As we prepare for another big storm this weekend...

...here are a few images from the previous small (but very windy!) storm on Tuesday.


Start of the storm on my way home in the early AM

I was a bit early on my way in to work Tuesday afternoon, so I drove around campus hoping to capture an interesting shot or two of the swirling snow.

The best opportunities to capture what I'd hoped happened while I was driving.

Indeed, this tree near Hitchner Hall was blown over by the wind (the weight of the snow on its branches contributed heavily - pun intended - to its downfall) while I was driving toward it.

It was fortunate that it missed hitting anything. There were a few cars off to the right and several lamp posts that could have been taken out. Since it's winter break, a snow day was called for campus and it was just plain effing cold, there wasn't anyone walking nearby when it fell. It was cool to watch, though. Probably good, though, that I wasn't wielding the camera while driving. I might have taken a few more photos, but while I was standing there another branch or two that got caught in the nearby trees fell. I figured I'd better scoot.

Some winter fog revisited

I really wish I'd had more time to go exploring in yesterday's fog. Alas, I was on my way to work and only had time for a couple of quick shots. Here's a different angle on a subject near the Orono/Veazie line that I also photographed in the fog about a year ago.

Wintertime Blues

I haven't posted much here recently, for a variety of reasons. Here are a few photos of a couple of excellent blues shows we've seen over the last several weeks.

Bob Margolin
Venue - Music Bar & Bistro
Freeport, Maine December 4th, 2009.

Tab Benoit
Bangor Opera House
Bangor, Maine November 21st, 2009

All I'm gonna say is that these guys can play. Just a little. Is that understated enough? Man, we had a good time at both of these shows!

If you've stumbled upon this blog at all you've probably noticed that I like foggy nights.

Well, last night, in Orono and Bangor, it was a warm (50 or so degrees), delectably fog-filled treat (nearly as satisfying, albeit much less filling and less fattening than a a sugary treat like a whoopie pie!) of a November night..

Soft Sell

What I want to know is why didn't I get the same personal touch that JKirlin did? Is it because they're more attentive to the (potential) consumer in Times Square as opposed to the area near Madison Square Garden? Does it make that much of a difference if you're a few more blocks uptown? Is it because JKirlin is such an uptown kinda guy?

Blue skies were the norm in August and September

Here in the northeast part of the U.S.A. summer never really arrived this year. We (I was just one of many) complained loud and long about the gray skies and rain that dominated June and July. Since August 1st the skies have looked like they do above much more often than not. It doesn't make up for the lack of good weather (for golf, swimming, boating or otherwise enjoying the outdoors) in June and July, but it helps.

How'd they know just what to get me for the Guiness anniversary?

Guinness Stout turned 250 years old yesterday.

This fine looking truck rolled up just outside my front door in the early afternoon.

What's the time difference between Maine and Ireland?
It might have even arrived here at close to the time that everyone in Ireland was celebrating.

Warning!

Shutterday's theme this week is Bicycle.

Here's one that was tagged (but not yet bagged!) on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

Stalking the elusive Kirlin is very tricky come Festival time and provides great sport!

Come American Folk Festival time our friend Jeff Kirlin, when he's not squirreled away in his warm, dry, wimpy lair in order to avoid a little dampness and cool temperatures, scampers about the Festival site taking photos every few seconds. You can see a small portion of the photos he took on his flickr site and a few selected photos (with commentary, natch) on The Thing of the Moment blog.

We deployed four cameras and four photographers, knowing how rare an opportunity this would be, in the hope that we might capture photographic evidence that he does, indeed, venture out into the wild.

Several of these photos are mine.
Guest photography provided by Jennifer Murphy, Caitlin Murphy and Rose Murphy.

Jeff was the only person at the Festival that had a 'pants' clause.
As evidenced above, he was adhering to that requirement.

Whoa! Dueling cameras and Jeff isn't in on the draw!? Dude...!

Are we synchronized?

This is two years in a row someone's captured him while feeding.
Do I smell a National Geographic documentary?!

No longer in anything resembling his natural habitat.

So, how often have you had your lens(es) licked by a dog?

"This thing ain't going up until you lose a few cameras!"

Decides on LIFO algorithm and says goodbye to newest camera.

Liftoff! How many G's were you pulling?

Wish I could've been up there, too. Cool vantage point!