RIP Mr. Hayes.

Most of the youngsters knew him as Chef on Southpark. I knew him as the dude that did the soundtrack from Shaft. It was the first funky stuff I got into as a 8 year old. First Bernie Mac and now Isaac. A sad weekend.

Another nice shot.

I took this picture from a boat that was bobbing around in the waves. I love image stabilization! Please click the photo to enlarge. Not too shabby of a bird pic!

Along came a spider ( New Trailer)

The Cd Comes out Tuesday ( one day after my B-day-shameless plug!) and I am excited for it. Yes. It will be a gift given to myself. My wife digs Abba...not Alice.

Back From Vacation.

We took a nice trip up north. Check out the nice sights. A interesting sign...a actual phone booth ( yeah we were about 5 miles from the US-Canadian border) and a great shot of a off the beaten track river fall. More shots to come.

Along Came A Spider - Another Tease

Love these trailers, dont you. ( hears crickets.) hahahaa

Old Love- Eric Clapton

What can I say. Love the lyric and love the solo at the 3:30 mark. Mr. Clapton hits all the right notes for me on this song.

Olympus E-510

A couple of weeks ago, I received a little money as a gift and was told to buy something nice. Since the money came from my Father, I thought I would get something that would be around for a long time. As a guy that loves to take a picture and spent some of his youth watching his Dad take pictures and develop them in a darkroom. ( yes, kiddies this was before digital). I knew a camera was the choice to make, not just any camera though..but a Digital SLR.

This camera does it all, it has the one thing in it that I HAD to have. A image stabilizer. The camera that I used for the last 3 years was and still is a good camera. It just was very prone to creating blurred and shaky photos. It drove me nuts! This camera is 10 mega pixels. my previous camera had 4. The clarity is dramatically better. Also, the ability to change lenses is something I have always wanted in a camera. This camera came with a 14-42 mm lens and a 40-150mm lens. Very versatile!

I also received 4 classes at the camera shop ( I bought from a dedicated camera shop and not one of those super mart type places) and know I will learn some new skills from them.

So its a new era of creativity for me. It makes it more cool knowing that a little bit of my dad is in the mix with this piece of equipment.

Photoshop Elements

Through the good fortune of a bunch of rebates and a software credit from the big guy named Bill G. I was able to purchase the big Kahuna of photo editing software. Adobe Photoshop Elements. Yeah, I know there is a professional version...but I aint a pro....or can afford $400 on a program!

There is so much to play with in this program, the challenge is to do something tastefull and not go overboard and make your viewers head hurt from overload!

Here is a little edit of a photo I took last year. Kind of cool, I am sure I will get better as time goes on.

Fireworks Pics

Check out the cool pictures I took of our local fireworks display. I bought a new camera....much better than the one I had before. More on that later.

Along Came A Spider

New trailer for Alice Coopers new CD. Good and creepy...just like I like him. Weird for a guy like me that wont go to a scary movie. Have always loved Alice.

Happy 4th !

Nice little video from a sorta "patriotic" song from Alice Cooper.

Thank You

I just got off the phone with my Dad. He braced me by saying "Mike, I have news that will have you walking on water". He then told me that his petscan ( a test that shows cancer growth) has come up clear and his tumors have shunk by 50%!. He is truly humbled by the support and prayers. I share in that feeling.

Thank You!

Mike

Macro Photography

I took this shot today at my Father-In -Laws house. Looks nice huh!

One more for the road

My Dad has boarded the plane and has headed for home. I grabbed one more pic to capture the moment. We had a memorable 2 weeks. Love Ya Dad.

The Old Man Still Has The Magic

Dad doing what he does the best, catching the lunkers! He had a great day with my Brother at Lake Minnetonka. ( I had to work!) Way to go "old man on the sea!"

A Special Fathers Day

Because of the distance between us, its been many years since I have spent a Fathers Day with my Dad. That in itself would make this day special. This year, just having him here makes this day even more special.

3 months ago, my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. They gave him 3-6 months to live. He began Chemo treatments and we all held our breath and prayed. The treatments are doing its job and he was able to make it out here. He really is a miracle. He looks great and is still the upbeat and fun guy that I have always loved.

I once again feel blessed to be able to share this day. If you look into the eyes and smiles of the others ( my brother Dave and his sons and my son) you can tell they feel the same way.

Please continue your prayers for him. I appreciate each and every one.

Mike

Reggie In The Sun

I thought I would share with you out there in Blogland...that it aint all hail and snow around here. Yes we get some sun on occasion....here are a couple of shots of "Reggie Roo" enjoying the fireball in the sky...and also looking fierce peeking through our deck .

I do a request!

As promised. Here is a song for one of my longest lasting blog buddies. Heck she has been a friend even before the good old internet! She even took the time to watch a younger and much more agile and now blog writer, frolic in the outfield during his baseball playing days!

Anyway, Maggie loved the late ( and she would say great) Dan Fogelberg. Personally,I thought he could be a dour fella and his songs a bit on the slow side. But, I have found a gem that shows his fantasy island suit wearing, playfull side busting out for the world to see!

Get ready to be rocked by Danny F!!!!!

And Enjoy it Maggie!

What The Hail!!!!!!

not my hands or anyone I know....but its in our area...
Its June ( almost!). Today we received hail the size of small planets. Once again....global warming? Me thinks its a scam! :-)

In other weather related news. We just had our roof replaced about a week ago. The insurance company deemed it wind damage. With the insurance coverage and Uncle George Bush's mad $$$$... we were able to get it for "free". It was great timing. The estimate was 8k to replace it. Always nice to avoid a cost like that in these times of $4 gas etc.

Sorry for the spotty writing around here at "From Redlands To Maplewood". I havent forgot about you out there. Just havent taken the time to tickle to plastic things on the keyboard to fill you folks in on it.

( Hey Maggie....Working on that Dan Fogelberg song for ya!)


Till again
Mike

Al Green- Raining In My Heart. ( acoustic)