Standing Into Danger: February 2019

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Venice and its Gondoliers

Whenever I hear the word Venice, my mind leaps
to gondoliers and their graceful gondolas gliding over its myriad canals.

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Normally, this position is only filled ten months of the year,
and they rarely have supervising principals for the summer schools.

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers row under the bridge where

Fondamenta Condulmer crosses over Rio Del Magazen.

Venice, Italy

May 22, 2016

Gondoliers rowing on the Grand Canal

looking toward St. Mark's Basin

Venice, Italy

September 13, 2018

God willing, I'll take hundreds more.
Venice is magical, especially on a foggy morning.

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Location of Italy

Wikimedia

Location of Venice

Google Maps 2018

Venice, Italy

Wikimedia

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Google Maps 2018

Wikimedia

Friday, February 22, 2019

Under the Canopy

A visit to Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas is always fascinating.
You never know what to expect under the canopy.

Under the Canopy

Fremont Street

Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

February, 2019

Well over a million visitors visit Fremont Street each month
to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes, from zip lining
to live music, to the bars, restaurants, and casinos lining the street.

Many come to see spectacular light shows displayed
on the world's largest video screen lining the underside of the canopy.
Viva Vision's screen is comprised of 12.5 million LED lamps.
The shows awe watchers with high-resolution images and concert-quality sound. vegasexperience.com

But as mesmerizing as these sights are,
I enjoy the endless people show on the street even more.
A parade of humanity strolls, dances, runs, begs, and entertains
twenty-four seven.

This time I spotted a subject I've photographed around the world
but had never crossed paths with on Fremont Street:
a photographer seeking the perfect spot for an iconic photo,
with a tired bride and groom trailing behind.

A Constant Parade

Fremont Street

Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

February, 2019

Looking for the Perfect Spot

Fremont Street

Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

February, 2019

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

On the Chad and Sisters Two

On the Bay of Fundy
Out of Westport, Brier Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

July, 2018

Personal Note:

I'm still catching up at home, so I'm continuing to post Pictures of the Day.

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Location of Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

Google Maps 2019

Location of Fremont Street

Google Maps 2019

Location of Fremont Street

Google Maps 2019

The Fremont Street Experience Canopy

Google Maps 2019

Friday, February 15, 2019

Home Again!

After six great nights in Las Vegas with my husband Terry,
brother Roy, and sister-in-law Sue,
I crawled into our home and into my bed.
Many hours of sleep later, I feel human again.

I can't party quite as hardy as I used to,
but boy did we have fun!

Clowning Around with $1,000,000

Roy, Me (Louise), Terry, and Sue

Binion's Gambling Hall

Fremont Street, Las Vegas

February 6, 2019

I flew out of Denver in a snowstorm on IWSG Day
and quickly gave up on any idea of making the rounds to fellow members.
I'll be replying to comments and returning visits starting tomorrow.

A Southwest Airlines Jet
Heads for a Gate

Denver, Colorado, USA

February 6, 2019

Home is looking good, and I'll be here for a little while!
Yay!
I can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Visual Delight
Jean Philippe Patisserie
Bellagio

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

February 7, 2019

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

IWSG: Wednesday, February 6, 2019 ~ Other Creative Outlets

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG founder Alex Cavanaugh are:
Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan and Michelle Wallace.

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG poses a question
that members can answer with advice, insight,
a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:

Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks goodness this month's IWSG question is straightforward,
because I am preoccupied with trying to pack
for a six night trip to Las Vegas, and I am most unhappy.

I've mentioned previously that my husband Terry is a budget traveler.
That's why I often flying on IWSG Day,
because the cheapest tickets are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

But really, Terry has gone too far this time!
We're flying on Spirit Airlines, and I get to take a daypack
Not even a daypack and a purse ~ just a daypack ~ period.
I'm going to look like the Michelin Tyre Man heading down the jetway
because I'll be so layered up with clothes.

He's happily sitting on the couch by the fire playing Words with Friends,
while I'm sitting here contemplating how I'm going to cram
everything I need into a daypack, including my computer and a power strip.
That is when I'm not contemplating strangling him and his budget tickets.

Optimism in Action

Aurora, Colorado, USA

February 5, 2019

It's been thirty-seven years since we met at a bus stop,
and he still doesn't grasp that I can't just toss
an extra pair of panties and a toothbrush into a briefcase
and jet off for six nights of celebrating in Vegas (or anywhere else) ... .

That was the beginning of my post which I started yesterday.
I planned to finish it today by highlighting my creative packing skills.

In the name of marital harmony,
I was going along with the cheap ticket
and tackled the Project Daypack bright and early.

Project Daypack

Aurora, Colorado, USA

February 5, 2019

And due to those creative packing skills,
I got everything inside that daypack,
right down to my father-in-law's St. Christopher's Medal
which he always carried in his wallet.
He died several years before I met Terry,
and I carry it with me always to feel a connection with him.
An odd choice for an agnostic Northern Baptist,
but it makes me happy.

And now to share my creative packing secrets!

Right.

This little fantasy did not end as I had hoped.
In fact, you might guess better than I did about how my evening would go.

After a long day of other responsibilities,
I was finally stuffing the daypack on top of the stove,
so I could watch the President's State of the Union Address
on my kitchen television. Things were not going well.

The Ever-Patient Terry came by, hefted the daypack, and said,
"This is going to be too heavy, honey.
Let me take your computer and put it in my briefcase."

He wrestled the computer out and an assortment of belongings followed,
bursting out of the straightjacket confines of the daypack
and spilling off the stove onto the floor.

I lost it.
"There's no room for my books,
the ones I'm giving my brother and Sue.
I can't even take one for me.
I can't take the things I need.
I can't just throw an extra pair of panties and a toothbrush into a briefcase
and fly off to Vegas for six nights!"

I burst into tears and started yanking everything else out,
tossing things on the stove and counter.
The President disappeared behind a heap of clothes and toiletries.

Most unsettling to Terry, I stomped over to the pantry
and grabbed a bottle of coconut rum,
stomped to the fridge and grabbed a half gallon of orange juice,
poured myself a good one, and took a big swig.
It was not my finest hour.
I had come undone.

As I sobbed, stomped, strew, and swigged,
Terry contacted Spirit and paid for a carry-on bag,
an extra fee almost the cost of my ticket to Vegas.
Then he grabbed me and gave me a big hug, a tricky undertaking,
because I most definitely did not want to hug him.
"I get it," he said. "I finally get it."

Such is life thirty-seven years into a relationship.
Shortly we were laughing and sharing some chocolate.

My carry-on bag is packed,
and he's taking the daypack instead of his briefcase.
I missed most of the President's speech,
but I can catch the highlights tomorrow morning.

Oh yes ~ other creative outlets.
I play with photography.

I'd share some favorites, but I'll have to save them for another day.
27,337 steps, a real estate appraisal, many errands, a meltdown,
and a way-too-big coconut rum and orange, packing and repacking
have left me done in.

Happy writing in February.