The Most Important Thing that Happened this Month

Margot happened.

Jackson at the Park Part 2

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superbaby!!!

Jackson at the Park

Little things are a lot of fun at this age.

Discovery Green

Discovery Green is a small park in Downtown Houston with places for children to play (including a wading fountain), a dog park, regular exercise classes in the evening, and even a small reading room.  Nice.

the Arts

It isn't that widely known, but I am a supporter of the Arts.  Here I am with my close personal friends the Assistant Principal Bassist for the San Antonio Symphony and the Principal Bassist for the Houston Opera in back of the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio.

Statue in Houston #1

Statue in Houston #2

Statue in Houston #3

San Jose Mission

On the mission trail in San Antonio....

Texas Trail Riders

Yesterday, the Texas Trail Rides, a tradition of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, ended with a parade in downtown Houston.  Started in 1952, it has grown to over 3000 riders.  The longest trail at 386 miles comes from Hidalgo in the Rio Grande valley and starts on February 3rd for a 3 week journey. 

Galveston Seawall

This statue is a memorial to the great storm of 1900 by sculptor David Moore.

End of the Jetty, Freeport

I use to fish here when I was a kid.  Caught trout, a redfish or two, spanish mackeral once, and some flounder.  But mostly I caught hardhead, gafftop if I was lucky, and pinfish if I got bored.  Oh yeah, I once hooked a seagull too.

Sidewalk Art

Jackson is sorry he pushed over the chalk man who was emerging out of the sidewalk.

People were drawing giant eyeballs....

and trying to get into a comfortable position while drawing...

At the Park

Jackson and I checking out the Japanese Teahouse in Hermann Park, Houston.

Clearly I didn't take this photo - Jackson's mother did.

I'm a Grandfather

... that's the reason I didn't post anything last week.  I was busy.

Bluebonnets

We were in Texas but it was a busy weekend and there wasn't much time for photographs.  However, the bluebonnets were in bloom along I45 right of way and I did stop for this snapshot with my point and shoot near Corsicana.  It is definitely spring in Texas.  Bluebonnets are in the genus Lupinus (I like how it rhymes) and the state flower of Texas.

Houston Culture

We spent the afternoon doing cultural things.  Eating bbq.  Looking at paintings, statues, and landmark buildings.  Things like that.  This sculpture melds the armadillo, longhorn, and chrome into pure undiluted Texas.  Gotta love it.  Plus great brisket just next door.

Wildlife

This weekend was Megan and Denton's wedding so there was plenty of wild life, although not the sort I normally photograph.  Congratulations!

You Tube Symphony Orchestra

It is too cold to go out and take photographs so here is one I took back in the summer of 2009.  I understand it was published today alongside an article in the Houston Chronicle which you can read here.

Of course the real story isn't my photograph, it is that David made the You Tube Symphony Orchestra and will get a free trip to Australia to play in the Sydney Opera House.  There are 97 members in the orchestra and 4 soloists from 30 countries around the world - pretty tough competition. To get into the orchestra each applicant posted an audition to You Tube which was then judged - you can see David's audition here.  And one more link - here is David's write-up with the San Antonio Symphony (I took that photo too).

Galveston

Seagull

Pipers