Plates

I'm weird.


Yes, I know.



Shocking.










I like license plates.



I crane my neck to see where it's from if I notice a different one.



It brings up a lot of questions.


"Where are they from?"

That one's answered.



But then,

"Where are they going?"

"What brought them here, to wherever it is I am?"

"Is it a work trip, or a play trip?"

"Are they happy about going?"

"What is it like where they live?"

"Do they like it here?"

And so on, and so forth.

And you can imagine all kinds of scenarios,
just from that one second glimpse.





Now, in Watertown there was a LOT of different lisence plates.


I don't know if it's like this all the way through the States,
or whether it's just because it's a military town, and these are enlisted men's plates.



Where I live, I only EVER see Ontario plates.


Maybe 'cause the provinces are huge?


Don't know.





Anyway.



Here is a sampling of the different plates I saw.



Yes, I took pictures.



I don't think it's breaking any laws,
because the plates are visible to everyone.


But still...
to get the pictures I lurked.

And was very sneaky.

007-ish.



Didn't want to get in a fight with someone because I was photographing thier lisence plates.



People saw, and gave me strange looks....
but no owners of the car in question.



Okay.



On with the show!

Michigan

Connecticut

Ooooooh. Government!!

Illinois

Alabama

South Carolina

North Carolina

New Joisey

Vermont

Florida.
Do you know each county in Florida has a different plate?

Mississippi

California

Georgia

New Yahk State Trooper

Normal New York

Aaaaaand....

A very dorky picture of me.
On a cannon.

More to c0me.

New Yahk.

Was the site of our next adventure.

We had fun.




We always have fun.





Destination?



Watertown, New York.



Very close to Fort Hood,
which is the largest Military Base in America.



Or so I was told.

My best friend.

One thing I noticed that was different,
among many things,

was the fact that every single little town flew an American Flag.


Well, not one flag.


Many.


Like, on every other telephone pole.

These next pictures are from Sackets Harbour.


We went to check it out,
and had lunch on the patio of "Tin Pan Galley."

A beautiful restaraunt.


Sackets Harbour is on the coast of Lake Ontario.


It has a giant War of 1812 memorial.



That's another thing that's different.


American's have memorials of war.

We don't.


It was a huge Heritage park,
devoted to The War of 1812.


When we burned the White House down.

And no.



The Americans don't admit it.




Anyway,
back to where I was.

Tin Pan Galley was gorgeous.

Donna at the entry way.

The guy from Labatts offered to take our picture.
He was there fixing the draft pumps.

The outdorr bar area

Waiting for our lunch

Another shot of the bar area

It was a beautiful place to eat

Iron and brick.
And plants and trees.

My favourite stuff in the whole wide world.


It was probably the best place I have ever eaten.

A fountain

There may have been wine......

And guess what?



Our waitress had celiac disease.


You know what that means?



It means she understood!!!!


And could tell me exactly what I could have.



So nice.


She recommended this.

This gorgeous piece of food with which to stuff my face.


Seared Tuna, (which was the best thing I've ever tasted!)
with sauteed vegetables on a bed of rice noodles, with wasabi cream to dip.



Delicious.

And Donna got a Turkey Reuben, with the house Pasta Salad.


Looked delicious!

So, if you every visit Sackets Harbour NY,
go eat at Tin Pan Galley.





You won't regret it.

I'm over here!!

http://ryanjourneytograce.blogspot.com/

I'll post here again after our next trip. But for now, I moved.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Anybody?

Is anyone there?

Iheartfaces Dramatic Black and White

This weeks challenge is "Drama."
When I think of drama, I think of my six-year old.

She is incredibly dramatic, and theatrical.

Here she is:

Go see some way better photography at iheartfaces.

Last Post!!

I can't believe it.

I am at the end of my pictures.

So, till Donna sends me some,
This is it.



I have covered the whole trip.


It's been fun, going back and remembering.



So here it is.
The last one.






This was my last glimpse of our buildings pool.
We were on our way up to the lobby to catch the airport transit.

Bye pool! Though we didn't sit by you often,
you still have a special place in my heart.

We got to the airport, and stood in line.
A long line.
And we were sad.
We got through security pretty fast.

It's easier to get through security in Mexico than Toronto.



Once we got on the inside,
we had a bit of time till our plane left.




So we stopped here.

Donna counting money.
Because we were perilously close to nothing.
We had just enough to pay for our drinks,
and I think we had $2 something left.

And people, this was IT.
All we had to our name.

The place we were sitting at hard large T.V.'s at every corner.
There was a lot of people sitting and watching T.V.


Why, you ask?

Because soccer was on.
You would not believe the yelling and cheering going on.
It's like Canada and hockey,
only more.
Louder.
It was cool.

So I'm taking pictures of the place we are sitting, and the soccer,
and these young punks notice,
and all pose for me to take their picture.
So I obliged.

And then we suddenly realized we had 10 minutes till our plane was supposed to leave.

Donna freaks, and we go rushing up to our gate.
It was farther than we originally thought.

I said to Donna, "Relax, the planes are always late."

She said, "Not always."

Ours was A13.

But I was right.

The flight was late.

We sat at the gate for another hour before we boarded.

And then we came home.

And that was it.





It was a wonderful trip.
I had a wonderful time with my best friend.
I will always remember it.





Thank-you Donna.

For Adeena

Europeans.

They are odd.


And apparently unable to cover their bodies with clothes.


Naked people everywhere, there was.



I have written about this before, and the comment I got was,
"I don't see any naked people in the pictures."


So, I resolved to get a picture.

But, as this was at the beginning of the week,
I didn't do it right away.

Of course.


There I was, on the last afternoon, counting down the hours till we leave,
and I remember.


"Crap! No picture of a Banana Hammock!"


So I look around the pool.

(Yes, it was that easy.)


And spot one by the bar.


This was a mild one, compared to some.

At least his butt's covered.

And it's not leopard print.

It is a good specimen.
About the same age and physic as the rest of the BH's.

Now, we were at a public pool.

And my camera is NOT small and sleek.
It is huge.

So I am trying to get the shot of this guy behind me
but the couple was very suspicious,
and kept glancing around, looking at me.


Donna would exclaim loudly,
"Oh, look at THAT bird! Did you get that one?"
And such like.
Cracked me up.
I'm snort laughing,
a) because of what I am trying to accomplish
b) because I kept being found out
c) because of what Donna was saying
d) because everyone poolside knew what I was doing.

This was the best I could do.

The wife kept shielding him.

It's okay honey.

He's aaaaall yours.

On another note,
These were way too cool.
Made of fruit and vegetables.

How artistic is this!?

And this you saw last post.

But this was my first try.

I still thought I would post it,
because
Look how darned clear that dirt and pebbles are!

Awesome.
That's me.

What was she doing?

We were walking back to our room,
and Donna noticed a pretty place to take a picture.

She was always on the lookout for good photo ops.

Any way, I stand in the location, she snaps a picture (on her camera)
and says," My turn."




And then proceeds to get stuck.

She is stuck. Can't get in or out.
And I, the good friend I am,
Take pictures.
Of course.

She's like, "How did you do this?"
But I'm laughing so hard I can't answer.
I'm like, "Do you want me to get a Pool-Boy?
Or smash the pot?"
But, she finally extricates herself.
Took about 5 minutes.

And this is the sought after shot.
She was right, it is a pretty location with all the foilage.

And then......
She had to get out.
And got stuck again.
Not for as long though.
Although, that cactus bit her butt.

And at the pool that day there were these:

Remember I said that photographers would bring wildlife for photo ops?

Well, this day it was Macaws.
And they were cool.

Trying out the close-up setting.
These were tiny flowers.

And that's it for today.





Over and out.