Eye Spy with my Eye

I see a wonderful year ahead of us. 2009? Boy, how time flies.

Do you see any big events this year?

My son will graduate from high school and start college.

I plan to run my second (and maybe third) marathon.

Our nation will have a new President.

I see 2009 as being a great year.

Somebody likes to cut trees down.

I just really like how the green, black and other colors mingle in this shot. I wish I had seen the tree before.

One less Tree in the world

I guess it would have been a better shot without my shoe in the way.

Chandelier in Chandler

I love taking pictures looking up.

Barack Obama

I just finished reading "Dreams from My Father" by Barack Obama, our next president. It's a great read and I encourage you to read it, regardless of whether you voted for him. He has lived a very interesting life to date and I couldn't put the book down.

The Aftermath

I meant to post this on Christmas Day, but life got in the way. So, here's a late post of what our living room looked like after we opened our gifts. Notice, we tried to be delicate with the rapping paper. I like to recycle it. Some paper has been used for many a Christmas. The family won't let me date it.

Merry Christmas!

Another Google Earth assisted shot, but I did do the writing myself. In Arizona we don't get to make snow angels, but since I'm a runner I did make this by running down the street.

I have a GPS watch from Garmin. It tracks where I go by satellite. I ran, in such a fashion down a street to spell out my Christmas wish to you.

This picture is courtesy of Google Earth. It's a different view of Phoenix's Palm Lane, names so because of all the palms lining the street. Sharon, over at Phoenix Daily Photo took her own picture of Palm Lane. Check it out.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

Pumpkin Pie

Christmas is almost here.

Gilbert's SanTan Village

And here's Santa. He's talking with a bashful little boy right now, but my turn is next. He does talk to grown ups, doesn't he?

Gilbert's SanTan Village

SanTan Village is like a downtown area, but it's just two years old. This is the play area for the kiddies. You can see santa's tent in the middle. The weather in December is usually in the 60's and 70's. My kind of weather.

Gilbert's SanTan Village

All decked out for the holidays. One of the nice things about living in Arizona, is shopping outdoors.

Chandler's Tumbleweed Christmas Tree

Every year Chandler collects tumbleweeds from all over the city. They make a huge Christmas tree for downtown. Do you want to see how they've done it in past years? This is a really cool webpage - Chandler's Tumbleweed Christmas Tree. Not only the pictures, but the video is a must see!

Amy's Christmas Village

It's not as big as our neighbors, but we love it.

What's This?

Only in Chandler will you find this decoration for Christmas. Do you know what it is? check the picture tomorrow for the answer.

The Country Clipper Ceiling of Hats

I guess your haircut will be so good, you'll leave your hat behind.

The Country clipper

While shopping in downtown Chandler, you'll have to make time for a trim at the Country Clipper. If you don't need a haircut, at least check out the ceiling. If you can't make it to Chandler at all, then check out tomorrows photo.

Saba's Western Wear

Christmas shopping isn't complete in Arizona without a trip to Saba's Western Wear in downtown Chandler.

downtown Chandler

Chandler Downtown

It's TGIF Photo Friday. To see some more pics, go on over to Nikemom's blog. If you are into running, you'll love it.

Arizona is a cotton state

I was driving in Chandler and saw this truck. As I got closer I figured it out. It's cotton. Not sure if it's heading towards the cotton gin or leaving it. Heck, I'm not sure what a cotton gin does. Do you?

Tall Palms

Lone Butte Casino

One more shot of the casino this month. As you enter, you see slot machines. Of course. But, then your eyes see five panels of glass with water cascading down the sides. It separates the bar area from the flashing lights of the machines.

Lone Butte Casino

The new casino on the Gila River Indian Reservation is called Lone Butte. Here's a picture of the outside of the building. I took a bunch of pictures of the inside, which I'll share in January. There's just too many other pictures for this month.

Chandler Christmas Village

Here's a close up of the Christmas Village in Chandler.

Just blocks from my home is this Christmas Village. It is set up in a neighbors garage and you can see it on Saturday and Sunday nights. The address is 720 N. Los Feliz Dr. South east of the intersection of McClintock and Ray roads or click on the address for a map. They have signs with flashing lights to direct you to the home. It's well worth the time to see this great Christmas tradition.

Rainbow Chandler

We had a double rainbow the other day. The picture didn't come out like I had hoped, but here's one of the better shots.

Petrified Rock

As I'm walking through a Mesa park I find the unexpected. Some petrified rock. It wasn't mark or in an area that others could see it. About 50 yards away was the start on the local Turkey Trot and there were 2000 runners. I bet 99% of them didn't even know this was here.

Fazoli's

All the Fazoli's have closed in our part of the world. In Chandler only, I've seen a TGIFridays, Baja Fresh and RedFish close. I told a client to meet me at this Fazoli's only to find it closed. Yesterday, I was meeting a client at the Baja Fresh on Warner, only to find it closed.

Planet Earth

A close up view of the globe in Mesa. I'm not sure why Central America is missing.

Chandler Christmas Village

Just blocks from my home is this Christmas Village. It is set up in a neighbors garage and you can see it on Saturday and Sunday nights. The address is 720 N. Los Feliz Dr. South east of the intersection of McClintock and Ray roads or click on the address for a map. They have signs with flashing lights to direct you to the home. It's well worth the time to see this great Christmas tradition.

Theme Day: Circles/Spheres

in Chandler's neighboring city of Mesa you can find this globe at the entrance to Leisure World, a retirement community.



Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

A view above

In a home for sale, some child had a wonderful view.

Submarine Driver

Lifetime Fitness Sculpture

Now that we are stuffed from dinner yesterday, it's time to think about exercise. I found this sculpture outside the lifetime Fitness in Tempe. Get it? He's sculpting his body.

Thanksgiving in Chandler, AZ

When it's just the four of us we don't whip out the fancy china. But, this year we have the mother in law in town and you know the table will look fabulous. I'll have a picture of this years feast in a few days, but I wanted to have a bird picture for today.

Tempe Town Lake

A view of the lake from one of the new high rises. For those that don't know, Tempe Town Lake is in the Salt River, which is usually dry. Tempe bought inflatable dams and put them a two miles apart. Then they filled the river in between. Click on the name for a fact sheet.

Desert Ocotillo

My son, Tyler next to our Ocotillo. You can buy these at a nursery and they look like they are dead. just a bunch of sticks. But, once you plant them and water just a bit, you get green leaves and orange/red flowers at the top.

Arizona Department of Transportation

Our transportation department spends money to make the highways look good. This is colored rock in various formations. Do you think it's a wise use of taxpayer dollars?

Arizona Ironman

I'm a runner, so I loved seeing this car recently. Not only that it's a Jaguar, which is a runner too. But, you'll see the Ironman logo on the back glass. Today is the day for the Arizona Ironman. A competition where you have to swim in Tempe Town Lake for 2.4 miles, get out and jump on a bike for 112 miles. Then, if that's not enough you have to run a marathon. 26.2 miles.

If you are nearby, you should check out the Arizona Ironman which takes place today.

Casino Arizona

Besides yesterday's sign, you can see this sign. And in the background is the new casino being built.

Wild Horses

Right on the Scottsdale border with the Indian reservation you'll drive by this sign. I'd love to see a pack of wild horses, but I haven't yet.

The Hidden Lake

Another view of the same lake. Here' you can see the lake, desert, the new tower at the airport and Camelback Mountain. In between is the Salt River or Rio Salado, but it's mostly dry.

SkyHarbor Airport Lake

In metropolitain Phoenix, which includes Chandler, most lakes are man made and are for aesthics. This one is hidden behind an office park with no real views of it. What's it for?

Vintage Vinyl

My daughter found a way to play records with a piece of paper, needle and a pen. You have to spin the record just right and it's best to use a record you don't really care about.

High Arch?

I needed to know how high my arch is for some inserts I wanted for my running shoes. I just stepped into the wet grass and then onto my porch. Took the picture and I had a record of it.

How high an arch do you have?

Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk

About this time every year I happen to drive by the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. These women walk 20 miles a day for three consecutive days to raise money to help find the cure for breast cancer. I don't think they publicize the route, so you just have to be luck enough to spot them during your day. If you see them honk, flash your lights or stop, get out and cheer. I did!
Today is the final day of their journey. Thank you, all who took part in a wonderful event.

Chandler's Day of Play

A while back we had a 'Day of Play' at Tumbleweed Park. I participated by running in the 10k race. These kids enjoyed playing hockey on the grass, compliments of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Start

Just before the start of a local 5k road race.

#13

On the thirteenth, I thought I'd show you #13 Dave Concepcion from my baseball card collection. I usually don't show other photographers pictures, but this is my picture representing my baseball collection in Chandler, AZ.