Happy Halloween

Ok, these two were a bit old to be out trick or treating, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they're just young at heart (it's either that or they really like candy).

Entertainment...

A juggler in Central Park. The expressions on the spectators' faces are priceless.

What is so interesting?

Aim your camera at a pile of antiques/junk and folks will stare and stare to try and see...
...what you think is so interesting.

Engrossed

This guy was completely engrossed in whatever he was going on with his phone. I'm not sure if he even knew the rest of us were there. Maybe his phone has games on it and he was playing Sudoku.

Rest Stop

Sometimes you just need a nap.

The Man

We were at a festival this weekend with about 5,000 other folks and this elderly gent had it going on. His ploy of "Single Rich Bad Heart" was getting him more attention than he had planned on.

Impossible to describe...

This one just speaks for itself. All heads turned to watch this guy weave his way in an oblivious circle around Central Park's Sailboat Pond. This is one of those right-place-right-time photos. Enjoy :)

Painters in Central Park...

It never ceases to amaze me that street painters seem to ALWAYS be fully occupied. My surprise is mainly due to my own desire to keep my David Letterman smile from being featured in a whimsical caricature. Others seem to enjoy seeing their features distorted in charcoal.

Sitting in Union Square...

This guy was seated along a row of wooden benches in Union Square in NYC. Like everyone else in Manhattan, he was on his cell phone....and dressed in brown.

Gondola, gondola, gondola...

Venitian gondoliers carefully blend romance and bravado to entice their willing customers. Sadly, the gondola is almost 100% a tourist transport. Nevertheless, the Venice holds its gondoliers to rigid qualification standards--including the requirement that gondoliers be natives.

Passenger ?

This older gentleman was waiting in traffic. He had to be 70. A little unusual for a motorcycle rider, but not unheard of. What really intrigued me was the mannequin head, with wig, mounted on the rear of the motorcycle. One of a kind!

Under Construction

You know we're scraping the bottom of the barrel when I have to start posting pictures. I wonder if they take turns being the person who has to hold the sign. I wonder if you pull sign duty if that's considered a reward or a punishment.

On top of the world...

I spotted these tourists doing exactly what I was doing...staring at Seattle from atop the Space Needle. The skies were overcast and drizzly, but these folks didn't notice.

Watching the world go by...

This guy caught my eye just sitting and watching events unfold in front of him. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Conversations

These two were engaged in happy conversation. The priest just looked like he would be a fascinating character with a lot of stories. He manifested the stereotype of all those religous characters I have seen in movies over the years. I imagined he had an New York/Irish accent.

Flip top...

This amusing scene caught my eye--two guys changing out the light bulbs along a long string of beer brand signs at a local warehouse.

Green bag of poo...

Jeff and I were people watching at Crissy Field along the northern edge of San Francisco. Crissy Field is a restored wetland and beach, which is very very popular with dog owners. One of the most comical aspects of dog ownership must be the ritual of carrying tiny bags of dog poo. So, I did catch this photo of the dutiful owner and her little green bag of poo :)

The sound of bagpipes...

This local musician was playing for a wedding in the valley by the lake. There are a lot of Scottish and Irish here. Actually in the Blue Ridge there is a great diversity of people. In the early days it was land so rugged that not too many folks thought it was desireable, but a few hardy souls looking for a new home made their way here. Now of course it is a big retirement destination. I just love the sound of bagpipes sad and patriotic at the same time.

My Favorite Things

Whenever we have a build, my two favorite parts are finding the determination in a volunteer's face and watching a group work together as a team. Be it one person that holds a board while another drives a nail, or when an entire group works as one to raise a wall -- therein lies the sense of community that Habitat strives to build.

Paris by Segway...

We spotted this pack of tourists in Paris on their rented Segway's. I liked how intently the tourists were listening to their tourguide--who seemed to prefer the bicycle. What a fascinating way to experience Paris.