Picture Pages! Picture Pages!

We were blessed with beautiful weather for our "Thanksgiving Day" celebration. The ceremony and speakers were wonderful and very moving. I was also impressed by the wide variety and age range of supporters that showed up for the gathering. It was such a spiritual event--maybe just that connection to my ancestors and heritage--maybe the connection to a lifestyle that makes sense. Whatever the case, this is going to be a yearly tradition.

Our ancestors and "past friends" were invited to join us and their presence was clearly felt. I went through two sets of fully charged batteries and half of a third set--just while on the hill (this would have been for approximately forty pictures--whereas, normally, one set of batteries would take AT LEAST one hundred pictures). Some suggest that spirits drain electrical sources while gathering energy. At any rate, my camera regained momentum upon leaving the hill and reuniting at Plymouth Rock.

We participated in overtaking the streets of Plymouth and marching to the first church in Plymouth (and likely America) for the dinner. A meal was provided for the gatherers; we didn't stay long though because space was limited and we chose to give our seats to others. It was all good though since Laura prepared a feast that we took with us to Nikki's! ;)

The drive home was equally beautiful (albeit, LONG--the normal eight hours from RI turned into ten; thanks to shoppers, hunters, holiday traffic + the normal commuters). These are mostly just sky pictures from our trip home (clouds, rainbows, the sunset); some of those other things in life that fill me with feelings of peace and serenity... Click here for my Plymouth pictures from July 2007.

The plan was to go to Wal-Mart and have a family photo session done with us in our American McGee's Alice costumes. We arrived a few minutes late, waited a very long time, but the photographer remained MIA. We did offend a significant number of Wal-Mart shoppers, which I suppose made the trip worthwhile--however, the whole idea was to have these wonderfully disturbing images to send out with the Christmas cards this year. And of course, ultimately, since Dad refuses to have photos of his children amongst their family photo gallery--a very large, elegantly framed photo was to be one of his Christmas gifts. Damn missing Wal-Mart photographer--that would have been so cool!

So, instead, we had Therese and Johnny catch some family poses (these ones won't be used, but are still fun to check out) and we will be picking our Christmas photos from these (including the picture for Dad)--suggestions would be appreciated--we have the final choices narrowed down to these nine (numbered for your suggestion convenience)... The backgrounds aren't as cool as the waterfalls, fall foliage, Barbie and other backgrounds we would have gotten at Wal-Mart, but they'll have to do.



Old Town, Winchester, Virginia (Saturday, October 27). Random trick-or-treating shots in Old Town (including James trying to juggle and his scary encounter with a mechanical ghoul). Random buildings in Old Town and houses in Winchester (unfortunately my batteries died and the charged ones were trapped in the back of the Exploder). Before and after trick-or treating pictures, including our dinner at Glory Days (a FANTASTIC dining experience with food to die for + they still treated us like royalty, even though we were bloody, gory and toting two young kids--highly recommended--request Rick, he's the best!).



Family pictures that I stole from Jennifer's computer, Jennifer's car after the nice policeman plowed into Matt and pictures of the kids on Halloween day.



Dia el los Muertos at Michele's (Friday, November 2nd). Our journey included a trip to the liquor store (Blue Nun for the dead, resurrected priest & Fish Eye for Jesus--wine, of course)--which almost got us lynched...

Clerks: "Halloween party?"

Priest: (funny look) "Um... Halloween is over..."

Jesus: "Day of the Dead."

Clerks: (scared looks--wondering if we are planning to go dig up corpses or something equally heinous) The stares and dirty looks continued as we walked out and got into the Flair Mobile. Some people just don't get it...

Michele's pictures are great--she's got some REALLY interesting ones! Plus, we managed to get LOTS of goggle pictures. Anyhoo, we toyed with the idea of having the theme be religious figures for Halloween in April--but I'm thinking we'll stick to the Alice theme. While bloody Alice in Wonderland offends almost everyone, it's nothing compared to what just two religious icons brought about! C'mon guys, you don't think God has a sense of humor???