This weekend, October 19-21, 2012, Francie took the Motorcycle Safety Training Course at the Maple Woods campus of the Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, MO.  They didn't have these, at least where I lived, when I first started to ride (40+ years ago) ... it's a great service ... to help new cyclists start off on the right foot.  My first bike was a BMW R27 (250cc single cylinder model).

My current bike is a BMW K75RT.  A great road bike.

Queen Anne's Lace, lite by a RayFlash ring light on an SB-800 with a Nikon D300s and an 85mm f/3.5g VR lens.

Portrait of Craig.  One of several images taken as Craig's face broke the surface of the water.

Kansas City Color Run, June 30, 2012.

Summer dandelion taken with a Nikon D300s, Nikon 85mm f/3.5g vr Macro lens and lit with an SB800 flash using a Ray Flash Ring Light.  The background was under-exposed to provide contrast and reveal more detail in the dandelion.

Saturday, June 16, we took an outing to the 17th Annual Parkville River Jam in Parkville, MO. One of the first people we met was Vickie.

Vickie is with Art Bra KC. Art Bra KC benefits Missy's Boutique at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Westwood, Specifically, the money raised tonight goes to the Patients in Need Fund, which benefits cancer patients who are underinsured or have no insurance to pay for cancer-related products and services such as wigs, prosthetics and pre- and post-op surgical supplies.

Richard is a photographer who spends much of his time at his home in Asia. He shares his world travels through his photography, places like, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand.

 Constance Smith is an artist who specialized with oil paints - custom oil paints.  She pays great attention to detail. Her painting of the Western Auto Building in KCMO took 9 months to do. She uses vibrant color and high dynamic range in her work. As you can see below, she does trains too.

Currently, she does painting demonstrations on Sundays at Train Town in Kansas City at the Ward Parkway Center, next to Target.

 Jeanie Rosenberg makes unique "beaded baubles."  Her work includes ear rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc...

Roger Cissner has been photographing his vacations for over 15 years.

Ernie Kober, Glass Artist with one of his marbles. Ernie learned his art form from his father.  He has been making glass art since his childhood.  You can see some of his art work here.

Natalia knits beautiful custom shawls, ponchos, scarves, hats and sweaters.  She was one of several artists and craftsmen who displayed their work.  Her web site is: www.knitbynatalia.com

Several folks enjoying the Dave Panco Band at the English Landing Park at the 17th Annual Parkville River Jam in Parkville, MO.

The Airline History Museum in Kansas City, MO is definitely worth an  afternoon.  The richest part of the experience is  your docent who will make the history come alive.

What's the right stuff to be a "flight attendant" in 1945? 

Flight simulator for a three engined plane. 

These are the instruments that the flight engineer needed to give his attention to. This panel is in one of the flight simulators where pilots would train and also maintain their certification. 

Here is the cockpit for a small flight simulator. You can see my feet here. 

A Super Constellation is on the left. 

My guide for much of my tour and the hanger floor, Ray Kirk. And for the price of four tickets, you could have your own sleeper.

This is my new travel kit. A Nikon 1 V1 with the kit 10-30mm lens, 30-110mm lens, FT1 Adapter, 35mm f/1.8G (my portrait lens), and a 55-200mm for long telephoto.  Also shown is the ML-L3 to trigger the camera remotely.

 The Nikon 1 V1 next to my old walk around camera, the Canon G9.  The G9 has had a re-birth by Lifepixels - it is now my Infrared camera.

The Nikon 1 V1 next to my first digital camera, the Nikon D100 with my walk around 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. The V1 is definitely easier on my back.  As a travel camera, it is ideal. Here is an album from a visit to the Gore Psychiatric Museum in St Joseph, MO.

"This memorial to Pioneer mothers stands within a few hundred feet of a branch of the Santa Fe Trail and depicts pioneers traveling westward over the vast expanse of plains under burning sun, rain, and storm: braving hunger and thirst, beset by many dangers on the way--Indians, prairie fires, and stampeding buffalo. These Pioneers are looking for water and a place to camp. This huge monument weighs over 16,000 lbs. and stands on a pedestal of Minnesota pearl pink granite with a concrete base." This description is from KC Fountains.


The inscription below the sculpture reads: "Whither thou goest I will go. Where Thou lodgest I will Lodge. Thy people shall be my people. And thy God my God." Ruth 1:16

When you visit Kansas City one of the places you want to visit is the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. I have included a few objects from the collection that caught my eye. You can spend a whole day there and have a great time. And there is a good place to eat here too. Highly recommended.

Beautiful landscape.

Ulysses and the Sirens...

Woman. We all see things just a little differently...

One of many provocative sculptures.

A tribute to Satchel Paige.

The Street Preacher

Darkness and light...

Part of a very good collection of 19th and 20th century African Art from the region of today's Democratic Republic of Congo.

There are many fine works by Rodin. Some a little "racy."

Self portrait of the sculptor playing chess.

A modern family.