Last night I was photographing a bluegrass music legend. Doc Watson gave a concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall and during intermission went backstage in the green room and never stopped playing his guitar. This is the photo i made during this time. At age 86 even!!! This was almost like my own personal concert backstage. It was a 'killer' of a concert along with his friend and fellow musician David Holt.

Last weekend my neighbor Fred and i finished a cedar Arbor that in connected to the fence between out back yords. This was a fun project and i planted some climbing roses to grow over the top of it. Looking and smelling real good.

10 years ago this week TIBET

This week is exactly 10 years ago that i spent 6 weeks tracelling in China, Thailand and Tibet. A wonderful experience that i have relived a thousand times.

This is an image from my latest trip to Ecuador. Saturday morning before dawn is when all the activity starts for the 'animal market'.By about 9 am the event is over and all the animals go home or to their new owners. Chickens, Guinea pigs, cows, pigs, dogs, cats and birds are all represented. This shot is from the hill overlooking the chaos, and the special gaze of the young child toward a stranger.

Bela Fleck and the Africa Project

April 1st was the night of Amazing African musicians with traditional instruments.
The Sheldon concert hall was the venue for this performance which included differant sets of music alone then Bela joined in for another number.

Made my Day Today

O m'God, i can't believe it.
woke up this morning to an e mail from a friend Ihave not heard from in 9 plus years, inviting me to come visit her in.....wait a minute....Kuwait City, Kuwait. I used to work for her and her husband on the island of Guanaja, Honduras many years ago. No snow or freezing Temps there like my back yard pictured in the photo. What the heck, i am pscyhed up, outta control, i finally have a destination with some substance. Does Delta fly there? No wait, i can get to Dubai then catch a plane to Kuwait City. This is Great!!!!. Maybe i can stop over to their neighbor Iran. Hopefully i can set this up for January/February 2010. Stand by for more info as i have to go to Borders book store to get my Lonely Planet books on these 2 countries. Travelling man

Back home and ready to ROLL for the YEAR

What's ahead for me is probably more of what's behind me, but I continue, as I always have, to move forward. To a certain extent, I look at the future in much the same way as did Jean-Paul Sartre, who, when asked what his best book was, said that it was the book he was going to do. I feel there is much more ahead. I have this new solo exhibition later this year at the Mitchell Museum in Mt. Vernon, IL at the end of this year. I am as excited as I've ever been. I love my life!