Retired, Well Actually Long, Long Weekend

First thanks to you and your kind words and a few surprises in email my birthday was even more of a success. Thank you everyone.

I have been a little preoccupied so I did not write so it is time for a quickie. Well quick update that is.

I celebrated the birthday on Sunday and had a lovely time. Visited with a friend, got a few presents. All and all a very nice day indeed.

I had a chance to watch my niece on Monday and get a few items knocked off the to do list at my parents including getting the central vac working again. I also was in heaven. I worked with a new program that I have been just learning, Adobe Photoshop Elements. I showed my brother-in-law a few things and he ran with it. All together four of us worked on putting together a advertisement for the National Cheerleaders program in Nashville. It was amazing what the program can do and I was impressed all we could figure out. Love, love, love the program.

The next day, the 4th, was insane. I had a parade to see in the morning including shooting over 550 pictures. I have always loved photography since I was a kid. Now is no exception with me current camera, a Cannon Digital Rebel XT. It is a dream taking pictures but I have so much to learn still.

In the parade was a group that I was taking pictures for, the Downriver Community Band (DCB) directed by my high school band director, James Skura. They didn't play near me but I did manage to get some pictures just the same.

After the parade it was back to the folks to finish up a few things and then off to a party at some friends house I camp with every year. I did not end up swimming but the conversation, food and drink was very good and before I knew it, it was time to leave. Part way back to my Sisters I discovered I had forgot my shoes. How can you forget your shoes?

After retrieving my shoes I was a little late making it back to my Sisters. They wondered why it took so long since we both left the party at the same time. That put us late going to the park to see the DCB although we still found some up close parking, sort of. We had an hour to kill and I got a snow cone and a pop and just looked around. I talked with the President of the DCB and it just felt wonderful how appreciative he was that I was taking pictures for them.

The concert was lovely and flew by. The first half I took aver 350 pictures. I was wondering everywhere. At one point someone said they thought I was climbing a tree. I did not go that far but I did manage to get 50 super pictures, a lot of good pictures and only had 10 that I pitched. Not to shabby. My yesterday was spent going through the pictures so I can get a few CDs off to the band. Anyway, a quick turn of the chairs and we were set for the fireworks. They were nice with whistlers, loud bright ones, large ones, shimmery ones, some heart shaped ones. Just about everything but palm trees. Luck would have it some people were shooting off their illegal high priced fireworks and they had palm trees.

Half way in the fireworks had a mini grand finalle. Now having seen the Trenton fireworks before I knew better. Sure enough the low grand finalle was not the end and they licked it up a notch, BAM! After about 20 to 25 minutes the Grand Finalle hit and it was like someone puked up color. (sorry for the awful visual) There was color everywhere and it was hard to take it all in. Manny BOOM, BOOM, BOOMs latter and it was all over. Not the best I have seen but very nice indeed.

I spent the night at my Sisters and them drove into work Wednesday morning. I hate doing that since I never can sleep the day before going into work if I am not at home.

Anyway that is a mini of my very enjoyable long, long weekend. Sorry I made it so long. Oh boy, we are almost back into another weekend. Yea!


James Bond... just in time for the fireworks --Die Another Day