Las Vegas is a glorious, crazy mishmash of cultures where you can find just about anything you like! This photo was taken from the gondola ride in The Venetian from a few years ago. The lion--reminiscent of St Mark's?--looking down at all the crazy tourists against the iron work background seemed stark and simple compared to all the other things going on. So I captured it for myself!
Friday Photos - Magnolia Tree
Another favorite from a trip to Rogers Gardens in California. The sky was so blue, and the flowers so pink and velvety. I loved wandering around and taking pictures there!
Friday Photos - Huntington Beach Neon
Playing around with Google Photos options--or Picasa?--whichever. These are some palm trees in Huntington Beach. It's a cool sunset picture on its own, but I just love this neon look. I can't tell if they are angry giraffes with flaming headresses on, or aliens come to check things out. Either way, this picture does make me smile! :)
Friday Photos - Boherbue
I realized looking back through my photos, that there are a lot from Kerry, Ireland. Of course, that's because it's completely photogenic, and hard to take bad pictures in Kerry! And it's also likely because my dad is more willing to stop for pictures! :) But County Cork is also lovely. Here's a snap of the fields somewhere near Boherbue and Kanturk. I'd imagine you would have a lot of happy cows with all that in front of it!
Friday Photos - Black Eyed Susans
There are fields of Black Eyed Susans all around in the summer. I just love how bright and cheerful they look, and welcoming--thistles are growing a little lower, giving another spot of color. I've got lots of variations of this photo!
Friday Photos - Another Ireland view...
I've just started playing with Google Photos and I've been really enjoying some of the "assistant's" advice on how to reset or fiddle with the photos. For this one, I love the black and white images instead of the blues and greens and whites. If you'd like to see the real colors, I posted a panoramic version last week!
Friday Photos - Derrynane Abbey Panorama
This is one of those tucked away gems in Kerry (Up the Kingdom!). Derrynane Abbey was built around the 6th Century, and is now in ruins. You can see the remains of one of the buildings left. The Abbey still is a working graveyard (though there is the difficulty in scheduling the rare burials when the tide is out). My father's grandparents are buried in the shadows off to the left. I have to say, it's a wonderful view...
Giving blood--and platelets
I used to give blood but a long time ago a friend needed platelets and so about twenty years ago I made my first donation.
What are platelets? They are small cells in the blood that work to stop bleeding. They aid in clotting and help prevent excessive bleeding--internally and from wounds or surgery.
Platelets only keep for a few days and there is a continuous need for them. Accidents, transplants, surgery, leukemia, chemotherapy and more will require platelets. It takes over a dozen regular blood transfusions to gain the same number of platelets as from one platelet donation.
Back in the early days it was a long process--they put a needle in each elbow and from one arm they took the blood and scooped out the platelets and returned the blood through the other. It took over two hours and you couldn't move or scratch or anything!
I promise it has gotten better since then!
Though it is still about two hours in the chair, it is only one needle in one arm now. So you can read or watch tv or play games or scratch an itch if you want. The only thing you can't do is go to sleep!
So if you can spare about three hours (from intake to cookies and juice!) , and you aren't a needed blood type (do donate blood if you are O+ and O-), then check out platelet options at your local blood services clinic.
Here in New York visit www.NYBloodcenter.org
or www.RedCrossBlood.org for more areas across the country.
Give blood--help save a life....
Friday photos - storm on roof...
This was the view from my roof as a storm rolled in. I love the open sky I have--I am two floors down so it is much the same from my windows. It is great in the summer to get some sun, see the birds, meet the neighbors and (in other directions) see the parks and the Hudson). And really I go up in all seasons! :)
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RWA week....
For those involved in romance writing,the Romance Writers of America National Conference week is notorious, glorious, exhausting, exhilarating, informative, fun and just plain overwhelming!
Two thousand plus (about 98% women) gather to talk about the business of writing, learn new techniques and tricks, hone their skills, talk to friends, meet fans, eat crazy things at all hours, go to parties, see the city and snatch a few hours sleep now and then. The majority are authors, but agents, editors, publishers, marketers and more also make up the total.
Though the main functions are Thursday morning to Saturday night, there are special functions on Wednesday, and often Tuesday and people can start coming in on Monday to get the lay of the land before everything starts up.
If you are in NYC this week there is a Book Signing on Wednesday for Literacy. Here are the details: An impressive list of authors donate their time--and big thanks to the volunteers and publishers who make it all work! The money donated goes to literacy causes, and the total donation will probably be over a million dollars in the next three years.
Brava!
And if you're interested in learning more about RWA, go to the website. There are probably local chapters wherever you are in North America, and also twenty or so online and special interest chapters you can join.
And if you're in NYC this week, do look me up at the hotel! Like many, I'll probably be circling around the lobby area...
Enjoy!