Where the Path Leads - The Shore is Just The Beginning

I took this photo on a recent trip to California and didn't see it for what it was till I had time to think due to a photoshoot being postponed today.  Initially when I saw the shot I was intrigued by the path but didn't understand that it  led to a shore.  As your eyes follow the path to the shore, you will see that there are places where the path is clear and others that aren't revealed, but as you can see all ends well at the shore.

The path appears to be broken in a few places and I akin that to people in our lives and our walk.  There are people we want to nudge off the path, not necessarily to their peril but off our personal walk.  There are others that were part of our walk that we want to re-join us again and we hope they are waiting for us at some point on our journey where our walk becomes clearer.  

Whatever the path, there is beauty....  Whatever the path, there are cliffs....  Whatever the path there is a shore that we're all trying to get to....  Some "will" alone, some "will" pick up others along the way and some "will" nudge others off their path.  The journey in this life to our shore is not easy but deep like the journey to the shore below.  It's not without its' rewards and sometimes the greatest reward is making it to the shore but that's where the life really begins right.......

Here's to the journey along the path to our shore and that's where the fun begins.....

Just stopped by to share this with you guys....

David

The Singing Dragon - 42nd St. Times Square

My uncle and I had our final dinner of my trip at the Cafe Noir restaurant down the street from his job. On the subway ride back to his house, he got off a stop ahead of me at 34th street to catch the Long Island Expressway train home. I continued on to 42nd St Port Authority headed for Time Square to get some night shots for my portfolio. As I got off the train and headed up the stairs towards ground I was trying to figure out if I should go right/left to my destination. As I reached the top of the stairs I heard what sounded like a concert coming down in the subway that I didn't hear when I got of at my stop. The sound halted me in my tracks as I debated going back down in the tunnel to see what was really going on. As I walked down the stairs, there was a crowd of people applauding someone but I was earnestly looking for the band and the "who". Well the E train was pulling seconds later and some of the crowd jumped on the train but a few faithful souls like myself stayed for more; but who the heck was singing??? 

As I looked around, I saw this older African American man, probably in his 60s, holding what appeared to be a Walkman CD player (his band) seated next to a cart with speakers that amplified his accompanying music. Well I wasn't 100% sure that is was him because there was no microphone and he was just kinda sitting there looking happy and content.

Then what happened next blew me away as he hit the play button on the CD player and started crooning the crowd. This man had a POWERFUL voice which needed no microphone as he lit up the subway tunnels. His only competition which wasn't ever a fair fight was the train as it swept to a stop on either wide of him during his redemptions of songs sung my famous artist if his time.

As must have states there listening to him for 15-20 minutes as he sung and spoke of his music, famous people he sung with in front of his well earned bag of money from the crowd from donations and CD sales. I gave my donation to the cause as I listening, smiled and took pictures of this subway wonder. Now I wasn't going to leave this story by just referring to him as a "subway" wonder as it wouldn't have done his life or musical works justice. Right before I took off for Time Square, I complimented him again on his music and asked for his name. He told me that he is known as the "Singing Dragon". Well the "Singing Dragon" at age 69 had some footwork to go along with that voice. I figured this was my chance to get away or else I would have been there all night seduced by a "Dragon" as so many of us were that evening; a nice treat to end my last full day in Manhattan.

Pike's Place Fish and Noelani - Miss Island Mokihana 2010

I seem to have a knack lately for being in the right place at the right time. While in Seattle I took at trip down to the Public Market Center and Pike's Place Fish. I was hoping to famous market to get a glimpse of what I had only heard about and seen on TV AND maybe see a fish or two flying through the air.

So I got there and saw some of the most amazing seafood ever but the only thing that was flying through the air was crab and I wasn't too impressed; I could have done that myself. So I turned my head for just a MOMENT and there they went, two BIG fish flying through the air. Well I had only myself to blame and figured it would be a while before any other activity so I walked away and visited other parts of the market. Well when I got back I noticed a crowd and thought, you missed it again man. I did notice that there was a new person behind the counter who had dawned the apron and I just figured it was just a new or late arriving employee.

As I listed and watched, I noticed that the crowd was a bit too interested in this woman (who I affectionately referred to as the "fish lady") and they weren't budging. One of the guys at the market stood about 5 feet from her and through a fish to her, she threw it back, her threw it back to her and the cycle repeated itself. At this point I figured out what was happening or what was about to happen so I strategically inserted myself in the crowd, put my camera into high speed mode. The guy now moved out in the crowd with us and the lady he was playing catch with earlier was all the way behind the succession of counters and now he's about to hurl this fish to her in hopes that she's gonna catch it.

Up in the air the fish went, flexed a bit at the apex of the throw and down right into the "fish lady's" awaiting arms. There was a woman who was taking pictures and I could tell by the way the guys at the market were positioning and talking with her that she traveled to the market with the "fish lady". I talked with her and showed her the pictures I took and promised to share them once I got back home. She tried to tell me who the fish lady was but I wasn't paying attention for checking the quality of the shots I took. Well the "fish lady" got cleaned up and joined us in front of the market. I introduced myself and she again told me who she was and it was then that I realized why there was a crowd. The "fish lady" real name was actually Noelani Kauai - Miss Island Mokihana 2010, Miss Garden Isle 2009 and Miss Hawaiiʻi USA (top 10).

Sprinkles Cupcakes

I wrote earlier about my Southern California experience in Sprinkles Cupcakes. I was not familiar with the franchise prior but the long lines (I mean enthusiastic crowds) got me curious but above all THE TASTE will have me on the web trying to find one near where I am going; wish we had one here.

Now these cupcakes aren’t for those on diets (waist or wallet) but that’s right you deserve it!!! Matter of fact you earned it!!! Close your eyes, slide that credit card and get your mouth ready for some excitement. I am a believer now but I had to get there. I was ready to roll once I saw the lines outside of Sprinkles in Beverly Hills and thought maybe a visit to their Newport Beach location would yield something different and it did; different LOCATION same lines. I think these people followed me here. My next hurdle was the price; they ain’t cheap but once I got my fix, I was looking for an opportunity to cut the line or lift one off of some unsuspecting child. I only had a ½ of one but damn it was good. If you have one in your neck of the woods then “bless you”; can you hook a brother up!!! If you don’t but you travel, go to Sprinkles Cupcakes and see if they have one where you’re headed. You won’t be disappointed with the exception of wishing you got some for the road!!!

Be Easy!!!

P.S. I was in no way compensated by the Sprinkles organizations for my remarks above but email me Sprinkles if you want to show me some love: I LIKE THE “VELVET” ones. Call me…..

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

They (not sure who "they" are) say size doesn't matter.... That was the farthest from their minds when they built this BIG BOY - Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center !!!!! This Gaylord Hotel is the granddaddy of the Gaylord's and this guy is HUGE...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a chance to visit Nashville Tennessee and my first stop was the Gaylord Opryland. It was very cold outside so I was dressed in my long sleeved Jordan shirt (blue and black with long john like material) and a pair of Jordan (#23) jeans. Needless to say I was unprepared for the tropical like environment inside the Gaylord. I shot for about two hours and was pouring sweat before I ponied up to the bar for a cold yet smooth adult beverage.

This hotel was awesome and I am putting together a slideshow similar to the one I did for the Gaylord at National Harbor last year. So for now, enjoy this teaser...

David