and sung lullabies.
? One smokin’ bike
? Claire is one sweet pup
? And that’s “all she wrote” for tonight.
Catastrophe
March 22nd, 2007
? 
You and me, and me and you…
so happy, together…
? Conquistador looks in the mirror at herself and pounds her front paws at the mirror trying to figure out what this twisted psychotic device is.
Shnookums’ usual look.
Shnookums’ fur got really knotted, we think it was from feeding them cheap generic brand cat food.? Since Persian cats have such long fur they are real prone to matting.? A common solution is to give them a “lion cut” so they can regrow their fur.? This is the second time we had to give him one.? The cat? groomer we took him to wasn’t as good as the last one.? I think the long fur on his legs looked better shorter like the previous time we had it done, also the neck line wasn’t as impressive.
? His head looks way too big for his body after the “Lion Cut” because they leave the hair long on the face, legs, and end of tail… like a lion.? The? idiot cat groomer accidentally cut Shnooks’ right whiskers in half.
? When Shnookums has his full coat of fur everyone says he’s a fat cat.? In fact he is completely skinny and boney.? The vet is very impressed with him? because he is very fit and muscular even though he is an indoor cat.
After the haircut, the groomer gave Shnooks a dry foam bath.? He smelled good to us but lost his own smell.? His fur does have a distinct smell.? Cherish and I can both smell it and as weird as it sounds it’s? quite a pleasant smell.? On the other hand we can’t smell Conquistador.? After Shnooks returns from the groomer, Quisy becomes confused and doesn’t recognize his appearance and scent.? He kept trying to play with her, “Hey it’s just me,”? but she would have nothing to do with him.? They spent the next two weeks separated and every time he came near her she would puff out her fur and hiss loudly at him.? During this time Quisy displayed hints that she was claiming dominance as she thinks he is new and she thinks she was the first one here.
Shnooks really likes plants.? ? We picked him up some cat grass to give him a distraction from the discomfort of his new haircut and help him cope with temporarily losing? his best friend Quisy who wants nothing to do with him.? The cat grass is organic and specially made for cats to eat and digest.? I think it has a different smell that attract the cats also.
? He loves his grass
? Yum
Conquistador says “You don’t look familiar and you sure don’t smell familiar.? What are you doing in my house?”
Finally after two weeks he gets his smell back.? ? She realizes he’s the same Shnooks that she’s always known.? She hissed less and less at him and finally they are back to playing and cuddling like they used to.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2007, Des Moines IA 2
March 17th, 2007
Continued from Page 1? of St Patrick’s Day Parade 2007, Des Moines IA
We only saw one bagpipe.? I was dissapointed.? We missed the very beginning which we heard had more.
? Seeing shamrocks
? Pot O Gold
? 95 KGGO and guy giving away shirts
Melrose IA, Iowa’s Little Ireland, 1937 basketball champs, no snakes!? They also had a ginormous number of people and vehicles in the parade.
? Melrose fighting Irish
? Melrose Iowa parade unit 3-17.? Law and order runs afoul? while? the police car is out of town in the parade.
Conway Pallet family
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Pot O’ Gold in a wheel barrel
Dogs
? St. Pat was a Democrat
Northern Warren Fire Dept.
Hot chicken.? I don’t see the relevancy, but hey it’s entertaining.
? Shaw Clan, Faith and? Courage
The? Delaney crew
Candy was left all over the ground.? Since we were at the very beginning of the parade, candy was being dispersed towards us at colossal rates.? The street was saturated with dirty sand from the winter, used for traction on snow and ice.? This made the candy much less enticing.? Kids went home with black hands.? Would it have been impossible for them to have a street sweeper do a pass the day before?
? It’s not fun unless you get to be wild and crazy
The chick in the back of the truck gave me what appears to be a Star Trek hand gesture, then she waved and laughed hysterically.? I didn’t start drinking until after the parade, so I was much more confused than humored by her odd antics.
Most of the adults in the parade were drinking, some more than others.
2007 Irish fashion trends
Greyhounds
? O’Reelitz
? There were way too many filler entries (blatant advertising with no entertainment value) in the parade.? It would have been much better if they would have weeded these out.? After an hour of watching the parade we had enough.? Everyone else had enough also, the crowd thinned to 1/3 the size an hour through it.? Repetition is good for the brain, not for the eyes.
? I strongly suggest they use an application process where they can filter out entries with little to no entertainment value.? ? Make them compete in front of? a small? panel of judges who could rate the proposed entries and only a given number of? the best would be allowed to proceed.? We want quality, not quantity.
Animals, Attractions, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, Holidays, People, Streets
St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2007, Des Moines IA 1
March 17th, 2007
The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is the second largest parade in the state of Iowa.? A plethora of people come to be in it and watch it.
? Plenty of balloons
? Ancient Order of the Hibernians in America, Polk County.? Since I was taking pictures instead of watching, I was pelted with candy a few times.? The kid on the left is throwing candy our way at this moment.
Saturday night fever pose?? Anything goes on St. Paddys day.
The Murphy Clan
DMI Dance Force
Friend of Des Moines Girl
? Smokey’s
This is what they call a “kilt malfunction.”? The front of his kilt stuck to the velcro of his coat.
? It’s Bonnie and Josh
I wonder what? their lawn looks like at Christmas time?
Guys in Kilt’s representing St. Patrick’s day
? McGinn’s and friends
? Lepprechaun crossing
? It’s great to be Irish
The short bus, 100.3
? Georgetown, IA had a huge number of people and vehicles in the parade
? Georgetown Iowa, Irish spirit by night… Irish spirit by day
? Georgetown church and bar with door between
? Throwing beads
? Iowa D.O.T. Brotherhood of Islanders
Drummer men, 3 generations?
Elvis of? Good Vibrations DJ Service.
Groovy Girls was the name of this entry.? Your guess is as good as mine.
? The Church Ladies?? I’m clueless again.
See Page 2 for more
Animals, Attractions, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, Holidays, People, Streets
On the Catwalk
March 13th, 2007
I’m a model you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk.? ? Cherish bought a leash for our socialite? explorer female cat Conquistador (“Keesy”).? We decided to finally give it a go and take her for a walk.?
Yes ma’am, we’re walking a cat.? Everyone that we encountered thought it was so amazingly cute.? I guess I have to admit it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a cat walked like a dog.
Compared to most cats she has more personality traits much like a dog, but she lacked in focusing on continually? moving forward.? There was some zig-zagging and back-tracking.? Maybe some training would help.? Hmm… I’ll take one dead mouse hanging from a stick please.
? Conquistador’s eyes glow in the dark