#3: Hot Mess

Cripes .....

Get a garden, already

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#3 of 365 (The Second Go Around)
The watering can gets lots of use 'round these parts and is very happy.

#2: Invasion Of The Mushroom People

They're coming to get you. They will bend you to their warm, steamy will.

Resistance is futile. It's just a matter of time .....

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#2 of 365 (The Second Go Around)
A little butter, a little garlic and a sauté pan are their worst enemies .....

#1: Badass

Badass.

And so's the bike.

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#1 of 365 (Fiscal Year 2, The Second Go Around)
Vroom.

Side Note

Well, that was a short respite ..... wasn't it?

I barely cool from the warmth of my premiere 365 Project accomplishment and I'm back in the fray, ready for Round 2. Go figure.

Since I'm on a roll (stands to see if he's sitting on anything) I might as well keep the momentum churning forward. I'll continue to post regularly ..... but if I'm not as "a-post-a-day" diligent as the first go round, I won't lose any hair over it. I'll still do what I can to pop an image on daily, just without the constant nudging of it needing to be done each and every 24th hour. There may be a pause or hiccup, but each posting will be for a particular day.

So sit tight ... keep your hands and arms in at all times ..... secure your wallets and any loose change ..... and let's see where this new ride takes us (pun intended, given the image above).

#365: The End

..... graffitist ..... subject ..... enabler .....

I done did it.

Three hundred sixty-five days of posting a photo a day. I met the challenge ..... and learned tons along the way.

I learned to always keep my camera at the ready. (Not "always" possible, let me tell you ... and that's why the word should not be used.) I learned I need a better camera. I made do with several ... including a camera phone for the occasional stand-in emergency when the regular one wasn't around for whatever reason.

I learned inspiration comes in many forms. I learned what I think is spiffy sometimes isn't and what I think is throw-away trips someone's trigger.

I learned some of the best subjects are right around the corner.

I learned not to beat myself up. There's no point in doing so. This was a process and an experience and the first time I'd ever committed to a photo project, so anything went. And usually did.

I learned not to be jealous of other's efforts. As my father said: "There's always someone out there who's better than you. And there's always someone worse."

I specifically kept away from tricks and trickery when it came to shots. No filters or speeds or alterations. Cropping was the most I committed to. The rare lightening of an image ... but little else. I'm just not that learned yet. Besides, it was enough simply reaching the 365 mark, let alone nit-picking over my own personal quirks.

I saw the seriousness of photography. I saw a beauty in it I hadn't seen before. I was able to express my personality in efforts that surprised even me.

I illicted thoughts and emotions and comments I wouldn't have believed possible ... within the postings and elsewhere.

And I also learned there is soooooooooo much more to absorb and explore and attempt ... and I'm up to that challenge just as I was up to this one.

I trust you enjoyed the ride. A quick break and I'll be back for Round Two.

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#365 of 365
"Regrets, I've had a few ..... but then again, too few to mention,
"I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption,
"I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway,
"And more, much more than this ..... I did it my way."

#364: Hi, Guy

Just not something you see everyday while waiting in line for coffee at the AM PM .... y'know? Guess I'm just lucky that way.

Still ..... I have no words.

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#364 of 365
"There's nothing more that I'd like to do than take the floor and dance with you .....
Keep dancin' ..... let's keep daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-aaa-aaaaaancin' ....."

#363: UV Index

"Don't forget the lemonade and the suntan lotion, dear ....."

While California frolics in the sunshine the first week of the year, headlines across the country tell a completely different story:

"Feels Like the North Pole Out There"

"The Siberian Connection"

"Arctic Cold Plunging Deep into the South"

"Worry in the Florida Citrus Groves"

"Heavy Snowfall, Poor Visibility
at Time of Ohio Crash"

"Ice Also a Threat in the South"

"Record-Breaking Cold Pouring Southward"

"Snow Map from Plains to East"

"Timing the New Arctic Invasion"

"Café au lait-sicle!"

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#363 of 365
"Where did we put the umbrella? Did Jeffery leave it at the beach last week?"

#362: Holey Metal Structure, Batman

Yellow clad woman with blue pants, brown worn-in-front fanny pack and ski poles walking toward me like it's nobody's business.

Oh. And there's the fence, too.

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#362 of 365
Lance Link.

#361: That New Tenant Smell

There's a waft in the air. The distinct smell of freshly painted drywall.

That new carpet smell.

Hammering. Tools dropping. A haze of dust in your sight. The sound of masking tape being ripped and ripped and ripped again.

Ooooooooooooooh .... a slightly moldy odor of musty carpet padding as it's being removed and tossed.

All of these things are the clear signs new tenants are coming .....

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#361 of 365
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ..... fresh .....

#360: He Thinks He's Leroy Brown

Oh ... Bob The Dog knows he's done something wrong all right.

Just take a gander at that mug.
Coming home from morning work Tuesday and letting him in, I spied debris on the far end of the yard outside. On closer inspection, Star Wars action figures and other collectibles were strewn along the perimeter of the yard.

It took all I had not to kill him. But the feeling lasted for all of 20 seconds. The only fortunate thing was the fact most of the toys flung hither and yon were duplicates.

Given: The poor guy has been dog-sat for the last 10 days during the holidays only to come home to the girls taking off for school and myself taking off for work. At the end of the day - with night having fallen - there's not much time for frolicking except inside the house.

I rushed about (almost late for work) picking up the yard when I realized I'd missed a golden photo opportunity. So, I dragged his butt to the spot of contention and snapped a few shots of his sad, sour puss with the toys hastily bagged up ... being the box they were in was destroyed beyond recognition.

I must admit, however, since we've gotten home from our vacation, he's been pretty good.

Except for today, that is ... when the urge to commit monkey business was obviously irresistible .....

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#360 of 365"Why, I oughta carp your diem ....."

#359: (Humming) Bird Is The Word

Mother (visible), nest (visible), eggs (not visible) .....

And, and, and .... more photos and words about Mother Hummingbird above at Rupe's Value Added Services.

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

#359 of 365
Papa-ooma-mow-mow .....