Last ornament shot -- the tree comes down tomorrow

Nested cell phone pic

Ok, I recently got a new Blackberry Bold at work, and Caryn just got an iPhone for Christmas.

So, this is, in order a picture of the iPhone taken with the Bold, then that picture on the Bold screen taken with the iPhone, then the iPhone with that picture up taken with the Bold. Then, just because I felt it needed a little more depth, I did it one more time, taking a picture of the bold with the iPhone and the the iPhone with the bold.

So it's Bold -> iPhone -> Bold -> iPhone -> Bold -> iPhone.

San Francisco Beefeater

Night Shot -- The city from the Cable Car

Riding on the Union Square - Fisherman's Wharf cable car a couple of nights before Christmas, we came to this spot with an opening on to the city.

It's a bit fuzzy, but the colors and lights are nice.

Catch-up Pic -- Macy's Windows

I was looking over the year, and I realized that I was not one, but two pictures down for the year (one in November, and one from yesterday). So, here is your bonus for today. I'll work the other one in by next Tuesday.

A somewhat less auspicious tree than the one in Union Square

This 4' beauty can be found in my front yard.

Christmas Palm tree

Union Square Holiday Tree

Of course I *HAD* to take this picture

Really? We are talking about a freaking parking garage!

Cuban Cigars in French St. Marten

You gotta love the simplicity of that warning label on these cigars. Simple and to the point -- "Fumer Tue" ("Smoking Kills").

Defraction of light on the water at night

Post #700!!! Kitty Closeup

According to my count, this is the 700th post to this illustrious little venture.

And this is Jack and Sasha's cat.

Turner Falls being pretty dry

Turner Falls in south central Oklahoma earlier this month.

Just as a contrast, take a look at Tim Tillinghast's excellent shot of the falls during a flooding period here.

I have to say, growing up in Oklahoma, I remember the falls being a lot closer to Tim's picture than mine. But, of course, there is no such thing as "global warming", right Senator Inhoff?

Water Tower

Dead People's Stuff

A sign for an antiques store.

Grrriesling...

We love our dog sitter. Shura is talented and generous, and every Christmas, she finds new ways to make her clients adore her even more.

The last few years, she has been doing "doggy" wines with customized labels, and this year was no different.

Grrriesling!! How much do you love that?!?!?

Back of the waterfall

Hot flames on a cool night

The fireplace at last night's wedding reception

This pic will be worth some serious $ some day

Caryn and I were honored to be invited to the wedding of Anthony Demaria and his new gorgeous bride Arielle (nee Henry).

At the reception, Anthony favored the guests with a small concert. I've always known he was talented, but Tony's voice and overall stage presence has matured greatly since the last time I saw him. I got the impression that I was watching a superstar in action.

Mark my words -- I'll be able to point this picture to my grandchildren and say "I knew him -- I even went to his wedding!", and they will be impressed!

Andy's Christmas Shelf

Tree Topper Ribbon

Caryn and I visited her son at his new apartment and set him up with a small "bachelor-sized" Christmas tree. This ribbon was on the top.

Pretty fountain

Ladder Company 10, Engine Company 10

This picture was taken on our recent visit to the Big Apple.

Ladder 10, Engine 10 is the fire station nearest the location of the former World Trade Center in NYC. They were the first of the first responders on the scene, and a large number of these heros stationed in this location gave the ultimate sacrifice as they tried to save those around them.

Somewhere, up in Heaven, is a whole neighborhood of solid gold mansions for the firefighters and police that lost their lives that fateful day, and some of these guys have corner lots.

Dickens Fair 2 -- The Hat Store

Corset shop at the Dickens Fair

We went to the Dickens Fair today. The first time since we've lived in the Bay area, and man was it cool. I'd definitely go again!

Lots of cool shops, including this one.

Birds over the bridge

Kites with People!

Sasha diving

Birthday Balloons

December Theme Day -- Circles and Spheres

There are 187 photo blogs participating in today's theme.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

The wave and the rock

Taken on a beach in Pacifica. I really like the way the wave is starting to wrap around the rock. On the lee side of the rock, the sand is smooth, but you can be sure that the churn will be on the other side in just a second.

Frame Pic

I love this pic. It may very well be the best picture I've ever had taken.

It was taken on the ship by our favorite ship's photographer, Andrea. She was, unfortunately, the one on duty when the backdrop fell on me, and I made it VERY clear to the ship that I didn't feel that she was at all at fault. I really hope I got my point across, since every pic she took of us was pure art.

A sad sign of the times

Mervyns and I have a bit of history. When Caryn and I got married, we were a little cash strapped, and we ended up buying our wedding bands on credit at Mervyns. For a number of years, that was where we had credit, and that was where we bought a lot of our clothes.

We haven't shopped there in a while, which I guess is one of the reasons that they have fallen on hard times. As such, it is horribly sad to see them go away.

I'll miss them.

Merced Reservoir Architecture -- part 2

This is on the top of the building that had the statue in yesterday's picture too.

Merced Manor Reservoir

Merced Manor Reservoir is a contained reservoir in the Merced Manor area of San Francisco. The building on the grounds has some pretty interesting architectural decorations. This one is on the corners of the building.

Great sunsets from the cruise

leaving New Jersey

first day at sea

Leaving Bermuda

Leaving St. Maarten

Leaving Aruba

Sasha Underwater

Taken with a Fuji underwater disposable camera in St. Martin (the French side).

If they can share, why can't we all?

Slightly creepy night fog shot

I promised it wouldn't become "Paul's Vacation Pictures", and so, I'm gonna stop with the daily cruise shots. I'll show a few from time to time when the picture taking gets slow, but it's back to local shots.

This one is REALLY local -- taken from my front porch looking across the street to Alta Loma park in South City. The night is very foggy, and I really like the way that the light dances off the fog and frames everything it enshrouds.

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy...

Jack calls a shark in the preditor lagoon tunnel.

Lion Fish

Don't touch this one -- it would hurt!

Docked

(this is Wednesday's picture)

I'm not sure why I like this picture, but I do. Something about the nature of the old rusted mooring and the fact that it is helping to hold a 91,000 ton ship in place.

Martini Sampler

The Martini bar on the Constellation offers a 6 glass mini Martini sampler. I heartily recommend this -- it is quite possibly the best value on board in terms of alcohol.

(by the way -- this was only an hour or so before yesterday's picture)

My least favorite moments of the cruise

While taking some casual pictures, a brace holding the photo backdrop collapsed and gave me a nice little scalp lac (1 stitch and a whole lot of blood).

Nemo's new address -- Atlantis' "The Dig"

$1500 -- a very good pull!!