Standing Into Danger: October 2024

Friday, October 18, 2024

A Brief Break

Happy Friday! I'm so glad that it's Friday!

I need to take a brief blog break.

Everything's okay. I just need to step aside for a couple of weeks.

I'll be back on Wednesday, November 6th for IWSG Day.

That's the day after our presidential election.

I hope everything goes smoothly, peacefully,

before, during, and after the voting.

If you celebrate Halloween, have fun!

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

For Rain: Vampire ~ I searched my photo collection and came up with one image, an oldie and a favorite, the one and only Grumpy Cat, commenting on vampire movies. I truly miss this character who always made me laugh.

Gone But Not Forgotten

A Grumpy Cat Calendar

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

January 21 ,2016

For Tom: The Spirit of Aloha ~ Terry walks along a trail near the Marriott in ‎⁨beautiful Wailea⁩.

Hawaii is a special place filled with the spirit of aloha.

Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, USA

January 18, 2023

For Nicole: Her Kind of Face ~ I saw this skull in the Wynn and immediately thought of Nicole.

Window Display

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 3, 2024

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, November 6th 🤞

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Friday, October 11, 2024

Semi-Random

It's a semi-random post today, because I've had another hectic week.

We visited Las Vegas the week before last, a quick and unexpected three-night trip

to visit friends of ours from various places.

So I'm sharing some photos from our trip ~ Probably more than I should.

Taxiing to Take Off

I love when I can catch the canopy of Jeppesen Terminal

reflected in the whale's tail of the Westin Hotel.

Denver International Airport

Denver, Colorado, USA

September 30, 2024

Back to ever-fascinating Cloud Land where golden aspen tinted the flanks of mountains.

White River National Forest

Near Gypsum, Colorado, USA

September 30, 2024

I'm dreading when Southwest Airlines goes back to assigned seats.

I love snagging a window seat on the correct side of the plane

to see my favorite geological feature, the amazing Waterpocket fold

on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park and its adjacent Strike Valley.

If you're interested in the geology click here.

Waterpocket Fold

Capitol Reef National Park

South-central Utah, USA

September 30, 2024

Watching the action at Harry Reid International Airport is always fun

for this airplane-junkie, as Terry and I wait our turn to exit from the back of the plane

where I found a good window seat for photography.

Southwest Terminal

Harry Reid International Airport

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

It's always fun to see how Vegas hotels are decorated, although I have to say

that the Encore's lobby has one of the strangest lamps I've ever seen.

Checking in at the Encore

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

Terry and I are budget travelers, so this gorgeous room in the Encore

was a rare luxury, and perhaps, the most beautiful room we've ever stayed in.

I could get used to this ~ lol!

Our Room the Encore

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

Terry Connects to the Internet

Pure Luxury!

The big hotels lining the Strip are filled with high-end stores,

because many people enjoy shopping when they visit Vegas.

I enjoy window shopping, although some items have me scratching my head.

Like these shoes ~

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

And these ~

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

Butterflies are found throughout the Encore, like these inlaid beauties in the floor.

A Floor the Encore

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

I could lie in bed and watch the ever-changing Sphere for hours.

The View from Our Room in Encore

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

Connecting with friends and one well-traveled monkey, Jacques.

Catherine and Harvey, Two Good Buds from the East Coast

Andiamo Steakhouse at the D

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

We do the same things over and over, but it's always fun,

and I love the crowd-pleasing bands on Fremont Street.

Nick Burbey (lead guitar), Daniel Conway (drums) and Rich Embry (vocals)

Alter Ego

Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2024

I like to get right up by the stage where I can watch

the interaction among the band members and the roadies.

This lighting technician was playing the lightboard like an instrument.

Working the Lightboard

for Alter Ego

Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2024

DC, Daniel Conway, Takes a Bow at the End of the Show

Alter Ego

Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2024

I've watched all the resident Fremont Street bands many times,

so it's really fun when different band members substitute for each other.

Life happens to everyone, but the show must go on.

I was surprised and delighted when I found Jeff St. Germain of Stays in Vegas

substituting for Alter Ego's front man Rich Embry.

(I had just missed his band, another favorite, by one day.)

Rich and Jeff are two completely different singers,

but both are talented and crowd-engaging show men.

It was fascinating to watch this consummate professional step in for Rich

and to see how the band members made set and song changes work almost seamlessly.

Rich Embry's Alter Ego Jeff St. Germain

Alter Ego

Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2024

And I saw one of my favorite regulars on Fremont Street ~

a street sweeper who makes his job fun and delights visitors.

Do You Think I'm Sexy ~ lol!

October 2, 2024

Sometimes a flyer comes to a stop on the SlotZilla Zipline and has to be rescued.

"What? Me?" She Laughs

October 2, 2024

To the Rescue

October 2, 2024

Illyria Strakhov takes a break from balancing on top of many glasses,

as a member of the crowd demonstrates her acrobatic skills.

Wow!

October 2, 2024

All too soon it's time to wave goodbye.

Leaving Las Vegas

October 3 2024

The rocks outside Vegas are phenomenal!

Just north of Lake Mead we fly by Hamblin Mountain,

the western lobe of an ancient stratovolcano that formed

during the Late Miocene, 11-15 million years ago.

Later, faults split the Cleopatra-Hamblin stratovolcano into three large sections.

The Black Volcanic Rocks of Hamblin Mountain

and the Red Aztec Sandstones Formed from Jurassic Sand Dunes

Pinto Valley Wilderness, Nevada, USA

October 3, 2024

Sometimes we fly into Denver International Airport on a more southerly route.

Then, if I'm lucky, I can spot our home and our favorite Parkway Bar and Grill.

Almost Home!

October 3, 2024

Where Our Garbage Goes

Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site (DADS) Landfill

October 3, 2024

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

For Rain: Receding Hare Line ~ I immediately thought of Rain when I spotted this in a beautiful contemporary gallery in the Wynn. Unfortunately, I forgot to write down the artist's name.

Receding Hare Line

Eden Gallery at the Wynn

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

September 30, 2024

For Tom: The Spirit of Aloha

Sharing Dinner with Fun Friends

Andiamo Steakhouse, The D

Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2024

For Nicole: Sacked Out Face ~ I visit Tembe Elephant Park in Egmangusi, South Africa, almost every day. I am determined to visit it for real!

Lazy Lionesses

Tembe Elephant Park

Emangusi, South Africa

September 24, 2024

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, October 18th 🤞

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

IWSG: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 ~ "...never shake Thy gory locks at me."

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 J. Cavanaugh are Nancy Gideon,

Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!

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 announces 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:

Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

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

Happy October, Everyone!

I sure many IWSG Members will have fun with this month's question.

Favorite classic ghost story?

I'm going Shakespeare's Macbeth, which technically isn't a ghost story,

but contains a scene where the ghost of Banquo appears at a banquet

to haunt Macbeth after he has murdered King Duncan and ordered the killing of Banquo.

Parnell as Macbeth and Dr. Cronin as Banquo's ghost.

Plate to: St. Stephen's Review, June 1889.

Wikimedia

I've always been fascinated with Shakespeare's tragedy

because my maiden name is MacBeath which is pronounced Macbeth.

I endured decades of teasing over my name, from the incantations of the three witches,

to the cry Macbeth hears, “Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep!",

to the sleepwalking anguish of Lady Macbeth uttering "Out, damned spot! out, I say!"

Out, Damned Spot!

Lady Macbeth by Alfred Stevens, undated, oil on canvas, 127 x 97 cm.

Musées communaux de Verviers (Verviers, Belgium)

Wikimedia

The ghost of gory-locked Banquo, Macbeth's former best friend

and fellow general in battle, is more disturbing than chilling.

Banquo's ghost speaks no lines, only appears, disappears, and reappears

visible to no one but King Macbeth.

Macbeth's horrified reaction results in Lady Macbeth sending everyone away.

The really chilling part of Shakespeare's tragedy

is what highly ambitious people can do in seeking political power

and the damaging physical and psychological consequences of their ruthless actions.

I find it a tale and a warning for our troubled world.

Word Cloud

Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

circa 1884

Wikimedia

Wishing each of you a fun IWSG Day.

A big thank you to our awesome co-hosts today.

Have a healthy, happy, and creative October!

Oh, guess who's traveling today ~ Again!

I'll visit around as quickly as I can.

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be October 11th!🤞

Books Read in 2024

"5 Languages of Love: The Secret to Love That Lasts" by Gary Chapman
"At Home in the World" by Joyce Maynard
"Cockroaches" by Jo Nesbo
"Death's End" by Cixin Liu
"Eruption" by Michael Crichton and James Patterson
"In Darkness" by L. Diane Wolfe
"In My Time of Dying" by Sebastian Junger
"Nothing to Fear" by Julie McFadden, RN
"The Bat" by Jo Nesbo
"The Dark Forest" by Cixin Liu
"The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon
"The Last to Vanish" by Megan Miranda
"The Montauk Monster" by Hunter Shea
"The Road to Character" by David Brooks
"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller
"The Twist of a Knife" by Anthony Horowitz
"The Uninhabital Earth: Life After Warming" by David Wallace-Wells
"The Women" by Kristin Hannah
"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens
"Writing the Shadow" by Joanna Penn

Pages

Friday, October 18, 2024

A Brief Break

Friday, October 11, 2024

Semi-Random

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

IWSG: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 ~ "...never shake Thy gory locks at me."