Day 4 Photo Challenge; Day 3 Elimination Challenge

Today the camera was with me all day. There were no photos I didn't take. That was interesting. There are some photos that I would like to show, so I am going to have to evaluate the rules a little and decide how to handle it. Do I want to be able to use them on other days ...? Have to decide.
I noticed the flag again this morning. I stopped to take more photos of it. In the morning light, it looks different, not lonely and abandoned as it did at dusk, but strong and resilient. Then it caught a breeze and looked proud and defiant.
So the photo today is the flag again ...

Resilient, Defiant

Now, what to toss away today? There is so much to choose from that I am having a hard time picking one thing. It's too soon to fail at this challenge ... not already. Oh, I know, the defunct iPod. Wait, not ready. I have to wipe it first of any personal information. No time to make the deadline. I know, a shirt I no longer wear. Out it goes. Phew, made it through another day on this one.

I like lines.

Day 3 Photo Challenge

There were a lot of photo opportunities today. This morning on my walk, I missed the first good photo because I couldn't get my camera together in time. There was an older gentleman, with a cane looped acoss his arm, taking a picture of the sail over the visitor's center. I was going to get a photo of him taking a photo. But he was done before I was ready.

Then there was a lady on the bridge headed to the porta-potty, staggering. She was in pain from a bad back that was exacerbated from sleeping on the bridge overnight with her husband, who came here to fish off the pier. I thought about a photo of her walking and then one of her in her top-of-the-line chair on the bridge.

I thought of grabbing a selfie when I finished setting my hair, with all the curlers still in, but nixed it. Of course, when the curlers come out, I will probably revisit this again.

I went out to take photos and did take a few of the bridge and the carnival from across the water, but the selected photo, below, was found as I sat on the front step, enjoying the last few moments of daylight.

Abandoned Patriotism

I am still trying to decide what to call this one. The flag was put up in front of an abandoned school building about a month ago, to give the impression that progress was taking place with the building.

This evening, it was gently moving in a very slight breeze, but seemed so lost and forgotten there. That's it, Abandoned Patriotism.

I really like this photo, a lot.

Possession offloaded today: an old pair of ankle boots.

Day two pic ... Day one delete

Today the picture interrupted my walk because I had never seen anything like it before except in books or on tv. A stingray was pulled from the Choptank River. The fisherman was from Glen Burnie and said that he saw a school of them keeping away the fish.

It was a little sad but also amazing. The fisherman said he was throwing it back but wanted a picture with it. 

Pics I didn't take were of my dog. He looks so cute after his hair cut but so different. My dog trimming skills leave something to be desired ... So thought I shouldn't advertise it.

I tossed out a pair of slippers filled with styrofoam balls. I never use them. First item trashed.

Day 1 of 30

A few months ago, I was listening to a playlist of TED Talks and come across one featuring Matt Cutts, expousing the virtues of trying something new for 30 days. The first time I heard it, I was inspired to try it. I did something simple -- go to bed every night by 10:30 p.m.-- and while hard at first, by the end, I was doing it with little trouble and the sense of accomplishment uplifted my spirit.

A few days ago I heard the talk again and remembered how much fun I had with my challenge. Decided to start another one and over the last few days tried to figure out what it would be. Finally decided on a picture a day for 30 days, with a twist ... also talking about the pictures I didn't take.
So, for day one, here is the photo I took:

Rear Wheels

I'm not sure what attracted me to this image, but I turned my head to check for traffic while waiting at the stop sign and there it was. Which is why it isn't a great image -- trying to sneak it with my cell phone at that distance ...

I liked the circles and the lines. I like the image of the bikes stacked, same kind of bikes, all in a row. I think I liked what it symbolizes -- "in our family we bike together." (I say family because these were all parked there before 8 am in the morning.)

Now for the images I didn't take. I was out for a walk this morning, and the sun shining, making its way high into the sky over the Choptank River, was captivating. I have lots of those pictures with a better camera, so while I didn't photograph it, I still looked at it a while, enjoying the individual points of light glistening off the water and the warmth of the sun on my face (oh and wondering if I am going to have raccoon eyes because of my sunglasses).

Also on my walk I saw a bird chasing a squirrel. The squirrel headed up the trunk of the tree and the bird cut it off at the pass. The squirrel headed down and across the pavement and the bird tried to land on its head. The squirrel doubled-back towards the tree and the bird turned around to give chase. I didn't take that one because I was too amazed to take my eyes off it and because a still on the phone camera wouldn't do. I would need a video to do it justice and didn't think I could get it together in time.

Finally, I walked past some people fishing and on a couple of the poles, little bells were mounted to ring if something tugged on the line. That was interesting in itself, I'd never seen that before. But then, one started ringing and the fisherman, who was manning another line, rushed over, but it had stopped ringing.

That was Day 1.