Photography

Beep beep! A Roadrunner in our backyard!

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A new bird in our backyard today. A roadrunner! We didn’t know they could fly. It was on the back fence. It saw me and jumped to the neighbors wall so I couldn’t get a real good picture. Then afterwards I kept my camera out there to take some pictures of the hummingbirds.

Phil back here in Vegas.

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We took Phil about 2 weeks ago to a dental appointment back in Temecula, and dropped him off at the house, thinking that he would be there until at least the next dental appointment which is in October. But we drove down today to get him and bring him back here. Its good cause next week bowling starts and he really enjoys watching us and knows the people in our league, etc., so he’s looking forward to that.

We stopped at Tom’s farms to eat and do the switcharoo, and had lunch with Susan and Nicole and Aurora.

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Happy Father's Day

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Father’s day is always about the US Open to me. Watching it with my daughter Jenn every year is a tradition we’ve done forever.

My father in law Phil Kontoff is here for awhile. He’s 93, and slowing down a lot. He’s not interested in most anything except staying warm, so he spends a ot time outside in the Las Vegas heat.

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Happy Father’s Day Phil

The other father I’m glad is in my life is my son in law Neil. He’s a great dad, works a ton of hours, still has time for his boys, and has given me a great gift, three beautiful grandchildren.

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Happy Father’s day Neil

My dad passed away in 1993 at the age of 64. He didn’t do a lot with us. Having many heart attacks in his life, he wasn’t much for throwing the ball around. He spent a lot of time at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Redondo Beach. On Saturday he’d hang out at the Knights and bartend. I’d go down a log of Saturday’s and learn how to shoot pool, or use it as a starting point to go ride my bike from Redondo Beach up and around PV, or over to the Redondo Beach pier.

He was a good father, and always laughing and smiling, and with his medical issues, says something about his character.

Being a father to me means everything to me. I have one of the best daughters. She’s a great business woman, a great mother to three beautiful kids, and a great daughter.

She learned how to laugh from me, integrity from me, hard work, and how to enjoy life.

Jennifer made me a great dad, and I couldn’t have done it without her!!

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Happy Father’s day to me!

Robins in the backyard

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A lot of Robins in our backyard in Commerce City lately. Janis put some oranges out to try to get the birds closer.

Colorado Skies

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You have to love those Colorado Skies. Looking over some old photos on Facebook and the crazy weather/skies we got there. Sure do miss that about Colorado. Jon Chandler got it right when he wrote this great song.

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Auntie Em..

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From our office window at the Attorney General’s Office

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This is really what Jon was singing about..

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from our office

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&/15/11

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7/10/11

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Road trip to Death Valley

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Well, let’s cross another off the bucket list. Weather was in low 80’s on Wednesday, so decided to jump in the car and go to Death Valley (2 hrs away). Within 15min of the house we were in the mountains, and saw signs to watch out for bighorn sheep. (no sheep). In an hour, we were in Pahrump, It was a nice drive until we had an issue with our SUV. Just heard this thumping every now and then. Apparently something hit the skip plate under the car and tore a chunk out of it. I had the car serviced that morning, and thought that the dealership forgot a screw in or something, I went back the next day to the dealership to yell at them, but they put it on the rack and all the screws were there, and apparently we ran over something which tore the skip plate. Janis and I never saw anything in the road and have no clue how or when that happened.

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We stopped at the Death Valley pay station to get a map once getting in the park, and luckily a family was there. The son was nice enough to tie it up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground and make it worse. It was very nice of him to do. He wouldn’t accept the $10.00 we offered. You can see it hanging down under the car.

Some of the panoramas I took. (5 stitched photos)

Here’s some of the non/panos that Janis and I took.

Unfortunately, we weren’t here at sunrise (or sunset,which was still 3 1/2 hrs away. The scenery was awesome, but not nearly as good if we could have gotten there at dawn or later in the day. For another trip!!

Bellagio Spring display

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Went to the Bellagio Casino tonite, to see the fountains display, as it was supposed to be re; the Game of Thrones. Unfortunately it only lasted 2 weeks and we missed it as it closed yesterday.

Inside the Bellagio every quarter they have a real nice display. A Harvest display, a Christmas/holiday display, and the spring display, which was a Japanese display this year. Some beautiful flowers , tulips galore, and daisies and Irises.

Road trip to Nelson, NV

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Janis and I went to Nelson, NV (by way of Searchlight, NV) today. We went to Searchlight which is about 45mi outside Henderson, NV, as we thought there was some good desert flower/cactus available. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything out there. I knew that Nelson, NV was on the way back from there, and I knew there was something there to see.

Nelson is 13 Mi off highway 165, and is a very nondescript place. Not a lot to see, or do. About 2 mi outside of town on the other side, is a mecca of old rusted out cars, trucks, and other items. A lot of cactus too, not in the flowering stage, but they were close, and we’ll come back in about 2 weeks and those should be be in full bloom.

The people that run the place also live on the property, A very unique place.

Here are some photos from today..

Aurora Ember, 1 month old (-3 days)

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Went out to see Aurora Ember just 3 days shy of of her 1 month birthday. Nicole was still off work so we we had some nice pictures done.

Welcome Aurora Ember!

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Janis great niece Aurora Ember came into this world at May 31, 2018 @ 12:03 A.M. wearing 7 lbs, 10 oz, and 20 1/2 inches long. At first she didn’t have a name, Mommy Nicole and daddy Justin were very happy.

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Footprints

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Nicole and Aurora

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Justin’s family, Grandma Debra, Aunt Keely, and Grandpa Mike

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Grandparents with Aurora

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Janis with Grandma Susan

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Tom and Janis with Aurora Ember