Big Boppy

Big Boppy and Lucy wishing you a Happy Holidays. We hope you got something you like as much as Lucy likes the remote!

Funny, maybe

This is probably only funny if you know everyone in my family.... but even if you don't, give it a shot. The idea of my Dad doing jazz hands may be the most foreign idea that has ever entered my mind, ever.


http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/BfnqbHgVLkiceuibIHnx

Industry

I realize that many people wouldn't consider living near any form of industry to be a good thing. Aside from the noise and pollution, it's generally considered to be an eyesore. Being a photographer, I generally disagree with that concept.

Lowry Ave Bridge

I'm not sure what the fate of this bridge is yet, but I love the way it looks. Hopefully when they do get around to fixing it (I think it's pretty low on the priority list of the many bridges of MN that need to be repaired) they can maintain the old architectural structure.

xmas times

My mom came into town on Monday afternoon to spend some quality family time with me before xmas as my job demands me to have no life during the holiday season. My mom is a nurse, so I've been familiar with the "working on holidays" scene my entire life. I've never gotten used to it. Anyway, we got lots of shopping and dining done yesterday and had a bit of a late start today. Fortunately, since my mom is very keen on traditions, we got a little mini-tree late this afternoon. This year in particular that holiday season felt particularly short, so there was a good possibility of us not having a tree, but we got one and I love it. It's a mini little guy... maybe 4 feet tall, which I felt was appropriate since it made placing it on the table in front of our window more possible, plus we'll probably only have it up for a couple of weeks.


I took this with a really tight aperture for about 20 seconds. I love that star burst affect the lights give off.


My mom pointed out that she had seen a very similar ornament to this on someone's blog. I knew immediately where she meant. Apparently Ben has this same ornament in blue (my picture is of the other side of the ornament)



A few more ornaments I have in common with my friends. It must be a parent thing :)



Even though I'm German, we never had a pickle ornament growing up. I grew fond of the "find the pickle" game at Claudia's holiday affairs, so when I saw them on sale last year after Christmas I jumped at the opportunity to let my heritage run wild.


Fun with Bokeh!

Full Moon

Having worked in the service sector... always... I usually notice weird things happening on days of full moons. Yesterday totally was NOT one of those days. It was a very normal day at work, I didn't encounter any crazies (aside from the few that I work with on a daily basis, and everything was pretty even keeled. It was pretty nice actually. When I got home the whole back yard was lit up with moon light reflecting off the snow.




This is obviously not last nights full moon, but conveniently a picture I took a while ago and just never posted :)

The crimson deer

AKA, The Red Stag

This restaurant has been open over a year now, and it continues to be my mainstay when looking for a good meal. I love trying new restaurants, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you're on your way home, and you remember "shit! I have no idea what to do for dinner!" and there is the Red Stag, sitting a mere 2 miles from your house, waiting for you to come in and sit in its charming and cozy dining room. That didn't exactly happen to us tonight. I actually had to go there to buy a gift card for a co-worker as a favor (who was consequentially giving it to another co-worker) and Kyle and I had just dropped of his application for the initial licensure program at the U for his teaching credentials at the post office. We deemed this a reason to celebrate. So we did, at 3pm, by getting a glass of house red for me, and a Macallan 18yr for Kyle (okay, Kyle was celebrating, I was along for the ride). No one else aside from workers were in the joint, and there was mild construction going down, meaning there was a ladder and a guy scraping something off of the privacy screen that keeps the people sitting near the door from experiencing a 15 degree draft when the door opens. The day manager made some conversation with us, and we had a great time. I pulled out my wallet and BAM, she offered to by us a round. I find free things hard to turn down, especially when it involves anything food or alcohol (or clothing for that matter). So we had another (this time I opted for the Cab-Merlot on the menu, and Kyle had a glass of Brut Rose) and THEN they brought out truffle kettle corn. Kill me. I love truffles. It was so incredibly good. God do I wish the essence of truffle was on everything. EVERYTHING. The 2nd wine was good (though I may have actually preferred the first, as the 2nd was filled with sour cherry flavor ). And then we left. What a great afternoon!

And since I wasn't photographing the experience, let's travel back in time to Thanksgiving.
This is Darrien, and who unknowingly, is about to have his first encounter with the ole "whipped cream in the mouth" family tradition; best. mom. ever!

I've been busy

This is to help you feel better about it




Noah and Logan are wishing you a VERY enthusiastic"Merry Christmas"