Ups and Downs of the Week.

 Red Sox – 8-2 for the last 10 games. Not bad, but they’re still battling with Toronto for Kings of the Basement. Meanwhile the Yankees seem to have remembered how to win consistently.

Anaheim – We’re here for Sarah’s ALA convention and our hotel is this close to Disney.

Ups and Downs of the Week.

Red Sox – Crashing and burning now that they’re back at Fenway. I can’t understand why this team can’t win at home.

Home Again – Good to be back.

Celtics – Even though they lost Game 6 and allowed the Heat to tie the series, they’re doing better than I thought they would. Game 7 tomorrow in Miami.

One side note: 35 years ago today I got off a bus at Ft. Knox and started 13 weeks of basic and advanced training. I can’t believe it’s been that long.

This morning I walked over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is one of the more famous cathedrals in NYC. It’s in the middle of a three year restoration, of course, so it’s hard to get pics without scaffolding or other construction material in them. But I tried.

On the way back to meet Sarah for lunch, I stopped by the Rockefeller Center.

Today I browsed through the B&H Superstore and bought a case for my monopod. B&H is photography paradise. I just walked around trying out cameras I’ll never be able to afford. Afterward I walked over to Central Park for my annual visit to the Ballfields Cafe to have a couple dogs and a Sangria.

On the way I passed the Time Warner Center again.

After lunch at the Ballfields Cafe I walked around getting taking some shots. It was a gorgeous day.

Today I went to the Time Warner Center mall to take some long exposure images. I got all the way up there, set up my camera and tripod out of the way in a corner, and then realized I had forgotten to bring the right lens and my cable release. As I was packing everything back up again, I was interrupted by a security guard telling me I couldn’t use a tripod in the mall. Turns out they are worried about unlicensed commercial use of images of the mall, which I can understand. They’re also worried about security issues posed by tripods, which I don’t fully understand. I realize tripods can be a hazard in a crowded area, but I was tucked well out of the way of any pedestrian traffic. Still, I suppose they just ban all tripods to eliminate the risk entirely. The media access office did kindly offer to let me come back with my tripod and try my shots again, but I was in no mood to haul my gear all the way back up there.

So no pics for today.

We’re back in the city for our annual Book Expo trek. This evening we’re meeting one of Sarah’s friends for dinner at Rosa Mexicano. Sarah browsed the Strand Bookstore while I hung out down the street at Union Square. Got a few interesting pics of typical New Yawkers.

At Rosa Mexicano they make guacamole table side. It was incredible.

Ups and Downs of the Week

Friends – My best friend Dana turned 60 today, which is one reason why I’m out in MA for the weekend. Dana and I have known each other for 30 years. Looking forward to the party later. Happy Birthday, pal.

Mom – Mom turns 81 later this week. That’s the second reason I’m out in MA. I can’t be here for her birthday, but we can celebrate early with some dinners out. Love you, Mom.

Red Sox – They’re looking a bit better at home than they did on the road.

First Class – I got a chance for a cheap(ish) upgrade on my flight from Chicago to Boston yesterday and flew out First Class. If I could do that all the time, I’d enjoy traveling much more. Very comfy.

Seafood – Mom and I went out for seafood last night. I had a humongous (too big, really) fisherman’s platter with clams, scallops, and haddock. Delicious. I miss good seafood.

This evening Mom and I went down to Hull Gut to grab some pics of the sunset over Boston. We weren’t disappointed.

Dana and I headed out in the wee hours this morning to catch the sunrise at Minot Beach in Scituate. We got some very cool images.

Ups and Downs of the Week

Patriots – Another embarrassing Super Bowl loss at the hands of Eli Manning and the Giants.

Signs of Life – Formula One testing has started and tomorrow is Red Sox Truck Day, so spring is not that far off.

Winter Doldrums – It’s turned cold and with no snow, there’s nothing but brown to photograph. Not much to do other than stay inside and wait for warmer weather.

Airlines – Despite new rules which are suppose to show you your total cost up front, some airlines (ahem, American) are still hitting you with last second fees when you book a flight. They tell you the cost of your trip, but then you have to choose a seat. Want to sit in a window or aisle seat? That’ll be another $20 each way. Want to sit next to your wife? That means one of you has to buy one of the aforementioned aisle or window seats. What a crock. When will these morons get the message that people would rather see one ticket price that includes everything rather than playing this stupid game of paying for each little thing which should be included in the ticket price?