Howdy Everyone! Guessing you were thinking I had forgotten about getting my 6th post in for the month and was sharpening your claws to pounce all over me for finally blowing the streak. No worries, although blasting out all the posts early in the month does make me get a little lazy for the rest of the days – well on the post front that is, the rest of the time is pretty busy in the digital darkroom trying to get the next set of images done. You may be happy to know that the shots from the second day at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve are now completed. Unless you are totally fed up with that topic from all the posts over the last couple of months, in which case you will probably NOT be happy since you can guess what is on the schedule for October.
This weekend has been quite the whirlwind for us. As of last count I think I put myself in peril at least twice over two consecutive days and managed to make a quick run up to Chicago to see a friend married off. Originally we planned to try and get by to see my brother who lives in “The City” (he loves it when I use that reference – for the record anyone East of 39 and North of 80 lives in “The City” for us downstate hicks. Timing ended up not working out but we need to make it up there one of these days to see his .. wait for it .. CATS (my dogs just shuddered). The wedding ended up taking place at the South Shore Cultural Center and I’ll probably end up making a post devoted to just that. For those not familiar with this place it is where the Obama’s got married – a feature this is COMPLETELY LOST on me. It was definitely quite the gala which appears to be the norm these days in “The City”. Details likely to be forthcoming, but let me give you one key piece of advice that you best heed unless you like to live on the edge. Peril event number one was trusting the GPS to get us from Countryside to the Center. It declared a quick 30 minute trip that basically took us directly east to the location. Not being familiar with the area we left an hour early instead. 1 hour and 20 minutes later we were sneaking our way into the ceremony (luckily it started 15 minutes late so we just missed the opening parade. Let me tell you, that 1 hour and 20 minutes was one of the scariest trips I’ve taken in a loooong time. Linda about heaved that GPS out the door … to afraid to actually roll the window down ended up saving it. Every stop light/sign was a test of nerves while everyone standing around on the street (and IN the street) was looking at us all dressed up in the Beemer. I don’t profile.. I use deduction. Where the HELL is that conceal and carry bill going to be actionable!! We went a different way back that took us all of 20 minutes and didn’t cause any additional gray hairs. Just to round out the other peril, I had to get back early today to get my 12.5 mile run in – another half is coming up and I need to solve whatever happened last time before toeing that line again. Had to spend some quality time getting my head cleared after that run and the legs are STILL screaming at me.
“What the hell is the purpose of this post Brian!” Oh, sorry about that, mind started drifting again (did I mention I had to run 12.5 miles today..). This topic was actually picked last night during the wedding ceremony. There are some statements I am pretty sensitive to and I always pay special attention to the vows (my wife stating “To Honor and Obey” is a highlight of my wedding and on no less than 10,00o copies spread out in various locations for security just in case something (err more like someone) should ever happen to it (hehehe). My friend failed to get this sneaked in, but the sermon was intriguing. I’ve never seen the person presiding over a wedding concentrate so much on the bad side of marriage – he must have spent 20 minutes talking about “When she annoys him” and “When he makes her mad” (and I swear he said pisses off). Odd, but then he referenced “When they have children”. Whoa – that just seemed presumptuous to me .. if nothing else definitely puts pressure on right from the start (I may just be overly sensitive to that). For some strange reason I immediately decided on my next post.
Just seemed fitting at the time. This was taken at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and, as indicated above, on the second day of shooting. Actually, to be more accurate, it was taken as we were heading back to the visitor center from another long day of shooting. I like rabbits and do my best to let them live a happy a life on my property. Sure it is a pain in the butt thanks to the dogs thinking they are a lot funner chasing than playing with their boring toys. Our youngest dog also thinks their droppings are a delicacy – he needs to be reminded every time he goes out that the nose stays out of the grass. Unfortunately, those pesky Coyotes think the bunnies are the delicacy and keep them pretty much on the run. The enemy of my friend is my enemy too as a slight derivation of the adage.
Hit the jump to see a couple more pictures of this specimen
