Pictures from the last week of Christmas festivities are finally scanned. Believe it or not - I didn't take any pictures. These shots are from Mom, Sheila's little i-zone and Renee's polaroid. I was too busy visiting and eating to shoot.

Took the train to work today while Mom and Dad kept the car. Took a chance that the PenCam would be able to shoot outside the window as the train passed by interesting things. One of the shots was submitted to the Mirror Project.

Went to Lord of the Rings on Thursday. Terrific - mesmerizing and captivating. I kept saying to myself - "how did they do that" and "boy I have to pee but I can't get up now..." I highly recommend it and can't wait til it's on DVD. I think I am going to have to reread the books - it's been so long.

Family and friends over on Saturday - the parents and aunt and uncle in town for the holidays. I am thankful for family and friends this year and for their safe travel. We don't get together nearly often enough so this has been fun. The house is full and the cats and dogs are very appreciative of all the new attention. Lots of videos being watched:: Shrek, Pecker, Ghengis Blues the moving documentary about Paul Pena and Tuvan throat singing as well as the newest episodes of Absolutely Fabulous.

Went for a long ride yesterday and it was good.

It was great fun for all, good for team building and super for ringing in the holiday season on a light note. Particularly for this year.

A long row of trees flank the drive at work. I have wanted to photograph them for weeks as they have been affected by wind and the sun and now the turning of fall to winter. I brought my PenCam today as I went from one building to another and got the last of them before all the leaves are gone with the next rain.

Found this on my online travels today:

If I were a work of art, I would be Edvard Munch's The Scream.

I express the subconscious troubles and anxieties of the world. I hold my head and let loose the primal terror of my innermost fears, surrounded by a lurid landscape which reflects my feeble grasp on reality.

Which work of art would you be?

Note: Links and picture removed because site is not there any more. Probably because of traffic load or copyright infringement.

I have been going out to Shoreline as often as possible to ride. I can get there from work easily - take the bike to work on the back of the car, and ride the one mile to the Stevens Creek Trail which hooks up with Shoreline park and the Baylands marsh trails. These are some shots from November.

Got together Saturday with the Boxes and Arrows gang to socialize a bit and to have a catch all working session while George was up from LA. We had a great time, got a lot of work done and Lisa and I took CalTrain home. Here are a couple of shots around the table. Starting from the left image: George Olsen, the waitress, Chad Thornton, Christina Wodtke, Jay Allen, David Bloxsom and Lisa Chan. All are shown in the third shot. Jay really stands out in the orange and I am not sure what Christina is doing in the second image.

I really do like the Mirror Project and am now on a mission to see what other cool shots I can take of myself and friends reflected.

Wonderful photo album from Rolling Stone magazine, featuring images of George Harrison and the Beatles.

Subtle signs of winter in the bare and beautiful thistles. Shots taken a couple of weeks ago while in N. Virginia. I took a walk before I hit the airport along one of the bike trails. I had forgotten about thistles and cool they look. They don't seem to have them out here in California.

George Harrison died Thursday night. I am a super Beatles freak but was never fanatic about GH. Yet my favorite Beatles song is a Harrison tune: While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I watched a really interesting biography on Harrison last night on the A&E channel. Lots of insight into this quiet and introspective man and nice historical information about his musical influences and his serious study to be a great musician. With each passing Beatle, we are another day away from our innocence and a reunion concert with the surviving members of the band. It is truly a sad day.

The bike is back and in relatively good order - got a new back wheel and a mini tuneup. Took it out for a 17 mile ride yesterday and it seemed ok. Managed to stay on trails and off the roads and away from cars. Good mud out at Shoreline.