Spirit Soldiers On

"The hazard avoidance camera on the front of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took this image after a drive on the 1,806th Martian day, or sol, (Jan. 31, 2009) of Spirit's mission on the surface of Mars." - Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Wow! I found this image on the NASA Image of the Day Gallery. Amazing to think that we ACTUALLY are exploring the face of Mars! ... This American spirit to pioneer and explore the unknown - it's something else! ... The photo also reminds me of alien landscapes & deserts - what you feel like you're exploring your own thing. It's hard & lonely at times. It's strange & foreign/alien. ... It's where fear & courage meet, and you have to make a choice to keep on exploring. You have to look at the adventurous side of things and not let the fear of being alone & alien consume you. You've got to keep going & looking forward.

Wow! Look where we are! :)

tiny bubbles

tiny bubbles
Originally uploaded by themexican

where is the child
who loves to sing & dance,
who plays with beans & blocks,
who builds sand into castles,
and loves to fly from any height?

let hope & joy break through, I say!
come forth. it's safe to play.

harry ransom center - photo booth

I'm really enjoying the playful photos of people who have visited the Harry Ransom Center Photo Booth. It accompanies an exhibit and involves a Victorian backdrop setup with a foot pedal switch in a semi-private room. All you have to do is go in the room and stand in front of the camera. There's a live video feed of what the camera sees so you can see how the photo might come out. There's a few instructions on the wall - asking folks to please limit themselves to 5 photos (although some people were having a lot of fun & took a few more), that by taking the photos they're releasing the HRC to publish their photos, and that the HRC has the final say on what's put online/published. The switch is a foot pedal–similar to a sewing machine pedal-that is hooked up to the camera. Usually people play a little bit–seeing that they're on camera–and then they press the pedal to take a photo. It takes a few seconds to focus & take the picture. So you have to hold a pose for a few seconds to get a clear picture.

I think it's a brilliant idea! I love the way you get to see ordinary people playing - jumping, hugging, kissing, hiding, acting, smiling, laughing, moving, with loved ones, by themself, elderly, little children, college students, adults, etc. It's so fun to see other people in play - being themselves or just having fun. Even shy people who normally wouldn't do something like this have a chance to be expressive because there's no one else in the room (it is open on one corner to the gallery but it's hidden). I like the diverse cultures represented and the range of emotions shown in the photos. It seems that a lot of people have had fun with the installation.

Wonderful art! Great idea David Coleman. :)

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by MumbleyJoe

Beautiful photo of a lighthouse, right when they're switching from one light source - modern (probably electric) to an old kerosene lamp & lens.

a heavenly trip

wild flowers over the alps
Originally uploaded by raondo

Last month I went on a trip to Europe – the south of France and Switzerland. It was amazing! I spent hours of quality time with friends – playing, relaxing, meeting, planning, thinking, swimming, biking, hiking, and enjoying life. It was wonderful to meet friends over there that could show me the ropes of getting around in Europe (without knowing much French). I enjoyed it so much! I took this photo on a hiking/camping trip to the top of some of the Swiss Alps. What a fantastic view!

Now I'm back in Texas so refreshed and rejuvenated. I'm ready for new things and looking forward to new adventures this fall.