Marilyn itching to greet you!

How disconcerting it was to hear purring as we leisurely walked down la Rambla.

I looked here and there but no where could I find the source of the sound.

Sometimes it pays to look up, rather than make discoveries the ceremonious right or left.

So, I was surprised to see "Marilyn"  on the balcony waving, smiling, itching to greet you and enticing many of us to the Museu de l'Eròtica de Barcelona.

You game?!

Center Stage

This photo is almost perfect ... the lighting that is.

Oh, ok ... the bicyclists aren't bad either.

This photo was taken at the entry way of la Plaça Sant Felip Neri.

If you can, please take time to read about the bombings by the Italian Air Force that took place during the Spanish Civil War.

The area was shelled and about 43 persons were killed, mostly children attending nursery school.

Bored on the boardwalk

He waits for no one

Except for me.

La yaya!!

A great model!

She sits in the window, practically everyday. She appears shy and needless to say, she hasn't spoken a word to me in many years and probably never will.

For holidays, she gussies up, like she did here for Christmas.

She's Grandma ... (la yaya),  a seamstress and she mends clothing. That's what it says on the pink handkerchief.  I love the sound of the words "la yaya".

No!! I've not gone looney although some might suspect I am already bonkers.

I've used Arreglo for my sewing needs as mending is not a specialty of mine. A little expensive for me but in a pinch they do a real good job.

If you know anyone who is good at mending, alterations and resides in the barrio of Gràcia, and reasonably priced, please let me know.

Fargas

Fargas is the best place to buy the best chocolate in Barcelona.

I know first hand because I've tasted a few samples. My favorite are the chocolate clusters ... yum-yum.

But! My heart still favors anything Hershey.

Well Expressed

And fashionable.

Michael Fryer's 'I saw a man-he danced with his wife'

Six weeks ago I heard the fan to the laptop make funny noises be sluggish. I have an HP envy dv6 and from what I've read this model is notorious for overheating.

Then, one day, I opened the laptop, the laptop was quiet and an error message appeared on the display warning me that over use of a non functioning fan might lead to many problems. I shut it down and for 6 weeks the computer has been absent from life.

Michael Fryer-Navy Pier, summer 1989

I saw a man-he danced with his wife

Yes ... I called the HP parts department and they sent me something or other that had nothing to do with the fan, even though I was informed they were correct. Eventually, my problem was handed over to a creative case worker who assured me that the recommended part recommended would work with my model.

You see, I had the laptop custom made from top to bottom and paid a handsome sum to get ALL the features I required for photo processing.

Now ... what makes my problem really REALLY bad is that my laptop is American born and I'm now in Spain and this particular part was not available here. Hewlett-Packard mailed the package to a United States address and then a family member sent the part to Spain.

 

 Chicago Tribune Magazine, August 27, 1997

Another dilemma. For the past 3 years, packages sent to Spain have been getting stuck in Madrid's customs department and many have waited from 6 months to a year to get their parcels released. So, this time I made certain there was an accurate description of the package written in both English and Spanish.

Meanwhile, I scouted around and got someone in Barcelona to replace the fan. On Friday the 13th of February, within 3 hours of the drop off, my fan was home, snoring ever so quietly.

Whew! I was and still am elated and NOT griping against HP.

But. I plea to YOU!!

While I waited and waited to get my computer resolved, I had access to an outdated computer with a Spanish keyboard.  I took the opportunity to sift through old print, scanned and dslr photos.

What I show you here is a photo from the August 27, 1997 edition of the Chicago Tribune Magazine taken at Navy Pier in Chicago by Michael Fryer in 1989. I've googled Michael Fryer, wrote someone named Michael Fryer and received no response.

You see, the magazine photo is worn, the colors have faded and the paper fragile.

I saved this magazine, because for me, the picture made me happy (still does) and Fryer's photographic style has influenced me a whole lot.

And, I would love to know who couple is and where are they now.

If anyone out there knows Michael Fryer, can you please let him know of this post.

I would be ever so grateful.

Beware of street photography!!

Years of taking photos has obviously taken a toll on this man.

Or, is what he viewing a painful sight?

P.S. I used an old 35-105mm AF zoom nikkor lens and I couldn't be more pleased. The shot was not posed and this was the only photo I was able to take.

No Guns Allowed

It's a sad commentary that stores in a United States major city and its suburbs are now posting NO HANDGUN signs in their entry doors.

You see, a particular state allows for the carrying of a concealed weapon for those over 21 years of age who have passed a 16 hour training course.

Anyhow, are there reasons you should own firearms? Read this one and laugh:  Simply About Guns posts 5 points about why you should own and carry a firearm.The points are self-defense, protect others, protect your country, have fun, bond with your family. Wow! I laughed so hard at this one, I almost shot my wad!

I've been inspired! Imagine this great slogan ... not great but THE BEST I EVER HEARD OR COULD EVER EVEN IMAGINE! Family fun is with a gun!

Ambiguous Punctuation

Does she say to him or does he write to say to her:

"I think we're just gonna have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that, Ritchie."

A shy comma makes all the difference.

I'm Caught in Crosshairs of Light

I get the impression that just about everywhere I go, each time I turn around there's a flash of light hitting my face.

At first I thought the flash could be my imagination, but a picture tells a story and this photo confirmed my suspicions ... I'm being flashed and it's not an impression!

Life at its simplest

A simple balloon makes a child's life happy up to the point it bursts like dreams sometimes do.

An Argentine Feliz Navidad from Barcelona!!

Today, I share with you holiday greetings from Toti Spinelli, an Argentine cartoonist of humor.

His cartoons can be found throughout the web in facebook, blogspot, google+ and more.

Toti has sent me holiday cards for the past 6 or 7 years and every year I look forward to see what his creative mind sees.

I was going to link my previous posts of Toti but for some reason I've noticed broken links of my photos on old posts.

Please be sure to look Toti up, view his cartoons, his words and maybe send him a message.

From me, Happy Hanukkah ( I know, 1 day belated and I apologize) and a Merry Christmas.

Last Kid Picture with Pigeons --- Maybe

I used to think the birds fed by tourists was great to see and photo-opportunistic. Who doesn't ooohh and ahhh when a child screams with delight as the birds land on parts of their body, pecking and poking at the food?

La plaça de Catalunya is never short of birds, children, and kiosks selling bird feed.

And then I got to thinking this fine, sunny and warm day. (Some people say thinking is dangerous to me)

Birds and more birds seem to never, ever leave. As a matter of fact, I suspect multi-generational family of birds making the plaça their home going back 800 hundred years! Why should or would they ever fly-away if food and water where provided all day long?

Heck! I'd stay, too.

I even had this passing thought. How selfish are these birds? Do they let the other birds in the surrounding barrios know how great a life style they have?

Are they ever curious about the visitors that delight in their presence?

I strongly suspect this is my penultimate kid picture with pigeons until they (the pigeons) can demonstrate any other talent than flying, landing, pecking and eating.

Now don't take this too seriously but in Bill O'Reilly's words, "What say you?"