Curling

Curling Olympic trials for the U.S. Curling Team are now taking place in Omaha, NE. Results of these trials will select the team to represent the United States in the 2022 Winter Olympics. It's not the kind of action sport that puts you on the edge of your seat; i.e. high drama with "last minute …

Slo-Pitch

Hot Potatoe Hats off to the inventor of Slo-Pitch softball. The game can be played by all skill levels at any age, a 7-inning game is completed in an hour, injuries are few and most leagues are just for fun. No uniforms required. Thought for the Day: Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other …

Olde Towne Elkhorn

Rest Area The sculpture of Willa Cather welcomes visitors to take a seat, take a rest, catch your breath, etc. The sleepy little town of Elkhorn, NE, just a few miles west of downtown Omaha, has been swallowed up by Omaha's urban sprawl and is now part of Omaha. But the two-block stretch of Elkhorn's …

Social Distancing

US Senior Open - 2013 This past weekend, June 11 - 14th, was the first PGA (Pro Golfers's Association) tournament held since the COVID-19 pandemic halted play three months ago. It was played without fans. The next three scheduled tournaments will also be without fans. In a typical year The Masters, US Open and PGA …

Road Trip

I'm planning another photo safari next spring, but looking for a new kind of adventure.  In past years I would do one of two things: 1) Drive everywhere, staying in a different motel each night and occasionally camping (sleeping in my car) in a state park, or 2) Fly somewhere, rent a room in a …

America’s Pastime

Baseball has long been called "America's pastime"; it's been popular since the mid- 1800's. In this day and age of instant gratification, it is hard to understand the sustained popularity of a sport with so much down time between mere seconds of frenzied action. The baseball season is over for this nine year old who …

Cooling Off

It looks like a long hot summer: Memorial Day temps exceeded 100 degrees and June has been warmer than normal so far. No better way to keep cool than dipping your toes in the lake under a big shade tree.  While you're at it, look at yourself in the mirror and see what the future …

Coaching

Another season of Little League baseball is wrapping up with state tournaments this week. The parents must be relieved after four months of multiple game/practice commitments each week.  The eight year-olds in this photo played 35 games during the regular season. Fortunately, my grandson had a coach that kept everything in perspective.  Not only is …

Photojournalism is Dangerous!

A severe thunderstorm blew through Sarpy County, Nebraska last Friday night. Straight-line winds of 125 mph were recorded in Papillion.  Wide spread damage was evident throughout the county: downed power lines, uprooted trees, split tree trunks, trees' crowns snapped off, farm buildings with no roofs, etc. This shot was taken southwest of Gretna, about 36 …

40 Winks

The term "40 winks" is a commonly used expression to mean a short nap.  The girl in the photo is obviously just "catching 40 winks" before her next round of competition, but where did the expression come from and what does it actually mean? A wink is the quick closing and opening of an eye.  Winking both …

Summer Heat

Typical July day in Nebraska with temperature exceeding 100 degrees.  The humidity is suffocating, with dew points in the low 80's, making the "feel like" temperature close to 120 degrees.  Lots of water is needed to keep the grass green ... and growing, so I can mow it again.   Uggg! The water bill is …

Down and Dirty

Baseball was made for little boys.  Everything about the game is filthy, and little boys would rather roll in the dirt than take a bath.  The baselines are dirt, the dugouts are dirt, and the entire infield at little league fields is 100% dirt. The batter picks up a handful of dirt and pours it from …

Naptime

It's a busy time of year so you catch a nap whenever and wherever you can ... even at the Durham Western Heritage Museum ... on Saturday ... during Christmas choir programs. Thought for the Day:  I usually take a two hour nap from one to four.                     …

Bear Lake

It was late September, too early for fall where I'm from in Nebraska, but the aspen trees in Rocky Mountain National Park were well on their way to turning various shades of orange, yellow and lime-green.  I wasn't expecting to see any fall colors this early in the year. We were fortunate to have a …

T-ball

Nothing says "school is out" than a five-year old T-ball game.  Summer is time for the brain to idle for a few months while the body enjoys physical pursuits.  Who needs mental stimulus during summer vacation when you're learning the most complicated game on the planet.   The young lads are still learning their left hand from their right …

Look Closely

I'm not color blind by any means, but I wouldn't say I'm a color expert either ... just a guy with an average "color IQ".   So, I was surprised to find a full palette of colors in this palm tree. I found this average-looking palm tree on the grounds of a Florida condominium.  Nothing …

Good and Bad

My mother always said, "Take the good with the bad."  That thought came to mind while I watched the first baseball practice of my 4 year old grandson ... there's a lot of good and bad in Little League.  Stretching?  Yeah, that was definitely not a priority for the four year old future stars. Learning …